Mississippi Page
To: Mississippi Pagans
From: CC Busch - Pagan Unity Campaign Mississippi
Re: The White House & Pagan Charities
On November 26, 2003, on Ask the White House, the following quote concerning
the current administrations policies regarding the Faith Based Initiative raised
a few "eyebrows" within the Pagan Community:
------------Quoted from www.whitehouse.gov
11/26/2003---
Colby, from Centralia MO writes:
Do you feel that Pagan faith based groups should be given the same considerations
as any other group that seeks aid?
Jim Towey:
I haven't run into a pagan faith-based group yet, much less a pagan group that
cares for the poor! Once you make it clear to any applicant that public money
must go to public purposes and can't be used to promote ideology, the fringe
groups lose interest. Helping the poor is tough work and only those with loving
hearts seem drawn to it.
---------------------end of quote------------------------------
Now I wonder, is Mr. Towey implying that Pagans are somehow less loving and
giving or less community minded than people of other faiths? Perhaps Mr. Towey
is misinformed about the concept of Pagan Faith Based Charities, or maybe, he
thinks that there just aren't any Pagan Faith Based Charities to be found. Now,
I know for a fact that Pagans do contribute to charities; they offer more than
money, often they donate time, food, clothing, and shelter, they volunteer their
efforts to the elderly, animal shelters, disabled, battered women and children,
and the list goes on and on. I have been told, that here in Mississippi, Camp
Sister Spirit at one time provided meals for up to 200 people in need without
thought as to the recipients religious orientation… and although they did
not do this under the umbrella of a Pagan Charity, they are Pagan and it was
done just the same.
It is because of Mr. Towey's statement that I have researched the idea of Pagan
Charities and have found that, yes, there are in fact Pagan Charities throughout
the country. Because Pagan Charity Groups do exist, does this mean that they
will be able to receive government funds under the current administrations Faith
Based Initiative? Perhaps the Pagan Community can best answer this question…
Demand Equality concerning the Faith Based Initiative Program by signing the
petition at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/678059077
or write to Jim Towey at:
Jim Towey, Director
The White House
Washington, DC 20502
(202) 456-6708 (phone)
(202) 456-7019 (fax)
www.fbci.gov
Let Mr. Towey and the Bush administration know that the following Pagan Faith
Based Groups are amongst the groups that exist and provide charity to the needy,
and that they should be equally entitled to Faith Based funding if they so desire
it:
Blessings of Love & Light,
CC Busch
Mississippi State Chair
Pagan Unity Campaign