There's this ridiculously large church in my area...

Each Sunday, we have city cops directing traffic on the main road leading to the church. Now, the way I see it, my tax dollars are paying these cops to simply help these fucking nutjobs get out of the church parking lot a couple minutes early. Well, screw that! That's just 5 less cops out there trying to catch the dude who's been breaking into houses and raping women in the area. So, this guy is on the loose, but your crazy ass can get out of the parking lot with greater ease. Pisses me off every week!

Rant over

where I live. The area where the church is located is to be avoided at all costs on Sundays. However, I think many of the cops are 'rent-a-cops'.

safety as the parade of cars are slowing incorporated into steady traffic lanes. Prevention of accidents is something I value from the law enforcement community.

at this cultish church by my house... they should have to pay for their own traffic light

to direct the traffic, or is it truly done on the taxpayer dime?

Just askin'

are being spent.

probably pay some of those taxes too. The Cathy comic strip used to have an IRS person tell Cathy where her tax dollars were going. One year her tax dollars were being used to investigate why members of a certain committee were getting free donuts. Then the person said "don't feel bad, last year, you paid for the donuts".

It's how a bunch of them support their families. I think some cops take their patrol cars home, so they could still be off duty on this job. However, the gas is probably paid for with tax dollars, so you aren't wrong, just maybe unaware that cops do jobs like this off duty and paid for by the church, grocery store, whatever.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised at all if some churches don't pay to have traffic directed, and just cause enough of a traffic nuisance to get the local PD involved. That would piss me off, too. If they are causing enough of a problem in your area, even with the traffic cop, I would complain to the city or county about it. There might be some form of zoning violation for that amount of traffic.

gas.

off-duty.

Many large and mega churches hire off duty police to do traffic control on Sunday and even on weekday evenings.

My first reaction was the same as yours, but found out that they are hired by the church and would have not been on patrol anyway.

I also realized the traffic would be much worse without them.

I hope the rapist is captured before hurting anyone else.

their prayers would compel God to part the traffic for them.

that prayers were thanks to God, praising for God, or requests to God. I'm unaware of any theology that preaches that prayers can 'compel' God, in anyway. He wouldn't be God if He could be compelled, would He?

:shrug:

--IMM

Not God.

--IMM

Besides, they might fail, even if they are only commanding demons..

Acts 19: 13Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15(One day) the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

They said that they have your sense of humor and if you would like it back you should call M-F 8am to 5pm. You should not delay, they will soon be closing for the holiday season. God Bless.

the really funny stuff is always offensive to somebody?

I thought not.

he seems to think God will do whatever he asks. He even claimed that his prayers turned a hurricane away from Virginia.

does Pat Robertson claim to speak for all Christians, even conservative ones? I suspect that they would disagree with him.

Besides, maybe God did answer his prayer, or maybe somebody else's that just happened to pray the same thing. Or maybe God just let what was going to happen, happen. He hasn't seen fit to confide in me about this issue.

There are other kinds of conservative Christians besides Pat Robertson. Many of them despise him in one way or another. I know this because of a situation in my extended (but very close by) family.

:rofl:

working speedtraps to bother with criminals. And the criminals know it. This summer when my neighbor's home was robbed in broad daylight it took the police an hour and a half to show up after the crime was reported, and the officer took a report and then told the victim, "There's really nothing we can do." He even told told the neighbor he didn't want to bother dusting for prints because the process is too "messy."

Meantime there are police permanently hiding in the bushes on the main road looking out for speeders and that all important revenue. Evident where their priorities lie.

Do they offer the same deal to a local synagogue during The High Holy Days?

Do they charge the same money to the Lutherans as they do to the Catholics or to the local department store having a big Xmas sale?

Personally, if someone gets killed leaving a church parking lot, then I would assume they have simply chosen the wrong gawd, and the cops are just interfering in His plan. :sarcasm:

they charge by the hour. Same price. And yes, they also are at the synagogues and the big department stores. Anyplace where there is a potential for disrupted traffic patterns, which could mean accidents.

