Alms to the State

I'm very happy to pass on the great news that here in SA, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has contribute $9.447 million to mental health treatment programs for the "least served and most vulnerable," among us. This was reported Thursday in the Express News', Richard A. Marini.

"Weknow that every emergency room,every jail, every special service agency in South Texas is being flooded with mentally ill patients who do not get adequate care." Kevin C. Moriarty, CEO, Methodist Healthcare.

"And when the state of Texas cut millions in funding to agencies that care for these least-served and vulnerable patients we decided to step in and help.

The money will go to The Center for Health Care Services and the University of Texas Health Science Center.

The nice side of me says thanks for this generous gift from Methodist who profit greatly by the tax-free hospital charity state-charter they have that requires no charity spending. And believe me, they haven't. This development seems mighty white of them; however, the funny thing about their charity recipients in this case are a state run mental health agency, and the medical research arm of a state-run university, (with a healthy state land-based endowment). The cynical side of me cries fowl.

Granted, the money is best-spent on two of the three largest providers of indigent mental healthcare in the county/region, but when Rick Perry commented that government short-falls, and their consequent effects are matters best left up the the Lord, I don't think charity contributions, (or church tithing) should be rolled into the state-run services experiencing the short-falls. I think we all pictured Holy miracles, or something.

Now I guess the Red Cross should give grants directly to the state forestry service to prevent grass fires. Or, the United Way should give directly to the public schools.

Now that I think about it, who's being cynical.