Open Letter from the Catholic Worker to Catholic Bishops

by Update Tue Dec 05, 2006 12:46

WASHINGTON (November 2, 2006) – Bishop William S. Skylstad, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has joined religious leaders from diverse faith traditions in rejecting the use of torture because it is a violation of basic human dignity.

Bishop Skylstad signed the statement entitled “Torture is a Moral Issue.” The text follows:

“Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest ideals, hold dear. It degrades everyone involved – policymakers, perpetrators and victims. It contradicts our nation’s most cherished values. Any policies that permit torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable. Nothing less is at stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation. What does it signify if torture is condemned in word but allowed in deed? Let America abolish torture now – without exceptions.”

The statement can be found on the web site of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture at www.nrcat.org

A list of religious leaders who have signed the statement follows.

Rabbi Alvin Berkun
President, The Rabbinical Assembly

Most Rev. Metropolitan Christopher
Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada

Archbishop Nicolae Condrea
Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada

Archbishop Demetrios
Primate, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Rabbi Daniel Ehrenkrantz
President, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

Rabbi Jerome M. Epstein
Executive Vice President, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

The Most Reverend Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop, The Episcopal Church

The Reverend Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Rev. Dr. Stan Hastey
Executive Director, Alliance of Baptists

Bishop Janice Riggle Huie
President, Council of Bishops, The United Methodist Church

Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Rev. Michael Livingston
Executive Director, International Council of Community Churches

Dr. Ingrid Mattson
President, Islamic Society of North America

Rev. A. Roy Medley
General Secretary, American Baptist Churches USA

Metropolitan Philip
Primate, The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

Rabbi Brant Rosen
President, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association

Dr. Manmohan Singh
Secretary General, World Sikh Council - American Region

Rev. William G. Sinkford
President, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

Reverend William J. Shaw
President, National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

Most Reverend William S. Skylstad
President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Rev. John H. Thomas
President, United Church of Christ

Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins
General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Rev. David L. Wickmann
President, Provincial Elders Conference, Moravian Church, Northern and Southern Provinces

Rabbi Eric Yoffie
President, Union for Reform Judaism

by radical jonny Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:23

Massive respect from North of the border!

Peace, Justice, Reconciliation, and Solidarity.

by PaddyK Sat Dec 09, 2006 03:18

C'mon Catholic,

You cant separate the deeds of the Church and the empire, they are criminal partners. The Holy Roman Catholic Empire needs you not, just your soul. Go and be a good Catholic Christian, comply with the sect cult .
Worry not your head about oppression, you are compliant with the church and so are happy with Authoritarian exploitation.

Catholic church be gone. Bishops disrobe and disappear. Save yourselves. The end is nigh.

Here endeth the broadcast.

by RC Sat Dec 09, 2006 18:13

Say it three times and believe it Paddy K, whatver pads up your comfort zone.
But whatever you do get off you're arse and oppose the war.

by Update Sat Dec 09, 2006 20:29

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1968174,00.html

by PaddyK Sat Dec 09, 2006 21:48

Me ? In a Comfort Zone? Oh lordy lord.
Pray tell dear Sir, what of the mindless masses who plod in and out of Catholic churches week in, week out to be nestled for an hour at the tit of Christian righteousness? Where is their comfort zone from the ills of the world, in the confession box? Where the magic wand of absolution relieves them of any practical responsibility for the actions or inactions of the government they elected or the church they financially support in abetting the wars.
The Catholic church is a repressive social and political force that has changed little for all its bleating about "reform".

Christian religious organisations are now shaping political opinion at the highest levels of American politics, forming the cutting edge of PNAC policy in our world and the best the Catholic Workers can do is call on the Bishops to be less apathetic than the people they control. Why are you not calling for the Bishops to excommunicate those in power who abuse the Christian ethics of Christ to wage war and proscribe torture?

The Church is a rich capitalistic organisation that pays lip Service to Human rights and World Peace whilst it is happy to retain as much control over societies and our governments as possible. Irish history and society reeks of the church's presence at every level yet we as a political entity still support the war and the church stays pretty quiet about that.

You may be a catholic worker who fights for justice just as your average yank is a democrat toiling for equality and democracy, great stuff. But as you move your way up into the hierarchical structures of those two institutions you find that the interface of power and capital has utterly corrupted the founding ideals and the voice of the wee man is not intended to be heard. The leaders of the American dream are those shady lackies you see standing around in the background whispering to power. The Church lackies are standing there too, in many cases one and the same. The little worker is a tool of oppression against his will. The American government needs to taken apart, the rats killed and them carefully reassembled by the people. Same for the Church.

Hey don’t get me wrong, Bro, I've got nothing but admiration for any individual who goes out to make a difference, Just like Jesus Christ. Muchos Kudos amigos. Live long and prosper!

As for sitting on my arse ? Some Catholic Workers had to sit on the arses while they typed up that very trite letter, they simultaneously hoped lots of people would sit on their arses to read it, which I did...and yes, now I'm sitting on my arse responding to it so less of the patronising Please, Che.

by Update Sun Dec 10, 2006 18:20

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/12/133605.php

by Ciaron - Dublin Catholic Worker Sun Dec 10, 2006 18:50

Paul and I set up at 9.30 am at the steps to the Cathedral holding signs "While CIA Torture Flights Refuel in Ireland, The Church Can't be Silent" and "While an Illegal Invasion Refuels at Shannon, The Church can't Be Silent". Colim in Guantanamo jumpsuit and hood knelt across the road holding a sign "Guantanamo via Shannon". We were joined by John as the morning progressed. We stayed put for 3 1/2 hours, cold but dry, and distributed most of the 1,000 leaflets. We did quite a bit of helping parents with prams and older folks up the steps.

