An evangelical humanitarian group operating a field hospital in New York City’s Central Park says it is not administering a faith test among volunteers battling the coronavirus outbreak.
“Our doors at the Emergency Hospital in the East Meadow are going to be open to all New Yorkers who need our help,” Samaritan’s Purse said Wednesday in an email. “We are here to save life, which is precious in God’s sight — and we do it all in Jesus’ Name.”
The evangelical group, whose president is the Rev. Franklin Graham, is operating a 68-bed field hospital in Central Park in response to a shortage of space and materials at city hospitals amid the coronavirus pandemic. A spokeswoman said Samaritan’s Purse hires “Christians who share our statement of faith.”
A spokesman for Sinai Hospital, which is overseeing Samaritan’s Purse’s operations in the park, said the hospital’s non-discrimination policy applies to all its facilities.
“During this pandemic, we remain singularly focused on providing care for all New Yorkers, and these tents will help us provide care,” said a hospital spokesman.
On Monday, the Gothamist, a website covering New York City, ran an article about Samaritan’s Purse headlined “Group Behind Central Park Coronavirus Tent Hospital Asks Volunteers to Support Anti-Gay Agenda.”
• Christopher Vondracek can be reached at cvondracek@washingtontimes.com.
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