Christian Left rejects Hamas boycott

Jerusalem Post ^ | April 14, 2006 | GEORGE CONGER

[West Coast Conservative]

Leaders of the Christian left in Europe and the US are backing calls by the patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem for the EU and the US to resume aid to Hamas.

On April 11, the general secretary of the World Council of Churches [WCC] , Dr. Samuel Kobia, wrote to the chairman of the Council of the European Union, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, asking the EU to exercise "respect for the democratic mandate given" to Hamas and to allow "time for the new government to find its feet and demonstrate its intentions." The WCC warned of "of increasing suffering and new dangers to peace ahead" as a consequence of "decisions being taken these very days by the EU and other members of the Quartet."

At its April 10-11 meeting in Luxembourg, the EU Council confirmed that it was "reviewing its assistance to the Palestinians" because of Hamas's failure to commit itself to "non-violence, recognition of Israel's right to exist and acceptance of existing agreements."

The head of America's Episcopal Church, Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold, released an Easter letter on April 13 warning that "an impending humanitarian tragedy is unfolding" in Palestine.

In a "plea to both the relevant government bodies of the world and to our church membership," Griswold asked that "all necessary aid be made available through non-government and, where possible, through government structures" to the Palestinians.

Griswold chided US and EU policy of withdrawing from working with Hamas, saying, "Unilateral action does not lead to reconciliation" and that a "breakdown of the infrastructure of Palestinian society at this moment can only lead to further chaos, lawlessness and deep suffering."

The letters of support followed lobbying by Palestinian Christian leaders of their Western counterparts. On Wednesday, the patriarchs and heads of the Christian churches of Jerusalem released an Easter letter stating that it was "not permitted to boycott a people on whom oppressions and injustices were and are imposed." The "international community" had failed to "put an end to these oppressions," which had led to "violence, terrorism and the humiliation of the human person."

Instead of boycotting Hamas, the church leaders asked the "international community to seize the opportunity of this phase in history of the conflict in order to try seriously to put an end to the suffering of our land and of all its inhabitants."

While Hamas's response to the Christian left's call for support is unknown, in a radio interview broadcast on April 6, the No. 2 man on its parliamentary list, Muhammad Abu Tir, argued that the Episcopal Church was secretly controlled by Jews.

"Even the churches where the Americans pray are led by Jews who were converted to Christianity, but they were converted to keep controlling the Americans," Abu Tir told syndicated radio host Rusty Humphries.

"I made a study and I know very well that all this radicalism in some parts of the Christianity, [including] the Anglicans who are being led by Bush, is because of the control of Zionists," Abu Tir concluded.

[AntiGovernment]

This is disgusting. The 'Christian left' divests its funds from Israel, because of the so-called occupation, but apparantly, dealing with an organization that murders innocent civilians is perfectly OK.

[DB]

"respect for the democratic mandate given"

Ya right...

It simply means the voters are no better than Hamas.

Wasn't Hitler elected the first time too?

[Echo Talon]

Christian left isn't that an oxymoron?

[browardchad]

While Hamas's response to the Christian left's call for support is unknown, in a radio interview broadcast on April 6, the No. 2 man on its parliamentary list, Muhammad Abu Tir, argued that the Episcopal Church was secretly controlled by Jews. "Even the churches where the Americans pray are led by Jews who were converted to Christianity, but they were converted to keep controlling the Americans," Abu Tir told syndicated radio host Rusty Humphries. "I made a study and I know very well that all this radicalism in some parts of the Christianity, [including] the Anglicans who are being led by Bush, is because of the control of Zionists," Abu Tir concluded.

In the world according to Hamas, the Episcopalians are Jews in disguise -- abject dhimmitude isn't working, Mr. Griswold. You'll have to grovel lower and deeper, but we're sure you're fully capable of that.

