Civil Liberties Group Sues Salvation Army

Longtime current and former Salvation Army employees sued the organization famous for its red Christmas kettles yesterday, charging the government-funded group preached religious and sexual intolerance to its staff.
The workers accused the Salvation Army of creating a hostile work environment for about 600 employees who provide social services for more than 2,000 children in New York state. The charitable organization required current and future job holders to pledge to preach the gospel, to identify their church affiliation and to authorize their religious leaders to reveal private information to the Salvation Army, according to the lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union's New York chapter.

The Salvation Army did not immediately return a telephone message for comment.

Martin Garbus, a lawyer for 18 plaintiffs, called it "one of the most important cases in the country," saying it exposes how President George W. Bush's faith-based initiative program blurs the constitutionally mandated separation of church and state. Mr. Garbus predicted the case would ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, agreed that the case would "help shape the future of religious freedom across the country." She said the case was not about the right of the Salvation Army to promote its religion. But they cannot do it with government money, she said.

The organization receives $89 million, the bulk of its funding for child care, from the government.

I found this article in the LegalTrac database. The article highlights one of the more controversial subjects of the GW Bush presidency; the separation of church and state. According to the article, “The charitable organization required current and future job holders to pledge to preach the gospel, to identify their church affiliation and to authorize their religious leaders to reveal private information to the Salvation Army”. This would not be a problem for a private charitable organization, but the Salvation Army accepts around $89 million of government money every year. The lawsuit was originally filed in 2004 and is expected to be heard by the United States Supreme Court.

Source Citation:"Civil Liberties Group Sues Salvation Army." New York Law Journal 231 (Feb 25, 2004): NA. LegalTrac. Gale. BCR Regis University. 12 Apr. 2009 http://find.galegroup.com.dml.regis.edu/itx/start.do?prodId=LT