Haitian Women, publication. Episcopalian Hosts and • Margaret Traxler reuse for Christian Dilemma: required Violence vs. Nonviolence • World Council of Churches Permission • Dan Berrigan DFMS. / Putting a Human Face

Church On Urban Ministry • Edward Berckman Episcopal the of Archives 2020. Copyright exclusionary grounds invoked against by Religious News Service (RNS) and Suzanne Berkeley, and if the INS had by Edward P. Morgan for his national- LETTERS alerted its Puerto Rican officers to watch ly syndicated radio program, "In the for Ms. Berkeley's arrival. I reminded Public Interest," which goes to 350 him that the plea, "We were just doing stations. The National Council of our job," has a hollow ring to it. Churches also put out a strong resolu- Ml f I would encourage other readers to write Commissioner McKinley and tion on the incident, which appears challenge his action, and his elsewhere in this issue. — Eds.) expectations of WITNESS journalism. Wrote INS Re Deportation He can be reached at the Eastern The article on INS's treatment of Regional office, INS, Burlington, VT, Fan of Grenada Suzanne Berkeley in the July WITNESS 05401. I have just discovered THE WITNESS moved me to write the Regional The Rev. Nathan E. Williams and wish to subscribe. I was drawn to it publication. Commissioner in Burlington, Vt. to First Baptist Church by an article on Grenada in the April and express my anger over the treatment Ms. of Pittsburgh, Pa. issue and think it a splendid summation. Berkeley received, and to suggest that My husband and I spent 17 happy

reuse she was due an apology. One week later winters there. Grenadians are a

for William Bittner, Assistant Officer in Met Ms. Berkeley wonderful people and I wish our State charge of the Pittsburgh office, called to I read with interest the article in the July Department had understood how wise it ask for two copies of THE WITNESS — WITNESS on Suzanne Berkeley (the would have been to help them when the required that Regional Commissioner Stanley young Grenadian woman deported by British abandoned them. Perhaps it is McKinley had asked him to obtain INS from a theology conference in not too late. The April WITNESS had a copies. Puerto Rico). good article on Ireland, too. Mr. McKinley wrote me on Aug. 9. He As secretary of the Extra Diocesan Barbara Avirett Permission began, "I ... am appalled but not Committee for our Companionship Baltimore, Md. surprised at the distortion of facts in the relations with Grenada I am asking you

DFMS. article." In his closing paragraph he to send me the article "Grenada: A / added, "I am sorry to see that you . . . Revolution a Republican Tourist Could interpreted the article in THE WITNESS Love" by Lin Neumann in the April issue. Lauds Miskito Treatment

Church as authentic. .. ." And, "I assure you the We have a lot of contacts with It gave us great joy to see the July allegations by THE WITNESS and your Grenada and most of us on the WITNESS articles on Nicaragua, after interpretation of these allegations are committee have made at least one trip to being so often faced with stories that are less than objective. Your treatment of

Episcopal unfounded." Grenada in the past three years. I myself McKinley undertook to instruct me in went down last July for a month and met the Miskito Indian situation was very the thorough and sensitive to the difficult of the validity of immigration law, and briefly with Ms. Berkeley while on a tour described the "Catch 22" used to of the island. situation faced by Nicaragua as it tries to enmesh Suzanne Berkeley in the system Rhode Island still has another two rebuild and reform its nation. Our Ecumenical Council publishes a Archives and prevent her from attending the years to go in our relations with the conference. McKinley then lectured me Windward Island Diocese (St. Vincent newsletter called Nicaragua Update, and we would be pleased to hear from 2020. for "attacking" the and St. Lucia and Grenada) and we are government: "I further find that your interested in any views and information any WITNESS readers interested in verbal attack upon the officer under my we can receive on the situation there. receiving it. Write NICA, 942 Market, direction, myself, and the Immigration Room 709, San Francisco, Ca. 94102.

Copyright The Rev. Harry Kraft Service and, therefore, the United States Warwick, R.I. Janine Chagoya of America whom we represent is Northern California uncalled for, especially by a man of the Ecumenical Council (THE WITNESS is pleased to present cloth like yourself." (I had suggested that they were the Grand Inquisitor's the above response from readers con- successors.) cerning our article about the deporta- Nicaragua Revisited tion of a young Grenadian, Suzanne I wrote McKinley again. I asked him on It was a pleasant surprise to return from what basis he expected THE WITNESS Berkeley, by U.S. Immigration officials a three week trip to Nicaragua and find to "willfully misrepresent the facts in this from a theology conference in Puerto on top of the mountain of accumulated and other articles it presents to its Rico. In addition, the story was picked readers." I asked him to state the exact up from THE WITNESS and circulated Continued on page 17 THE WITNESS THE

EDITOR UIITRESS Mary Lou Suhor EDITORIAL SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Robert L. DeWitt

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

publication. Richard W. Gillett Hugh C. White and reuse STAFF for Ann Hunter Susan Small Bonnie Spady Puerto Rico's Nightmare required Lisa Whelan ince 1898, when U.S. soldiers years we have defended a number S invaded the island of Puerto of Puerto Ricans who were

Permission PUBLISHER Rico, unilaterally claiming it from brought before Grand Juries in Episcopal Church Publishing Company Spain, the political and social ills New York and Brooklyn for of Puerto Ricans have risen and interrogation on alleged charges DFMS.

/ receded, like a recurrent that were never substantiated. ECPC BOARD OF DIRECTORS nightmare haunting a feverish There is widespread frustration patient. Currently the Reagan Church CHAIR and growing anger with the H. Coleman McGehee administration's regressive social policies of the Reagan administra- VICE-CHAIR and military policies toward Puerto tion toward Puerto Rico. Deep cuts Barbara Harris Rico have become, with a Episcopal in the Comprehensive Employ- SECRETARY vengeance, the latest episode. ment and Training Act (CETA) the Helen Seager of In recognition of these historic have eliminated 25,000 jobs. A TREASURER facts, and sensitive to Puerto recent reform in the administration Robert Potter Rico's present plight, the of the Food Stamp program has Archives ASSISTANT TREASURER resulted in cutting 34,000 families Robert Eckersley Episcopal Church Publishing Company convened this summer from the roles. The Reagan 2020. Otis Charles an Ecumenical Committee on the administration has recommended Robert L. DeWitt Future of Puerto Rico. The that the Food Stamp program, Steven Guerra committee arises out of a long which affects at least 57% of all Copyright Suzanne Hiatt involvement in Puerto Rican islanders, be replaced by a cash Mattie Hopkins issues, both on the island and grant program, using Puerto Rico Joan Howarth here in the United States. Eleven as a guinea pig for a plan that James Lewis years ago, people now on our might be applied throughout the Joseph A. Pelham board and staff were involved in United States. A new tax bill for the public hearings in Puerto Rico Puerto Rico now before the THE WITNESS is published monthly. Editorial which exposed the collusion of House-Senate Conference Com- office: P.O. Box 359, Ambler, PA 19002. Phone (215) 643-7067. Subscription rates $12 per year. two American companies, mittee would have the effect of $1 per copy. Copyright 1982 by the Episcopal Kennecott and American Metal diminishing corporate investment Church Publishing Company. Printed in U.S.A. Climax, in the exploitation of in Puerto Rico and increasing ISSN 0197-8896 Puerto Rican copper. In recent Continued on page 19 Why Haitians Risk Treacherous

