Over the past weeks some of Cayman’s media have led with stories brandishing Churches receive X$, Premier’s church receives X$, Church gives back X$, Another church gives back X$ and finally “Churches get $600K in 2013”.

Then the Progressives get into the act and send out a press release saying “controversy and churches is not something for the faint of heart” and pointing out with a sense of outrage, the $600K donations to churches headline that adorned their seemingly favourite media website.

All the headlines were correct but the culprit – the decision maker for arbitrarily distributing monies from the National Building Fund  – in most cases did not make the headlines. And even the National Building Fund escaped the headlines.

CHURCH and CHURCHES!!!!

WHY?

The most important fact was missing from the headlines – one person (the ex-premier McKeeva Bush and to a lesser extent his replacement, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly) made the decision and the announcement.

The funds were asked for and were given but it was the criteria or lack of it that was the problem. But where were the headlines shouting that?

CHURCHES!

Churches are the villains portrayed here and then the political party who might stand a chance at forming a government shoots itself in the foot with their last press release.

Churches mentioned in their first sentence along with the word “controversy” and “not for the faint of heart” whatever that means. “Churches get $600K” comes next and points you to the media house article. [Note: iNews Cayman amended the PR and sent The Progressives an email explaining why].

The whole thrust of the release was not against the “controversial Nation Building Fund, championed by disgraced UDP leader McKeeva Bush” that I believe was the whole point as they headlined the PR with ‘One Man Rule and Fiscal Irresponsibility’, but it was against churches and “all non-profits and faith-based organisations”.

“Churchgoers in Cayman need to understand” the PR goes on in its lecturing style and to really hammer it home – “All non-profits and faith-based organisations must understand that there needs to be a level playing field…..”

Holy cows – yes I can use the word ‘holy’ as we have Churches and faith based organisations used in the PR – why are the Progressives preaching to the people who had no say in who got the funds?!!!!

So this then is the Progressives stance on churchgoers? Not just churches now. Churchgoers?

Well the United Democratic Party, the C4C and the other independents should have a field day after this.

Hopefully, this HUGE bloomer will be rectified or forgotten – but I wouldn’t bet on it.

Yes, it is Ok to bash Cayman’s churches but surely only if they do something wrong?

It is St. George’s Day today (23) and I am sure Satan’s dragons are breathing more fire from this new fuel.