Giving back to the community is a great thing that everyone should do and not just because it feels good. Donating to charities should be essential to people who can afford it.
So when you have clothing, money, food, time or anything else and you're ready to donate it to a cause, it's important to always research it first. Find out the important things, like where the items go and who it helps.
The Salvation Army is a big charity since it first started in 1865, operating in more than 120 countries. In the U.S., the Salvation Army is the second largest charity. That being said, I think it's extremely sad that the Protestant Christian church has such a widespread handle on the world.
Last week, Major Andrew Craibe, a media relations director for one of the Salvation Army's Australian branches, told openly queer journalists Serena Ryan and Pete Dillon on their Salt and Pepper podcast that gay people should be put to death.
I'm not kidding; there's no punch line.
Let's say that again: a man responsible for media relations said gay people should be put to death.
The Salvation Army's doctrine was referred to in the conversation. The doctrine available online called "Salvation Story: Salvationist Handbook of Doctrine" borrows from Romans 1:18-32, which, in short, says practicing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people deserve to die.
That doesn't sound very loving, which is the Christian way, right?
Ryan brought up this fact and asked Craibe about it. Craibe said, "Well, that's a part of our belief system." He later said "Well, yes" when Ryan mentioned it again.
In response, the organization rejected Craibe and claimed it "opposes any discrimination, marginalization or persecution of any person" and that the death passage was misunderstood and is actually a "spiritual death."
But the thing is this isn't the first time the Salvation Army has come under fire for its anti-gay stance.
Twenty years ago, in southern Indiana, Bil Browning and his boyfriend went to the Salvation Army to get help because they were homeless. The charity refused to give them any help unless they broke up, the New York Times reported in December 2011.
The Salvation Army's "Position Statement" on homosexuality on its website used to say that "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," while saying it doesn't believe same-sex orientation isn't blameworthy, just the conduct. Since Craibe's statements, the charity has removed the page from the website and replaced it with the response to Craibe, apologizing to those whom it might have hurt.
Is it sincere? Is the charity really sorry for all of the hurt feelings?
No. I don't believe so.
People and businesses are able to change, but this is one that has repeatedly refused to offer aid to anyone who isn't straight, while claiming that it doesn't refuse. In 2004, the New York City offices threatened to close if an ordinance forced the company to offer benefits to same-sex employee spouses and their dependent children. Before New Zealand passed its Homosexual Law Reform Act in 1986, which legalized consensual sex between men who were 16 and older, the Salvation Army tried gathering signatures to prevent the bill from passing.
The charity has been active in trying to avoid helping out gay people and has even tried to take rights away from gay people. And it thinks a simple apology can fix that?
Whoops, sorry we've discriminated you in the past and we've actually had officials say you should die, but um, we don't hate you, just what you do.
That's a great apology.
So when it comes time to clean house and donate, especially around the holidays, I urge anyone to think twice about where they're donating. It makes me feel a little bad walking past the people in Santa outfits, jingling the bells and asking for money. But I would feel worse helping a charity out that doesn't give back in the ways it should.
It's a shame when charities try to do some good in the world but are run by complete jerks (for lack of a better term). But what can you do?
It's simple: donate elsewhere.
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