Samaritan's Purse Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! == Controversy == The organization has been criticized for requiring volunteers to sign a controversial Statement of Faith which disavows [[homosexuality]] and [[same-sex marriage]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Pallini |first=Thomas |title=The controversial charity setting up hospital tents in NYC uses a 51-year-old plane to transport COVID-19 supplies. Take a closer look at its DC-8. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/samaritans-purse-douglas-dc-8-humanitarian-aid-covid-19-photos-2020-4 |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=[[Business Insider]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The organization's board of directors, which includes his son, has also been criticized for the $661,000 yearly salary paid to Graham, which is 40β50% more than similar non-profit organizations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charity Navigator - Rating for Samaritan's Purse |url=https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/581437002 |access-date=2022-06-05 |website=www.charitynavigator.org |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Christine |last=Wicker |date=2015-08-18 |title=Why Franklin Graham's salary raises eyebrows among Christian nonprofits |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/why-franklin-grahams-salary-raises-eyebrows-among-christian-nonprofits/2015/08/18/023ce940-45f2-11e5-9f53-d1e3ddfd0cda_story.html |access-date=2022-06-05 |issn=0190-8286 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211209203053/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/why-franklin-grahams-salary-raises-eyebrows-among-christian-nonprofits/2015/08/18/023ce940-45f2-11e5-9f53-d1e3ddfd0cda_story.html |archive-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> In March 2001, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that Samaritan's Purse had "blurred the line between church and state" in the way it had distributed publicly funded aid to victims of the [[January 2001 El Salvador earthquake|January 2001]] and [[February 2001 El Salvador earthquake|February 2001]] El Salvador earthquakes. Residents from several villages stated they first had to sit through a half-hour prayer meeting before receiving assistance.<ref>{{Citation | title = U.S. Aids Conversion-Minded Quake Relief in El Salvador | newspaper = [[The New York Times]] | date = March 8, 2001 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/05/world/05SALV.html?pagewanted=1 | access-date =February 28, 2010 | first=David | last=Gonzalez }}</ref> In a statement, [[USAID]] said Samaritan's Purse had not violated federal guidelines, but emphasized the need for the organization to "maintain adequate and sufficient separation" between prayer sessions and publicly funded activities.<ref>{{Citation | last = Gonzalez | first = David | title = U.S. Cautions Group on Mixing Religion and Salvador Quake Aid | newspaper =[[The New York Times]] | date = March 5, 2001 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/08/world/us-cautions-group-on-mixing-religion-and-salvador-quake-aid.html?pagewanted=1 | access-date =February 28, 2010}}</ref> In 2003, Islamic leaders criticized Samaritan's Purse within the United Kingdom after its president, Franklin Graham, called [[Islam]] a "very evil and wicked religion",<ref>{{Cite web | last = Goodstein | first = Laurie | title = Top Evangelicals Critical Of Colleagues Over Islam | newspaper =[[The New York Times]] | date = May 8, 2003 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/08/us/top-evangelicals-critical-of-colleagues-over-islam.html | access-date =February 28, 2010}}</ref><ref name="guardian">{{Cite web | last = Muir | first = Hugh | title = Co-op cuts Christmas box link with US charity | newspaper = [[The Guardian]] | date = November 29, 2003 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/religion/Story/0,,1095809,00.html | access-date =February 28, 2010 | location=London}}</ref> leading to opposition campaigns by the Islamic leaders.<ref>{{Cite web | last = icWales | title = Red-faced MP dumps Islam-bashing charity | date = November 5, 2006 | url =http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/newspolitics/tm_headline=red-faced-mp-dumps-islam-bashing-charity&method=full&objectid=18048575&siteid=50082-name_page.html | access-date =February 28, 2010}}</ref> Samaritan's Purse responded to accusations of being anti-Islamic by highlighting their long history of non-denominational co-operation and charity work in Baghdad without attempting to preach or proselytize.<ref>{{Cite web | last = Vardy | first = David | title = Being good Samaritans | newspaper =[[TheGuardian.com|Guardian Unlimited]] | date = November 18, 2003 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/letters/story/0,,1087438,00.html | access-date =February 28, 2010 | location=London}}</ref> The Operation Christmas Child project has been criticized in several countries, most notably in the UK,<ref>{{Cite web | last = McCurry | first = Patrick | title = Presents imperfect | newspaper =[[The Guardian]] | date = December 18, 2002 | url = http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,,861580,00.html | access-date = August 29, 2017 | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | last = McGreal | first = Chris | title = Sarah Palin visits crisis-hit Haiti | newspaper =[[The Guardian]] | date = December 12, 2010 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/12/sarah-palin-haiti-visit | location=London}}</ref> but also in Ireland,<ref>{{Cite web | last = Healy | first = Alison | title = Christmas aid group rejects criticism | newspaper = [[The Irish Times]] | date = October 2009 | url = http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1008/1224256169304.html}}</ref> India<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/uncle-sam-may-be-indirectly-funding-religious-conversion-in-india-2176175.html|title=Uncle Sam may be indirectly funding religious conversion in India|work=Firstpost|date=27 March 2015}}</ref> and Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parents want Christian charity out of public schools |date=November 25, 2002 |url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2002/11/25/xmas_charity021125.html |publisher=[[CBC.ca]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416172910/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2002/11/25/xmas_charity021125.html |archive-date=April 16, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>{{By whom|date=April 2020}}{{Clarify|reason=|date=April 2020}} In the United States, Ibrahim Hooper of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has stated that such religion-and-relief groups are "using their position of power to try to persuade people to leave their faith."