By Fred Jackson and Jody Brown
November 6, 2001

(AgapePress) - The nation's largest pro-homosexual group is praising a regional division of The Salvation Army for extending health-care benefits to the domestic partners of its employees.

A press release from the Human Rights Campaign calls it a "prudent decision" by the Salvation Army's Western Corporation and a "welcome development." It says the decision brings the organization into compliance with a San Francisco ordinance that bars companies from doing business with the city if they do not provide benefits to the homosexual and unwed heterosexual partners of its employees. The Army had initially severed ties with the city rather than go along with the new ordinance -- but now that resolve has disappeared.

According to CNSNews, The Salvation Army had been the last major holdout on a $3.5 million contract with San Francisco to provide drug rehabilitation, meal programs, and a homeless shelter. An Army spokesman admitted the prospect of losing that money was a factor in the decision. But the Western Corporation maintains it has not changed its view on homosexuality -- that same-sex relations are contrary to God's intention, but that people are not to be condemned because they are homosexual.

A press release from The Army claims the controversial decision came about because the more inclusive coverage reflects a recent trend among Fortune 500 companies, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations. According to the Human Rights Campaign, the number of employers offering domestic partner benefits has jumped 50% in the last two years, totaling more than 4,300 today. The HRC also reports more than 150 of the Fortune 500 companies offer domestic partner benefits -- more than double the number three years ago.

Col. Phillip Needham is the chief secretary of The Army's Western Corporation. He defends the decision, saying it was based on "strong ethical and moral reasoning that reflects the dramatic changes in family structure in recent years."

Many Christians will disagree with that reasoning, recognizing the fact that while society is becoming more accepting of sexual immorality, God is not.

Pro-Family Reactions
At least two pro-family groups have reacted to The Salvation Army's decision to offer domestic partner benefits. One of those is the American Family Association, a major pro-family organization and staunch proponent of the traditional family. Ed Vitagliano, an AFA spokesman, says it is sad to see a Christian organization caving in to the world's way of thinking.

"I think that all evangelical Christians who love God's Word and who have trusted The Salvation Army to be faithful to the clear indications ... and clear principles of God's Word about same-sex relationships [are] very, very sad that this has happened," Vitagliano says.

Scott Lively, director of the American Family Association of California, concurs with Vitagliano. Lively told CNSNews he is deeply disappointed with the decision and, as a result, has lost respect for The Army for caving in on an essential point of Christianity: the legitimization of homosexuality.

"This is driven by the gay-activist movement," Lively said. "It has no other purpose but to legitimize homosexuality in American society." According to Lively, the benevolent agency is risking a fate similar to the Hebrews of the Old Testament who, he says, began "looking to the arm of flesh instead of to the arm of God to be able to meet the challenges before them."

Vitagliano says the Western Corporation's decision may well have implications for the entire Salvation Army organization. He says as the Christmas holidays approach, Bible-believing Christians are going to become confused about where their money is going, as well as the future and direction of The Salvation Army. "When they see those bellringers that have always been a comforting sight for Bible-believing Christians," he says, "I think that because of what the Western Corporation [of The Salvation Army] has done, [it's] going to confuse Christians even more."

Vitagliano believes if The Army loses money in San Francisco, it may be reflected in fundraising nationwide.

© 2001 AgapePress all rights reserved.

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