Browning Writes Reagan Opposing Nicaragua Policy
Episcopal News Service. March 13, 1986 [86047]
NEW YORK (DPS, March 13) -- Citing his recent trip to Central America and talks with the bishops and people of the Episcopal Church there, Presiding Bishop Edmond Lee Browning has written to President Ronald Reagan to express support for the Contadora peace process and to state his and the Church's opposition to aid to "Contra" forces attempting to overthrow the government of Nicaragua. (Eds.: text of letter follows)
Browning notes in his letter -- which comes at a time when the President is lobbying Congress for support for his proposed $100 million aid package for the "Contras" ($70 million in military aid and $30 million in "humanitarian aid") -- the Church's two years of study on the situation in Central America, initiated by his predecessor, Presiding Bishop John M. Allin. Carried on through team visits in the area, which is Province IX of the Church, and through study reports of those teams and discussion on local and national levels, this resulted in two resolutions passed by the General Convention last September.
Resolution A129 supported a unanimous vote of the Church's Executive Council calling on the governments of the United States and all other nations involved to "take concrete actions in support of the Contadora initiative and process; to work toward negotiated, rather than military, solutions to regional conflicts; to cease all covert and overt activities aimed at destabilizing governments in the region; to affirm and respect the principles of national sovereignty, self-determination, and non-intervention in domestic affairs; and to respect human rights." The resolution further called on dioceses and congregations to encourage study of the Council declaration and to share their views with "those in authority in Washington."
The second resolution, D023s, calls upon the governments of the United States and all other nations involved to cease all aid -- both overt and covert -- to military forces in Nicaragua; halt embargoes and other destabilizing activities; "affirm and respect principles of national sovereignty, self-determination, and non-intervention in the domestic affairs of Nicaragua"; and seek a negotiated settlement based on the Contadora group's 21 points. The resolution also expresses support for the Diocese of Nicaragua's appeal to the members of the Anglican Communion for their help in obtaining peace in Central America and requests that the contents of the resolution be communicated to the President, Congress and the governments of the Soviet Union, Cuba and Israel.
Copies of these resolutions accompanied the letter to Reagan.
While fulfilling the Convention mandate to convey its opposition to the Administration's policy in Central America, Browning' letter also shares some personal "disquieting questions" about the President's policies and about his characterizations of the situation and of those who oppose the current policy. He writes, "I do not think that I am alone in finding it less than helpful for our national leaders to coin or corrupt the language of our democracy in support of questionable foreign military forces...
"To disregard the reports of reputable international human rights agencies or undermine their credibility and legitimacy by preemptive accusations of 'a disinformation campaign' does not seem to serve the interests of our open national decision-making process, serve the interests of those in legitimate need nor enhance the vital work of independent, international human rights agencies and advocates.
"To ignore the advice and counsel of our historic allies and friends in Latin America, especially those who have initiated the Contadora process, strikes me as a short sighted approach to the common security of our hemisphere."
Browning sent copies of his letter to Reagan and the accompanying resolutions to members of Congress, with a letter acknowledging that "This may be a difficult political and moral issue for you and you may be caught in a dilemma created by the dictates of your conscience, the appeals of your constituency and the pressure by the Administration." He added, "I want you to know that you are in my prayers. I look forward to meeting with you and establishing a regular opportunity for mutual consultation."
Mr. President:
I write regarding your proposed financial and moral support of the "Contra" forces against the government of Nicaragua.
The five Episcopal Dioceses of Central America are a part of the Episcopal Church. We are proud of the mission and ministry of our sisters and brothers in Central America and we support them and their leadership. I have just visited with the leadership of our Latin American dioceses and my estimation of their contribution to the spiritual and physical well being of the people in the region has been strengthened and expanded.
After a two-year process, including a series of extensive visitations, study reports and nationwide discussion on the local level, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, meeting in Anaheim, California, in September 1985, passed two resolutions relating to the United States' policy and actions in Central America. The resolutions are enclosed for your information. In summary, they oppose all covert aid to the "Contras," oppose attempts to destabilize the government of Nicaragua, and support the Contadora process. As requested in the resolutions, it is my intention to share these actions with members of Congress and the other identified governments.
On a personal note, Mr. President, I must share with you that I have several disquieting questions about your policies and your characterizations of some of the governments in Central America, and political processes and conditions in the region; and, I must admit, some of your public statements about those in this country who do not share your perceptions.
I do not think that I am alone on finding it less than helpful for our national leaders to coin or corrupt the language of our democracy in support of questionable foreign military forces. Identifying the "Contras" as "freedom fighters" obscures the issues in an attempt to attach the "Contras" to the historic memory of the U.S.
