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,
You don't know ANYthing about President Bush's character. And FDR couldn't have come close.
That's nice, but what about my point--W should just go talk to Cindy Sheehan because a couple of people in the supermarket--or the thousands you've heard express this sentiment daily--say so? That would turn it all around and make everyone like him?
A leader doing the right thing and sticking by that decision will always see his support ebb and flow. Jumping around responding to each blip is what a weak leader does. Going to talk to a clearly erratic protester will solve nothing except perhaps give an opportunity for some bizarre psychodrama ambush.
Hey, no making fun of crips. General "Vinegar" Joe Stillwell called FDR "rubberlegs." Must not have been an admirer.
We wonder if Sheryl Crow will be hangin' wi' Cundy and the gang while Lance be ridin with the Prizzle.
Yeah, Bush should tell them, "Sorry, but I only pray with people who believe in God."
I was using the supermarket encounter to demonstrate a point. Too many Freepers can't think past their knee jerking when W is threatened.
He was also hiding the fact that he couldn't WALK!
You are part of the problem.
Your silence is construed as support for their position.
You should be aware of that, Professor.
Ellie was a babe. (I like them big boned girls)
He'd better or his support will drop even faster. Personal appearances always make everyone smile and support a president, after all.
Yeah, the "polls" indicate people are tired of the war. Yeah, our porous borders are an ever-growing problem. You stated "W has no diplomatic skills, and his handlers keep him insulated from the public. Everything is staged about and around him. This hurts the war effort, and eventually will hand the White House to the Witch Queen." That's where I believe you are wrong. W's diplomatic skills are one big reason I voted for him, 4x (2x for Gov., 2x for President)...he does what he feels is the right thing to do. You must have been thinking about Hillary! when you made that statement (quoted above).
World Net Daily and DRUDGE are the only ones posting the picture. The MSM is ignoring the picture (who'd a thunk?) (/sarcasm)
I disagree. Ignoring this woman is the best option. Shooting guns, running over crosses, and televised shouting matches only serve her purpose. The president has stated his position and I believe he and most Americans see it as a done deal. He needs to move forward with the business of the country and not be distracted with the made for TV antics of the far left.
Ehh...who's got the PhD in this field and who learns their political science from Fox News and Rush Limbaugh.
Bingo! You figured it out!
Actually, the lefties say "cheap" oil, at which I go "huh?"
People aren't stupid, they're lazy. They look for easy answers.
My, my, you certainly how a low opinion of the rest of us Freepers, don't you?
And a mighty damn high opinion of yourself.
Good to know where you stand.
So did a number of people on this board.
ROFL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.