Clerics should stay out of politics and Politicians shouldn’t give money to church they’re not members of
By Marc • Oct 24th, 2005 • Category: In Other News...., the RanterI hate it when churches are turned from hollowed ground to into political stumping grounds.
WASHINGTON - New Jersey Sen. Jon Corzine (news, bio, voting record), a former Wall Street executive with a portfolio worth $261 million, has been giving some of his money to black churches, raising questions about whether it’s generosity or politics.
The Democrat, who is in a tight race for governor, donated or loaned more than $2.5 million last year to black churches. He has received the endorsement of more than two dozen black ministers.
“Blatant quid pro quo-ism,” said Democrat Walter Fields, Jr., former political director of New Jersey’s NAACP. “We have always had wealthy candidates running for office. What we have never had is that individual wealth being used in such a direct way, and somehow we’re supposed to look the other way.”
There’s nothing wrong when the leader of a flock explains the religious teaching that might be needed when making a decision in the voting booth, but when they openly endorse or reject a candidate, that is crossing the line….
Read the Yahoo story here.
Marc is a Catholic technology geek living in Tennessee. He blogs at Wild Tangents and is the host of the Catholic Vocations Podcast.
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