Comments on: “If you support gay marriage, we’re going to let the homeless starve!” http://aheathensday.com/2009/12/%e2%80%9cif-you-support-gay-marriage-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-let-the-homeless-starve%e2%80%9d.html The Life and Thoughts of a Modern Day American Heathen Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:20:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Hrafnkell http://aheathensday.com/2009/12/%e2%80%9cif-you-support-gay-marriage-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-let-the-homeless-starve%e2%80%9d.html/comment-page-1#comment-1903 Hrafnkell Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:22:50 +0000 http://aheathensday.com/?p=1197#comment-1903 I'm sure the government would find other organizations to try to make up the slack but of course, the Catholic church there has the infrastructure in place. And as you say, whether the poor will still be feed or not does not make the actions of the Archdiocese any less reprehensible. Our tax dollars do get spent on religion, unfortunately, something those who complain about tax dollars going to abortion funding don't seem to understand. My own senator, Evan Bayh, even voted FOR a bill this past year which would have provided funds to build churches (obviously he's never getting my vote again) and the tax-exempt status has become something of a joke, as Americans United has repeatedly demonstrated. These people regularly violate their exempt status and it takes going to court to make them behave, since the government and IRS won't. I’m sure the government would find other organizations to try to make up the slack but of course, the Catholic church there has the infrastructure in place. And as you say, whether the poor will still be feed or not does not make the actions of the Archdiocese any less reprehensible.

Our tax dollars do get spent on religion, unfortunately, something those who complain about tax dollars going to abortion funding don’t seem to understand. My own senator, Evan Bayh, even voted FOR a bill this past year which would have provided funds to build churches (obviously he’s never getting my vote again) and the tax-exempt status has become something of a joke, as Americans United has repeatedly demonstrated. These people regularly violate their exempt status and it takes going to court to make them behave, since the government and IRS won’t.

]]> By: Makarios http://aheathensday.com/2009/12/%e2%80%9cif-you-support-gay-marriage-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-let-the-homeless-starve%e2%80%9d.html/comment-page-1#comment-1902 Makarios Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:22:31 +0000 http://aheathensday.com/?p=1197#comment-1902 My understanding--and I could be wrong--was that a fair proportion of the services supplied by the D.C. Archdiocese is taxpayer-funded; and that, if the R.C. Church won't deliver them, the government will find some other agency to do so. The archbishop's actions are still disgusting, of course; but, if my understanding is correct, the services will still be there for those who need them. And, if my understanding is wrong, then shame on the archbishop, the chuch, and any of its members in the D.C. Archdiocese who are not revolting against this thuggery. This, by the way, is yet another reason why churches should be stripped of their exempt status, <i>ipso facto, per se,</i>, and across the board. If you look at the cash flow of any given church, you will likely find precious little devoted to any activity that could be construed as charitable. Most of the money will be devoted to internal purposes (except for evangelism, which, IMO, is not charitable and should not attract exempt status). If I lived in the U.S., I would be mightily put out by the fact that my tax dollars are effectively paying for clergy salaries, maintenance of church buildings, and evangelistic missions to foreign countries. My understanding–and I could be wrong–was that a fair proportion of the services supplied by the D.C. Archdiocese is taxpayer-funded; and that, if the R.C. Church won’t deliver them, the government will find some other agency to do so. The archbishop’s actions are still disgusting, of course; but, if my understanding is correct, the services will still be there for those who need them. And, if my understanding is wrong, then shame on the archbishop, the chuch, and any of its members in the D.C. Archdiocese who are not revolting against this thuggery.

This, by the way, is yet another reason why churches should be stripped of their exempt status, ipso facto, per se,, and across the board. If you look at the cash flow of any given church, you will likely find precious little devoted to any activity that could be construed as charitable. Most of the money will be devoted to internal purposes (except for evangelism, which, IMO, is not charitable and should not attract exempt status). If I lived in the U.S., I would be mightily put out by the fact that my tax dollars are effectively paying for clergy salaries, maintenance of church buildings, and evangelistic missions to foreign countries.

]]> By: Hrafnkell http://aheathensday.com/2009/12/%e2%80%9cif-you-support-gay-marriage-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-let-the-homeless-starve%e2%80%9d.html/comment-page-1#comment-1901 Hrafnkell Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:39:13 +0000 http://aheathensday.com/?p=1197#comment-1901 Oh you betcha! The conservative Catholics and Protestants despite each other as much now as in Luther's day. Each apparently has a unique right to poach on the others' converts and woe to anyone who trespasses! They can't see that for the rest of us, there is nothing to choose between them, and no difference at all between types of theocracy, be it Protestant, Catholic, Jewish or Islamic. Oh you betcha! The conservative Catholics and Protestants despite each other as much now as in Luther’s day. Each apparently has a unique right to poach on the others’ converts and woe to anyone who trespasses! They can’t see that for the rest of us, there is nothing to choose between them, and no difference at all between types of theocracy, be it Protestant, Catholic, Jewish or Islamic.

