I’m sure it’s just the recession..

NEW YORK – Organized religion was already in trouble before the fall of 2008. Denominations were stagnating or shrinking, and congregations across faith groups were fretting about their finances.

The Great Recession made things worse.

I almost feel sorry for the churches. I’m sure many of them had good programs for many of the countries needy. But you see, I don’t feel sorry for the churches. God will get along just fine without the money.

Today, some parents, regardless of faith, can no longer afford the thousands of dollars in tuition it costs to send a child to a religious day school. Church officials fear these parents won’t re-endroll their kids if family finances improve because it might be disruptive once they’ve settled into a new school.

I smell voucher program. Wahhhhhhh, we can’t afford to send our kids to private school because wahhhhh we don’t like the “kids” at those schools. They are dangerous and do drugs.

The Association for Christian Schools International, which represents about 3,800 private schools, says enrollment is down nationally by nearly 5 percent. About 200 Christian schools closed or merged in the last academic year, 50 more than the year before.

Someone needs to tell those churches they should follow Falwell, Dobson and the rest of those guys. They seem to have a hate formula that rewards them for their love of all things biblicious.

The National Catholic Education Association is still measuring the toll on its schools, but expects grim news from the hardest hit states, after years of declining enrollment.

How typical, I know damn well they know the numbers. They knew they were closing St. Hedwigs a year before they did it. Wait, no I apologize, the Catholic church would never hide anything.

Religious leaders say the next year or so will be key in determining which organizations survive the downturn intact. Even if the recession ends soon, religious fundraisers say the angst donors feel will not lift immediately, prolonging the difficulties for congregations, schools and ministries.

Hopefully the ones that are the most open and accepting of all humans will make it. Those are the ones we need in this country. Not the ones that seem to dominate today.