Tuesday, September 23, 2008

How Low Can the Sun Sink on The Episcopal Church?

First abortion . . . .

Then terrorism - including the domestic variety . . . .

And now:




(See also here, and for a taste of how Israelis see this, listen to Jerusalem Post columnist Carolyn Glick:
Finally, of course, there is Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's annual trip to New York for the UN's General Assembly opening session next week. Aside from being honored by leaders of the supposedly pacifist and clearly anti-Semitic Quaker and Mennonite churches, Ahmadinejad will be feted by newly elected General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann from Nicaragua.

See also this commentary (h/t - Pat Dague):
Perhaps it would be worth it to hold your nose and dine with the devil if it meant an opportunity to speak out about Iran’s repression and persecution, to be a voice for those who are suffering, and to demand that Islam offer reciprocity for the freedom of religion and decency of treatment that Muslims have received from Christians, Jews, and Baha’is. With Iran on the verge of a new level of repression, and religious minorities in Iran facing a new level of siege because of the proposed apostasy penal code, an American Christian leader is needed to speak with courage and forthrightness over a dinner plate. To use the phrase that mainline liberal church leaders are so fond of when it comes to attacking George Bush, a prophetic voice to speak truth to power. Ahmadinejad will hear such voices, but he will not hear them in the posh dining rooms of the U.S. mainline church leaders. He will hear them in the prison cells and court rooms of Iran.

The actual invitation comes from an organization called "Religions for Peace - USA", of which The Episcopal Church is a member. However, so is the American Jewish Committee, which led a protest march to Monday's rally at the UN against Ahmadinejad's appearance---and guess what? Unlike The Episcopal Church, it's not coming to dinner. And for those who shrug this off as just another instance of TEC's leadership being for "social justice", be sure not to miss Bishop Little's letter---it will set you straight.)





(Note: I'm taking a brief break from preparing the longer kind of post that usually appears here. So this is, for me, at any rate, a kind of "blogging lite." Blogging will return to a regular schedule after October 4.)

3 comments:

  1. To quote the letter of Harris and Sideman,

    "Given Mr. Ahmadinejad’s repeated statements about the 'annihilation' and eradication of a UN member state, Israel, the claim that this event is a dialogue for peace cannot be taken seriously. Furthermore, the claim that this dinner promotes dialogue of any kind is undercut by Mr. Ahmadinejad himself, who has clearly stated: 'We are ready to hold dialogue with all countries of the world except for the Israeli regime. It will serve as a platform through which the UN will help legitimize Holocaust denial, not to mention the destruction of a member state."

    Keep this response in mind when asked to be part of "the listening process."

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  2. Curmudgeon, the link to Bishop Little's letter isn't working - it leads to the AJC letter.

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