Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Rekna
I don't see a big deal with this either. The churches I know don't rake in profits like you think they do. In fact it is the opposite they barely get by and if they do have any sort of surplus you can bet they use that to do compassion projects or missions to help the poor.
Here we have a large group of people who are riding on their faith to help people, probably many of them are streaching their finances super thin. They are doing the job that the government should be doing, why shouldn't they be reimbursed partially for it? Do you think FEMA is going to help reimburse huston for using their astro dome? I bet they are. What is the difference? I guarentee you FEMA won't give these churches nearly as much as they put in from their own pockets (not including donations specifically for helping the releif effort).
|
No, churches don't make millions, and this is above and beyond. However, I am sure donations will raise, all except the independants have the nice umbrella from the head council (Methodist, Catholic, Episcopalian, Baptist, etc.) and those are the million dollar industries.
Now, if the government wants to find ways to ease their utility bills, or structure no interest loans, I could agree with that. But to just give them money..... and the ones with the best lawyers that can write the best papers will get the most (thus leaving out the poorer churches this did strain) is wrong.
As pointed out above, we pay FEMA to do this, we have the RED CROSS that can reimburse these churches, we have the parishioners and the churches across the country that will send money and donations and hold fundraisers.
But again for the government to just outright GIVE money to these churches breaks seperation of church and state, sets a precedent that in the future comes back and bites our asses. And once the government is involved giving money in anything the whole structure changes.
I'm sorry I just don't see any churches losing their land or buildings or going bankrupt for helping and doing what they are supposed to do. However, I see government bureaucracy opening the door and really fucking things up.
I understand the arguments for the government's help, I just don't think they are going about it the right way. No interest loans, getting their utility companies to discount or give them amnrsty for this period of time, etc. I can somewhat agree with and while still having a problem with it, I would not argue against.
But to just throw money and know
- that the ones with the best lawyers and grant writers will get the most,
- that we are opening the door to government bureaucracy,
- and that organizations like the RED CROSS and UNITED WAY get millions upon millions in donations and are designed to help to take burden off government should be doing this and not government,
it's wrong it's just flat assed wrong.
How anyone who argues for less government can accept and support this is, yet bitch and moan about welfare and other government programs that were designed to take burdens off churches is beyond me.
The GOP argue that welfare was given by the churches and people of the community until government stepped in and took it over. So, we have been cutting welfare and government programs expecting these churches to take the slack and the second they do we are wanting to throw millions of tax dollars at them? It truly makes no sense.
If we are going to reimburse these churches then why not just have the government do it all, and leave churches to God worshipping and tell them any "charity" they do is on their own dime... (so to speak)...... oh wait, for the last 200+ years we have done that.........
This is just a way and an excuse to get government bureaucracy in churches, and if you cannot see that then truly open your eyes.