* invited to join Gold Star families at interfaith prayer service

[paineinthearse]

http://www.ncccusa.org/news/050816CrawfordPrayerService.html

Bush invited to join Gold Star families at interfaith prayer service Friday outside his ranch

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:

Interfaith Prayer Service
Friday August 19, 2005
Noon - U.S. Central Daylight Time,
Camp Casey Memorial
Crawford, TX
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

If you plan to go to Crawford, travel logistics provided by the Sheehan support team can be found here http://www.ncccusa.org/news/050816logistics.html

Contact: NCC News, Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2252, [e-mail]; Leslie Tune, 202-544-2350, [e-mail]


Picture courtesy of Lone Star Iconoclast.

[bushisanidiot]

1. Think AWOL Bush will show up just to flip them the bird?

since that's what he seems to think of american military families..

[central scrutinizer]

2. But these aren't true Christians

Like Fred Phelps, James Dobson, Jerry Fallwell and Pat Robertson. Christians must be Republicans, blood thirsty, and gay-bashers to be truly "people of faith" worthy of being pandered to by Bushco, Cat Killer, and the Exterminator.

[HereSince1628]

3. Being backed up by the leader of an organization representing 30 Million

Is what I would call a ringing endorsement of Cindy's cause.

[paineinthearse]

8. When you control the source codes

those 30 million votes can easily VANISH......

[MrBenchley]

4. As I recall Chimpy blew off the UCC

and other church leaders (including the leader of his OWN church) during the run-up for war back in 2003...

[brooklynite]

5. C'mon, can't you people let him "get on with his life"????

I mean, the guy hasn't had a vacation in at least three months...

[Iowa]

6. This is good...

The only thing that made me wince was this line: "It’s evident that President Bush, who has faced agonizing decisions in this war, feels the pain as well.”

I don't think Bush feels any pain - I truly don't. I honestly believe he's a sociopath, and one of the marks of that disorder is a lack of empathy or compassion for their victims. These are the folks, who as kids, liked to torture small animals and younger children - and didn't outgrow it.

I understand why they said it, but I doubt that they really believe it.

[roguevalley]

7. This is what Christianity is supposed to do and be. Bless him.

[Iowa]

16. No, it's not quite that simple...

Sometimes, when one is up against a powerful and sinister government leader, it's best to recognize reality and call it what it really is. I have no way of knowing what is in Bob Edgar's mind. He may believe what he's saying, and who knows, maybe he's correct in his description of this president's great personal anguish over the war that he and his cronies fabricated. I happen to believe that Edgar significantly overstates this president's sense of personal suffering. I visualize a grinning Bush looking under rugs for WMDs, like it's all a big joke.

I don't think it's a good idea to leave the impression that we all suffer the same "heavy burden of grief", that we all want the same things, and that a prayer together will set us on the road to reconciliation and healing. Why? Because there are real live perpetrators here; people who continue to commit crimes against humanity while profiting from this war - and then there are true victims who bear all of the grief. Bush is a perpetrator, not a victim. Furthermore, he hasn't acknowledged his wrongdoing, and he plans to continue inflicting great harm. This crime is ongoing. It is against this backdrop that Edgar is bending over backward to reach out to Bush by including him among those who have been harmed and those who are suffering. I find that to be naive, dishonest, and inconsistent with what "Christianity is supposed to do and be" (to use your words).

That being said, Edgar seems to be doing a good thing here, I think this is a good approach in many other respects, and it will likely help the cause when Bush snubs the invite. I would have preferred he left out the part I mentioned - but I salute him for what he is doing.

[paineinthearse]

17. Very well put.

Remember, we have the truth on our side, all they have is lies, deception, and spin.

[cally]

9. Wow..this is great

This org represents most mainstream churches. I'm proud of them for joining in a prayer vigil.

[Cocoa]

10. Bush doesn't pray when he's on vacation

vacation is George time.

[TroglodyteScholar]

15. L O L --- thanks for the laugh, it's perfect n/t

[laylah]

11. That fake POS

would no sooner attend than he really "won" the elections. Bottom feeding jerk!

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. Too bad we can't find a member with the last name of Schaivo

then Bush would travel across the country in the middle of the night to be there if he had too, vacation or no vacation. Nothing would be able to get in his way.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. Interfaith?

There's only one faith for Dumbyass...and that's Jerry Foulwell's.

[Norquist Nemesis]

18. Bush's RSVP

Thanks, but I have previous engagement that conflicts with the event.

If you would like to support America and our troops, please join me at the fundraiser. Same date and time. Location TBD.

Cheers!
George W. Bush

[gratuitous]

19. There's room at the table, George

Will you accept the invitation, or is your hidey-hole so comfortable?

I have to disagree with Mr. Edgar that it's "evident" that Bush feels the pain of the war. I've not seen any evidence at all that Bush feels any pain from this war.