<ref>{{Cite web | last = Grossman | first = Lynn | title = Billy Graham's son takes the pulpit, his own way | newspaper = [[USA Today]] | date = March 2006 | url = https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-03-07-franklin-graham-cover_x.htm | access-date = August 29, 2017}}</ref> In 2003, The British supermarket chain [[The Co-operative Group|Co-op]] and [[South Wales Fire and Rescue Service|South Wales Fire Service]] both suspended their support for the project after numerous complaints about its religious connections.<ref name="guardian" /><ref name=bbcshoe /> Samaritan's Purse responded by stating that Christian literature was only handed out where its staff "deemed it appropriate".<ref name=bbcshoe>{{Cite web | last =[[BBC]] | title = Shoe box charity in religious row | date = October 23, 2003 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/3205495.stm | access-date = August 29, 2017 | publisher = [[BBC News Online]]}}</ref> Franklin Graham drew scrutiny in 2009 for drawing a full-time salary from Samaritan's Purse, while at the same time receiving a full-time salary from [[Billy Graham Evangelistic Association]] (BGEA). This was called into question after his 2008 compensation from both organizations totaled $1.2 million. (Most of this was the result of a new IRS rule that required him to re-report deferred retirement contributions that had already been reported over the previous three years.<ref>{{cite web|agency=Associated Press, File |url=http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2009/10/franklin_graham_moves_to_addre.html |title=Franklin Graham moves to address concerns about his $1.2 million pay packages |date=8 October 2009 |publisher=cleveland.com |access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref>) Some experts on non-profits have questioned whether one person can perform two full-time jobs leading organizations that employ hundreds and spend hundreds of millions around the world.<ref>{{Citation|first1=Tim |last1=Funk |first2=Ames |last2=Alexander |title=Franklin Graham's CEO pay draws experts' criticism |newspaper=[[Charlotte Observer]] |date=October 2009 |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2009/10/07/990049/franklin-grahams-ceo-pay-draws.html |access-date =March 1, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In response to the questions about his compensation, Graham decided to give up his salary from BGEA, stating his calling to the ministry "was never based on compensation." He also had contributions to his retirement plans suspended until the economy bounced back.<ref>{{cite web |last=Funk |first=Tim |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2009/10/11/135787/franklin-graham-gives-up-one-of.html |title=CHARLOTTE: Franklin Graham gives up one of two nonprofit salaries | Religion |publisher=[[News & Observer]] |access-date=August 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413133024/http://www.newsobserver.com/2009/10/11/135787/franklin-graham-gives-up-one-of.html |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> However, Graham was again criticized in 2015 when it was revealed he had again taken up his salary from BGEA, and that his annual compensation was significantly higher than that of the CEO's of similar but much larger non-profit organisations.<ref>{{cite web|author=Tim Funk, Ames Alexander |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/religion/article30505932.html |title=Franklin Graham takes pay he once gave up |publisher=The Charlotte Observer |date=August 8, 2015 |access-date=August 31, 2015}}</ref> In 2010, an American woman and two Sudanese men were kidnapped while working for Samaritan's Purse in [[Sudan]]. The two men were released promptly, but the woman was held for three months. Upon her return to the US, she sued Samaritan's Purse and their security contractor, Clayton Consultants, a hostage negotiation consultancy owned by [[Triple Canopy]], accusing the organization "of failing to train its security personnel adequately and of willfully ignoring warning signs that abductions were a threat to foreigners." The organization settled out of court in March 2012.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-newyork-kidnap-idUSTRE74I70A20110519 | work=[[Reuters]] | title=Darfur kidnapping victim sues aid group that sent her | date=May 19, 2011 |access-date=August 29, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Rix|first1=Matt|title=Perspectives: Standard of care rising for employees in threat elevated areas|url=http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/99999999/NEWS050108/130129797?tags=%7C333%7C69%7C70%7C71%7C339%7C83%7C84%7C88%7C92#|website=businessinsurance.com|publisher=Business Insurance|access-date=August 4, 2014 |date=January 29, 2013}}</ref> In May 2013 Franklin Graham wrote a letter to President Obama stating his concern that the [[IRS]] targeted Samaritan's Purse prior to the [[2012 United States presidential election]] with a partisan audit.<ref>{{cite web|author=John Boyle |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/16/franklin-graham-nonprofits-irs-audits/2165647/ |title=Graham says IRS targeted his non-profits with audits |publisher=[[USA Today]] |date=May 16, 2013 |access-date=August 10, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Franklin Graham |url=http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/05/politics/irs-graham-letter/ |title=Document: Graham writes Obama about IRS profiling |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=May 14, 2013 |access-date=August 17, 2021}}</ref> In August 2013, [[Thankyou (company)|Thankyou Group]] announced that it would no longer support Samaritan's Purse because it is not a signatory to the code of conduct run by the [[Australian Council for International Development]], which bans aid as a vehicle for promoting religion or political groups.<ref name=tsmh>{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/fundraiser-thankyou-water-drops-support-for-evangelical-group-20130820-2s987.html |title=Fund-raiser Thankyou Water drops support for evangelical group |last1=Battersby |first1=Lucy |date=20 August 2013 |publisher=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |access-date=16 November 2017}}</ref> In October 2014, Samaritan's Purse threatened legal action in the UK against the posters of online comments on the discussion forum [[Mumsnet]]. The resultant letters prompted one of the busiest discussions on the site's "Am I being Unreasonable ?" forum.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Legal News |page=13 |newspaper=Private Eye |location=London |date=October 17, 2014}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page