How You Pay For Religion
A brief note by Maggie Atkins.
Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund (England & Wales): -
This fund is part of the Government's 'Improving Opportunity and Strengthening Society' strategy. The fund supports the Governments aim to help faith communities promote understanding and dialogue: it further supports the aim of promoting a tolerant society in which people can live with mutual respect and fairness.
Yes, the faith groups that make women second class citizens, condemn homosexuals and try to impose their ideas on us are to tell us how to have a tolerant society showing mutual respect and fairness. The Fund has made available in 2005/06- £7.5 million and 2007/008 - £4.5 million so to faith communities for their own purposes £12 million but local youth services are closed.
Another strategy
'Connecting Communities Plus' has a priority of: Bringing together communities from different races and faiths, and promoting a shared sense of belonging. Sound familiar? So far £1 million paid out with another pay out round imminent. But, no secular groups need apply
Faith Schools: -
Currently they get state grants of up to 90% of the costs of school buildings and 100% of the running costs. The Church of England alone has over 4,600 schools promoting their religious beliefs. Additionally, 200 Further Education Colleges are funding C of E chaplains with a request for 200 more in the pipeline. Factor in all faith schools and consider what you pay to promote segregation.
Church Buildings and Lottery Money: -
We thought lottery money was for charitable causes however, responding to a Parliamentary Question Sir Stuart Bell, the church commissioner, revealed that £405 million of lottery money has been spent on church buildings and estimated £378 million more was required by the Church of England alone. Whilst many areas of society suffer deprivation is it right that religious groups can get so much? Should the C of E with an estimated £6 billion in investments and an unimaginable fortune in property and land receive such funding? The C of E is also the principle beneficiary of VAT relief on listed places of worship, but secular buildings do not qualify.
Hospital Chaplains: -
You pay for chaplains that hardly anyone wants in hospitals, in prisons and in the armed forces. A Middlesex hospital funded 3 chaplains costing £150 thousand per year, how many badly needed cleaners would that provide? As for the Armed Forces... a Parliamentary Question revealed there are 313 full time chaplaincy staff costing £29.5 million whilst our soldiers go ill equipped and die. Did you know that church collection plate money is "gift aided" so as a taxpayer you get to contribute too.
