I would query the despite. I think the ideals of the Salvation Army are not at odds with the Church. They do not advocate alchohol use, and are busy with good works. When you are n the service of your fellow men … etc.
Good on you for being active in trying to promote good deeds!
One day, while out shopping, there was a SA Kettle person, but instead of ringing a bell, he was playing a violin. I stood and sang with him for about an hour. For the record, I’m non-denomenational Christian.
The true religion upholds God’s ideas and not the mistaken ones of men. God has not changed, so do not expect him to lower his standards just to be politically correct. He wants nothing to do with politics any way. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving and for setting things straight.
See, this is the problem with SOME of the LGBT community and their supporters. If you do NOTHING to harm them, go out of your way to help them when they are in need, but still disagree with their principles, you are thought of as bigotted and intolerant. I thought tolerance was supposed to be a two way street? I am supposed to tolerate the LGBT community in everything they do, but they do not tolerate my Christian beliefs? Sorry – it doesn’t work that way.
Salvation Army happens to be one of the best Charities to give to. Between 85% and 96% of every dollar goes right back out to help people.Also, the community you give in, is the community that receives the money. (i.e. if in Toronto you give to the Yonge & Eglinton Citadel’s kettles, that is who’ll use it.)
Where does the money the SA collects go? To help the needy right? I usually think of it helping poor families which include children. There doesn’t need to be a political agenda attached to helping others.
I once shut down an investigation of myself when I asked the ones doing the investigating if I could expect the same level of tolerance that I was expected to extend. I almost starting laughing when I got my answer. It was fun to listen to his voice (and the stunned silence just before his answer) when I held them to their own standards.
Little Contessa – the Word of G-d that we know of came to us in the Ten Commandments. Take a look at those and see where it says anything about lesbians and gay people. It doesn’t.
@LarryW2LJ – I am tolerant of Salvation Army, but I disagree with their principles. I’m not advocating for them to go out of business, but I’m also not supporting them with my money. There’s a big difference between tolerance and acceptance.
Bil Browning and his boyfriend were homeless. To protect the identity of the boyfriend (now ex-boyfriend), Mr. Browning will not say specifically where, just that it was in “southern Indiana,” about 20 years ago. But he is very explicit about who refused to give them shelter.
“The Salvation Army refused to help us,” Mr. Browning recalls, “unless we broke up and then left the ‘sinful homosexual lifestyle’ behind. We slept on the street, and they didn’t help when we declined to break up at their insistence.”
Mr. Browning’s boyfriend was wearing a “Silence = Death” AIDS pin on his jacket, which must have tipped off the Salvation Army worker. “He told us we needed to be saved,” Mr. Browning says. “If we were willing to attend church services, he could help. We would have to break up, only one of us could stay in the shelter, and if there was room for the other, he would have to be on the opposite side of the room, and we wouldn’t even look at each other.”
- In 1998, the Salvation Army withdrew from $3.5 million in contracts with San Francisco because of the city’s requirement for contractors to extend benefits to the same-sex partners of employees. As a result, shelters, food services, and drug rehab programs in the city all suffered cutbacks.
- In 2004, the Salvation Army in New York City once again threatened to close all of its services in the city due to a law requiring contractors to provide equal benefits to same-sex partners.
- And in 2012, a media relations director with the Salvation Army of Australia stated on a radio show that it was part of their “belief system” and “Christian doctrine” that gay people should die.
A transwoman with a heart condition froze to death sleeping outside after the Salvation Army shelter told her she would have to sleep with and shower with the men and use her male birth name. Transpeople commonly are assaulted when housed with people not of their sexual identity.
I’m glad that the SA does good work for many people but I also have reservations about giving money to an organization that tries to force people to go against their beliefs before they will help. If free help is offered it should be free help; forcing people to attend church services or to renounce their beliefs before you will help them is so wrong! We all have to choose where we spend our charitable money, and I commend those who take a hard look at just who they are giving their money to and what they are doing with it. And just an fyi…the good work an organization may do does not negate the bad work they do and the harmful impact they may have in the world. Spreading hate will always be seen as negative and wrong to me, all semantics aside. You can do good things and still be an ignorant racist bigot, for example, and your questionable personal beliefs cast a shadow on your good deeds. If an organization is standing against a group of people because of their sexuality then they are, in my book, not worth giving money to.
Templo S.U.D. almost 12 years ago
Despite being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I was a bell-ringer for The Salvation Army last year and the year before.
Sleuth almost 12 years ago
I would query the despite. I think the ideals of the Salvation Army are not at odds with the Church. They do not advocate alchohol use, and are busy with good works. When you are n the service of your fellow men … etc.
Good on you for being active in trying to promote good deeds!
Wren Fahel almost 12 years ago
One day, while out shopping, there was a SA Kettle person, but instead of ringing a bell, he was playing a violin. I stood and sang with him for about an hour. For the record, I’m non-denomenational Christian.
sappha58 almost 12 years ago
Until the Salvation Army stops discriminating against LGBT folk, I’m not giving one more penny. I will give to other, more inclusive charities.
LittleContessa almost 12 years ago
The true religion upholds God’s ideas and not the mistaken ones of men. God has not changed, so do not expect him to lower his standards just to be politically correct. He wants nothing to do with politics any way. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving and for setting things straight.
