Salvation Army: gays deserve death

Hey guys, regardless of what you think of the SA's policies, don't be mean to the kettle people. Most of them are just folks doing a job they're being paid to do. (Yep, they are mostly paid working stiffs.) They're just out to make a buck, not a political point :)

BearinFW 06/06/2013 02:22 PM

Could they be feeling the heat? Today was the first time I ever got a robocall for them. Asking me to bring a donation: money, clothes, household items to their donation center.

jacker 06/05/2013 08:07 PM

This is old news. Doesn't anyone remember what happened after 9/11? The Salvation Army offered assistance to the spouses of those whose lives were lost in the destruction of the twin towers. But they refused support to domestic partners particularly same sex partners. These assholes have been around forever. They even give themselves military rankings - colonel, major, etc. They are an army out to destroy the enemy, and WE are the enemy. Should we adopt their way of thinking, if WE give ANYTHING to them - whether it be local or national - you are a traitor! They are notorious for recruiting the desperate and the weak-minded. If you support them, in any way, into what category does that put you? If you believe that to be Christian is to be Christ-like, these people are far removed from the Christ that I know.

hisbiguy 06/04/2013 08:43 PM

Isn't spirtual death the ultimate death for the christian faith? So how does telling me that I am going to have a spirtual death better than telling me they actually want me dead?

barney290 06/04/2013 05:57 PM

I've known about this side of the Salvation Army for many years... but this is an excellent video!

Every Christmas, I'm reminded of a USCG commander (silver oak leaf on his collar) who was in charge of all the reservist activities in the Northwest. Instead of giving money to the Salvation Army Red Kettle to support the homeless and winos around downtown Seattle, he'd buy a couple cases of cheap wine and several bags of food and leave it on a corner of Skid Road. He knew he was enabling, but he'd say, "this is want they want for Christmas -- not a lecture".

PDQuesnell 06/04/2013 01:29 PM

Part of an article I found about this guy's hateful statement:

Since Craibe's quotes popped up this weekend, the Salvation Army has officially distanced itself from Craibe's remarks with a carefully-worded response. In a statement, Salvation Army spokesman Major Bruce Harmer said Craibe's comments were "extremely regrettable" and Salvation Army members did "not believe, and would never endorse, a view that homosexual activity should result in any form of physical punishment." Harmer goes on to apologize, citing a misunderstanding of the "death" passage (he says the passage refers to "spiritual death" and not physical death):

The Salvation Army believes in the sanctity of all human life and believes it would be inconsistent with Christian teaching to call for anyone to be put to death. We consider every person to be of infinite value, and each life a gift from God to be cherished, nurtured and preserved.
The apology doesn't mention Craibe by name, and yes, a charity (a charity!) to have to carefully point out that they don't condone physical harm towards gays and lesbians is pretty embarrassing. But it also shows you that Craibe's interview might not be the organization's biggest problem.

Craibe's whole interview is a bit curious in that the Salvation Army is well-known for being the second largest charity in the U.S. but is also notorious for its anti-gay stance. This past December, The New York Times published a story on their rigid and much-dissented views, in particular how the organization ignored a homeless homosexual couple and offered to help if they only broke up. And the LGBT Bilerico project/blog (created by Bil Browning, who was the subject of the Times piece), has more references about the Salvation Army's history of anti-LGBT actions--from threatening to shut down soup kitchens in New York City because of civil rights ordinances to trying to get a resolution passed so that the charity could ignore non-discrimination laws. And according to the Times report:

The Salvation Army’s “Position Statement” on homosexuality, found on its Web site, reads in part: “The Salvation Army does not consider same-sex orientation blameworthy in itself. Homosexual conduct, like heterosexual conduct, requires individual responsibility and must be guided by the light of scriptural teaching. Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life.”
That page has since been deleted, but it still makes you wonder of why one of the organization's Media Relations Directors, Major Andrew Craibe and his 32 years of Salvation Army experience, decided to go on a queer radio show and talk about death. It seems like an inevitable lose-lose situation and not very savvy from a PR perspective. And isn't telling your interviewer that they should be put to death violate some kind of PR commandment, let along the numerous Christian ones.

rjzip 06/04/2013 11:11 AM

When donating to a charity please check out their administrative costs. When I worked for the federal government, each year for the combined feral campaign (untied way) we were supplied with a payroll deduction, donation form and a booklet that listed all the United Way charities. There are hundreds. The book listed their cause and the % of your donation that was used for administrative costs. Some of the well known charities (ie American Red Cross, The Cancer Society) had an outrageous % of the donation used for administrative purposes. I chose to donate to my local food bank, that had a less that 2% administrative cost. Therefore 98% of my donation fed the hungry.

jacker 06/04/2013 10:02 AM

I wish more people would research who they donate things and money to. Having helped build a children's charity years ago it is amazizing how they struggle to get funding while these big mega charities roll in the dough. We all have local charities that need help and we should support them just like we try and support small business in our communities whenever we can. small local charities also are so greatful for any assistance and they also don't lecture you or require that you listen to their speil when you are in need of assistance. In my oppinion a charity should lose its exempt tax status when it takes political stances like the Catholic Charities did in the 2012 elections here in Florida by playing Romney messages during Sunday meetings.

barney290 06/04/2013 09:40 AM

Out of the Closet is great and they picked up all my furniture when I moved. There's a few donation centers in LA and West Hollywood
http://outofthecloset.org/donate/

I've shopped there dozens of times and they've always been friendly and appreciative. I just realized that Adidas shirt I'm wearing in my pic is from Out of the Closet lol.

Marc 06/04/2013 02:00 AM

>>But yer sure it's still true because you saw it on the internet?<<

Audio: http://snd.sc/MeHEWW

Marc 06/04/2013 01:47 AM

The Salvation Army is a faith-based charity, so this isn't really anything new or surprising. Nonetheless they do a lot of good work. I think it would be OK to donate to your local chapter, which does the "hands on" stuff. But stay away from donating to the national organization.

I usually donate my goods to Catholic Charities (another religious charity!) because they give things directly to the poor instead of putting them in resale shops.

BearinFW 06/04/2013 01:42 AM