OK to give to Salvation Army?

[aball1035]

Since they’re a Protestant organization, would it be OK? Because in a sense, wouldn’t you be helping them run, and convert others to Protestant heresies?

 

[MrsFlapjack]

I personally don’t have a problem with the Salvation Army. My grandfather told me that during the Great Depression, the only gifts he and his siblings received were from a Salvation Army children’s toy program. His parents didn’t have the money to buy any presents; if it wasn’t for the S.A., they wouldn’t have gotten anything.

 

[SonCatcher]

There may be a Catholic program in the area that is also in need of support. Perhaps you could check into one of those, first.

 

[twopekinguys]

I would rather give to the Salvation Army than organizations like the Red Cross (although, I do donate blood).

When I was in the military and stationed overseas, I had to fly home on emergency leave. We were always told to contact the Red Cross, which I did. They wanted to “loan” me the money to get home at a modest interest rate of 23%. I contacted the Salvation Army, they gave me the money and said “Pay it back when you can”. Over the years, I think I have paid them back 10 fold.

In 1996, my parents house was destroyed by a tornado. Praise God they were safe. It took my brothers and myself 2 weeks to clear all off the debris that was their home. A car from the Red Cross sat in the vacant field across the street (with 2 people in it), for the entire 2 weeks. On the very last day, as we were loading up the tools etc., they pulled into the drive and offered us a box lunch. Needless to say, my head just about exploded!!

I guess I would have to say, I’m a bit prejudiced.

 

[surritter]

I would say that you shouldn’t give to the Salvation Army. Though they do much good in helping the less fortunate, there are numerous Catholic agencies that do the same, without funneling $ to support an organization that has theological errors as the very foundation of its beliefs.

 

[PennyinCanada]

If you look into the Salvation Army and what they are doing in your area, would you not like to support that? I don’t think there are any Catholics out in a van handing out hot soup in the winter (and it’s cold here) or providing a bed for the night when the temperature starts to drop. Of course support Catholic charities but do not over look the Army’s good works of charity.
If they help an alcoholic to stop drinking and look for Christ for strength to change their life around, from darkness to light, that is HUGE. All of heaven will rejoice at such an event!

 

[beth40n2]

Giving to the Salvation Army’s charity fund is different than attending there religous services and putting money in that offering plate. We can give to charities outside the Catholic Church.

Of course we need to give plenty to Catholic charities in our area.

 

[Nimzovik]

:yup::yup:I worked for ‘Sally’s Army’ for 5 years. I have a very high regard for these people. Administratively speaking, in terms of cost, they will beat the Red Cross / Red Crescent organization any day IMHO. Plus, you can rest assured your funds are donated under the Salvation Armies’s ‘Cross’ will not later be distributed under the ‘Red Crescent’

The military has always spoken highly of the Salvation Army. The work they do for inner city kids at their summer camps like Camp Mt. Craggs and Camp Gilmore in the Malibu mountains is unparalled IMHO.

Their work with Alcoholics is excellent as well.

I have seen some extraordinarily dedicated people in this organization. Many of their ‘Officers’ have to have a second source of income to make ends meet.

I applaud them for all that they do.

I am confidant that any monies given to them will go to doing the charitable work of Christ. And they will do it well and they will do it cheap!:yup:

 

[IrishRush]

I would rather give to the Salvation Army than organizations like the Red Cross (although, I do donate blood).

When I was in the military and stationed overseas, I had to fly home on emergency leave. We were always told to contact the Red Cross, which I did. They wanted to “loan” me the money to get home at a modest interest rate of 23%. I contacted the Salvation Army, they gave me the money and said “Pay it back when you can”. Over the years, I think I have paid them back 10 fold.

In 1996, my parents house was destroyed by a tornado. Praise God they were safe. It took my brothers and myself 2 weeks to clear all off the debris that was their home. A car from the Red Cross sat in the vacant field across the street (with 2 people in it), for the entire 2 weeks. On the very last day, as we were loading up the tools etc., they pulled into the drive and offered us a box lunch. Needless to say, my head just about exploded!!