They go to all kinds of event. Recently there was a car show put on by a local university for their homecoming festivities. Police were everywhere working traffic, and all private duty pay.

In my area they do it for any large church, the big fundy church, the big mosque, the large Catholic church, etc., etc. Plus, they do it for funerals. I know the churches, funeral homes, etc, have to pay the cops. They probably have to reimburse the county for the gas, milage, etc. Don't sweat it.

that is freaking fabulous.


Welcome to humanity 101.

It's CRAZY then!

or would you rather have no cops directing traffic?

You don't want any people to miss the NFL game do you?

by the churches to direct traffic. This is a paid service available not just to churches but to restaurants, night clubs and other businesses.

when their 'churches' are little more than theme parks. My town is littered with these mega-churches all packed solid with glassy eyed followers every Sunday and bustling with all kinds of proper christian activities during the week: christian dry-cleaning, christian play grounds, christian circle jerks. Yes - there is no shortage of stunningly stupid people in the US and in the US they are invariably 'christian'.

No stupid agnostics? No stupid Jews? No stupid Muslims? No stupid Hindus? No stupid atheists?

Who knew? We in education could really use this information!

However, I disrespect all religions equally. You're right, though, that in the US, you have an 80% chance of being a Christian...and being disrespected by me. :evilgrin:

EXACTLY what I think.

:toast:

sort of bigoted to me. in the US they are invariably 'christian'..

You've never met a stupid atheist, Jewish person, Muslim, or Buddhist?

Not sure where that poll came from, but I read it here. Basically, he/she's absolutely right, in the US you're more likely to meet an idiot Christian than an idiot Hindu, Muslim, etc... It's just statistics.

word he used was "invariably", meaning 100%. Not 80%.

You're also, by that logic, also more likely to run into a "Christian" genius, but nobody cares about that, do they?

Last one I went to handed out sparkly noisemakers and balloons.

Tres enlightened seriousness.

that are on the main drags hire off duty officers (paid by the church) to keep traffic flowing on Sunday mornings.

I am glad they do, otherwise there would be a lot more traffic altercations of folks coming out of those lots onto the high speed roads.

I am sure they are NOT paid for by the government.

the cops in uniform AND the cars.

I know because I've been in charge of hiring them for various school functions.

Well, I really should find out then. Kinda makes my argument moot if they're hired. HAHA. Oops! :)

nothing suprises me anymore and if you don't ask you'll never find out.

a great news story in your local paper..

although I have never been a member of such a large church. They are building one down the street. It is so big I think God is going to live in it.

I would guess if you go every week you might find a niche, but I prefer a smaller group.

You're completely anonymous there.

Walk in, get a big dose of "US" vs. them, "I belong", "I'm better than you" - all without having to be known or responsible in any manner.

the more people, the less chance you have of people finding out who you really are and what you're really like. It's much easier to be "fake" when there are so many other fakes around you.

Like minded people hanging out together to discuss topics of mutual interest.

large churches also have a variety of subgroups for different interests--choir, study groups, groups doing different kinds of charitable work, groups planning social events, and you're not anonymous in those.

The large churches allow people to be exactly as anonymous or known as they wish to be.

There's a mega church on the main street I have to travel to get to the business district of town. It used to be impossible to travel through there on Sunday mornings. Now they have two policemen directing traffic. I don't know who pays them, but I'm glad they are there. That big church isn't going anywhere any time soon, and citizens have to be able to travel the streets.

same deal as well - I don't think it's uniformed cops in the streets, but they several guys directing traffic in and out of the parking lot as a way, I guess, to prevent road rage? :shrug: Can't imagine why, though; I thought these people were all about the teachings of Jesus...peace, love, and all that... :sarcasm:

Edit to add: I personally know a few parishioners of this particular church, and their bumper stickers indicate that they worship * like a cult leader. This church has its own site online, and they're quite straightforward about "literal interpretation of the Bible", yadda, yadda, yadda. I'm absolutely not trying to broad-brush all Christians with those comments..

....do these "churchies" drive? Those gas-guzzling monstrosities with * stickers and yellow ribbons on them?

