I could be wrong about this, but for some reason the following rationalization for this method of collecting donations could be any combination of the following: 1) "closed shop" unions that require everyone to join, or donate the dues to a non-profit via United Way (that is actually the ONLY allowed alternative donee in my employment contract). While joining the Labor Union is not WTBS prohibited per se, in some areas it is frowned upon. A JW might be similar frowned at for donating to UW, unless, of course, the money could be funnelled straight to WTBS, and 2) At my other job, there is quite a bit of pressure to "fill in those UW forms" with our deductions. To be allow R&F JWs to donate to their cult and still look magnanimous in the eyes of their colleagues directly benefits the coffers of WTBS. There was nothing in UW's statement of goals that would seem to preclude a JW from contibuting TO WBTS via UW in this way, since their cash can be designated. UW is, on one level, an organization to disperse donations to non-profits. If it were to exclude WBTS on grounds that it really does no "real" charitable work, it would run up against allegations of religious discrimination and the charge to eliminate support of Catholic Charities, or Jewish Community Resources, etc. The plus side is that if a person forgets to file her annual designation form, the donation is dispersed amongst ALL the charities, including those that help the "heathens." Shoshana