A resolution on American actions in Iraq
Approved by the Presbytery of the Twin
Cities Area
meeting at Hope Presbyterian Church, Richfield, MN,
on May 11, 2004
[posted here 5-13-04]
Whereas we the
members of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area have been surprised and
dismayed by recent revelations of the mistreatment of detainees of American
forces in Iraq, and
Whereas such
treatment betrays both our Christian understanding of the dignity of all
human beings as children of God, and the international treaties and laws
which provide for some order among the nations, and
Whereas it is
our responsibility as Christians and as citizens of the United States of
America to protest such violations of human dignity,
We therefore
express our shame and penitence for our own responsibility, however limited,
for these abuses, and resolve to pray and work to prevent their
continuation, and
We further call
upon our government, and specifically the President of the United States as
the Commander in Chief, to
(1) offer clear and sincere apologies to the people who
have been harmed by this mistreatment, as well as to the people of Iraq and
of the United States, and to do this in ways that will communicate to people
of Muslim faith and Arab culture;
(2) offer significant compensation to the victims of
American abuses;
(3) take appropriate action against all those who
have been responsible for these abuses, at all levels of military and
civilian command;
(4) take clear and effective steps to ensure that
such abuses are halted;
(5) create a respected and nonpartisan committee to
conduct an open and public investigation of the many factors that may have
created the situation in which such abuses could take place; and
(6) report to the American people within 60 days the
preliminary results of that investigation.
It is hereby requested that the Stated Clerk distribute this resolution to
the President of the United States, to the U.S. Senators and Representatives
from Minnesota, and to the local media.
Note: This resolution was drafted before reports of the execution of
Nick Berg by Islamic militants drove home to all of us the terrible violence
that is being done by people on the other side of the Iraq conflict. The
criticism of US actions in no way justifies or excuses the actions of the
killers of Mr. Berg.
If the cycle of violence is ever to end, who will take the
first steps?
We welcome your comments!
If you have thoughts about this statement,
or have other statements to be shared here,
please send a
note!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A visitor offers a thoughtful comment on this
resolution.
[5-14-04]
Dear Doug,
First, the good
news: although you and I see differently on many issues, I too am
broken-hearted over the horrible abuses being reported from Iraq. I also
agree that the church has an important voice with which to speak to the
public at large and our government leaders in particular, expressing our
sense of God's anguish and indignation, and calling for repentance and
justice.
Now for the
other part: the resolution specified steps for the current administration to
follow in response to the reports of prisoner abuse, including
investigation, compensation of victims, and a 60-day time frame for
reporting results to the public. Our tradition is firmly based on a
relationship to civil authorities that asks nothing more than basic security
and protection from the government, and offers exemplary demonstrations of
Kingdom living in return. The Witherspoon Society has been vigilant and
vocal in its monitoring of the "Religious Right's" interference with and
undue influence of civil affairs. How is this resolution any different?
I applaud the
effort to speak a prophetic word as the church of Jesus Christ to a matter
that is deeply troubling. Hopefully we can do that while avoiding the
pitfall of prescribing the government's work.
Sincerely,
Carl Grosse,
pastor
First Presbyterian Church
Farmington, Minnesota
We welcome your comments!
If you have thoughts about this statement,
or have other statements to be shared here,
please send a
note!
