(The cover of the September 25, 2006 issue of America Magazine features George W. Bush in conversation with Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in full clerical regalia. Cardinal McCarrick is the outgoing Archbishop of Washington DC. His retirement speech, entitled "Restoring Civility to Political Discourse" is the issue's cover article. I mailed the following letter of cancellation today to America.)
Drew Christiansen, SJ
Editor-in-Chief
America Magazine
106 West 56th Street
New York, NY 10019-3803
Dear Father Christiansen,
The cover of your latest issue came as a surprise. As editorial contributors to America over the years we have always valued the magazine's independent voice. We have counted on America for risking to say what is most vital and authentic in contemporary life, a true measure, we've always believed, of our Catholic heritage.
But we can see nothing true or authentic or vital about the man you celebrate on your cover who happens to be called President. Even his election to the highest office in the land is reliably called into doubt.
Indeed, the lies, the global bullying, the outright hijacking of our respected institutions, the criminal betrayal of our very founding principles and core values by the Bush administration undermine anything anyone can call Christian with a straight face.
Bishop Theodore McCarrick's lead-article retirement speech would have us believe the highest road to take in such times of deepening national polarity is one of a return to "civility in political discourse", presumably, as mother liked to say, "always the charitable thing to do." But making the criminal your cover boy goes over the line; peace-making should never be confused with pandering. Our poor church has seen quite enough of that over the centuries!
Accordingly it is with deep regret that we must ask you to cancel our subscription to America.
Cordially,
Jim Rucquoi
Adele Azar-Rucquoi
1 comment:
The media has become a stronger influence in shaping American's views on foreign policy than the true tenants of religion in the 21st century.
What we have in America today, is a lot of religion about Jesus, but NOT the religion Christ taught.
What Christ taught that shocked his world was that God was already within, so one is to be just and merciful to all, and that would lead to working for peaceful resolutions, even to the point of returning violence with compassion.
What we need today is a third awakening; a new reformation that would promote a theology of liberation and put an end to the hijacking of people's faith by politicians with their theologies of empire building and global dominance.
Indigenous to America is the cult of Christian empire builders known as Christian Zionism, which is inherently anti-Semitic.
This cult embraces a modern theological and political movement of the most extreme ideological positions of Jewish Zionism.
"The Christian Zionist program provides a worldview where the Gospel is identified with the ideology of empire, colonialism and militarism. In its extreme form, it laces an emphasis on apocalyptic events leading to the end of history rather than living Christ's love and justice today...Christian Zionist doctrines [are] false teaching's that corrupt the biblical message of love, justice and reconciliation... the contemporary alliance of Christian Zionist leaders and organizations with elements in the governments of Israel and the United States that are presently imposing their unilateral preemptive borders and domination over Palestine, inevitably leads to unending cycles of violence that undermine the security of all peoples of the Middle East and the rest of the world... Rather than condemn the world to the doom of Armageddon we call upon everyone to liberate themselves from the ideologies of militarism and occupation. Instead, let [us] pursue the healing of the nations!"- Religious Leaders' Statement on Christian Zionism
In every classroom in America the World Map shows the United States in the very center. American Christianity also predisposes many to look at themselves as special, and that leads to thinking that our way of life must be maintained; even by war, and there is nothing Christian about that!
Americans have remained silent for too long and have allowed the hijacking of religion to be used for political gain.
Politicians never have-and never can deliver peace and security, they must be led by the people who are the ones who must choose on a daily basis to be peaceful and neighborly.
After the Mohammad cartoon, and the Pope's remarks, "the fierce urgency of now" should compel all thinking Christians and church denominations to move beyond their man-created differences.
The time is now to break the silence and speak boldly for the need of reconciliation between the families of Father Abraham in the fight against terrorism, which is also a spiritual battle. Anyone who can target and murder an innocent has allowed evil to rule them and only by people of good will pursuing justice and in support of nonviolence can we hope to change hearts and minds.
A Third Awakening will affirm that all people are created in the image of God and all are called to honor the dignity of every human being and to respect the others inalienable human right to freedom.
A Third Awakening would unite us in the rejection of all attempts to subvert and fragment the unity of the human family and to oppose every narrow world view and ideology that privilege one people at the expense of another.
No enduring peace, no security, and no reconciliation is even possible without the foundation of justice. Justice requires mercy and is always nonviolent.
"It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. It isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it."-Eleanor Roosevelt
By standing on the side of justice, we open ourselves up to the hard work of peace, and working for peace is what Christ promised makes one a child of God.
May we all be one.
Sources:
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/showbiz/books/09/22/books.chomsky.ap/index.html
The Economist, September 16, 2006 "In the World of Good and Evil"
http://www.wearewideawake.org
-eileen fleming
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