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 Survey: Number of Religious Lobbying Groups in D.C. Is Up FivefoldPosted on Nov 23, 2011
Pew researchers discovered that the number of religious groups lobbying politicians in Washington, D.C., has increased 500 percent in the past four decades, from fewer than 40 in 1970 to more than 200 today. With more than 1,000 lobbyists vying for the ears of Congress members, the groups together spend more than $390 million a year to shape not only public policy but also the political process itself. Roman Catholic, Protestant and Jewish advocacy groups make up 58 percent of the groups in the study. One in 6 represents smaller religious communities, including the Baha’is, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, while the remaining quarter studied are multifaith or representative of no specific religious tradition. Just over 40 percent of the firms lobby for individuals rather than institutions or specific religious denominations. Laws based on more than 300 policy issues, including abortion, capital punishment, right to die and gay marriage, are influenced by these organizations. Thomas Jefferson weeps as the wall that once stood between church and state in America is pulled down for a pittance. —ARK
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By Margaret Currey, November 25, 2011 at 1:27 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
The founding fathers would be very dismayed that religion is trying to get into politics which is against the constitution, when Kennedy was running for the presidency the right was holloring that the Pope would run the country now a couple of decades later they will try to run the county. And those who are not christians will have to become christians as were the Jewish people in Spain and still they were put out of the country for being only christians in name only.
The more things change the more they remain the same.
Report thisBy berniem, November 24, 2011 at 11:41 am Link to this comment
This nation has become the generic christian theocratic equivalent of an islamic republic. Jews are tolerated because according to evangelical fundamentalists they will be saved as soon as they accept JC as savior, blah, blah, blah. Secular humanism is the only defense against the likes of gingrich, santorum, bachmann, hagee, etc. and socialism is the only cure for capitalist greed! FREE BRADLEY MANNING AND TIM DECHRISTOPHER!!!!
Report thisBy Allan, November 24, 2011 at 9:57 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
The ferocious anti-Christian bigotry of many of these posts goes a long way to explain why the progressive movement has failed to become the overwhelming mass movement it deserves to be. You don’t effectively recruit the 85% of American citizens who identify themselves as Christians by consistently and refelxively deriding their most cherished beliefs. Try reading the Gospels or some of the Old Testament prophets and you will mind statements about wealth and the poor that make statements from OWS look tame. Just because some right wingers co-opt Christian teaching and align themselves with the Republican party does not make them representative of all Christians. Also, the posters assume that any church sponsored lobbying is right wing. In reality, the lobbying efforts of the Catholic Church and many Protestant churches includes lobbying for universal health care, immigrants rights aid for the needy. People on this site need to grow up, get beyond their knee jerk reactions and begin the process of making alliances outside their circle. You may be surprised by some of the people who share in your core commitment to social justice.
Report thisBy Maani, November 24, 2011 at 8:18 am Link to this comment
The problem here is not that Christians, Jews and others are lobbying, or even spending vast sums on it. They are an “interest group” like any other, and have every right to lobby on behalf of the causes and positions they believe in.
What is NOT okay is when those doing the lobbying are religious organizations (churches, NFPs, etc.) that not only get tax breaks, but are also prohibited by law from lobbying in order to keep those tax breaks.
There needs to be stricter enforcement of IRS and other laws that govern churches, religious organizations, etc. whose tax-exempt status is based on NOT lobbying. And this includes “subsidiares” that are formed by these organizations in order to make end runs around the law.
Report thisBy RAE, November 24, 2011 at 7:45 am Link to this comment
I’ll just bet those mindless dupes who mail in their pension dollars to the various religious shell game hosts that infest our society don’t realize how the majority of their money is used.
I think it’s important that legislators be well informed on the issues before them, and that those specifically involved should be allowed to present their views.
I think it equally important that these “lobbyists” be strictly controlled. By that I mean that if Issue X is before the legislators, then lobbyists to X should be invited to appear before a committee of the legislature, IN PUBLIC, to collectively present their case… ONCE. Any further lobbying by any method or media outside of this should result in an immediate jail term for anyone who tries it.
Lobbying has become unregulated, legalized BRIBERY with the single intention to CORRUPT the system to their own advantage. So far it seems very effective in undermining democracy.
Report thisBy Cheryl Johnson, November 23, 2011 at 6:53 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
This will all end when we get rid of this faith based initative. Why should our tax money go to churches who will spoil the political process and use that money against certain groups of people.
Report thisBy gerard, November 23, 2011 at 3:25 pm Link to this comment
Somewhat misleading because insufficiently specific.For example: Catholics and Jews are way ahead in terms of amounts of money involved. Coupled with what specific policies? We can guess. Relative over-all effect? We can guess. Some churches are advocating public policies that are interdenominational and not directly concerned with promoting a religion as such. Which ones? How many? How effective? We can guess. How many are united in pressing one particular public issue such as sex education in schools? Guess. How many are pressing in the opposite direction? And do they cancel each other out, or not? Guess. Relatve to each politician lobbied, how much credence is given to any or all of these “religious” issues? Guess. Does the amount of money spent have a proportionate or disproportionate influence? Guess.
Report thisAll in all, the article seems pretty puffy.
By Bbob, November 23, 2011 at 1:16 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
So…we allow these god botherers to rake in millions tax free because we want to shelter them from the machinations of politics and then they use $390,000,000 to manipulate the political process. What a deal. Separation of church and state my ass.
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