IHEVOLUME iiiiTiils* 70 NUMBER* 9 SEPTEMBER 1987 s publication. and reuse • • • for Guns in, drugs out: required Christie lawsuit exposes secret war Permission Susan Pierce DFMS. / Church Our not so free press Michael Parenti Episcopal the of Constitutional wrongs Charles V. Willie Archives 2020. Copyright Letters No anomaly here unions were racist, sexist and indifferent CA issue priceless Your June editorial quotes Nathaniel to low yield folk such as migrant labor The June 1987 issue of THE WITNESS Pierce: "Some Episcopalians — Bush, and domestics. is priceless, and I need five more copies. Weinberger, Poindexter, North ~ sup- Episcopalians were (and are) racist, We have a Peace Coalition here in Erie port our government's efforts in sexist and indifferent to low yield eco- and I want to share this information Nicaragua ... the Episcopal Church in nomic groups. Indeed, there is a contin- about Central America — as our mem- Nicaragua is a part of our church uing indifference by bishops of the bers are eager to learn facts. Thanks for community ... I can think of no more church to racist, sexist and economic THE WITNESS. We read every word. important task for the Standing Com- practices. The "unity" of the House of Martha Kate Barnhart mission on Peace for the Episcopal Bishops has been more important than Erie, Pa. Church to address than that situation in the unity of the Body of Christ. The publication. which Episcopalian is killing Epis- House of Bishops found unity with die Issues widely read and copalian." The editorial said, "Pierce Church of Rome and the Church of We definitely would be poorer without points out an anomaly in the present de- England more important than unity with THE WITNESS. We are a small church reuse bacle where government officials are se- the women of the Body of Christ. So in rural Utah, where few current social for cretly funding terrorist warfare - in when Bush, Weinberger, North and issues are readily apparent, but each essence, Christians are helping to kill Poindexter act the same way, why copy of THE WITNESS is read by sev- Christians." should such be an anomaly? They have required eral people. Our Sacramentalist reads it. Queries: Does being an Episcopalian learned from dieir Fathers in God which My husband, a lay reader who is li- necessarily prove that one is a Christian? unity is more important. censed to preach, reads it I read it, and Would it be a less important task if the Christians or Episcopalians killing it helps me to be more articulate in Permission Episcopalians (or Christians) were Christians or Episcopalians an anomaly? working with the vestry and writing for killing folk that were not Episcopalians Shucks, 'tis as Christian as Holy our diocesan newsletter. Especially (or Christians)? Since when is it an Communion! since we do not employ seminary- DFMS. / anomaly for Christians to kill one an- The Rev. McRae Werth trained clergy, we need THE WITNESS other, for Episcopalians to kill Episco- Blue Hill, Me. to broaden our understanding of what palians? Church the church can and should be. Thank The U.S. Civil War, World Wars I Pierce responds you for your fine magazine. and II, the Bay of Pigs, the invasion of The spectacle of Christian killing Chris- Ruth Thurston the Dominican Republic, Spanish tian and Episcopalian killing Episco- Moab, Utah Episcopal American War, invasion of Grenada, palian in Nicaragua is not unique, as the Vietnam War, etc. back through the McRae Werth notes. War is rarely a of endless wars between and within Chris- solution to anything, and at some point Applauds column tian countries were presided over and die Christian community must rise up Whenever I receive THE WITNESS I blessed by Popes, "Protestants" and am programmed to turn immediately to Archives and say "ENOUGH!" Killing is indeed kings and princes crowned and blessed seen as being compatible with Chris- A Luta Continua by Barbara Harris. by the church. Christians and Christian While I am never disappointed, I felt 2020. tianity in our time; that is something churches, at least from the Constantinian worth pondering, even praying about that I was especially rewarded when I settlement, have identified themselves The Rev. Nathaniel Pierce read her column in the June issue. Not with the political unity within which Brookline, Mass. only was her rapier wit at its very best, Copyright they found themselves. (THE WITNESS applauds Pierce's re- but the subject matter addressed Christians have deluded themselves as sponse. Actually, the choice of the ("Human suffering ~ new growth in- fully as Marxists or Communists have word "anomaly" was the editor's, not dustry") was one whose significance deluded themselves. Workers of the