News Briefs

Episcopal News Service. February 19, 2003 [2003-036-1]

Church leaders meet Blair in third NCC-led peace delegation

(NCC/ACNS) U.S. Christian leaders spent 50 minutes with British Prime Minister Tony Blair February 18 to convey a message of widespread opposition to war with Iraq and to explore alternatives. The visit was the third of five meetings with European leaders by delegations organized by the National Council of Churches, based in New York City.

The ecumenical delegations are finding strong support among European church leaders for the "Win Without War" approach advocated by most major U.S. faith groups. A February 5 visit to Berlin included a meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. In Paris (February 10-11), the delegation met with the French Foreign Ministry. Upcoming are visits to Moscow (March 3-5), including a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, and a multi-faith visit to Rome (February 25-27).

The Rev. Jim Wallis, editor and executive director of Sojourners in Washington, DC, described the meeting with Blair as a crucial step towards promoting "collective international efforts" when it comes to resolving situations such as the current conflict with Iraq. He said, "The British government is in a better position to shape the decision, more so than any other leaders in the world."

Bishop John Chane of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington reiterated Wallis' remarks, saying that Blair is a key person in resolving the issue and that they had not been able to engage in similar conversations with the Bush administration.

Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane of Cape Town in South Africa reported thousands protesting on the streets. He said that "the repercussions of war in Iraq would influence the distribution of resources to Africa," creating an adverse affect on poverty and the critical HIV/AIDS crisis throughout the continent.

The discussion was not only limited to Iraq. Anxieties were also expressed about the continuing hostilities between Israel and Palestine. Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (which includes Jordan, Lebanon and Syria) said that the war in the Middle East is viewed as "another crusade" and that "if we don't address the cause then it could be catastrophic to the faithful flock throughout the entire region."

When asked whether the delegation would support a war if the UN emerged with a resolution allowing disarmament by force, the Anglican Bishop of Bath and Wells, Peter Price, responded, "It is a very thorny question. What we are attempting to do is offer as many peaceful alternatives as we can in order to avoid that outcome."

Peace still possible, says pope's envoy amid global anti-war protests

(ENI) A special envoy of Pope John Paul II on a mission to Iraq left Baghdad on February 17 saying that "peace is still possible in Iraq and for Iraq," after weekend protesters around the globe resoundingly rejected military conflict. Cardinal Roger Etchegaray met with President Saddam Hussein on February 15 and then briefed the pope before a meeting between the pontiff and UN secretary general Kofi Annan in the Vatican.

Prominent religious leaders and ordinary people of faith made their presence known at rallies and demonstrations held around the world to oppose a possible US-led war against Iraq. In about 600 cities around the world, and dozens in the United States, demonstrators marched, chanted and carried banners against armed conflict over Iraq.

In New York, Desmond Tutu, the former Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, implored the US government to give United Nations inspectors more time to complete their search for possible Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and chemical armaments. Speaking at a multi-faith service prior to a rally that attracted at least 400,000 people, Tutu said a rush to war would be a grave mistake, saying "God is weeping" at the prospect of war.

The protests began in Asia and the Pacific where Australians turned out in the thousands for the largest protest since anti-Vietnam War marches 30 years ago. One of the world's biggest demonstrations was in London where crowds estimated at between 750,000 and 2 million people took part.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson joined other speakers at the London demonstration to warn that war on Iraq could trigger a long and bloody conflict. "It is not too late to stop this war. Prime Minister Tony Blair, please take a stand back from war," he said, referring to Blair's support for possible military action against Iraq.

In Glasgow, thousands gathered for a rally supported by the Church of Scotland just hours after Blair had addressed a conference of the governing Labor Party in Scotland's largest city, telling delegates he wanted to use the United Nations to resolve the situation in Iraq. "The moral case against war has a moral answer: it is the moral case for removing Saddam," said Blair. "Ridding the world of Saddam would be an act of humanity. It is leaving him there that is in truth inhumane."

In Italy, where crowds estimated at between 600,000 and 2 million demonstrated in Rome against war with Iraq, Tariq Aziz, Iraq's deputy prime minister, took part in a silent vigil at the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi after a meeting the preceding day with the pope. Speaking to journalists, the Vatican spokesperson, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, said the Holy See had told Aziz, a Chaledean Christian, of the need for Iraq "to respect faithfully, with concrete commitments, the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council."

Church activists welcome US Navy plan to leave Vieques

(ENI) The announced departure of a US Navy military base from the small Puerto Rican island of Vieques has been hailed by church leaders and others who have for years protested against the base's bombing range. "Thanks to the religious leaders who knew how to be authentic pastors walking with their people and defending their people, David has once again overcome Goliath," said the Rev. German Acevedo-Delgado, a United Methodist activist.

The US Navy began its last training operations on Vieques at the beginning of February, and has promised to leave by May 1, having used the eastern third of the Caribbean island for military maneuvers since 1947. The navy, which is moving its maneuvers to Florida and other areas on the US mainland, has said it will turn the Vieques base over to the US Department of the Interior for use as a wildlife refuge.

A widespread coalition of Puerto Ricans from all walks of life, including church ministers, nuns, bishops and the general secretary of the Puerto Rican Bible Society, as well as US Congressmen, had steadfastly opposed the naval base on the 37-kilometer-long island, which has a population of about 9,000. Tens of thousands of protesters have taken part in demonstrations against the base, and about 1500 have been arrested in the past four years. Protesters often occupied the bombing beaches until US marshals and troops dragged them off. On one occasion, an ecumenical chapel was built on the bombing range, only to be torn down when military forces retook the area.

