Ringing that bell...

In case you didn't know, the Salvation Army is not a charity per se, but a Protestant denomination, founded by William Booth in London, England around 1878, currently claiming about a half-million adherents ("soldiers") in the U.S.

It is one of a slew of renewal movements that sprouted up in the late 1800's, particularly in England, but also in the U.S. The Army holds for the Catholic view of God (that is, Trinitarian), a very Protestant view of the Church (useful but optional), & a very traditional Protestant moral code (that is, loving but rigid). They hold for the Protestant Bible as God's exclusive revelation & rule of faith (despite the Bible as we know it not existing until the Catholic Church declared it to be so in 395 or so). They hold for total abstinence from alcohol (despite this being contrary to the Bible - Ps 104:15 as one example of so many) & recreational drugs, partly because their Franciscan-like ministry to the destitute in the streets has shown them the destructive power of such substances abused.

The S.A.'s Position Statements reveal that they have been skimming the Catechism for the wording of many of their positions. They hold for the sanctity of life from birth to natural death, calling abortion "deplorable," yet include some curious language about recognizing the difficult decisions mothers may face. They are essentially silent on the flip side of abortion coin - contraception - mentioning only that it is opposed to abortion as a means of birth control. They are against euthanasia, giving an insightful statement into the value of the process of death.

They correctly uphold marriage as an exclusive & permanent bond established by God between a man & a woman, yet are silent on the evil of divorce. They encourage respect for the dignity of homosexuals, even as they encourage them in a life of chastity, indeed, as they do for all the unmarried. In a great number of moral issues, the Salvation Army stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Catholic Church as being a sign of contradiction in a very permissive & suicidal world.

I only mention these things because, being curious, I couldn't find anything on their site about how their vast collections are spent. There's verbiage about their programs, but nothing about disclosure & accountability. Not that I harbor any special distrust of them, but because their presence is so pervasive, I thought it a curious omission. Also, I think of how different the reaction would be if it were Catholics taking collections outside of stores (maybe habited religious sisters would get a pass). People just give to the S.A. with complete trust. Does that say something about people, the Salvation Army, or about the Catholic Church? All three, I suppose.

Now, I am in no way discouraging anyone contributing to the Salvation Army - I do myself when I pass their bell-ringing volunteers - but don't forget about the multitudes of Catholic missionaries hitting the streets, or the jungles, bringing the succor of Jesus Christ to the world's crushed & abandoned. Take a look at the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal , Franciscan Missions, or countless others, to be sure, including the cloistered religious who pray for the salvation of souls - including yours & mine.

Remember, co-conspirators, this Advent... Spend less. Give more. Worship fully. Love all.

And that really does count as a conspiracy these days.