Catholic Church cuts off ACORN funding

[Duppers]

Source: cnn

CNN) -- The Roman Catholic Church is cutting off funds to the community organizing group ACORN, citing complaints over its voter registration drives in the November 4 election as part of the reason.

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development froze its contributions to the group in June amid allegations that Dale Rathke, the brother of ACORN founder Wade Rathke, had embezzled nearly $1 million.

This week, as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops met in Baltimore, Maryland, the campaign's chairman said it was cutting all ties with the group.

"We simply had too many questions and concerns to permit further CCHD funding of ACORN groups," Roger Morin, the auxiliary bishop of New Orleans, Louisiana, told his colleagues in a letter to the conference.

The CCHD has donated more than $7.3 million to ACORN-related projects over the past decade, including $40,000 to an ACORN chapter in Las Vegas, Nevada, that was raided before the election in an investigation into fraudulent voter registration forms. Among other questionable documents, the ACORN chapter submitted registration forms for members of the Dallas Cowboys football team.

ACORN contends it has tried to help head off election fraud.


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/13/acorn.catholics/index.html

[LynnTheDem]

1. Yes, how DARE that damn Acorn follow US LAW!!!

How DARE they obey the law that says they MUST hand in EVERY voter registration form, no matter how obviously fake it is!!!

Don't they know laws are only there as suggestions???!!
















Just another reason to say "Dear Organized Religioners; fuck off."

[Duppers]

5. seems as if they don't even like the appearance of scandal, even

if ACORN was merely obeying the law.

(You'll love Dennis Donovan's post below.. :) )

[Igel]

34. One problem.

A variety of elections officials, commenting on the squirrelly registrations turned in by ACORN, said that they were *not* among the ones that ACORN flagged, but in the ones that ACORN had supposed reviewed and found to be properly filled in.

In other words, yes, ACORN had to turn in all the registrations, fraudulent or not; but they're not being criticized for the ones they separated out.

In other news, Palin doesn't know Africa's a continent.

[struggle4progress]

46. gotta link?

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Duppers]

3. amen. nt

.

[grannie4peace]

4. boy that is the truth!!!!

[secondwind]

6. you stole my response also!

The Catholic Church (and I am a Catholic) is very corrupt also, from top to bottom.

[Joe Bacon]

7. You got that right

, er, EXTREMELY right when it comes to the crooked IOKIYAR types who run that child molesting scam!

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ananda]

8. as to ACORN

Maybe losing private donations could be a wakeup
call for ACORN to put its internal, financial
house in order. They really need to do that.

Sue

[elocs]

23. Other things aside, embezzlement of a million dollars should be reason enough to cut funding.

It just does not make for as good posting fodder.

[Peace Patriot]

80. I'm not sure what your comment means, but this is a **CNN** report of **allegations**.

You trust CNN? WHAT "allegations"? WHOSE "allegations"? "Amid allegations...".

That is just shit journalism.

-------

"...amid allegations that Dale Rathke, the brother of ACORN founder Wade Rathke, had embezzled nearly $1 million."

-------

Innocent until proven guilty--ESPECIALLY with the criminals and congenital liars of the Bush Junta in charge of the Dept. of 'Justice,' and ESPECIALLY with corpo/fascist 'news' monopolies repeating unattributed "allegations."

PLEASE learn to be skeptical. Remember 'swift-boating'?

[SpiralHawk]

9. "Take that, you Americans, you." - Pope Ratzinger (R)

"From now on we will use our Vast Treasury to support Homelanders only. You Americans can just put on a steenkin veil, sit down, and shut up. Smirk."

- Pope Ratzinger (R)

[LiberalFighter]

18. I saw this picture and thought it was that Dunes guy

[pattmarty]

10. Fuck the Catholic church. Keep the money and use it for...........

..........a pedophile retirement fund. As time goes on the "Church" becomes more and more of a joke, from the Pope with his Fascist past and leanings still, to the "bury the scandal" pedophile priests and brothers and let's not forget the Nuns if anyone wants to investigate that.

