krs
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posted on February 20, 2001 08:17:57 AM
...or will be going?
One new area is the Bush program for support of faith-based social services. Various religious groups are busily preparing their proposals and applications for grant money, and the costs to taxpayers looks already to be in the billions of dollars.
Well, you say, why not? Many churches are already performing some functions in social help areas, and since we're paying for government agencies to do those functions already, what difference would it make if some of that money goes to churches?
That part depends on your point of view and your religious affiliation, if you have one.
But remember that laws cannot be made to select what religious grouping can be approved for funding under these new programs, only qualifying criteria can be used. That means that just about any grouping can receive your money if it prepares it's paperwork within whatever guidelines are established.
Already competing factions are struggling to establish their piece of this pie. I think that there is a real potential for very ugly action by some of these factions, and that the struggle for funding, and the resultant governmentally established validity of any sect will tend to be a divisive element in our society.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/20/politics/20FAIT.html
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birdlady54
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posted on February 20, 2001 09:31:32 AM
Perhaps,krs, it will even out the tax dollars that go to funding the National Endowment of the Arts which allow a statue of the Virgin Mary to be created out of fecal material or a picture of Christ in a jar of urine.
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krs
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posted on February 20, 2001 09:40:08 AM
I see,...so you would like to see a balance of waste in the use of your tax dollar?
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on February 20, 2001 09:50:06 AM
According to their website
http://www.arts.gov/endownews/news00/Budget.html
the budget of the NEA for FY2000 was $97.6 million. I would be surprised if this is the upper limit Bush will be asking for.
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victoria
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posted on February 20, 2001 10:15:22 AM
I hope the Wiccans, Moonies, Hare Krishnas, et al are also funded. I'd love to see every sect on an even footing, all snuffling at the government trough together.
I wonder if the sects that are funded are going to be allowed to continue to require (force) the recipients of their largess to participate in some aspect of their faith, as many do now. Nothing so heart-warming to certain faiths as knowing that atheists, non-sectarians, and heretics are being required swallow their pride and learn the gospel along with their computer skills.
And lastly, I hope this is part of some Macchiavelian plot to finally force these churches, some of whom seem to worship the almighty dollar as part of their dogma, into being taxable entities. We've got churches that are the size of some small towns, conducting secular money-making activities, all operating tax-free.
[ edited by victoria on Feb 20, 2001 08:34 PM ]
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rawbunzel
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posted on February 20, 2001 10:15:57 AM
Religious organizations already get our tax dollars by not having to pay any taxes themselves on all the property and money they suck in. The Churches have more money than almost any other organization and I truly resent them getting any of our tax dollars. We will never be able to undo this. They have so many in power in the government after this last "election" how long do you think it will be before they are telling all us peons exactly what we can and cannot do?
He** of a way to get all of us "sinners" to tithe, eh?
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Antiquary
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posted on February 20, 2001 10:35:45 AM
It's all another production of Faust, with adaptations and revisions for a 21st Century cast and audience. 
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jtland
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posted on February 20, 2001 11:23:42 AM
What a way to "unite" the country.
"But YOUR religion isn't TRUE or WORTHY..."
Bah.
Lisa
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Shoshanah
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posted on February 20, 2001 01:43:52 PM
jtland...Nice seeing you...How have you been ?Yes, a particular religion MIGHT NOT be the TRUE religion, just as NON-TEXANS are NOT real Americans... You gotta hand it to him: he is very consistent in his stupidity and ability to INSERT FOOT IN MOUTH....I have yet to see any Political figure so inarticulate! Buffoon, buffoon, BUFFOON!...Did he REALLY finished KinterGarten?
********
Gosh Shosh!
About Me
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Kimbonovich
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posted on February 20, 2001 06:10:19 PM
Churches are non-taxable entities?????? Then why is a church in Indianapolis getting kicked onto the street for not paying taxes? Why did they haul their preacher's butt out of the church on a stretcher while he was kneeling the whole time praying? Maybe it's different in different states, but I beg to differ.
