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UC Berkeley Student Government Seeks to Ban…Salvation Army Bell Ringers?

Dec. 6, 2012 4:11pm Jason Howerton

Salvation Army bell ringer volunteers William Schmidt (L), who is on his 20th year volunteering, and his grandson Bubba Wellens (R) ring their bells looking for a donation into a kettle outside a Giant grocery store November 24, 2012, in Clifton, Virgina. Salvation Army volunteers traditionally are seen collecting donations from holiday shopper for the needy between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Schmidt says he does it, ‘ to teach others the joy of giving. (Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

The student government at the University of California-Berkeley (CAL) is taking a stand against the Salvation Army. The group voted to ban Salvation Army bell ringers from campus this Christmas because of the Christian organization’s so-called anti-gay stance.

Campus Reform reports the student group passed the resolution on Nov. 14. It accuses the Salvation Army of intentionally discriminating against homosexuals and asks the University of California-Berkeley to revoke the group’s permit that allows them to collect donations.

“Salvation Army church services, including charity services, are available only to people ‘who accept and abide by the Salvation Army’s doctrine and discipline,’ which excludes homosexuality,” reads the bill, SB 176.

“Allowing the Salvation Army to collect donations on campus is a form of financial assistance that empowers the organization to spend the money it raises here in order to discriminate and advocate discrimination against queer people,” the resolution adds.

In a statement to Campus Reform, the Salvation Army adamantly denied these charges, saying the allegations are based solely on “internet rumors.”

“The notion that we require those we help to ‘accept and abide by the Salvation Army’s doctrine and discipline which excludes homosexuality’ to receive assistance is totally false,” wrote Kathy Lovin, a spokeswoman for the Salvation Army.

She added that “the only requirement for service from The Salvation Army is demonstrated need and our ability to meet it.”

According to the bill, the student government also wants to formally express “disapproval of the presence of Salvation Army donation containers on campus” because “queer students…may take offense to the presence of collection containers operated by a discriminator religious organization in their places of living.”

A university spokesperson told Campus Reform that the school is reviewing the matter but did not say whether the charity organization would actually be denied access to the university.

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Comments (89)

checkingbothsides
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 5:00pm
Well guys, I thought this was pretty ridiculous too until I read about this interview:

From Wikipedia:
In June 2012, a media relations officer in the Australian branch of the organization, Major Andrew Craibe, gave an interview on Lesbian and Gay radio station Joy 94.9. When questioned on Salvation Army beliefs and doctrines on sexuality, he appeared to agree with scripture that all practicing homosexuals be put to death, as it was part of the church’s “belief system”.[25]

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- pavepaws
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 5:30pm
  Since student government does not decide who enters campus, pffffft.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 5:41pm
  @Checking
  
  You seem to have left out the sentence immediately after that which you quoted:
  “The Salvation Army later apologized for any offense caused by comments made by Major Craibe and reaffirmed their support in helping members the Gay and Lesbian community.”
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 5:41pm
  Gimme a break… He “APPEARED” to agree…?
  
  “When questioned on Salvation Army beliefs and doctrines on sexuality, he appeared to agree with scripture that all practicing homosexuals be put to death, as it was part of the church’s “belief system”…”
  
  How about a quote from the man, himself? You have only provided a third party opinion as proof.
  
  Report this comment
- toiletclogga
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 5:43pm
  @Canadarocks—Jesus is more man that you would ever care to be. Real tough guy on the internet aren’t you?
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 6:04pm
  @East
  
  Wikipedia actually has a link to his quote. It’s pretty damning, actually. I thought the same thing as you and looked it up and then went “Wow, this guy’s actually a *****.” Here’s the conservation in the link:
  “From Romans 1:18-32: “Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error… They know God’s decree, that those who practise such things deserve to die – yet they not only do them but even applaud others who practise them.”
  
  “Well, that’s a part of our belief system,” admitted Craibe when Ryan questioned him about it in a live broadcast on Friday. “You know, we have an alignment to the Scriptures, but that’s our belief.”
  
  He added: “That is part of our Christian doctrine.”
  
  Shouldn’t it be more about love, suggested Ryan? “Well, the love that we would show is about that: consideration for all human beings to come to know salvation,” replied Craibe. Or die? “Well, yes.””
  
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- Fubared
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 6:14pm
  It appears to be a Canadian past time, to rock and all.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:06pm
  ok LOCK… if the quote’s accurate… dudes messed up.
  
