Leaders from the faith community led a candlelight vigil Sunday night to call on Wal-Mart to "change for the better" this holiday season.
The vigil, held outside the Wal-Mart store on University Ave. in St. Paul, was one of many held across the nation in the "Light a Candle for Change" campaign launched by www.WakeUpWalMart.com
"We're living a modern 'Christmas Carol' here in America," said the Rev. Grant Stevensen, pastor of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in St. Paul. "There's Scrooge and Bob Cratchit and little Timmy who needs care. We've got that going on right now with the largest retailer in the United States."
Wal-Mart, America's largest employer, fails to provide adequate wages and benefits for its employees, the religious leaders said.
"This is obviously a moral issue," said the Rev. Bill Bulson of Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in St. Paul. "As a religious leader, what I know is, when you have a billion dollar corporation where employees depend on public assistance, something's not right."
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| Bundled up against the cold, several people took part in a candlelight vigil Sunday evening at the St. Paul Wal-Mart. Union Advocate photo |
At the end of the vigil, Stevensen and Bulson led a group into the store to present a letter to the manager. The letter, addressed to Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott, was signed by 65 religious leaders from across the nation.
"Jesus would not embrace Wal-Mart's values of greed and profits at any cost, particularly when children suffer as a result of those misguided values," the letter read, in part. "Wal-Mart can become, if you and the Walton Family so choose, a leading example of moral greatness in corporate America. You have the power to change and set an example that would truly honor and reflect the call of all faith traditions to righteousness and justice."
For more information
Visit the Wake Up Wal-Mart website, www.WakeUpWalMart.com
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Leaders from the faith community led a candlelight vigil Sunday night to call on Wal-Mart to “change for the better” this holiday season.
The vigil, held outside the Wal-Mart store on University Ave. in St. Paul, was one of many held across the nation in the “Light a Candle for Change” campaign launched by www.WakeUpWalMart.com
“We’re living a modern ‘Christmas Carol’ here in America,” said the Rev. Grant Stevensen, pastor of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in St. Paul. “There’s Scrooge and Bob Cratchit and little Timmy who needs care. We’ve got that going on right now with the largest retailer in the United States.”
Wal-Mart, America’s largest employer, fails to provide adequate wages and benefits for its employees, the religious leaders said.
“This is obviously a moral issue,” said the Rev. Bill Bulson of Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in St. Paul. “As a religious leader, what I know is, when you have a billion dollar corporation where employees depend on public assistance, something’s not right.”
|
| Bundled up against the cold, several people took part in a candlelight vigil Sunday evening at the St. Paul Wal-Mart.
Union Advocate photo |
At the end of the vigil, Stevensen and Bulson led a group into the store to present a letter to the manager. The letter, addressed to Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott, was signed by 65 religious leaders from across the nation.
“Jesus would not embrace Wal-Mart’s values of greed and profits at any cost, particularly when children suffer as a result of those misguided values,” the letter read, in part. “Wal-Mart can become, if you and the Walton Family so choose, a leading example of moral greatness in corporate America. You have the power to change and set an example that would truly honor and reflect the call of all faith traditions to righteousness and justice.”
For more information
Visit the Wake Up Wal-Mart website, www.WakeUpWalMart.com