'Twas the fight before Christmas
By Suzanne Bowdey
December 17, 2005

If you're wondering what tops Santa's list this year, try job security. Despite the "clause" in his contract, St. Nick could fall victim to Corporate America's newest Ebenezer: holiday pluralism. And what's worse, with Christ on the outs and "X-Mas" on thin ice, charities may suffer their worse yuletide to date. This year, the war for goodwill has enlisted new troops: the Salvation Army and Religious Right.

In the bulls-eye of this holiday controversy (which is as old as the season itself) is Target Corporation, one of the country's largest retailers. Religious activists are up in arms about the company's decision to ban the Salvation Army from soliciting on its premises. The charity was ordered to stop ringing its bells at collection kettles, citing, "an increasing number of inquiries from nonprofit organizations . . . to open its doors to other groups that wish to solicit."
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