Why The Salvation Army Doesn’t Deserve Your Money
Every holiday season, people open their hearts and wallets for family, friends, and charities alike, including the Salvation Army. Unfortunately, some large organizations who regularly solicit for money are often using funds for political motives or ‘overhead’ costs. In a series of posts, we’ll be investigating three popular charities that don’t deserve your charity.
Everyone knows the Salvation Army. Whether it’s the secondhand goods at their thrift stores or their collection kettles outside department stores, the Salvation Army is ubiquitous to the holiday season.
However, the Salvation Army’s virulent opposition to gay rights both in public and through persistent legislative lobbying raises the question how donations intended for the needy are being spent. Many people forget that the Salvation Army is in fact an Evangelical church, and as such, it tends to have a hard-right social agenda.
In fact, the Salvation Army goes so far as to say gay people shouldn’t be having sex. You can find this nugget on their website: “Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life.”
However, do you want to make yourself irresistible? Then, you may want to use some effective products like True Pheromones to make it possibly happen!
Starting at the beginning of George W. Bush’s presidency in 2001, the Salvation Army began lobbying for an exemption to equal labor practices for government-funded faith-based organizations. Why? Because the Salvation Army wanted to continue to discriminate against gays and prevent them from being hired.
In 2004, the Salvation Army threatened to close all its soup kitchens in the New York City area—which would have ended $250 million worth of contracts with the city—if they were forced to offer benefits to same-sex couples. This move would have lost the Salvation Army around $70 million in direct funding from the city and endangered the lives of several thousand people reliant on the Salvation Army.
Was this supposed to be a principled stand? All the homeless people receiving care from the Salvation Army would be turned out on the street. What would have motivated The Salvation Army to make such a callous move? They said that, by offering benefits to same sex couples, they’d be supporting HIV/AIDS because HIV/AIDS is only the product of homosexual intercourse.
AIDS? How does AIDS factor in? Oh yeah, I forgot! Gay people don’t suffer from non-gay sex related maladies. If a same sex couple needs health benefits, it must be from all that AIDS they’re spreading around. Is there any way to construe this as anything but bigotry?
Interesting, and I don’t believe that the Salvation Army should be putting money in political lobbying regarding gay issues, but I feel that some of the things mentioned does need to be put into perspective.
“In fact, the Salvation Army goes so far as to say gay people shouldn’t be having sex. You can find this nugget on their website: “Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life.””
They are specifically referring to Christian gays and seeing it from a scriptural perspective, that if someone who is gay wants to live the Christian lifestyle then, from a scriptural point of view, celibacy is the only option from the point of view of the Salvation Army. I can appreciate if you disagree with this view, but the Salvation Army has never pretended to be anything but a religious organisation and that ideal doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with their charity work. They are talking about the church aspect. They don’t mention non-Christian gay people, or gay people who aren’t interested in living a Christian lifestyle, they specifically mention Christian gays. Not that this isn’t an issue for Christian gay people who need to come to terms with either their beliefs or sexuality and make a decision one way or another, but it’s a complex Christian issue and a complex gay issue that I myself don’t fully comprehend, but it’s about faith, and unless you have it, you probably don’t understand it.
Also, don’t forget that, according to scripture and Christian standards of sexuality unless/until you’re married, straight people aren’t supposed to have sex, either. This is mentioned on their website, too, under “marriage”. I thought it was interesting that you pointed out that “they dont’ think gay people should even be having sex” as if they didn’t think that I, being an unmarried straight female, shouldn’t be having sex, either.
(For the record, the word “celibacy” refers to marriage, not sex. Not that it’s much of a distinction here since you’re not supposed to have sex out of marriage, but it’s a bit of a pet peeve of mine that a lot of people don’t seem to be aware of the difference.)
The website also says:
“Likewise, there is no scriptural support for demeaning or mistreating anyone for reason of his or her sexual orientation. The Salvation Army opposes any such abuse.”
go fuck yourself
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I like how one of the links went to wikipedia
Cause wikipedia is reliable and all
The Bible rejects all sexual activity that is not within the marriage arrangement of a man and a woman. If a heterosexual person is to live by Bible principles then they can not have sex if not married . Hence neither can a person that is a homosexual if they choose to accept the Bible as the Word of God and desire to do His will. The homosexual is clearly handicapped if they wish to be Christians and adhere to the teachings of the Bible. If a heterosexual wants to marry then they can, so can a homosexual with someone of the opposite sex which of course they rarely would want to. Unfair ? It would seem so ,but homosexuality is just one of the imperfections caused by Adam and Eve’s sin. Many people because of various imperfections have strong desires to do unprincipled things such as kleptomania,violent anger,pedophilia,pyromania, sadistic and masochistic tendencies etc but these tendencies must be kept under control, not just for their own sake but societies in general. And though homosexuality from a Christian Biblical perspective is a personal sin as opposed to a societal sin, it still is no less a sin then any of the other compulsions mentioned above. In 1Corinthians 9 verse 12 it states of God “that he will not let you bear beyond what you can” thus a homosexual or any person that truly wants to obey God and live by His principles can with God’s Holy Spirit resist any temptation.
