Where are isle churches in the quest for peace?
AT A recent, overcrowded
peace rally at the Church of the Crossroads, more than 700 people were shocked to hear that organizers of the event had been turned down when they asked clergy at larger churches if they could hold the rally at their edifices.
Shocking! Religious leaders in our community, who had just recently celebrated the birth of the Prince of Peace, said "no." They didn't want to get involved.
Some expressed concern that if they stand up for peace, they will be labeled as being anti-war or anti-Bush or, worse yet, anti-military. They might be accused of not supporting the troops. Maybe some fear becoming victims of eavesdropping feds or of being put on the government's "no-fly" list. Some clergy might have military members in their congregation, and we are led to believe that the military is 100 percent behind war and that soldiers and their families are opposed to peace. We veterans, including the Iraq Veterans Against the Iraq War, disagree with that.
Local clergy members also were conspicuous by their absence at the event.
As Star-Bulletin columnist Mary Adamski wrote recently, "Church people, up to now, haven't exactly been swelling the ranks of the Veterans for Peace at their weekly Friday anti-war demonstration outside the Prince Kuhio Federal Building."
The Rev. Renate Rose is quoted ("View from the Pew," Star-Bulletin, Jan. 7) as saying, "Pastors are afraid. They don't have the courage to speak out because of the military presence here."
Refusing to be a part of the peace movement is not a very Christian thing to do. Those who preach peace from their pulpits should be leading the peace movement both inside and outside the church, like the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. did. It should be the most important thing in their lives. Blessed are the peacemakers.
Pope John Paul II told President Bush not to attack and invade Iraq. He opposed Bush's plan to start that war.
JUST THIS WEEK, the American Bishops of the Catholic Church called upon Bush to end the war and bring our troops home.
And such highly respected Americans as former CBS anchor Walter Cronkite, whose 1968 conclusion that the Vietnam War was un-winnable keenly influenced public opinion then, said Sunday he would say the same thing today about Iraq. "It's my belief that we should get out now," Cronkite said in a meeting with reporters. The 89-year-old television journalist was known as "the most trusted man in America."
Yet pastors and other clergy of churches right here in our town, USA, support war instead of peace? I'll not name names or point fingers, but if the shoe fits, wear it. You know who you are.
Thousands of our fellow Americans marched yesterday in the Martin Luther King Day Parade through Waikiki. Most of the signs they carried were calling for an end to war ... for peace, and for a regime change in our own country. And the tens of thousands of people from all over the world who lined the parade route were applauding the signage, many holding their own signs calling for the same things.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of the clergy from the many different faiths represented in our community would come together for the cause of peace? The recent peace event could have been held in the Hawai'i Convention Center, perhaps, or the Waikiki Shell. It could have been paid for and promoted by a conglomeration of churches whose basic beliefs are built around "peace on earth, good will to men." We hear that prayer from all the Christian pulpits at Christmastime and from other religions all through the year. But just days later, we find those who should be leading the charge shrinking and shirking.
Maybe all of Hawaii's clergy should rally for peace Friday afternoon at the federal building. Maybe they should ask themselves, What would Jesus do? Maybe they should stand up, speak out and be counted -- among the peacemakers.
Keith Haugen is a U.S. Army veteran. He lives in Nuuanu.