Anglican Mainstream

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," the statement says, "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." emphasis added

The entire article is available here.

What is clear is that the Salvation Army does a great job at making sure donated money makes it to the communities they serve. This is simply about one group demanding that another group affirm their beliefs and lifestyle. Since we live in a free country (well today anyway) it is anyone's right to take this position. I simply hope that every person who believes that a group doing work that helps so many will make sure the Salvation Army knows how much they are appreciated and supported. If you have any spare change this year would you consider including the Salvation Army as part of your charitable giving?

H/T: Terilyn Dillon