The ultimate answer to all our problems is God’s promised Kingdom which we pray for in the model prayer Jesus gave us as a guide for the kind of things to pray for. That The Salvation Army believes in following Bible principles is only natural and correct if they choose to be a Christian organization. Your gripe should not be with them but with God. It’s God’s opposition to homosexuality that the SA is only trying to comply with. If you choose to obey God, fine, if not , that’s also fine. It’s your choice but remember there are consequences to the choices we make in life. Choose to defy God’s principles if you want but don’t hate others because they choose to obey God. God promises and end to this system of man rule and like it or not it will end. Choose wisely……….
How dare you!!!??? I am not a member of the Salvation Army nor indeed do I know anyone who is but I am aware of the wonderful work which they do for a plethora of deserving causes and millions of needy people the world over. They are one of the most deserving of all causes.
For your information, it is the Holy Bible which denotes homosexuality as being the sick perversion and mental disease which it is, not the Salvation Army.
Shame on you!!!!
Really? REALLY?
Well, I just can’t argue with that infallible logic.
The ringing of the bells is annoyiiinnngggg
One more thing, to anyone believing that AIDS/HIV is strictly a homosexual related disease, you need to do your research (if you believe it anyway). The stereotype that it only affects homosexuals had to do with when it was first recognized in the 1980s. There are some strands of the virus that only transmit through typical homosexual activity (that could be also done heterosexually as well), but there are strands that transmit through heterosexual activity (let’s not forget blood transfusions…but unless you’re some place they do not test before transplanting, there’s not much issues). It’s not a black and white issue….and it’s fruitless to play the blame game. This is an issue that affects multiple people from different backgrounds and countries. To continue to perpetuate this stereotype is stupid.
Amazing how all the libtards on this message board cannot get a single fact correct and are making stuff up. Forcing people to accept homosexuals is not freedom. What about “force” don’t you remedial bumper sticker tards understand about it? “Force”. If you have a computer google it.
There are no “strands” that transmit only through anal sex; that statement is totally false. The same strain of the HIV virus (that causes the disease called AIDS) is spread through oral sex, penile-vaginal penetration, anal sex, blood transmission, and breast milk. There is one other strain that exists almost exclusively in Africa. Research indeed.
Any organization that promotes itself as a charity should be providing their service to all in need regardless of sexual identity, creed, sex, or color. Any organization collecting money for the stated purpose of providing care should use that money to provide care, not to lobby congress on their own personal agenda’s regardless of what those agenda’s entail.
This article is simply trying to show people what an organization that is largely thought of as wholly benign is doing with their money and their policies. Essentially this is for people like me who would rather send my money somewhere I know is not going to turn away starving people for not liking the approved set of genitals. For example, Children’s Aid Society which has an extremely high rating and is known to use it’s money directly for programs. Also they don’t discriminate against people based on what adults they like to have sex with.
There’s nothing there that says that DON’T provide their service for all in need regardless of sexual identity, creed, sex or colour, only that they don’t want to HIRE people who are PRACTISING a lifestyle that goes against the beliefs that the organisation is based upon. They still PROVIDE SERVICES to gay people. Big difference.
The Salvation Army does provide services to all in need. This is in keeping with their Christian Philosophy. They clearly state what they believe. You are free to disagree but you are not free to distort their message.
If you don’t support the salvation army, then simply don’t donate any money to them. SIMPLE AS THAT! NO NEED TO BAWWWWW ABOUT IT ON THE INTERNET LOL MINDLESS LIBERAL ZOMBIES
Soooooooooo if i instead donated to a pro gay rights organization, would they help provide straight homeless men, women, and children with a meal to eat? i doubt it…
last time I checked SA’s soup kitchen served ALL who were in need. hell i’ve seen guys in big cadillac escalades in three piece suits going to the salvation army for a free handout, and the SA still fed them.
But i guess reading such a pointless article just goes to show that there really are more scrooges out there than you may have previously thought..
our society is crumbling around us, and we refuse to get along with one another.
oh welll.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Good! God bless you!
and I should be boycotting them because……?
Fun fact: A lot of the people you see ringing the bell at Salvation Army kettles are people paid for the task. They are not volunteers or necessarily even part of the Salvation army.
Fun fact #2: The SA also thinks it’s a sin to drink alcohol of any kind, in any quantity. This, despite the fact that Jesus drank wine.
Fun fact #3: I got to attend a national SA meeting some years ago attended by the General – the highest ranking officer in the organization. The entire thing had a feeling like a game show. They made this big deal about how they were donating $1 million to SA-run aid programs in Africa (not necessarily a bad thing), but it was presented to the General much like how somebody on the Price is Right would be informed they just won a new car.
Fun fact #4: The United States is the only country in the world where the SA is seen as a charity first, and a church second. Everywhere else in the world, they are seen first as a church and second as a charity.
Fun fact #5: Every SA officer I ever knew was fat as hell. The obesity rate among these guys is through the roof, in part because the officers are fairly low-income and eat poorly, but also because for many of them, over-eating is their vice. Somewhere along the line between judging people for what they drink or who they sleep with, they decided that gluttony is okay.
Fun fact #6: The SA actively tries to get current officers to encourage their children to become officers, too. They have a college for it any everything, and in a lot of officer families, joining the Army is sort of a family business.
Fun fact #7: The SA feuds with groups like the United Way over charity dollars. Why these guys can’t work together is beyond me.
Fun fact #8: The SA makes most of its money right now, off of Christmastime donations. Starve these guys now, and they feel it all year long.
Fun fact # 2 incorrect. The Salvation Army does not see drinking as a sin. They see getting drunk as a sin. What you could have said was they look down upon drinking because of what it can lead to if you are weak.
