Yes, Religion Can Still Be A Force For Good In The World. Here Are 100 Examples How

[intaglio]

86. We'll have to agree to differ about the "angle" - for now

But consider the title of the article "Yes, Religion Can Still Be A Force For Good In The World. Here Are 100 Examples How" (emphasis mine) and leave it there.

I have not suggested that "non-govs" should not do this work and this has to be linked back to the legislative environment in the UK which severely limits the ability of Churches to register as charities in their own right. Here secular charities are very much the norm and becoming a Charity requires registering with the Charities Commission. This body has to look at all groups wanting to register, looks at their funding and the proportion of income that is spent on administration, transport and fundraising (including advertising) compared to the amount spent on the object of the charity. IIRC at least 80% of the income has to go on the object of the charity. Accounts are supposed to be submitted every year with an auditors report, and complaints are tracked and usually investigated. If the charity does this then HMRC (the UK government tax collector similar to Internal Revenue) will:
1) entitle the Charity to "zero rating" on VAT (sales tax) so they can claim back VAT paid on capital items or consumables;
2) if the giver submits a claim form then the amount given is considered untaxed income and the tax goes to the Charity.

Onto the matter of denial of responsibility. Yes bureaucrats and sleazy businessmen will duck dodge and dive but Churches make a claim to moral superiority beyond a simple "you can trust me, they call me Honest Frank." Churches often claim that they can be trusted because they believe that infractions will be punished after death or in some case will claim that the source of all morals is the deity they worship.

Now the quid pro quo. I did not mean to suggest that attendance at was solicited as such but ...
The Salvation Army will offer food and accommodation to the indigent at their Citadel where a service might be held and "you are welcome to participate if you wish";
A group taking food to the starving in Africa make it clear that they can only do so if people of their particular faith are welcomed;
The food truck offering soup on the street has servers who say "God Bless you," with each serving and has leaflets advertising events at local churches, "where all are welcome;"
Medical help is provided by those dressed in religious garb or who are constantly invoking the name of their deity.