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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Refugees, immigrants mean big money for charities

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor BALTIMORE, Md. (LBM) – While the crisis at the U.S. southern border and civil wars around the world have stretched thin governmental resources that provide shelter and other basics of humanitarian aid, faith groups, which are considered essential service providers both in this country and abroad, have seen their budgets boom with government grants and contracts. The most extreme example of this growth industry is the Catholic Relief Services, the humanitarian arm of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In 10 years the organization has grown from receiving $361,186 in government contracts and grants within revenues of $599,258 (which included $126,822 in noncash donations) to $516.7 million in government grants and contracts (or more than 68 percent) of cash revenues of $755.9 million (with another nearly $282 million in noncash contributions). Sean Callahan, president of Catholic Relief Services, earned $497,416 in compensation for 2017- 2018, according to the group’s latest IRS Form 990, nearly as much as the entire budget from a decade earlier. The remaining 10 paid officers and executives for CRS received an average compensation of $209,288, while the other 6,895 employees … [Read more...]

Trump profanes God’s name, twice

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor GREENVILLE, N.C. (LBM) -- During a July 17 campaign rally in Greeville, North Carolina, President Trump cursed twice, invoking God’s name both times, while speaking to supporters in Minges Coliseum on the campus of East Carolina University. Afterward, most mainstream media outlets took issue with a “send her back” chant by the crowd, directed at U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota), after Trump criticized anti-Semitic comments she has made and other statements in which she minimized the 911 terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists. However, at least a few attentive viewers took issue with the president’s use of foul language that demeaned God. Trump used the offensive phrase, first, while telling an anecdote about a businessman who reluctantly conceded he was prospering because of the president’s economic policies, and a second time while describing the outcome of a hypothetical military strike against Iran. Criticism lit up social media, but died down just as quickly. But a West Virginia lawmaker took the matter to heart and wrote a formal letter to respectfully express being appalled that the president “chose to use the Lord’s name in vain.” Paul Hardesty, a state senator, is … [Read more...]