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Americans United for Separation of Church and State today urged Congress to reject an appeal for public funding of "faith-based" charities that discriminate in hiring on religious grounds.
If 'Faith-Based' Charities Want To Discriminate In Hiring On Religious Grounds, They Shouldn't Get Public Funds
Seeded on Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:19 AM EDT
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- Public Discussion (15)
Lynn said the signers of today’s letter represent only one part of the broad spectrum of religion in America. He noted that groups representing the Jewish, Baptist, United Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, United Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, Unitarian and Quaker communities have strongly opposed government-subsidized job bias.
I believe that tax-exemption should be removed from all religious organizations.
- 5 votes
#1 - Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:20 AM EDTPower,
I believe that tax-exemption should be removed from all religious organizations.
I agree, and not only for the reason discussed in the article.
Religion has too much influence over our public policies and laws. Far from being separate, they intrude in many ways. I've written about this before, but here's a partial list:
- end-of-life choices
- reproductive choices
- stem cell research
- marriage equality
- foreign policy
There are many other examples. When religion intrudes into government, they are no longer separate. They should be taxed like any other corporation or person.
- 6 votes
I agree, Physicist. Some have reneged on the no politicizing deal. Maybe there should be two categories and a process by which they can lose tax exempt status voluntary or involuntary as a result of infractions. Make the cost of doing political business legitimately possible, just very expensive. That way it gives props to free speech without penalizing the ones who are not political. That was enforcement can be the usual method: law suits. I can see judges telling those churches that their own actions define their choice.
- 4 votes
Faith-based charities shouldn't get any public funds, period! I don't care if they discriminate or not. They should survive on private donations only. Then, they can do what ever they want.
- 5 votes
#2 - Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:29 AM EDTI agree on nixing all public funds but that is different than being tax-exempt. Some non-profits do refuse outside contributions. Example: A.A., who's founders saw the obvious conflict of interest way back there.
- 1 vote
In theory I agree with the comments here. In realty, there should be a way to assessment cases. I agree with the reasons why stated here and that they should be used in the assessment process. Only charity should be administered and not religion. The charity should not be based on religion. Religious bias should be a deal breaker along with other bias as those in Title VII. The reason for the gray and not black and white is that the Salvation Army and Mormons responded to Katrina before and better than the government and Red Cross. Trust me the gray is a very pale gray.
#3 - Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:56 AM EDTThe reason for the gray and not black and white is that the Salvation Army and Mormons responded to Katrina before and better than the government and Red Cross. Trust me the gray is a very pale gray.
As a religious organization, isn't it their responsibility to come to the aid of their fellow man? They can do this through parishioners offerings. LDS parishioners are required to give, I believe, ten percent of their earnings every payday so they don't need public funding. Besides, according to the U.S. Constitution, taxpayers should not be subsidizing any religious organization.
- 3 votes
I did not say it was their responsibility. I did not say it was done out of responsibility. I did not say it was anyone's responsibility. I think the mere idea of charity is that it comes from the heart and not a sense of duty or responsibility. That would mean it is not true charity. It was said because not all faith based organizations should be judged as the same.
It was said because not all faith based organizations should be judged as the same.
Why not? Don't they all believe in the same things: heaven and hell, sin, God and the devil, fire and brimstone, hell and damnation, hate, racism, and everything else that's negative.
- 1 vote
No. You just proved my point as to why all faith based charities should not be judged the same as you just did. Each charity is made up of individuals who do not "all" think the same. This is even more reason to not judge. All inclusive is poor judgment.
Only writing what comes from the religious communities except, of course, the Unitarians who are more of a social justice organization then a religious organization.
- 1 vote
I do not know what religious communities you are speaking of, they are not the ones I have familiarity. I am not religious so I look at the individual and not the religion.
Let them discriminate but give them no money to do so and make them pay all taxes that every other property owner pays.
- 2 votes
#4 - Fri Aug 27, 2010 1:08 PM EDTHere's one for you Radio Free America
We are dealing with a religious cult of tens of millions of people who are addicted to anger, outrage, and hatred and the media outlets that feed that addition."
It appears that you're in a league of your own Radio Free America.
If politicians honored the U.S. Constitution they would not give religious organization tax exempt status.
- 1 vote
#5 - Fri Aug 27, 2010 3:22 PM EDTWe are dealing with a religious cult of tens of millions of people who are addicted to anger, outrage, and hatred and the media outlets that feed that addition."
I have never spoken with the individuals of the so called "cult" so I cannot not make such an assessment and never would.
It appears that you're in a league of your own Radio Free America.
Perhaps. I am a child of the 60's and that is the goal, independent thought. I do not follow or lead (like to be copied). I do not participate in that co-dependency. No, I did the 60's wrong. I did not and do not do drugs so I remember what the 60's was about.
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