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Tuesday, November 09, 2004

God and Mammon

Brothers and sisters, the Moose asks you to take your seats in the pews.

Today's sermon is about whether you are going to serve the dollar or whether you are going to be the Lord's supplicant. This dilemma weighs heavily on Pastor Moose's heart because of the ongoing revelations that people of the book such as Tom DeLay crony Jack Abramoff and Pat Robertson's former go-to guy Ralph Reed may have been putting mammon before the Lord. It is an oh so sordid tale of the perversion of the Judeo-Christian values that we all cherish in both red and blue states.

Pastor Moose is referring to the allegations about the bilking of millions and millions of dollars from Indian Tribes to promote gambling activities. This brewing scandal touches upon every corner of the conservative movement. Here is an excerpt from a must read piece in yesterday's Washington Post -

Now, however, the $66 million that Abramoff and his business partner, public affairs consultant Michael Scanlon, charged Indian tribes has become the focus of separate investigations by a federal grand jury and Congress. The controversy has produced disclosures embarrassing to some of Abramoff's political allies.

Already, the inquiries have revealed that Abramoff and Scanlon -- DeLay's former spokesman -- channeled money to Reed and Norquist's organizations. Reed has been forced to explain receipt of money channeled from casinos through Abramoff; Norquist, in turn, has denied that the payments he received drove the pro-tribe agenda of Americans for Tax Reform.

Yes, parishioners, as hard as it may be to believe, the moral crowd was awash from the proceeds from the wages of sin! Oh, where are the virtuous men and women?

But, Pastor Moose, asks the faint-hearted to shield their eyes because this vile tale gets worse! Allegedly, Mr. Reed, that righteous paragon of purity, benefited from the proceeds of sin according to the Post,

Later, Abramoff brought in Reed, who was paid $4.2 million from 2001 to 2003 to mobilize Christians to oppose the plans of those threatening Abramoff's Indian gaming clients.

Now, that is what the Moose calls a faith based program. As Brother Elmer Gantry preached,
"...You think, uh, religion is for suckers and easy marks and molly-coddlers, eh?"

Donkeys who are wallowing in their depression should rise from their despair and tune in C-SPAN in the next couple of weeks for the Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on this unfolding scandal.

Pastor Moose believes that it may be more inspirational than the 700 Club. Maybe the hearings should open with this - "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than it is a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."
-- Posted at 8:24 AM | Link to this post | Email this post