House passes bill to allow tithing during bankruptcy

[neebob]

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_4794296

Let me suggest a better headline:

Hatch and Obama work together to ensure that the LDS and other churches are allowed to continue practicing extortion during bankruptcy

<snip>

WASHINGTON - Congress has passed legislation co-sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, that would allow a person to contribute to charity or pay religious tithing during the course of a consumer bankruptcy. The bill, also sponsored by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., passed the House on Wednesday; the Senate approved the measure in September. "Congress has a long history of protecting our religious freedom to tithe," Hatch said in a statement. "That was our intent when we enacted bankruptcy reform last year, and this bill clarifies the law so that those who tithe can continue to live their faith while in bankruptcy." A ruling by a New York bankruptcy court earlier this year prompted the legislation. The judge ordered that an upper-income couple filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy could not pay tithing to a church until all creditors were paid first. The Hatch-Obama bill clarifies that Congress did not intend to prohibit religious tithing or charitable contributions when it passed the reform measure last year. "For millions of Americans, charitable giving and tithing is an essential part of their lives," Obama said in a statement. "And in a country where 37 million citizens live in poverty, we should be encouraging charitable giving, not limiting it." President Bush is expected to sign the legislation.

<snip>

That's the entire article, by the way. No shit on the last sentence. Ugh! That is all.

[Kellyiswise]

1. So I can have the church hold my money for me?

[neebob]

2. Uh-huh, and good luck getting them to give it back. nt

[MADem]

8. Better yet, create your own church, file the appropriate papers and tithe to it! Yee haw! NT

[Selatius]

3. Charity is a failure as far as social policy

Because charity is like a shotgun blast in the dark. Sure, it helps people, but it doesn't necessarily get to where it's needed. That's why social programs were invented. Unlike charity, you can aim social programs and can determine to what degree aid is given.

[NC_Nurse]

4. Why don't they encourage the creditors

to consider the bankrupt person a "charity"? They could "forgive" the debt, couldn't they? }(

[neebob]

6. A few months after the original bankruptcy bill went into effect

I got a collection call from Citigroup, because I had one of those multi-month agreements to pay off a balance and hadn't realized that their raising the minimum payment during this agreement affected me.

So the guy sez to me, sez he, "The government stepped in to help people pay off their debts." And I'm like, "Did you really just say that to me?" and he's all, "Yes."

[Hubert Flottz]

5. God uses Fuzzy Math anyway...

God helped Kenny Boy rip off thousands of ENRON pensioneers. God needs the cash more than someone who advanced credit in good faith, to a crooked bible thumper.

[jody]

7. Instead of tithing, they should pray for money to pay off their debts. If the entity

to which they pray wants them to prosper, they will.

If she/he doesn't prosper then clearly the entity to which they pray either does not exist or views the person as a hopeless sinner.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. So the government encourages people in debt

to give away money, while their creditors (who might be big businesses, but might also be individuals) who have provided some kind of goods or services have to twiddle their thumbs?

"And in a country where 37 million citizens live in poverty, we should be encouraging charitable giving, not limiting it." But you shouldn't be encouraging the giving from those in poverty, dumbo.

[Vinca]

10. Let me get this straight.

I can send money to keep the corporate religious jet flying, but I can't get life or death medical expenses on my credit card excused. This is nothing more than pandering bullshit. What's wrong with Obama?

[JNelson6563]

11. Obama shoring up the Mormon vote?

A great big WTF. :wtf: