Free Republic

There is an unfortunate tendency in our times to confuse or equate kindness with charity. There is the tendency to prioritize never offending or upsetting others, over proclaiming the truth. And while it is true that kindness and not intentionally hurting other’s feelings or causing offense is a good thing, it is not so good that the truth should be suppressed in order to accomplish it.But, it is sadly common today. Consider a priest, who, in order not to give offense or cause others to be upset, does not preach important aspects of the Gospel or the moral law. Consider...

World Giving 2013: This fourth edition of the World Giving Index again presents giving data from across the globe over a five year period (2008-2012). The World Giving Index 2013 includes data from 135 countries across the globe that was collected throughout the calendar year of 2012. .... The Index is based on an average of three measures of giving behaviour - the percentage of people who donate money to charity, volunteer their time, and help a stranger, in a typical month. ... The United States is ranked first in this year’s World Giving Index (Table 1), reclaiming a position...

Karen Owen, a writer for the Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, Virginia, authored a recent column in which she sneered that “the term Christian conservative” is “an oxymoron.” How, she asked, “can we call ourselves – and practically insist that we are – a Christian nation when we seemingly ignore so many teachings of Christ?” So what examples does she cite to make her dubious case? Well, there’s the decision by greeting card giant Hallmark to alter the lyrics of “Deck the Halls” on a Christmas ornament from “don we now our gay apparel” to “don we now our fun apparel.”...

'Tis the season for giving. But when you give, do you know your money will help someone? Social workers say, "Don't give to beggars." Those who do give are "enablers," helping alcoholics and drug users to continue bad habits. It's better to give to charities that help the "homeless." I put "homeless" in quotes because my TV producers have quietly followed a dozen of the more convincing beggars after "work," and all had homes. Once, I put on a fake beard and begged for an hour. At the rate money was coming in, I would have made ninety bucks...

This holiday weekend, the Internet is only talking about one chef: Jeff Ansorge. That’s the Minneapolis-based chef, who gave up a cushy job at Capital Grille and a salary of $80,000 to feed the homeless daily. (Because as much as we appreciate chefs taking time off once a year to feed the homeless, this guy does it on the reg — preach.) Now, Ansorge spents his days cooking at the Salvation Army Eastside Worship and Service Center in Minneapolis, where he told the Associated Press that he leads a full life...

WASHINGTON — BY all outward indications, the U.S. Navy Veterans Association was a leader in the charitable community. Founded in 2002 to provide support to Navy veterans in need, the charity recorded astonishing financial success. In its first eight years, it raised around $100 million in charitable contributions, almost all of it through a direct marketing campaign. The organization, headed by Jack L. Nimitz, boasted of 41 state chapters and some 66,000 members. This would be a great story of charitable success, except for the fact that virtually everything about the association turned out to be false: no state chapters,...

A Cleveland Wal-Mart store is holding a food drive — for its own employees.  "Please donate food items so associates in need can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner," reads a sign accompanied by several plastic bins. The Cleveland Plain Dealer first reported on the food drive, which has sparked outrage in the area. "That Wal-Mart would have the audacity to ask low-wage workers to donate food to other low-wage workers — to me, it is a moral outrage," Norma Mills, a customer at the store, told the Plain Dealer.   

This is my second article in reply to Tony, who wrote to me with critical observations on my speech What is Uniquely Good about Western Civilisation Derives from Christianity. The first article is Support for Christianity Should Not Alienate People. My reply is in several parts because he covers many issues, although sometimes using too simplistic arguments compared to the attention they would deserve. The problem I have in answering him is that in the space of a couple of emails he enumerates many things which he finds wrong about Christianity, each of which would require a book (and...

Part I: What it IsObamacare's enrollment fiasco has provided endless opportunities for pointless blather from the unwashed masses of the American "right." Talkshow celebrities and the delicate young men who blog for magazine websites cannot contain their outrage. One of them yesterday, the editor of an actual print magazine of moderately large circulation, trumpeted his revelations to the world. The President has lied to us! The more prudent John Boehner, who unlike the pundits and columnists, has a job involving political responsibility, was content with suggesting merely that the President had misled us.The great misleaders, alas, are the political leaders...

The pope is selling his hog. The National Catholic Register reports that Pope Francis is selling his Harley-Davidson motorcycle to raise money to help the homeless in Rome. “It is a precious gift that has once again made us happy in feeling the closeness of our bishop to the poor of the Church of Rome,” Monsignor Enrico Feroci, director of Caritas Rome, said. “We are deeply grateful to Pope Francis for this.” According to The Associated Press, Harley gave Francis two classic white Harleys for the Vatican police force in June when the manufacturer and tens of thousands of Harley...

