Should struggling churches accept monetary donations from known criminals?
368019
No. But a struggling church should reach out to those criminals who are also struggling in their life. Let them know and show them a better life, one filled with forgiveness, love, and compassion. \nApologize that you can't accept bad money. But try to help him or her turn their lives around. When they are making legitimate money and have a better life, you will both get more than ever before. \n-MikeMillions
1003890
I think the "streets of gold" is a metaphor.  And some so-called Christians might dirty them up just by trying to get in.
701257
Whores bring money to tax men, especially ins places where Bordellos are legitimate business.\n\nAs you said, most churches dont pay taxes. They do pay legal fees and compensations to some of their victims though. The Boston Diocese almost went bankrupt with all the compensation they had to pay to the pedophille priests victims. This money is then spent and generates taxes. God's will perhaps ?
980228
Yes, they should.  If they don't comply, they should be thrown to the lions, just like the Christians.  I'd pay to see that.
351760
It is their own money and they do not ask hoteliers to donate or pay - they give theirs in this way.  You could say "they put their money where their faith is"\n\nI was given over 30 Bibles to give to children in a club I ran and there was never any mention of money - they gladly gave.\n\nThey are not a religion - just a group of Christian business men who call themselves Gideons.
1173485
Come to think of it i do get a rather large number of people saying they are in Africa and asking for money\n\ni have not been able to ascertain what religion they actually are but they do like to cruise various christian chat-rooms looking for a 'hit'\n\nHow they tend to operate is to sit in the room for a bit and wait for someone who looks like they may be a 'rich' westerner.  Rather than imbibe in room chat they will im them privately.\n\nsome ask for money straightaway - others will not do it immediately but will build up to it over a few conversations.\n\nthey usually have stories of hardship but all of them have enough resources to find a computer (and some even have web-cams too!) \n\nmy advice is \n\n* dont respond to ims from people from chatrooms without any room chat first\n\n* dont send money to individuals that you meet online - you cant check out scams as easily online - if you do feel sorry for their plight then gifting to a charitable agency will do far more about the situation
966287
I think that religion should be held accountable the same way any business is. They have to prove they can deliver the product they are selling and if they can't, they should be exposed as a fraud. All I expect is proof that the ever-lasting life they push, is real and that as a subcontractor they have an obligation to prove that the supplier really exists. Short of that, their assets should be seized, sold and the resulting funds distributed to the poor rubes they victimized.
260270
I think that the Unied States government should not spend money on churches- being that the church and state are supposed to be unconnected... i think the money should go to the children that are hungry on the streets of the inner cities.... or maybe some of it should go to feeeding dieing children elsewhere in the world, there are starving people everywhere and yet millions of dollars go into the building of extravagent churches around the world....
545702
It depends on the book.  Books which have nothing to do with the crime for which the person is in jail should be fine.  But when prisoners make money telling about their crime many states require the proceeds (in some cases 100%) to go into a victim's fund.
92983
Not all charities deal with hunger.  The catholic church is a frequent location for the donations.  The church has numerous  employees at every church as well as support staff at the diocese level and at the Vatican.  Most of these staff members are salaried while the Priests & etc have most of their expenses paid for through these donations.  The staff members are to be treated like members of any business and receive pension and health care adding additional costs.  Other costs that individual churches have include heating and cooling costs.  If you think your heating bills are bad, think of a large building with lots of windows and doors frequently being opened.\n\nThe church itself has numerous missions besides just feeding the hungry.  Frequently churches have nurses on staff to visit the elderly home bound and others who may need help in administering special medication and cannot afford nursing homes or a onsite nurse.  There are frequently nuns on paid staff that visit the ill, the dying, etc.   Some churches have other ministries as well depending on the local area.  \n\nCatholics are also big on right to life and spend considerable resources attempting to deny people's right to choose.  They are also suppose to be opposed to the death penalty and also working against the archaic penalty but is nomally the work of a few individuals.\n\nAll of these different things I have mentioned are just a few of the items that the church works on as well as hunger.  That being said, Catholics are individuals and also give to other charities that they have personal interests in.  From cancer research to colleges, it all stretches the dollar even further.\n\n\n\n\nEverywhere I have been, the protestants have tended to have much more open pocketbooks.  It may have something to do with the silly notion that catholics have that every sperm is sacred and thus have more kids.  The point is, everyone overlooks the most needy, not just Catholics.
122295
Yes.  They may not be bound by Christian ethics, but if they lie, they have committed perjury and can do jail time for it.
764870
There's a lot of merchant bankers in Christianity
1081094
b/c some churchs(and their ministers) are selfish and hoard their money.
847335
None!  God doesn't need your money.  Want to donate something?  Donate blood, give old clothes to the salvation army, donate your time to a shelter or program like Big Brothers/Big Sisters...you will make a much more positive impact than throwing your money into a plate to cover the church's light bill.
1078618
depends on the religion...some absolutely require tithes (like the mormons), for others it's completely voluntary.\n\nTithing is a way for a religious group to extract money from its followers to continue to run the organization and make it stronger.  It's a tax on belonging to that religious organization that requires it.  supposedly god doesn't need money, so why should "his" organization need it?  Why doesn't god just supply them with what they need?
527211
Yes! This is what they think about instead really helping the poor, being merciful and kind, and setting a Christ like example. They also worry about how they will fill their Lexus SUV Jesus Fish Stickered vehicle with gasoline and still give to the new carpet fund at church/
979291
SCAMMERS! LOWLIFE OPPORTUNISTS! Yes...they should be prosecuted.