Residents of the island, part of the United States Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, are worried the navy is leaving them to deal with an environmental mess, and have demanded that the US government clean up any toxic remnants of military exercises. Decades of bombing have left islanders with elevated cancer rates, say the residents, who are concerned that the military's legacy of depleted uranium shells and heavy metals will leave them suffering for years. A Pentagon report has confirmed that the navy also tested chemical weapons simulants on the island in the 1960s, news agencies reported on Wednesday.

After six decades of vicious feuds with the navy, Vieques residents are skeptical about the military's exit. "We do not trust the navy or the federal government, so we will be steadfast in our struggle, attentive to any plan to continue using and abusing Vieques," said Nilda Medina, spokesperson for the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, which has been campaigning against the military exercises.

World Council of Churches, IMF and World Bank discuss development

(ENI) The World Council of Churches (WCC), noted in the past for its criticism of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, invited officials of the two institutions to its Geneva headquarters to start a discussion on development strategy.

"For both sides it was not self-evident to begin a dialogue," said WCC general secretary Konrad Raiser in a message read on his behalf February 13 at the opening of a two-day seminar between representatives of the WCC, the IMF and the World Bank. "The World Council of Churches has been known for having articulated critical views of the international financial system and the policies pursued by the two leading international institutions," said Raiser.

The seminar was intended to be the first in a series to discuss fundamental matters concerning development and may lead to a meeting between leaders of the three organizations. One of the main objectives, said the WCC in a statement, was to enable participants to review the role their institutions have played in shaping the world's economy and improving the lives of people in poor countries. It dealt with issues such as the creation of wealth, social justice and the privatization of public goods, with special emphasis on the subject of drinking water.

Encounters between the three bodies are expected to question the consequences of the dominant economic system in the world today, while enabling the WCC to have a clearer understanding of development practice as seen by the World Bank and the IMF, noted Rogate Mshana, who coordinates the WCC economic justice program. The next seminar of the three groups is expected towards the end of the year in Washington.

Raiser said in 2000 that the WCC was "hesitant" about participating in an initiative launched by the World Bank to promote dialogue with religious communities, explaining that he was concerned such dialogue might legitimize World Bank policies, although he did "not necessarily think that this is an explicit intention" on the part of the bank.

Row erupts as Zimbabwe church official censures pro-Mugabe bishop

(ENI) The Anglican bishop of Harare, Norbert Kunonga, is facing increasing public confrontation with church leaders over his controversial support for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

A long-simmering row burst into the open again February 16 when prominent lawyer and Anglican chancellor of the Harare diocese, Bob Stumbles, publicly accused Kunonga of acting "contrary to the laws of the church" and of falsely accusing members of his congregation of plotting his assassination.

In a 20-page letter to Kunonga made public, Stumbles enumerated a long list of complaints against the bishop. Among them was the banning of Harare Cathedral's Shona choir and Kunonga's court action against 12 Anglican councilors and two churchwardens who had, said Stumbles, "been elected legitimately."

"This is contrary to the laws of the church," wrote Stumbles, adding, "Enquiries reveal that the diocesan board gave no permission to you to institute these proceedings."

Kunonga, who is close to Mugabe, is condoning the violent seizure of white-owned farms by supporters of Mugabe's Zanu-PF political party. He is banned from travel in the United States under sanctions imposed on Mugabe and his closest associates.

Stumbles said in his letter that the bishop last year told police that some members of the Harare congregation were "plotting his assassination." The church chancellor also complained that Kunonga had removed "colonial relics" from the Anglican cathedral, apparently without seeking the church's permission. Kunonga had also refused to recognize the elections of churchwardens, an issue that had erupted late last year. "I must strongly register my protest in this connection," said Stumbles. "You are now saying in effect that you refuse to accept what was carried out in accordance with the laws and you will not comply with them."

Kunonga had also appointed the former dean of the Harare diocese, Godfrey Tawonezvi, as bishop of Masvingo in southeast of Zimbabwe, even though Anglican authorities had twice passed votes of no confidence in him.

Canadian Anglican dioceses approve agreement on residential schools lawsuits

(Anglican Church of Canada) All 30 dioceses of the Anglican Church of Canada unanimously have now ratified an agreement with the government that caps the church's liability in litigation over its operation of residential schools for indigenous youth at $25 million (Canadian).

The terms of the agreement require the dioceses to contribute to the settlement fund it creates. The church announced the creation of a separate corporation, called the Anglican Church of Canada Resolution Corp., that will administer the settlement fund. Under the agreement, 30 percent of compensation will be paid from the fund to former residential school students who have proven claims of sexual or physical abuse. The remaining 70 percent will be paid by the government.

If compensation for the claims exceeds the $25 million the government will pay the rest and, if the awards fall short of that amount, the money will be returned to the dioceses. The dioceses made individual decisions on how they would find the money to contribute their share to the settlement fund.

In the Diocese of Toronto, for example, Archbishop Terry Finlay asked each church member to contribute $100 in an effort to raise a total of $5 million (Canadian). Anglicans in Alberta will sell a church residence to raise money. Other dioceses dipped into reserves or decided to mount campaigns to cover both contributions and to fund local projects.

The agreement was intended to move litigation out of the courts and into a form of alternate dispute resolution. Thousands of lawsuits have been stressing the legal system and costing a great deal of money, threatening to bankrupt the General Synod.

Archdeacon Jim Boyles, general secretary of General Synod and chief negotiator with the government, said that he was "very pleased with the way dioceses have responded so quickly and so positively to the agreement. It shows the strength of the Anglican family in Canada." He said that the formal documents will now be sent to dioceses for signatures and that national church leaders and government officials could sign the agreement by March 11.