Are we morally obliged to refrain from supporting Human Rights Campaign organizations?

[timeandeternity]

So, I know that we’re not morally obliged to refrain from shopping at stores that donate to Planned Parenthood, since we are buying morally neutral products and are not in any way causing the store to decide to donate to PP.
However, there are many companies in which something morally objectionable is actually an integrated part of that company. You may have heard of the Human Rights Campaign, which evaluates companies on their level of involvement in the homosexual agenda and the amount of benefits they offer to gay employees. Somewhat less than 300 companies provide insurance, medical services, and other such benefits to gay employees. When you shop at such a store, you are directly supporting these kinds of programs.
So, from a moral standpoint, aren’t we obliged to avoid such companies? Where do we draw the line?
I am sure some people will make the argument that one could find something “morally objectionable” with every single company; however, there are cases, such as the above, when something is so gravely wrong and so directly a part of a company that one is compelled to seriously consider discontinuing one’s doing business with such a company.

 

[Rence]

You may have heard of the Human Rights Campaign, which evaluates companies on their level of involvement in the homosexual agenda and the amount of benefits they offer to gay employees. Somewhat less than 300 companies provide insurance, medical services, and other such benefits to gay employees.

As far as I know, it is illegal, as well as immoral, to try to disqualify insurance coverage and other benefits to a gay employee. A company is required to offer all qualified employees group insurance and benefits if they offer them. How would you know that person is gay anyway, until after you get to know the person, or if they told you? You’re not allowed to ask such a question in an interview or on an application.

Perhaps you’re talking about adding a gay partner/spouse on to insurance benefits? Is that what you mean?

When you shop at such a store, you are directly supporting these kinds of programs.
So, from a moral standpoint, aren’t we obliged to avoid such companies? Where do we draw the line?

I don’t make it a point of boycotting companies that are indirectly involved. I think it’s useless. If you search enough, you’ll find every single company tied in some way to something you would consider immoral. I think it’s up to you how far you would go.

I am sure some people will make the argument that one could find something “morally objectionable” with every single company; however, there are cases, such as the above, when something is so gravely wrong and so directly a part of a company that one is compelled to seriously consider discontinuing one’s doing business with such a company.

Well, first of all, you might want to clarify what exactly these 300 companies are doing, because if they offer health insurance and other benefits to their employees, they are legally and morally bound to offer the same to their gay employees as well. Mind you, the Church recognizes gay orientation while it condemns a gay lifestyle. It’s not a “sin” to be gay. It is a sin to fornicate in any way, whether you are gay or straight. And everyone is called to live a chaste lifestyle. Be careful to know the difference between promoting the gay lifestyle and treating people with dignity because there is a big difference.

I really think you mean companies that offer insurance to the domestic partners of gay employees rather than gay employees themselves. So you might wanna clarify that.

 

[Corki]

Somewhat less than 300 companies provide insurance, medical services, and other such benefits to gay employees. When you shop at such a store, you are directly supporting these kinds of programs.
So, from a moral standpoint, aren’t we obliged to avoid such companies? Where do we draw the line?

No, you are not directly supporting those programs. You are indirectly supporting them. It’s called remote material cooperation. You are cooperating with the organization in the same way you might be cooperating with the company’s inclusion of birth control in it’s health care plan or its funding of a company meeting held at a Masonic owned conference center.

Unless you are very well informed about a company, you have no way of knowing if the company is offering these programs because it wants to advance the “gay” agenda or if it is complying with a legal requirment or a union provision.

If there is a competitor that does not support this kind of program, by all means support the competitor. But it isn’t a moral obligation to refrain from all forms of extremely remote material cooperation with evil.

 

[gubernova]

If you take a strict stance, then we really should avoid doing anything to keep ourselves without guilt:shrug:

 

[timeandeternity]

Perhaps you’re talking about adding a gay partner/spouse on to insurance benefits? Is that what you mean?

Yes, that’s what I meant. I’m sorry for the confusion.

Mind you, the Church recognizes gay orientation while it condemns a gay lifestyle. It’s not a “sin” to be gay. It is a sin to fornicate in any way, whether you are gay or straight. And everyone is called to live a chaste lifestyle. Be careful to know the difference between promoting the gay lifestyle and treating people with dignity because there is a big difference.

Yes, I do understand this. In the case of these companies, they are not simply treating all their employees equally (and, as you said, it would be immoral to do otherwise), but they are clearly supporting a gay lifestyle by offering benefits to the partners of gay employees, providing support and resources–including surgical procedures–for employees who want to undergo “gender transition,” and making efforts (esp. financially) to reach out to the LGBT community. In supporting such companies, we are directly supporting such things. It is not as if we are buying from a company that then donates to an organization that provides this kind of support to those living a gay lifestyle–we are giving to a company that actually provides this support itself.