Church leaders threatens Target boycott

WorldNetDaily ^ | December 4, 2004

[aspiring.hillbilly]

WND HOLIDAY BLUES Church leaders threatens Target boycott Seeks meeting with CEO over ban on Salvation Army ringers Posted: December 4, 2004 1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

Upset by Target's decision to ban Salvation Army's red kettles from its retail stores, the National Clergy Council -- more than 5,000 conservative Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant church leaders -- is pressing the company for a meeting with its CEO and chairman, Bob Ulrich.

The NCC says the outcome of the meeting will determine whether it calls on "people of faith" to boycott Target.

"The Salvation Army's red kettles are a powerful part of the true meaning of Christmas," said the NCC's president, Rev. Rob Schenck. "They provide a means for holiday shoppers to give a Christmas gift to the less fortunate and those in need."

Schenk contends Target's decision "sends an unmistakable message of hostility toward people and organizations of Christian faith."

"For more than 100 years, the Salvation Army has demonstrated itself to be a trustworthy charitable organization," he said. "Yet now the retail giant, Target Corporation, has publicly questioned the Salvation Army's place in our nation's Christmas traditions."

Schenk, describing the Salvation Army as a "humble, servant-minded organization," said the group will not defend itself, "but we will."

Target announced its decision earlier this year, but criticism began mounting only last month when shoppers noticed the absence of the distinctive bell ringers.

Christian lobby groups such as Concerned Women for America and the American Family Association have warned that the retail giant could lose customers.

"For Target to say that the Salvation Army is no longer welcome at the inn should send a message to Christians that perhaps they'd like to do their shopping elsewhere," said Robert Knight of Concerned Women for America.

The American Family Association is urging its supporters to consider alternatives such as Wal-Mart, where the Salvation Army is welcome.

Target spokeswoman Paula Thornton-Greear told WorldNetDaily that like most retailers, the company has a long-standing no-solicitation policy.

"If we continue to allow the Salvation Army to solicit, it would open the door to other groups," she said.

There are many worthy organizations, Thorton-Greear emphasized, and "we want to be fair and consistent."

She insisted the decision "in no way diminishes our outreach effort to community," pointing out an average of $2 million is given each week to neighborhoods and schools.

The Target spokesman also contended the policy is not about avoiding controversy.

"This decision came about because of an increasing number of inquiries" from groups wanting to solicit, she said.

The Salvation Army says last year it raised about $9 million from its ringers at Target stores across the nation

[aspiring.hillbilly]

Freepers join in this Boycott! Target the scrooges...

[MisterRepublican]

Their a little late. I've been boycotting Target for years.

[Muleteam1]

Target is like NBC, CBS and NBC. I can't boycott something I don't use. However, I will support others who will boycott the store.

Muleteam1

[finnigan2]

With the election of Bush and the emergence of the Red States as a political force, the church leaders have rediscovered their cajones.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Well, I had been boycotting Target and had always donated to the Salvation Army. I shared this with a friend. She shared that when she worked as a moving vans estimator in Jacksonville, FL she went to appraise moving a yacht from a very expensive home, the cost would be $40,000 to move it to Calif. No problem. It was the home where vacationing Salvation Army Executives stay. That was it for her rude awakening.

Has anyone else heard how the executives of the Salavation Army live? I had always thought it was such a well run charity. Now I am becomming cynical.

[netmilsmom]

Is there a website somewhere to join?
I like Target. I will no longer shop there.

[Cultural Jihad]

"If we continue to allow the Salvation Army to solicit, it would open the door to other groups," she said.

There are many worthy organizations, Thorton-Greear emphasized, and "we want to be fair and consistent."

Seeing that they are a private entity they are free to pick and choose whosoever they want to allow to solicit on their own property. This notion that they are being "fair and consistent" by disallowing all charities is a lame point, since they do not have to be fair at all; they control their own door.

[latina4dubya]

they threaten a boycott? how come they haven't already begun the boycott? i have...

[Salvation]

I'm already telling everyone that I will not go there!

[American Vet Repairman]

"I've been boycotting Target for years"

Amen. Target among other things has a horrible return policy. Now people may talk trash about Wal Mart, but they have a more than fair return policy.
This is how fair Wal Mart is... I had some construction going on and the guys broke my wheelbarrow. When I came home they said we exchanged it at the Wal Mart. I said that's nice but I bought it at Lowes. I went out of my way to buy a few extra things at Wal Mart out of guilt.

[melbell]

Doesn't the definition of "solicit" say they are trying to persuade someone to do something for them.

I don't know that I have EVER heard a bellringer say anything to anyone BEFORE they put money in the bucket. They say "Merry Christmas" or "thank you" AFTER you have put money in. Otherwise, they don't say a word, at least the ones I have seen. How is that persuasive behavior?

Unless of course you speak "bell" and "ding ding ding" means "won't you please give money to the happy red bucket?? PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

[Moosilauke]

"If we continue to allow the Salvation Army to solicit, it would open the door to other groups," she said

News flash: real life is about making decisions. It's your store, you decide who you will help and who you will turn away. There's no way to avoid making decisions. Target richly deserves the controversy and customer loss they are now facing for turning away the Salvation Army.

[phxaz]

yes.. today we boycott the infidels and tomorrow we stone them.

[freeangel]

Why bother to threaten? Just do it and leave them scratching their heads about downward sales graphs.

[George from New England]

Can we pressure Target into paying a huge donation to the Salvation Army. If this is really about keeping solicitors from contact with customers than they can still send the check direct to the Salvation Army.

[freeangel]

I received e-mail from Target that said that the Salvation Army was free to apply for one of its many grants. Does anyone believe that they would be funded by this "philanthropy" that target professes?

[MissAmericanPie]

I just spoke yesterday to a member of the Salvation Army. She was not upset, because she said that phonies would stand outside pretending to be Salvation Army, and that collecting money in that manner had become dangerous because of thieves knocking them down and taking the money.

She said Target had donated alot of money to the Salvation Army in lieu of allowing them to stand outside and collect, as it is safer.

[ExtremeUnction]

Let them know how you feel, here:

http://www.targetcorp.com/targetcorp_group/contactus/contact_general.jhtml

[Capt. Canuck]

I think Christians need to get VERY noisy about opposing this kind of garbage.

[varon]

Can we pressure Target into paying a huge donation to the Salvation Army.

I don't see why not. If Jesse Jackson can put the squeeze on large corporations for cash, it should be a piece of cake for a bunch of POed Freepers ;-)