Man demands Salvation Army bell ringer leave Brea post office

So people are calling him a grinch. Brea's mayor says he's wrong. But the man who demanded that the Salvation Army bell ringer be removed from outside a Brea post office tells the O.C. Register there is a principle involved: separating church and state. More:

The man who prompted the U.S. Postal Service to shoo away Salvation Army bell ringers says he just wants the law obeyed.

Postal Service regulations prohibit any organization from soliciting on its properties. But Salvation Army bell ringers had been allowed to become a mainstay in front of the Brea post office during the holidays for 25-plus years.

On Nov. 24, when Sean Thomas saw the iconic bell ringers at the Birch Street post office –- staffed by employees of the Evangelical Christian Credit Union -– he decided to speak up. The Salvation Army is Christian-based.

"How can we have a church set up a collection facility in front of a federal building?" the 65-year-old Brea resident said.

The bell ringer has moved to outside the Brea Mall.

--Shelby Grad

Comments

[Haley]

It is disappointing to read such an article. Has America lost it's focus? Our country has been blessed and we as the people should support causes that help Americans. It is not a matter a seperation of church and state. Why does it matter whether it is a Christian orginization? It is helping people around the world. Many people are hurting and in need. Why not ask the people that are hurting and waiting for help, whether they care about separation of church and state? All those people can think about is "Please stop my pain, meet my need."
Separation of church and state was not created to bind religious organizations but to allow true religious freedom without government control. It is so sad to read that someone says it is based on principle. Helping people is what is important.