hen the first Haitian refugees arrived in a sailboat on Haiti has a combined unemployment and under- W the shore of southern Florida in December of 1972, employment of 80%, an average life expectancy of 50 they signaled a whole new wave of Haitian migration. Those years, and an illiteracy rate of 85%. Three of four Haitians first Haitians to negotiate the Gulf to U.S. shores proved live in rural areas where daily wages may be no more than 40 that it was possible to cross the treacherous Florida current to 60c. In some areas, children begin work at 7 years of age. in a primitive vessel. In Port-au-Prince, where many have migrated to seekjobs, To be sure, the venture was risky; a home-made sailboat working conditions and labor management relations are no could take 30 days to make the uncertain voyage. better in the sugar mills and bauxite, tobacco, textile and publication. Nonetheless, poor Haitians who could not afford airfare or cement factories. These poor conditions are also suffered by some 40,000 workers employed by 200 U.S.-owned and exit documents then began to join the professional and upper class Haitians who had fled the repressive political companies, drawn to Haiti by Duvalier's promise of low reuse turmoil of the 1950s. wages and a "stable" political climate. Domestic workers are for And they are still coming. Why do they come, when it is legally allowed to put in 14 hour days, without a day off. known that hundreds of lives have been lost at sea using this Given these conditions, it is not surprising that some route? Many seek refuge from the dictatorial regimes 600,000 Haitians were living outside of Haiti as of Jan. 1, required of Francois and Jean-Claude Duvalier, but political re- 1980. The largest numbers migrated to the United States pression is not the sole reason. The economic picture in (400,000); the Dominican Republic (115,000); Canada Haiti is devastating. For example, Haiti is the only country (40,000); Cuba (15,000); and the Bahamas (10,000). Permission in the Western Hemisphere to be designated by the United Those in the United States are estimated to be in the Nations as "Fourth World." This encompasses the 31 following population centers: New York Metropolitan

DFMS. poorest nations — those with an average per capita annual Area, 300,000; Miami (South Florida), 45,000; , 25- / income of less than $100, illiteracy affecting over 80% of the 30,000; Philadelphia, 20-25,000; and Boston 25,000. Many population, and industrial production accounting for less of these are without documents to become resident aliens,

Church than 10% of the Gross National Product. and often work for less than minimum wage as janitors, Episcopal

the Episcopalians to of by Margaret Traxler

Archives he Episcopal Church is about to write and live-out one of the most

2020. T magnanimous chapters in its history. The church is the sponsor of 57 Haitian women who have been incarcerated at Copyright Alderson, W.Va. Federal Prison for the past year. We visited these gentle, soft-spoken women, detained for no offense except

Margaret Ellen Traxler is a Notre Dame nun who is director of the Institute of Women Today with headquarters in Chicago. One of the services of the Institute is to bring service programs to women who are in jail and prison. Seas to Reach U.S. Shores

maids, dishwashers or garment workers. sponsor approved by the INS and an individual sponsor as Since that first primitive vessel made it to Florida in well before being released. As THE WITNESS goes to December of 1972, the Immigration and Naturalization press, 750 have been freed, 367 from Krome and 383 from Service (INS) knows of total Haitian arrivals numbering other prisons. 40,009. Perhaps unique among those to be released are the 57 As of June, 1982, 1,981 Haitians had been detained as Haitian women detained at Alderson, whom the Episcopal illegal aliens in 14 prisons across the United States and in Church recently volunteered to assist through the Presiding Puerto Rico. The largest number — 751 — were in Ft. Allen, Bishop's Fund for World Relief. As the Rev. Samir J. Puerto Rico. (See Box.) publication. Habiby, director of the Fund, noted recently, "The The Haitians had two other big strikes against them

and detention for over one year of peaceful though besides treacherous seas and weather. During the same undocumented Haitians who have come to our shores period they were fleeing Duvalier's Haiti, Cubans were also reuse without visas is exceptionally unfortunate and violates the arriving here and being processed by INS with fewer for very integrity and compassionate humane framework of the problems because they were escaping a Communist regime. American way of life." The Fund now has field staff at four Further, commented The Miami News, "To refuse the detention sites — Krome, Ft. Allen, Alderson, and La Tuna. required pending request of the dark-skinned Haitians would be (See Box.) racism and surely our government isn't racist, or is it?" Then in July of this year, Federal Judge Eugene P. Against this background Margaret Ellen Traxler of the

Permission Spellman ordered that Haitians who had been imprisoned Institute of Women Today presents an account of her visit to indefinitely across the country be freed on the technicality the women at Alderson, who told some of their stories and that the Justice Department had fashioned and im- anxieties. If it is true that Episcopalians about to host the DFMS. / plemented the detention policy illegally. But, he said, Haitians are unsure about who they are, it is also clear that these Haitians would not be set free jobless, penniless, and the Haitians have some anxieties about what an

Church able to speak only Creole. They must each have an agency or Episcopalian is.

HostEpiscopal 57 Women From Alderson the of that they are undocumented aliens. open boat. We sold our goat, our pig or Cuba. Our keel began to crack and we Four of us from the Institute of Women all our chickens. My grandfather sold literally held it together as we Archives Today went to Alderson. In the group his 150 feet of land that he had inherited approached the Cuban shore. The were Dr. Susan Buchanan, director of so that my brother and I could also people along the shore helped us repair 2020. the National Emergency Coalition for come. He gave us all he had. On the the boat, gave us food and water and we Haitian Refugees; Attorney Ralla night of our departure we met one-by- set sail once more. Two weeks later we Klepak, head of the board of the one in a secluded cove near Port-au- sighted Florida and sang a song of Copyright Institute of Women Today; Dr. Ivette Prince and we quietly started out just thanksgiving: Morgan, a public school administrator after the patrols made their rounds. At Jesus is our star from Miami; and myself. first the sails didn't pick up the wind and Jesus is our harbor We asked them to tell us about their we all prayed. Suddenly the sails filled Jesus is our Saviour hopes and their passage to this country. out and we were on our way." and now we are home. " A typical story was told by Helene Helene spoke in her Creole tongue Helene finished her story and the Etienne. The nods and assent of the with gentle cadences. Susan Buchanan women immediately began to sing the others confirmed that this was in effect, understood the nuances of the language song again. They did not complain that also their story. Helene began, "About and translated. Helene continued, the "welcome" they received in Miami 40 of us pooled all we had to buy an "After a week at sea we saw the coast of was incarceration in one of the detention centers: for example, Krome, Judge Spellman stipulated that the Brooklyn or in their case, Alderson Haitians should have a sponsoring Federal Prison. Haitian Refugees agency and it is at this point where In assuming a vital role in the interim- In Detention churches and synagogues can be placement of the Haitians (the word re- catalysts in their placement. settlement is not used), the (June,1982) Consequently the Episcopal Church Episcopalians will be translating into now finds itself with sensitive, loving action Proverbs 31:8: "Speak up for Krome North (Fla.) 522 hostages. Officer Ruth Creech, an those who cannot speak for themselves, Miami Federal 31 Alderson prison official, told us that in Miami Hospital 30 the first days after the arrival of the for the rights of all who are destitute." Golden Door (Miami) 31 The alchemy of translation is not easy Red Shield (Miami) 6 Haitian women, there was no one to and asks difficult questions. For Ft. Allen (Puerto Rico) 751 translate and so when the women wept example, What is our role in interim- Brooklyn 62 in the dining room, the guards could not publication. placement? How can we reunite Otisvllle (N.Y.) 97 understand the tears. Raybrook (N.Y.) 157 and families? How do we teach English as a Alderson (W.Va.) 57 "We thought it might be that our food second language? What job skills can be La Tuna (Texas) 31 was so unlike theirs," Ms. Creech said. reuse taught for reasonable employment? Lexington 198 "Then later, a translator inquired for us, for What adequate legal services shall be New Orleans 7 'Why do you cry in the dining room?' administered? What religious ministry Springfield (Mo.) 1 They said, 'We weep to think how much Grand Total 1,981 required can be found to serve them? food there is, while our families starve In a sense, the U.S. Immigration and back in Haiti.' " Naturalization Service (INS) has not Total number of Haitian arrivals The first concern of the Haitian made solutions to these questions any known to INS from 12/12/72 women is, of course, their spouses and Permission to 3/31/82 40,009* easier. Among the INS requirements is families. A lack of communication — Haitians included in 10/10/80 that refugees report weekly to the entrant status 25,217 between centers of detention caused DFMS.

