Wednesday, December 19, 2001
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Wednesday, December 19, 2001 |
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For some advocates of gay rights, 'tis the season to be vindictive By
REV. LOUIS P. SHELDON For some advocates of gay rights, 'tis the season to be vindictive During the Christmas season, the Salvation Army bell ringers are part of the American yearly celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. These bell ringers symbolize Christian compassion and care for the downtrodden and the hurting. The Salvation Army, of course, is working all year long to provide food, clothing, and shelter to the homeless and the hopeless. Once a year, however, the Salvation Army makes its efforts visible for all to see-and Americans give in abundance to help those in need. This year's bell ringer effort is of special importance because of the 9-11 attack upon our nation. The Salvation Army is supplying much-needed food, clothing, and prayers of encouragement to the heroes of 9-11 in New York City. However, as a well-known political slogan states, "No good deed will go unpunished." This year, the Salvation Army is under assault by a homosexual activist group known as Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). PFLAG is angered by the Salvation Army's recent decision to not provide "domestic partner" benefits to its unmarried employees including homosexuals. The Salvation Army's western division had made the decision, but just a week later the public outcry forced its top leadership to overturn this seriously flawed decision. PFLAG is now engaged in a vindictive campaign against the Salvation Army. In several states, PFLAG's ill-advised followers are dropping fake $5 bills into the kettles manned by Salvation Army bell ringers. The fake money contains a statement of protest against the Salvationists for their refusal to approve of homosexual relationships. The Salvation Army, like most Bible-believing churches, views homosexual acts as a sin and as a sexual perversion. Instead of lauding the Salvation Army for its works of compassion, PFLAG's intolerant leaders are trying to punish this organization because of its moral stand against homosexual behavior. Fortunately, the American Family Association of Michigan and other pro-family groups have volunteered to redeem each PFLAG fake $5 dollar bill for a real one this Christmas Season. Every time a vindictive PFLAGer drops a phony bill into the kettle, a Christian will give the Salvation Army a real $5 dollar bill. This is money that will help the victims of 9-11, the homeless, and children who might not have one present were it not for the goodness of Salvation Army volunteer bell ringers and men and women of good will. This PFLAG effort exposes the morally confused hearts of those who would punish the Salvation Army this Christmas season. The response of AFA of Michigan and other Christian groups also reveals the hearts of men and women who know what true compassion is all about as we celebrate the birth of Jesus on Dec. 25. The contrast between PFLAG and compassionate Christians could not be more obvious. [Traditional Values Coalition is an interdenominational public policy organization representing more than 43,000 churches across the United States. For more information, contact Emily Davis at 202-547-8570. TVC's Web site is www.traditionalvalues.org.]
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