[ATOMIC_PUNK]

such as churches?

Hmmm ive never been to a church where they teach drug dealing, murder, rape, pediphelia and the such do thy all belong to sam blacks satanic church?

[Congressman Billybob]

If you look at school dropout rates, crime rates, use of drugs, illegitimate children, etc. -- all the measurements of social breakdown -- the dominantly black communities have suffered sharp declines, beginning about two generations ago. If you look at the role of black churches in their own communities over the same period, you see a double decline. The churches have become less effective, and the churches have taken the breaks off with regard to personal responsibility.

I'm not saying that the black churches "teach" or "promote" drug dealing, etc. What I am saying is that black churches have lost -- sometimes by their own choice -- the civilizing and healthy influence they once had. I should add that the positive influence of the churches to society at large has also dropped in predominantly white communities as well, over the same period of time.

But, Cynthia Tucker's focus was on the black communities. So, my comment focused on the same.

Congressman Billybob