Reply #264: In my area they are run by secularists. When I lived in a rural area, they were run by churches. [View All]

If someone came on really hard times, they had to move to the city. So it depends on geography. And most of the religious ones in my area do take government money, too.

I'm not putting down those wonderful people who act with a christlike sense of duty to the poor. I attribute a lot of good to those who act of unconditional love for others that way. But there are more than one kind of church today.

The problem with religious charity is that it is often conditional. I've seen some church charities who expect a form on income and social security numbers to be filled out just like a secular or government program. Or ask questions about voting and religion.

I've seen grocery stores dump their meat, which defrosted turned out to be rotten, crates full of moldy bakery goods and rotting produce which the poor are supposed to be grateful for in wealthy rural areas for the church to distribute.

Help is help, love is love, and we are just arguing about who is going to help who and how. Peace.