Rift between Salvation Army, United Way

UPI ^ | 8/28/2010

[Keith in Iowa]

I will still support Salvation Army. None of this will change my mind.

[topher]

They do not seem to fund abortions. They were listed in an article that talked about corporations that supported Planned Parenthood.

But that article was pointing out that the Salvation Army seems to think there are multiple instances when it is considered okay for people to have an abortion.

[sionnsar]

Salvation Army is an organization that funds abortions.

topher, you've been around here for quite a while (and I've "seen" you before) and so you deserve some respect. But like others on this thread, I am surprised by your assertion.

I am not saying it is false, and will have to reconsider a lot if it is true, but if you could direct me (if nobody else) to support for the assertion, it would help.

Here is what I found on their website (not sure the link will work):

Abortion

The Salvation Army believes in the sanctity of all human life and considers each person to be of infinite value and each life a gift from God to be cherished, nurtured and redeemed. Human life is sacred because it is made in the image of God and has an eternal destiny. (Genesis 1:27) Sacredness is not conferred, nor can it be taken away by human agreement.

The Salvation Army deplores society's ready acceptance of abortion, which reflects insufficient concern for vulnerable persons, including the unborn. (Psalms 82:3-4)

The Salvation Army holds to the Christian ideals of chastity before marriage and fidelity within the marriage relationship and, consistent with these ideals, supports measures to prevent crisis pregnancies. It is opposed to abortion as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection or for any reason of mere convenience to avoid the responsibility for conception. Therefore, when an unwanted pregnancy occurs, The Salvation Army advises that the situation be accepted and that the pregnancy be carried to term, and offers supportive help and assistance with planning.

The Salvation Army recognizes tragic and perplexing circumstances that require difficult decisions regarding a pregnancy. Such decisions should be made only after prayerful and thoughtful consideration, with appropriate involvement of the woman's family and pastoral, medical and other counsel. A woman in these circumstances needs acceptance, love and compassion.

When an abortion has taken place, The Salvation Army will continue to show love and compassion and to offer its services and fellowship to those involved.

[Repeal The 17th]

I really do not intend for this to end up in an argument.
I simply seek the truth.
I have searched all of the official SA information
and I have found nothing to indicate they support abortion.
I have found several official statements to the contrary.
I have a hard time believing something on a youtube video
or 3rd hand information
or references to individuals who claim to be SA officials.
Maybe I am just being too defensive
because I have always held them in high regard.
If SA is not worthy of my support, I am running out of options.

[topher]

There is an article [by its title was very damning] that the Salvation Army was listed in:

LifeSiteNews.com: Newly Identified Corporate Supporters of Planned Parenthood Named

The fact The Salvation Army was listed in this article about supporters of Planned Parenthood made me associate The Salvation Army, abortion, and Planned Parenthood.

Upon deeper inspection, it is more a case that The Salvation Army considers that abortion is okay in a number of instances.

There would be a need at this point to contact LifeSiteNews.com about this past article, and get more information...

The Salvation Army made it into the dishonorable Charities Section in the LifeSiteNews.com article

Apparently the documentation that LifeSiteNews.com used was from a Fight Planned Parenthood document/PDF

This is:

http://www.fightpp.org/downloads/pubs/May-June.pdf

[goat granny]

Dad was a mounted man from 1925 to retirement in 1950....they may have know each other....:O)

Opps not quite true, he was mounted from 1927 to 1950. Spent the first 2 years as a beat cop...but didn't like the swing shift so transfer to mounted...he was born and raised on a farm and knew horse's well. He also use to train new one's for the Mounted Division...

Quite a few horse's couldn't pass the tests for the division...took special temperment to do the job......

[sionnsar]

There is one article where a Salvation Army official points that abortion should be okay in the case of deformities.

Thank you! Deformities and rape. Not so good in either case, but I don't see "funding" in either.

A nearby movie theater employs an evidently Down's Syndrome woman as ticket-taker: I REALLY prefer dealing with her over the sulking (semi-hostile) teenagers I sometimes encounter. She's either quite sweet or you just know it's not a good day for her but she's not taking it out on you.

[sionnsar]

Thank you!

[topher]

My confusion comes from LifeSiteNews.com having an article about corporate sponsors of Planned Parenthood.

The Salvation Army was named in that article. I probably should have read the article more closely.

But The Salvation Army is in the Dishonorable Charities Section.

There is a link in that article to another article where Salvation Army officials talk about cases that abortion is considered okay.

My confusion comes from seeing The Salvation Army named in an article that lists corporations (such as eBay) that contributes to Planned Parenthood.