To disregard the reports of reputable international human rights agencies or undermine their credibility and legitimacy by preemptive accusations of "a disinformation campaign" does not seem to serve the interests of our national decision-making process, serve the interests of those in legitimate need nor enhance the vital work of independent, international human rights agencies and advocates.
To ignore the advice and counsel of our historic allies and friends in Latin America, especially those who have initiated the Contadora process, strikes me as a short sighted approach to the common security of our hemisphere.
I question the public relations attempt to blunt or sort circuit full citizens information, discussion and participation in the formulation of the policies of our great nation. I hope your office will stimulate public debate and quality discussion not stifle it.
I am deeply troubled by these concerns, Mr. President. I must be honest in sharing with you that neither your public statements nor those of your administration have alleviated my discomfort -- a discomfort I do not believe is mine alone.
Faithfully yours,
Edmond L. Browning
This latter point was addressed by the Rev. William L. Countryman, associate professor of New Testament at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, Calif.
"God's grace is not dependent on your goodness," Countryman told the conference. "Infliction is no index of human badness. Those who proclaim otherwise are flying in the face of the Gospel and in the face of the Church, Catholic and Reformed. We call this particular heresy 'works righteousness'"
Countryman built his theological and ethical reflections around what he called "partial answers" to the question, "What is God doing in the AIDS crisis?"
"He is bringing us all to a test, like the one his child Jesus endured," said the professor. "you are the vanguard. For others of us, our test focuses on our response to you. This is not a casual or incidental text. Our souls hang upon it."
A second "partial answer" to the question is in the works of God being revealed in the outpouring of love that has come about in response to the crisis.
Co-chairmen Marion Cedarblade of San Rafael, Calif. and William Lorton of San Francisco opened the conference by introducing keynote speaker Dr. Mathilde Krim of New York.
"There can be no question that the challenge to science and medicine posed by AIDS is one of staggering proportions," said Krim. "It is also an enormous challenge for the rest of our society. This is so in part because AIDS has appeared first among the politically disenfranchised among us: drug addicts lost to compulsory selfdestructive behavior; gay men often still denied equal protection under the law and ostracized by the self-righteous; members of a minority community, the Haitians, intimidated by their frequent illegal status and their general poverty; the very sick or the victims of a genetic defect -- hemophilia -- who are in desperate need of blood...finally, infants, the pitiful babies of infected mothers."
"We may, because of AIDS, learn to live better with the infinite variety of people that exist in this world -- yes, even with lesbian and gay people, and to accord them the dignity and respect they deserve simply because they are human beings," said the physician.
The conference on the AIDS crisis was co-sponsored by the Diocese of California and The Parsonage, an Episcopal Church-related ministry to gay and lesbian people in San Francisco. "You are a wonderful sight," said Bishop William E. Swing of California in welcoming the conference to San Francisco. "You are a gift of God to an awful lot of people" for being here.
An evening Eucharist that included the ministry of healing through the laying-on-of-hands was a major liturgical focus of the conference. The Very Rev. Alan W. Jones, dean of the Cathedral, told the congregation that "for all of us, those who are afflicted, those who minister, those who pass judgment, the awesome mystery of identity is at the heart for it all."
Jones stressed that baptism is the context for shared identity, with Lent being the search of a lost identity.
"Come, and be touched. Come and be fed," said Jones. "Come and be healed. For the most real thing about you is that you are loved by God."
The final focus of the conference was the continuing ministry by congregations and dioceses throughout the Church to those afflicted by AIDS. Marcia Newcombe of the Episcopal Church Center staff, New York, shared the concern of Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning and noted that the Church Center is producing television spot announcements about AIDS, video tapes, using its public policy and political advocacy resources and sharing educational information about AIDS.
The Rev. Joe Doss of Palo Alto described the formation of a National Episcopal Center for AIDS Crisis to be based at The Parsonage in San Francisco.
'We've got to turn our commitment to what we will do next," he told the conference. He said an 800 telephone number (800-AID-TALK) will be in place by mid-March, stressing that the number is for information only and not for individual counseling. He said the National Center is expected to provide print and video resources about AIDS, resources that can be used for local conferences and liturgical material and prayers.
Conference co-chairmen Cedarblade and Lorton brought the final plenary session to a close with words of encouragement to the conference:
- "Don't be discouraged. Don't give up. You will face incredible odds", said Lorton. "Find compassionate people who are doers and not just talkers and get them to help you."
- Cedarblade noted that not everyone should try to do a diocesan or regional conference. "Examine your own local situation and see what you can do. And then go from there," she said.