The
ring-a-ling of silver bells that herald the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign
have relieved many Christmas shoppers  of excess change and perhaps some
excess guilt from over-consumption. Unfortunately, pro-lifers should not contribute.

The Salvation
Army feeds the hungry, houses the homeless, and helps free people from
addiction.  But no amount of charity can
undo promoting the ending of lives through abortion.
They begin well in their Mission
Statement
. “The Salvation Army believes all people are created in the
image of God and therefore have unique and intrinsic value…The Salvation Army
accepts the moment of fertilization as the start of human life…The Salvation
Army believes that life is a gift from God and we are answerable to God for the
taking of life.”
Yet, one paragraph later they refer to “tragic and perplexing
circumstances”
that make terminating
pregnancies acceptable:  rape, the health
of mother, and a “fetal abnormality considered incompatible with survival more
than a very brief post natal period.”
Cases of Rape
Just say “rape” and pro-choicers claim abortion as a
need, assuming that having the baby would be a fate worse than death–literally.
 Pro-choice logic defies reality. Statistics from two studies
reveal that 70% of rape victims chose to keep their babies and not one
regretted it.  Some had placed their
babies  for adoption. 
In contrast, one of the studies reported that 78% of
the 30% of women who had abortions after their rapes regretted it.  Ending the life of an innocent baby just adds
one more victim.  And women who have
given life to the baby, feel closure and that they were able to bring something
positive out of the unfortunate attack. 
There are many dynamic prolife speakers today who publically acknowledge
that they were conceived in rape.  
Abortion for the Health of the
Mother
In reality, abortion
is never necessary to save a mother’s health.
  Treatment that
unintentionally causes the death of her unborn child is not an abortion. The Association
of Pro-Life Physicians
, whose mission is living out the do
no harm 
clause of the Hippocratic Oath, made a statement found here which states that the intentional
killing of an unborn baby by abortion is never necessary.
“The necessary medication may injure or kill the pre-born child, but this
is no justification for intentionally killing the child.  If the
child is injured or dies from the medication prescribed to the mother to save
her life, the injury was unintentional and, if truly medically necessary, not
unethical.”  And not an abortion.
Playing God with Abnormalities
The Salvation Army states that they “believe
termination can occur” when “
reliable diagnostic procedures have identified a fetal abnormality
considered incompatible with survival for more than a very brief post natal
period.”
ARE THEY KIDDING?  They said we are all created in the likeness and image of
God.  What of babies’ “unique and intrinsic
value?” They said: “Human life is sacred and all people should be treated with
dignity and respect.”  But not ones with
abnormalities?
I have written many stories for magazines and for the Amazing
Grace Book Series
where supposed “reliable diagnostic procedures,” diagnosed
unborn babies with conditions incompatible with life, but instead they were born
100% healthy.  Abortion had been
recommended, yet the medical teams ended up shocked and baffled by the healthy
babies. Were there miracles involved or
failure on the part of the “reliable diagnostic procedures?”  Probably some of both.  The Salvation Army obviously puts more trust
in diagnostic procedures than in God, in miracles, and in the value of all life.
 In stories I’ve done where there was
a baby born with a disability, the families received many blessings by
putting themselves in God’s hands.  Liz
Gary
is one example of a mother who was told her baby’s condition was
incompatible with life.  Instead, twelve
years later, her son is still alive and his Down’s syndrome condition has
brought much love and joy to their family.  Another
mom,
Linda
Schreiner, shared her story, 
The
Smallest Stone
 about the dramatic impact her son’s 1-hour life had  on others.

Other
Problems
Until recently, I did not realize how disconnected the Salvation Army is with Catholic teaching.  I have discovered other anti-Catholic stances such as their “commitment
to the prevention of unwanted pregnancy through means such as access to
reliable birth control…”
Is it possible they are unaware that some
forms of contraception are abortifactients and many women have abortions due to
failed contraception?
Another troubling fact is their support of the #1 abortion provider, Planned
Parenthood.  Life Decisions International
(LDI), a pro-life watchdog organization has the Salvation Army on their complete list
of organizations with strong connections to Planned Parenthood.

The Salvation Army founder, General William Booth shows what happens when a mere man
rewrites religion in his own image.  He abolished
all the sacraments and even
asserted that baptism is not necessary
“in order to receive salvation,” stating that only repentance and faith are required (Handbook,
pp. 185-186). So inspite of doing a lot of good work, their moral compass is broken.

The Salvation Army  has strayed from original
Christian teaching in many other respects not mentioned here, but suffice to
say, I will no longer put money in their buckets. 
There are plenty of Catholic organizations to support that do not
contradict God’s truth. 

______________________________________________________________

For more inspiration, check out Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories From Everyday Families. Your children will laugh while learning big spiritual lessons with Dear God, I Don’t Get It! and Dear God, You Can’t Be Serious. 

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