Money Flows To Bigoted Churches

[ruggerson]

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid25053.asp

New study connects the dots between churches, antigay groups


Mainline Christian churches that discriminate against gays receive hundreds of millions of dollars from conservative groups and enjoy an 8-to-1 advantage in funding over progressive churches, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

The study, titled "David v. Goliath," found that churches that attempt to create a more welcoming environment for gays and lesbians miss out on funds not only from antigay groups like Focus on the Family and Concerned Women for America but also centrist and liberal organizations that support gay causes. "David v. Goliath" highlights the fact that churches often receive financial incentives to exclude gays and lesbians.

“There has been a concerted effort from the conservative political establishment, through secular organizations like the Institute on Religion and Democracy, to influence the mainline Protestant churches, create schism on the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, and lure the denominations into a hard-right ideology, which would represent a vast and historic shift in the nation’s religious landscape,” said the Reverend Rebecca Voelkel, executive officer of the Institute for Welcoming Resources, a nonprofit organization working to make churches more welcoming to gays and lesbians.

The report surveyed denominations and organizations that have committed to LGBT equality, a group that includes 8,300 congregations and 2 million people. The study found that approximately 20.2 million people are involved in mainline churches—including the Presbyterian Church USA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, United Methodist Church, and the Episcopal Church—that are routinely lobbied financially by hard-right groups over issues of LGBT ordination and same-sex marriage.

[Dogmudgeon]

1. Money down the drain

The clock is ticking on gay-hating pseudo-Christians. An increasing number of once-conservative Christians have been having second thoughts about turning the Prince of Peace into the Grand Dragon of Hate.

Of course, there is still plenty of hatred to go around, but it's starting to circle the drain.

--p!

[izzie]

2. I do not want any tax money to go to any church.

--

[Erika]

3. Since I found out W is routing tax $ to churches

I have quit giving to the Salvation Army and local churches. They don't need to profit from double dipping.

[bliss_eternal]

4. I haven't given a dime to Salvation Army

in two years. I walk past the bell ringers at Christmas time with a clear conscience. No one that endorses hatred and the denial of human rights will get my money.

[ruggerson]

5. Me too.

I used to give to the Salvation Army all the time. No more.

[TaleWgnDg]

6. How many DUers believe that the Salvation Army is a religious

.
How many DUers believe that the Salvation Army is a religious organization just like any other religious institution? Seriously. Not too many Americans understand that the charity who receives more money than any other charity in America is a religious institution, namely, The Salvation Army.

In addition, how many DUers and others understand that The Salvation Army discriminates against gays, yet receives federal taxpayers monies in grants (freebie gifts of money) for its programs, all of which discriminate against gays? How is this possible?

Generally, for three reasons:

1.) There's no express federal constitution anti-discrimination protection of gays;

2.) Congress lacks the spine to include GLBTs into civil rights legislation; and

3.) George Walker Bush allows this anti-gay discrimination and it's so stated in several Executive Orders signed by George Walker Bush.

So, The Salvation Army and other religious institutions (and there are many), who discriminate against gays, are allowed to continue that discriminatory practice as well as continue to receive federal taxpayer monies much of which has been paid by GLBTs and their families and friends and those who support GLBTs legal rights.

Money is fungible. So it may well be reasoned that GLBTs taxpayer monies is also funding their own discrimination not only in the actual federal grant funded programs but in other areas of religious programming such as programs directly geared to stop gay rights, stop gay marriage, stop adoption by gays, stop gay foster parenting, stop child custody by gays, stop child visitation by gays, etc.

Other than all of that . . . "faith-based" pay-offs are merely kick-backs, hush money, bribes, if you will, paid to rightwing churches who deliver votes and champion rightwing causes, P E R I O D. In turn, George Walker Bush and the rest of the neo-con cabal allows those very churches to discriminate in accordance with their "religious beliefs." This scenario works particularly well in the realm of black churches, unfortunately. Just when the gay community *needs* Coretta Scott King the most, she is aged, ill, then dies.
.

[TaleWgnDg]

7. hey . . .

.

Kicked and Recommended so that all DU may read
.

[Ian David]

8. See related thread: Mass fails to pass financial transparency bill

Mass House fails to pass financial transparency bill for religious mega-groups
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x26766