Boston Archdiocese to spend $850,000 against marijuana legalization - Polidicks

[url]https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/10/28/archdiocese-spend-against-marijuana-legalization/qtCwVY4ViWjRFwOvcyveeK/story.html[/url] [quote]The Boston Archdiocese is pouring $850,000 into a last-minute effort to defeat a state ballot measure to legalize marijuana, calling increased drug use a threat to the Catholic Church’s health and social-service programs. The church’s contribution represents about a 50 percent increase over what the antimarijuana Campaign for a Safe and Healthy Massachusetts has collected so far. The total, however, is still less than half of what has been raised by the referendum’s proponents. The church’s donation will likely help fund an existing advertising campaign. Archdiocesan officials have also sent materials to parishes and schools arguing against the ballot question. “It reflects the fact that the archdiocese holds the matter among its highest priorities,” archdiocese spokesman Terrence Donilon said of the donation. “It’s a recognition that, if passed, the law would have significantly detrimental impacts on our parishes, our ministries.”[/quote]

Money should have no place in legislation, if the cold hard facts say that legalization of Marijuana is the way to go, then that's what should happen and no amount of money, not even $850,000 should put a stop to that.

A religious institution needs to stay the fuck out of politics. Especially one waving around money like this - think of the better uses that 850 grand could've gone to. So much for being "good christians".

and, this is why money and politics don't mix it does nothing but damage things

these mofos oughta light up so they'd be closer to god and further away from us

It's amazing they don't realise that this'll do more damage to themselves than the marijuana industry.

So they just threw $850k out the window basically.

[QUOTE=Swiket;51289153][url]https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/10/28/archdiocese-spend-against-marijuana-legalization/qtCwVY4ViWjRFwOvcyveeK/story.html[/url][/QUOTE] Church doesn't pay taxes because it's a religious institution. if they want to spend money in politics, they need to start contributing to the politicos and demos.

[QUOTE]The Boston Archdiocese is pouring $850,000 into a last-minute effort to defeat a state ballot measure to legalize marijuana, [B]calling increased drug use a threat to the Catholic Church’s health and social-service programs.[/B] [/QUOTE] oh the [I]catholic church[/I] huh, what about society's heath man like come on you're not even trying

war against marijuana is so damn unnecessary and money-draining. it's not a drug that can kill unless you do something that causes your death while under the influence. weed, both recreational and for medicine, should be legal by now. stupid af people and groups spend money to block it's legalization.

[QUOTE=jonu67;51289167]Money should have no place in legislation, if the cold hard facts say that legalization of Marijuana is the way to go, then that's what should happen and no amount of money, not even $850,000 should put a stop to that.[/QUOTE] Funny thing is money has been flowing in on both side, ironically a lot of it has been coming from [URL="http://www.wbur.org/morningedition/2016/10/20/marijuana-ballot-question-money"]out of state sources[/URL]. It is pretty rich though that the Boston Archdiocese is harping on marijuana when they had a [URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_abuse_scandal_in_the_Catholic_archdiocese_of_Boston"]huge pedophilia scandal[/URL] of their own. I guess when they yell "think of the children!" they have other things in mind...

If churches want to make political donations then they need to be taxed. Simple as that. Don't argue separation of church and state then turn around try to influence legislation.

marijuana is going to pass whether they throw their checkbooks at the wall or not polls show the No on 4 side losing voters every month

[QUOTE=amos106;51289629]Funny thing is money has been flowing in on both side, ironically a lot of it has been coming from [URL="http://www.wbur.org/morningedition/2016/10/20/marijuana-ballot-question-money"]out of state sources[/URL]. It is pretty rich though that the Boston Archdiocese is harping on marijuana when they had a [URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_abuse_scandal_in_the_Catholic_archdiocese_of_Boston"]huge pedophilia scandal[/URL] of their own. I guess when they yell "think of the children!" they have other things in mind...[/QUOTE] I don't see how a church-wide anti-drug policy has anything to do with pedophilia scandal [I]from over 10 years ago[/I] [editline]2nd November 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=GordonZombie;51289183]A religious institution needs to stay the fuck out of politics. Especially one waving around money like this - think of the better uses that 850 grand could've gone to. So much for being "good christians".[/QUOTE] According to the article, they're only sending anti-drug advertisements to their churches and church-run schools, not to the greater public.

This is a clear breach of church and state separation ideals. [editline]2nd November 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;51296524] According to the article, they're only sending anti-drug advertisements to their churches and church-run schools, not to the greater public.[/QUOTE] irrelevant

[QUOTE=Blizzerd;51296554]This is a clear breach of church and state separation ideals. [editline]2nd November 2016[/editline] irrelevant[/QUOTE] How is it irrelevant when they're dispensing anti-drug stuff only in-house? They [I]have[/I] purchased tv ad time before for previous voting policies, which I disagree with, but this is purely within the Church community. No different from a priest giving a sermon against drugs that just so happens to take place before a vote like this.

The bishop needs to tell his parishioners to abstain and leave us pot smoking heathens alone.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;51296575]How is it irrelevant when they're dispensing anti-drug stuff only in-house? They [I]have[/I] purchased tv ad time before for previous voting policies, which I disagree with, but this is purely within the Church community. No different from a priest giving a sermon against drugs that just so happens to take place before a vote like this.[/QUOTE] There's a difference between discouraging followers from doing drugs themselves and actively tampering with the political process by telling them to vote against legalization. The former is religious, the latter is political.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;51296575]How is it irrelevant when they're dispensing anti-drug stuff only in-house? They [I]have[/I] purchased tv ad time before for previous voting policies, which I disagree with, but this is purely within the Church community. No different from a priest giving a sermon against drugs that just so happens to take place before a vote like this.[/QUOTE] They are telling people how to vote. It's against the separation of church and state. If I recall correctly, America has a federal law that prohibits churches from endorsing presidential candidates, and for a very good reason. This is not different at all.

I don't get why churches should be exempt from taxes in the first place to be honest. If they exclusively used money for charity purposes it would make sense but this just goes to show this is far from their main priority.

[QUOTE=_Axel;51297266]I don't get why churches should be exempt from taxes in the first place to be honest. If they exclusively used money for charity purpose it would make sense but this just goes to show this is far from their main priority.[/QUOTE] Separation of church and state works both ways. Also churches would have to be represented in the Senate and Congress because of the whole "no taxation without representation" thing you have going on

[QUOTE=Laserbeams;51297274]Separation of church and state works both ways[/QUOTE] Well, evidently not.