[Botany]

11. Attn Catholic Church

The exact # of phony voters who were registered by ACORN
(forms which ACORN had to by law turn in & they flagged as
bad) is zero, zip, or nada.

[Bonhomme Richard]

12. I cut off the Catholic Church years ago.

As a matter of fact, I cut off all churches years ago. I couldn't take the hypocrisy anymore.

[madmom]

17. While never a catholic, I too cut off all churches years ago, been much happier for it!

[peruban]

13. You know, you guys could be a little more sensitive to us Catholic DU'ers

There is corruption in every institution, this is unavoidable. The Catholic church is one that has been around for a couple thousand years and so naturally there are problems to be addressed and these issues are being raised, by laymen such as myself and others who want their church to be more accountable for what goes on in its name.

We do this because we love our church and have faith in its teachings. Sure, we could take our differences and become protestant, agnostic, atheist, whatever but we believe that the church is supposed to change with the times, albeit slowly and with much thought. I am still a Democrat when it comes to my politics, but I can separate my faith from my politics - which is more than what some of you and especially the freepers can say.

So, anyhow, the church is not the evil here and it certainly does not hold a monopoly on the child molestation issue, these are terrible abuses that require modern thinking, action, and purging but this is a problem we Catholics will solve from within through reform and enlightenment.

Wishing you all a great day.

Oh, and far as tithing goes I usually contribute some of my share to whatever cause I deem fit in my church's name, then I leave a little receipt in the basket. That way I can control where my charity goes.

[shrike]

19. I'm afraid that if you're going to hang around here, you're going to have to get used to this

I've been a member for years, am Catholic and have learned not to click on any post that involves the church, nuns, priests, the Pope or anything else related. I clicked on this particular story because I wanted to read the story.

[peruban]

28. I feel like I'm lurking at FR with all the anti-Catholic rhetoric.

I try to encourage "ecumenicism" or basic Christian unity. A good understanding of history, including the Protestant Reformation, the Counter-Reformation, and subsequent proliferation among the puritanical descendants of this nation is a good study in order to understand one's place in history and how their particular branch fits in the "tree of divinity".

Anyhow, I've actually been here since pre-election 2000, I'm on my third nickhandle due to time away and forgotten e-mail passwords and such (I used to be "kixot" and "sequenceofevents")so I'm kind of "old hat" to this sort of thing.

It's very inspirational to compose responses and consider their rebuttals as well, don't you think? It really helps understand the differing opinions and ultimately gain a better understanding of things.

[shrike]

38. Isn't it weird, we get it from both sides?

The FR Fundies hate us, the so-called progressives here hate us. I recently had some fundy preacher try to convert me; that hasn't happened in a while.

I suppose it is inspirational to get responses. I know it challenges me to think through things clearly, to acknowledge the (obvious) sins of the church and defend her when I should. It also makes me realize how complicated things are; nothing's ever black and white.

You sound like a good influence here; glad you're posting.

[peruban]

41. Thank you.

I haven't posted much in recent years but I've been here since before the 2000 debacle, then became clinically depressed, had a change of heart, and then a revival of political interest that made me want to get involved again.

I know that as "faithful" Catholics we get attacked for being anti protestants (or non-"christians") on FR and fascist goose stepping lock steps here on DU but I find that DU'ers are much more understanding and rational when it comes to challenging ideas than they are at FR. I can't even get a reasonable post over there and I try to agree diplomatically a lot of the time.

Here at DU I can get an idea posted and get a few opinions to help me understand others' opinions. I don't want to be intolerant, that seems sinful and contradictory to Christ's or Buddha's teachings to me. We must understand the idea of theological negotiations and compromise in order to please God by being keepers of our brothers. Noah didn't discriminate when he preached of antediluvian salvation. Christ didn't condemn anything but possessive demons, if you believe that mythos, which I do in a Alister Crowley sort of way - I'm not your typical Roman Catholic but I follow the doctrine to the word and am proud of my faith, as much as I would be a proud Quechuan, Basque, Armenian, Macedonian, Bhutan, Turk, Finn, or other cultural identity that preserves its history as a means of cultural identity.

