Comments on: Churches and their donation requests.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 05:06:17 +0000

Larry- first, Bethesda House is an interfaith ministry with no connection whatsoever to the catholic church, and second, the good one does in one area does not excuse their utter refusal to do right in another… It’s like saying I killed a puppy, but I adopted three kittens, so it’s ok. On what planet?!

Catholic churches are closing doors and combining parishes at alarming rates because they are losing the ability to keep parishioners past the age where their parents stop forcing them to go and there are fewer and fewer men joining the priesthood. Why? Because now men can be openly gay and don’t have to become a priest to cover up the fact that they have no interest in having sex with women, and because young educated Americans don’t want to hear the fire and brimstone about their gay friends burning in hell or their premarital cohabitation making Jesus cry… Intelligent young people are supporting organizations that promote progressive equality and social justice, not pitying tolerance.

If your church wants a chance of raising funds they need go raise the moral bar they’ve set for themselves. LOVE thy neighbor, not pity and pray for their immortal soul…

By: Darren

Darren — Fri, 18 May 2012 02:22:12 +0000

As a general rule of thumb, when you throw money at something, you get more of it. When you give money to a flawed organization, it’s more likely to stay that way.

By: DL

DL — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:10:41 +0000

#29 no such thing.

The issue I have with the Catholic Church is the hypocrisy/double standard. The Church knowingly ordained priests who were gay in spite of its teachings because it was more interested in growing as an institution for both political and economic gain. It was a safe haven for many gay men – where else could a single man work, not get married and not be questioned and judged by society. The Church did so at the expense of countless young innocent men and even after the facts came out the Church was and still is somewhat in denial about what happened. How many victims had to re-live the nightmare in a courtroom to get justice and compensation for the irreparable damage. I grew up Catholic put will not donate a dime to such a hypocritical institution.

I believe everyone is entitled to support or oppose gay marriage but at least have the courage to do so honestly. If you are a bigot just say so, if you oppose for religious reasons no problem but you must walk the walk and talk the talk consisently throughout your life (you do not get to throw down the religion card regarding gay marriage and show up for Mass on Christmas and Easter and pretend to be committed to your Church and all its teachings), and if you believe marriage is between a man and a woman then fight it out with your elected officials because ultimately that is where the issue will be decided -in the Courts – one State at a time as it is now or maybe one day the definition will be clarified at the Federal level and force all States to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples.

By: Hopeful

Hopeful — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:54:21 +0000

So can someone tell me what religion/belief is perfect? Is there such an organized religion?

By: marnie

marnie — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:19:44 +0000

I am raised catholic by a single mother who was amazing and died too young.
She helped people and was so kind, however because she chose to divorce my dad many moons ago, the church did not accept her. She was raised strict catholic so went through all the begging and hoops to be accepted and finally was. Not sure if that involved torture or not but anyway I find it crazy their rules. Especially about gay marriage too which my mom was for as well. So I live by my mother in laws quote (rest her soul as well) God is everywhere so church is too and she once had a stained glass window in her bathroom so she said that was church. You can believe in anything just as long as you have peace inside of you. There are those people that go to church and come out the door and treat people terribly, they are not better for showing up and belonging. I commend you for sticking to your thoughts

By: Rich-m-p

Rich-m-p — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:21:40 +0000

Hi Larry. There are a lot of mixed messages and contradictions in the Catholic Church (CC) that’s for sure. And I suppose there are better strategies than throwing the baby away with the bath water. I however, ain’t giving the CC one red cent for a new well. They call me a pervert and a sinner huh because I’m a gay man. Then I guess my money’s perverted and wicked too and I would not think of contaminating them.

