wfn.org | Latin bishops call for peace rooted in love, justice

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Nov. 28, 2001 News media contact: Linda Green7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.
10-32-71B{555}

NOTE:  This article may be used as a sidebar to UMNS story #554.

By Michael Wacht*

MIAMI (UMNS) -- A letter written Oct. 20 by Methodist bishops from across
Latin America expresses their pain in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks, concern about the world's military response, and hope for a peace
rooted in love and justice.

The 21 Latin bishops who signed the letter expressed concerns similar to
those of their North American counterparts that were included in a Nov. 9
pastoral letter to the United Methodist Church.

Titled "The truth will sprout from the earth," the document asserts the
Latin bishops' fear in the face of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade
Center in New York and the consequences that military action in Afghanistan
can have on the people of that nation. It also calls for a peaceful
resolution to the situation. "Peace without truth is not peace," the
bishops' letter said. "Peace without justice is also inconceivable."

The letter was written "to express our solidarity with the people of North
America in the moment of their suffering the impact of terrorism on their
country," said Bishop Nelson Campos Leite, bishop in Brazil and president of
the Council of Latin American and Caribbean Bishops.

Leite said that despite a history of tension and violence between North
America and Latin America, there is a common feeling about acts of terrorism
in the two regions. "There is a history of economic social domination,
principally over the Third World people," he said. "But we can't confuse the
North American people ...with the political power and the form of (their)
government. Some people think this is justice for the United States, but the
violence, there is no place for this. There exists a stronger ideal than
this."

"The whole world was impacted by that which occurred the day of Sept. 11
through the unfeeling, irrational and provocative act of the terrorists,"
the bishops said. The Latin American churches have been praying for the
North American people, especially the United Methodist Church, the
president, Congress and the Supreme Court.

The bishops said they were worried about the form the search for justice has
taken. In accordance with the Gospel, "peace is the fruit of justice, love,
forgiving grace and reconciliation," they said. "Villages and families,
children, homes cannot be violated unjustly as the consequences of the acts
of those who attempt to eliminate terrorism.

"In our Latin American nations we suffered for decades the violations of
human rights, with thousands dead and missing, destruction of familiar life,
much pain and injustice, under the application of the doctrine called
'National Security'. "

They said the idea of Pax Romano (Roman Peace) that "the powerful sleep
comfortable" is far from that given by Jesus. While they expressed hope that
terrorism in all its forms will be eliminated, the bishops urged world
leaders to listen to God, because God "will speak peace to God's people and
God's saints."
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*Wacht is the assistant editor of the Florida Annual Conference's edition of
United Methodist Review.

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United Methodist News Service
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