Posted on 12/13/2014 5:24:46 AM PST by NYer
It’s Advent and our thoughts naturally turn toward less fortunate souls, longing for basic niceties, and the call for selfless giving. Christ-like love, almsgiving, and prayer are staples of this anticipatory time which brings in the new Church year. The scripture readings at Mass remind us of those in need and our moral obligation toward them. What a sad statement about current times, then, that we are forced to look a gift horse in the mouth.
No, not the gifts we receive, but the gifts we give.
As the giving season continues, as well as the rest of the year, we are often hard-pressed to find a charity compatible with our moral values. The mainstay options of Girl Scouts, UNICEF, and the ALS Association have already been exposed as being bedfellows with unsavory sorts – like Planned Parenthood.
Although there are worthy, ethical alternatives, you won’t find them pushed by banks, schools, businesses, or even churches. You won’t encounter them as you fulfill Christmas wish lists at the local mall. But as Catholics, we are not called to be of the world – we are just temporary inhabitants in the world, on our way to Eternal Life. With this in mind, a Catholic is best served by a bit of research and discernment.
Ring-a-ling-a-ling — the bell beckons passers-by to drop their change into the red kettle of the Salvation Army (SA).Yet even charity isn’t as simple as it seems. What ethical problems surface when the SA is scrutinized? Shouldn’t we be concerned about the destination of our good deeds?
When it comes to large organizations, it isn’t enough to blindly give. As Catholics (or any Christians, for that matter), we have a moral obligation to hold charities accountable. Since there are many options, we are capable of making a difference by giving to good, morally sound organizations. In a past year, I wrote an in-depth piece outlining and providing sources to some very disturbing facts about the Salvation Army. Here, I offer an reiteration of what my research found.
On the surface, the beginning of the SA Positional Statement is morally sound. There is acknowledgment that all people are created in the image of God, and therefore have unique and intrinsic value. They further state that human life is sacred, and that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. The Salvation Army also accepts that life beings at the moment of fertilization. So far, so good.
Later, in same section, there are shocking contradictions. The Salvation Army notes that termination can occur when “carrying the pregnancy further seriously threatens the life of the mother” or diagnostic procedures identify a fetal abnormality causing only a “very brief post-natal period”. Further, rape and incest also represent “special case[s] for the consideration of termination”. These exceptions portray a troubling contradiction to the professed “sanctity, unique dignity and respect” due to the “image of God” found in our unborn brethren.
In order to determine collusion between the Salvation Army and Planned Parenthood, we must look at material cooperation as well as monetary support. While SA may not directly contribute to PP, there is evidence that they do partner with one another. Research by Life Decisions International has found this to be the case, and has placed the Salvation Army on their Dishonorable Mention list. Further, American Life League has also found a troubling connection between the two. Simply considering “all the good they do” is not enough to excuse or set aside this compromise of pro-life principles.
As we further peruse the SA website we can also find stated support of contraception in their international positional statement:
“A serious commitment to the protection and care of the unborn calls us to a commitment to the prevention of unwanted pregnancy through means such as access to reliable birth control ….”
Yikes, yet another position not in sync with Holy Mother Church! Don’t they know that oral and many other contraceptives (such as the IUD) are also abortifacients?
Here we find even more, compelling incompatibility. Founder William Booth completely rejected the Sacraments. Although for some years he continued to follow the Protestant tradition of two Sacraments – Baptism and the “Lord’s Supper” — he held they were purely symbolic, until finally he dispensed with them altogether. In practice, many adult recruits had never been baptized, nor was it required. In the end, Booth had come to the conclusion that not only were the Sacraments not vital, they were mistakes. Therefore, in his “Foundation Deed”, he abolished the Sacraments completely. This is definitely not a good match for Catholic charity.
So how should we resolve our moral Advent/Christmas almsgiving conundrum? Do the good works performed by the SA outweigh their acceptance of abortion exceptions, support of contraception, and heretodox views?
In a word, no. After all, the options for charitable giving are vast. We are easily able to find a more ethical and life-affirming recipient for our alms. Rather than giving to a sect that has little moral common ground with Holy Mother Church, perhaps our focus should go to more suitable recipients.
Luke’s Gospel tells us, “He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” (Luke 3:11) Surely, our pastors know of local families who are in need. Perhaps a young woman in your area finds herself pregnant during this season. Pregnancy Support Centers can always use help as well.
Using the comprehensive list provided by American Life League, we can also look for charitable opportunities, among organizations, that are ethically compatible with the teachings of Holy Mother Church. Among these: Food for the Poor, Habitat for Humanity, MaterCare International, Water.org and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Why not give a gift to some such person or group? How about you … do you have any ideas?
That says it all...Sounds something like Judas Iscariot would say...
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AMEN!
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>> “And I’ll bet those men who are vocal about it as you are would mostly be rethinking their priority if it was to happen to their wife.” <<
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I think this is a given, but it hangs on a false dilemma.
No abortion has ever saved a single life!
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Sounds like mine...I can’t get rid of anything of his until he “checks” it first.
I give away winter things while he’s at summer camp, so he doesn’t look for them for a long time.
Must be attached to the Y-Chromosome.
“Where’s my ...?”
“I gave it away in 2007. Buy yourself a new one if you need to.”
Oh, that’s smart, lol.
I think it must be!
I tossed them. I am not kidding you, he came in a couple of weeks later and asked where they were.
Wait, we got married in 1996...not 1994, LOL.
I like your tagline.
Thank you,, metmom.
Controversial, isn’t it? :)
Not for me.....
>>I thought it had sunk low, but now seems to be getting more desperate. The Roman clan apparently will post anything that casts a negative light on anything Protestant, to try and make their cult look better. This constant barrage of spamming RC promotion should be eliminated from this site. It seeks to be something it is not. FreeRepublic is designed to be a uniter of like-minded people, but the incessant promotion of Roman Catholicism is more a divider.<<
I signed up for FR back in 2010. I saw pages of RC dogma pieces and a few days later decided to move as this was an RC site. Then came back last year to view/post here after a friend told me my original observations were premature.
Then as I started posting here I thought the RCs were like the RCs in my family, friends and work associates. Wow was I surprised. The conservative traditional RCs I know in real life day to day are nothing like what I see posted here. It is like we are in some Jesuit and Opus Dei bizarro world here.
2 Corinthians 9:
7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.(KJV)
God Bless you for doing so.
The Salvation Army provides the physical and spiritual needs of many of the most broken souls in our country. If anyone has a dry eye after reading or hearing some of the testimonials of broken drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes and many others they don’t have a heart.
You do well dropping in your donations.
They are still a great organization. Just another RC hack job article.
Not to mention out in the cold, snow, wind, and freezing rain. Today I stopped at two different kettles outside of local stores. Maybe my total donation between the 2 kettleswas $1.23... but it was something... and you'd be damned right if you'd say I was thinking about the complete spew that started this thread as I wished the bellringers a Merry Christmas.
Depending on one’s money situation, a coin tossed into the bucket and a look into their eyes with a smile and a nod, maybe a thanks, should be a nice gesture.
The small chapel I attended in my late teens ran a Gospel mission home. They provided for those in need for shelter, help with addiction and other needs. When at the mission most would attend our church but once on their feet found a home church back at home. Most were people coming to the NYC area looking for better opportunities but fell on bad times.
So I agree, the SA should do what they do best. Minister to the needy as the good Samaritan and preach the Gospel.
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