/ immigration office. The INS, however, — Those who arrived after anxiety because second-hand news and has a back-log of unfiled records as far subject to deportation 13,792 rumors can be worrisome. The reports back as 1954. The local offices change of 37 suicide attempts, for instance, was Church locations and often the clerks do not *From Office of Refugee Resettlement, a source of deep anxiety. Monthly Data Reports, March, '82. mark the weekly registration cards. The Another concern was their Miami Metropole Hotel for example, sponsoring religious group. The women Episcopal was used as a registration center, but at Alderson asked us about the

of two years after it closed, INS was still been forcibly returned have been jailed Episcopalians when they found out who giving this address to refugees. and killed. We have many testimonies their sponsors would be. "Will they like Hopefully, INS will grant full about this." us?," they inquired. The Haitians called

Archives responsibility to the sponsoring With unprecedented action, akin me "Mama Marguerite" and they religious body for the supervision of the only to the internment of the Japanese looked to me for an answer. 2020. Haitians. in World War II, the already suffering "Episcopalians are prayerful, The original intent of the INS was to Haitians, upon arrival on our shores worshipping people," I said. return the refugees to Haiti where their were detained in camps. That is, until "I have seen them translate the Copyright very emigration is considered a crime Judge Eugene P. Spellman of the Gospel into the spiritual and corporal punishable by death at the command of Miami Federal Court issued what Ralla works of mercy." The Haitians smiled President-for-Life, Jean-Claude Klepak called, "the crown-jewel court and seemed reassured. Duvalier. But as U.S. District Judge decision in the history of Job preparation will also tax the James L. King said, "If they are jurisprudence." Ralla explained that ingenuity of the sponsoring churches returned to Haiti, it is beyond dispute Judge Spellman invoked a technicality for the skills of Haitian life are not that some will be subjected to brutal in his ruling because INS had failed to always marketable in this country. treatment and bloody prisons." The post public notice of its intention to Haitian women are experienced in the Rev. Antoine Adrien, a Haitian priest, confine the Haitians. Klepak explained, rural arts such as cultivating food, confirms Judge King's assessment. He "This clearly violated government- said, "Many Haitian refugees who have ordered procedures." Continued on page 18 publication. and reuse for The Christian Dilemma: required Violence or Nonviolence? Permission iolence is not an abstract issue for change the government policies in some and increasing inequality between rich

DFMS. Christians. As persons and respects, but face well-nigh complete and poor are all seen as aspects of a

/ V communities, Christians live daily in the frustration in their nonviolent and legal violent situation in which millions of midst of violence. They often find efforts. In the same country many black Latin are involved. The Church themselves, willingly or unwillingly, Christians and even some whites find question they face is how to overthrow participating in social organizations themselves pinning their hopes on or the forces perpetuating this situation. that embody and practice violence. taking part in liberation movements The consciousness of violence and

Episcopal They may deliberately act in violent or which aim at the overthrow of present injustice is rising in the masses. Ruling the nonviolent ways to preserve law and oppressive authority, as the way to groups in their turn, feeling menaced in of order, or to bring about change. They justice and freedom. These movements, their privileges, build even more may use the power of government or the which in other countries in southern oppressive and violent systems of law to promote justice, or they may Africa have liberated territory and set power. Movements for constructive Archives fight government and break the law in up de facto governments of their own, change, even when legal and peaceful,

2020. the name of justice. We cannot speak in use many tactics ranging from may bring further repression. The general about their dilemmas until we education to military action. church has been challenged to denounce take account of real situations in which In Latin America many Christians this situation and to define a clear

Copyright Christians are trying to live their faith. feel themselves to be in the midst of option for the liberation of the people In the Republic of South Africa many violence which has a long history. It and the construction of a more just and Christians support a government shows itself in very different forms — human society. What forms should this representing a white minority that through oppressive acts such as unjust option take? How can Christians in imposes its will upon a black majority imprisonment of opponents by the solidarity with the people work by coercion, threats and frequently government, torture, censorship of the effectively to counter the forces of a overt violence, to protect their communications media and through violent status quo? privileged status, because they are economic exploitation backed by In Northern Ireland, Christians afraid of total loss and anarchy should political power. Malnutrition, high oppose Christians in sustained, the present power structure crumble. infant mortality, illiteracy, cultural communal violence, in which all Other Christians seek to oppose and discrimination, exploitation of workers limiting controls have broken down. Economic and political issues are being this situation the problem becomes to fought out and atrocities committed by "Certainly the fact that some reduce the sum total of violence in the groups wearing labels inherited from Christians are acting violently situation and to liberate human beings the church's past. The appalling irony of for justice and peace whilst for just and peaceful relations with each the situation is that those who seek others are acting nonviolently other. Some form of relatively just justice and reconciliation find is a problem. But the greatest order must first be created before themselves accused by Christian voices problem is that most of those violence can cease. The problem of at both extremes of betraying their Christian responsibility, then, is to faith. who name Christ as Lord are not consciously acting on the humanize the means of conflict and to In the Middle East, Arab Christians build structures of peace wherever share with Muslims a burning sense of matter at all." possible within it. injustice in response to the occupation Violence should not be equated with by Israel of some Arab homelands. must be considered. There are among us radicalism and revolution, nor publication. Violence is the mood and spirit of the three distinct points of view about nonviolence with gradualism and and day. Successful violence has determined methods: reform, nor vice versa. Either or both the status quo. Peaceful settlement • Some believe that nonviolent forms of struggle may be used with a reuse seems a hopeless dream in the present action is the only possibility consistent wide range of intention, from the for circumstances. What is a Christian's with obedience to Jesus Christ. They revolutionary overthrow of a whole duty and hope for witnessing to justice recognize that this discipline is hard and system to relatively minor alterations required and peace in this situation? will often be unsuccessful. They object within a social system. In the United States, most to justifying nonviolence only by its Those who are prepared to use spokespersons for the church have success as a strategy for solving social violence against the established order opposed the massive, obvious violence problems. Nonviolent action is for them need to ask themselves such questions Permission their country has inflicted in South East a witness to the transcendent power of as: Asia, but many Christians tacitly or God in Jesus Christ, a way of faith — Have you really explored the DFMS.

