Reports: Salvation Army backs off domestic partner benefits

Conservative organizations are reporting the Salvation Army has dropped plans to extend benefits beyond employees' spouses and children. "We are pleased to see the Salvation Army reclaim its biblical standard of morality and reaffirm the importance of marriage and the family," says a press release from the Family Research Council. The American Family Association issued an "Action Alert" on the change in the change in policy—just hours after it sent out an "Action Alert" attacking the Salvation Army. "We are extremely happy that The Salvation Army has rescinded this policy, because it had caused great confusion and consternation within the Christian community in the United States," wrote AFA president Don Wildmon.

In today's Focus on the Family broadcast (listen), James Dobson gives more details, reporting that "the leaders of the Salvation Army met for four hours by telephone yesterday, Monday" before rescinding the decision. He then extensively quoted from a Salvation Army memo not yet available on the Web:

My fellow officers, In followup to my letter of November 8, 2001, I want to thank many of you for your letters and response offering commentary and opinion as well as your personal concerns and questions and those of soldiers, advisory organization members, as well as donors and the general public. The issue has, more than any other in recent history, caused the Salvation Army in the USA to seek unity of mind and spirit and has received both internal and external challenge. … This review has resulted in the rescinding of the policy statement "Contracts for government funding, employment provisions." Today, November 12, 2001, the Commissioners' Conference ...