World Vision won't hire married gay Christians after all
Thu. March 27, 2014 10:02 AM by Carlos Santoscoy
HRC issues statement on World Vision reversing course on employment policies
World Vision U.S. on Wednesday said that it will not hire married gay Christians after all.
"The board acknowledged it made a mistake and chose to revert to our longstanding policy requiring sexual abstinence for all single employees and faithfulness within the Biblical covenant of marriage between one man and one woman," the Evangelical Christian charity said in a statement. "We are brokenhearted over the pain and confusion we have caused many of our friends, who saw this decision as a reversal of our strong commitment to Biblical authority."
World Vision announced the policy change on Monday. Christian conservatives opposed to gay rights immediately criticized the move.
Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham and the president of the charity Samaritan's Purse, said that he was "sickened" by the news, while Bryan Fischer of the Christian conservative American Family Association (AFA) said that World Vision had abandoned "morality."
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"At a time when people are losing their lives around the globe simply for being who they are, such a reversal is not just sad but is sends a potentially catastrophic message. The Gospel calls on us to stand with the marginalized wherever they are. Many of the poorest people around the globe who World Vision serves are doubly marginalized because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. At a time when Pope Francis is asking, "Who am I to Judge?" World Vision has decided they can judge with impunity and at great cost to those who need them the most."
"The board acknowledged it made a mistake and chose to revert to our longstanding policy requiring sexual abstinence for all single employees and faithfulness within the Biblical covenant of marriage between one man and one woman," the Evangelical Christian charity said in a statement. "We are brokenhearted over the pain and confusion we have caused many of our friends, who saw this decision as a reversal of our strong commitment to Biblical authority."
World Vision announced the policy change on Monday. Christian conservatives opposed to gay rights immediately criticized the move.
Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham and the president of the charity Samaritan's Purse, said that he was "sickened" by the news, while Bryan Fischer of the Christian conservative American Family Association (AFA) said that World Vision had abandoned "morality."
(Related:
"At a time when people are losing their lives around the globe simply for being who they are, such a reversal is not just sad but is sends a potentially catastrophic message. The Gospel calls on us to stand with the marginalized wherever they are. Many of the poorest people around the globe who World Vision serves are doubly marginalized because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. At a time when Pope Francis is asking, "Who am I to Judge?" World Vision has decided they can judge with impunity and at great cost to those who need them the most."
Article provided in partnership with On Top Magazine