Canterbury Aide Helps Free Lebanon Hostage
Episcopal News Service. September 26, 1985 [85187]
DPS NEW YORK (DPS, Sept. 27) -- Terry Waite, assistant to the Archbishop of Canterbury for Anglican Communion affairs, who earlier this year was instrumental in the release of four Britons held by Libya, also played a significant role in the recent release of the Rev. Benjamin Weir, a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) clergyman who was kidnapped in May 1984 in Lebanon.
Waite's role was revealed at a press conference held at the Interchurch Center here on Sept. 27, several days after Weir's release. During the conference, Waite read a statement which included an appeal to those holding six other American hostages in Lebanon to meet with him for direct negotiations, previous talks having gone through an intermediary.
Soon after Weir's capture, the Rev. Frederick Wilson of the Presbyterian Church contacted Waite at Lambeth Palace about the possibility that Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie might use his influence on Weir's behalf. According to Waite, the Archbishop consulted Presiding Bishop John M. Allin of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, a member of the Anglican Communion, prior to authorizing Waite's involvement. Waite noted in his statement, "I would like to place on record my thanks to Bishop Allin and several members of his staff at 815 Second Avenue for their continued support and assistance."
The Archbishop's authorization was on the condition that Waite's independence as an envoy of the Church be strictly maintained. Waite himself said, "It's absolutely essential to recognize I work from a Church base. I am not in any sense an emissary of any government."
Runcie corresponded with Pope John Paul II over the matter of the hostages, and the Vatican has been active through diplomatic channels and in cooperation with Lambeth Palace in seeking release of the hostages. Waite also noted that he had had contact with a number of governments, including that of the U.S., which he said "always respected my independent position and...They have always been cooperative and helpful in my efforts."
Having established an intermediary contact (whose identity he refused to divulge) with the captors in Beirut, Waite has been in communication with them on a regular basis for several months. He said, "It would have been my hope and the hope of my Archbishop that this whole matter could have been resolved without our involvement being made publicly known. When Mr. Weir was released several days ago, it was decided that we would go public in the hope that a new breakthrough might be experienced at this opportune time.
"The Church will continue to do all in its power to seek to bring this unhappy affair to a conclusion. I want now to make a public appeal to the captors. I ask them to let me meet with them face-to-face and hear clearly their requests for myself. The churches, because of their apolitical and humanitarian stance, can frequently address situations in ways that governments cannot."
In a question-and-answer period following his statement, Waite reiterated his belief that "there are ways of loosening up the situation," even in an apparent deadlock. He held up Weir's release as evidence of some flexibility on the part of those holding the hostages, but refused to discuss details, saying that the situation was very delicate.
Although Alvin Puryear, president of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Program Agency Board, called Waite's role "significant" in Weir's release, Waite denied sole credit, saying "A lot of people have been involved in a variety of ways," not always public, and likened the situation to a vault, for which there are several different keys and combinations.
Weir was also present at the news conference and expressed his desire to do anything he could to assist in the release of the remaining hostages.