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 A new report finds that religious groups engaged in lobbying or advocacy around Washington employ at least 1,000 people.
November 22nd, 2011
12:29 PM ET
Report tracks explosion of religious lobbying in WashingtonBy Dan Gilgoff, CNN.com Religion Editor (CNN) - Lobbying and advocacy by religious groups in Washington have exploded in recent decades, increasing fivefold since 1970 to become a nearly $400 million industry, a new Pew report finds. More than 200 groups are doing faith-related lobbying and advocacy in the nation’s capital, compared to fewer than 40 in 1970, according to the report. Put together, the groups employ at least 1,000 people. The report, released Monday by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life, found that religious groups spend $390 million a year to influence U.S. domestic and foreign policy. “About one-in-five religious advocacy organizations in Washington have a Roman Catholic perspective (19%) and a similar proportion is evangelical Protestant in outlook (18%), while 12% are Jewish and 8% are mainline Protestant,” according to the report, called "Lobbying for the Faithful: Religious Advocacy Groups in Washington, D.C." “But many smaller U.S. religious groups, including Baha’is, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, also have established advocacy organizations in the Washington area,” the report said. The number of Muslim groups engaged in lobbying and advocacy in Washington (17) is about the same as the number of mainline Protestant groups engaged in such work (16). The report said that the most common domestic issues for religious groups are: - The relationship between church and state; - Civil rights and liberties for religious and other minorities; - Bioethics and life issues, including abortion, capital punishment and end-of-life issues; - Family/marriage issues, including definition of marriage, domestic violence and fatherhood initiatives. The top international issues for religious groups are religious freedom, human rights, debt relief and other economic issues, and the promotion of peace and democracy, the report found. |
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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"Lobbying and advocacy by religious groups in Washington have exploded in recent decades" -- With tax free money.
SAYS THE MAN THAT BELIEVES IN THE DEVIL RELIGON HIGH FIVE YOUR FACE
earl SAYS THE MAN THAT BELIEVES IN THE DEVIL RELIGON HIGH FIVE YOUR FACE --- The devil character did not exist until he was created to make man fearful.
Oooh, gotta get my hands on other people's money so I can get more free stuff. This too is corruption and shows how all of us, including voters have been corrupted and co-opted by political corruption.
WELL WHY DO YOU USE 666 I HEARD FROM THE HISTORY CHANNEL THAT WAS THE SYMBOL FOR A RELIGOUS SECT YOU NOOB
..or does the political corruption mirror the corruption in our society in general? I rather think so.
Remove tax exempt status from religious cults now!!! Even their bible hero said "Render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's, and render unto god that which is god's." They way I read that is keep your religion between yourself and your god thing.
Why, so you can steal someone else's wealth for your toys and treats from sucking at Gov't teat? Grow up and pay your own way.
2012 Think very hard about just who you are voting for and ask yourself if the person is standing up for all the people or just the richest ones.And all people in Government needs to do these things for a short list for me to vote again:::
An end to Money Lobbying
An end to Big Money donations to Politicians/Parties/PAC & Other Political Groups
All government officials should have term limits (Senator,Representative,Supreme Court,etc)
End the Marriage of Big Money to Washington Politics Now.The people have spoken and we want our government to be there for the whole Country with no money in between the People and the Government.Stop Big Money from Influencing Politics.
Such rules treat the symptoms and do nothing for the source of all the corruption and ills we have. More people must return to traditional God based morality or we all fail.
Epicjourney, all American politicians (you know, those folks that take campaign money from big corporations and special-interest lobbies) claim to believe in God and traditional religious-based values and morals. Are you saying they are all lying?
Anyone can be corrupted by political power or money. The fact that a specific congressman is corrupt does not affect my belief, and does not affect my decision to try to do what is right in my own business. Just because someone says they believe in god does not mean they act appropriately. Always pay more attention to what a person does than what they say.
It is time for all religious organizations to loose the tax exempt status.
So you can get more 'free'; stuff for you and yours?? Forget that pal, pay your own way.
Epicjourney, most of us ARE paying our own way. Religious organizations claim to support charity to the poor, so why should they not want to pay taxes like companies and individuals do, all for the greater good? EffortPA isn't asking for a handout, just fairness.
Those who want to tax churches are more of the same 'gimme-free-stuff' crowd who want someone else to pay for it.
I AGREE WITH EPICFAIL NOOB
Hows that gimme free? How about they need to loose their exempt status because most of them are unethical.
Yep. I want to know if my son is molested by a priest that someone in the government cares enough to act. I want to know that if con artists bilk old women out of their social security checks by claiming the rapture is next tuesday that someone is going to prosecute. I want to know that if Mormons from Utah can flood another state with money to influence elections that people are paying attention. You know, free stuff.
So is your rationalization for not turning back to traditional morality because someone else has been doing evil stuff?? Great way to live your life. Do what is right because it is the right thing to do, not because of what other people do or seem to 'get away' with.
Epicjourney, take your own advice. Do what is right because it is the right thing to do, not because a preacher or some ancient book says you should. B elief is not a requirement for morality.
