Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Sorry - I posted this here instead of Chit Chat -

:oops: :oops: :oops:

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Don't sweat it Harvey. It's easy to make that mix-up.


However, ......................... since you have ADMITTED to being in error ...........................drop and give me 20, mister!

:twisted:

Basil Loc: New Mexico

Ding ding!!

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

LMAO - I'v never been able to do 2 much less 20 - now at 76 I'm glad I can still stand up.





;-)

Old Grey Beard Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah

Last I looked it was, cause that's the topic section I opened

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

In Quito there is a Catholic cathedral in which nearly every surface inside is covered with gold leaf. The Catholic Church has never failed to ostentatiously display the wealth it has taken from it's worshipers. Other churches have followed in their footsteps. I think one can find numerous passages in the Bible that would seem to imply that this is not quite what our creator would want....

yhtomit Loc: Port Land. Oregon

Great post.Thank you.

Ambrose Loc: North America

:thumbup:

Imagigraphic Loc: Englewood, FL

Oh yes, the televangelists. Send your money to Jesus, but use my address.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

All non-profit organizations that claim tax-free status, churches included, should have consistent rules - must do some kind of charitable work, not spend too much on fund raising, have reasonable salary caps, etc.

GeorgeH Loc: Jonesboro, GA

There are such rules, but they are too seldom enforced. A goodly number of churches have engaged in partisan political activities, which are forbidden under IRS rules. Very, very few have been investigated in recent years. Have a look at http://www.au.org/ Americans United for Separation of Church and State for information on this.

Here in the Atlanta area we have the World Changers Church, http://www.worldchangers.org/ ,the empire of, I kid you not, The Reverend Creflo Dollar. Really! Now I don't know whether that is his birth name or he changed it, but....

This "church" preaches the Prosperity Gospel, which holds that god wants you to be rich. Of course the implication is that if you're not at least moderately prosperous you must have some how offended the almighty. I find this pernicious.

My home church, The First Unitarian/Universalist Church of Richmond, Va was tax exempt. However, the budget each year included a grant or payment or whatever for our best estimate of our share of police and fire protection. The Board of Stewards, on which my father served, felt that it was only fitting and proper for the congregation to contribute our "fair share" for essential services furnished by the city.

I wonder how many other churches, etc, follow a similar practice.

magicray Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

I just received my Miracle Spring Water and should be moving to the Hamptons soon!