]]> By: Ulfrun http://aheathensday.com/2009/12/%e2%80%9cif-you-support-gay-marriage-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-let-the-homeless-starve%e2%80%9d.html/comment-page-1#comment-1900 Ulfrun Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:28:28 +0000 http://aheathensday.com/?p=1197#comment-1900 The whole thing is just ridiculous. They try to dictate the law and force everyone to endorse only thier version of things. And the sad part is, they hate each other just as much as they hate the rest of us. While this Archbishop and Bill O'Reilly are pretty much the same in my opinion, they'd probably each roundly denounce the other's behavior and beliefs. It's just good to be reminded that not all Cristians are like these a**holes. The whole thing is just ridiculous. They try to dictate the law and force everyone to endorse only thier version of things. And the sad part is, they hate each other just as much as they hate the rest of us. While this Archbishop and Bill O’Reilly are pretty much the same in my opinion, they’d probably each roundly denounce the other’s behavior and beliefs. It’s just good to be reminded that not all Cristians are like these a**holes.

]]> By: Hrafnkell http://aheathensday.com/2009/12/%e2%80%9cif-you-support-gay-marriage-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-let-the-homeless-starve%e2%80%9d.html/comment-page-1#comment-1899 Hrafnkell Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:50:46 +0000 http://aheathensday.com/?p=1197#comment-1899 Ulfrun, thanks for sharing that, and I agree that as actions go, the Archdioces of Washington D.C.'s are low. Another take on Christmas and stealing it and war and so on comes from Americans United for Separation of Church in State. <a href="http://www.au.org/media/church-and-state/archives/2009/12/how-the-religious-right-stole.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">How the Religious Right Stole Christmas</a> Ulfrun, thanks for sharing that, and I agree that as actions go, the Archdioces of Washington D.C.’s are low.

Another take on Christmas and stealing it and war and so on comes from Americans United for Separation of Church in State. How the Religious Right Stole Christmas

]]> By: Ulfrun http://aheathensday.com/2009/12/%e2%80%9cif-you-support-gay-marriage-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-let-the-homeless-starve%e2%80%9d.html/comment-page-1#comment-1898 Ulfrun Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:46:51 +0000 http://aheathensday.com/?p=1197#comment-1898 Punishing the helpless and the innocent for the actions of others, now that's low. If you'd like to see some info about some christians who seem sensable, you might want to check this out. http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20091215/us_time/08599194759000 Apparently, there's a counter war on Christmas. Punishing the helpless and the innocent for the actions of others, now that’s low.

If you’d like to see some info about some christians who seem sensable, you might want to check this out.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20091215/us_time/08599194759000
Apparently, there’s a counter war on Christmas.

]]> By: Hrafnkell http://aheathensday.com/2009/12/%e2%80%9cif-you-support-gay-marriage-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-let-the-homeless-starve%e2%80%9d.html/comment-page-1#comment-1897 Hrafnkell Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:23:13 +0000 http://aheathensday.com/?p=1197#comment-1897 Artor, I don't understand either why this status has not been revoked by now. Americans United (au.org) fights the good fight and takes to court what it can but even that takes time, and of course, they can't influence the government. As usual, the courts are our last line of defense. If not for them, we'd have a theocracy by now. I think 8 years of Bush-rule made them think they can get away with any violation they want, and now they're proceeding on the assumption that the Wall of Separation itself is a myth. It's as if they're daring somebody to do something about it. Artor,

I don’t understand either why this status has not been revoked by now. Americans United (au.org) fights the good fight and takes to court what it can but even that takes time, and of course, they can’t influence the government. As usual, the courts are our last line of defense. If not for them, we’d have a theocracy by now.

I think 8 years of Bush-rule made them think they can get away with any violation they want, and now they’re proceeding on the assumption that the Wall of Separation itself is a myth. It’s as if they’re daring somebody to do something about it.

]]> By: Artor http://aheathensday.com/2009/12/%e2%80%9cif-you-support-gay-marriage-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-let-the-homeless-starve%e2%80%9d.html/comment-page-1#comment-1896 Artor Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:13:40 +0000 http://aheathensday.com/?p=1197#comment-1896 With all the shameless politicking American bishops have been doing, particularly with the odious Stupak amendment they got put into the health care bill, and excommunicating Senator Kennedy for doing the right thing, why do we still allow them tax-exempt status. Until the Catholic Church gets out of politics, along with the Mormon Church & any Protestant churches involved in lobbying, they should have to pay taxes like any other PAC. Why haven't I heard a peep about anyone moving to revoke their status? With all the shameless politicking American bishops have been doing, particularly with the odious Stupak amendment they got put into the health care bill, and excommunicating Senator Kennedy for doing the right thing, why do we still allow them tax-exempt status. Until the Catholic Church gets out of politics, along with the Mormon Church & any Protestant churches involved in lobbying, they should have to pay taxes like any other PAC. Why haven’t I heard a peep about anyone moving to revoke their status?

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