Fun fact #3 a bit of an exaggeration.
Fun Fact #5 yes you are right many officers in TSA in America are obese. But so is the rest of America! And new officers going into seminary are required to stay active so they do not fall into this like has been the case in the past.
Fun Fact #6 TSA actually does not encourage members to become officers. Only if it is a calling from God will they even pursue the situation. They will even discourage them in ways because of how hard of a life it is to be a Salvation Army officer. It’s not an easy job but it’s very rewarding to see all the lives you touch in the process.
Fun fact #7 The United Way helps fund The Salvation Army and in turn TSA employees give money to UW through salarie deductions right from their checks just like many other companies do.
So you might be referring to Red Cross and if you do a bit of research into that you will find where the monies go when donating to them.
Fun fact #8 yes you are right they do make the majority of their money at Christmas. So you want to starve the Army? Just think about how many people will also starve because of that. Put yourself in the shoes of millions of destitute people each year help down at their soup kitchen a few times and talk to the people that actually get help from the army. Then go ahead and spread your hate for the army. Then their lives will be on your hands.
The Salvation Army is a church with a mission of charity. They have many beliefs which are clearly stated on their website. You are are free to agree or disagree with them. Some of the people who collect for the kettle mission are paid for their work. College is good for many people. The United Way has had many well publicized problems with administrative costs vs. charity for many years. The Salvation Army solicits donations at Christmas because it is a Christian Holiday which is synonymous with giving.
I have just a couple of questions Bill. Why did you attend a National Salvation Army Meeting? Do you dislike all fat people or just those that are in the Salvation Army? Is it possible that children whose parents are in the Salvation Army choose to join when they become adults because they believe in the mission?
I hope that you are never hungry or cold or unemployed or addicted or homeless but if you are they will be there to help you all year long.
After reading this, I will not be donating to the Salvation Army again. Yes I understand they do good, but I do not agree with their beliefs. It’s not an attack, it’s not that their wrong, but it’s a difference. I don’t think it’s right to not hire people based on sexuality, so I can donate to another organization. Majority of the posters here find it’s better to attack either SA or each other than just realizing you don’t have to give them money or support them, you just ignore them and support another organization. I believe that’s more what the writer was getting at, not that SA is bad but you might not agree with them so feel free to donate to another organization.
so you believe the author of this trash with no facts? shame on you
The fact of the matter is, The Salvation Army will employ homosexuals but… they will not allow a homosexual to be a pastor. The reason for this is because it goes completely against what the Bible teaches.
We all have our own minds so use it. Don’t just take my word for it do some research of your own. Don’t just take this person’s word for it that wrote the article. Use your own mind and actually talk to people within the organization. Do some research, real research not these so called blogs.
You are free to donate to any organization. I believe that the writer made every attempt to say that the Salvation Army is not worthy of your donations. “Why The Salvation Army Doesn’t Deserve Your Money” is a very clear statement of intent on behalf of the writer.
I love the Salvation Army! They will continue to get my donations, as well as my spending money.
I found this link that I put under website, that talks about the salvation army not wanting certain toys. I figure some one might find it intresting.
here it is again just in case
http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101208/CGY_black_magic_toys_101208/20101208/?hub=CalgaryHome
The Salvation Army is a Christichurc
“Is this the kind of charity you want to be donating to?”
Sure. They do a lot of good work. They have soup kitchens and shelters all over. Nobody gets to fuck in them, straight or gay. So what if they dont have private rooms for trannies.
“The Salvation Army has repeatedly rallied against anti-discrimination laws involving hiring of homosexual employees.” “In 2004, the Salvation Army threatened to close all its soup kitchens in the New York City area—which would have ended $250 million worth of contracts with the city—if they were forced to offer benefits to same-sex couples.”
Discrimination is discrimination no matter how you slice it and, newsflash, illegal. To not serve someone because of their sexual orientation is wrong. It has nothing to do with religion. If they truly are a PUBIC service organization caring for the less prosperous, they would open their doors and money to everyone, not just those of their choosing.
They do. They are picky about who they hire, not about who they serve.
They do not descrimiate they always serve anyone in need!!
The argument seems to be at the very root of why the government should no be involved in private enterprises (including charities). It didn’t work for Fanny Mae, and it sure isn’t working for religious groups.
I am all for the S.A. being able to dictate their own rules, whether they be Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist, Satanic, or whatever.
This is another thing that the government should never get their fingerprints on. Just like abortions. I am pro-abortion, but totally see that when you provide abortions for any reason with tax-payer money, you are forcing those who are adamantly anti-abortion to participate (pay for) something they see is sinful and against their morals.
So it is with the S.A. contributors. Keep the S.A. private and let them do as they wish. If Bible thumpers do not want to contribute to poor people that are homosexual (ie following their bible beliefs), they should not be forced to. If people want to contribute to a charity that doesn’t have any such close-minded policies, they should donate elsewhere.
At worst, you have a polarized public with people donating to the charities following their ideology out of protest against the opposition. This would mean you have the S.A. overflowing with Bible belt donations and an alternative one overflowing with donations from more liberal minded folks. This is an ideal rivalry because it would be a win-win situation to all poor people.
Thanks for the info. I’ll be supporting Salvation Army from now on.
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This article is based on blatant lies by someone with an obvious agenda. The article overflows with dripping sarcasm and bitterness but comes up dry on facts.
