‘Our work makes way for us’: Samaritan’s Purse responds to criticism of same-sex marriage stance amid flood relief

More help is on the way for those affected by the Canada Day flooding, with organizations like the Red Cross and Samaritan’s House set to arrive.

As the City of Ottawa seeks to aid the thousands of residents affected by flooding following the Canada Day storms, one organization that has returned to the city to offer help is facing backlash from some politicians and community members.

Samaritan’s Purse is an evangelical Christian organization that provides volunteer-driven assistance to people experiencing natural disasters and other harmful events. It is upfront about its beliefs, saying on its website that it “serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.” It is led by U.S. evangelist Franklin Graham, the son of well-known evangelist and broadcaster Billy Graham.

The group was contacted last week to provide support to flooded residents. Samaritan’s Purse has previously aided residents affected by other recent disasters, such as the 2022 derecho and the 2018 tornadoes.

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Two Ottawa politicians, however, have criticized the presence of the group in the city. New Democrat MPP for Ottawa Centre Catherine McKenney posted to social media asking why Samaritan’s Purse was called in.

“Why are we importing a well known anti-queer organization into our city at a time when we are faced with growing homophobia and transphobia?” McKenney wrote.

“This is the same group that turned away queer volunteers during COVID. Franklin Graham is a raging homophobe. We can help residents without making many feel unsafe.”

At issue, is a “statement of faith” on the organization’s website that explicitly states that the organization believes, “marriage is exclusively the union of one genetic male and one genetic female.” According to its website, volunteers with its World Medical Mission are expected to agree to and sign the group’s statement of faith.

In early 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was first declared, Samaritan’s Purse set up a field hospital in New York City, but drew backlash over its anti-LGBTQ stance, including drawing criticism from New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, who called on the group to leave the city.

Ottawa city councillor for Somerset Ward, Ariel Troster, also called out the group.

“I have made it clear that I don’t believe it’s acceptable to welcome an organization that is 1) clearly homophobic and 2) has on multiple occasions rejected volunteers who don’t share their statement of faith. It would not be safe for my own family to accept help from this organization,” Troster wrote on Bluesky, in response to a post shared by Knoxdale-Merivale Ward Coun. Sean Devine, who said he toured the Samaritan’s Purse operations.

Devine defended the group’s presence in Ottawa, saying he appreciates residents’ concerns, but was told volunteers with Samaritan’s Purse would not be imposing their beliefs on others.

“Despite the statement of beliefs held by the organization, they do not impose or preach that belief onto others. Nor is there a barrier to participation, or support. As they have confirmed to me: everyone can serve with them, and they will serve everyone,” he said in response to several people.

“Anybody can serve with us”

Speaking on Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal, Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief manager Tammy Suitor said these criticisms are frequently raised, but she called them a “non-issue.”

“We have heard that before. You know what? This is our sixth time responding here in Ottawa, and I think our work makes way for us,” she said. “We serve anybody. Anybody can serve with us. We treat every person with the utmost care and respect, and so it really becomes a non-issue for us.”

Suitor says criticisms about the group’s faith-based mission are often raised before they arrive but tend to quiet once work begins.

“We’re here to help, and we’re here to help any individual that needs help. And so, we want to do our best at that. There’s a lot of people that that got flooded out, and there’s a lot of people that need a hand up, and so that’s the people we’re here to help.”

Suitor said the group arrived in Ottawa on Tuesday and has received a list of approximately 200 people from the City of Ottawa who need additional help.

“Our focus is on those vulnerabilities; so, people that are maybe elderly or don’t have the means, financially, or who, for whatever reason, insurance isn’t covering. Those are the people we are looking to serve and help.”

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The kinds of work the group will perform includes taking flood-damaged items to the curb, removing flooring, drywall and insulation, and other remediation measures, with the help of trained volunteer leads and other community volunteers.

Suitor said assessors are expected to start visiting homes Thursday afternoon, and teams of volunteers are expected to start arriving in neighbourhoods on Saturday.

On Wednesday, city council approved a raft of measures to assist flood-stricken residents, including waiving building permit and demolition fees, and approving a partnership with the Canadian Red Cross, which launched a donation drive on Thursday.