“No charitable donations “
Why should we punish our churches and other charitable organizations?
That is like me saying that I will no longer give to my Church or to Boy Scouts because Obama won?!?!?!! No, I will not stop my contributions. If anything, I will increase them to lower my taxable base... better to give to them instead to the government.
My parish will likely have to do with less from me. From what I understand, something like 40%-50% of my fellow Catholics supported Obomba, in direct contradiction to Church teaching. Well, let them make up my dropping off the rolls.
I will find other ways to reduce my tax liability. Obomba will have to make his socialist programs run without my help.
My church has turned into a touchy-feely do-gooder institution.
Their monthly newspaper is crammed with things that the membership should volunteer to do. Here is a sample of the things listed for us to give to - monetarily and time-wise:
Rummage Sale - need donations of clothing, toys, books, house goods, sports equipment and more - If you can volunteer your time . . . .
Opportunities for missions: Habitat for Humanity - need volunteers to provide good affordable houses for people in need.
Global links - packing surplus medical supplies that are shipped to poor nations.
Angel Food Ministries - For $30.00 a month you can feed a family of four for a week. Volunteers needed to help distribute food once a month.
North Side soup kitchen - help prepare and serve food on the 4th Tuesday of each month.
My "Amazing Place" checklist: how shall I serve (acting, playing games, organizing, mentoring, teaching, cooking, decorating, crafting, being with children, helping from home; when shall I serve (Sunday morning, Wednesday evening, weekdays, weekend retreats, Friday after work, summer); How often shall I serve (once a week, once a month, twice a month, a 3-6 week unit, occasionally)
Care Team: short worship services at a couple assisted living homes, sending cards, calling cancer patients, sewing or crocheting prayer quilts and prayer shawls, making and or delivering meals.
Helping to build homes in a sister city in West Virginia.
Helping ministry in Kenya.
Helping Louisiana's Houma Indian Tribe and how they were affected by Hurricane Katrina
On top of this is the request for monies to help pay off their super church, funds, etc.
What I notice is 90% of this outreach is to people living far far away. I don't see any help for the neighbor up the street who just lost their job. Just because this is in a successful area of town doesn't mean that there aren't some folks in the area hurting.
I don't believe Christ's message was to save the world and ignore the neighbor you step over to do that.
All these are fine intentions. It doesn't make one a Christian. All this is for naught if one doesn't learn the Bible front to back and understand the message and reason for all of what humanity has to go through to exist.
When can I take the time to understand the message of God when my time is filled with work and packing boxes and setting up stands and pounding nails, etc.
The focus of this church has moved from teaching the Bible's message and making sure its members know that to their very soul to plays and musicals and picnics and happy programs so no one feels bad.
The practice of tithing was set up to have monies and supplies for the local population during bad times. Poorer folks were allowed to glean from the farms on the outer perimerters of land, not run roughshod all over and destroy the owner's hard work and business. It was substenance charity for all in that neighborhood - not building a house for someone hundreds of miles away who can't afford the upkeep and will let it go to pot in a few years.
I really believe Christ's vision of charity was for the people you regularly rub elbows with.
The Amish appear to me to have the best outlook on charity.