Obviously if you care more about pushing your own agenda than helping the poor, you will single out people doing good work based on one point of disagreement. Sounds like you’re the one not deserving of anybody’s respect or attention here.
If you want to know how the salvation army actually spends the money you give them you can find out here:
http://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=9377
You will find they are accountable.
But the question is, do you actually care? Or is slandering them based on your agenda more important to you than the work they do?
Are you going to mention the hundreds of children in Salvation Army Homes for children that are sexually abused by this people?
It’s a huge issue her in the Netherlands!
Why ChildFund Doesn’t Deserve Your Money…
ChildFund’s commercials can almost be recited by rote: Alan Sader (or, conversely, Sally Struthers) toots around a third world hamlet, kneeling next to anemic skeleton-children, begging you to donate a few cents a day to sponsor these kids and save the…
Whomever wrote this piece of shit is dead wrong. There is so much conjecture not backed up with any facts in this rag. I lived in Key West for many years and the Salvation Army was always there, unlike the Red Cross that wants your first born before any assistance is offered. The SA helped many thousands of people, gay and straight, when there were tragedies(and there were many).
The atheists are the true “haters” of the world and I wish the world was rid of them. I do not have a belief in God one way or another, but I am not a hate mission to bring down a church or any other entity that does good for the general public. I read this link from a hater on twitter named Godlessindixie, and after reading it I will double my annual donations to the Salvation Army… For all you atheists and haters- reading this is like smoking crack to your addiction of hate. Good luck to you evil tortured nasty people.
[…] is the concluding post of the PBH series Choose Another Charity, comprised of 3 articles on the Salvation Army, MADD, and […]
That $250,000 that was raised in the Red Kettle program goes right back into the community. 83% of every dollar goes right back to the community through different programs. The remainder 17% pays for the people ringing the bell (if they weren’t volunteers) administrative support and the cost for the fundraising itself. So if you really are going to try and call this a scam you should do some research before spouting off your mouth.
The Salvation Army has helped me in so many ways I can’t even begin to count. They have been there to help me so I have decided to volunteer for them and help their mission. If your homosexual and you don’t like what the Bible says about homosexuality that’s fine. But don’t go beating up an organization that does so much good in this world because your not Christian and don’t follow the teachings of Christ.
If you are the one posting these things my guess is you’ve never needed help like so many of these less fortunate people. No matter your race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age disability, or sexual preference The Salvation Army will help you.
Oh and a quote from a post a bit further down “Believe it or not, people who work in higher management are ONLY allowed to marry other people who work for the SA. To be married to someone who is not also part of the organization is against the rules and you can be fired for it (and quite a few people have been). That is not speculation.”
No this is speculation or maybe you just have you facts wrong. Higher management can marry whom ever they please. The pastors on the other hand have to marry another pastor from The Salvation Army. If they don’t they do have to resign until their significant other goes through seminary to become an ordained minister. The reason for this is simple and Bilical. 2 Corinthians 6:14: “Do not be unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common? What fellowship has light with darkness?” Marriages do not last when you are unevenly yoked, that is a fact.
Take care and God bless you all.
not true anymore about pastors needing to marry other pastors….i know of at least one who is not married to another pastor.
I have direct experience with the Salvation Army stemming from a construction related injury I sustained several years ago. As a result I became indigent and required further surgery to correct damage to my spine. At the recommendation of counselors I entered one of the Adult Rehabilitation Centers. My experience there was quite entertaining. I possess no religious affinities. I stayed there two years until the surgery and during part of my recovery. While I was told the Salvation Army, as a charitable organization, provided medical care this is not true. In the county where I lived a hospital district had been established and prior to the organization of that there was a medical assistance program in place. The Center (ARC) required everyone entering the facility to enroll. It was through that system that I received care. At the ARC, the dormitory facility was next to the warehouse that was the central receiving facility where all donations were processed. All of the residents, referred to as “beneficiaries”, were required to work in the warehouse unloading trucks and processing donations, or in the facility in a housekeeping capacity or at one of the four “Family” (thrift) stores in the city. Forty hours a week. This was referred to as “Work Therapy”. In addition to this attendance to “classes” on drug and alcohol, addiction were required. There was an outside counselor, an LCDC, who taught three of these per week. Also beneficiaries were required to attend chapel on Sundays, Wednesdays as well as vespers and the like. Attendance to a minimum of AA meetings was also mandatory. Not meeting these, residents would be “ATL”, ‘asked to leave’. On the face of this it would seem a likable enough program. There are no statistics to indicate what effect this has upon the residents of this program, which is the same pretty much worldwide at all of the centers they operate.
As a witness however, I can attest that the attrition rate is so high as to indicate that it does not address addiction as much as provide a stream of laborers that can be taken advantage of easily and cheaply. The overarching message is that if each beneficiary accepts “Jesus Christ as their personal saviour” they will be mercifully healed of their affliction. Since there is no statistical evidence to support this working, merely the Salvation Army hyperbole, and very little of that, there is no real way to determine success. However, the institution is very successful at perpetuating itself. This is not to say that they do not “Do the Most Good”, but overall I feel they don’t do enough. During my experience there was no help for men to achieve anything other than the evangelical message, a place to sleep, eat, pray and the opportunity to get “The Message”, apparently fro God. No formal plan to help them find work or education, help with obtaining a GED or overcome illiteracy which was prevalent, after “treatment”. I suppose that they should be required to define the words “Most” and Good”, but this is not likely to occur. Like most evangelical organizations they are severely protective, almost secret, about their mission. And exempt from scrutiny…
You lived there for two years? Did you receive room & board during that time. In return for room and board you were required to work, attend educational classes, and go to church. You were free to leave at any time. You choose to complain that they did not get you a job outside of the ARC. It sounds like work therapy is exactly what you needed.
