By Mariel S. Clark
DNAinfo News Editor
MANHATTAN — The Salvation Army has agreed to make sure its volunteers don't force religion on the recipients of its government-funded services as part of a lawsuit settlement, the New York Civil Liberties Union announced Wednesday.
The NYCLU filed a lawsuit against the Salvation Army in 2004 alleging the organization was violating the division of church and state by requiring workers disclose how often they attend church, along with their religious affiliations and sign an endorsement of the Salvation Army's mission to "preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
Now, to settle the longstanding suit, government agencies, including New York City Administration for Children Services and the state Department of Health, have been tasked with monitoring and reporting on the Salvation Army's compliance.
“This agreement protects the religious freedom of all New Yorkers who rely on faith-based organizations for crucial government-funded social services,” said NYCLU executive director Donna Lieberman in a statement.
“Our taxpayer money shouldn’t support religious indoctrination of anyone – particularly children. And no one should be subject to proselytizing because they need foster care, adoption, childcare or HIV services.
The monitoring was designed to ensure that recipients of the Salvation Army's social services are not discriminated against because of their religious beliefs.
“Religious organizations such as The Salvation Army have played a historic role in the provision of social services programs for the community," said NYCLU legal director Arthur Eisenberg in a statement.
"But however well-meaning, when religious organizations use government money to administer these services, there is a risk that the services will be tailored to meet religious principles.”
The Salvation Army is a church, but separated its religious arm from its social services arm allowing it to receive government funds.
In 2003 the Salvation Army broke down the separation between the two arms and began to insert greater religious control over the social services, according to the NYCLU's lawsuit.
As part of the settlement, The NYCLU will receive regular reports from the government agencies regarding the Salvation Army’s observance of the agreement and for two years a federal court will maintain jurisdiction over the settlement to make sure it's enforced.
