Earlier this year, the Vatican released a new list of mortal sins which included "Accumulating excessive wealth". Estimates of its own wealth vary, with some reports putting it at £4bn. And in 2007 a political row broke out over the tax exemptions enjoyed by the Roman Catholic church in Italy. Under a deal first hammered out in 1929, it does not pay property taxes.

Originally posted by Lebowski achiever
reply to post by Dskys

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Oh man, talk about your common household/garden variety of hypocrisy.

Earlier this year, the Vatican released a new list of mortal sins which included "Accumulating excessive wealth". Estimates of its own wealth vary, with some reports putting it at £4bn. And in 2007 a political row broke out over the tax exemptions enjoyed by the Roman Catholic church in Italy. Under a deal first hammered out in 1929, it does not pay property taxes.

Originally posted by EquinoxSchmequinox
Mass attendance stats that I could find say that its been going down for decades. People are too busy with their suburban lives to fit in church, and churches are crumbling from age/neglect and the kids, well, the kids don't want to go. Parents also have big problems with kids and churches from serial episodes of abuse by priests, covered up often by the Church. The other thing I saw was, the church is closing many sites because they cannot even staff them with priests.

What I didn't know was the Vatican is also a major property holder and derives a lot of income from leases. What they're spending that money on is a great question.

One of the "benefits" they will tell adherents:

d) Those faithful Christians who do tithe (give sacrificially) report how remarkably their material needs have been met. Moreover, they will cite these blessings as even greater, spiritual rewards:

If you've got no money to distract yourself with movies, food or whatever, you know the church is going to be there to "help" and they'll bait you in any way possible. This is why food kitchens run by religious organizations give me the heebies... yes, they're doing a good deed, but they're not going to do it anonymously. Like advertising, someone is going to be repeatedly exposed to the brand and consider joining.

Any collection of people in dire straights will cling to any provided assistance. Drive up a really bad crisis and some people will "hear a calling" and enroll as priests. This could be one of their long term methods of maintaining the organization with that classic pattern: problem, reaction and solution. They need more people to tithe and they need more people to submit as priests, and when things are going well or life is too hectic, some people aren't going to think of the Church.

You can probably get the "help" you need from any organized community of people without requiring a tithe to a parent organization--the organization and communication between members of the community is enough.

Originally posted by AtlantaInsider1
reply to post by Mr Headshot

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The Catholic Church is bad top to bottom. They knowingly let hundreds of priest molest children and moved them to the next church when the heat was on. I am not against religion, agnostic myself, but you need to select another sect. The Catholic Church is a damn business, simple as that. The church is sitting on one of the largest reserves of money and gold in the world. Look at the Vatican, Jesus himself could only hope to have such facilities. Sorry for the rant.

Honey, please hand me my meds and a the gin!

Originally posted by AtlantaInsider1
reply to post by dunwichwitch

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Quick question dunwichwitch: please do not be offended, but I want to do my due diligence. Were you drinking last night?

post 56. $100 Reward...
..to the first person who can figure out why my author name is "waleska" and why Hillary won't ever bring it up regardless of how far behind in the polls she is?