You're absolutely right.

:woohoo:

and they're off duty.

Others have pointed out the fact that your tax dollars aren't paying for this.

And let's just conviently ignore the fact that the same thing happens at sporting events, parades, marches (you know those big ones we lefties love to have), etc.

Traffic duty is equally a part of the job we expect law enforcement to do. It's not good to get your view of police work from TV and movies.

sporting events at a public arena, parades down a public street, and marches in a public park? Yeah, that's what they're supposed to do. Facilitating traffic flow in a private church parking lot? Not so much.

You do realize that most sporting arenas and teams are privately owned.

nt

I've heard this all over the news lately, but I haven't heard the name of even one church that is supposedly closing its' doors on Christmas because people won't come.

down the way from my house they come in every Sunday morning and start putting up orange cones and redirecting traffic from this semi-arterial street to facilliate people getting into their massive parking lots. What this does is take a major public street over for their own use and those of us that DON'T want to go to church are inconvenienced and our time wasted to help out a tax exempt entity. I try to avoid going anywhere near the area on Sunday.

Cops on paid details look like they're working on the municipal payroll but the event or organization is paying for their services directly. It's a huge source of extra revenue for some police officers and it does not reduce the patrol coverage --- in fact, it increases the police presence because the detail cops would otherwise be off duty.

I've seen this from both sides -- worked with cops who jockeyed for the best detail assignments, and worked with organizations that hired details for events.

As has been pointed out to me, this could very well be the case. If so, my rant really has no credibility. I think I'm going to have to find out though. Y'all have me kinda curious now.

the rapist is probably part of the church crowd

I'd leave it alone.

Protests are held on public property, not private church parking lots. As much as I'd like to say something about being told to leave it alone, I'll compliment you on one of the coolest DU screen names instead. I love it!

all require policemen to work public intersections. It may be irritating but I don't think it is unfair.

And thanks, I like my name too!

I see nothing wrong with it. It helps supplement the too-low salaries of people that put their lives on the line for us.

probably feed the poor, sort out homeless persons, attend to dying people and so many civic responsibilities that have been "privatized" to
religion. And the net effect of the church, for the police, in terms of its impact on the community, crime and goodwill,
is probably outstandingggggggggggggggggggggg.

The larger paradigm problem is NOT freedom of religion. It is ignorance.

tax-exempt social clubs, and do VERY little to help the poor, etc.

Well that is a tragic kind of religion that you mention.

bummer what its come to.

I dont mean to derail catch twenty two threads but theres a an evangellical free church being put up in front of my town wall mart. Yep a motel 8 wallmart and a church I am going to live right in the middle of a fundie biosphere. Note Ill take a picture of this site when it's up. It freakin huge too.

Shovel it: Town to cease free snowplowing for church parking lots
By Rick Holland / Daily News Staff
Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - Updated: 01:28 AM EST

<snip>

A complaint letter from Lake Street resident Ernest Godbout was received by Fraine recently, objecting to the use of town equipment and personnel to clear the property of two churches in town, St. Bernard’s on Hartford Avenue and St. Blaise on South Main St.

Fraine said the practice of clearing the church parking lots with town snow plows "has been going on ever since we’ve had plows," and was endorsed by the late Wilfred Arcand Jr. when he was the Department of Public Works director.

Fraine recalled that Arcand used to justify the work by saying, "We’re all taxpayers, and we all go to church."

Two other churches in town, the First Baptist Church in the center of town and the Bellingham Bible Baptist Church on Hartford Avenue have not been plowed by the town, but Fraine said the town would have provided the same assistance to those churches if they had ever requested it.

The the complaint letter was not immediately available and Godbout could not be reached for comment, but Fraine said it had been shared with the American Civil Liberties Union.

Rick Holland can be reached at rholland@cnc.com or 508-634-7505.

More:
http://www.milforddailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=82793




Also:

Resident: ‘I had to speak out’ about plowing lots

<snip>


"There’s no reason the taxpayer has to foot these bills," said Godbout. "The money only ends up on the doorstep of Archbishop Sean O’Malley."

