Ever wonder where your money goes when you donate it to the church? I encourage church go-ers to ask about this process and follow up on the process if possible. You may never be able to know for sure how much of the “magical pot” is getting emptied before it goes down the charity line to the people that actually need the help–but it’s no harm being curious about it.

Organizations like the Red Cross make millions and mullions of dollars a year… but they also have employees and fees and supplies (and and and) that aren’t free and aren’t donated. These organizations are a business with a business growth model that makes them succeed over the rest as titans in this enterprise of giving.

I just want to make some points here, and you be the judge; be critical and ask your own questions, and dig dig dig for the answers that leave YOU feeling happy about giving!

• The Red Cross, under the Liberty Fund, collected $564 million in donations after 9/11. Months after the event, the Red Cross had distributed only $154 million. The Red Cross’ explanation for keeping the majority of the money was that it would be used to help ‘fight the war on terror’. Prison Planet
• Red Cross’ Top Person: Marsha Evans, Top Salary:* $651,957 (FY ending 06/30/03) Forbes.com
• More than 20% of U.S. charities spend over 40% of the money they receive on administrative costs. In other words, only 60 cents of every dollar you donate to these charities is used for the intended charitable purpose. The rest goes to overhead, which in many cases includes unconscionable executive salaries. By contrast, 83 cents of every dollar you throw into one of the Salvation Army’s red Christmas kettles goes directly to helping people in need. The Conservative Truth

My opinions are just satire, but as in all joking buffoonery, a little truth always exists, otherwise the trigger for the joke would never get off the ground.

If you think priests are “above human” due to their “closer proximity” to God, let me just say: Bullshit. Blasphemy you say? let me point out some shocking tales of the modern day:

• The main events in the ongoing sex abuse scandal involving the US Roman Catholic Church and in particular the Boston Archdiocese, which has been at the centre of many of the highest-profile accusations. Link
• Some Americans who claim they were abused by Catholic priests are less than impressed by the communiqué issued by American cardinals. Link
• The head of the Catholic Church in Australia was embroiled in a sexual abuse controversy on Tuesday, only days before Pope Benedict arrives in Sydney for a visit that could see abuse victims staging protests. Link

Google searches on “priests” and “child pornography” will return more specific results that’ll revolt you. My commentary here is to not generalize priests; my 2 cents in an attempt to shed some light over this shady reality for the naive.

I only wish that if bad press is in order for the clergy, then why childern?! Why not notch your belt with some ADULT controversy using change from the donation basket?

Church Week on RD continues…

I am sure–-for the most part–-church collection baskets are legitimate methods of collecting for the needy. BUT… when I see pastors driving expensive cars, that credibility goes out the window.

My opinion on donations to organizations are always shady. Organizations–as much as you’d like to believe are all-volunteer–are not quite so. There is a business model behind it that needs to support people’s salaries–albeit ridiculously at times–and keep the organization on strong financial foundations to allow for growth and stability.

So, next time you want to help the needy, go volunteer your time and services to a soup kitchen, hand out blankets on a cold winter day, offer your services as a councilor for people who need emotional support through times of crisis. There are plenty of things you can do to be a Good Samaritan. Try not to let your desire to do good induce ignorant choices. Find out where your money is going and how it’s getting there!

Happy giving! (If you’d like to help a needy artist, please donate anything you can to my Paypal account–contact me “nunoxei at gmail dot com”)