After reading this, I will TRIPLE my contributions to Salvation Army.
So all the gays/sodomites/liberals will hate me even more.
Long live freedom of speech, and long live Straight, God-fearing White Harley-riding Patriots.
Maybe try looking at all of the GOOD THINGS that the Salvation Army does and then come back and discuss this.
I have seen people on their knees and who is there Salvation Army, asking for nothing in return!!!
I recently had the opportunity to work with a fireman and all he could talk about was when the great fires were raging in BC the only people out there helping were the Salvation Army and if it was not for them the proud brave firemen would have starved and had nothing to eat, because no one else came to help.
Do NOT decry people who do so much for others!!!
I could go on and on here, as I see this with my own eyes every day.
I also see hindereds of shelter clients who pass through the doors of Salvation Army facilities, gay, straight or other who are respected and treated with dignity, empathy and helped no matter what their curcumstance.
This of you who have anything to say should go and volunteer and see the great works that this caharity does for others. Or is your concenr the fact that they do it all in the Lord’s name??
they refuse to give those rights to anyone who they know are LGBT
I don’t think you know The Salvation Army as much as you think. I attend one of the churches in NJ and we have not just one, but many openly gay couples and people in our church. I also work for The Salvation Army, and even though I do not agree with absolutely everything, I believe in what they do, to help others. Do you have any idea how much they do for others? No!!! Probably because your not IN it helping others like myself and about 90% of the employees I work with, along with MANY who volunteer their time to do good and help others. Don’t judge the shield, it represents more then what your talking about. I agree there are bad apples out there and place bad names on companies, but please, this is a non-profit organization that has helped billions of people ALL AROUND THE WORLD! So while I stand with an organization with as many people apart of it as a nation has alone, you can stand alone with a small group of people who target companies that have some bad apples. Why don’t you go out and explore, if one church didn’t feel right, try another one. Everywhere you go is a bit different. Don’t judge by your one experience, have a greater picture to what is being done all around you and not just with yourself!
Have you looked up the definition of “Gay” in a dictionary?
1. Happy
2. Bright, brilliant
3. Wanton, licentious, homosexual
Now look up “licentious”
1. Disregarding accepted rules and standards
2. Lawless, lewd
2. Morally unrestrained, especially in sexual activity
This describes them perfectly!
Describes who? The Salvation Army?
I have to hand it to The Salvation Army (TSA) does an amazing job of creating the perception they are a well run, ethical, financially prudent organization. Nothing could be further from the truth. 10% of all donations goes directly to a central office to fund Officers housing, car expenses, lavish offices and meals. If you don’t believe me take a trip to to their main office located at 180 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802 or their ocean view College for Officer Training at Crestmont, 30840 Hawthorne Boulevard, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275. They recently shut down their LA skid row program Harbor Light due to lack of funding, but maintain other properties that support their Officers. They lied to the press and said the clients were relocated to other programs – that is just 100% untrue. They did not have the capacity to relocate these clients. They are so proud to say that 85% of your donation goes directly towards clients services, but the fact is the public would never know this because they DO NOT publish any financial information and ARE NOT transparent in any way.
The Social Service Programs ARE 95% GOVERNMENT FUNDED! TSA has over 1/2 billion in trust funds in the Western Territory alone! It’s criminal what these people do. Why do you think TSA DOES NOT publish any financials (as a church org. they do not have to). It’s because they want the public perception to be they are funded by the private donations, which IS NOT TRUE! I would not give a dime to TSA because they ARE NOT transparent and they do not prioritize Social Services – they priorities Officer comfort! I could go on and on about the excesses and unethical financial practices of this once great but dying organization. TSA better hope that nobody looks too close because it would be an embarrassment.
IBW needs to document it’s statements before blowing so hard on it’s whistle. All of the officers I have known in the Salvation Army are not well off and live pretty much like the rest of us. Anyone who has spent time at their Churches or at their support facilities, knows that they are not a bunch of fat cats living of the luxury of the land. I think I smell a misdirection rat in IBW’s rediculous statements like, the social service programs are 95% government funded. The US government initiated a Faith Based Initiative to provide contracted Social Services under the Bush administration, to utilize the experience and neighborhood involvement of religeous and other non-profit organizations, who have people already in the areas of need. Why does IBW single out TSA? If the church doesn’t publish it’s financials, how does he know all these “details”, and by the way, they do publish their financials, any one can find them by doing a google like I just did. If they do have a 1/2 billion dollar trust fund, what business is that of IBW’s. TSA like many other large charitable organizations, receive large endowments from private individuals, and these trust funds are kept to provide continuity of income. TSA responds to major emergencies like Haiti, just like the Red Cross does. IBW certainly isn’t going to finance such a huge emergency undertaking, and bell ringers can’t pull together that kind of funding over night. The Trust Funds provide immediate undertakings for those kinds of massive relief efforts. IBW didn’t raise any issue with Planned Parent Hood haveing funding from the US Congress, even though they are a for profit organization and large portions of the tax paying public don’t agree with their program. IBW has smeared biased and hypocritical misinformation with contempt, born from what? Some one needs to find out if IBW is a disgruntled former employee, or if IBW was eliminated as a volunteer for not adhering to the CHRIST based principles of TSA. Mrs. Joan Kroc, wife of the founder of McDonalds, left 1.8 billion dollars with parts of of it designated to the building of Kroc centers like the one they funded in San Diego. TSA did not misuse the funds, Mrs. Kroc stipulated that the headquarters and service centers be patterned after the beautiful Kroc center in San Diego. IBW is a misguided, mis-informant, who needs to take a look in the mirror and find out what makes him or her so angry that they put out such inflamatory falsehoods.
