Salvation Army threatens to leave NY city over gay benefits

New York Post ^ | May 23, 2004 | BRAD HAMILTON

[Cracker72]

The Salvation Army could be marching out of New York.

The evangelical nonprofit organization is facing a major showdown with the city over a bill that would force it to offer health benefits to gay and unwed spouses of New York staffers.

[KellyAdmirer]

They have a huge complex on 14th Street. I've been over there several times to make donations. I don't know what else they could possibly use the space for. It has huge sculptures and monuments dedicated to the Salvation Army in a very 1930s style.

[Mears]

The benefits don't have to go to a spouse but can go to any family member?

Then that says,to me,that gay couples would not be eligible.

How does that accommodate religious groups?

Good luck to the Salvation Army.A check from me if they stick to their principles.

[wingnutx]

If the organization leaves town, it would give up $70 million a year in city funding.

The loss of public financing - half the Army's yearly budget in the city - would cripple its programs, which serve 5 million New Yorkers, the group says.

Uh, if it leaves town then it doesn't need a budget for NYC operations.

[sionnsar]

If the organization leaves town, it would give up $70 million a year in city funding.
The loss of public financing - half the Army's yearly budget in the city

Hm. They lose funding of half of what they're spending in NYC

The NYC needy lose, the other half of what they would have spent in NYC go to help others elsewhere.

[maryz]

The Equal Benefits Bill, an extension of a 1998 city law that gave domestic-partner benefits to city workers, does offer an olive branch to religious groups: Benefits don't have to be to a spouse, but can go to any family member.

"I think the bill makes a very fair accommodation for religious organizations," said the bill's sponsor, Councilwoman Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan).

I'm not quite sure what this means; did the reporter leave something out?

That apart, the Salvation Army is the best! I hope they stick to their guns.

[lancer]

The Salvation Army is the only organized charity we give to because more of the money goes to the needy. Damned if I would contribute a dime to support this whacky city bill. And if NYC wants to pick up the tab and replace the Salvation Army, good luck to it! I'm sure other cities would welcome the help without the politically correct crap!

[Unam Sanctam]

Stick to your guns, Salvation Army. The government has no right to tell you what to believe and what not to believe or how to practice your religion.

[JoJo Gunn]

I remember a couple of years back some Perverts were putting notices in the Salvation Army kettles, and it essentially said "this could have been 5 dollars, but you don't approve of my Degeneracy", blah blah.

I say let 'em leave that Mecca of running sores.

[EdReform]

Ping

What We Can Do To Help Defeat the "Gay" Agenda

Homosexual Agenda: Categorical Index of Links (Version 1.1)

Myth and Reality about Homosexuality--Sexual Orientation Section, Guide to Family Issues"

[StonyBurk]

I will ocntinue to support the Salvation Army so long as
they remain True to their core beliefs.Shame on any wicked
judge that would act against the fundamental Christian morality was established to uphold. John Jay must be
very ashamed of that reprobate City.

[GovernmentShrinker]

So why doesn't the Salvation Army just scale back its programs to a level that it can support with its own funds? Then the city money could go to different, maybe new, programs that comply with the law. There are a LOT of gay taxpayers in NYC, and it's no more unreasonable for them not to want their tax dollars to fund programs which discriminate against them, than it is for the Salvation Army not to want to operate their programs in a way which conflicts with their religious beliefs.

If religious organizations want to run things their own way, they shouldn't let their operations become dependent on government money.

[longtermmemmory]

This is what homosexual groups want, they will then step in to take the money and use it for indoctrination.

[Solamente]

I don't want to as yet peel the onion about my experience with the SA.

They mean and do well, but there's plenty fishy.

[longtermmemmory]

Follow the money, who will get the 70 million? Homosexual groups?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Not to slight the Salvation Army, but they don't need the city's money. I'm pretty sure the SA could get that much, and plenty more, just through direct charity donations from individuals and NYC businesses.

No charitable organizations should receive taxpayer funds. That would weed out the leftist groups right there.

[weegee]

Politically Correct liberalism is a religion unto itself. How about we get the government to divest its ties to Political Correctness?

Why must we concede every issue to the left?

[sionnsar]

Ouch! I'll bet you're right. What a deal... grab $70m and smear the SA as hateful & intolerant into the bargain.

[Solamente]

Addendum:

I am aware of my ignoring the point: the homo lawsuits against them.

I observed some things that exposed their premise as a charitable entity.

[Ohioan]

What a farce. New York "Liberalism" once again demonstrates its true colors. I wish that those who are so fond of rhapsodizing on the wonders of "liberal" immigration laws, would start to draw logical conclusions from developments such as this. There is a direct correlation between the "diversity" of populations--particularly where the ethnicities involved leave the traditional mainstream in the minority--and the radical departures from traditional American values.

Put it another way. Everyone who comes here does not accept our value systems. Nor is everyone who does, when they come here, equally prepared to resist the arguments of the Left for changing those value systems. Once you trash the idea of continuity, of the importance of lines of descent, of heritage, family and shared history, you break some of the prime ingredients in a people's maintaining high standards. This sort of madness follows.

There is no more decent organization than the Salvation Army, and no population dominated by traditional Americans would try to foist something this sick upon them. In fact, no traditional American population would interfere with the "Army" in any way at all.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site