My hope is that from this success in the foreign policy arena two days ago, that [President Obama] will be emboldened to take once again to the Congress legislation – not just to increase a renewable energy standard – but climate change legislation that this country and the world need.
–Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, at a Climate Leadership Gala hosted by the Earth Day Network in Washington on Tuesday; I’m told that under the influence of certain controlled substances people will see links between completely unconnected things that normal folks can’t see, but I don’t know what Richardson’s excuse is
( Via JammieWearingFool.)
The Interfaith Alliance, a religious left advocacy group that frequently works with secular left organizations such as the ACLU, People for the American Way, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, responds to the death of Osama bin Laden:
Last night’s announcement of the death of Osama bin Laden closes a difficult chapter in the life of this nation. Bin Laden brought unspeakable tragedy into our lives that can and never will be forgotten. Additionally, President Obama’s remarks last night on bin Laden provided an additional important step forward in the healing process we have been going through for nearly a decade.
Extremely important in the President’s remarks was his clear statement that Osama bin Laden was not a Muslim leader, but rather a murderer of Muslims – a statement that echoed those made by President Bush immediately after September 11, 2001. I commend the President for making the point that the United States “is not, and never will be, at war with Islam.” It is my fervent hope and prayer that as we put this chapter behind us, we also leave behind the demonization and mistrust of the broader Muslim community that came with it.
The best possible follow-up to bin Laden’s death would be our nation’s recommitment to living together with respect for diversity, achieving unity through cooperation, and strengthening our resolve for establishing peace with justice.
The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, a PCUSA affiliate led by former General Assembly moderator Rick Ufford-Chase that counts the Israel Palestine Mission Network and the far-left Fellowship of Reconciliation among its partners, has weighed in on the death of Osama bin Laden:
On this day, reflecting on the death of Osama bin Laden during a U.S. military operation in Pakistan, we turn to Paul’s Letter to the Church in Rome . . .
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19-21)
On this day, we mourn the loss of life experienced by so many on September 11, 2001, and we stand in compassion with our sisters and brothers for whom that loss of life remains a daily reality. We are deeply moved by the service of so many who risked their own lives on that day and in the days that followed.
On this day, aware that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have now gone on for almost a decade, we are keenly aware of the continued sacrifice borne by U.S. families as tens of thousands of our soldiers have been wounded or killed.
On this day, we know of the suffering of countless—truly countless—numbers of families in both of those countries who also have lost loved ones because of the wars, or who have been displaced by the violence, and whose lives will never be the same again. We say, again, it is time to bring the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq swiftly to an end, bring all U.S. soldiers and military contractors home to their families, and commit to the hard work of partnering to rebuild those communities devastated by the wars.
On this day, with many other sisters and brothers across our country and around the world, we dare to ask…
- What might the world look like today had we responded to our own fear with the courage to love those of whom we are most afraid?
- What if the billions upon billions of dollars spent to wage war had been spent instead on food and potable water and schools and development projects—the things that make for peace?
- What if we prepared our young people to wage peace rather than to wage war?
We follow the Prince of Peace. We are a people of hope. We will seek common ground with sisters and brothers who share our commitment to peace in all religious traditions.
I said I’d put up any response to the death of Osama bin Laden without comment. So here’s the first official reaction, from the usual suspects at the National Council of Churches (also signed by the leaders of the ELCA, UCC, Disciples of Christ, Church of the Brethren, and the president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops–apparently Gradye Parsons of the PCUSA and Katharine Jefforts-Schori of the Episcopal Church were MIA):
The death of Osama Bin Laden is a significant moment in the turbulent history of the past decade. It does not eradicate the scourge of terrorism nor does it bring closure to the grieving and pain the world has endured since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, for which he was the primary architect. The National Council of Churches deplores and condemns the extremism he personified, the twisted illusions that wrought years of violence and evil in the world.
Now the member communions of the National Council of Churches pray for God’s help as we commit ourselves to moving forward together as witnesses for God’s love and peace. In November 2001, as the world reeled from the terror attacks, the General Assembly of the National Council of Churches and Church World Service challenged their communions to take the lead:
It is time [we said then] for us as an ecumenical community to make a renewed commitment to a ministry of peace with justice, and to make real in these days the call of Jesus, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) In his Beatitudes, Jesus calls us, his followers, to be merciful if we are to receive mercy; he reminds us that the peacemakers are blessed and will be called children of God. And, he proclaims us “the light of the world”; our good works should be a beacon to others so they may give glory to God. (Matthew 5:14-16)
We lift up “Pillars of Peace for the 21st Century,” a 1999 Policy Statement of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. We reaffirm and highlight the Statement’s call to build a culture of peace with justice characterized by these convictions:
1. “the transcending sovereignty and love of God for all creation and the expression of that love in the incarnation of Jesus Christ, whose mission was to reveal understanding about that divine presence, to proclaim a message of salvation and to bring justice and peace;
2. the unity of creation and the equality of all races and peoples;
3. the dignity and worth of each person as a child of God; and
4. the church, the body of believers, whose global mission of witness, peacemaking and reconciliation testifies to God’s action in history.”
Osama Bin Laden is dead. Just as Christians must condemn the violence of terrorism, let us be clear that we do not celebrate loss of life under any circumstances. The NCC’s 37 member communions believe the ultimate justice for this man’s soul — or any soul — is in the hands of God. In this historic moment, let us turn to a future that embraces God’s call to be peacemakers, pursuers of justice and loving neighbors to all people.