[monkeyshine]

new dangers to peace ahead

You have to have had peace in the past, and peace now, to worry about danger to peace ahead. I am sick to my stomach at the way these people try to delude people with idiotic pronouncements. They are the risk to peace by putting a false face on the source of conflict.

[monkeyshine]

Oh yes, I forgot all about the "zionist control", which a couple of academics just recently 'proved' is the source of all ills in the world. [/sarcasm]

[Jaysun]

"Christian Left" is an oxymoron.

[Paige]

No Hitler was not elected the first time he ran.
In 1932 Hitler intended to run against the aging President Paul von Hindenburg in the scheduled presidential elections. Though Hitler had left Austria in 1913, he still had not acquired German citizenship and hence could not run for public office. In February however, the state government of Brunswick, in which the Nazi Party participated, appointed Hitler to some minor administrative post and also gave him citizenship. The new German citizen ran against Hindenburg, who was supported by the Republican parties, and the Communist candidate. His campaign was called "Hitler über Deutschland" (Hitler over Germany). The name had a double meaning. Besides an obvious reference to Hitler's dictatorial intentions, it also referred to the fact that Hitler was campaigning by airplane. This was a brand new political tactic that allowed Hitler to speak sometimes in two cities in one day, which was then unheard of at the time. Hitler ran against Hindenburg, who was supported by the Republican parties, the Communist candidate came in second on both rounds, attaining more than 35% of the vote during the second one in April. Although he lost, the election established Hitler as a realistic and fresh alternative in German politics.

[DB]

Thanks.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

All the more reason to revoke “non-profit” status for 501(c) tax-exempt corporations in the IRS Code...

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

It is also noteworthy that Hitler, who first came to power by being appointed as Chancellor by Pres. Hindenberg, was able to move so swiftly in establishing totalitarian rule in Germany because his predecessors had been ruling by emergency decree for some time, and the public had gotten used to being ordered around arbitrarily without regard for "constitutional niceties". This 'softening up' of public attitudes towards the arbitrary disregard of the rule of law is thus a very dangerous condition which, uncorrected, can lead to dictatorial rule.

Need we point out that this country has been trending in that direction for quite a while? Bush-Bashers, Clinton-phobes, and earlier partisan opponents of various administrations have generally tried to tie a can to their favorite president to hate, but in fact all recent administrations (say, since Franklin Roosevelt began ruling by emergency decree in 1933, and even earlier in Woodie Wilson's "War to End All Wars" fiasco) have contributed to this trend.

[Recon Dad]

Easy for them to demand we support them with mine and your money.
My suggestion to them is, write a letter to their congregations and demand they take up special collections every week to support terrorists.
They won't do it because they are weenies and they always do things behind the backs of the people they support.

[Kakaze]

" In a "plea to both the relevant government bodies of the world and to our church membership," Griswold asked that "all necessary aid be made available through non-government and, where possible, through government structures" to the Palestinians "

I used to think this stuff was unbelivable, now I just expect it. We will be destroyed from within.

These people will never learn that enemies cannot be converted to friends or even those who will have tolerance and respect for you through goods, services and monetary "donations"

Instead of just an enemy, you now have an enemy and an extortionist all in one.

[RoadTest]

"Christian" Left/Hamas: Birds Of A Feather

That word "Christian" has been just about drained of all meaning by word-abuse.

[ClaireSolt]

Anything that would make those people disperse is good, imho.

[Prysson]

There is certainly no derth of fools in the world.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

See a related Episcopalian post here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1614937/posts

[untrained skeptic]

The "impending humanitarian disaster" is one of their own choosing.

It's not possible for others to step in and end the suffering in the regeion, because it's self inflicted.

The Palestinians had democratic elections. They made their choice. We should respect that choice. We should also hold them accountable for that choice.

[CowboyJay]

"Christian left isn't that an oxymoron?"

As I understand it, the World Council of Churches has communist ties. Not naming names, but there are some prominent religious figures in the US espousing very far-left views.