As I understand it, the Mormon church has as strong a relief program for its members as does any religious institution.
But many, many tax exempt donations don’t go to the poor—whether religious or nonreligious donations are considered.
(And I’m about as strong a anyone-but-Mitt poster as anyone on this board who would still vote for him ahead of Obama.)
“As I understand it, the Mormon church has as strong a relief program for its members as does any religious institution.”
I am a Methodist and we don’t have that for OUR members nor did PCUSA. The relief program goes to help the general population.
Look up: Mormon disaster relief, Mormon Relief warehouses, Disaster help to Haiti, Africa, Indonesia, Japan, Joplin.
The Church has several hundred warehouses, canneries, farms to help the poor and needy of all faiths.
Get educated.
Catholic Charities doesn’t ask your denomination before helping you. Nor does any other Christian charity that I know of. So, “relief efforts for its members” isn’t exactly the same as charity, though it’s close.