[shrike]

52. Re, the rest of the thread: See what I mean?

You're going to have to wear a heck of a flamesuit to aurvive. Good luck.

[AlphaCentauri]

77. seems like somebody is saying we won the election we don't need catholics anymore

I may be wrong

[La Lioness Priyanka]

43. i feel like i am lurking at FR the way people stand by bigoted religions on du but not the glbt

community.

:eyes:

[peruban]

54. I sympathize.

The difference here is that no one says (or at least no one should be saying) that you're a bad person because of being lgbt. Most defense of religious doctrine I've seen here has been pretty accepting of the lgbt community and I've seen little actual condemnation against the lifestyle. Prop 8 and amendment 2 may not have gone the way we wanted, but doesn't mean the world is against you, just not ready for you. yet. Is this being condescending? I don't mean to be.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

68. actually you are full of shit. the catholic church consistently preaches against my life

one of the ways they do is by calling it a lifestyle

by refusing to allow condoms the catholic church causes a lot of death too.

[peruban]

76. So don't convert to Catholicism and vote against initiatives you disagree with.

The Catholic church has its faults but it has been a long time since the days of the inquisition. This IS a free country.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

83. yes, in which i am free to say that those who want religous sensitivity at my expense are despicable

as are their religions.

[Pastiche423]

49. Do catholics lie a lot

like you just did?

It is impossible for you to have been since pre-election 2000.

[peruban]

53. My, you're a pretentionus one.

If you do your research you'll see that DU has been around longer than Bush 43's administration. I was working at the largest web hosting company in the world at the time and so I had plenty of time to keep up on the news, post opinions, and follow up on articles like "Bob's weekly rant". I voted for Gore and was crushed by the stolen election that I witnessed first hand here in Florida.

As far as your silly little assumption that it was impossible for me to have been reading these pages prior to the 2000 election I suggest you reconsider who you call a liar before you stick your foot further in your in your mouth.

I don't appreciate being called a liar and much less in collusion with my religion.

Have a tolerant day.

[Pastiche423]

55. This website was created AFTER the 2000 election!

I don't need to reconsider jack. YOU LIED!

[peruban]

56. Where are you getting your facts? FreeRepublic?

If this website was created AFTER the 2000 election then how could I have followed the results, been part of the dialogue, and been a paying member all the while the results were happening?

Please stop with the vitriol and see if you can add something constructive for a change. You're making an ass of yourself.

BTW, a simple WHOIS lookup would have showed you that this domain name has been consistently owned since at least 2000.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

59. Check your facts ...

The first sentence of the "About Democratic Underground, LLC" page:

"Democratic Underground (DU) was founded on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2001, to protest the illegitimate presidency of George W. Bush and to provide a resource for the exchange and dissemination of liberal and progressive ideas."

source: http://www.democraticunderground.com/about.html

And a WhoIs search shows this site registration was created after the 2000 election, on December 15th, 2000.

source: http://whois.domaintools.com/democraticunderground.com

[peruban]

60. Look, in don't know why you have a stick up your ass over this thing.

We're talking 8 years, two marriages, and three nervous breakdowns ago. You think I really care that much about a couple months of accuracy just to satisfy some troll's prurient whims? So maybe it was a few months later, the point is I've been on this site in one way or another for 8 years and your "I'm better than you attitude" is pretty prepubescent.

Grow the fuck up.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

61. Nice ... you're caught in a lie and resort to profanity

The point was NOT about about "a couple months of accuracy" as you write.

The point Is that your claims that "DU has been around longer than Bush 43's administration" and that "If this website was created AFTER the 2000 election then how could I have followed the results, been part of the dialogue, and been a paying member all the while the results were happening?" are simply inaccurate.

Sorry about the personal problems you have had. But facts matter.

[peruban]

You simly can't let a mistake go, can you?

In January of 2001 the election was still a hot topic, I was a regular discussion member and we really didn't know if we were in for a long haul yet or not. The issue IS about a couple months of accuracy, I'm sorry if what I wrote got you so bothered but you're going to have to cut people a little slack and take it easy with throwing the "liar" slur around so much. This isn't FR and we don't lockstep in unison around these parts.

