Faith Based opportunism?

[wendybeth]

Whatever the spin being applied to this, it stinks of back-door politics: FEMA offers to repay churches for hurricane aid (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9495550/) .

I'm sure there will be plenty of people saying "they deserve to be repaid!" but the ramifications are pretty huge, and no one is ignorant to what is really happening here. How cynical- to use a tragedy like this to push through your frikken agenda. I hope it blows up in their faces. :mad:

[Gemini Cricket]

After weeks of prodding by Republican lawmakers and the American Red Cross, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said yesterday that it will use taxpayer money to reimburse churches and other religious organizations that have opened their doors to provide shelter, food and supplies to survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

FEMA officials said it would mark the first time that the government has made large-scale payments to religious groups for helping to cope with a domestic natural disaster.
Sorry, there are so many problems with this. They're clearly trying to buy back the Bush doubting ultra conservative religious leaders of this country. It's sickening what this administration tries to do while the whole country is distracted. I think the ACLU should step in. As a card carrying member, I'm going to do my part and write a letter and make calls.
This is amazing. Yet Christian conservatives in this country will say that their rights are being taken away and that they are in jeopardy. Uh, not when the government (both houses, the Supreme Court, the Bush Adminsitration) caters to you like this...
Volunteer is volunteer...
:(

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Maybe it should be: "Here is your relief check ... and your tax bill."

[scaeagles]

Charity ceases to become charity when one expects to be reimbursed. I find this pathetic and sad.

[sleepyjeff]

I agree scaeagles. Will the charities themselves be re-imbursing money to their donors?

[Morrigoon]

Umm... you know many of the displaced are going to continue to need to be cared for for some time. The outpouring of contributions has been generous, to say the least, but the further we get from the event, the more funds are going to dry up. People gave all they could when it first happened. I understand and share many of the objections (volunteer means volunteer, etc), but at the same time, I understand that there is a very practical need for funds to get these people back on their feet and new lives started. In that vein, I think these funds will help out a LOT. Besides, many churches will probably just add the "reimbursement" funds to those they're spending to help out victims. And so what if they need to repair some damage? At least they're not kicking people out! They're providing HOMES (well, shelter anyway) for these people. It's not a small task.

[scaeagles]

I think there is a difference between petitioning for the faith based initiative funds - and expecting to be reimbursed for what you have spent charitably.

I would have no problem with some church going to the government and saying "We've completely run out of funds but want to keep helping. We just don't have anymore money to buy food for these people." but have a problem with "are you going to pay us back for what we've spent." statements.

It could very well be that is what is happening on the story. I have no confidence in the media to report anymore. The stories about murders and rapes in the Superdome? Didn't happen. While unrelated, an interesting story on the absolutely incredulous reporting in Louisiana -

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-rumors27sep27,0,5492806,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines

It's tough to know what to believe, who to listen to. The media flat out sucks. They all ran with unconfirmed rumors as news because they didn't want to get beaten by another news outlet.

Sorry for the derail.

[Nephythys]

Volunteer?

FEMA officials said religious organizations would be eligible for payments only if they operated emergency shelters, food distribution centers or medical facilities at the request of state or local governments in the three states that have declared emergencies -- Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

[PanTheMan]

One Group that burns me up to no end is "Operation Blessing" run by Pat Robertson and the 700 Club. He was praying one minute for total destruction to punish NOLA for it's "Wickedness" then in the Next Minute asking for 'contributions' to help them. Micheal Brown had Operation Blessing as it's third listing on the "where to help" section on the FEMA website.

Now that Robertson states he raised TENS of MILLIONS, he is going to be repaid from OUR TAX MONEY???? Sweet Deal for a guy who makes, according to Dateline, 80 Million last year in salary, TAX FREE.

[scaeagles]

Now that Robertson states he raised TENS of MILLIONS, he is going to be repaid from OUR TAX MONEY???? Sweet Deal for a guy who makes, according to Dateline, 80 Million last year in salary, TAX FREE.

I think you have that wrong. The organization is exempt from taxes, but anyone earning a salary is still required to pay income taxes on that salary.

[PanTheMan]

He is a registered "Minister" in the state of Virginia. I heard he was Tax Exempt. Anyone know for sure?

i Just know Dateline NBC did a story on several "Televangelists" and how much they make and are worth. Robertson actually was #2 behind Benny Hinn who pulls in close to $100 Million a year. (And they say Athletes are overpaid?) They said that Exact records are hard to find because of the many tax shelters they claim, making them pretty much tax exempt.

The Most EVER was Jim and Tammy Baker, whom in 1986 pulled in a record salary of $120 Million combined ($280 Million in 2005 dollars)

[€uroMeinke]

God will provide...

[Not Afraid]

PREACHER
Gracious, gracious! You are a good woman, Miz
Cooper!

RACHEL
How you figgerin' to raise them two without a
woman?

PREACHER
The Lord will provide.

PEARL with a wail of happiness, drops the DOLL on the step and runs to
PREACHER, who picks her up. JOHN instantly picks up the DOLL and holds it to
him. He looks up at RACHEL.


I swear that film has twisted my already-twisted mind.