Soup Kitchen Invites Everyone to Volunteer Unless You’re an Atheist

[Archaeopteryx]

Soup Kitchen Invites Everyone to Volunteer… Unless You’re an Atheist | Mediaite

If someone wants to volunteer to help the needy, why wouldn’t you welcome them in? Well, the group Upstate Atheists attempted to volunteer for the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen but were turned away because… they’re atheists. And in case the turndown wasn’t clear enough, the director of the soup kitchen said atheists are banned from joining them.

 

[freezerman2000]

If they don't get gov. funding,that is their prerogative..

 

[Archaeopteryx]

If they don't get gov. funding,that is their prerogative..

Yes, they have the right to refuse, there's no question about it. But why would they? This a group of people who want to help.

 

[freezerman2000]

On that,I have no idea..I'd be welcoming them with open arms..sometimes volunteers are hard to come by..Why look a gift horse in the mouth?

 

[kermit]

My new minister was telling me about a food bank in old town that banned non-Christians from volunteering. This case was particularly odd since the food bank was founded by the local synagogue and the building was donated by a Jew. Apparently, in private conversations with the pastor who run the food bank the problem isn't Jews, he's trying to prevent local Muslims from helping.

Stories like the OP rarely make the news, but talk to anyone in the clergy and you'll quickly find that it's common place.

 

[kermit]

On that,I have no idea..I'd be welcoming them with open arms..sometimes volunteers are hard to come by..Why look a gift horse in the mouth?

Not only are volunteers hard to come by, but so are donations. If you exclude people from volunteering they certainly aren't going to donate.

Excluding volunteers for some perceived principles is like cutting your nose to spite your face.

BTW, my wife helps to run a local ecumenical food bank that accepts all volunteers and donations and does not put any faith requirements on the people recieving help.

 

[Dusky Mouse]

Anyone found this story in a mainstream media source?

How does this qualify as a "Politics" report and not News and Current Events?

 

[Archaeopteryx]

South Carolina soup kitchen refuses to allow atheists to volunteer | The Raw Story

 

[AirPo]

Anyone found this story in a mainstream media source?

How does this qualify as a "Politics" report and not News and Current Events?

Because there's nothing new about people being hungry.

 

[JCSr]

Anyone found this story in a mainstream media source?

How does this qualify as a "Politics" report and not News and Current Events?

It qualifies as 'politics' just as much as discussing home schoolers rights or a couple denying gays equal access.

 

[TLK Valentine]

Yes, they have the right to refuse, there's no question about it. But why would they? This a group of people who want to help.

Unless "helping" is incidental -- a means to an end.

They want credit for helping to go to themselves, not some nasty, nasty atheists.

 

[MachZer0]

Yes, they have the right to refuse, there's no question about it. But why would they? This a group of people who want to help.

That was explained: “This is a ministry to serve God” she said. “We stand on the principles of God..."

 

[AirPo]

That was explained: “This is a ministry to serve God” she said. “We stand on the principles of God..."

Feeding the hungry isn't a principle of god?

 

[TLK Valentine]

That was explained: “This is a ministry to serve God” she said. “We stand on the principles of God..."

So why bother feeding people? What's the point?

 

[trunks2k]

That was explained: “This is a ministry to serve God” she said. “We stand on the principles of God..."

Didn't know it was a principle of God to not let people of different faiths (or lack thereof) help you assist the needy.

 

[TLK Valentine]

Didn't know it was a principle of God to not let people of different faiths (or lack thereof) help you assist the needy.

Apparently it's a principle of God to sabotage other people's attempts to assist the needy.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

That was explained: “This is a ministry to serve God” she said. “We stand on the principles of God..."

Nothing prevents her from "serving God" while alongside atheists.

 

[Paulos23]

That was explained: “This is a ministry to serve God” she said. “We stand on the principles of God..."

Then why even bother to feed the poor?

My mother helped run a food bank and always accepted help from whoever would volunteer or give donations, dispite what the sponser church said. Relying on just one church is to small of a pool of people to get enough people and money to feed people.

As she has said: "People need help, does it matter what the helpers believe?"

 

[JCSr]

That was explained: “This is a ministry to serve God” she said. “We stand on the principles of God..."

The ministry wasn't serving God, they were serving the homeless and hungry!


No wonder why they are so confused which led to making stupid decisions which will be defended here.

 

[trunks2k]

My mother helped run a food bank and always excepted help from whoever would volinter or give donations, dispite what the sponser church said.

Nit pick: "accepted" not "excepted". Wouldn't normally bother pointing that out, but "excepted" fundamentally changes what you meant to say.