Question

[low_delta]

Does opening up religious organizations to federal help oppose or facilitate separation of church and state?

Comments

..

[whorlpool.livejournal.com]

Ultimately, the question will be a little different. Is the sacrifice worth the amount of help that faith-based organizations will give, with tax-payer money, to people who truly need it?

My quick answer: No.

My slower answer: It depends on how it's handled.

Personally, every increase in power given to any "faith-based" organization feels like a shot through my heart. But then again, people are truly hurting, and they do need help.

Re: ..

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I guess I meant the question in a bit more general sense than it looks. But I'll take whatever answers anyone wants to throw in here.

Separation - hmm...

[banana.livejournal.com]

How nice to have a separation between church and state! We have bishops in the House of Lords, and a head of state who is also head of the Anglican church.

Well, answer (a) is that if church and state are separate, no money should be given to religious groups. Answer (b) is that if services are outsourced by the state, can't religious groups be the service providers as much as anyone else?

With church and state integrated, we have very little influence exerted by religion, and no govt money handed over. You have them supposedly separate, but religious groups can have a big influence.

regarding giving fed, $$$ to religious institutions

[ex-wing191.livejournal.com]

From the standpoint of religious institution I could see how they might begin to waffle or compromise on their beliefs and objectives if they thought it meant they'd lose money.

It seems like it might be very easy for government to exert influence over religious institutions if it was contributing to the financing of those same institutions.

It seems like the separation of Church and State was established not only to protect the State from the Church but also to protect the Church from the State.

Re: regarding giving fed, $$$ to religious institutions

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

"It seems like it might be very easy for government to exert influence over religious institutions if it was contributing to the financing of those same institutions."

Yes, I hadn't looked at it that way yet. I usually don't give that much thought to the protection of those organizations.