Ringing Bells For Salvation Army?

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Maximilianus' date='05 December 2009 - 04:56 PM' timestamp='1260050171' post='2015078']
This.
[/quote]
IAWTC.

Edited December 6, 2009 by Resurrexi

[BG45]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='05 December 2009 - 06:01 PM' timestamp='1260050518' post='2015079']
I used to think the Salvation Army was just a charity. Since it's actually a denomination..... I wouldn't do it.
[/quote]

Ditto. Although I'd always been reluctant to give since the time a bell ringer put up their own sign over the SA's asking for money personally.

[Sojourner]

A good friend of mine coordinates bell ringers for the Twin Cities. She said they actually use paid day laborers for several locations. They are otherwise unemployed, and come into SA headquarters and are bussed out to locations all over the metro area. Apparently, even with the overhead here, it is still a profitable venture for the SA.

I think SA does some valuable work, but like others have said I am less than thrilled with conditioning charity on someone's listening to a gospel presentation. I also am less than thrilled with supporting a denomination ... particularly one I know to have evangelized Catholics away from the Church. As a rule, I don't give to Protestant charitable organizations or churches, not because I am not a fan of ecumenism, but because I (and my husband) believe our resources should be directed toward charitable organizations more in line with our convictions. I don't think there's anything wrong with saying that, and I would say it to my friend if she were to ask me to volunteer or give money (which she hasn't).

[the_rev]

So I sent an email to my parish priest detailing the situation to see if he feels that I am justified in my refusal of ringing the bells. I have not sent a response to the individuals responsible for bell ringers yet. Do you think I'm making a bigger deal out of this than I should? Should I just volunteer two hours and make people happy or should I put up a stint like I am...? Anyways here are my misgivings.

My first concerns are merely theological. Many people believe the Salvation Army to be just a charitable organization, however, they are much more than that, they are a Christian denomination of faith founded by William Booth who was a free mason. Although I fully believe in the spirit of ecumenism, I do not like to support financially or even with my time, things that are from another denomination on the basis it helps in the promulgation of their message. It is not that they are a terrible organization but there are other wholesome Catholic causes that I could, if I was asked, be supporting with my time and treasure. In further research online, I found that individuals who receive benevolence from the Salvation Army are required to attend a Salvation Army Church Service. For those who do not share the same faith tradition as them, I feel that this is unnecessary. Additionally, as a Seminarian, I am living a public life, and for some, my actions of what I do speak loudly. It may be a misconstrued statement for a seminarian to be ringing bells for a Christian Denomination as a way of saying, "Hey I'm a seminarian and as such, the Church is sanctions my efforts of volunteering for this cause. Given this information along with the reality that I have no idea exactly as to how the funds raised are allocated, I am hesitant to commit time and solicit treasure from others for a faith based Christian denomination chairtable organization. Beyond just these reasons I have practical reasons such as uncertainty of my schedule and availability.

[King's Rook's Pawn]

Well, I rang the bell once or twice, and I didn't have to sit through anything. I just rang the bell. It's a pretty reputable charity.

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='the_rev' date='05 December 2009 - 09:45 PM' timestamp='1260063950' post='2015157']
Although I fully believe in the spirit of ecumenism,
[/quote]

What's the "spirit of ecumenism"?

[homeschoolmom]

I don't like that they start ringing right after Halloween. I'm supposed to drop a buck in the bucket every single time I go into the grocery store or Target or the mall between Nov. 1 and Christmas!? I don't think so. It just seems to me like the United Way-- "mandatory charity."

[cmotherofpirl]

Why don't you just say you are busy supporting your own church and are too busy to support a different denomination?