LOOK at the list of "faith-based" organizations who get the AIDS $$$$!!

Here's the first 4...I will post 4 in each post...DU rules.:)


Among those winning grants were:

_Samaritan's Purse, which is run by Graham's son, Franklin. It says its mission is "meeting critical needs of victims of war, poverty, famine, disease and natural disaster while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ."

_World Vision. The 56-year-old Christian organization is known for its TV appeals _ some with celebrities such as game show host Alex Trebek _ that asked people to support a Third World child.

_Catholic Relief Services. It was awarded $6.2 million to teach abstinence and fidelity in three countries; $335 million in a consortium providing antiretroviral treatment; and $9 million to help orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDs. The group offers "complete and correct information about condoms" but will not promote, purchase or distribute them, said Carl Stecker, senior program director for HIV/AIDS.

_HOPE. The global relief organization founded by the International Churches of Christ recently brought comedian Chris Rock to South Africa for an AIDS prevention event. AIDS grants support HOPE in several countries.<snip>

edited to add link to VERY LONG article:http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2006/01/30/314909.html

_World Relief, founded by the National Association of Evangelicals. It won $9.7 million for abstinence work in four countries.

<snip>
Most of the money in Bush's initiative goes to treatment programs, earning the administration praise for delivering lifesaving drugs and care to millions of HIV-infected patients.

For prevention, Bush embraces the "ABC" strategy: abstinence before marriage, being faithful to one partner and condoms targeted for high-risk activity. The Republican-led Congress mandated that one-third of prevention money be reserved for abstinence and fidelity.

The U.S. government provided more than 560 million condoms abroad last year, compared with some 350 million in 2001.


<snip>

http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2006/01/30/314909.html

<snip>But Smith believes the administration is wrongly supporting some nonprofit groups. He and several other congressional conservatives wrote to Bush and the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, contending that several large grant recipients were pro-prostitution, pro-abortion and not committed enough to abstinence priorities.

The letters followed a briefing last year by Focus on the Family, run by Christian commentator James Dobson. The group's sexual health analyst, Linda Klepacki, said even some religious groups emphasize condoms over abstinence.

"We have to be careful that the president's original intent is being followed where A and B (abstinence and faithfulness) are the emphasized areas of the ABC methodology," she said.

Six congressional Democrats, in a letter last week to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, accused the conservatives of a distortion campaign that undermines a balanced approach to fighting AIDS.<snip>


http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2006/01/30/314909.html

Who used to claim that AIDS was a gift from God to rid the world of the homosexual scourge. My, how times have changed.

I'm apart of the Church of Christ and I've never talked to anyone who thought that way from the church. :shrug: I wish he gave to actual AIDS research groups as well. If he gave to both church groups and AIDS Professional groups it, to me, wouldn't be quite such a big deal.

the guy who trashed the Islam faith.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/reac_ter18b.htm

Info on Samaritan's Purse:

Top Person: W. Franklin Graham III
Top Salary: $ 368,115

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2005/14/CH0145.html

...how in the world do they defend this grossly unconstitutional misuse of our tax dollars?

and no one is stopping them. No one can control this regime anymore. THOSE ARE MY TAX $$$$$ TOO! I do NOT support this faith based initiative crap. It's OUTRAGEOUS!

That's what it comes down to. Anyone who doesn't agree should answer this: If spreading neo-Christian moral values isn't the main thrust of faith-based AIDS prevention funding, then why this government guideline?

"Condom promotion to anyone must include abstinence and fidelity messages, but those preaching abstinence do not have to provide condom education."

And in many cases with the mentioned recipient groups, the proselytizing goes further. On OUR dime. Never mind there's no way of telling where all the money really goes. It's Halliburton stamped with the friendly face of Jesus, courtesy BushCo.

Now yes some of the groups I'm sure don't give a damn about real issues with AIDS and give out false information and just push for abstience only. Some groups actually do like to help. Since I'm a member of the Church of Christ I decided to check out the HOPE group and here's what they do for AIDS from their site:

Link: http://www.projecthope.org/how/hiv.htm



• Teaching health workers how to provide care, compassion, and treatment for people with HIV/AIDS;
• Helping to build the capacity of local organizations to provide HIV prevention, voluntary counseling and testing, and care for individuals, families, and communities affected by HIV/AIDS;
• Providing economic support and health education for people living with HIV/AIDS, and families caring for AIDS orphans, through the Village Health Bank program; and
• Responding to the particular HIV/AIDS training needs of local communities, employers, and governments.

Strategy

Project HOPE began addressing HIV/AIDS in 1996 by incorporating HIV prevention education into reproductive health programs in Malawi. Since then, the repertoire of successful activities in response to the growing worldwide AIDS pandemic has continued to expand. A newly created Infectious Diseases Unit will be able to address the HIV/AIDS endemic, as well as related diseases, more comprehensively and effectively, reflected in the consistent improvement in the quality of Project HOPE’s programs. This team includes professionals who specialize in clinical services, public health, behavior change, and the care of those affected by the pandemic, including orphans. Project HOPE is committed to implementing creative and sustainable programs as this disease continues to evolve.

I'm appalled.