Religious Leaders Condemn $82 Billion for War

[Sapphire Blue]

From a UFPJ email...

RELIGIOUS LEADERS CONDEMN $82 BILLION WAR BILL
Clergy and Laity Concerned About Iraq releases open letter

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/faith

Last week, in a sad and outrageous sign of this country's appalling priorities, President Bush signed into law the $82 billion supplemental war appropriations bill, providing ongoing funding for the U.S. military occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. The measure also includes the viciously anti-immigrant Real ID Act, which will strip immigrants of many basic protections.

To highlight the immorality of the $82 billion appropriation, Clergy and Laity Concerned About Iraq (CALC-I) is circulating the following open letter, signed by more than 70 prominent leaders from different denominations and religions. This is the first time since before the Iraq war began that so many religious leaders have issued a public statement opposing the Bush administration's Iraq policies.

CALC-I is a national coordinating body for over 150 religious institutions and faith based groups working to end the war and occupation in Iraq. Housed within United for Peace and Justice, CALC-I encourages your participation. For more information about CALC-I, visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org/faith Religious leaders who would like to join the list of signers to the open letter should contact Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, the National Coordinator of Clergy and Laity Concerned about Iraq, at [e-mail]

An Open Letter to the President of the United States and U.S. Congress

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2845

[LittleClarkie]

1. psssst... those aren't real religous people

They appear to be leftists. And everyone knows that the left is secular.

They must be faking it or something. :sarcasm:

[NNN0LHI]

2. Chimp will send them some more faith based cash and they will STFU n/t

[FloridaPat]

3. Too little too late. Where where these guys when the runup to the

invasion was going on? Where were these guys during the last election or anytime the last 2 years. Now their concerned?

[Sapphire Blue]

7. The Open Letter

An excerpt...

First, our nation entered into the war on false pretense and fear and violated international law. Religious leaders from every faith tradition opposed the preemptive war on the people of Iraq because of half-truths, our administration's haste to make war, and the reckless abandonment of democratic processes. The facts remain clear and evidential. After over two years, there has been no discovery of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and there was no Iraqi connection to the terrorist attacks of September 11th.

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2845

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

4. Lemme guess- Pat "Don't rapture me, I'm rich" Robertson is

their leader-- NOT.

[Disturbed]

5. On top of the $82 Billion...

another $50 Billion has been requested. Will the Dems fall in line for the extra $50....Billion?

[Sapphire Blue]

6. Clergy & Laity Network

Clergy & Laity Network

http://www.clnnlc.org/


NATIONAL COMMITTEE

1. Rev. Dr. Charles G. Adams: Detroit, Michigan; Progressive National Baptist Convention; Senior Minister, Hartford Memorial Baptist Church.

2. Rev. Dr. Douglass M. Bailey: Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Executive Director of the Center for Urban Ministry, Inc.; Assistant Professor of Urban Ministry B.A., Wake Forest University.

3. Rabbi Leonard Beerman: Los Angeles, CA; retired Rabbi of Leo Baeck Temple; former president of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California and the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis; former vice president of Jewish Peace Fellowship.

4. Bishop Cecil Bishop: Charlotte, NC; African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ); Presiding Bishop, Piedmont Episcopal District and Jamaica Conference; Vice-president, North American Section, World Methodist Conference.

5. Bishop E. Lynn Brown: Cincinnati, OH; Christian Methodist Episcopal Church; Presiding Bishop, Second District; ecumenical leader in Ohio, Kentucky and other areas withing his jurisdiction.

6. Rev. Dr. John A Buehrens: Needham, MA; Unitarian Universalist Association; Senior Minister, First Parish in Needham, UU; Past President, Unitarian Universalist Association.

7. Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia: Columbus, OH; research scientist at Ohio State University; member of Ohio Bicentennial Religious Experience Advisory Council, Interfaith Association of Central Ohio, North American Interfaith Network, Religions for Peace-USA, Interfaith Center for Peace, and Faith Communities Uniting for Peace.

8. Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell: Cleveland, OH; Christian Church/Disciples of Christ and American Baptist Church; Director, Department of Religion, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY; Chair, The Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious Leaders; Founding Board, The Interfaith Alliance; former General Secretary, National Council of Churches.

9. Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB: Erie. PA; Roman Catholic Church; Author and Lecturer; Executive Director, Benetvision; Co-Chair, The Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious Leaders.

10. Rev. Dr. William Sloane Coffin: Strafford, VT; Presbyterian Church USA; former Senior Minister, The Riverside Church, New York; former Chaplain, Yale University; President Emeritus, SANE-FREEZE.

11. Rev. Dr. James M. Dunn: Washington, DC, and Winston-Salem, NC; Baptist Church; Professor, The Divinity School of Wake Forest University; former Executive Director, Baptist Joint Committee, Washington.

12. Rev. Dr. Thom White Wolf Fassett: Rochester, NY; United Methodist Church (UMC); General Secretary Emeritus, General Board of Church and Society (UMC), Washington; currently serving as District Superintendent, North Central New York Annual Conference.

13. Rev. Dr. Robert M. Franklin: Atlanta, GA; Church of God in Christ; Professor, Emory University; former Program Officer, Ford Foundation; former President, Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta.

14. Bishop William Boyd Grove: Charleston, WV; United Methodist Church; Bishop (ret.), having served the West Virginia Episcopal Area and the Albany (NY) Episcopal Area; former Ecumenical Officer, Council of Bishops, and former President, General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.

15. Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg: Newark, NJ; Bronfman Visiting Professor of the Humanities, New York University; former Moderator, Union of American Hebrew Congregations; Author and Lecturer.

