OT: Politics And Government

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I'm watching Fox and Forum. Comments on Bush link with Catholic by campaign spokesperson currently on Fox. I was raised a Catholic,worked for a while in the social service system. so I know whereof I speak. I think the Church should NOT be involved with the State regardless of denomination. For the Bush camp to play on its involvement with the Catholic Church is alarming. Opens up a nasty can of worms that won't stand too close a look. The disbursement of block grant funds to religious entities is a violation of Church-State separation guaranteed by the Consititution. There's too much profit to "not-for-profit" entities in this scenario. Turned completely off to this concept when I heard a program director funded by block grant funds refer to recepients of service as "these people" in context of forcing use of agency resources to retain medicaid assistance: and this was a reference to the working poor who are forced to rely on aid. Now to our little Church in earlier posting under attack for insisting on separation.... looks like might makes constitutional right. Where are we, people?

-- another government hack (keepwatching_2000@yahoo.com), February 27, 2000

Answers

You are so right agh. That first government grant, fund or whatever you call it is the first step down the slippery slope.

nancy

-- NH (new@mindspring.com), February 27, 2000.


I agree with your post, but understand this is NOT the first time a presidential front runner used a religious denomination for election purposes.

Kennedy went to Rome and knelt before the Pope to kiss his ring. Ozone Al uses Buddists monks, was at one time an ANTI ABORTIONIST, actually convinced Religious Right he was a Christian. Yimmy Carter :: What more can be said Klinton actually sang in a choir of a church that was being aired on TV while he was between Governorships.

-- bobby knight (rknight@nb.net), February 27, 2000.


Respectfully disagree. I don't think religious groups should receive preference because they're religious, but I do think they should be on an equal footing with secular organizations. E.g., vouchers for private schools are either right or wrong; I can understand (albeit disagree) not wanting them at all, but I think it's unfair to allow vouchers for those attending secular private schools but not religious schools. I think programs to help the needy should be judged based on effectiveness at helping the needy, not favored because they're religious in nature and not excluded either. In other words, government NEUTRALITY toward religion, neither promoting it nor promoting programs that exclude it.

-- Markus Archus (apxov@mail.com), February 27, 2000.

The government needs to be removed from education all together. Our public school system was once the finest in the world. It was envied by the industrialized world. Then Eisenhower let sputnick get launched when we were ready and able to launch into space first. Eisenhower declared that our colleges were behind and started the first governments grants to public colleges to upgrade education. Look at our colleges now--------models of PC thought.

nancy

-- NH (new@mindspring.com), February 28, 2000.


Excuse me, I didn't mean to re-direct the original thought to education. The Government should stop handing out funds and grants PERIOD----and woe to the Catholic Church if it starts accepting government grants. The Church will soon belong to the government as every other reciepient of a handout does.

nancy

-- NH (new@mindspring.com), February 28, 2000.



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