In Posts between #55 and this one, I have posted links to the articles from LifeSiteNews.com and from FightPP.org

I would like to see some follow up on this by The Salvation Army and various Pro-Life groups to either say that The Salvation Army is a charity that opposes abortion.

Why a group such as FightPP.org (Fight Planned Parenthood.org) would have such a document about the Salvation Army is unclear. It is on page 8 of the article, but having a Salvation Army official say that abortion is okay because of deformity is something I have a problem with.

[topher]

It appears my initial statement was wrong about The Salvation Army. However, there appears to be those in the Pro Life Community that have a problem with The Salvation Army.

I think it is possible to get things straightened out, and maybe The Salvation Army (worldwide) can issue something to clear the air, and help to get people who are pro-life feel comfortable giving to The Salvation Army

[Repeal The 17th]

The pdf link you keep referring to has this quote from General Shaw Clifton":

"We are not as conservative as our catholic brothers and sisters.
There are situations in which abortion is the lesser evil,
for instance in cases of severe deformities of the fetus, [or] rape.
We try to support women who find themselves in this situation and to be loyal to them,
even if they make decisions that we ourselves might not have made."

I hardly call that "an organization that funds abortions"
as you originally claimed in your post #5.

[steve86]

When an abortion has taken place, The Salvation Army will continue to show love and compassion and to offer its services and fellowship to those involved.

Not much point in showing "love and compassion" when the unrepentant person is going to hell.

[topher]

When I saw that article back in early August, I thought that The Salvation Army was a sponsor of Planned Parenthood.

Maybe The Salvation Army and the Pro Life Community can work closer together. It is what is best for both.

[ladyjane]

The Red Cross, on the other hand, was a 20 or 30 mile ride behind the lines.

And charging for coffee - at least that is what I hear from relatives who served in WWII.

[topher]

I would have to agree.

There is no evidence of funding of aboriton.

The confusion came in when The Salvation Army was listed in an article about Corporate Sponsors of Planned Parenthood.

I am not sure why there is such a brouhaha by the pro-life community over The Salvation Army.

Groups like LifeSiteNews.com and FightPP.org are organizations I hold in high esteem.

The fact that The Salvation Army considers abortion to be okay in some cases may be disturbing to some people.

[Publius6961]

That doesn't seem to support your unqualified assertion in post #5 about losers.

NOW support abortion.
Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer support abortion.
GLBTs support abortion.
Progressives support abortion.
Communists support abortion.
Socialists support abortion.

All of the above support applying their position with your and MY tax dollars.

The Salvation Army does not warrant, from what I can see, being included in the category of losers listed above.
My personal opinion on the subject should not drive public policy. Only when I am forced to accept coerced funding of what I consider abuse by the welfare state, is when I get involved.

You owe the Salvation Army an apology.

Knee jerk reaction and ignorance is not a good way to engage in reasoned discussion.

[Repeal The 17th]

Salvation Army:
“When an abortion has taken place, The Salvation Army will continue to show love and compassion and to offer its services and fellowship to those involved.”
-
You:
“...Not much point in showing “love and compassion”
when the unrepentant person is going to hell...”
-
And you propose ... what exactly?

[Repeal The 17th]

I’ve gone to bed.

[sionnsar]

but having a Salvation Army official say that abortion is okay because of deformity is something I have a problem with.

I quite agree! But there remains the question of whether it is his own statement or a representation of the organisation.

In becoming pro-life, I found it easy at first to buy into the "product of rape" situation, but the movie "Rob Roy" and a recent post on FR (and much more out of scope) have me questioning even that.

Human life is human life. We're not all gifted with the advantages that will let us lord it over others. I wasn't given same (others might disagree), but...
1) Whoever we are, God has planted us here
2) God has us here for a reason

[topher]

Sorry, I don't. They support Planned Parenthood with their resources.

This is documented here:

Planned Parenthood Boycott List Now Has Pro-Abortion Firms AOL, Hilton, ING

Website: LifeNews.com
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 11, 2010

As was the cast with past editions, the new boycott list includes a "Dishonorable Mention" section, which identifies charitable groups that are associated with Planned Parenthood, by either supporting it financially, co-sponsoring events or programs or allowing it access to its members and supporters.

Basically, this states that The Salvation Army and Planned Parenthood work together and cooperate on things.

To me this is unacceptable.

The resources of The Salvation Army are available to Planned Parenthood.

That means Planned Parenthood is getting support from The Salvation Army.

No. I don't need to give The Salvation Army an apology.

The Salvation Army needs to clean up its act and not be associated/use its resources for the benefit of Planned Parenthood.