Posted on 12/14/2009 12:45:15 PM PST by SmithL
The halls aren't the only thing getting decked this holiday season.
The Salvation Army, the country's biggest charity, is taking it full on the chin from a social media network mobilized against the organization's position on homosexuality and other social sins. Twitter, Facebook and gay Web sites are lit up with protest and calls for donor boycotts.
The Army's official same-sex statement suggests it's unlikely those cheery volunteers ringing bells over red kettles will be donning gay apparel anytime soon.
While homosexuals are not "blameworthy," ... "Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex." The Army is an unabashedly evangelical, religious entity, after all, and has also resisted domestic partner benefits for its employees.
Last month, there was another stink about the Army's Houston division demanding to see Social Security cards of needy parents before providing toys for their kids. Angry protesters claimed this was discrimination against cardless illegal immigrants.
Before we take the predictable San Francisco, to-the-barricades view on all this, let's consider the Catholic concept of "proportionalism." This means (roughly, my interpretation) that bad conduct can be acceptable if a much greater good is being accomplished.
The Salvation Army served 33 million people in the United States last year. It raises about $2 billion a year and spends an impressive 89 percent of that on services - food, shelter, foster care and HIV programs.
It is a consistent and reliable disaster relief group.
"The first hand that reaches to pull you from the rubble of our next earthquake," Shea O'Neill wrote on the SFAppeal Web site last week, "will be the anti-gay hand of the Salvation Army."
There's no whitewashing their beliefs, if you oppose them, though the Army mission also is clear that its relief services are available to anyone "without regard to sexual orientation."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
“judge”
And yet you judge people for their religious conviction, even though they actively help people.
I suspect you probably hate the Salvation Army (who would help you, even if they disagree with your homosexuality) more than Hamas that would kill you because of your homosexuality.
Anytime there was a major incident (flood, forest fire, house fire, etc), The Salvation Army could be counted on to be there, passing out coffee and sandwiches to the guys (and girls) working the scene. And generally in the case of a house fire, they'd be there with food, clothes, vouchers for places to stay, etc, for the family before the fire was out.
In my experience, agencies like the Red Cross will help....grudgingly. Lots of paperwork. Lots of time. Lots of red tape. The Salvation Army doesn't work that way. If you need a hand....right now....they provide it.
They get the lion's share of my charitable donations. I've already written them my XMas check, but I may send another one after reading this.
Thank You Frog, and as well, A fool declares there is no god.
It doesn’t change the fact that they are a homophobic organization.””
I doubt there are many people in the Salvation Army that were molested by adult queers when they were children—this is where the true homophobe comes from. Just because normal people don’t buy the marketing of sexual deviance means nothing except they don’t think felching, rimming, and other fecal-consuming behaviors are normal and healthy.
The DUck pen is down the hall, to the far left-——>
I would think you've been here long enough to know what the founder of Free Republic states.
Your behavior has all of the major signposts to it.
I don’t want to hear of morals - they are so ‘not-fun’
Use of hate-speech words to try to silence - i.e. homophobia, -ic, -obe.
Ridicule to religion in general, God in particular.
The idea that no one has the ‘right’ to point out ‘wrong’
ad nauseum.
My experience was working at a Sheriff’s Office that would move or demote employees for not getting involved or committing to long term donations. They came in with their spread of food and made a big deal of their “thermometer”
I am sometimes embarassed by behavior of some of these posters comments. The Salvation Army does good things and is voluntary. I hate a bunch of so called do-gooders claiming to be christians sitting behind their computer taking the moral high ground. What’s a little pocket change to help people IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY?
I say help a brother out during the holiday season.
We are all fortunate to be sitting here dicking around on FR on a Monday afternoon. We are the lucky ones.
And I donate to them because of the good things they do.
I don't want my donation money funding any special-interest, liberal agenda.
“I agree and even though I probably can’t afford it I will be giving MORE to them this year. This organization really does good work.”
Makes sense. That’s how we make up the loss from the withholders.
The problem with your little scenario. I’m not gay, lol.
Let me take a wild guess here Suavee. You are clearly a homophile, right?
I have never understood why so many companies and organizations are so RABID about meeting a United Way goal! One other poster said he was forced to give when he was in the Navy.
Is there a shakedown by the UW or is there a nice bonus to the company management for forcing their employees to give? Something smells.
LOL, don’t care who you are, that theres funny
You left March of Dimes off the bad list; they make United (Chicago) Way look almost honest.
Why not, are you phobic?
HECK I may actually stop and give them some money this Christmas season!
Nope not at all. But unlike you, I don’t believe that one’s sexual preference is something you choose. Personally, I am a hetro who doesn’t care who others sleep with as long as their partners are consenting adults.
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