I guess I would have to say, I’m a bit prejudiced.

I just recently read a report that talked about salaries at the different aid companies and both the Red Cross and Salvation Army were mentioned. The CEO of the Red Cross makes a salary of over $900,000 (plus expenses) whereas the SA leader makes only $13,000 plus housing. More than 90% of the donated dollar goes to actual charitable work with the SA, but the Red Cross uses only around 5% (according to this report) for charitable works - the rest goes to salaries and overhead. Personally, that breakdown sounds exaggerated to me, but the part about the salaries is documented.
I think the fact that people are helped tremendously by the SA, all the time not just during disasters, should be a big factor in your decision. Nobody who receives from them is forced to listen to them evangelize. I also give the Catholic Charities, but have no problem giving to the Salvation Army as well. They do good things. That’s the bottom line.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

I would say that you shouldn’t give to the Salvation Army. Though they do much good in helping the less fortunate, there are numerous Catholic agencies that do the same, without funneling $ to support an organization that has theological errors as the very foundation of its beliefs.

Except – at least in my area – there aren’t. I live in an area subject to hurricanes, blizzards, lengthy power outages due to ice storms, and even (as of last year) tornados. The Salvation Army is always there when these things happen. I have never seen any kind of “Catholic agency” respond to a natural disaster in this area.

 

[sedonaman]

… I don’t think there are any Catholics out in a van handing out hot soup in the winter (and it’s cold here) …

Excuse me, but as a Vincentian, I worked many a time in our pantry for the poor, an out-building affectionately known as “the food shed”. It gets cold here too, and it was unheated.

 

[Nimzovik]

Except – at least in my area – there aren’t. I live in an area subject to hurricanes, blizzards, lengthy power outages due to ice storms, and even (as of last year) tornados. The Salvation Army is always there when these things happen. I have never seen any kind of “Catholic agency” respond to a natural disaster in this area.

This is to their credit. We need to model ourselves after them in this regard, methinks.

 

[Nimzovik]

Excuse me, but as a Vincentian, I worked many a time in our pantry for the poor, an out-building affectionately known as “the food shed”. It gets cold here too, and it was unheated.

Quite right. Catholics are exceptional in regard to helping the poor as well.

 

[Elizium23]

When I was homeless, the Salvation Army, the Methodist Church, and St. Vincent de Paul worked to offer me complementary services to get me back on my feet.

Salvation Army could provide me daily bags of food - nonperishable as well as bread and pastries, as much as I wanted to take. They provided me a free P-38 can opener for the cans of food they distributed. They offered one-on-one counseling and guidance from a case worker.

An elderly member of the Methodist Church across the street offered a program two days a week in the mornings, where we could gather for badly-needed hot showers in a clean environment, get some rest as well as a little bit of hot food. She often provided clothing donations, especially fresh socks and underwear, and once in a while did some laundry for us.

St. Vincent de Paul helped me monetarily with some gift certificates to local restaurants, where i could order a meal and hang out for a while afterwards.

I could not have survived homelessness if it weren’t for these three organizations working for me. Neither the Salvation Army nor the Methodist Church nor St. Vincent de Paul preached heresy to me, attempted to convert me, or even engaged in theological discussions without my prompting. They were entirely focused on works of charity and easing my suffering. I even found ex-Catholics working at Salvation Army and I suggested they might try being Catholic again, but they refused.

None of these services were able to provide me a temporary bed or lodging in the city where I found myself living. Said city was unwilling to provide services to the homeless for fear that we would stick around and give their lovely shopping-mall downtown a bad image. So I lived on the street and slept when and where I could.

I would suggest that you investigate the services provided by the charity you wish to donate to. See what they have to offer people who are suffering in your area. This may be the best way to make an informed decision. Many charities try not to step on toes and together create a patchwork of services in a given area.

 

[Lenaghan]

I was recently at a seminar given by a Danielle from Canada, who works for the Salvation Army. Her main mission is to help those who are bound to the sex-slave industry in Melbourne, Australia, where prostitution is legal

She gave an account of an elderly woman who was a Baptist, and received calls from strangers, as her number was only two digits different from the local brothel. She was getting fed up with all these calls, as well as becoming increasingly embarrassed. An elderly, retired Baptist woman would not usually expect calls of this nature!