By: Larry

Larry — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:58:34 +0000

Firist let me say that the Church is run by a closeted self loathing homosexual pedophile Nazi. But that doesn’t make all things Catholic evil or unworthy of our support. Every day Nuns feed the poor in our inner cities, they tend to the sick in our hospitals, they teach children of all denominations. All with very little recompense. How many of us reading this blog have done as much good as Father Peter Young?
So this Pope is trying to bring back into the fold a Cardinal that had been excommunicated for denying the Holocaust while condemning the Sisters who have been doing the Churches greatest work. I wish he had taken as strong a stance against the Priest who have raping Alter Boys. Tough to really advocate for the Church but look at the good it does every day in your community, The folks at the Bethesda House are ministering to all who turn up. Food pantries in many parishes are feeding the poor. And how many Catholic volunteers have been there from the beginning of the AIDS crisis. It is screwed up right now but lets wait and see how it improves over the next thousand years. Then we can cast the first stone.

By: Rich-m-p

Rich-m-p — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:09:48 +0000

Katie’s second paragraph hits the nail on the head. And so does Matt by giving this church nada. They’re not the only show in town. There are pahhlennty of great orgs in the Capitol area, with altruistic outreach, sans the hypocrisy and judgment.

Matt’s track record speaks for itself; he’s almost always first on line to give when an organization DESERVES it.

By: JD

JD — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:42:07 +0000

Randy, if your church activity leads you into the kind of delusional thinking you’ve demonstrated here, you’ve made the best argument yet for abandoning organized religion. Step back and take a hard look at this bigoted hypocritical monolith you eagerly serve. See it face to face, don’t just know it in part.

By: Claire

Claire — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:36:53 +0000

As a recovering Catholic, I am glad you have the guts to stand up to these religious organizations. Holier than thou, but when it is them being investigated, they hide. If the Albany diocese had to come clean as they did in Boston, the ‘much loved’ bishop might find himself with a pink slip in the collection basket.

By: Susan

Susan — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:57:37 +0000

Arguing that the Catholic Church is accepting of gays because there are closeted gay people who are priests, deacons, etc. is the funniest thing I have heard today, no this week! (I would this month but I saw a really funny episode of Family Guy last week that still makes me chuckle.)
Randy- the Vatican and the Catholic Church have made it clear over, and over, and over again, that they are anti-gay and anti-gay marriage. If you need one of the billion examples, I give you Pope Benedict saying that homosexuality is a “tendency toward an intrinsic moral evil, and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder.” He goes on, “A person engaging in homosexual behavior therefore acts immorally.”
The sick irony you have pointed out Randy is that these discriminatory, illogical and amoral policies marginalize parishioners and officials within the Catholic Church itself. How cruel and twisted to be told that your Church and your God love you only if you deny the person that you are and pretend to be someone else.
I don’t give any money to the Catholic Church or any organization that actively supports discrimination and bigotry. Especially those that do it in the name of God.

By: scott

scott — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:32:31 +0000

at first glance, I thought that was Tom in the picture, ha

By: Jess

Jess — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:19:53 +0000

Randy, you managed to call Matt’s argument lame and in the same breath, ask for money! Wow..

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:46:42 +0000

To that end, churches should only be compared to the Word of God (in the case of Catholics, the Bible). If they follow through with what the Bible teaches, you cannot blame them for following their beliefs. You don’t have to go along with it, it is your free will. Lastly, the church can ask whomever they want to fund them. Just as it is your right to chose to go the church or not, it’s your right not to fund them or not. Nor should you feel obligated/guilted by any PERSON to give. How you identify how to steward the money you are given is your decision, and it is not the responsibility of others to lord that over you. You ARE responsible, however, to do something with your money, whether for yourself, for others, or for God.

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:32:27 +0000

Randy,

Please read the quoted advice below from the Catholic Church and tell us again that your church is being falsely accused of bigotry.

Full Question
“My cousin is a lesbian living with an another woman. Am I a bigot for feeling uncomfortable around them?”
Answer
“By acting out on their homosexuality, your cousin and her partner are doing something that you know is offensive to God. How can that not make you feel uncomfortable? There is no bigotry in this. It is perfectly OKâ€”even necessaryâ€”to judge behavior and to feel uncomfortable around others whose behavior you know to be immoral.”

http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/my-cousin-is-a-lesbian-living-with-an-another-woman-am-i-a-bigot-for-feeling-uncomfor

In fairness, I guess Iâ€™m also a bigot for refusing to accept your churchâ€™s discriminatory ways.