Before sending needed relief to millions of Americans and small businesses, the Biden Administration may want to consider barring some unworthy recipients from last year. In an exclusive investigation by the Associated Press, Catholic Church dioceses pocketed millions of taxpayer dollars in relief payments under the Paycheck Protection Program despite sitting on billions of dollars in available funds:
"As the pandemic began to unfold, scores of Catholic dioceses across the U.S. received aid through the Paycheck Protection Program while sitting on well over $10 billion in cash, short-term investments or other available funds, an Associated Press investigation has found. And despite the broad economic downturn, these assets have grown in many dioceses.
Yet even with that financial safety net, the 112 dioceses that shared their financial statements, along with the churches and schools they oversee, collected at least $1.5 billion in taxpayer-backed aid. A majority of these dioceses reported enough money on hand to cover at least six months of operating expenses, even without any new income." (our emphasis)
Holy scam! It gets worse:
"Overall, the nation’s nearly 200 dioceses, where bishops and cardinals govern, and other Catholic institutions received at least $3 billion. That makes the Roman Catholic Church perhaps the biggest beneficiary of the paycheck program, according to AP’s analysis of data the U.S. Small Business Administration released following a public-records lawsuit by news organizations." (our emphasis)
The Elmer Gantrys of the prosperity gospel sect have are pikers compared with these venal pros. They were clever (greedy?) enough to lobby for and receive an unprecedented exemption in last year's relief bill, a fact reported last summer by the AP. They're perfectly happy to accept Federal dollars at the same time they expect to be exempt from Federal laws (ACA, etc.).
Today's well sourced and detailed AP report will inevitably set off ridiculous accusations by the Church of media bias, etc. They got called out for their greed, diverting some $3 billion in aid to truly needy small businesses into their own hands, and if it happens again, shame on the Feds.
6 comments:
Hey, Father Moe and Father Lester need the money. Those legal settlements to abuse victims aren't cheap.
Infidel -- Yes, those lawyers aren't the Elite Strike Force Power Rangers after all!
Well, nothing changes I see. Grifting...it's what they do and have always done. Any organization that claims unquestionable authority needs to be questioned, all the time. I understand that people want spiritual solace or certainty or whatever it is they're looking for, but why they think they'll find it with a corrupt organization of child molesters is beyond me. Qanon isn't the only cult in this country...not by a long shot.
Rocky -- They have a lot to answer for, and you've summed it up nicely.
This should be of no surprise to anyone ... this only mainly feeds not only the catholic cocksuckers, but your corporate cocksuckers. Anytime any bill is passed through "these days", it isn't any stand alone bill ... what should be 50 pages at most, today is about 5000 pages, and Congress is given a couple hours to review it, then has to vote. YES ... I think we need stand alone bills on so much these days (even any so called fiscally responsible person would say the same, unless they are American politicians) ... the financial economy and the real economy should be AS separate as church and state (of course in today's corporate christian America political control, they are hand and hand).
Enough to make me want to puke. Religious organizations need to pay their fair share of taxes if they expect to receive benefits. I just makes me sick the way they hoard assets.
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