Again the pastor at Mary Seat of Wisdom, Gerald Gunderson, is taking full advantage of the bully pulpit to engage in political organizing.
Contrary to Gunderson's contention, not a single member of the PRU Crew -- and we suspect most other thinking people opposed to zero restrictions on homeless shelters -- has had an ounce of trouble sorting out anything on this issue. We're very clear on this issue. Your religious beliefs cannot be used to conscript the enitre community into assisting you in carrying out your faith. We're also very clear on this issue when it comes to the rights of the larger community -- health and safety first; personal do gooder deeds second.
We could agree that the current recommendation for restrictions on the location of homeless shelters in Park Ridge may make the task of providing shelter to the less fortunate not as easy as the do gooders would have liked, but it doesn't make the task anything close to impossible.
As many people have repeatedly suggested, the members of the PRMA and PADS supporters could easily house one, just down on their luck, homeless person in their own dwellings, as real guests, as many nights a week as they would choose to do. Of course, that may not allow for the public display of doing charitable works and the commensurate bragging rights a group homeless shelter provides, nor would doing that provide the PADS organization with more reason to try to suck up more public money, but those aren't the reasons for wanting to help the needy, are they?
However, there is one thing we aren't clear on; whether or not all this political organizing and lobbying for a particular public policy, on behalf of a secular organization, violates any of the rules governing tax exempt organizations. We suspect it doesn't, but we do hope our friendly correspondent of this morning looks into that.
30 comments:
he needs to focus his energies elsewhere. and for GOD'S SAKE, learn how to compose a letter that is more than one paragraph!
To Fr. Gunderson and the other collared dopes,
For the umpteenth time! PADS is NOT a ministry!
In the religious world we call it a MINISTRY; laity call it a HOBBY.
i agree, anonymous @ 10:56 am. and it doesn't seem like a very effective homeless program, either.
just because church representatives do something doesn't automatically make it a "ministry." otherwise, pederasty would be a children's "ministry" run by various catholic priests until our civic legal system, observing the separation of church and state, is able to catch up with those "ministers" and throw them in jail.
somebody shoule remind frs. gunderson and morello of that distinction.
Anonymous at 11:31,
You, "in the religious world", can call it fried ice cream for all I care... That still doesn't make the PADS business any sort of "sweet treat" for the Park Ridge community...so any insistence that it is, in whatever world you are choosing to call your "reality", is simply dumb and willfully ignorant.
The PADS BUSINESS is funded with public money...by LAW, they cannot be a religious ministry...it's all part of that establishment clause/separation of church and state thing y'all like to blather on about when it suits your purposes...
I belong to the MSW parish. There are over 2000 families registered to the parish. MSW thinks their 300 signatures means the whole parish supports their idea. Well not all of us do. In fact, most of us don't. I truly believe that the Lord my God will never condemn me or think less of me for putting my children and their safety first.
I just had a thought that I wanted to share. Isn't it sad and frustrating when you think about the amount of time, energy, intellect and anger is being spent on an issue that in reality is so insignificant. If Father Carl and Fr Gunderson were really concerned with the ministry of helping the homeless - think how much everyone - on both sides of this issue - could have done with the time we have spent arguing to help in a "real" way. If helping the homeless is a very important issue to Father Carl and many people in Park Ridge - there are hundreds of homeless people only a few miles away that could really benefit from some "real" help (ie: permanent shelter, drug rehabilitiation, counseling etc). Believe me, I lived in in an area for several years where there are so many people that really need help. Intead Father Carl has divided us to fight over something that might help a few people in Park Ridge 1 night a week - but will have likely have no long term impact on the homeless. It also will bring more homeless people to our town and most likely cause other problems like the issues many of us are concerned about.
If Father Carl was serious about his mission being bigger than living in this "bubble" in Park Ridge - I for one would encourage him to get out of the bubble - - he really has done a good job building a parish up to this point ...but the truth is - - Park Ridge doesn't really need a homeless shelter - - -but there are many places that do - and those areas would benefit from someone like Father Carl putting is energy where it would really matter.
I am not being sarcastic - just a little sad at the way this is playing out.
I have never commented here before but I hope you will let me get a few things off my chest.
I feel squeezed really hard by our leaderships from all sides.
For example. I have kids in the public schools. It feels to me like everything the schools do is to make sure that the gifted kids and the learning disabled kids get every bit of attention they need, and the money to go with it but my regular run of the mill kids just get the minimum.
Another example. The city works hard to give money and energy to developers that already have two loafs under each arm. And now there are city leaders that want to give money and energy to homeless people being invited by PADS into town, but regular run of the mill resident me can't even get my alley paved.
Another example. My pastor wants me to put in the collection plate every week to support our church, and now my pastor wants me to agree to support inviting more poor people into town and is asking that regular run of the mill me doesn't even question that.
