The Blue Cross (TBC)claims:
"But the truth is that people like Vinnie's have no desire to see the back of 'poor folk' because that would leave them with nothing to do, and no excuse for their tax-free status and dominant and privileged position in society".

The above is a false claim TBC, based upon my direct knowledge and experience regarding people who have worked for St Vincent De Paul societies, one of whom, was a mother of a girlfriend of mine, dedicated her whole life, working and giving to those who were underpriviledged at various times in their lives. I witnessed the voluntary work she performed, sacrificing her life to assist thousands of others.

TBC:
"If any of these so-called Christians were the least bit interested in ending poverty, then they'd start to educate 'the poor folk' into understanding why they were poor, and others were grossly and unseemingly rich, including all the so-called Christian churches.
But they do not want that, because power and poverty are in balance, for them".

Please save your "anti-religious bias" and stick to facts. Obviously you have learned zilch from other people on OLO during your last generalised attacks on innocent Christians and innocent people attending Christian Churches TBC. Your 'young soul' has to repeat the whole process over again most sadly, until you one day, finally, 'get it'!! BTW: a 'young soul' as opposed to a wise 'old soul' is not to be compared with age TBC. Some people are just born broad-minded, compassionate, self-less, more trusting of others,and see the genuine goodness in what 'giving St Vinnies staff' do for people, without being suspicious of charity workers [unpaid] having an ulterior selfish motive. Q: Look deeply to discover the reasons why you view genuine good hearted people, and more importantly, people in genuine need at some point, the way you have described.

It is sad that at this present time in your life, that your soul is exhibiting behaviour or opinions demonstrative of distrust, bitterness, cynicism, and a narrow view of genuine good hearted people, assisting others (less??) fortunate than yourself.

Severin:

"Churches do indeed (along with many secular charities) provide much needed assistance to poor, impoverished people. However, while the Church's coffers remain full to overflowing and nothing done to progress humanity to a more equitable economic system, Christianity has nothing whatsoever to brag about".

You have not learned much from your last round of generalising about Christians either Severin. Repeating the process. How about a question to you in addition to TBC. No, hang on, more of a challenge I put to you both.

When you next have a weekend free, I will drive you to a couple of country towns [one now a city], and show you all of the buildings that 'some' Christian Churches, of different denominations have paid for, built/erected, and provided funding for the aged, mentally and physically disabled. I came across the Co-Ordinator of one project, completed a couple of years ago, at a funeral last year who described the 'dwellings/homes' he and the Church had completely funded. This town is now a city and growing, accommodating hundreds of people who belong to hundreds of families across Australia.

Research Father O'Reilly btw and read up on the fantastic work and the excellent reputation that Priest has, and maybe TBC and yourself may not generalise as much about people of christian faith.

Al/Foxy,

I have no problem with Christianly, the teachings of Christ, the ten commandments etc, no reasonable person would. What I really have a problem with are the organizations which claim to be Christian and claim to represent and speak for Christians, the Catholic Church for one, which in the year dot hijacked Christianity and turned it into something else with the charade of Pius Christianity, all to suit themselves. Yes St Vinnies and others within the Church do good work, cannot deny that, but on balance has organized Christian religions been a positive or a negative for mankind? I think the latter wins in a landslide. Maybe Christ was too demanding, expected to much from his fellow man, we just couldn't do it his way. It is such a pitty that's how things turned out, the Church could have been a powerful force for good within the world, but unfortunately its all been lost opportunity.

"we are unique"

I have, many times, acknowledged that religions do provide charitable works. Unfortunately along with those vital services, comes the proselytising, the tax-breaks (church based industries do not pay tax), the infiltration into secular schools of chaplains and distortion of curriculum, such as science, political incursion (Abbott, Fielding, Rudd).

And finally, the expectation that because something is claimed as religion it is deserving of a level of respect that I am unable to give. I can tolerate that people believe in a god (or gods) and would have no reason to be here arguing with you if not for the above mentioned. Religion provides a wonderful cover for those who crave power, be it paedophile priests or politicians who would control women's reproduction.

To those that keep pointing out the good works of Syd, Fr Chris, yes a truly good man, St Vinnies, seems nothing wrong with their work. That is all well and good how does those individual efforts negate the sins of Christianity. Its all a bit like me saying Adolph Hitler really had true affection for his dog, and he did, so based on that the World should forgive all his other sins as he showed a 'spark of goodness', the argument is nonsensical. And Syd, Fr.Chris, St Vinnies etc, they are indeed a 'spark of goodness'.