Maher on Romney's charity to the Mormon Church 4/27/2012

[_Bond James Bond]

Hopefully this link will stay up (skip ahead to 14:00 for my reference):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZQd-w8ryJs

The discussion preceding Bill Maher's comments about Mitt Romney's donations to the Mormon Church is primarily about Mitt Romney's business career. One commentator makes the point that Mitt Romney's wealth was made through "vulture" capitalism (my term) where instead of making products to sell his company, Bain Capital, bought companies, ran up the debt, and then slashed jobs and worker benefits. The female commentator, S.E. Cupp, argues that Mitt Romney is exonerated because he donated millions of dollars to charity. Bill Maher then argues that it isn't charity to donate to "the Mormons".

Maher stumbles to make his point (as he often does). I think when he said "the Mormons" he meant the Mormon hierarchy and the business empire the Church owns. Obviously he is wrong that there aren't any poor Mormons. Examples exist on this board and MAD and obviously there are Mormons around the world who are poor. But the point I think he should be making is that donations to a rich Church does not atone for the jobs he destroyed and lives he made harder through his businesses' predatory tactics. In addition I think Maher's atheism colors his comment that donations to a religion are not as pure as donations to a secular charity such as the Red Cross. I tend to agree under that argument that some of that money goes towards evangelism of the religion rather than pure charity to the suffering (or in the LDS case towards building real estate wealth).

My final thought I guess is that Maher was wrong, but that Mitt Romney's wealth was earned in a sleazy manner.

I guess my question for the board then, to provide a topic for discussion, is does giving to charity exonerate the way the money was earned? How about the mitigating or aggrevating factor of which charity that money is given to?

Alright go.

[_DrW]

Saw this last night and thought it was great.

Even my NOM wife agrees that Romney's giving does not go to "poor people" but to the LDS Church.

Looks like it is going to be a tough campaign for the LDS Church.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Not only does the average person understand "donating" money to the Mormon church isn't the same as donating money to a charity, but it has a very odd or off-putting feel to it. To see that he gives so much money to the billion dollar Mormon corporate identity is akin to seeing Tom Cruise donate his time and resources to the Scientology cult.

- VRDRC

[_Bond James Bond]

Not only does the average person understand "donating" money to the Mormon church isn't the same as donating money to a charity, but it has a very odd or off-putting feel to it. To see that he gives so much money to the billion dollar Mormon corporate identity is akin to seeing Tom Cruise donate his time and resources to the Scientology cult.

- VRDRC

I think Maher could educate himself a bit more and could articulate more clearly between the Mormon hierarchy and business empire and "Mormons" the people. But yeah I think the basic assumption Maher makes, that the Mormon church is filthy rich, is correct.

[_Bond James Bond]

Looks like it is going to be a tough campaign for the LDS Church.

I'm waiting for Mormonism to take a big assault from secular critics when issues about treatment of women starts as Romney tries to bridge his voting gap (I've seen as high as a 20 point deficit) with women. I don't think the priesthood ban for blacks will play as big a role because at least 90% of African-Americans are going to line up behind Obama anyway.

[_harmony]

I don't think it's fair to criticize where Romney donates to charity, as long as the charity is a charity. He can put his money wherever wants. It wouldn't make any difference if he donated to Mother Teresa... it's his choice.

And there are other charities besides the poor. It's not Mitt's fault the church doesn't care about the poor; he probably doesn't have any idea where the money goes.

[_Bond James Bond]

I don't think it's fair to criticize where Romney donates to charity, as long as the charity is a charity. He can put his money wherever wants. It wouldn't make any difference if he donated to Mother Teresa... it's his choice.

Are all charities equal? Is the Red Cross or a food pantry no different from the Mormon Church?

(And is it really "charity" if tithing is a de facto requirement for the highest levels of afterlife glory or paying to get into heaven?)

[_harmony]

I don't think it's fair to criticize where Romney donates to charity, as long as the charity is a charity. He can put his money wherever wants. It wouldn't make any difference if he donated to Mother Teresa... it's his choice.

Are all charities equal? Is the Red Cross or a food pantry no different from the Mormon Church?

(And is it really "charity" if tithing is a de facto requirement for the highest levels of afterlife glory or paying to get into heaven?)

501(c)3 designation is all an organization needs to be considered a charity.

So no... the Red Cross, a food bank, or the Mormon church are all equal charities.

Your last question isn't about charities... and it can be said for any church, not just the Mormons.

[_krose]

The church's status as a charitable organization is only a legal definition. There is nothing charitable about tithing donations. Ethically, the LDS church is not a charity. Only legally.

I think it would make a HUGE difference, morally, to give a million dollars to Mother Teresa (or the Red Cross, or Haiti relief, or starving African children) instead of to a rich organization that uses it to build gaudy temples and such.

Romney uses the donation as a tax deduction, which means that all of us taxpayers are subsidizing his donation.

[_Bond James Bond]

Are all charities equal? Is the Red Cross or a food pantry no different from the Mormon Church?

(And is it really "charity" if tithing is a de facto requirement for the highest levels of afterlife glory or paying to get into heaven?)

501(c)3 designation is all an organization needs to be considered a charity.

So no... the Red Cross, a food bank, or the Mormon church are all equal charities.

According to the government. How about your opinion?

Your last question isn't about charities... and it can be said for any church, not just the Mormons.

Care to give your opinion about my question?