I can't even begin to sort out how squeezed I feel by the Govenor and Washington with all these bailouts.
I am getting to the point that I can't take this any more. I don't know what to do. I don't know what the answers are. I want to help people that need it but I have to say that I am starting to feel like somebody is cutting off my air. I am starting to feel like I can't breathe. It's too much.
Thank you for letting me get this off my chest. I don't want to sound like a cry baby. I'm just saying that it is all feeling like too much.
anon 1:05:
Wow! I am sorry you feel so squeezed. Not that this will provide you with any comfort, but there are times I feel the same way and I would guess that applies to most people.
Unfortunately there is no perfect answer. All you can do is communicate with our leaders and vote for those that best represent you.
If you think that the schools should be spending less money or no money helping special needs and/or gifted children you should voice your opinion with the school board. I must admitt that I wish you would have elaborated on exactly how the "run of the mill" kid is being shorted.
If you have a problem with the concept of PADS then, again voice your opinion and vote. That is what has happened with these blogs and at meetings and it seems to be having an affect.
Related to your pastor, if you do not believe in or agree with what your pastor is saying then tell him so. Stop putting money in the collection plate and leave the church. You are not a captive there.
The bad news is that just because you or I voice our opinions does not mean there is a guarantee the results will be in our favor.
Anonymous September 25, 2008 1:05 PM:
There are more people like you around than you know. But here's some advice on how to turn things around.
1. Forget about the state and federal governments. You can't do anything about them, so don't waste time or energy even thinking about them.
2. Focus on your city. Find out who your alderman is and call him up or e-mail him about your concerns as they relate to city matters only. Park Ridge aldermen don't have any influence in Washington or Springfield, but they do have a vote - and a one-seventh say in any decision - to give more cash to developers or to pave your alley. Demand the latter, and have your neighbors do the same. You may be surprised what might happen if "regular" folks get organized and start opposing the special interests who have had their way for too long.
3. Tell your pastor that you're not going to finance his/her political activities - like trying to defeat the new homeless ordinance or inviting homeless into Park Ridge. Tell them to get back to you with their homeless shelter plan AFTER they take a couple of these homeless folks into their own houses 7 nights a week for 6 months or so. I guaranty that you won't hear from them again.
4. Show up at Maine East this coming Monday night and say your piece at the special city council meeting.
Stand up for yourself, and just say "No" to those who want to exploit you, whether they're politicians or the clergy.
Did I read MSW's 9/21 letter correctly? There are PADS shelters opening "in surrounding communities" on 10/5?
Well that puts an interesting light on things, doesn't it?
No advocate of the PADS shelter is saying that the shelter will do anything material to alleviate the needs of the homeless. A shelter open one night in seven, six or so months of the year isn't a terribly effective way to deal with homelessness.
Now we realize housing the homeless isn't the issue, but rather *saying* that we are housing the homeless is the issue, sort of an ecclesiastical keeping up with the Jonses.
Put another way, Pride is driving this. Pride. Wasn't that one of the sins?
Charles
p.s. Anon 1:05 - all you can do is all you can do. If you spend too much time worrying about others, their wants, needs or demands, you'll wear yourself out. Worry about you and yours; do the best you are able and try to be good to others. Let the rest of the world take care of itself.
Anon Sept 25 1:05 pm -
I feel your pain. I too (like so many) am being squeezed to the point of suffication. My property taxes have risen over $300 a month in the last seven years but my paycheck hasn't. I am so tired of trying to make ends meet. But more importantly, I am so tired of people telling me what to do.
I ask all the PRMA what gives you the right to shove your thoughts and ideas down my throat. Because you say so. Who made you the know all be all of what should happen in this town? What part of "we don't want PADS here" don't you get? You can say that there are 1,400 signatures on SPC petition and make it sound like the whole congregation wants the PADS site in their gym but in reality 1,400 people isn't even close to half of the members of SPC church and school. Same at MSW, 300 people are all for PADS being across town from them when in reality most of the MSW folk don't want it around. And finally, where are the PADS people during all of this? If you go to the charity navigator website, which ranks charities and the way they contribute to a cause or causes, PADS is not even listed, When a charity is not listed it's usually a very BAD thing.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Charles:
Interesting philosophy!! Is this what you recommend we teach our children???
Well Johnny or Mary..."don't spend too much time worrying about others, their wants, needs or demands, you'll wear yourself out. Worry about you and yours....."
You have got to be kidding me!!
Yep! a 501c3 alright!
Let me get this right, all this for 1, one night a week at the new shelter... What is wrong with this whole thing, of all the places in the Chicago area, the church is bent on this location, like it so easy to find, just walking distact from the EL, you got to be frigin joking. So the majority of these folks are just gong to be floating around, that is the good, the bad and evil... yep, right here in River City.
