Posted on 02/02/2013 9:27:21 AM PST by smoothsailing
Here's a story that will leave you scratching your head. A Christian church and affiliated school in Florida held a fundraising drive to help the Wounded Warrior Project. Children in the school were excited about the task, but later were crushed when the funds were turned down, because the organization is "religious in nature."
As reported by Todd Starnes at Fox Radio, the pastor of Liberty Baptist Church and Academy, Wallace Cooley, said that "they had already paid a $100 registration fee to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project and were about to launch the campaign when they received an email from the organization."
The church had planned on taking up a special offering on the last Sunday in February and students were collecting money from family and friends.
“We must decline the opportunity to be the beneficiary of your event due to our fundraising event criteria, which doesn’t allow community events to be religious in nature,” read an email from the WWP community events team. “Please note your registration fee will be refunded within the next 7-10 business days.”
WWP said as a nonpartisan organization they cannot accept event fundraising from companies “in which the product or message is religious in nature.”
Pastor Cooley said they were so shocked that the school secretary called Wounded Warrior to make sure there hadn’t been a mistake. He said a WWP representative assured her that “religious” was indeed on their banned list.
WPTV News Channel 5 reports that the school and parents are hoping "Wounded Warrior Project has a change of heart."
Katherine Johnson, the school's principal commented on the incident and said, " those men who are trying to fight for our freedom, now it feels like our freedoms are being taken away and we want them to realize the seriousness of what they are doing."
Barbie, the mother of Madision said, they sit there in school and say the pledge of allegiance and they sing God bless America and we teach them about freedom but, then what kind of freedom is it if we can't turn around and give to those who take their life and get injured."
According to the news story, Pastor Cooley "told NewsChannel Five that a representative from WWP called him.The representative apologized and said he would be meeting with other administrators from the organization to talk about this incident."
How does being "nonpartisan" have ANYTHING to do with accepting funds from a church group? Most nonprofits that get in trouble with the IRS do so because of what they DO with the funds... not where they come from. The Wounded Warrior Project does great work for out troops. But the organization and the rules governing nonprofit activities need a little common sense.
Refusing donations from a Christian church is unacceptable.
Let me get this right: let’s say a girly bar has a lap dancing fundraiser for WW... they’d take the money, right? But a Christian school has a fundraiser and they say no. The world is upside down...
The problem isn't that the church is "religious in nature". The problem is that WWP's leadership is anti-Christian in nature, and they've just exposed themselves.
They have had some high-profile supporters until now. I wonder what happens to that high-profile support now that they stand exposed.
I, too have given to WWP. This policy seems so misguided that I feel certain it will be changed.
TC
WWP has become just another two-bit racket that only wants lib money. They can go pound sand as far as I’m concerned.
I quit giving to WW months ago.....they send SOOOOO much mail, that I told them I would NO Longer give if they didn’t quit sending....they did not quit. Altho, seems I haven’t gotten anything for a couple weeks now....maybe they finally got the message.
I hope you’re right. I have seen them do good work in the past. I hate to see it all squandered over simple minded pc bs.
Unbelievable! I thought they were the good guys, but if they can reject Christian charity because its Christian they’re not who I thought they were. I’m very, very disappointed.
Didn’t the Wounded Warrior Project refuse to allow anyone to go on Tom Gresham’s radio show last year because of his support for gun rights?
This is the Mother of all Whiskey Tango Foxtrots! The whole world has gone INSANE!
I don’t know.
They should give the money to the Fisher House Foundation. A better organization that does not waste the money on bloated overhead.
If I’m not mistaken, WWP is endorsed by Beck, Hannity etc? When I give money to a Beck endorsed project I expect that some research has been done. This should come as a shock to Beck...I would assume.
I just looked over their website, and it does have a new-age vibe to it. No talk about using faith to overcome obstacles in your life.
It’s just crazy, and very disappointing.
Our staff donates to the USO and Paralyzed Veterans of America. The only thing they send (PVA) our company are free mailing stickers with our company address on it, around 250 which helps of course but not that we need it. Just once a month.
I agree, Fisher House is a fine outfit.
I would like to know why the President of WWP makes a salary of $314,000.00 per year. Thought this was a charity. I am sure there are many retired military flag grade officers or retired business people, Mitt Romney comes to mind, who would do this job for a great deal less and also have enough sense not to turn down donations from Christian organizations. Someone needs to investigate the WWP and see how their contributions are spent.
Saaaaaaaaaaaay a praaaaaaaaayer for Peace!
IIRC, they refused their logo to be associated w/ “Gun Talk”, because the show was a firearm sponsor. Or something like that. Can either m & Clint set this straight?
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