  Salvation Army is more than one man’s psychotheology however.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:10pm
  Hi East,
  
  How are you doing today?
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:26pm
  Hey Monk… not too bad.
  
  Saw on one of the other threads that you bagged a little free-lance stuff today. That’s great :)
  
  Report this comment
- White Devil
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 3:50pm
  @ Canada
  You obviously know nothing about Jesus or the important women of the Bible. The truth is in scripture, and the fact that you would pull the notion of a “gay Jesus” out of your rear end makes that even more obvious.
  
  Report this comment
TEIN
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:54pm
The student government at the University of California-Berkeley just like all good communist create their own reality then propagandize it with lies….

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term limits for congress
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:54pm
Anything that is good and decent and not controlled by Dear Leader must be shunned.

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Locked
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:51pm
And just to clear up any confusion here: the Salvation Army is NOT a charity. It’s legally established as a church here in the US… granted, one that primarily does charity work. They are fully within their rights to discriminate who they hire based on the applicants’ beliefs. But they do NOT discriminate against those that they help. I personally find their cause uplifting and donate every year.

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SREGN
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:48pm
I’m right here in the middle of Sandy, and I tell you what, it’s the faith-based organizations that are driving the recovery, not the government. The southern baptist conference relief team was here before the waters receded and have worked like dogs providing hot meals and helping homeowners remove debris. Same with the Salvation Army. FEMA? Didn’t see ‘em for over a week. Red Cross? Minimal and not for almost a week. I give to the SA through payroll deduction, and I’ll never stop.

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M40-A1
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:45pm
More stench from the cesspool. Who cares, let Berkley and Columbia rot. We’ll never miss them.

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- Keatonc33
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 5:43pm
  ha i forget. republicans hate education.
  
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- TheGrtDcptn
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:34pm
  ‘ha i forget. republicans hate education’…
  
  There is no education taking place today…only indoctrination into communism…
  
  Report this comment
- christhefanatic
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 8:13pm
  Berkeley education = How to paint your head blue and courses in public masterbation.
  
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Locked
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:37pm
Two seconds of looking up information online would show that the Salvation Army’s stance on homosexuality pertains only to members of the organization, not to those they help. The SA makes no distinction between gay or straight among the needy.

Nice failure at fact-checking 101, students.

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- geminicontender
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:50pm
  They only fact check what they want to fact check and leave the rest out hoping, knowing most people are too lazy to find out for themselves.
  
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Eastinfection
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:37pm
of course. everybody knows all “charity” in the future is to be administrated by big brother, not private charities. Private charities are too efficient. Only bloated bureaucracies have enough red tape to be wasteful enough for the standards of “Social Justice”.

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- Fubared
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 5:00pm
  Finally somebody understands the program.
  
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kparsels
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:35pm
Berkeley is a pit, Don’t let your kid go there, they will be sodomized and converted to Obama socialist heathenism.

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Thornyrose13
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:35pm
I’m an atheist, and I donate more to the Salvation Army than I do to the Red Cross. It is usually either my number 1 or number 2 charity(depending on number of disasters in the US). This move is b.s. It’s a political move to demonstrate some sort of extreme liberal ideology. The ironic thing is these folks don’t care about the people they are hurting if they manage to ban the S.A. Nor will they step up and provide the services. The heck with Texas leaving the Union. I say expel the San Francisco/ Berkley area, and let them create their own “Peoples’ Paradise.” I give it 2 weeks before 90% of the population comes over the borders to rejoin the real world.

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BetterInformed
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:34pm
Don’t like the Salvation Army ? ( My favorite charity) Don’t donate.

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- 3monkeysmomma
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 6:32pm
  My husband and son will be ringing the bell out there next week!
  
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- IWISHIWASINTEXAS
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:14pm
  You’re spot on. Don’t like it? Don’t donate. But we forget that liberals must have everything THEIR way. If Berkeley doesn’t want them there, then the Salvation Army is better off staying away from that dump of a school.
  
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Dismayed Veteran
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:33pm
A conservative at UC-Berkeley is a person who supports same sex marriage, abortion, large government, hates the military, is a vegan, hate any reference to God and loves dope. The liberals are the ones who are ones who are wacky.

