Black People Politics : Who said religion and politics don't mix?

RAPTOR

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Church groups with city contracts back Emanuel's school agenda

Some organizations paid people to support mayor's reforms at hearings, critics say

By Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Kristen Mack and Jeff Coen, Chicago Tribune reporters
January 27, 2012

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Faith-based groups that have become the face of community support for Mayor Rahm Emanuel's controversial plans to lengthen the school day and close failing schools also receive millions of dollars in grants from his administration.

City Hall has long enjoyed the support of church leaders who receive grants to run after-school programs and other social services, but that relationship is coming under new scrutiny in response to complaints that some groups paid people to testify in support of Emanuel reforms at recent public hearings.

One of the key players touting grass-roots support for Emanuel's agenda is the Rev. Roosevelt Watkins, a minister and longtime ally of former Mayor Richard Daley who has seen an uninterrupted flow of contracts to provide services to Chicago Public Schools students. Watkins acknowledged his group pays small stipends to people who receive training as community activists and attend public meetings.

"We've got complaints," CPS Inspector General James Sullivan said Thursday. "(Watkins) gets money from CPS and we're going to follow up on the complaints. We will attempt to determine if the allegations are true, and if so, is there something wrong with that."

Many of the same church leaders who supported Daley's education initiatives professed early support for Emanuel, who campaigned on a pledge to improve schools with a focus on extending the school day and school year.

"No one should be surprised Chicago's faith community is working to empower parents and residents to speak out against failing schools," Watkins said in a statement responding to questions Thursday. "We do not need anyone's permission to fight for children in every corner of this city."

But critics say that when some of those church leaders operate city-funded social service programs, it raises questions about whether they are beholden to the administration.

"Obviously, it's more than troubling here on this matter," said Ald. Robert Fioretti, 2nd. "I think there's a belief that they have to do that. It becomes a form of patronage."

Fioretti complained to CPS officials Wednesday about busloads of demonstrators packing public hearings on school closings earlier this month. He said at one hearing he attended, a man sitting behind him tapped him on the shoulder and implied he was brought to the hearing under false pretenses.

"'We were brought here and we are getting paid,'" Fioretti said the man told him. Two other people said they were given speeches that they refused to read, the alderman said.

During a CPS board meeting Wednesday, Fioretti called out the "paid protesters," and asked that their testimony be stricken from the official record.

"It's embarrassing to the whole system," Fioretti told the Tribune. "It subverts our democratic process."

The mayor's office declined to comment Thursday, but on Wednesday, Emanuel brushed off questions about ministers paying people to protest.

Read more:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...isters-schools-20120127,0,6922803,print.story
 
Religion is a form of politics .... and social control.

I have never actually equated religion as a form of politics but in this situation I have to agree.
 
I have never actually equated religion as a form of politics but in this situation I have to agree.

It is a form of politics .... period ... in my opinion.

Great way to control people, organize oppressive associations, gain access to the resources of others, and raise revenue .... in my opinion.
 
I have never actually equated religion as a form of politics but in this situation I have to agree.

How the trick works is a person or group of persons claims to be the deputy, representative, delegate, vicar, or God. As such, the flock must obey the will and whims of the deputy, representative, delegate, vicar.

God's will turns into the will of the leader.

Nifty trick. Works often. You can see it all throughout history.
 

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