The Religion Thread

[Vrede too]

But church run hospitals would never provide bad healthcare, Christians would make sure patients received only the best....... /s/s/s//s/s/s/s/s/s/s/s/s

Remember, many of these employees that Christians want to screw out of their retirements under the guise of religion are not Christians. That's where the bad healthcare would come from. Christians never do anything bad.

[O Really]

I think all employers, church or no, should comply with the provisions of ERISA.

Having said that, I haven't seen much evidence that church-affiliated hospitals are really doing anything awful. (I can't speak for churches, because I've only had one or two church clients and although they were sleazebags, they didn't gerrywhig their retirement benefit). Actually, hardly anybody sponsors a traditional "pension" (defined benefit) plan anymore, having gone more to 403(b)'s. About 20% of employees have a real pension plan, mostly employees of some damgummint. Of those that I'm familiar with, being a "church plan" is more to reduce the administrative burden and costs than to shaft employees. And for that type of plan, under-funding isn't an issue.

[Vrede too]

I think all employers, church or no, should comply with the provisions of ERISA.

Perhaps, but unlikely to ever happen for worship employees.

Having said that, I haven't seen much evidence that church-affiliated hospitals are really doing anything awful.

Other than on some women's healthcare, I haven't either. Around here, the 7th Day Adventists' Parkridge is one of the most popular for employees. My job in school was in a Catholic Hospital, it was fine.

(I can't speak for churches, because I've only had one or two church clients and although they were sleazebags, they didn't gerrywhig their retirement benefit)....

Agreed, but non-worship employees should have the same protections as non-church employees because bad things can happen to anyone.

Of those that I'm familiar with, being a "church plan" is more to reduce the administrative burden and costs than to shaft employees.

That's reason to change the law, not exempt some from it.

And for that type of plan, under-funding isn't an issue.

Could be at the moment, but competitive advantages will attract the sleazeballs. Anything could magically become a "church".

[bannination]

I was mostly kidding about actual patient care being worse at religious hospitals than secular. If anything I bet the average number of "Christians" employed at either are close to the same.

I have stories about a hospital around here where the employee's would deny helping patients due to sexual orientations or other religious reasons. They're scum.

[O Really]

ERISA has a lot of provisions that are somewhat outdated. Remember it's a 1972ish law passed to address massive misery in pension administration. Employers set up a plan, but set really long vesting periods, sometimes 25 years. They underfunded. They invested in crap. They stole from the plan. They fired people two weeks before they were vested. And yada and yada. Hardly any of that happens anymore, largely because of ERISA. Maybe without ERISA, employers would go back to the bad ol' days, but it could do with some modernization. Most plans are cookie-cutter programs, run by third-party administrators, using separate fund managers.

[Vrede too]

I was mostly kidding about actual patient care being worse at religious hospitals than secular. If anything I bet the average number of "Christians" employed at either are close to the same.

That's been my experience, but could be slightly more at Christian hospitals. They don't really push the religion - which is an argument against religious exemptions - they all need the Medicare/Medicaid dollars.

I have stories about a hospital around here where the employee's would deny helping patients due to sexual orientations or other religious reasons.

I haven't. Any details you can share?

They're scum.

[Mr.B]

"I have stories...."

Stories

[bannination]

I was mostly kidding about actual patient care being worse at religious hospitals than secular. If anything I bet the average number of "Christians" employed at either are close to the same.

That's been my experience, but could be slightly more at Christian hospitals. They don't really push the religion - which is an argument against religious exemptions - they all need the Medicare/Medicaid dollars.

I have stories about a hospital around here where the employee's would deny helping patients due to sexual orientations or other religious reasons.

I haven't. Any details you can share?

They're scum.

I do, but I'll have to PM when I have a chance since they're personally identifying.

[bannination]

"I have stories...."

Stories

They're not made up bible stories.... they're real stories.

[Mr.B]

"I have stories...."

Stories

They're not made up bible stories.... they're real stories.

"....they're real stories" .... by fictional characters.

[Mr.B]

[homerfobe]

Proof that atheists are ass backwards.

[bannination]

[Mr.B]

When do you think you might graduate to the eighth panel, Banni?

[Vrede too]

Not sure about that last panel, but it's a nice thought.

[Mr.B]

"Not sure about that last panel, but it's a nice thought."

Yeah, I feel sorry for 'im too.

[bannination]

When do you think you might graduate to the eighth panel, Banni?

As soon as you stop believing in the 7th.

[Mr.B]

When do you think you might graduate to the eighth panel, Banni?

"As soon as you stop believing in the 7th."

I DEFINITELY DON'T believe in the 7th., the sixth, yes .... and I am grown up; you?

[bannination]

When do you think you might graduate to the eighth panel, Banni?

"As soon as you stop believing in the 7th."

I DEFINITELY DON'T believe in the 7th., the sixth, yes .... and I am grown up; you?

I thought Christians believed in sky fairies, my bad.

[Mr.B]

*reposted*