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HKS
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:29pm
Now those liberals wouldn’t want to do any charity work now would they. Liberals don’t much like charity when it comes out of their pockets, however it’s great if you do it and they get it.

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intercepter
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:28pm
keep the bell ringers and ban Berkeley

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- searcher619
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:50pm
  Cite them for terminal stupidity. Their are a college so i think it’s time the college teachers them what freedom is. Tell them if they don’t like the Salvation Army they are free to NOT make any donations and that the school will respect the freedom of others on campus who do wish to donate to them. These brats are coddled WAY too much. I am a minority and went to a top ten school using scholarships and working 2 and sometimes 3 jobs to pay for it. I would see these spoiled brats all the time. I remember getting fed up listening to them cry about how vile their parents were because they weren’t giving them the money they wanted so they could buy the booze for some party or some trip overseas. I spoke up and called them a disgrace and soft. I told them the real world is going to have its way with them once they are released from the shelter of college. I said they needed to grow a spine and a solid set and start taking care of themselves for once in their privileged lives. Before they could say a word to challenge what I said I told them how I came to be a student and what I am doing to support myself. Pointed out my family had no money to put me through school or even help me pay for it. than I asked them, “Do you ever hear ME complaining?” the look of embarrassment and shame on some of their faces was priceless.
  
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- seek.the.truth
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 5:52pm
  Searcher — Congratulations to you for your hard work and success! Thanks for being such a fine example to other young men and women. And thanks to your parents too! What a wonderful job they did.
  
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hatchetjob
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:28pm
Why doesn’t the Salvation Army have don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t make me sick?

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Centralsville
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:27pm
The young people of this country in our universities have been brainwashed to hate God and morality. It won’t be pretty living around these Godless people when our financial collapse comes. Maybe the God they don’t believe in is getting ready to crush the earth and all it’s evil inhabitants. When you look at the state of the world today it doesn’t look very far off.

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- CanadaRocks
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 5:34pm
  Or maybe they are smart enough to know that living your life based on a bunch of stories from a book written 2000 years ago is stupid.
  
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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:57pm
  Canadasucks – Since when have you leftists been smart enough to figure out that your ideology is never going to work no matter how many times it’s been tried?
  
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MrSunshine
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:25pm
We are looking at the degeneration of our society right before our eyes! MORONS!

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seek.the.truth
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:24pm
The Salvation Army helps many needy families where I live and I am certain they do not question your sexual orientation or your religious beliefs before dispensing help. That accusation is hogwash! Trying to silence the Christians again?

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Taquoshi
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:24pm
I’m amazed at how far afield these Berkley students have to go to remain relevant. They have the most active Offense of the Month Club going, outside of the NAACP.

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SacredHonor1776
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:22pm
“discrimination against queer people,”

I thought calling gays ‘queers’ was not politically correct? Hmm?

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- Eastinfection
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:33pm
  nope. they took it over and like it now.
  
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- SacredHonor1776
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:47pm
  Unless ‘conservatives’ say it eh?
  
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- Fubared
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 6:13pm
  Pantlodians, encinomoms, monicenes, jihad jerks, sillysallyrefresheners, so many names for them I get confused and just refer to them as angry any more. Just Angry will do…
  
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- Eastinfection
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 7:09pm
  C’mon FUBARED….
  
  JUSTANGRY has very little in common with the other fools you rattled off.
  
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IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:22pm
They must have been one of the kickback kids. Salvation Army is one of the best charity groups in the nation. We do not need a big government to control our donations. Prove that they have discriminated on anyone,

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mbean
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:20pm
Home of the weird and wacky, Obama would have loved this school.

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:20pm
The election of marxist obama has enabled the nutty left to come out of the woodwork in a full court press to stop religion. The Salvation Army is an American iconic charity network that does not push itself on anyone that I have heard of. Homosexuals are perverted in their beliefs and do not belong in Christian based organization. The idea that atheists, liberal trash, and homosexuals can thwart anything decent and upset what is right cannot keep going. We need to go to the steets.

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banjarmon
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:19pm
Bunch of ding-a-lings in Berkeley anyway!!

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- seek.the.truth
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 5:40pm
  Ha ha! Good one!
  
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Exidor
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 4:18pm
The name Berkeley pretty much sums it up…..

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- Jake Dog2
  Posted on December 6, 2012 at 6:59pm
  @ exidor
  You are right. The student government at the University of California-Berkeley (CAL what more need be said.
  
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