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Christian Groups Protest Wal-Mart Support for Homosexuality, Abortifacient Birth Control

By Gudrun Schultz

BENTONVILLE, Arkansas, December 18, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Christian organizations have continued to challenge Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on the organization’s affiliation with homosexual groups, the Morning News reported Saturday, as demonstrators protested the retailer’s partnership with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce on Friday.

Led by pastor Flip Benham, founder of Operation Save America (OSA), around 35 protestors demonstrated in front of the corporation’s head office and Supercenter in Bentonville.

In a news release last week, the OSA said it was opposed to Wal-Mart’s participation in the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and the retailer’s decision to carry the abortifacient “morning-after pill.”

"Wal-Mart has been blackmailed by the radical homosexual agenda and the abortion industry. Rather than honoring God, Wal-Mart is now promoting homosexual sodomy and the killing of His children," Rev. Benham said in the news release, accusing Wal-Mart of abandoning the principles of the corporation’s founder, Sam Walton.

"Mr. Sam would never had allowed this to happen in his store," he said

Rev. Benham called Wal-Mart’s top officials “arrogant,” saying they refused to meet with the demonstrators.

"They're just a little different over there. They're arrogant and unconcerned," he said. "We tried to arrange a meeting with them a week before last, but they said everybody's too busy. We're Wal-Mart customers. They love us when we come in to spend money, but when we come to confront them over the sin they're promoting ... they're quite arrogant," Benham said.

Sharon Weber, Wal-Mart spokesperson, responded to the protest by saying, “Everyone has their own opinions and our focus is on serving our customers.”

"Just as importantly, respect for the individual is one of the core values that has made us into the company we are today. We take pride in the fact that we treat every customer, every supplier and every member of our individual communities fairly and equally," Weber said.

A second protest against Wake-Up was held by the Washington-based group Wake-Up Wal-Mart, which held candlelight prayer vigils in multiple cities Friday protesting Wal-Mart’s wages and benefits policy.

Wal-Mart officials announced last month that the company would no longer use corporate money to “support or oppose highly controversial issues” after pro-family groups protested the retail giant’s financial support of homosexual activist organizations, and the retailer’s recent promotion of material for sale encouraging teen lesbianism.

“Wal-Mart will not make corporate contributions to support or oppose highly controversial issues unless they directly relate to our ability to serve our customers,” the announcement stated.

The corporation said it intended to be faithful to the statement of founder Sam Walton, who said, “Each Wal-Mart store should reflect the values of its customers and support the vision they hold for their community.”

LifeSiteNews.com coverage of an advertisement on Wal-Mart’s website promoting a  graphic sex-ed manual on lesbianism for teenage girls led to an onslaught of protests against the corporation by readers and pro-family groups. Days later the material was  pulled from the company’s website.

See coverage by The Morning News:
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2006/12/16/business/121606wmprotest.txt

See related LifeSiteNews coverage:

Wal-Mart: No More Corporate Contributions to Support Or Oppose Controversial Issues
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/nov/06112205.html

Wal-Mart Hits Teens with Gay Porn How-To Manual
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/nov/06111507.html

Wal-Mart Drops Gay Sex How-To Manual for Teens after LifeSiteNews.com Expose
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/nov/06111703.html

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