All the things the $$$ the Mormons and Catholics spent

[Cairycat]

to further Prop H8, wow, it blows my mind. All those millions. Are there no hungry people to feed? No homeless people who need shelter and clothing? No working poor parents who need help with child care? No teens who need after-school programs?

I'm not ashamed to say I'm a Christian, even here on DU, but I would be deeply ashamed if my church had urged me to give money to support this and similar propositions. Not just because denying my GLBT brothers and sisters and spreading hate against them is wrong and unchristian, but also because of the senseless waste of money that could have been used to help people.

[auntsue]

1. prop 8

Thank you ! I know most christians are indeed trying to
"love thy neighbor as thyself" but the hateful ones
among us are the ones who got noticed - just like in the gay
community the radicals get on tv while the rest of keep our
head now and try to live our lives.

[Dark]

9. welcome to du!

[MikeE]

2. Yes, and just think of all the things we will be able to do

if we get their tax-exempt status pulled. That should go a long way toward providing some much needed assistance and services to people. I'm hopeful that we could get the mormons pulled, but the catholic church, I'm not so sure.

[BuelahWitch]

3. Many Mormons who are diligent about paying "tithing" live hand to mouth

Those funds could have gone to help them support the family the Church guilts them into having.

[pnwmom]

4. What were Catholics spending money on? n/t

[dflprincess]

5. The Knights of Columbus spent a lot of money on advertising against it.

I suppose they did it as a way to protect the Church's tax exempt status. Though I would like to know where the money the K of C spent came from. It makes me so ashamed that my dad belonged to that group.

[pnwmom]

6. And they did it because they're a right wing group and they probably would

have supported it even if they weren't Catholics.

Don't worry about your dad. We don't choose our parents!

[dflprincess]

7. Actually he died young,

(many years ago - so don't feel bad about your comment). I like to think he would have eventually resigned from that group a long time ago had he lived. He was fairly liberal so he might have seen the light.

However, the Knights are a group with a Catholic affiliation and certainly would have had the churh's blessing for their recent efforts. I wonder what their tax status is?

[pnwmom]

8. The Knights of Columbus is tax exempt and so is their Culture of Life fund.

There isn't a legal justification for treating them differently than other groups that advocate for various issues (as opposed to for candidates, which is not exempt). Planned Parenthood is exempt -- so is the Culture of Life Fund.

http://www.kofc.org/un/index.cfm

Culture of Life Fund

The Supreme Knight addressed the 2008 Annual Supreme Council Meeting saying, “Today we constantly hear about change. We must remember that real change means building a culture of life and a civilization of love.” He continued, “We are a non-partisan organization, and Knights belong to a variety of political parties. We do not endorse candidates for public office, although many of our members are elected officials. But we do take a strong interest in certain critical issues that affect our most fundamental values as Catholic Christians and as citizens…. And if we truly hope for a Culture of Life and a Civilization of Love, then we must first think, and then act, in new ways.“

SNIP

If we are determined in our commitment to build a Culture of Life, considerable resources will be necessary. That is why we are encouraging contributions. The funds will be accumulated by country and used in that country in matters affecting life, family, marriage, and similar priorities in building a Culture of Life.

Please help us through your prayers and donations as we endeavor to build a Culture of Life.

To the extent permitted by law, your gift is tax deductible in the United States or tax creditable in Canada.

SNIP