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For Conscience' Sake

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For Conscience' Sake The Reporter The Center on Conscience & War for Conscience’ Sake Volume 68 Fall 2011 Number 3 Conscientious Objection: Then and Now Creating A Legacy of The Continuing Conscience Struggle for Religious Jordan Blevins, Church of the Liberty Brethren, CCW Board Treasurer Daniel Mach, Former CCW Board Churches have never been of one Member mind when it comes to issues of war and peace. In fact, one of the great For decades, the Center on Con- debates that has taken place through- science & War has placed itself at out Christian history has been what the intersection of two of the defin- role Christians should play in mili- ing forces of American public life: tary conflicts. religious freedom and the U.S. mili- CCW staff visits Selective Service Oct. 18. Back row from left: tary. As recent events have reminded While it is certainly true that Jake Short, Bill Galvin, Maria Santelli, Liz Rekowski, Amanda members of the Christian faith have Roy, Samantha Sheridan, Francois Landrac. Front row from us, these waters are seldom easy to participated in armed conflict, the left: Nico Holz, Brendan Agnew Photo courtesy of Jake Short navigate. But CCW’s latest successes churches have never agreed when it serve as a powerful reminder that the comes to how, when, and whether or organization remains a critical voice not that participation can be consid- for preserving the great American ered sinful. promise of religious liberty. In a paper prepared for its General Conflicts over religious freedom in Assembly in November of 2010, titled the U.S. military abound. From ques- “A Christian Understanding of War in tions of religious favoritism at offi- an Age of Terror(ism)”, the National cially sponsored religious assemblies Council of Churches described the di- on military bases, to disputes over vide this way: “In the wake of World the proper role of military chaplains War II, the WCC’s First Assembly in wedding ceremonies for same-sex (Amsterdam 1948) declared that couples, to charges of religious coer- ‘War is contrary to the will of God’ cion at military academies, these are hotly contested issues that go to the and the Second Assembly (Evanston First NSBRO board of directors, 1940s. Back row, from left: 1954) declared that war is ‘inherently M.R. Zigler, Orie O. Miller, Leroy Dakin, Paul Furnas, and Ar- heart of the American experience and evil’.” These declarations led some thur Swift. Front row, from left: Paul Comly French, Harold identity. Row, and Albert Gaeddert. Photo courtesy of www.gameo.org delegates to confess their perplexity And in this context, few issues about how such visionary statements recur as often, or resonate as power- might be acted on in the real world. They maintained that in this fully, as the question of conscientious objection to war. real world of violence and military aggression, nonviolent nego- Military conscientious objectors these days face a series of cul- tiation and peaceful conflict transformation remained an impos- tural, institutional, and legal hurdles. First, there is the inherent Legacy, continued on pg. 4 Struggle, continued on pg. 5 Also Inside: News Briefs..............................page 2 Religious Liberty.........................page 5 nota bene..........page 8 CCW News...............................page 3 CCW News..................................page 6 Selective CO.............................page 4 CO Memory.................................page 7 Reporter for Conscience’ Sake 1 Vol. 68, No. 3 News Briefs Finland The opposing two justices said freedom of con- science and military duty conflict with each other, Total conscientious objectors in Finland may saying the nation should adopt an alternative mili- soon not have to face prison time under a new law. tary service system. The law, which goes into effect in November, al- Those who refuse to perform military service lows those serving sentences up to six months to Board of Directors without proper reasons under current law are sub- qualify for house arrest instead of jail. ject to up to three years in prison. Dallas Wisehaupt, Chair In Finland, total COs are those who are opposed At Large A majority of conscientious objectors in South to both military and alternative service. Normally Korea are Jehovah’s Witnesses. Taj Johnson, Vice Chair they are sentenced to approximately six months in At Large This ruling comes almost exactly seven years prison for their refusal. from a previous decision in 2004, which said, Joan Broadfield, Secretary Currently the only alternative service is puni- At Large “Freedom of conscience is a very important basic tive and COs must serve longer than those who right, but an alternative service will be an unrea- Jordan Blevins, Treasurer are consctipted into the military. Church of the Brethren sonable test that can obstruct the very important “This is the first time that an option other than public interest of national