Faith-based groups given $1 billion in 2003

I hope these groups are getting taxted!
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Monday, January 3, 2005 Posted: 9:24 AM EST (1424 GMT)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In New Haven, Connecticut, AIDS counselors don't hesitate to stop and pray anytime someone needs a boost.

In Charleston, South Carolina, Crisis Ministries provides shelter and meals for the homeless and the hungry.

Both are on a White House list of "faith-based organizations" that together received more than $1 billion in federal grants in 2003. But when it comes to religion, the groups' philosophies are quite different.

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All told, religious-oriented groups were awarded $1.17 billion in 2003. That is about 8 percent of the $14.5 billion spent on social programs that qualify for faith-based grants in five federal departments. White House officials expect the total to grow.

The list of 2003 grant recipients provided to AP is the first detailed tally of the dollars behind this "faith-based initiative."
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http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/03/federal.faith.ap/index.html

...in those numbers. Faith based programs are fine in theory, help organizations which provide a social good to society, but they have no measures of performance or accountability. More vote buying by the republicans. Look at the countless numbers of charity organizations which siphon off 60% 70% 80% even 95% of the contributions they receive as overhead and administrative costs.

What they are doing with MY tax $$$$.

Come to think of it, why didn't faith-based groups use their exclusive contact with the Almighty to get information about this disaster beforehand, and then spend the money on an Arc. It's been done before.

I guess spending the money on prayer medicine was more effective (Do these guys actually pray during working hours? Is it in their schedule? I mean do they get paid tax dollars to pray? Do you have counselors that are more expensive because they're better at praying?)

edited for spelling

Most of the "faith based" orgs. in Ga. received Fed. support for over 20 years, but under a different name. I knew this for years, and it was supported in an artical in the Atlanta Journal Constitution over the weekend.

The ones I'm aware of have been quite careful not to preach, prostelitize or coerce when dealing with their services.

I think this "Faith Based" idea has been promoted by Shrub, not to change how things are done, but to increase the support of his base, and aggrivate his opponents. It's great publicity for him to say that his opponents just hate christians.

From all that I've seen here in Ga. the free meals for the homeless, free library service for the housebound (which I take advantage of), transportation for seniors, etc., none have any preaching of any faith associated with them.

I think this is baiting by the pubs to incite a fight. I suggest you don't fall for it.

From all that I've seen here in Ga. the free meals for the homeless, free library service for the housebound (which I take advantage of), transportation for seniors, etc., none have any preaching of any faith associated with them

Maybe not, but aren't these things the government should take care of?
Even if they are not preaching, doing this work it is still great free publicity for these faith based organisations with tax-payers money (not mine, thank God).
I don't think the government should be sponsoring any religious organisation

I'm against the faith based BS of Shrub because I don't believe he's sincere, but most religious organizations have been doing charitable works for many years. I don't see any reason why they shouldn't share in some support for their help with feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and providing shelter for the homeless. All the $$ does is enable them to help more people.

What you basically have is a situation in which all-tax-payers, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Muslim or Atheist alike pay for these services, but that certain religious organisations get the credit for the work that is being done.

If we agree that the services are necessary and worthy of the tax-payers dollar, then why shouldn't the government provide them? This is how it goes in the Netherlands and it works fine.

Leave the churches to preach, and if they want to collect money inside the church and do charity work with it, good for them!