Posted on 08/16/2005 12:57:52 PM PDT by areafiftyone
New York, August 16, 2005 – The General Secretary of the National Council of Churches is urging President Bush to join with Gold Star families and religious leaders in an interfaith prayer service outside the Bush ranch at noon (CDT) Friday,
The prayer service has been called by Gold Star mother Cindy Sheehan “as an opportunity for Americans and others across the world to pray for our soldiers in Iraq, their families and in particular the mothers of our fallen.”
Sheehan, along with United Methodist laywoman Celeste Zappala and other Gold Star mothers, has been waiting outside the Bush compound to meet with the President since his five-week vacation began.
“I urge the President and the First Lady to join this brief and simple service,” said the Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, NCC General Secretary. Edgar visited the Gold Star mothers and their families outside the presidential ranch and conducted a worship service on August 12. The visit was at the invitation of his fellow United Methodist, Celeste Zappala, whose son Sherwood was killed in Iraq.
“This war, like any war, has generated terrible losses, immense pain and sharp divisions in our country,” Edgar said. “Each day we see the pain in the faces of the Gold Star mothers and their families. It’s evident that President Bush, who has faced agonizing decisions in this war, feels the pain as well.”
“Whether or not we agree with Mr. Bush’s decisions,” Edgar said, “and whether or not he agrees with us, we can agree that we’re all feeling a heavy burden of grief. Let’s suspend the rhetoric for a few minutes on Friday and join together – commander-in-chief and families of the fallen – to seek strength from the God who sustains us all.”
In an open letter to religious leaders August 15, Sheehan urged those who cannot attend to host a prayer vigil in their cities. “We ask you to join us in a simultaneous moment of silent prayer to honor all who have been affected by this war.”
The service will take place at “Camp Casey,” an impromptu encampment outside the Bush compound named for Sheehan’s son, Casey Sheehan, who was killed in Baghdad on April 4, 2004. Camp Casey, which displays white crosses named for those who have been killed in Iraq, has become a gathering place for Gold Star families and their supporters.
The full text of the Sheehan August 15 letter to religious letters follows:
Dear Religious Leader:
Family members of fallen soldiers, who have joined me in Crawford, and I invite you to attend a moment of silent prayer at 12:00 noon (Central Daylight Time) this Friday, August 19th at Camp Casey just outside the Presidents’ Ranch. We’re holding this moment of prayer as an opportunity for Americans and others across the world to pray for our soldiers in Iraq, their families and in particular the mothers of our fallen. We have also invited President Bush and the first lady to join us in praying for the troops.
Several family members of fallen soldiers have joined with me in Crawford and will take part in the moment of silent prayer. Outside the President’s ranch we have set up a temporary camp named “Camp Casey” and a memorial of crosses with names of fallen soldiers has been erected, which is where the prayer service will take place.
If you cannot attend our service in Crawford, Texas please consider hosting a prayer vigil in your city. We ask you to join us in a simultaneous moment of silent prayer to honor all who have been affected by this war. You are welcome to contact your local media and inform them of your vigil.
My son, Casey Sheehan, 24, of Vacaville, Calif., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on April 4, 2004, when his unit was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. When President Bush began his 5 week vacation, I decided to camp outside his ranch in hopes of meeting with him to ask some unanswered questions about the war and the needless loss of lives of so many. Thus far the President has refused to meet, but my resolve is strong and I will remain in Crawford until the meeting takes place or his vacation ends.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and support of this interfaith prayer service.
Respectfully,
Cindy Sheehan
Mother of Casey Sheehan
Picture courtesy of Lone Star Iconoclast.
If you plan to go to Crawford, travel logistics provided by the Sheehan support team can be found here
Contact: NCC News, Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2252,
Just don't invite the Jews if Cindy is around
A rocket propelled grenade killed your son? I thought he was murdered by President Bush? Why the change?
Would that also be the Pro-Homosexual & Pro-Abortion Council of Churches?
...just a guess.
I know Cindy Sheehan is a meaningless blip here at groupthink HQ FreeRepublic, but out here in the Real World, the media attention she's getting is taking root. This morning, I overheard boobs at our local supermarket talking about her, which means that the security moms are identifying with her. Considering that ALL the polls show popular support for the war is slipping, W's handlers should best pay attention and not dismiss this out of hand.
Gold Star Mothers =! Gold Star Families for Peace
GSFFP is hounding Bush... not GSM.
Good Lord!
Oh, and we should also point out that $3 a gallon gasoline has a lot to do with it. People are looking to find fault.
Game Set Match
Cindy is way out of the main stream of the rest of the Gold Star Moms and Dads..
What part of "NO!" do these brainstems not understand?
The National Council of Churches is a leftist group that does not represent the views of rank-and-file parishioners. It's the plaything of every lefty cleric in the country.
I know Cindy Sheehan is a meaningless blip here at groupthink HQ FreeRepublic, but out here in the Real World, the media attention she's getting is taking root. This morning, I overheard boobs at our local supermarket talking about her, which means that the security moms are identifying with her. Considering that ALL the polls show popular support for the war is slipping, W's handlers should best pay attention and not dismiss this out of hand.
Would FDR put up with this crap in WW2?
National Council of Satanism
I think they're also the ones who endorsed sending Elian Gonzalez back to Fidel's gulag.
People should go and sing patriotic songs just to tick them off.
Don't they advertise on TV or something? They sound familiar.
Yep, the same ones who like to send helpless children seeking freedom back to live under a dictatorship. The same ones whose churches have become nothing more than "community activity centers" and who have been preaching moral relativism for three decades.
he's busy. He is in training for a mountain bike ride with Lance Armstrong on Sunday.
Can anyone guess Camp Cindy's next shameless publicity stunt?
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