Pierce's, and was, perhaps, misleading. might well have escaped the notice of world marched off to kill other workers But in the true definition of Christianity, even the most sophisticated readers. just as cheerfully as Christians and Epis- the killing described in the June edito- These are indeed strange times in copalians have marched off to kill rial would, indeed, be anomalous. — which we live. Thanks for reminding us Christians and Episcopalians. U.S. Ed.) who profess and call ourselves Chris- THE WITNESS tians just how very bizarre they are. Our to express their sexuality responsibly. gives women the same invitation He work is clearly cut out for us! The Episcopal Church should bless gives males. And even in Minneapolis The Rev. Canon Harold T. Lewis committed faithful relationships of in 1976 it was obvious that many were Staff Officer for Black Ministries gay/lesbian persons. If two people are more comfortable with a Jesus firmly Episcopal Church Center willing to dedicate their lives to each nailed to the Cross where He would stay other permanently, then they should be put, not step down and interfere. Al- encouraged in their decision to marry, though the women had won the right to Add gay bashing regardless of orientation. I have experi- be priested, and took Jesus into places I would add to the May A Luta Continue enced the incredible power of God's He'd never gone before where He could column by Barbara Harris, increasing love with my own spouse, Joseph. The heal and comfort and be heard, many violence to gays and lesbians. Going challenge, then, to the gay/lesbian continued to suffer for the privilege. publication. along with the religious right are their community is the lifting up of this type So, supposing, today, if all women of and fellow travelers ~ the U.S. Supreme relationship as a responsible use of sex- the church, priested and lay, took it into Court and the Roman Church. uality. THE WITNESS' advocacy of their heads at the same time to be reuse Last summer's court decision in the this issue and other issues of social nurturing mothers in order to help the for Georgia sodomy case and recent pro- change exemplifies its integrity in fol- church out of its present dilemma? nouncements from Rome seem to have lowing Jesus' call to be fishers of all Supposing that without fuss or rancor infused some with a patriotic and reli- (Mt. 18:19). and in the interests of peace, they left required gious zeal to attack gays and lesbians. Patrick Sen wing the church? And very quietly and AIDS gives the bigots another excuse to Notre Dame, Ind. peacefully worshipped by themselves? attack. What divisive issue would be left? The Permission From the gilded throne and TV pulpit squabble about the 1928 Prayerbook and political stage, "I do not condone vi- What if women left? could be resolved by letting everyone olence," has a worse than meaningless In the reflecting occasioned by the news use any form they wished DFMS. / sound to me. that some of our family is choosing to simultaneously. The great raised din of Jerry A. Boyd be separate from us (or else) there is a male voices competing for the religious Sacramento, Cal. bittersweet strain of historically familiar edge would be something to hear, but I Church paranoia. As a mother, whenever pint- would be far away. Most women would size hitlerisms cropped up I knew how be. Although, I daresay a few might Bless gay relationships to deal with them and make them go sacrifice and stay, not trusting the altar Episcopal What a joy to receive the May issue of away. But of course, in the church, we linens to anyone else (no lipstick on the THE WITNESS and realize that I have are all adults and everyone is free to tell those purificators would be a compen- of been a subscriber for two years. In that everyone else where to get off. John sation). time, the overall quality of the magazine Steinbeck once wrote of a bunch of Still, a healed, though womanless, has improved, from good to excellent overtired, overstressed journalists that church could present some problems. Archives With THE WITNESS I share the hope there was no one there to spank them Over one half -- 63% in fact - of church of seeing a woman bishop soon, the be- membership is at present female. 2020. and send them to bed. But combined lief that apartheid will end, and the with my memories of coping is a kind of Women tend to live longer and leave commitment for a more just society. universal guilt unique to womanhood in bequests. They have built up quite a Furthermore, I am encouraged by THE this matter before the church. The cushion of contribution to the church Copyright WITNESS' commitment to gay/lesbian problem is Female. All nurturing moth- through the years.