Let me guess, you probably think wind energy will drive gas prices down...
I need another scooter pie, make it a double.
I find it interesting that I have never heard Fr. Carl talking about topics that the Church should be focusing on like: abortion, living together before marriage, homosexuality, divorce, etc. , but he has gone hog wild over this homeless issue. What gives?
I don't understand why another shelter is needed - I just don't get it. The # of PADS guests has been declining over the years. (The #'s are a combination of Hope center & shelter guests)
2000 - 958 guests
2001 -1200
2002 - 800
2003 - 738
2004 - ?
2005 - 632
2006 - 670
2007 - 500
Fewer guests each year in 18 shelters - and now we MUST open the 19th shelter in a SCHOOL. Why? Who benefits?
I think it is funny that the letter from Fr. Carl (sent home in the SPC Thursday envelopes) was almost an exact copy of this one from MSW (with minor modifications).
I emailed my views to my alderman. For those who would like to join in contacting your elected officials and voice your opinion for or against:
https://www.parkridge.us/contacts/CityCouncilcontact.asp
or hit a CONTACT link here:
http://www.parkridge.us/government/city-council-profiles.asp
as much as I think it's great to contact your aldermen, I think most of them have already made up their minds by what Howie tells them.
Fr. Carl--how much longer? Are you HAPPY at what you have done to this community? I have great great sympathy for the next parish you go to.
Thanks for the reminder 11:54.
I’ve heard that the aldermen are receiving email and phone calls at a rate of nearly 7 – 1 in favor of shelters.
Shelter in school gym problem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5Y1xJQSIO4&feature=user
anonymous @ 10:08 !!!
That is so true, the numbers speak for themselves. The white shirts are so full of themselves blindly jumping on the bandwagon. They're going to feel like fools when the truth and if the shelter opens, the problems roll in. They're complete idiots for not questioning anything.
Anon 9:58 PM:
I am curious, are you Catholic? I am not, so I do not know this for a fact but I am pretty confident Fr. Carl has discussed the issues you wrote about many times and continues to do so in his sermons - even though I would probably not agree with all his positions on these issues.
Anon 5:22 - Actually what I teach is not to be a fraud. A shelter opened one day a week isn't a shelter. It is preening, a Prideful, "look at us, look at us, aren't we wonderful!"
I recall a story about a man coming upon a guy in the street carrying on with his devotions, publicly, trying to show the world how holy he was. What was the man's advice? If you truly believe, take it inside where no one can see you and then make the effort. The point is, if you truly believe, as opposed to just wanting others to think you believe, do it alone and do it effectively. This PADS scam is neither. It is Prideful carrying on in the street.
Anon 9:33 has it right. If the *true* issue was providing a shelter, then the PADS supporters could *fund* a shelter in an unused building, where the homeless actually are.
But MSW isn't.
Why? Because there wouldn't be any fanfare. It is carrying on in the street, in an effort to be *seen* as holy. And any one who disputes MSW's efforts feeds your persecution complex, further strengthening your resolve to carry on in the street, "look at us, look how holy we are, look at our ministry, how persecuted we are in our beliefs!" It is a fraud. Born of Pride.
There's a reason why Luther put the Book in the vernacular. He intended for all of us to read it ourselves and to think what was *actually* being said, so people would blindly follow what they were *told* it said.
Charles,
Would you be uncomfortable if I started sending you mash notes? Your comment at 9:50 is spot on.
Charles:
I do not disagree with anything in your post. I would say that as human beings, there is a piece of this that is pride. I am often guilty of that as well.
I still disagree with your previously stated philosophy.
Nessie - I have no idea what a Mash Note is, in all honesty (and, believe it or not, I work for an IT company). In any event, contact me via email, if you'd like.
Anon 11:10 - I too am guilty of Pride and too often Ire, as the tone of my postings no doubt make clear. Thankfully, a grumpily stated post isn't a philosophy. I suspect, in all honesty, our thoughts are more akin than they are separate.
Hey Annomoyous Sept. 26, 7:05 AM
My sources say that as of 5:00 PM on Friday the PADS opposition voiced in with 4,371 no's and the pro PADS were at 638.
I guess the REAL majority has weighted in. Those in favor of keeping our community free from these vagrants keep up the good work.
It will be interesting to see if the counsel really speaks for the people of this community now that the people have spoken. Of course there is no "real" record of the people speaking out.
If the pro PADS people are so sure they speak for the MAJORITY then why not put it to a vote in APRIL?
Charles,
"mash note (noun). Slang an effusive note or letter expressing affection or passion for the recipient, usually a stranger or someone known only casually."
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