RELIGIOUS GROUPS CAN DO MORE FOR COMMUNITY

When I read the column about the evicted mom, the column about the homeless
families and the column about the $3.74 million in federal funds to be
spent on local drug treatment centers for youths in Mobile County, I
immediately thought of the misplaced values in this community. We look
around, and we are surrounded by magnificent "temples" of worship, with
educational and recreational facilities for the members. We see many of
these being erected with cash payments, and we see hundreds of thousands of
dollars being spent to buy more properties for parking facilities.

If all of these religious organizations would put their resources into the
public school system, the YMCA and facilities to help the homeless and
needy, they would be truly doing God's work for the whole community and
could be an example for America.

A cooperative religious effort could provide a large, nice home to house
many homeless families and help them by keeping their children while they
are being helped to become self-sufficient. Vocational training could be
provided to help the unfortunate become useful members of society.

Recreational facilities in a positive environment could be provided for all
youth, not just the privileged few.

I know the chance of these ideas being adopted by the religious community
is slim to none. But I think the religious leaders would have to admit that
they should and could do more for the community as a whole, and that
religion would gain from the effort.

Harry Reeves

Bayou La Batre