If this is the only reason you have against The Salvation Army, then I am all for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This makes ervetyhing so completely painless.
What is wrong with abstaining from sexual relations?
How do you feel about Goodwill Mark?
Good for the Salvation Army. They are not a church dedicated to gay rights. They are a church dedicated to the teachings of GOD and JESUS CHRIST. GOD called homosexuality an abomination. HIS WORD sets the Salvation Army’s agenda, not men who deny HIS WORD, or are ignorant of HIS WORD. If they don’t follow HIS teachings you call them hypocrits. If they follow his teachings, you call them bigots. Who died and left you in charge of the moral pulse of this world. You have no authority or license to determine who is following their GOD given direction, or who should deny their moral convictions just to please your blurred version of the acceptable moral values according to who? If you call your self a football player and you show up with a tennis racket and tight clothes, you will be looked upon as a liar. Why should the Salvation Army be anything besides what it’s founder and leader, GOD, says it should be. Don’t pretend to be the judge and jury of the Salvation Army because you’ve become all gushy over the gay agenda, when your own understanding of Christian foundational teachings are anything but accurate. Man’s courts do not change GOD’s word. Only GOD can change HIS word, and that hasn’t happened to date. Homosexuality has been looked apon by most societies through out history as a perverted practice. Those societies that have adopted it as a legitimate practice have all decayed from within in short order. The gays have tried very unsuccesfully to prove that the Bible condones homosexuality. It infatically does not. Sodom and Gomorrah are not what I would call a rewards program for the gay agenda. You give up your principles and then see how many people are willing to accept your existance as a trusted sage. The Salvation Army is not about to give up theirs to satisfy a fence sitting, misinformted person like yourself.
“Why The Salvation Army Doesn’t Deserve Your Money.” This article has nothing to do with the Salvation Army (I am not religious, I am an Atheist). This article is a forum to push homosexuals views and grievances onto people and using the Salvation Army to do it with.
To the writer of this article. You would get more respect if you were honest and up-front with what you really wanted to say rather than slink around slyly and using other people to push your agenda. You accuse the Salvation Army (which I am no fan) of Bigotry. When pointing your finger at someone, remember you have three fingers pointing back at yourself.
I am not against Christians.I am a Christian.I am really pissed off at these so called Christian organizations.Not all of them but most of them.The Salvation Army organization are truly hypocrites and need to be exposed!There job was suppose to help the homeless not discriminate them regardless of religion,Sex etc. etc.One day I was watching on youtube where the president of AHH(Athiest Helping the Homeless) Zoe Zamechi was interviewing this homeless client,and the client said that the Salvation Army made him pay $10 a day I think it was night per night I don’t really remember that well.I think that is injustice and The Salvation Army should be investigated more.There are a lot of Christian hypocrites out there that suck up the money of the poor and take advantage of the homeless that has to stop.A true Christian doesn’t do that,a true Christian has patience and a true Christian doesn’t commit those atrocities.I really respect the atheists who are helping the homeless the most kindest honest way possible.Hey those secular organizations are even better than most religious ones.Some bad people use religion to disguise themselves as caring people when they are not.They just want your money.At most times religion can be a tool to use people of their own manifestation.
Oh and one last thing.The definition of Salvation Army is suppose to mean saving people.How is Salvation Army saving people when they are doing the complete opposite of the name of their organization.It’s really illogical to name an organization SALVATION ARMY when they are just doing the exact opposite.Charging the homeless in one city(I am not going to name the city)10$ a night or day. Definition of SALVATION from dictionary.com:Preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss.Only a dumb person couldn’t know what real salvation means logically.The point is the people who run that organization are stupid selfish self loathing bigot hypocrites!!!
I have been in charge of two of their stores and let me say that money is not going to the greater good. They treat their employees like garbage and pay like garbage. The 100% profit they make goes into the pockets of a select few people. the salvation army is a corporation not a charity. THEY DO NOT GIVE AWAY ANY MERCHANDISE. EVERYTHING is sold for a profit. and a hefty one at that. dont be fooled by this corporation.
I agree.
They revoked my membership back in the 1970’s because I’m gay, and their membership policy hasn’t changed.
While they can ban any class of people from their organization that they like, (just like the Mormons used to ban blacks, and the Babtists used to ban inter-racial couples), if they spend $$$ lobbying for homophobic anti-gay legislation, then they’ve lost their way as a charity.
In the 1970’s I was hired as a secretary/bookkeeper in a local Salvation Army center in Massachusetts (they needed a male secretary because the minister had had an affair with the previous female secretary and the wife was very unhappy), I got to see the books. After all the income and expenses were tallied, only 10-12% of the $$$ we received actually went to helping the poor. Not very good.
