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2001-323

News Briefs

Committee on Status of Women addresses issue of violence

      (ENS) The Executive Council's Committee on the Status of Women 
addressed a wide range of issues but its early November meeting at 
a retreat center in Nashville quickly focused on the issue of violence 
in the world.

     A committee resolution was adopted by the Denver General 
Convention, asking Episcopalians "to become, with God's help, a 
non-violent and peaceful person." The committee renewed its 
recommendation that everyone strive "to affirm others and to avoid 
uncaring criticism, hateful words, physical attacks and self-destructive 
behavior, to look for safe ways to express anger and work at solving 
problems 
peacefully." The Pledge of Non-Violence assumed some urgency, members 
of the committee concluded, in the wake of the September 11 terrorist 
attacks in New York and at the Pentagon.

     Because women in many parts of the world are victims of violence, 
the committee adopted a statement, beginning with a definition that 
said "Violence is any outside force that limits the God-given potential 
of one of God's children. Violence can be verbal, emotional, sexual 
or physical."

     Since the terrorist attacks, the committee statement said that 
"we decry the violence of that day and of subsequent weeks. We also 
profess our unity with all peoples everywhere, all children of the 
same God, no matter how named."

     The statement expressed particular support for "our Muslim and 
Christian sisters in Palestine in their struggle to survive in a violent 
time and country, and we pledge our prayers and economic assistance to 
them."

     The committee decided to update a 1987 survey of attitudes among 
congregational members and diocesan leaders on the role and status of 
women by a random sampling in 18 dioceses. A summary of that report 
will be part of the committee's report to the 2003 General Convention 
in Minneapolis.

     US traditionalist group vows to ordain its own bishops

     (ENS) A US organization opposed to the ordination of women to the 
priesthood and episcopate in the Episcopal Church has announced its 
intention to elect its own bishop at its next meeting.

     At a meeting held October 28-31 in Mundelein, Illinois, the annual 
assembly of the traditionalist organization Forward in Faith/North America
 (FIF/NA) approved two resolutions which call for the consecration of a 
FIF/NA bishop for the US and a process for the election of such a bishop.

     "It is the intention of FIF/NA to nominate a priest under the auspices 
of a Province of the Anglican Communion that does not ordain women to 
priesthood or episcopate," declared the first resolution. "Contact has 
already been made with one such Province which is willing, in principle, 
to do so." The province was not identified.

     The resolution cites "recommendations of the 1998 Lambeth Conference, 
2001 Primates' Meeting in Kanuga, and the stated commitment of the Presiding
Bishop" to provide "sustained and secure pastoral and episcopal care" to 
those opposing women's ordination, both inside and outside the Episcopal 
Church. 

     The second resolution provides for nominations to be sent to the 
organization's secretary in Fort Worth, Texas by the end of 2001. 
Nominees would be required to sign the FIF/NA "Declaration of Common 
Faith and Purpose."

Carey calls for freedom of worship in Muslim countries

      (ENS) During a stop in Bahrain during a six-day pastoral visit 
to the Middle East, Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey addressed his 
deep concern for oppression of Christians in some Muslim countries. He 
called on Muslims to assure freedom of worship for Christians and said that 
the two religions should work together to solve problems, such as poverty, 
that could fuel terrorism.

     Christians in nations such as Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria and the
Sudan, he pointed out, are not able to practice their faith with the same freedom 
that people of other faiths enjoyed in the West, according to a BBC account.

"They need their Muslim brothers and sisters to speak up for them and, when 
extremists threaten, they need support and friendship."

     Earlier Carey said that the use of military force in Afghanistan was 
necessary to counter "a fanatical enemy." In a BBC interview, he said that 
he saw no alternative to military action, although it should be proportionate to 
the task. The coalition of nations was up against what he described as an evil 
enemy, intent on a path of destruction. "We're against an enemy who has no 
moral limits on what he will do to achieve his goals," Carey said. "Now when 
you ally that 'no moral limits' to a fanatical belief in God, then you have a very 
dangerous concoction. I don't think they had any alternative but to attack."

     Carey also said that it was wrong to equate Islam with some of the 
policies of the Taliban in Afghanistan, including the repression of women.

     Tensions between Muslims and Christians increased in the wake of the 
massacre of 16 Christians in Pakistan, Carey noted, adding that the massacre
was a scar on relations between the two religions.

Episcopal Relief and Development contributes to aid for Afghan refugees

      (ENS) Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) has contributed $100,000 
to Church World Service, the relief agency of the National Council of 
Churches and a member of Action of Churches Together, an international 
alliance of churches and relief agencies for Afghan refugees. The funds 
will provide emergency food and shelter for some of the most vulnerable 
15,000 families fleeing the war in Afghanistan.

     A consortium of ACT members are proposing further projects to assist 
the refugees, including additional emergency shelter and food, medical 
assistance, winter provisions, and clean water.

     Following a decade of war with the Soviet Union and internal civil 
war, over a million Afghanis have been killed and three million have 
become refugees, the largest single group of refugees in the world. 

Roman Catholic bishops condemn terrorism--and social injustice

      (New York Times) At the end of a month-long conference of Roman 
Catholic bishops at the Vatican, a statement condemned terrorism but 
also called on the United States and the West to alleviate the social 
injustice that the bishops called a root cause of terrorism and "a 
threat to peace."

     The report denounced "the enduring drama of hunger and extreme 
poverty, in an age where humanity, more than ever, has the capacity 
for a just sharing of resources." It demanded that the world's 
wealthier nations change their policies toward the poor and the 
powerless, pointing out that in many parts of the world people 
"are dying from famine and lack of medicine."

     The conference discussed the role of bishops in the modern world. 
"There is a strong will to dismantle the image of bishops as men of 
power and to reinstitute the image of bishops as men of service," said 
Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Italy at a news conference.