Three older women and I mourned the loss this past week of Gloria Mooney who was a regular on the cathedral steps and had lived in the homeless shelter where I have worked for the last four years. Gloria was a great character and is sorely missed, she died peacefully in her sleep and was buried in her native County Down last Friday.

Folks were receptive to the leaflets as was the priest who said the later mass who chatted with Paul and John. Lots of interaction during the morning with many foks from many lands, no agro responses. There remains massive passive opposition to the use of Shannon in this war and for refueling the torture flights.

Plans are afoot to head to the U.S. Embassy on January 11th. - the 5th. anniversary of the first captive arriving at Guantanamo. There will be similar vigils at U.S. Embassies worldiwide.

by Frank Cordaro - Des Moines Catholic Worker (Iowa, USA) Thu Dec 14, 2006 11:34

We DMCWers are blessed. On December 10th we were welcomed at St.
Ambrose Cathedral as we joined many other CWers nationally and
internationally in solidarity vigils to call attention to US
sanctioned torture. Bishop Charron supported us by permitting us to
vigil and leaflet before and after the Sunday morning Masses. And Fr.
John Bertogli, pastor of St. Ambrose, plugged our vigil in the parish
bulletin and advised his parishioners to take our leaflets and to give
serious consideration and prayer to the issues we were raising.

The congregation at St Ambrose Cathedral is unique and singular for a
small Midwest Catholic Diocese. White people are in the minority. It
has a reputation for being a refugee and immigrant friendly community.
Parishioners come from all over the world, most coming here with
little or no money, many escaping one form or another of political
violence. So, it was no big surprise, though noteworthy, that most
people accepted our leaflet, welcomed our presence and thanked us for
our effort.

Having said that, nothing could have prepared us for the arrival of
Regina and Jerry Farajalla. It was before the 10:30 Mass when this
distinguished looking Black couple got out of a car in front of the
Cathedral. They were moving very slowly up the first set of steps
leading to the Cathedral front doors. Regina was dragging her left
foot, her left side was stiff and twisted and her face pained. She
seemed to be recovering from a severe stroke. Jerry, her husband, was
holding her arm, showing some degree of physical impairment of his
own. Regina was clearly leading Jerry, yet was leaning on Jerry to
help navigate her way.

Thinking they were hard pressed to just get into the church, I did not
bother to hand them one of our leaflets. Having conquered the first
set of steps and moved beyond me, Regina veered to the right, her
husband Jerry following her lead, heading directly toward Carla and
Fran who were holding the banner "SHUT DOWN GUANTANAMO". I drew a
breath, just as they asked Carla if they could help hold the banner.
Regina and Jerry were from Southern Sudan where they were victims of
torture. They wanted to join our vigil, staying until it was time for
the 10:30 Mass.

Afterwards, a couple of local TV stations had gathered to cover our
vigil. As Regina and Jerry exited the church, I asked their permission
to I approach the newsmen about a possible interview. Agreeing, I ran
down the remaining TV News team and persuaded them to do the
interview. It was an amazing interview. They stood closely, holding
on to each other. Jerry was the only one who spoke, as Regina could
not. Their bright spirits shined through them. Jerry spoke of how
grateful they were to be in the USA. Emigrating from southern Sudan,
they had witnessed large scale political violence, including the
torture of many friends and family members. They spoke of others
tortured in the Sudan and stated that they, too, were victims. The
violence had left them physically impaired and emotionally scared for
life.

When the news reporter asked why they joined our vigil, Jerry told him
that torture is torture, no matter where it happens or who is doing
it. It is wrong. It violates the most basic dignity of the human
person. It serves no useful purpose. It brings great shame to the
United States for having been associated with it. It was a strong
statement.

Meeting Jerry and Regina was a humbling experience. It was reward
enough for our efforts just to give these two extraordinary human
beings an opportunity to speak their truths. It was especially
heartening to do so with the full support and backing of our Bishop
and the Cathedral congregation.

Frank Cordaro

by DD Thu Dec 14, 2006 13:36

-

Jerry & Regina Farajalla & Fr J and BT

by Matt - New York Catholic Worker Thu Dec 14, 2006 22:43

My three sentence account of St. Pat's in NYC....think, complete
opposite of Des Moines.

The Rector of the Cathedral did call before the vigil, in response to
three letters and two phone calls over three months. Basically, he
said he was sympathetic, but the Church in NYC is essentially in "lock
down" and it was unlikely we would ever hear from the Cardinal, and
more unlikely we would be allowed on the same side of the street as
the cathedral.

Our (shut down gtmo / anti-torture) vigil at St. Pat's was quite
lively.....police went nuts about the cage, almost got arrested, a
photographer for Globus (supposedly the Newsweek of Eastern Europe)
was there taking photos for an article they're doing on Witness
Against
Torture & GTMO, and we had Carmen in an orange jumpsuit and hood
standing next to a salvation army santa.....only in NYC.

by Art - Dorothy Day Catholic Worker Thu Dec 14, 2006 23:51 Washington DC

We had 10 people at St. Matthew's Cathedral. We read the names of the
GTMO prisoners, leafleted and held signs. Had a few good conversations
with people. No interaction with the rector or pastor who I emailed
the day before.

We closed with Sr. Dianna's prayer to
end torture and a prayer by Merton, whose anniversary it was on Dec.
10. Blessings to you and all there during this Holy season.

Art