Godbout, who has worked as a postal clerk in Providence for 29 years, says the complaint may seem like the work of a person hostile to religious values. But Godbout is actually a former altar boy, a graduate of Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, and he has done a substantial amount of free upkeep on the bells at the First Baptist Church in Bellingham and two Woonsocket parishes, All Saints and Holy Family.

<snip>

But Sarah Wunch, a staff lawyer for the Boston Chapter of the ACLU, said one of the legal problems with the town’s approach was that it didn’t offer free snow plowing to all the town’s churches. St. Brendan and St. Blaise parishes -- the two biggest Roman Catholic parishes in town -- were included, but not two Baptist churches.

To make the policy consistent, the town could have plowed for all churches, nonprofits and charities, said Wunch.

"Of course, they don’t want to do it because it’s too much money," she said.

More:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15750644&BRD=1712&PAG=461&dept_id=24361&rfi=6

Sunday,when we roll out to do errands we drive by and see city cops directing traffic. And every single time my dear hubby flips
them off as we pass...I ask:" did that make you feel better?" and he always says "yes". It's OUR Sunday ritual...lol

smack dab on a curve on one of the most dangerous highways in our county. I imagine a lot of praying will be going on every time someone pulls out of their drive. This theater that they call a church will have state of the art video and sound systems. All they need now are reclining chairs.

along country roads that run parallel to each other-actually more like a "V". Recently the county installed brand new stoplights within a block of each church which were probably installed because of the sunday traffic that was nonexistent a year or so ago. I find the lights annoying, since it used to be a serene country drive home and now I feel like I haven't left the city at all! The other thing that bugs me is that one of these churches advertises on T.V. Guess they need lots of new members with donation in hand for the upkeep on that massive lawn and garden! :eyes:

and someone blocks her driveway every Sunday. So they get to go to church but she can't. Go figure.

Bravo for your progressive liberal language.

I guess it would just be better if a whole bunch of cars got into accidents.



People's minds have broken. This is insanity lately.

Thus my liberal credentials are intact. Besides, if you knew the place, you'd realize my asertion wasn't too far off base. By the way, could I borrow your "liberal meter?" I have some people I'd like to test at work to see if they're worthy of being called liberals. Sometimes I think they use a little too much gas on the way to work. Oh, and none of them cried when "tookie" died. Very suspicious. :eyes:

But damn if some of you dont wish to convince me of such.

"Bigotry and intolerance, silenced by argument, endeavors to silence by persecution, in old days by fire and sword, in modern days by the tongue" - Charles Simmons

"A man must be both stupid and uncharitable who believes there is no virtue or truth but on his own side."
Addison, Joseph

The street is the boundary for two small cities. It's really overkill if you ask me.

.

they got paid

And ask if the church is paying off-duty officers or if the city is flipping the bill. Should be easy enough resolved.

Actually, a buddy of mine is a cop here. We don't get a chance to talk often, but he's like-minded. I'm sure he'll know.

That is what you are going through! How do you get through the day knowing that next week you will be faced with the same kind of pain.

I honestly hope you live down the block and that I am one of the "nut jobs" that drives YOU out of your mind every week.

In fact, I will, from now on, have a huge smile on my face every Sunday just thinking of you. LOL

Thanks for making my day.

Smile away.

whether or not the cops are paid by the church or by taxpayer dollars...they aren't inside the parking lot directing parking, they're on a public street, trying to manage traffic flow, deal with congestion, minimize accident risk...in other words, doing what traffic cops do. It doesn't only benefit the folks who attend that church, but also anyone else out on the "main road" that day who might otherwise be in a worse traffic jam. Is there any difference between this and cops directing traffic on public roads that lead to private stadiums and arenas? Or cops blocking traffic on a public road to let a funeral procession exit a church or synogogue or funeral home? Traffic control is a perfectly appropriate function for the cops.

Now, if the cops were acting as parking attendants, directing traffic in a private parking lot, whether a church, stadium, or shopping mall...that would be inappropriate unless they were privately paid.

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