So, contribute to whoever you like. Me, my contributions will go to more open-minded, less homophobic, more effective groups.
BTW — Merry Christmas!
One other thing —
The contributions of clothes were usually picked over by the staff first, and the rest sent on to the SA stores for sale. The canned goods were put in the church pantry, and was used liberally by the church staff and minister’s family as a supplement to their salary.
Is this a bad thing? I dunno. You decide.
There’s a website that sums up basic financial information about the biggest 100 non-profit organizations in the US.
http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/
It’s the trade journal for the charity industry, and once a year (I think it’s the November issue) they publish what the government knows about them.
The Salvation Army usually ranks in the Top 5, and they get lots of income from Wall Street, which explains why they tend to be conservative, but they get an awful lot of $$$ from various government sources to run their rehab institutions.
It’s always seemed dishonest to me for churches to claim all the credit for their good works when in fact it was the taxpayer who paid for what they did. You’ll see this in the next mailing you get from the Salvation Army. Call ’em up sometime and ask how much of what they did was paid for by their membership, and how much was paid for by taxpayers, and see what they say.
Again, I say make your contributions to whoever you like. But after reading this, you’ll be a bit better informed about what’s going on.
What a load of BS, you wrote that off the cuff and making up 90% of it along the way. Take your gay boy agenda elsewhere.
Freedom means free. What don’t you libtards understand about free. Free to disagree.
Homosexuals were just fine until the libtards took up their cause. They will destroy them just as the liberals have destroyed the blacks. That is a fact not even the most ignorant liberal can deny.
Good for The Salvation Army.
Stop griping, and start your own charitable organization if you don’t like the SA. As for me, I will continue to support them.
Have a Merry Christmas!
you’re right. start your own charitable organization. that’s the high and most positive road.
After reading this, I’m uppping my donations to the Salvation Army! They are right on target with the message of the New Testament.
Wow, and I thought that the whole message of the New Testament inclusiveness! Just goes to show how wrong a person can be. I can see Jesus now, passing out bread and fishes to some people and telling others to get lost because they were unclean. And don’t forget that scene where he was telling the sick and the lame that it was just their own darn fault so don’t come crying to me! You have truly opened my eyes and I thank you.
While it sounds like movie-villain logic to denigrate the belief framework that impels charity while simultaneously demanding the charity, it was the Salvation Army’s mistake to intertwine itself with public funding — tying itself and its work to democracy, even if the democracy turns against its deepest values, and forcibly imposes a new state-sanctioned religious morality.
As an Orthodox Christian (pre Martin Luther and the Reformation) I hadn’t considered supporting the Salvation Army. I will now. “Glory be to God for all things” … expecially the army who saves. Remember, the closest we come to God is the moment, the instant of conception where new life begins. And we don’t even know it has happened. This moment we share with all God’s Creatures great and small.
I don’t contribute to the Salvation Army any way: II Jn 1:9-11,”Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”, BUT…their stand on homosexuality makes me ALMOST ready to…give them ALL I have!
(KJV)
I never donate to the Salvation Army any way, II Jn 1:9-11, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” BUT…because of their stand against homosexuality…I am ALMOST…persuaded to give ALL I have to them. Well…almost.
(KJV)
They have that right!
they oppose gays
good reason to send them more money
Great article. I have decide to double or maybe triple my donations to Salvation Army, a truly great and deserving charity. This author (whoever he is!) is giving us Alice in Wonderland, where bad is good and good is bad. I am fully in support of a charity that teaches goodness, yes goodness from the “Good Book.” You are a sick puppy who wants to put two pink-faced boys on top a wedding cake. God did not make a mistake on this: men and women are meant to complete each other, and complete God’s plan for his creation. You sir, are a idiot!
Actually sounds like one more reason why they DO deserve our money. The Salvation army is there to save not just lives but more importantly souls. If their actions help someone throw off their sinful and self destructive lifestyle, shouldn’t you be celebrating such an event?
Even if you don’t believe in God, I will never understand why some supposedly “compassionate” people applaud what is effectively self castration and what’s more demand that the government approve of and subsidize such behavior through marriage benefits.
What “HOLIDAY SEASON are you talking about?
Easter?….Thanksgiving?….Hanaka?….Ramadan?….oh oh..It must be CHRISTmas…..The unmentionable….The word sticks in the throats of the ungodly.
Remember Sodom & Gomorah… The writing is on the wall…REPENT!
I don’t give to the Salvation Army, but for a much different reason. Several years ago, at the Salvation Army thrift store between Metarie and New Orleans, I wanted to purchase a pair of Sega Genesis controllers. The controllers were not tagged with a price, and it was store policy not to sell anything that didn’t have a price tag on it. No one in the store was empowered to set a price on the controllers; they had to send them back through the central receiving area in New Orleans to get a price put on them. I told the cashier that it was the store’s loss; I was willing to pay more than the controllers were worth, just because I know what kind of work the Salvation Army does. And although I understand the policy, I still feel like someone in that store should’ve been able to make a call on that merchandise. I’ve been in other thrift stores where in that situation, a cashier or a manager has set a price that was equatable all around.
I don’t discourage people from giving to the Salvation Army if they feel so inclined. But they’ll never get another dime from me.
