Indeed, especially so in places where the Catholic presence is so large that infrastructure has already been taken care of. In such instances it’s actually more economically feasible for the LDS church just to donate money to the Catholic Charities than to set up shop themselves (which from what I understand is precisely what the LDS Church does).
Keep in mind that the Bishops’ Storehouse is but one arm of LDS charity. More properly I believe it’s LDS Philanthropies (or something along those lines) responsible for what you’d traditionally call no-questions-asked charity. The Bishops’ Storehouse, as Rebecca said, is a bit of a holdover from the United Order. But hey! It works, and it works well. From my own experience most of the people who utilize it are themselves LDS members, and so it is in some ways almost like a co-op.I guess its hard for me to hear these things when ive worked at food banks and we didnt require people to work for their food whether they where able or not. They do things different
If you want to see efficiency on a global scale look no further than Catholic Relief Services. 96.5 cents out of every dollar reaches those who are in need. No one else can touch that. It is because we are truly everywhere. We don’t have to mobilize giant forces.
A Catholic can attend Mass every day of the year and confess every week without anyone ever asking him/her for cash (no-one checks to see who puts money into the collection). Try being a regular attender at the LDS without tithing and you won’t last long. As for a lay, unpaid clergy, yes they are (it’s cheaper that way) until you get into the higher echelons of the LDS where ‘expenses’ ( a salary and a good one) is paid. The LDS is a business, the real (Catholic) Church will give you all its riches as often as you wish and all for absolutely nothing.
Kimg-I guess its hard for me to hear these things when ive worked at food banks and we didnt require people to work for their food whether they where able or not. They do things different
ffg can correct me I’m wrong, but I think the question of using the word “Volunteer” relates to the fact that if someone comes asking for help (charity), and you say “Sure, but you need to work it off.”…that isn’t “volunteering”, that is withholding help until an agreement is made for something in return. It’s a transaction. Charity is not a transaction, it is unconditional.I don’t know.
In my location we also “volunteer” at a food shelter that is run by the community, or give rides for the homeless from the homeless shelter where the sleep to where they can spend time down town during the day.
The need for LDS church welfare is left to the judgement of the local LDS bishop. If people can work and are not willing to work there are other places they can get a hand out.
Where does one see these LDS Philanthropies? Most LDS here have described the work for aid that is seen in this thread and not, “no-questions asked” or standards conformed to, such as church attendance etc. understanding of charity.
Uh, No. No strings attached. But remember, the Jesus we pray to is not the same as their jesusKimg-
When Jesus told us to feed the hungry and clothe the poor…did it come with strings attached?
Wow. So what about your own people (lds?) I dont know how many times folks have come to our food bank from the lds church wanting food because their own ward wont give it to them because they dont tithe or attend every week. Now we dont ask people why they are there but people tell us why they are there needing food. Its very sad but its also a good thing because we get them coming back going through our RCIA program
But to stay on topic whether the lds church is a cult, im not sure. They have things that seem cult like but they may see our church as the same way.Culty is the correct word
. Wow, talk about living in Mormon territory!So all of your lds bishops are licensed physicians? Psychotherapists?
They will help. But at a cost from what ive seen.
Yes, some people will see it that way. However, when thousands of Latter-day Saints showed up to help the people of of New York after Hurricane Sandy in their bright yellow “Mormon Helping Hands” vests no one seemed to complain. LDS bishop storehouses were open for all with no strings attatched. The yellow jackets identify a group that is organized and ready to help when and where disasters strike. After all wouldn’t you want be able to identify a strange western cult that was invading your nieghborhood?So all of your lds bishops are licensed physicians? Psychotherapists?
All of your lds bishops are able to diagnose disease and disability on the spot?
Wow, I am truly amazed!!!
Talk about true christian spirit.
But if there is a large disaster, lds aid is plastered all over everything, volunteers wearing flourescent shirts identifying themselves as lds.
Gotta make that tv time count.
I detect some hypocrisy there, don’t you?
ETA: See picture http://www.lds.org/church/news/chronological-report-of-church-operations-in-japan
But yet, the hypocrisy escapes you.Yes, some people will see it that way. However, when thousands of Latter-day Saints showed up to help the people of of New York after Hurricane Sandy in their bright yellow “Mormon Helping Hands” vests no one seemed to complain. LDS bishop storehouses were open for all with no strings attatched. The yellow jackets identify a group that is organized and ready to help when and where disasters strike. After all wouldn’t you want be able to identify a strange western cult that was invading your nieghborhood?
For anyone interested in more information you can watch an 8 minute video, google: “Mormon Helping Hands Video”
Show me an example in the bible where Christ said feed the poor, clothe the naked … and that there were strings attached to his words.
No, I don’t see the hypocrisy in thousands of volunteer’s being organized and willing to step up to help those in times of disaster such as hurricane Sandy and more recently in the Phillipines. The yellow vests in the Mormon Helping Hands program is a form of identification in an organized effort. People in these disaster areas want to know what organization is helping in their neighborhood. Many non-LDS from the join in the volunteer effort as shown in the “Mormon Helping Hands Video”.But yet, the hypocrisy escapes you.