Danielle spoke to her, and she was considering changing her number by this stage. However, Danielle instead challenged the woman, and suggested that she tackled it head on in some way. The elderly woman was confused, and couldn’t think of anything. Danielle asked her “well, what are you good at?” She replied, “I can bake cupcakes”

“That’s great. We’ll bake cupcakes!”

So armed with a fresh tray of cupcakes, the elderly woman walked right up to the brothel and nervously knocked on the door. When a pimp answered, she blurted out “I have cupcakes!” before the man could even ask what she wanted of such a place. The man replied, “Oh, all right then. Come on in.”

This elderly woman then become good friends with all the working prostitutes, and learned of the nature of their work. For example, they were constantly being shipped around to major cities all around Australia every two weeks, and if you could not afford the women for sex, you could beat them for an hour for half the price. This woman worked with Danielle to help dissolve a number of prostitution rings in Australia, and has put legal prostitution into the limelight.

Sitting in on this seminar, many people asked, “Why cupcakes?” to which Danielle related to the staff of Moses at the burning bush. The little he had was just enough for God, and that staff helped to free the slaves from Egypt. It was a fantastic talk, inspiring, and intertwined with good humour too!

Since listening to the work of Danielle and the Salvation Army, I would definitely suggest that you give in any way, shape, or form to help support such work around the world.

Lenaghan

 

[ExGratia]

Salvation Army does not take a stand against abortion. That’s enough reason for me to continue donating only to Catholic charities and groups.

 

[Truegrit]

When my brother was on the front lines in Korea the Red Cross stayed behind the lines and sold coffee. The Savation Army crawled up to the front lines and gave out coffee at risk of life and limb and for free. My brother came back after the Korean War with an intense dislike for the Red Cross. I give to the Salvation Army in his memory.

 

[twopekinguys]

When my brother was on the front lines in Korea the Red Cross stayed behind the lines and sold coffee. The Savation Army crawled up to the front lines and gave out coffee at risk of life and limb and for free. My brother came back after the Korean War with an intense dislike for the Red Cross. I give to the Salvation Army in his memory.

 

[Roy5]

I was a counselor at a Fresh Air Camp run by the Salvation Army some years ago. Most of the children were poor, some from recent immigrant homes (many Catholic), others from Black Protestant homes.

There are many things I admire about the Salvation Army. For one thing, their leadership is totally selfless, living on minimum wages, only interested in helping the less fortunate. 

 I was thinking today of remarks by Mayor Cory Booker of Newark. I don't recall the entire quote, but it starts:

"Don't speak to me about your religion. First show me how you treat other people. Don't tell me how much you love God. Show me how you love all God's children." Etc.

 These attempts, by Catholics or anyone else, to emphasize religious tribalism - my tribe is better than your tribe, my doctrines are true and yours aren't - alienate me. Those who love others and demonstrate it by sharing, humility, and kindness - these are the real Christians, and not others who make the arrogant assertion that they embrace the one true religion. My experience with the Salvation Army is that its members are far more interested in serving Christ than worrying about correct doctrines and precise rituals.

 

[surritter]

These attempts, by Catholics or anyone else, to emphasize religious tribalism - my tribe is better than your tribe, my doctrines are true and yours aren’t - alienate me. Those who love others and demonstrate it by sharing, humility, and kindness - these are the real Christians, and not others who make the arrogant assertion that they embrace the one true religion. My experience with the Salvation Army is that its members are far more interested in serving Christ than worrying about correct doctrines and precise rituals.

Roy, no need to be so sensitive about it. As Catholics, we believe in Truth, and to state that there is such a thing as truth is not meant to alienate people.

Now, certainly we should serve Christ by serving each other, and do so without checking ID or religious affiliation – and that’s exactly what we believe as Catholics. But it’s also OK to funnel money only to institutions that best represent the truths that we profess.