[…] of people have tried to call attention to the Salvation Army’s conservative views on sexuality, and have even urged LGBT […]
When I go directly to the Salvation Army website, how would I find the page that links to ‘this nugget on their website’. I don’t always trust links that articles post and like to find the page myself. Thanks
[…] I'd like to mention that if you were thinking about donating to the Salvation Army this year, you might want to give to another charity, instead. ____________________________"OOH FUCK MY WELLINGTON" -LP Reply With Quote […]
“Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life.”
Most churches believe this and it is Biblically supported.
If the only thing you use to judge the quality of a charity is how they view homosexuality and similar then the Salvation Army looks pretty bad. But if you look at it from wider perspective you cannot deny that they have done considerable good throughout their existence.
By all means donate or don’t as you choose. It’s a free country and it’s your money.
My mum and dad told me of the horrors of the sally army some 25 years ago. It wasn’t on the basis of gay rights then, it was that they wouldn’t (and as a caveat, I only took this to be a truism on the basis of what mum and dad told me) take in homeless people if they were drinkers, were drunk or wouldn’t agree to subject themselves to anti-drinking activities. My family are agressive atheists, but they nonetheless held a special pocket of disdain for the SA that I still hold with me to this day; fact-based or not.
So because the SA didn’t want drunks they are evil? What makes you think they were equipped to handle drunks? Helping people with food and clothes is one thing, dealing with them while drunk is another. Do they have to be saints to get your approval??
I’m gonna write them a big check right now. Thanks for the advice.
I would rather see my taxpayer dollars go to the Salvation Army than Planned Parenthood. Their position on homosexuality is Biblical and not intended to discriminate. This position is no more offensive to me than paying for abortion ,when you disagree with it.
The Salvation Army has no hidden political agenda. They openly embrace the doctrines of Christ… and unlike many self-professing Christian organizations, they put into action what they profess.
You imply that the Salvation Army is morally corrupt. Well, no one and no organization is perfect. But what you are claiming is a sin is actually a virtue. And what are you claiming is a virtue is actually a sin. This isn’t politically motivated, it’s adherence to Scripture: homosexual sex is a sin. And it is a sin to give approval to homosexual sex, even if you don’t engage in it. Your morality is upside down.
I cannot belive you would belive everything you have written about the S.A. “Some” noble things? They have been around a lot longer then you have and will still be around after your gone. Get a Life!
Yea, the Salvation Army is evil, why they help poor people and others who can hardly scrape by! They need to be stopped at once! If you don’t agree with homosexuality then you should be killed or at least jailed for life right?!
Funny how the Salvation Army has to recruit so many volunteers at Christmas to get your money. Don’t they have enough members to staff their fundraising themselves? I wonder why not.
Fools! stop donating to Salvation Army, who shelters and feeds thousands of people, just because they stand firmly by their Christian beliefs? Yes let more people suffer in the world because a few gay rights activists are butt hurt. please..
Looks like I’ll be doubling my kettle donation this year. Thanks for the article!
The Salvo has done nothing when I was homeless because my name was on a mortgage. but I still lived in a car for a week. they couldn’t help me and offer me a shelter for the night.
All I see every Christmas time here in England is them playing their brass instruments, uniforms and collecting money! for what? You wont see a Salvo playing a shiny trumpet the rest of the year!
Only down the street there’s people sleeping in shop doorways that rely on good people to feed them.
Merry Christmas to you all.
The Salvation Army takes care of all people. They are good folks. Salvation Army will live for ever. The Salvation Army Rocks.
This is trashy.
[…] even get me started with the promotion of christian charities like the Salvation Army on the show. Those assholes, like many christian groups (unfortunately), basically hate on anyone […]
Oh the Army has been on my sh*t list for years . I became familiar with them during my homeless period . Treated me like crap .
Thanks for the info. Now I’ll give even more to the Salvation Army!!
It’s pretty obvious that with the name “Salvation Army” that this is a religious organization. As such, they should not be asked to violate their conscience by supporting what they believe is habitual sinful behavior.
I am a Vietnam era Navy veteran and I support the Salvation Army.
So I’m a Marine and support homosexuals as a heterosexual and do not support the Salvation Army, what’s your point?
I am an employee and volunteer who supports the Salvation Army and what they do for people. The point here is we (as a whole) help every one we can in need. I don’t believe your sexual preferences should have anything to do with that. In fact, every S.A, I have ever been to, I have never heard of such discrimination and I think you are digging this way to deep in your head to see the big picture. Look at it as a whole, not some back side perspective. Walk into The New York Temple Church on 14th street in Manhattan, NY and you will be greeted as if you were family! No matter the difference you may have, including religion, you are welcome. Don’t give a bad name unless you have hit every place in the world that represents The Salvation Army!
I’m 73 years old, an old Marine, and through the years I have seen the Salvation Army help more people at time of need than ANY other organization in the WORLD.
The last time was in Chatanooga, Tn. My partner and I owned a corner store, in the middle of July a very pregnant lady came walking up the street, bare-foot, packing a large bag and about ready to collapse. We brought her inside and my partner started call the City, County, State and Federal agencies that are supposed to help people. The best we got was they would mail her an application and in a week or two could help her. We called the Red Cross and they said they weren’t set up to offer immediate aid. We called the Salvation Army, the man there said to bring her in, they would call a doctor and see to her needs. We did and they did.
Through the years I have seen them help the down and out, the lost, hungry and homless without question. They are the ONLY charity I will give to.