Would you buy from ........?

[rstegeman]

OutinChgoburbs;3516393:

That’s nice, what ever happened to love your enemies??

First off, I messed up the quotes in my original reply, so some of the quotes are being attributed to the wrong people

Anyway, assuming what the bishop said is true, suggesting not to contribute to them is not a matter of not loving them, it’s about not supporting the messages that they support. There are plenty of Catholic charities that do much the same as the Salvation Army and I know that we support Pro-Life.

 

[jkatpc]

My kids attend Catholic school, and there are plenty of fundraisers. Instead of sending my kids around to the neighbors (and I don’t want them going door to door in other neighborhoods), we ask the school what their “commission” is for the amount of candles/wrapping paper/etc. that each kid is expected to sell and we write a check for that amount. Of course, for things like the St. Jude Math-a-thon, relatives are fair game with email . . .

We always buy Girl Scout cookies, and without exception, the girls selling them always have mom or dad out there with them. I don’t know if it’s a requirement for the GSA troops in our area, but sure is a good idea from a safety stand point.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

That’s nice, what ever happened to love your enemies??

What has this got to with loving your enemies?

OFF TOPIC-
I would not say, first, that the bishop considers them our “enemies” as I found the dicoese does contribute through its own coffers, and those structured through St. Vincent de Paul to some of the same infrastructure resources as the Salvation Army. This would include the local food pantry, homeless shelter, and educational resources for the homeless to get back into housing. It is interesting to note that Catholic Charities has the biggest (name removed by moderator)ut on the infrastructure, and indeed originated the homeless shelter.

Our bishop objects to throwing in the money in the Salvation Army kettle when we don’t know where it goes. He knows the diocese will not contribute to Planned Parenthood (a sore subject in our neck of the woods), will not buy contaceptives, and will not procure abortions. He does not know that of the Salvation Army, as the SA considers all those viable options for the impoverished.

BACK ON TOPIC

 

[IrishAm]

I am a notorious non-buyer of goods from **all **schools, clubs, and associations, regardless of affiliation. I also make it a point to make contributions to the young people involved in activities as best I can. For example, when the parish Girl Scouts are selling cookies, I typically give them $20 and tell them to put it all in the troop fund. And I write a pretty good check for the teens who go to “workcamp” each year and help repair homes in Appalachia. Frankly, I can part with a lot less money and the organization gets a lot more if there is no product exchange taking place!

I think the sales pitches have gotten way out of hand. If someone wants their child to have money to do something special (8th grade trips and athletic activities promptly come to mind), then someone and their child need to work out a savings plan that does not involve hitting up either strangers or family members to support their aspirations.

(The Salvation Army took very good care of my grandfather following World War I. Our family is eternally in its debt and always feeds the red kettle.)