To those people paying only casual attention, the Occupy movement has become nothing more than a footnote in history. Their ragtag encampments have been removed for the most part, and there is little to indicate they made much of an impact. In Madison, Wisconsin, however, the Occupy movement has suddenly resurfaced, but with a totally new mission: addressing the basic needs of people who are homeless. As issues around collective bargaining rights for public employees and other significant alterations to the social contract were initiated by Governor Walker and the Republican-dominated legislature, Madison became famous for very loud and angry...

“They gave me an opportunity … to become a man.” That’s what a man of color, choked up, says from inside the business he owns on a video produced for the recent 30th anniversary of Step 13 in Denver. And that’s why Step 13’s founder, Bob Coté, who gave this man that opportunity, despised the welfare state and declared in big letters on the front of his homeless shelter's building that his philosophy was "A hand up, not a hand out." ... Colorado developer and philanthropist Steve Schuck is a long-time board member because he is convinced of the truth...

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks as he lends a hand during a visit to Martha's Table, a kitchen that provides meals for the needy, in Washington October 14, 2013. With Obama are furloughed workers Dolly Garcia (L) who works at the U.S. Census Bureau and Chantelle Britton who works at Health and Human Services. Obama said on Monday it appears there has been progress in Senate fiscal impasse negotiations but that there is a good chance the United States will default on its debts if Republicans are unwilling to set aside some partisan concerns. Where's HIS hair net? Why is...

McAuliffe to donate funds from convicted Rhode Island businessman to charity Terry McAuliffe's name popped up today on a list of investors who bought annuities from a Rhode Island businessman who pleaded guilty in 2012 to stealing the identities of terminally ill patients. The convicted businessman, Joseph Caramadre, was also a donor to McAuliffe's failed 2009 bid for the Democratic nomination for governor of Virginia. Caramadre donated more than $26 thousand to McAuliffe and hosted a fundraiser for the candidate. Caramadre(Court sketch of Caramadre courtesy of WJAR) According to our NBC affiliate in Providence WJAR, there is no evidence that...

BDAtlanta wrote: Then maybe try to repeal it through a majority vote which is obtained through elections. Sorry you are such babies about this. Obamacare is the law, upheld by the Supreme court. last year's election solidified its standing with the majority (51%) of Americans backing the guy who was President when Obamacare was passed. Grow up. - Obamacare is Killing Us Dear Comrade BD, Yes, we are in the process of attempting to repeal it through a majority vote. That’s what elections are about. That’s what next year’s elections will be about for sure. Thanks for pointing that progressives...

Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Rand Paul have become the two most important voices in DC politics. They worked together during Rand’s filibuster earlier this year and during Ted’s filibuster this last week. But the most important thing we’ve seen is personal responsibility and good character from them both. Rand Paul gave $600,000 BACK to the federal government from his office. He’s in it to cut spending in any manner possible, even his own office’s budget. And now, Sen. Ted Cruz has made a similar announcement, saying that he will donate his salary to charity for every day the government...

Carol and Willie Fowler had a lavish wedding reception planned for their daughter, Tamara. Or, they did until the nuptials were called off earlier this month with a mere 40 days to spare. Instead of letting the four-course meal planned for September 15 at an upscale Atlanta restaurant go to waste, the Fowlers called a local charity and asked if they could donate the food to a local charity.

Pope Francis urged members of religious orders on Tuesday to use empty convents and other structures to house refugees fleeing war and hardship, not as hotels. The pope spoke during a visit to refugees at a Jesuit-run center in Rome's historic center. Francis urged members of religious orders to welcome refugees "in the empty houses and convents. Dear religious men and women, the church does not need the empty convents to be turned into hotels to earn money....

Father Gary still needs your help. His car has broken down and it will cost him over $1000 to fix it. His Social Security check and small retirement pension only cover his basic living expenses. His health no longer permits him to work as a supply priest at the local parish, so he has no other income. A kindly neighbor must use his vehicle to drive him to the doctors and for his necessities. He has no other form of transportation to assist him. His diocese cannot afford to give him the funds he needs for his car repairs, so...

What would you do if a police officer threatened to arrest you for trying to share a sandwich with a desperately hungry homeless woman that really needed it? Such a notion sounds absolutely bizarre, but this is actually happening in major cities all over the United States. More than 50 large U.S. cities have adopted "anti-camping" or "anti-food sharing" laws in recent years, and in many of these cities the police are strictly enforcing these laws. Sometimes the goal appears to be to get the homeless people to go away. Apparently the heartless politicians that are passing these laws...