If I pay taxes and am gainfully employed but think that churches should pay taxes what exactly is this free stuff I would receive?
epicjourney – You are a one-trick pony spouting what your preacher told you.
I make very good money and support myself 100%. I do not receive a single handout and yet I say tax the churches.
What is your argument to me?
Also, morality does not require belief in a mythical being. if you require a non-existent deity to force you to be moral, then you have deeper issues.
The further we move away from God the more problems we will have. If you read revelations it speaks of the earth being cleansed by burning, maybe 'global climate change' is more than just a result of polution??
And maybe your an indoctrinated buffon who is so caught up with rationalizing his delusions that common sense has deserted you?
You have your own right to believe in the easter bunny, even though I question it. But if a politician believed that there was a giant spaghetti monster ruling the universe, or the Earth was created 4k years ago, then I have a problem with his/her judgement. ... Religion has NO place in politics, education, or law enforcement.
Hey, I speak facts. I can't help it if you can't see the writing on the wall, or the vast history which speaks to that single truth. If you don't want God in your life then you also reject the good that he does. He is the binding glue that holds all organized systems in place and keeps them working. This is an undiscovered physical law of the universe.
btw – I never said religion 'belongs' in Gov't, how does that work with all the different religions? We as individuals have turned away from eternal truths so we can't get what we have working correctly unless we turn back to God.
NO IT DOESN'T NOW YOU SOUND CRAZY LIKE THE REST OF THESE FOLKS DRINKING H8TERADE YOUR NOT COOL ANYMORE HIGH FIVE YOUR FACE
epicjourney – says: "Hey, I speak facts". Really? Show me the facts – not your 2000 year old fantacy story, but actual facts. You cannot, because they don't exist. I think you need to gain a better understanding of the word "facts", before you make any claim to possess them.
excitizen
YES SAYS THE PERSON WHO TAKES LSD AND BELIEVE MAGICAL UNICORNS
Scripture speaks to people who search for proofs and signs of God's existence. Interesting thing about faith, it is believing in something you cannot prove using the scientific method. Even science requires faith during the 'proving' stage of theories, and you must have faith that the 'proof' is correct given our imperfect understanding of the universe.
So God does not exist because there are some deluded people out there who have followed false prophets??
Epicjourney – Religion is an opinion-based construct. There is nothing solid in it's structure. If you want to believe in magic and the easter bunny, that is your right. I would never tell anyone what to believe... However Religion has a strong history of telling people what to believe. Go ahead with your own beliefs, but keep them to yourself. Keep Religous lobbying out of the Government, unless it pays taxes like everyone else. You talk about being responsible and paying your own way... Why should your faith be exempt from paying also?
Epicjourney, "an undiscovered physical law of the universe." Seriously? How do you know that? You say "facts" when IN FACT everything you claim as fact is simply based on your faith. I'm happy that you have all the answers you need, but they aren't everyone's answers.
Actually since the lobbying has increased 5 fold it seems the opposite its true, the more religious influence the worse this country gets.
Religious leaders need to understand this is a secular country!!! they cannot impose their beliefs on anyone other than their own congregations! the laws of this country don't need to be reflecting one group's beliefs when those beliefs are not universally shared. contrary to fundamentalist beliefs, not all belief systems see abortion as murder or gays marrying the person they love as as sin, and our government has no business codifying the beliefs of one group as the law of the land. any religious group that engages in political activity should lose its tax-exempt status. that will shut them up!
I agree. When they stop preaching to their congregation and begin trying to enforce their religion on the masses they become dangerous. How many examples of this do we need in our history to see. Over and over again when religion has been involved in government we see oppression in the name of religious beliefs.
I have an idea, how about we start taxing churches and religious organizations. I wonder what revenue that would generate.
Actually, non-profit organizations (which include churches) are SUPPOSED to lose their tax free status if they get involved in any particular party politics. I think it should be extended to include if they get involved at all, outside of a courtroom.
YES LISTEN TO THIS PERSON DROWNING IN H8TERADE
They are also supposed to loose their status if they make a profit. Solution, build a bigger better church or donate the money to another cause.
Given the amount of welfare work religious organizations do I am pretty sure they more than make up for the tax revenue we might otherwise get. Take more money for churches will result in more demand for Gov't welfare services which always costs much more than if supplied by non-profit chruches.
Another bald-faced LIE by epicjourney~!
It's high time that we started taxing religious organizations. THese organizations are involved in politics and they should NOT be involved. It's a total failure of the church annd state rules.
TAX the churches! All in favor, say, "Tax the churches" It's done, all churches from here on out will be taxed...I know i would be happy if that were true,lol!
YES LISTEN TO THIS PERSON CHUGGING LOADS OF HA8TERADE
That's three comments in a row for taxing churches. I think we're on to something here.
THE ONLY ROW IS THAT THERE ARE THREE CHUGGING LOADS OF H8TERADE IS A ELECTROLYTE OF HATE AND RAGE FOLLOWED BY EPICFAIL AND NOOB
What do you suggest we do about those non-profit agencies, where only a small percentage of the donations go to the cause, and the heads of these non-profit agencines make enormous amounts of money?