/ openly supported it. Christians have which will be justified by God and God's potentialities of nonviolence for your participated in and objected to power alone. situation, or are you simply assuming in economic domination and political • Some are prepared to accept the advance that it won't work? Church interventions, sometimes openly necessity of violent resistance as a — Is your choice of strategies violent, in Latin America. A civil rights Christian duty in extreme circum- alienating public opinion more than it is movement and other protest stances, but they would apply to it enlisting support? Episcopal movements, often committed to criteria similar to those governing a just — How are the means you use being the nonviolent change, have sometimes of war. Not only must the cause be just and kept from themselves becoming an adopted violence, whether by tactical all other possibilities exhausted, but instrument of dehumanization and thus choice or by uncalculated outbursts of also there must be reasonable engulfing the ends you seek? Are you

Archives feeling, against a systematic oppression expectation that violent resistance will contemplating too lightly the taking of armed with weapons both brutal and attain the ends desired, the methods life of another human being? 2020. subtle. These examples illustrate the must be just and there must be a positive — Have you considered how to dilemma of American Christians. Some understanding of the order which will integrate former oppressors (and their support violence by the armed forces be established after the violence families and friends, who may Copyright abroad or the police at home in the succeeds. Violence will then be themselves have been victims of name of national or local security. understood as the ultima ratio. It is the violence) into the liberated society you Some have worked to curb this violence act of freedom which can only be are fighting for? and to achieve justice by nonviolent and undertaken, with the guilt it brings, Advocates of nonviolence as a matter legal means, but with only limited confident in the final judgement of God. of principle need to ask themselves such success. A few have turned to counter- • Some find themselves already in questions as: violence with no more success. What is situations of violence in which they — Are you taking with sufficient the way of hope? cannot help but participate. Non- seriousness the tenacity and depth of It is in the context of reality that the violence does not present itself as violence in the structures of society, and methods of resistance to unjust and an option unless they would withdraw the social disruption its diminution is oppressive political or economic power totally from the struggle for justice. In likely to require? — May nonviolent action emasculate effective resistance at crucial points in a A Prose - Poem struggle? — In adhering to this as an absolute The Wife of Tomas Borge principle are you not in danger of giving the means (nonviolence, i.e. reduced by Jennifer Doane revolutionary violence) priority over fter the Nicaraguan revolution, horrible hours. He is still alive. the end sought (justice, i.e, reduced A Tomas Borge went to a prison and But his wife is dead, and yet he says structural violence)? met the man who had tortured him for that it is the same with her as it is with — Are you more concerned with your 500 hours under Somoza's regime. He him. She died before the revolution, own 'good' conscience than with the extended his hand to the man and said while the crimes were still being good of the oppressed? "This is my revenge. I forgive you." committed. She died before she had his Those who, by whatever means, work publication. Later when another man was on trial power to forgive them. for the destruction of an existing power who had helped kill Borge's wife — she In the trial, Borge was asked to look and structure in order to build a better one had been raped and tortured before upon the crimes against his wife, but he need to face such questions as:

reuse being killed — Borge asked that that turned away. He would not have us — Toward what expected results is for man not be judged for this particular remember or even imagine his own your struggle directed, and how does crime. wife's flesh being destroyed. the cost to be paid balance against the It's hard to look upon explicit All the Christians who can believe in required benefit expected? descriptions of torture. Often when I see the Resurrection know how the human — How is your power kept these I turn away, not knowing where body has not been touched. All the accountable in terms of this avowed simple knowledge of people being work of the torturers is belittled in the purpose so that your victory will not Permission tortured ends and where participation face of it. mean the emergence of yet another in their desecration begins. I do not Borge has asked us to take our eyes oppressive system? want my vision of who these people away from the trial, which at most can DFMS. / — How will those against whom the truly are to be corrupted. show us a corrupt world that is already struggle is directed be integrated into By pardoning the man who tortured slipping away, and to look upon a the new society? Church him, Borge tells us there is no longer wedding. Those who basically are concerned anything left in him of those 500 A just society is also a wedding. with preserving the institutions of an existing society when its power Episcopal structures are challenged, and commit influence? How far are the rich and the recent years has given increasingly clear of themselves to its defence, need to face powerful in fact favoured? expression. This is the challenge to all such questions as: — How far is a fundamental Christians to become wiser and more — Are you acting in the light of the dislocation of the 'powers that be' courageous in translating their Archives Biblical concern for the poor and needed if justice is to be achieved? commitment to Jesus Christ into oppressed, or for the preservation of The most important question, specific social and political engagement 2020. your own self — or group interest? however, is not raised by any one of for social justice; and in this sphere to — How far does your own violence these groups to any other, but by all of find their place as servants of the differ from that of revolutionary them together to the whole church. servant Lord with people of other Copyright groups? Certainly the fact that some Christians beliefs concerned with human freedom Those Christians who live in are acting violently forjusticeand peace and fulfillment. • countries where established institutions whilst others are acting nonviolently is a are open to pressure to effect change in problem. But the greatest problem is (The above article is excerpted from the the structures of government, industry that most of those who name Christ as World Council of Churches' publica- and society in the interests of social Lord are not consciously acting on the tion. Violence, Nonviolence and the justice, need to face such questions as: matter at all. It is vital, therefore, that Struggle for Social Justice, published in — Do you take the tenacity and depth the widespread concern about violence Geneva. The booklet is available for of structural violence seriously enough? and nonviolence should not obscure but $1.50 from the Publications Office, — Are there groups in your society rather highlight the larger challenge to WCC, 150, Route de Ferney, 1211 permanently excluded from voice and which the ecumenical movement in Geneva 20, Switzerland.) publication. and reuse for required Ideologies Irrelevant

Permission In Nuclear Arms Race by Dan Berrigan DFMS. / take grievous exception when • Christianity has its own language notes, was struck to earth in this event; and entered in collusion with Pilate to Church I Christians speak about an "ideologi- and images and symbols, boundlessly cal position" with regard to the nuclear fecund. These, in sum and relative to lie about the occurence.) arms race. There is no idelogical our subject, forbid arguments In contrast, "witness of the position compatible with Christianity resurrection" was the self-conferred title

Episcopal concerning body counts, allowable on any subject worth noting, let alone violence, comparative weaponries. of honor of the early Twelve. It meant the

of nukes. By this I mean something quite Indeed, the symbols imply that to they stood by life, to the point of simple: become ensnared in anti-human undergoing death, as well as death's • Christianity is distrustful of any wrangling about methodologies of analogous punishments: floggings,

Archives theory of social change that does not death is to lose one's moorings, one's scorn, jail. Their understanding was: exact risk and sacrifice. modesty, sanity. where there could be no debate, there 2020. • Christianity is perennially skepti- Every human ideology is reducible to could only be combat. This is our glory, cal of national and political interests, the vindication of murder as a social from Peter and Paul to Martin Luther especially imperial ones. method. The Christian response to this King and Archbishop Romero; we Copyright • The Christian norm of conduct is, in a sense, a non-response. We refuse know how to live and how to die. confesses no debt to religion, to argue on secular grounds, which are I have suggested that we have our observances, secular law, courts, jails. no grounds at all, but a quicksand. Our own language and symbols. These • Christian times of heightened self- non-response is the crucifixion of Christ properly understood, are charged with understanding are the times of the — which is to say, God in trouble for life, lifegiving, vehicles of life. When we martyrs. (Likewise, our times of being godlike; God under capital pour our blood at the Pentagon, we decadence are times of secular sentence for being godlike. In trouble exorcise ourselves of ideological complicity and debate.) for being human. The non-response of bickering (who shall live and who die). the disarmed God is vindicated in the We declare, in fear and trembling, our Resurrection. Of this, the world can The Rev. Daniel Berrigan is a noted Jesuit willingness to die rather than take life. author, poet, and peace activist. never be a witness. (The military, one This slight edge we wish to grant

