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PEOPLE OF FAITH SPEAK OUT AGAINST
BUSH DEAL WITH SALVATION ARMY
Religious Leaders Oppose Government Funding of Discrimination
Press Release, July 10, 2001
[posted here on 7-11-01]
(Washington, DC) - Equal Partners in Faith, a national
network of clergy and people of faith, reaffirmed their commitment to
equality and diversity today, stating they are continuing to speak out
against Bush's "Charitable Choice" Initiative, and encouraging
others to do the same.
Opposition to "Charitable Choice" was reaffirmed today in
light of an article in the Washington
Post (July 10, 2001) stating that the nations largest charity,
the Salvation Army, is flexing its muscles to promote Bush's Initiative
in return for being allowed to discriminate against gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender minorities in hiring practices. (Currently, 14
states have laws preventing such discrimination, and more states and
localities are expected to enact such laws in the future).
According to the Post, a Salvation Army document states that the White
House has made a firm commitment to issue a regulation exempting
religious charities that receive government funds from local and state
laws which prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.
"It is an outrage that the President of the United States would, in
the name of faith and compassion, cut a deal like this with people who
have as their stated goal discrimination against other Americans,"
said Rev. Meg Riley, Co-chair of Equal Partners in Faith. "This
just goes to show that the real purpose of the President's initiative is
to promote discrimination and appease those want to discriminate using
tax-payer money."
Under the 1964 Civil Rights Act, religious organizations that receive no
federal money are exempt from civil rights laws. Bush's proposal would
allow faith-based organizations to discriminate even when they receive
federal money. The Salvation Army is already receiving government funds
under 501c3 provisions and regulations, but is currently not exempt from
state or federal anti-discrimination laws.
"Bush's 'Charitable Choice' plan seems to mean that charities have
a choice who they can discriminative against and do so with government
funds," said Laura Montgomery Rutt, EPF Communications Chair.
"This is not just unconstitutional, it's morally and ethically
wrong."
"Charitable choice" provisions are currently part of HR 7, the
Community Solutions Act, which was recently reported out of the House
Judiciary Committee. A vote on this bill, which the Salvation Army is
strongly supporting, is expected to occur soon.
"As people of faith, we can not remain silent as the President of
the United States and America's largest charity collaborate to
discriminate against American citizens," stated Leslie Watson,
Co-chair and Managing Director of EPF. "We will continue to speak
out against this ill-conceived and unconstitutional initiative, and
encourage all others to do the same by contacting their legislators and
asking them to vote NO on 'Charitable Choice'."
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Or is the Salvation
Army under attack??
[7-11-01]
For a more sympathetic view of the Salvation Army's
determination not to employ gay and lesbian people, with the help of the
White House, you might check out the report
in Christianity Today, which was listed on PresbyWeb.
Here you'll see the Salvation Army as victims rather than as
discriminators. |
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Visit
our lively
new website! |
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GA actions
ratified (or not) by the presbyteries
A number of the most important actions of the 219th
General Assembly have now been acted upon by the presbyteries,
confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.
We provided resources to help inform the
reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.
Our three areas of primary interest have been:
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Amendment 10-A,
which removes the current ban on
lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender persons being considered as
possible candidates for ordination as elder or ministers.
Approved! |
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Amendment 10-2,
which would add the Belhar Confession to our Book of
Confessions. Disapproved, because as an amendment
to the Book of Confessions it needed a 2/3 vote, and did not
receive that. |
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Amendment
10-1, which adopts the new Form of Government
that was approved by the Assembly. Approved. |
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If you like what
you find here,
we hope you'll help us keep Voices for Justice going ... and
growing!
Please consider making a special
contribution -- large or small -- to help us continue and improve
this service.
Click here to send a
gift online, using your credit card, through PayPal.
Or send your check, made
out to "Presbyterian Voices for Justice" and marked "web site," to
our PVJ Treasurer:
Darcy Hawk
4007 Gibsonia Road
Gibsonia, PA 15044-8312 |
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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