Permit me, if I might, to shed a little light on some misconceptions that you and some others may have as to the position of the SA on the Catholic church. Those of us who are Salvationists, in other words members of the SA, have been asked by the General, the international leader, to pray for the success of Pope Benedict XVI. I find it rather strange to see the term "anti-Catholic bigot" used at the same time many of us are including him in our prayers. While I am not a theologian, I can assure you that Catholics are considered as brothers-in-Christ. The General went to Rome for the installation of the Pope, not to thumb his nose, but out of respect for him and your church. While our worship forms couldn't be more different, the substantive value issues for which we stand are quite similar, such as abortion, same-sex marriage, gay rights and pre-marital sex. In cities like New York and San Francisco the SA and the Catholic church have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in resisting the liberal agenda being forced upon people of faith. For those who can't see why a Catholic would want to work for the SA, you need to start with the Knights of Columbus. I understand they do a great job of volunteer bell-ringing for the Army at Christmas time
Dear Upbeat,
"I find it rather strange to see the term 'anti-Catholic bigot' used at the same time many of us are including him in our prayers."
I didn't make any comment about the Salvation Army generally, only about the individual cited in the article, who seemed to take the answer, "I am a Catholic" as a "no" to the question, "Are you a Christian?"
It's roughly analogous to, "Do you own a motor vehicle?" and getting back, "I own a Chevrolet."
The individual is answering with more specificity than required by the question, but nonetheless answering in the affirmative.
The only interpretation that can be given here is that the Salvation Army fellow doesn't think that Catholics are Christians.
As well, some have suggested here that it was un-Christian of the Catholic to sue the Salvation Army.
I'm grateful that Salvationists feel some solidarity with Pope Benedict. However, I'm pretty sure that if the Catholic fellow in this case had brought his case before a tribunal of the Catholic Church (the only religious tribunals that Catholics recognize) against the Salvation Army or its members, the Salvation Army and its members would not have recognized the authority or validity of the tribunal. Even if headed by Pope Benedict, himself.
sitetest