STATISTIC: In January 2015, an estimated 564,708 people were homeless in the United States on a given night. [source]
STATISTIC: There were 344,894 religious congregations listed in the US Religion Census 2010. [source]
SCRIPTURE: “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” –Matthew 25:41-45. [source]
COMMENTARY: Have you ever thought to ask your bishop why the LDS church builds extravagant temples and upscale chapels but has never built a single homeless shelter? Do you think your ward could afford to provide shelter for two homeless people per year? What would the world look like if every religious congregation committed even ten percent of its collected donations to actually helping the poor? Imagine that! Religion could actually be a force for good in the world. But what do I know? I’m just another apostate.