10 Christianity. When we spread ashes at the movement. Gandhi walked to the of Nixon's spawning; he put death to the Pentagon, we mime the death- sea and took up the forbidden salt of the death. Since then, our country has had ridden pollution of the place. poor. King said, "The church is the only contempt for deterrence. Since When we dig a grave on the White place to go from." He started in the that time, all ideology and weaponry are House lawn, we pay tribute to the empty church, and went from there. aimed at first strike: Trident, MX, grave of Easter, even as we show forth Incomparably the greatest among neutron bomb, cruise and Pershing the universal grave into which humanity these, Jesus, took bread, broke, and missiles. is toppling. said: "This is my body, given for you." Eight of us decided in 1980, to break These are, I submit, acts in favor of Then he took a cup and said, "This is my this demonic clutch on our souls. We life; stark, primitive, in no one's special blood, given for you." damaged two Mark 12 A nuclear interest — least of all ours. We have not improved on this. More, warheads, beyond doubt weapons of Let me illustrate two things: ideolo- being equally fearful of living and first strike provocation. For us, the gized religion, and a breakthrough. The dying, we have yet to experience deepest meaning of this act surpasses all publication. Catholic bishops, preparing a letter to resurrection; which I translate, the hope ideologies and tactics. The meaning also and the church on nuclear weapons, that hopes on. A blasphemy against this surpasses the plenary punishment requested a meeting with Alexander hope is named deterrence. It is in direct meted out to us. Simply, we wanted to reuse Haig. Haig, a worldly principality of violation of the statement of Jesus, taste the resurrection. We wanted to test for awesome self-understanding, at first "Your ancestors said, an eye for an eye. the resurrection in our bones; to see if agreed to the meeting. Then he suddenly I say, love your enemies." we might live in hope, instead of in the required left town. It was a contemptuous Another blasphemy against the silva oscura of nuclear despair. gesture; it was also in the circumstances, resurrection is named MAD — May I say we have not been entirely fitting and proper. Whether the mutually assured destruction. This was disappointed. c bishops acted properly in requesting the Permission meeting remains moot. I suggest that consulting Haig on Christianity and DFMS.

/ nukes, is roughly equivalent to Jesus' Last Rebellion consulting Pilate on the conduct of holy We shape the final holocaust with nimble fingers. week. I dream its descent in flocks of flower-shaped clouds — Church Here, on the other hand, is a kind of obscuring sight, obscuring time. breakthrough. Bishop Walter Sullivan The seeds of our disharmony will vanish then

Episcopal of Richmond, spoke briefly at St. Paul's as brown skins, red skins, in New York on the same subject. The white or yellow the all alike are seared In that great photo flash. of gist of his thought was simply, "No nukes, anywhere in the world, in the Our final pose of pain is etched upon the universal eye and we are gone. hands of any worldly power." This one How can I weep for our demise? Archives must characterize as a justly Christian Having fled so long a God whose judgment hovered position, a translation in a bad time of (yet delayed in hope) 2020. the counsel to love one's enemies, to we fashion now that Armageddon with our bloody hands. walk another mile . . . It is our last rebellion. Terrified, and tired with fearful waiting, My teachers among others, have been we choose instead Copyright Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day, fulfillment of our own prophecies. Gandhi, Thomas Merton; a continuity How can I weep, when we are agents of our own destruction? of non-violence and non-ideology, Yet I will weep, and do — stemming from the early church, Jesus, for the lily-of-the-valley, charred to blackened bells; the hot breeze sucking thirstily on bones; and the prophets. My teachers are non- the linnet's wings curled dry and brown like leaves; ideologues, addicted to no self or special for lizards' pebbly skins interest — including their own lives. and the changing eyes of cats; Simply, they knew how to live and how for all the small things we take with us to die. They were skilled at drawing on when we go. — Joyce Ulrich Tompkins the great earth-time symbols that give us mimesis and praxis; the image and

11 publication. and reuse for Putting a Human Face required On Urban Ministry

Permission by Ed Berckman DFMS. / t's just an old, large house on the edge programs are carried on by supporting justice and public policy. People don't I of the downtown area of Lafayette, congregations. Like the Jubilee usually see this as part of Christian

Church Ind. Inside, a few people sit in a waiting Christmas, which lets parents choose responsibility." room, the receptionist types and and wrap presents for their children LUM's workers do perform direct answers the phone, and conversations (from donated toys and clothes) rather services, many of them left over from its go on in other rooms. There is no hint of than watch outsiders bring in presents. Episcopal earlier years since the ecumenical affluence: to play a tape, one has to hunt Since LUM began the first one three ministry evolved from a Presbyterian the

of up a borrowed cassette player. years ago, five churches now put on congregation in 1972. Summer Camp But here, in the heart of conservative three additional Jubilee Christmas gives 125 low-income children the Hoosierland, the Lafayette Urban sessions each year. chance for overnight and day-camp

Archives Ministry, with the support and "An urban ministry," says the Rev. experiences. Family Camp brings low- involvement of 31 local churches from Judson Dolphin, Director of LUM income families together for a weekend. 2020. 13 denominations, operates a dozen since 1978, "must develop roots in Last year a Centralized Emergency different programs. LUM serves 40% of congregations and low-income Fund of over $24,000 helped 600 the low-income families of this county neighborhoods. LUM has not only families. A Volunteer Transportation Copyright of over 100,000 people — all on an developed such roots but has found Program that served up to 1300 elderly annual budget of $125,000. ways to maintain and nurture them." persons annually was turned over to the Four paid staff and volunteers who "When churches think social Senior Center two years ago. gave over 14,000 hours in 1981 make ministry," Dolphin said, "they tend to A more typical LUM program is the this ministry possible — and spinoff think of direct services. 'We fed X Food-Buying Clubs, started last fall number of people.' It's what we did for after food stamps were cut. In two them. Our approach emphasizes two months, participation jumped from 15 The Rev. Edward M. Berckman, an Episcopal other areas. One is self-help, working families to 80, as wholesale buying cut priest, is editor of The Church Militant, with low-income people as equals, dealer costs and yielded an average 30% publication of the Diocese of Indianapolis, which is really a form of community savings (apples at 31c a pound, eggs for and vicar of St. Stephen's Church, Elwood, Ind. organizing. The other area is social 67c a dozen). Those served did the work

12 assistance from the township's Trustee was a principal factor in the recent decision by LUM's 33-member Board to take on the Trustee issue as its major social justice and public policy focus during the next two years. 's totally autonomous township Trustees, elected every four years, are charged with relief efforts, care of cemeteries, fire protection and licensing stray dogs. Their funds come from real estate taxes and federal revenue-sharing. publication. "Besides the attitudes of Trustees,

and which often imply 'you are guilty of being poor,'the major difficulties," said reuse Dolphin, "are the incredible for discrepancies in standards of eligibility for assistance from township to township and from case to case within required The Rev. Jud Dolphin, Director, and Ms. Carolyn Lytle, Program Supervisor of the township. Access is also a huge the Lafayette Urban Ministry. problem. Some Trustees have no office and no regular office hours. Even

Permission making application is difficult." LUM volunteers are taping people's of distribution, and the lower prices Lytle, program supervisor.

