Faith Leaders Call on Wal-Mart to "Change for the Better"

Faith Leaders Call on Wal-Mart to "Change for the Better"

Leaders of faith representing over 1.3 million Americans have joined WakeUpWalMart.com in a nationwide initiative to call on Wal-Mart and CEO Lee Scott to "change for the better" this Holiday season. As part of this faith-based effort, 65 respected faith-based leaders signed a joint letter to Lee Scott, CEO of Wal-Mart, which states "in the shared spirit of the holiday season, we call on Wal-Mart to change, to become better, and to embrace the best of American values." The letter to Lee Scott is part of a new faith-based grassroots and multimedia campaign, named "Light a Candle for Change," launched by WakeUpWalMart.com. more...

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"Out of our religious heritage comes the recognition that we are not allowed to deprive people of their God-given right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In this respect the Wal-Mart form of business represents plantation capitalism; the few become very wealthy and the many become poorer," stated Reverend James Lawson of Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, CA.

According to MSNBC, Wal-Mart Chief Executive Lee Scott responded within hours with his own letter laying out what he called Wal-Mart's positive contributions — saving working families money, providing jobs and supporting charities.

"For that reason, we will not be deterred from our mission, despite misleading statements from paid critics whose motives are less than pure," Scott wrote.

"Wal-Mart will continue to do those things that we believe are right for our customers, associates and communities: helping people put food on the table and clothes on their backs; providing good benefits, providing career opportunity, and being a good citizen in the towns we serve," Scott added.