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,
"Boobs" at the supermarket don't even vote - they are too busy reading the tabloids. I wouldn't worry - this story is not over.
Naturally, the National Council of Communists would get involved with the other lefties there. If you belong to a church that gives your money to the NCC, you are part of this cabal.
Roosevelt met with NO dissidents or traitors during WWII. Try again.
If we invaded Kuwait and Iraq for oil, it looks like that plan is not working, Cindy.
People are idiots.
This is just like the NAACP. Both Sheehan and Julian Bond go all over television saying the most hateful, nasty, personal things about the President, way beyond just criticising his policy, and then they act shocked that he doesn't want to come to their little party to be viciously attacked in person. And the press acts like Bush is being the unreasonable one in this regard.
Was much worse under Carter.Oh and those poll numbers? The polls were skewed-----again. 48% dems vs 38% Republicans. (per Rush)
This morning, I overheard boobs at our local supermarket talking about her, which means that the security moms are identifying with her.
So because you personally overheard a couple people talking about her, that means the security moms are identifying her? Really? Your personal experience = The One Reality?
If you want to let emotion and hysteria and polls rule your thinking, fine. But your suggestion that Bush cave to this silly behavior from a woman who denounces the nation's very existence, the president, the war, Israel, and even the invasion of Afghanistan doesn't make me think very much about your logic.
If you overheard a couple people saying Gore or Kerry actually won the election would that mean he did? Just curious, as that's all the "facts" you've presented for your reasoning--an overheard conversation.
Im other news, I have invited Bush to my birthday party. You think he will show up ?
A-ha! You see, that isn't actually Bush vacationing at his ranch. That's an android double supplied by Karl Rove. The real Bush is IN Iraq committing atrocities and supplying Halliburton with oil.
MU-HAHA, MU-HAHAHAHA!
Check out the link.
It's no surprise the NCC supports Cindy Sheehan.
"Gold Star Mothers" carries a little less taint then screaming radical marxist (which is what the group really is all about).
Read what I say, dont' just react to it.
The television coverage W is receiving in this matter is damaging the war effort out here in the real world. His handlers need to shut this lady up (and convince the public that the White House is NOT responsible for $3 a gallon gasoline--the boobs are increasingly convinced they are).
Ignoring this situation is dangerous.
What's sad is there are people that do believe they did.
The MOST brilliant line I have heard on this topic to-date. Fantastic, Clock King!!!
Jimmy Carter's administration brought us... THE MISERY INDEX. Remember? Multiply the home mortgage interest rate times the (I think) Consumer Price Index.
I think Drudge had pictures that Sheehan herself posted on her family website - which she has removed - but they were discovered. It is a picture of Sheehan and her family and W is givign her a kiss on the cheek.
Darn that guy who ran over Cindy's ratty little roadside crosses but missed Cindy herself.
Never a penny, never a thin dime, never anything for the National Council of Churches again.
Mr. C, the boobs are tired of the war, the price of gasoline, the Mexicans, etc. You need to get out and talk to people. Around here, they're associating W with Jimmy Carter (who's especially despised in N.C. for some reason).
If the Witch Queen takes over the White House, I'll have to chuck my television for four years, and I'll miss Battlestar Galactica!
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