DFMS. reports of their experiences with the

/ encouraged more consumption of fresh "It gave us credibility," Dolphin said. Trustee system. The tapes will be avail- fruits and vegetables. "It's the primary way we have daily able for use by study groups. "It gets the Repairs on Wheels sends volunteers contact with low-income people. And it Church human face onto an issue," Dolphin to the home of elderly or low-income was the stepping-stone to all the other said. people to do requested repairs, painting things, as Advocates learned the or other jobs. Residents pay for recurring needs of low-income people." One recent episode: An elderly Black Episcopal man with chronic heart trouble faced a materials, not labor. Peter Swinford Serving 35 people a month in 1980, the five-month wait before Social Security was staff coordinator of the program Advocates now average 225 per month. of disability assistance would begin. So he (now replaced by Joe Micon, its Fifteen volunteers do this work. Each went by himself to the township Trustee originator), and a retired farmer-banker morning they accompany people to to request money for heart medicine. Archives is a full-time volunteer. "We screen welfare or utility offices, assist in filling The Trustee not only denied the request requests and help only those who can't out forms, speak on behalf of their but threatened to put him in the county 2020. afford to pay professionals," Swinford clients, and offer moral support and home if he appeared again. said. "We don't want to take away practical guidance. anyone's work." "What we do is give people hope . . . The man was so frightened it was two

Copyright Programs like these, and the Jubilee that we'll find a way," said Carolyn months before he came to LUM for Christmas, are designed to enable the Lytle. "Other agencies may not care help. An Advocate accompanied him to poor to preserve or regain their dignity. about that individual." the Trustee where he made his WITNESS readers may be interested Each Advocate gets 18 hours of to know that LUM received a grant in training over two weeks. Besides Resource 1981 from the Episcopal Church School orientation to the social service agencies For a historical and theoretical elaboration Missionary Offering, and in 1982, from and the township Trustee system, they of LUM's approach, see James D. Davidson, United Episcopal Charities. learn to do interviews and become et. al., "Increasing Church Involvement in The heart of LUM's ministry is its sensitive to the needs of the poor. Social Concerns: A Model for Urban Ministries," in Review of Religious Research, Advocates for the Poor program, Advocates' increasing awareness of Vol. 20, No. 3 (Summer, 1979). according to Dolphin and Carolyn the problems faced by persons who seek

13 year 400. The 1982 Seeds of Vision offered 17 workshops and, as keynote speaker, Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr. of Union Theological Seminary. Building an informed constituency is essential, Dolphin believes. And "Once you have a constituency, you use it. You don't apologize for asking for help. Your attitude is important. You, your staff, your board have to be convinced that what you're doing has theological integrity. And make sure each volunteer is used in a meaningful way." publication. Another important factor, for

and Dolphin, is LUM's strong board, dominated by lay people. "When lay reuse people are turned on, they're really for turned on. A pastor working alone can't get social concerns integrated into a congregation, although it has happened required that one pastor can prevent these issues from becoming part of the congregation's agenda."

Permission It seems clear that LUM's staff and volunteers act out of a definite Christian

DFMS. commitment and biblical mandate. "I / don't hear the charge that we're not Jay Gilmore, left, and Miles Davis, volunteers from the University church at Purdue, paint an elderly woman's trailer as members of the Repairs on Wheels Christian," Dolphin said. "We talk Church crew. theologically, biblically, here, and we try to act upon our faith." Carolyn Lytle who became Advocate application — and got assistance for mission, their own program." Four such Episcopal Supervisor after two years as a rent as well as medicine. teams, one of Purdue University the volunteer Advocate, said, "It's the Lord

of As for partisan politics, "that piece of students, now devote Saturday who called us here. We were really it must be picked up by someone else," mornings to the Repairs on Wheels needed, but only the Lord knew it." • Dolphin said, "To become partisan you program.

Archives alienate many in the congregations and How does LUM elicit and maintain you blur your focus on the poor. Both the churches' involvement? "If there's What's That Again? 2020. Democrats and Republicans need to be any secret," Dolphin said, "it's getting The NRC has scheduled a series of challenged with the Gospel's good news your story out. But you have to have a technology exchanges to explore and to the poor." story to tell." address the implications, environ- Copyright A United Presbyterian Church, The Seed, a "well-thought-out" mental and otherwise, of an energetic U.S.A. minister who earlier worked in monthly newsletter, goes to 1700 disassembly at a nuclear generating station. an urban ministry in Pittsburgh, Jud people. Then there's the annual spring If you're a little confused, what that Dolphin said ecumenical programs conference, Seeds of Vision, which means is that the Nuclear Regulatory generally "tend to be supported by deals with social ministry and its Commission is going to have some churches at a distance. But here we biblical roots. "Things really took off meetings to try and figure out what will hook in the churches, the people in the after the first one in 1980." Dolphin happen if a nuclear power plant blows up. (We bureaucrats understand that pew. Instead of direct solicitation of said. "Before the conference we said: kind of talk.) volunteers from churches, we ask a Who would come to this? But we really — Bo Kramptiz parish to put together a group, with a put a lot of effort into publicity, and 150 The Sealy News 7/1/82 leader, and offer them their own came." Last year, 350 attended, and this

14 Resolutions Rap Racism, INS

wo strongly worded resolutions — one on racism in the male and female, to the ordained Tchurch, from the Episcopal Women's Caucus, and the ministry of the Episcopal Church; other on Government interference with a Christian con- 3) that the Episcopal Women's Caucus ference, adopted by the National Council of Churches — strongly supports and will work for the publication. were forwarded to THE WITNESS recently by the Rev. representative participation of minority and Patricia Park, EWC president, and the Rev. Jovelino Episcopal Church decision-making Ramos, NCC Associate General Secretary. bodies, especially the Executive reuse They noted, respectively, that the resolutions might be of Council; and for interest to WITNESS readers following the publication of 4) that this Resolution be published in the Black Women's Agenda (February and March) and the RUACH and transmitted to the required article about U.S. Immigration's ouster of Suzanne Coalition for Human Needs, the Union Berkeley, a young Grenadian, from a theology conference in of Black Episcopalians, the Episcopal Puerto Rico (July). THE WITNESS agrees, and presents Urban Caucus, and that copies of this the full text of the resolutions as follows: Resolution be made widely available at Permission General Convention in New Orleans. Resolution on Racism DFMS. / Adopted unanimously by the Episcopal Resolution: Women's Caucus Government Interference With a Christian Conference Church WHEREAS, the Episcopal Women's Caucus is Adopted by the NCC Governing Board committed to the elimination of racism in itself, in the Episcopal Church, and in WHEREAS, a conference was recently held in Puerto Episcopal society; and Rico for U.S. and Latin American the

of WHEREAS, as a predominately white organization we theologians and denominational executives continue to be the beneficiaries of a racist under the sponsorship of Theology in the Episcopal Church structure; and Americas, a U.S.-based ecumenical

