Posted on 03/02/2010 10:39:59 AM PST by a fool in paradise
"When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when you number them." -- Exodus 30:12.
No one talked about plagues or ransoms during a news conference today at St. John's United Methodist Church downtown....
These local leaders gathered to promote "Census Sabbath" (PDF) March 5-7. They encouraged pastors, rabbis, priests and other spiritual leaders to dedicate sermons and other messages to the value of returning 2010 Census forms that will arrive in mailboxes throughout the country next week.
Parker repeated a message to immigrants and others who may be wary of any interaction with a federal government agency: Don't be afraid....
Jackson Lee said the Houston region stands to lose billions of federal dollars if the local count is incomplete.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.chron.com ...
Houston PING
Census Sabbath document announced above:
http://www.houstontx.gov/census2010/docs_pdfs/Census_Sabbath_eng.pdf
Dear Faith Leader
The 2010 Census is vitally important to Houston. So much relies on Houston having a complete count - more than $400 Billion in federal and state funding, increased elected representation at all levels, an accurate picture of our community for planning purposes - are just a few. We know, however, that the Census continually undercounts our population.
To remedy this, the Mayor has initiated a community-wide effort to reach Hard-to-Count populations and emphasize the importance of filling out census forms next spring. The 2010 Census Sabbath is part of this effort.
We are encouraging each faith-based congregation to promote the importance of an accurate census next spring. We’ve designated the weekend of March 5 through 7, 2010 as Census Sabbath. During this weekend, we hope that faith-based institutions across our community will use every written, visual and spoken opportunity to encourage their parishioners to complete their forms and mail them back before April 1, 2010. History shows, this is the best way to get an accurate response.
In the months from January through April, there will be many opportunities for individuals to see the Census message. Newspaper ads, radio and television programming, community events, and the like, will blanket our community with the message It’s Easy, It’s Important, It’s Safe.
However, we know two things: some populations are less likely to participate in the Census, and all the advertising in the world might not be worth one word from you, their trusted faith-leader. Please, make the most of that trust, participate in the Census Sabbath.
Attached are several documents to help you spread the message. Additional copies are available, either on-line at www.houstoncounts.org, or by calling the Houston Counts Manager, Margaret Wallace at 713-837-7826. Documents are available in other languages as well. In addition, on that website, there is a link to the four minute Census video “A New Portrait of America.” It is very motivational and available in several different versions targeted toward specific populations.
Thank you, in advance for assisting this critical community effort. Please feel free to call and ask for any additional assistance, or make any suggestions for how to best spread the message of the importance of a Complete Count.
Sincerely,
Margaret Wallace
Manager, Houston Counts
Elliot Gershenson
President, City of Houston Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston
Increasing Houston's response rate increases the accuracy of our count and reduces the chance for undercounting. A better count improves the possibility of:---• Increased funding for hundreds of critical programs serving youth, seniors and others in need
• More funding from the Institutes of Health, the National Endowment of the Arts and a dozen other Federal agencies
• Better highways and more transit investment
• Another member of Congress and More Representation in Austin
• A more accurate picture of our population to use when adding two new City Council Districts in 2011
page 4
In researching religious context to the census there are many such biblical references. In other traditions, while references to an actual census are limited, there are many injunctions to be part of the general society and to seek out guidance from authorities.
Scriptural and Religious References to Census
Selected Biblical References:
Exodus 30:12
“When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.”
Exodus 38:25
“The silver obtained from those of the community who were counted in the census was 1000 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel…”
Numbers 1:1 and 1:2
“The Lord spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: “Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.”
A Jewish interpretation of Numbers 1:2: Sages connect the final total of 603,550 Israelites to the tradition that there are 603,550 letters in the Torah. Just as the absence of one letter renders the Torah scroll unfit for use, the loss of even one person prevents the world from fulfilling its divine mission.
2 Kings 12:4
“Joash said to the priests, ‘collect all the money that is brought as sacred offerings to the temple of the lord – the money collected in the census, the money received from personal vows and the money brought voluntarily to the temple.”
Luke 2:1
“(The Birth of Jesus) In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world”
From the Qur’n
“(O Prophet) consult with them all in the conduct of secular affairs.” (Qur’n 3:59) There is no moving creature on earth but its sustenance depends on Allah: He knoweth the time and place of its definite abode and its temporary deposit: all is in a clear Record. (Qur’n 11:6)
And there is not a thing but its (sources and) treasures (inexhaustible) are with Us; but We only send down thereof in due and ascertainable measures. (Qur’n 15:21) “(The pious) conduct their affairs by mutual consultation.” (Qur’n 42:38)
From Vedic (Hindu) Sources
None is superior or inferior, high or low, All men are brothers, children of father God and mother Earth, They should advance and flourish under the care, Practicing eternal universal code of life. (Rig Veda 5-60-5)
Let us defend together; eat and live together; improve our efficiencies and capabilities together; Be educated and develop our resources together; Let us not hate anybody. (Taittiriya Upnishad, Brahman Valli 1-1)
Radio ads the past few weeks on the Gulf Coast have been on the order of “participate in the census so we can get our share of tax money”. Pretty disgusting. But predictable.
They had dead people voting. I wonder if they will have imaginary people filling out census forms to bump up the numbers of “recipients of government aid”
When they expand that to NEA (National Endowment For The Arts) funding, we clearly see it includes non-essential spending.
And it seems as if this scampaign is seeking to count NON-citizens (including those who are here illegally which should NOT be used for the purposes of apportioning seats in Congress):
Q: Does the Census Bureau share information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service, courts or police?
A: No. It is against the law for the Census Bureau to give personally identifiable information about an individual to any other individual or agency until 72 years after it is collected for the decennial Census.
Q: Who should complete the Census form?
A: The head of household should complete the form on behalf of every person living in the residence on April 1, 2010, including relatives and non-relatives.
Q: What do I do about people who live with me occasionally?
A: You should count people who are living in your home on April 1, 2010. Do not include any family members living somewhere else on that date. They will be counted where they are living.
Q: How does the Census Bureau count people who don’t have a permanent residence?
A: Census Bureau workers make every effort to count people living in group quarters, such as college dormitories, military barracks, nursing homes and shelters, as well as those who have been displaced by natural disasters.
Not a single statement about legality of those applying. Just “don’t be afraid of La Migra!”
And naturally, none of the usual liberal whining about 'separation of Church and State'!
To the Left, “The Church” only exists to indoctrinate the masses in the latest DNC talking points. The rest sleep in and get the “sermons” from NPR.
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