Troll somewhere else if you have to.

[Pastiche423]

66. You are the troll

You posts lies and expect others to not only forgive the lies, but you call the people that were correct names.

You owe me an apology.

[peruban]

69. Sorry, I just repond to what I'm given.

I don't go making accusations and questioning others' honesty when we're really here to share ideas, not insults. If you're that offended that you think you need an "apology" call your mother or AA sponsor and cry to them for a little while, I'm sure you'll feel better.

I'm not sure what "name" I called you but I do remember telling you to "grow the fuck up". I don't apologize for that, I stand by it.

Oh, wait, I did tell you to troll somewhere else. That's a verb, not a noun so it can't be a name. But thanks for trying.

[TankLV]

72. what he said...the troll owe you an apology...

[SomeGuyInEagan]

67. Oh, and I'm the troll ... riiiight

[peruban]

70. Yep.

Pretty much.

[TankLV]

73. It wasn't a "mistake" - it proves your an ASS...

[peruban]

74. Nice.

And intellectually stimulating, too.

[mitchum]

63. Wow! You eat the body of Christ with that mouth?

[peruban]

64. I do a hell of a lot more with it, too.

The "F" word never used to draw so much attention here before I chose my new avatar.

[TankLV]

71. Nice - you just join up to criticize us all, and when caught in a LIE, get all fucking preachy...

nice going asshole...

and take your fucking homophobic church with you...

[peruban]

75. Like I said before, I'm a lifelong Dem and have been here for years.

Not keeping track of e-mail accounts and passwords have had me sign up a few times as aesop122, kixot, and sequenceofevents - all 1000+ posters and regular donators - but I never seemed to experience this level of hate until I chose to use the Sacred Heart of Jesus as my avatar. If I had used Amnesty International or my classic Florida avatar you would be treating me with a little more respect. I've posted many times about how my faith does not dictate my politics but it seems some people can't get past this imagery. They just don't seem to "grow the fuck up".

[Pastiche423]

79. STOP

making excuses for your own lying words. This is not about your avatar, whatever the hell it is.

You came into this thread and began lying. Once you were caught, you began acting like you were "persecuted" and started whining.

Btw, you have to earn respect, but the way you're headed, that will never happen.

Own your own lies!

[Name removed]

85. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[shrike]

84. We're about to find out. Biden's Catholic n/t

[radhika]

24. Its not just the pedophile thing...

I had 12 years of catholic school, so I think I 'get' what the church is about. Currently, it's about funding Prop 8 in california, repressing women's rights, reproductive freedom and science (as in stem cells). There is much for society to push back against in the church - even though individual members remain committed to its teachings.

[peruban]

27. THis is why I preach a more "evolved" approach towards the faith.

I have my beliefs, I have my conflicts with some of those beliefs, but I don't allow them to influence what I believe my country stands for. I believe in our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and the brilliant process of government our genius forefathers bequeathed to us.

I live in FL and we had a similar measure to vote on, it was called Amendment 2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Amendment_2), it basically changed the Florida constitution to say "Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized." Short and to the point. No civil unions, no legal standing for two committed adults wanting the same rights as others in the same situation.

Every single county in Florida approved it except one, Monroe county. Guess what part of Florida Monroe county includes?, that's right, the Keys.

So, you may ask, why would a Catholic not support amendment 2? Simple, I would no rather have the government telling me that I can not be married to a woman I love in a Catholic service any more than I would want my government telling anyone else they can't commemorate their commitment to one another in some ceremony or at least the most basic and fair legal acknowledgment, this being a choice, course.

So I get a little annoyed with prop. 8 whiners who think they are the only ones who thought their state was more enlightened than it turned out to be. Just goes to show we still have some moral growing up to do in this country, not just in red or blue states.

[Occulus]

25. You know, your church could be a little more sensitive to us gay DUers.

:grr: :grr: :grr:

[peruban]

32. Point well taken.

Look, the Church doesn't force you to join or partake in its moral preachings and I apologize wholeheartedly for wrongly aggressive proponents of the Church's positions. It's a private organization, it's allowed to discriminate and though not all members are as militant as others there is the ever-present forgiveness clause - which is a little condescending if you ask me. It assumes that you believe you have sinned and offended God and are asking for forgiveness of sins.