Archives WHEREAS, the ordained ministry of the Episcopal organization supported by a number of Church has been theoretically open to communions that are members of the NCC; 2020. minority men for over a century and a half, and and to women only recently; and WHEREAS, an official of the U.S. Immigration and WHEREAS, at the present time the number of white Naturalization Service characterized the Copyright women clergy is already double that of conference in the presence of press and other minority persons of both sexes: witnesses as "anti-U.S.," "anti-militaristic," THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED and "of a political nature that may affect the 1) that all members of the Episcopal interests of the U.S.;" and Women's Caucus are urged to follow up WHEREAS, one of the participants, Suzanne Berkeley, a on diocesan plans coming out of the Roman Catholic social worker employed at Committee on Human Needs the Pope Paul VI Ecumenical Center in St. Conference on Racism in Atlanta; John's, Grenada, who had a valid visa to 2) that the Episcopal Women's Caucus enter Puerto Rico, was detained by the INS supports national Church and diocesan on the allegation that she was "seeking to efforts to recruit minority persons, both enter the U.S. ... to engage in activities

15 which would be prejudicial to the public interest or endanger the welfare, safety, or security of the U.S.;" and Of Martha's Pots WHEREAS, the detention of Suzanne Berkeley and her deportation to Grenada by the INS and Mary's Place disrupted the theological conference; and WHEREAS, the public characterization of her motives by Abbie Jane Wells and of the conference itself by the INS was an act inappropriate for a governmental artha didn't really know when she was well off! Mary agency and defamed the purposes and M wouldn't have been worth two denarii in the kitchen activities of Christian persons and groups in — not with Jesus in the other room, and her mind on him the U.S. and in other nations of the Western and not on cooking, trying to overhear what he was saying. Hemisphere; Mary would probably have salted everything at least

publication. twice, and dropped pots — pots full of food, too. The best THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Governing thing that happened to busy, busy Martha was that Mary and Board of the National Council of Churches: stayed out of the kitchen. Did you ever have someone whose (1) Protests to the Immigration and reuse head was in the clouds and whose mind was on other things Naturalization Service its refusal to for try to help you put together a meal? A meal for unexpected allow admission of Suzanne Berkeley to guests? Puerto Rico to participate in an open And I'll bet the men listening to Jesus agreed with required theological dialogue; Martha, and wished Mary would get the hell out. Women's (2) Expresses appreciation and admiration place was in the kitchen; Martha knew that — not sitting in to Suzanne Berkeley for her courage with the men listening to a man talk about things that are during this ordeal; Permission supposed to be of interest to men only. Even today, women (3) Expresses appreciation to Grenada's don't get by with sitting with the male hierarchy — listening Ambassador to the U.S. and the Prime to what they discuss. DFMS.

/ Minister of Grenada for their support of Well, Jesus thought that Mary's sitting at his feet along Suzanne Berkeley during this crisis; and with the men was the right thing for her to do — that she was

Church (4) Directs the General Secretary to in the right place for a woman to be. But 111 bet the men communicate these expressions to the thought that they could tell Mary and Martha anything that appropriate persons (with copy to the they thought these women should know about what Jesus

Episcopal Pope Paul Ecumenical Center). said. Later, after he was gone, they could interpret his looks the and inflections as well as his words to the women. of And so it still goes, in many places. But isn't it amazing, really, when God sent an angel to Mary to tell her what she was\o do? God didn't send the angel to Joseph to tell Joseph Archives to tell Mary what she was to do.

2020. And Jesus didn't have to tell the men to tell the women in the kitchen what he said, for Mary, a woman, could tell the women what she had heard Jesus say. And they could hear it

Copyright from a woman — not filtered through men's thinking process. No, Martha really didn't know when she was well off. Mary would have been useless in the kitchen, and a hindrance to the cook. And if Martha had had any foresight, she might well have said to Jesus, "Thank God, you got her out of my way," instead of what she did say.

Abbie Jane Wells is a WITNESS subscriber who from time to time provides us with insights and reflections written in her kitchen in Juneau, Alaska.

16 Letters . . .Continuedfrom page 2 your writers and the liberal individuals same Communion, it has no legal who would like to bring everyone down ties with the Church of England, mail the July WITNESS with its excellent to the same level. having been disestablished in articles on Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 1870." situation. went about doing good. He didn't try to And, from the Enclyclopedia Although we spent only four days on bring down any government. He didn't Britannica, Vol. 12, p. 565: the Atlantic Coast and had no direct ask people to rebel or condone perverse "The Church of Ireland contact with Miskitos, everything we did living. He only asked that we serve Him (embracing both the Republic of see and hear confirmed the conclusions and believe that He is our Lord. That is Ireland and Northern Ireland), in reached by the Central American what the church should be about. communion with the (rest of the) Religious Study Group and by Robert Marion Powell Anglican Church, traces its Renouf. Cave Creek, Ariz. episcopal succession from the Several government officials we met pre-Reformation Church in with told us "Don't just listen to us, ask Ireland..." publication. the people you meet in the market and Brought Back Memories I oppose these two statements to the and on the streets what they think about the THE WITNESS is wonderful. I shall comment by Ms. Condren, "There are no Revolution." When we did this, we Anglicans in Ireland. Those Protestants reuse especially treasure and keep the May discovered that a large majority in sympathy with the Church of England for General Convention issue, with the supported the Sandinistas; those who call themselves (of all things) the were critical were not in any way historical article by Bob DeWitt and the analysis of the costs by John Cannon. "Church of Ireland." intimidated, but spoke freely and If the good St. Patrick were to return to required openly. Both were well-written and factual. As I was present at every General Ireland today, he would find a far greater As the CARSG article indicates, the Convention from Seattle (1967) to New similarity between the Church of Ireland Sandinista leadership admits its serious Orleans (1982) it brought back many and the church he knew, than between Permission mistakes in dealing with the Miskitos. good memories. We were sitting in a the Roman and the We found leaders equally open and bedroom trying to decide on a name for church he founded. Patrick would have eager to make whatever changes are recoiled in horror at the inane parody of

DFMS. our new committee — "empowerment" / needed. . . . "E" . . . "Coalition E." It stuck and it the historic Catholic religion that is The CARSG article refers to the fears worked. Oh, how it (and we) worked. found at such centers of superstition as of the Nicaraguan Government "that the the shrine at Knock — or the bloody and Church I was on the floor when Martha Willson U.S. and Honduras might exploit the bruised knees of the faithful climbing from Georgia proposed a substitute Atlantic Coast people to give a pretext the hill mistakenly named "Patrick's resolution to the one that the House of for destabilizing the Nicaraguan Purgatory." The best scholarship would

Episcopal Deputies rubber-stamp the election of Government." Unfortunately, since that never link his name with such carryings the new Presiding Bishop. It was, and is, the article appeared, the U.S. policy of on.

of exciting to be a part of a church which is destabilization has been stepped up, not satisfied with the status quo and is Don't write off the Church of Ireland more raids have taken place, and CIA tolerant of a diversity of opinions and a so easily, Ms. Condren. It has provided a dirty tricks have multiplied, showing witness far greater than its numbers, and

Archives diversity of gifts. Thank you, WITNESS, these fears were based on reality. for reminding us of this. it has given men to the Celtic literary The Rev. F. Sanford Cutler revival, to the movement for national

