The NY Times is doing a four part series called —In God’s Name—. It highlights the exemptions and benefits religious organizations get from the government.

The first two articles are now on-line:

• As Exemptions Grow, Religion Outweighs Regulation
• Where Faith Abides, Employees Have Few Rights

I encourage you to give them a read (they are long).

Besides the false extrapolation of those in the religious community who act uncharitably (e.g., those who turned a nun out because she had breast cancer) to the entire faith community, the articles do beg the question —“ When will the piper come for his pay?

The faith community needs to take charge of the paradigm and refocus itself on matters of faith, not business (although doing business rightly is not a wrong in and of itself —“ business must be connected to and must flow from the central purpose of the organization).