I don't believe in politicization from the pulpit, I think that's one of the worst corruptions of the role or pastor/preacher/deacon/priest there could be. I can understand teaching morality, but to influence a democratic vote is to suppose that the attendees are too naive to make up their own minds. Don't ask me about countries where there is no distinction of church and state, I have differing opinions on that.

What about those who feel that their life choice is natural and not an offense to God despite scriptural interpretation? Again, I say that if you are a LGBT looking for spiritual guidance, acceptance, and understanding - the Catholic church may not be right for you. If you feel Christianity is your calling then there are many other churches with more progressive and evolved approaches towards sin, forgiveness, an salvation. The Catholic church will eventually catch up but things work slowly with Catholicism, don't hold your breath for this Pope.

I also cite the Boy Scouts as an example, albeit a flawed one. I didn't agree with their opinion that homosexuals did not make suitable troop leaders but was it their right to say no?, hell yes. They were entitled to run their organization as they saw fit. Did they deserve federal funding after that? Questionably. I would have to say that has to be reviewed by necessity, if vital.

It's sort of a liberty issue, as long as the state does not encourage, incite, or sponsor exclusionary groups those groups have the right to run things as they see fit. Think about the "Daughters of Liberty". They're a pretty exclusive bunch, applications are pretty scarce, I hear.

I do have respect for the Jehovah's Witnesses, though. Their conservative (borderline fanatic) approach to Christianity forbids them from partaking in government of man, i.e. conscientious objection. Since the only true system of order is that created by God all those of man are imperfect and wicked by nature of belonging to this imperfect system of things (original sin, etc.), they should keep their hands clean of involvement. Sort of a cop-out if you ask me, but as philosophically respectable to me as Gandhi.

So, anyhow, back to the issue at hand, I may be a Catholic but I don't believe in the politicization of its doctrine, I'm more of a J.S. Mill fan when it comes to government.

[EFerrari]

37. The Church has always sought to change the times, not be changed by them.

That is the history of the Church. And it's not possible to separate a living faith from an active politics and do it honestly.

[peruban]

45. Not true.

The Catholic church has always been on the tail end of social progress, the Counter-Reformation was a response of the church correcting the corruptions the protestants who objected with the church in its Protestant reformation. The church has always preached reformation rather than separation. Unitly is more important than being right theologically.

That's how I see it, at least. Don't like it? Suck on it like a Jolly Rancher.

[EFerrari]

47. Very true. From the time when the Church sought to keep the Bible

unpublished in the vernacular and made its possession punishable by death to now, when they seek to continue to exert control over the bodies of women, to deprive gays of equal rights, to occlude the rape of children and to punish their parishioners for their political affiliations.

The Church has never been apolitical, never.

You can accept that or not. But if you reject it, you are rejecting not only Church history but current reality.

There is no way to separate a living faith and an active politics honestly. And your recommendation to "suck it" actually illustrates my point.

[llmart]

40. That's an interesting way to tithe.....

I'm not a churchgoer, but there is a house in my neighborhood that the local Catholic church purchased with parishioners' money for the resident priest. It's the nicest house in the neighborhood and very large. They also pay for all the services - lawn care, housekeeping, snow removal - and he's the only one living there. Whatever happened to a vow of poverty?

Also, here in Michigan I believe I read that a diocese gave $5.5 million of parishioners' money to fight the proposal on stem cell research which passed anyway, so their $5.5 million didn't help one iota.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

42. i will the very day the catholic church takes its hateful stance away from my community

as long as the catholic church is a bigoted organization, i will continue to speak out against it and those who condone its behavior.

[mitchum]

62. Give me a break...the Catholic Church was the ORIGINAL corrupt multinational corporation

it's where everyone else learned their chicanery

[Bluenorthwest]

14. They found out that ACORN

registers GLBT people and they will have none of that! They probably just need the cash to spring some priest from pedo jail and get him placed in some nice preschool as quickly as they can.