LittleContessa almost 12 years ago
It is nice to see that this little fictional character has parents that taught him to think of others and not just himself.
w2lj almost 12 years ago
See, this is the problem with SOME of the LGBT community and their supporters. If you do NOTHING to harm them, go out of your way to help them when they are in need, but still disagree with their principles, you are thought of as bigotted and intolerant. I thought tolerance was supposed to be a two way street? I am supposed to tolerate the LGBT community in everything they do, but they do not tolerate my Christian beliefs? Sorry – it doesn’t work that way.
Allan CB Premium Member almost 12 years ago
Salvation Army happens to be one of the best Charities to give to. Between 85% and 96% of every dollar goes right back out to help people.Also, the community you give in, is the community that receives the money. (i.e. if in Toronto you give to the Yonge & Eglinton Citadel’s kettles, that is who’ll use it.)
alondra almost 12 years ago
Where does the money the SA collects go? To help the needy right? I usually think of it helping poor families which include children. There doesn’t need to be a political agenda attached to helping others.
gimmickgenius almost 12 years ago
Sorry, should say, “offer the other cheek as well.”
renewed1 almost 12 years ago
I once shut down an investigation of myself when I asked the ones doing the investigating if I could expect the same level of tolerance that I was expected to extend. I almost starting laughing when I got my answer. It was fun to listen to his voice (and the stunned silence just before his answer) when I held them to their own standards.
tampadeb almost 12 years ago
The salvation army does not support gays!
Doctor11 almost 12 years ago
That’s a good reason to save up your money.
Lamberger almost 12 years ago
Both the SA and the LDS church give better return on your buck than Uncle Sam.
Tricia A. almost 12 years ago
Given the atrocious anti-gay activities of the Salvation Army, I wouldn’t give them a dime.
Argy.Bargy2 almost 12 years ago
Little Contessa – the Word of G-d that we know of came to us in the Ten Commandments. Take a look at those and see where it says anything about lesbians and gay people. It doesn’t.
Puddleglum2 almost 12 years ago
’Koin’onia!
QuietStorm27 almost 12 years ago
My young daughter always wants to give when she sees a kettle. The problem is they’re everywhere and we’re part of the community that needs help.
vwdualnomand almost 12 years ago
there is one church that won’t be in the xmas mood this year. the wbc is planning on protesting at the CT funerals.
pierreandnicole almost 12 years ago
That’s SWEET.
dalbino83 almost 12 years ago
@LarryW2LJ – I am tolerant of Salvation Army, but I disagree with their principles. I’m not advocating for them to go out of business, but I’m also not supporting them with my money. There’s a big difference between tolerance and acceptance.
USNA88 almost 12 years ago
Too bad they are anti-gay and I wouldn’t (and don’t) give to them if they were the last charity on earth
calspace almost 12 years ago
For those who haven’t heard that the Salvation Army discriminates against gay people.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/24/us/beliefs-salvation-army-hears-dissent-over-gay-views.html?_r=4&hp&
Bil Browning and his boyfriend were homeless. To protect the identity of the boyfriend (now ex-boyfriend), Mr. Browning will not say specifically where, just that it was in “southern Indiana,” about 20 years ago. But he is very explicit about who refused to give them shelter.
“The Salvation Army refused to help us,” Mr. Browning recalls, “unless we broke up and then left the ‘sinful homosexual lifestyle’ behind. We slept on the street, and they didn’t help when we declined to break up at their insistence.”
Mr. Browning’s boyfriend was wearing a “Silence = Death” AIDS pin on his jacket, which must have tipped off the Salvation Army worker. “He told us we needed to be saved,” Mr. Browning says. “If we were willing to attend church services, he could help. We would have to break up, only one of us could stay in the shelter, and if there was room for the other, he would have to be on the opposite side of the room, and we wouldn’t even look at each other.”
http://freethoughtblogs.com/zinniajones/2012/11/dont-give-to-the-anti-gay-salvation-army/
- In 1998, the Salvation Army withdrew from $3.5 million in contracts with San Francisco because of the city’s requirement for contractors to extend benefits to the same-sex partners of employees. As a result, shelters, food services, and drug rehab programs in the city all suffered cutbacks.
- In 2004, the Salvation Army in New York City once again threatened to close all of its services in the city due to a law requiring contractors to provide equal benefits to same-sex partners.
- And in 2012, a media relations director with the Salvation Army of Australia stated on a radio show that it was part of their “belief system” and “Christian doctrine” that gay people should die.
http://texascivilrightsreview.org/phpnuke/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1309
A transwoman with a heart condition froze to death sleeping outside after the Salvation Army shelter told her she would have to sleep with and shower with the men and use her male birth name. Transpeople commonly are assaulted when housed with people not of their sexual identity.
medbarin almost 12 years ago
I’m glad that the SA does good work for many people but I also have reservations about giving money to an organization that tries to force people to go against their beliefs before they will help. If free help is offered it should be free help; forcing people to attend church services or to renounce their beliefs before you will help them is so wrong! We all have to choose where we spend our charitable money, and I commend those who take a hard look at just who they are giving their money to and what they are doing with it. And just an fyi…the good work an organization may do does not negate the bad work they do and the harmful impact they may have in the world. Spreading hate will always be seen as negative and wrong to me, all semantics aside. You can do good things and still be an ignorant racist bigot, for example, and your questionable personal beliefs cast a shadow on your good deeds. If an organization is standing against a group of people because of their sexuality then they are, in my book, not worth giving money to.