Q. I would like to join the YMCA for the sole purpose of participating in water exercises. Is it okay to pay membership fees to the YMCA?
A. From what I can gather, membership in the YMCA appears to have no moral difficulties because of advocacy issues.
YMCA is an acronym for the Young Men’s Christian Association. It is a worldwide organization with more than 58 million beneficiaries from 125 national associations. It was founded in 1844 in London and aims to put Christian principles into practice by developing a healthy “body, mind, and spirit.”
From the YMCA’s web site, “the goal of the YMCA” is to “strengthen communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.” Each location supports a neighborhood, so in the YMCA’s terms the YMCA serves, or is anchored in, about 10,000 communities in the United States.
The YMCA’s major programs include after school programs, daycare programs, and physical fitness. Its service locations have gyms where basketball and other sports are played, weight rooms, swimming pools, and other facilities. It is important to the YMCA that all persons— “regardless of age, income or background”—can participate in their programs. The YMCA also hosts community meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous and serves as polling places for voting.
Thus, from what I can determine, membership in the YMCA seems to be okay. Thanks for the question.
This question was answered by a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