[johnlal]

15. I cut off Catholic Church funding years ago too...

And feel all the better for it.

[Deep13]

16. Good riddance. nt

[southernyankeebelle]

20. Gosh

I want to tell my fellow catholics instead of giving money to the church give it to ACORN because they seem to be the ones that are taking care of the people in need. Shame on the catholic church. They will never get my money again. The only organization I give to now is St Jude for children with cancer and the salvation army. Who by the way are always first in time of need not the red cross.

[Hulk]

21. I am a Catholic, but the more they get involved in politics....

...the further away they are driving me.

The history of the Catholic Church has been appalling at times, and maybe this is going to be one of them again. I live in Mexico, and there is a history here and throughout Latin America of the Church exploiting and suppressing the people in it's quest for wealth and simple control of the people.

The Inquisition was no party or event to be proud of.

The history of the Catholic Church seems to be riddled with corruption and shame. Charging fees for the sacraments, and on and on and on it goes.

[evilkumquat]

22. Like Most Atheists, I started Out Catholic

'nuff said

[CountAllVotes]

26. I gave up on them too

The day I went to Church and they were praying for * - that was the day I more or less walked away. :grr:

I had not heard about CHARGING for the sacraments! When did this start? :wtf:

:kick:

[GinaMaria]

65. I was wondering if their current actions might drive

people away. Denying communion to Obama supporters seems particulary manipulative and heavy handed.

[Blaze Diem]

29. US Gov't should cut off funding of TAX EXEMPT STATUS for

any organized religion that donates or lobbies for political reasons...etc.

[Acadia Blue]

30. The Catholic church is part of the republican power base

[sonias]

31. The Cathoic Church keeps getting it wrong

Let's see we surely wouldn't want to taint the whole church with the pedophile priests scandal. Would we. The Catholic Church however is willing to cut off ACORN for reports of a few bad ACORN temporary workers. Shameful of the church. Very sad indeed.


Sonia

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Mojorabbit]

35. Ihad not heard about

money being embezzled. What a shame.

[Peace Patriot]

81. It's CNN, for chrissakes! Get a clue! "Amid allegations...". ???? nt

[Critters2]

36. They need that money to settle pedhophile lawsuits. nt

[patrice]

39. This is an Important part of the Catholic church today:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tradition,_Family_and_Property

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Golden_Spur (note who the last recepient was . . . War with Iran anyone?) My sister saw one of the national gatherings of this organization in Colorado Springs at a Catholic church in which she was a musical liturgy coordinator. They arrived in fleets of those super-diesel travel coaches ($100s of thousands each). Conducted a religious ceremony WITHIN the context of the Mass and all decor, everything they wore, all trappings and vestments were black. She quit no long after that.

P.S. That's also the area out of which Blackwater rose up and the founder of Blackwater, Edward(?) Prince, is a Catholic convert.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

44. as pisses as i am w.the mormons, the catholic church interferes w. US politics a whole deal more

than the mormons. they indirectly endorse candidates in a far more aggressive style than the mormons. Yes the mormons were horrible on Prop 8, but the catholic churchs stance on Kerry during 2004 came much closer to breaching the state-church seperation

[EFerrari]

48. The Catholic Church leadership INVITED the Mormons into CA.

:shrug:

[Ian David]

51. Talk about the Priest calling the kettle black. n/t

[KamaAina]

57. Are they sure 'Morin" is spelled correctly?

"We simply had too many questions and concerns to permit further CCHD funding of ACORN groups," Roger Morin, the auxiliary bishop of New Orleans, Louisiana, told his colleagues in a letter to the conference.

Or, could it be...

[investintrains]

58. majority of Catholics voted for Obama

majority of Catholics voted for Obama

http://www.catholicsforobama.org is one of many groups.. others
include Catholic Democrats, and several coalitions

I pray that third trimester abortions and partial birth abortions
will end.

[AlphaCentauri]

78. most likely the ones involve in the social services of the church

but many individuals in the hierarchy are in bed with their sponsors

[melm00se]

82. it's their money

they can put it wherever the choose.