security.” E. James Lieberman prison is made available to conscientious objec- Jewish Peace Fellowship tors,” said Kaj Raninen of the Union of Conscien- www.koreatimes.co.kr Camilo Mejia tious Objectors. At Large United Kingdom While this is an improvement in the overall Jo Ann Zimmerman treatment of total COs, Raninen said that house The legal battle for Royal Navy medic Michael At Large arrest does not solve the broader problem of hu- Lyons’ conscientious objector status continued on Staff man rights issues concerning conscription in Fin- Oct. 13 with an appeal to the High Court. Maria Santelli land. Lyons was convicted of “willful disobedience” Executive Director www.yle.fi for refusing to participate in rifle training in Sept. Bill Galvin 2010 when he applied for CO status. His appeal Counseling Coordinator Kuwait to the Advisory Committee on Conscientious Ob- Jake Short Military conscription could be reintroduced in jection was rejected in Dec. 2010, followed by a Brethren Volunteer Kuwait after draft legislation was introduced into court-martial with a sentence of seven months de- Nico Holz parliament in August. tention, reduction in rank, and dismissal from the Brethren Volunteer Conscription has been suspended since 2001 Royal Navy in July (see Reporter, Winter 2010 Liz Rekowski and there was a failed attempt to reinstate it in and Summer 2011). Brethren Volunteer 2009. Now Lyons’ appeal to the High Court is argu- According to the draft law, men between the ing that the ruling made by the European Court Call us at 1-800-379-2679 http://centeronconscience.org ages of 20 and 30 will have to serve at least six of Human Rights “that states have a duty to re- [email protected] months and possibly up to one year in the Army. spect individuals’ right to conscientious objection to military service” (see Reporter, Summer 2011) Founded in 1940, the Center on Students, only sons, and members of the diplo- Conscience & War works to extend matic corps are exempted. The goal of the leg- should warrant another review of his case. and defend the rights of conscientious islation is to help meet the Defense Ministry’s Emma Sangster, coordinator of Forces Watch, objectors to war. To that end, we requirements to defend the country against “ex- said about the case, “The simple injustice of Mi- • Counsel military conscientious ternal aggression.” chael’s treatment illustrates how the government objectors. War Resisters’ League and the Ministry of Defence repeatedly fail to • Provide legal support for military recognize conscientious objection in practice. We personnel. South Korea • Monitor Congress to extend and hope the recent recognition given to those who defend the rights of conscientious The Constitutional Court in South Korea ruled object on moral grounds to military service by the objectors. on Aug. 30 that the right to conscientious objec- European Convention on Human Rights will cre- • Provide accurate information to the public on Selective Service registra- tion is not protected under the constitution. ate a change of attitude in the UK armed forces.” tion. A 7-2 majority agreed that the current conscrip- Lyons’ wife Lillian, said of her husband, who is • Provide support to COs who refuse tion laws were constitutional and the only reasons now detained at the Military Corrective Training to register for the draft through F.E.A.T student loans. for exemption from military service are physical Centre at Colchester, “I am so proud of my hus- • Counsel soldiers on the GI Rights or mental disabilities. band, he is the most compassionate, kind, loving Hotline with accuracy and honesty. “The law was established to secure military and moral man I have ever known. I agree with • Provide military counter-recruitment information manpower, share military duty equally and keep everything he has done, and I am appalled by the • Provide workshops, training, and national security under the conscription system. way the Navy have treated him.” speakers on any of the above topics. So we acknowledge the legislation was proper and Forces Watch does not infringe basic rights,” the court said. Reporter for Conscience’ Sake 2 Vol. 68, No. 3 CCW News Meet CCW’s Fall Interns from American University Amanda Roy Brendan Agnew I’m Amanda Roy, originally from rural Lancaster County, Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Brendan Agnew is a Pennsylvania, but I live with my family near Reading now. Nor- freshman at American University who began his work at the Cen- mally I attend Bucknell University, where I’m a senior studying ter in early September 2011. He intends to major in Journalism International Relations. This semester I’m at American Univer- with a possible minor in English or sity in the Washington Semester Political Science. Coming to D.C., Program, where I’m studying he had hoped to be able to work foreign policy, doing research with a grassroots, non-profit or- on human rights in Cuba and in- ganization, and found that CCW’s terning here at CCW.
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