2020. Ann McElroy Morristown, N.J. Irish Republican consciousness, and to Cupertino, Cal. the life of the nation in general. One need not be a bead-slinging Roman

Copyright Catholic to be a Catholic Christian, and Writers Have Attitudes To St. Patrick's Horror this goes for Ireland as well as for the Magazines like yours are doing a In response to Mary Condren's reply to rest of the world. disservice to our Lord, to the world and Prescott Laundrie's critique of her The Rev. George Porthan to our country. article on the Irish situation (July Peru, Ind. We have traveled many places and our Letters), let me quote two impeccable interaction with others has been sources. wonderful. Many countries need the First, from the Encyclopedia of Ms. Condren Responds dollars. In every way your publication Ireland, p. 133: I stand corrected on the technical issue down-grades this country. We have "The Church of Ireland is a as to the relationship between the gotten into this present situation member of the Anglican Church of Ireland and the Anglican because of the attitudes of people like Communion . . . Although of the Church. However, I find little to choose

17 between the imperialist ambitions of "bead-slinging." One thing the political Continued from page 6 Anglophiles and Romans. Both have turmoil has taught in Ireland, is that it is making milk products, and raising had devastating consequences in the well nigh impossible to sling beads and livestock. They are adept in the use of Irish context. Furthermore I am sure my shoot straight at the same time. sewing machines, folk arts of good friends in the Church of Ireland Mary Condren embroidery, needle craft and the would have appreciated the tongue in Cambridge, Mass. forgotten art of intricate laces. Creole cheek reference to their formal title. Those who call themselves the Church cooking is a much desired skill. of Ireland in such a sensitive ecumenical WITNESS 'With It' Reuniting families poses a challenge atmosphere, are bound to run into Retired, and on very low income, I must which the Episcopalians with their trouble. accept your offer of $6 per year for a strong family-faith dimension will Behind George Porthan's letter are WITNESS subscription. surely solve. Cannot spouses be more substantial issues. I share his great You're "with it" and it's so good to see assigned housing together at once? publication. respect for the early Celtic church. representatives of the church speaking Parents with children could be given and However, the Rev. Porthan would find out as you do. It's helping the Episcopal apartment accommodations even with himself in difficulty on scholarly Church revive itself. And I wish it could the cooperating churches assuming reuse grounds in exalting the role of Patrick. spread into my Lutheran church too. I'd combined sponsorship. The safest

for Many scholars are now agreed that the like to see the current state of condition of a person is with those of importance of Patrick to the early Irish Episcopalian/Lutheran relations lead church has been grossly exaggerated. family. The most basic unit of family to intercommunion and union of the being reunited must surely become the required As for "Patrick's Purgatory," this was two, particularly since there is some one of the pre-Christian religious pressure among Lutherans to restore focal point in this period of trauma now institutions which was "baptized" by the the historic Episcopate given attention ending for Haitians. • early church in an effort to convert the in THE WITNESS.

Permission Resources native Irish. The original "Purgatory" The Rev. Don R. Frey was possibly an early center for National Emergency Coalition for Dayton, Ohio Haitian Refugees, 191 Joralemon St., initiation rites which involved simulated DFMS. Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201 (212) 596-5500. / death and re-birth. If anything, it Haitian Refugee Project, 110 appears that the Christian monks have Not About This Parish Maryland Ave. NE, Washington, D.C.

Church removed the worst excesses which used (202) 544-7475. to take place there. Enclosed you will find a refusal to renew Presiding Bishops Fund for World your magazine. Although some of the Behind the Rev. Porthan's argument is Relief, Episcopal Church Center, 815 articles have been mildly interesting, the supposition commonly put forward Second Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017. Episcopal their secular humanistic thrust has by 19th century Protestant scholars, that the nothing whatever to do with what we are the Church of Ireland was the logical of about in this parish. successor to the early Celtic church. Pentagon Demonstration Set The Rev. Peter Jacobsen Unfortunately, this debate took place in Peace activists will stage a demonstra- Flint, Mich.

Archives the context of a broader political tion at the Pentagon on election day, decision which was being made Nov. 2, with the theme, "Whatever your

2020. concerning the very disestablishment of In Praise of August vote, make it 'no' to nuclear annihi- the Church of Ireland. Practically, lation." Designers of the action said that I gave my copies of THE WITNESS to disestablishment meant that the Church they felt if voting could stop the arms of Ireland could no longer collect taxes our pastor, so I would like to order the Copyright race, voting would be illegal. For from the majority population, the books, Which Side Are We On and The Roman Catholics. Needless to say New Right, advertised on your back information contact Jonah House, 1933 Roman Catholic scholars were equally cover, through this communication. Park Ave., Baltimore, Md. 21217 (301- partisan in their efforts to prove spiritual Your August issue contained three 669-6265). paternity of Irish Christians. Much of excellent articles: "In Praise of this scholarship is now suspect for that Marriage," "Probing Future Energy very reason. Alternatives," and "Are Prisons CREDITS Cheating the Taxpayer?" Also, "Pews Cover, Beth Seka; p. 4, drawing by Buu Finally, I would be the last in the world Chi, Clergy and Laity Concerned; p. 7, to write off the Church of Ireland. Some Are Not for the Living" was great! Keep Network; p. 10, graphic by John of my best women friends are...! God be up the good "stuff." Gummere; photos pp. 13-14, Ed. with the days when the only problem John E. Lenox, M.D. Berckman. between Protestants and Catholics was Pittsburgh, Pa.

18 Editorial . . . Continued from page 3

unemployment, which is officially at 25%, higher than that of any state in the federal union. The Caribbean Basin Initiative, designed to prop up the staggering economies in El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, would decrease tariff restrictions for Caribbean islands, heightening competition with Puerto Rico's publication. rum and tuna industries, seriously and threatening the island's present advantage. reuse Segments of the Puerto Rican for community, normally divided over its status options — common-

required wealth, independence or state- hood — are joining forces in Spread the word this Christmas with gift subscriptions to: their criticism of what they see as a concerted effort to reinforce the • A friend • A colleague Permission existing colonial relationship. The • A relative • A student unifying factor is the reality of • Your church or library

DFMS. Puerto Rico's colonial control by / Compliment their taste and judgment with a year's worth of and dependency upon the United States, whatever status option the stimulating and provocative reading in THE WITNESS. Church people may favor. Save yourself time, energy, and money, too. No need to rush This anti-Puerto Rican prejudice all over town or stand in long lines at the cash register. Your first is not focused just on islanders. gift subscription or your own renewal is $10 — $2 off the Episcopal For years now U.S. police, FBI regular price. Each additional gift is only $5. Take care of the agents and Grand Juries have your gift list and help THE WITNESS at the same time. of singled out Puerto Ricans in this Your gift subscriptions will be announced by attractive cards, country as suspect, especially if hand-signed exactly as you instruct us, and mailed to the recipients.

Archives they espouse the legitimate option of independence. Puerto Ricans To order, use the handy postage-paid envelope in this issue.

2020. and their advocates in the United If you need more room enclose an additional sheet of paper. States are looked upon as a special class and as a dangerous

Copyright breed. an ecumenical journal The Ecumenical Committee on of social concern the Future of Puerto Rico believes THE that it is imperative for the religious communities in the United States to denounce the colonial status of Puerto Rico, and for the churches in Puerto Rico to cease their role as defenders of the status quo. (H.C.W. and the editors)

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