16. Dr. Susannah Heschel: Hanover, NH; Professor of Jewish Studies, Dartmouth College; author of Abraham Geiger and the Jewish Jesus; and co-chair, with Michael Lerner and Cornel West, of the Tikkun Community.

17. Rev. Dr. Joseph C. (Joe) Hough: President, Union Theological Seminary (NY).

18. Rev. Dr. George Hunter: Wilmore, KY; United Methodist Church, Distinguished Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth, Asbury Theological Seminary.

19. Rev. Dr. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.: Chicago, IL; Baptist; President, Rainbow PUSH Coalition; Radio/TV personality; Social Justice Activist and widely recognized national leader.

20. Rabbi Steven Jacobs: Woodland Hills, CA; Jewish; Senior Rabbi, Kol Tikvah Temple; Recipient, Walter Cronkite Faith and Freedom Award; long actively involved in social, racial, human and labor rights; a leader in interfaith dialogue.

21. Dr. Nazir Khaja: Los Angeles, CA; Muslim; Physician; Chair, Islamic Information Service ; President, American Muslim Council; Leader in the Islamic community in Los Angeles.

22. Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon: Webster Grove, MO; Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Allen and Dottie Miller Professor of Mission and Peace, Eden Theological Seminary; Former Dean and Professor of Ecumenical Studies, Lexington Theological Seminary; Former General Secretary for the Consultation on Church Union; Former Staff, World Council of Churches.

23. Rabbi Peter S. Knobel: Evanston, IL; Congregation Beth Emet The Free Synagogue; past president of the Chicago Board of Rabbis and the Chicago Association of Reform Rabbis.

24. Rabbi Douglas Krantz, Pesach: Armonk, NY; Congregation B'nai Yisrael; APN Board Member; Voices in the Wilderness exchange in Iraq.

25. Bishop Nathaniel Linsey: Fayetteville (Atlanta). GA; Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME); Senior Bishop (ret.); former Member, General Board, National Council of Churches.

26. Bishop Marshall (Jack) Meadors: Anderson, SC; United Methodist; Bishop (ret.), most recently in the Episcopal area of Mississippi; Bishop-in-Residence, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.

27. Rabbi Jack Moline: Alexandria, VA; Agudas Achim Congregation; Board of Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Board of The Interfaith Alliance, Officer of Alexandria Interfaith Association, honorary board of Operation Understanding DC. Author of Growing Up Jewish and Jewish Leadership and Heroism.

28. Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr.: Cleveland, OH; Progressive National Baptist Convention; Senior Minister, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, Cleveland; Chair, Board of Trustees, Morehouse College, Atlanta.

29. Rev. Dr. Albert M. Pennybacker: Lexington, KY; Christian Church/Disciples of Christ; Consultant, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations; former Senior Minister, University Christian Church, Ft. Worth, TX; former Associate General Secretary for Public Policy, National Council of Churches, and Director of its Washington Office; former President, The Interfaith Alliance.

30. Rev. Dr. George Regas: Pasadena, CA; Episcopal Church; Executive Director, Regas Institute; Rector Emeritus, All Saints Episcopal Church, Pasadena.

31. Rev. Dr. Rollin O. Russell: Lancaster, PA; United Church of Christ; Professor (ret.), Lancaster Theological Seminary; former Conference Minister, Southern Conference, UCC; former President, North Carolina Council of Churches.

32. Rev. Dr. Paul H. Sherry: Cleveland, OH; United Church of Christ; Consultant, Center for Community Change, New York; Officer, National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice; former President, United Church of Christ; former Director, Community Renewal Society, Chicago.

33. Rev. Dr. Frederick (Jerry) Streets: New Haven, CT; Baptist; Chaplain, Yale University; Pastor, Battell Chapel, Team member, Harvard University Program in Refugee Trauma, implementing in conjunction with the mental health community of Bosnia and Herzegovina a model of psychiatric and pastoral care of those traumatized by war.

34. Rabbi Arthur Waskow: Philadelphia, PA; founder and director of The Shalom Center; author of the original Freedom Seder, Godwrestling?Round 2, and many other books on Jewish spiritual practice, US race relations and public policy; named "Wisdom Keeper" by the United Nations; recipient of the Abraham Joshua Heschel Award by the Jewish Peace Fellowship.

35. Bishop C. Dale White: Newport, RI; United Methodist Church; Bishop (ret.), having served in several Episcopal areas; widely respected for leadership in developing the "In Defense of Creation" document; former staff, General Board of Church and Society; doctoral degree in Social Ethics.

36. Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Zikmund: Rockville, MD; United Church of Christ; Professor, Graduate School of American Studies, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan; Chair, Interfaith Relations Committee, National Council of Churches; former President, Hartford Seminary, Hartford, CT; former Dean, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA; former President, Association of Theological Schools.

Regional Participants (to date):
1. Ohio (Indiana): Rev. Dr. C. Edward Weisheimer, Christian Church/ Disciples of Christ
2. Florida: Rev. Dr. William Brockman, United Methodist Church
3. Texas: Rabbi Sam Stahl, Union of American Hebrew Congregations
4. Illinois: Rev. Dr. B. Lynn Cheyney, Community Churches (Presbyterian)
5. South Carolina: Bishop (ret.) Frederick C. James, African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME)

http://www.clnnlc.org/committee.html

[GetTheRightVote]

8. I only wish statements like this came out sooner, but better late

then never .......

:kick:

[rodeodance]

9. they talk of the immorality of this spending--which is a good framing

for their argument. We shold hear this framing from the Dems!!