The largest of the lobbyists:(note the large sums of money being spent by health "profiteers" on lobbying )
Lobbying Client Total 1998-2009
US Chamber of Commerce $606,758,180
American Medical Assn $220,832,500
General Electric $196,410,000
AARP $175,702,064
American Hospital Assn $174,890,431
Pharmaceutical Rsrch & Mfrs of America $173,403,920
AT&T Inc $150,471,757
Northrop Grumman $143,005,253
Exxon Mobil $138,886,942
National Assn of Realtors $138,417,380
Blue Cross/Blue Shield $136,317,077
Business Roundtable $134,030,000
Edison Electric Inst-itute $133,995,999
Verizon Communications $132,534,841
Lockheed Martin $122,340,423
Boeing Co $121,528,310
General Motors $106,914,483
Southern Co $104,620,694
Freddie Mac $96,194,048
Altria Group $93,650,000
Would the move to end tax exemptions for any group generate the added taxes/contributions needed to pay for universal health care??
oh you forgot muslim contribute 100,000,000,000
God told me to let you know he's has changed his mind. He is not going to come back so we are on our own. Now let's grow up and fix a few things.
Awesome. Pure awesome.
Haha, love it.
It seems to me that if any religious organization is involved in lobbying then they should loose their tax exempt status because they are in violation of the separate of church and state principle. I support religious freedom but not religions trying to enforce their ideology on the rest of us. I will be more interested in religion when it actually practice love and compassion for all people.
Absolutely!! You hit the nail on the head!!!....Straight talk that everyone is afraid to discuss!!!
Perfectly said.
I have to ask people here.. Why should the Church enjoy tax exemptions? Please help me understand why they need this special privilege?
they are not for profit most not for profit organizations are tax exempt. The people that work for them are not and the followers are not tax exempt
Would you also argue that no non-profit agency should receive tax exemption status?
Ironically, their tax exempt status is meant to keep their noses out of government!
Because they pay the most bribes to the most people.
@Doc I'm not tax exempt so should I have any less roght to have a lobbyist fight for my point of view than an Atheist?
Ok.. I will buy that they don't pay tax coz they are non-profit.. so why protect them under bankruptcy laws? If they make money, they ain't giving to the Govt.. but if they make losses, Govt must come and waive them off?
Again they are treated much the same way as other not for profit and charitable organization. Should they be treated differently?
Well, there goes all the talk about there being "Separation of Church and State". It sure appears that the religion lobbyists are heavily involved in influencing the state thus, there is literally No Separation if the state accepts their monetary offers and requests and helps their groups! Is this the right thing to do? Is this what this country truly wants and needs?
Teabaggers, birthers and republicans love the baby jesus the more than anybody. But they also like to boink their cousins more than anybody, too.
eww you like teabaggin
I've a right-wingy, orthodox catholic uncle-in-law who married his first cousin – but he won't speak to his gay sister.
The God lot can sure be wacky!
looks to me the new group of people Drinking H8TERade fuels the hate and rage love it
earl –
1) are you over the age of 12?
2) Do you speak English?
3) Are you able to spout more than the 2 or 3 sayings that you have posted throughout this thread?
4) Were you dropped on your head as a baby?
Fear. It’s a powerful result of a chemical reaction in the human brain that occurs when external inputs conflict with what the brain was programmed to know as safe. Hate comes from fear. Hate is the expression of fear. If you believe in religion, (not GOD, “religion”) you are either a fearful person by design, or you were taught to be fearful growing up. You were told from day one, ‘if you don’t believe then you will suffer”… hell, that might scare me too… if I was a weaker person. When you are weak, you give in. sheep are weak. sheep are constantly in fear. They will follow a leader wherever it goes, even if the leader is wrong. Any coincidence why the church refers to its followers as a flock?? Nope. You will all follow the leader. You will all do as you are told. You will all fall in line. And what will happen then?? Nothing. Nothing will happen. No change will happen. Nothing will improve. No iPods will be invented. Safer cars will not be designed. Better homes will not be built. We’ll all sit here in one boring world, because you were all too chickens*** to be strong and do something different.
jerks
sounds lit it scares you a bit.
I doubt many people will comprehend what you said but you hit the nail on the head. i was simply to tired to type that much so thanks for doing my work or should i say your work. great job
too bad there is no "like it" button on cnn... i'd like to get 'liked" for once.
little_b – Awesome. Well said.
Separation of Church and State everyone. Get the Religious lobbyist out of Washington!
The problem isn't just in Washington... Religion should be considered an opinion, a point of view, an idea. It has no place in any type of policy holding organization. It should be coupled with wholistic medicine, which is not FDA approved.
The Muslims are lobbying our gubment? How dare they! I knew it. I knew having that ole Obama in the white house was gonna lead to all us Mericans being forced to convert to islam. Didnt we tell you all that was gonna happen?
On a serious note, lobbying like this is making a mockery of our democracy. If we don't change lobbying laws and campaign finance laws, we will continue to spiral into a pit of plutocracy.