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HJW
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posted on February 20, 2001 06:18:01 PM
I think that they are tax exempt except that
they are required to withhold taxes from
employees.
Helen
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HJW
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posted on February 20, 2001 06:28:26 PM
Is this the church that you were referring to?
http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=3153
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Antiquary
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posted on February 20, 2001 06:35:08 PM
Very good, Helen.
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Kimbonovich
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posted on February 20, 2001 06:47:59 PM
Yup, that's the one. You're right! ;0)
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gravid
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posted on February 20, 2001 06:57:23 PM
I wonder if they have considered how many will form new churches just to get their snout in the public trough. I can form a church of the Great Pumpkin and offer some counseling to people and maybe a food bank and boom - apply for federal funds.
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rawbunzel
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posted on February 20, 2001 07:01:26 PM
My husband is a Universal Life Church [mail order]minister, never used it! Maybe he will have to dust off the certificate and start up the church! We can get federal money. You guys won't mind your tax dollars coming to my house will you???
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Antiquary
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posted on February 20, 2001 07:23:35 PM
Robin
Check this out; it's a hoot:
http://www.northernway.org/degrees.html
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rawbunzel
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posted on February 20, 2001 07:32:53 PM
Hi Antiquary! I have bookmarked that sight.
I can sign up to be a Doctor of Divinity and then my husband and I can get double the funds!He can run his church and I can run mine! No more taxes. Cool!
I had no idea that anyone was still doing that! Only one little essay and a three page story of my life? Heck I can do that no problem.
Just call me Dr.Robin
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jamesoblivion
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posted on February 20, 2001 07:35:34 PM
"The University of Esoterica"
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Antiquary
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posted on February 20, 2001 07:40:26 PM
Hey Doc,
The name Esoteric bolstered my confidence. I see a whole new career funded by the Bush administration. I think that I'll specialize in faith-healing, though it would be cool to do something with snakes. Trying to figure out how to work that in. I'm really excited. Think I'll go the "earth-based shaman" route too, so many possibilities.
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rawbunzel
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posted on February 20, 2001 07:45:06 PM
I wanted to be the Earth Based Shaman![it was going to be a surprise] Is there room for two of us in the Bush administration?I had planned on setting up my office right next to that oval one in the White House.
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jamesoblivion
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posted on February 20, 2001 07:46:20 PM
Would they fund the Church of Sexual Healing?
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rawbunzel
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posted on February 20, 2001 07:48:57 PM
Well James, it's worth a try. 
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Antiquary
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posted on February 20, 2001 07:49:10 PM
The more the merrier Dr. Shaman; we can exchange consultation fees for a little double-dipping in the ol' Treasury.
I'm also going to apply for my dog, Sam; he's ugly but smart and I think that he has a future as a therapist. Of course, I'll have to help a little with the paperwork.
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rawbunzel
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posted on February 20, 2001 07:51:56 PM
Antiquary- You are SO full of good ideas! I have four worthless beasts here. I can sign them all up! Dogs do make good therapists.
Now you have really got me thinking!!
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jamesoblivion
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posted on February 20, 2001 07:53:15 PM
Well, they do have animal psychologists, so why not psychologists who are animals?
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Antiquary
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posted on February 20, 2001 07:56:01 PM
Yes, but I would try to keep them out of the sexual healing branch, James.
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rawbunzel
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posted on February 20, 2001 07:57:19 PM
Works for me Dr. James .I believe it is time to start a consultation group so that we can milk this for all it is worth.
I really never thought I would find one thing to like about the Bush administration but apparently I was wrong.
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HJW
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posted on February 20, 2001 07:58:12 PM
James,
Some Psychologists "are" animals. 
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Shoshanah
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posted on February 20, 2001 08:20:41 PM
Hey! [Dr]. Anton La Vey, High Priest of the San Francisco-based infamous Church of Satan, was tax-exempt...I guess it's all in the whom you know...
Wonder if his followers dispersed after his demise...
********
Gosh Shosh!
About Me
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