Episcopal News Service Friday, July 21, 2006
Griswold, other church leaders press Bush to call for Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire
Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold today called upon President Bush to "work with other world leaders to secure an immediate ceasefire in the violent conflict raging now between Hezbollah and Israel." In a letter sent by Churches for Middle East Peace, Griswold and other Christian leaders noted that: "This violent conflict has created a grave humanitarian crisis, and no hoped-for benefit should outweigh the cause of saving innocent lives." The full text of the letter follows:
July 21, 2006
The Honorable George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Bush:
We urge you to work with other world leaders to secure an immediate cease-fire in the violent conflict raging now between Hezbollah and Israel.
We are deeply concerned for the innocent victims of the attacks and reprisals between non-state parties in Lebanon and the government of Israel. This violent conflict has created a grave humanitarian crisis, and no hoped-for benefit should outweigh the cause of saving innocent lives.
If this conflict continues, the current humanitarian crisis could escalate toward a catastrophe. Already in the first days of attacks and reprisals, reports say that 34 Israelis have been killed, including 15 civilians, others injured, and thousands have been made to leave their homes, and, in Lebanon, at least 335 people, most of them civilians, are reported killed and hundreds of thousands have been displaced or sought refuge in other countries.
In the face of such a humanitarian crisis, calls for the fighting parties to be restrained in their actions fall short of what is needed. Your presidential leadership and the full weight of the United States, acting in concert with the international community, must be applied now to achieve an immediate cease-fire and to launch an intensive diplomatic initiative for the cessation of hostilities. This is a necessary first step toward the diplomatic resolution of this crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the way toward a comprehensive Middle East peace.
Sincerely,
Leaders of churches and church-related organizations of Churches for Middle East Peace
Churches for Middle East Peace Dr. Robb Davis Executive Director Mennonite Central Committee
Marie Dennis Director Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Rev. Robert Edgar General Secretary National Council of Churches USA
Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson General Secretary Reformed Church in America
The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold Presiding Bishop The Episcopal Church in America
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson Presiding Bishop Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Rev. Dr. Stan Hastey Executive Director Alliance of Baptists
Very Rev. Dominic Izzo, OP President Roman Catholic Conference of
Major Superiors of Men's Institutes
Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick Stated Clerk of the General Assembly Presbyterian Church, (USA)
Rev. John L. McCullough Executive Director & CEO Church World Service
Metropolitan PHILIP Saliba Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of North America Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America
Rev. William G. Sinkford President Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
Rev. John H. Thomas General Minister and President United Church of Christ
Joe Volk Executive Secretary Friends Committee on National Legislation
The Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins General Minister and President Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
James W. Winkler General Secretary General Board of Church and Society United Methodist Church
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