our values are simple. the journey is not. www.h4pj.org

Wednesday: May 16, 2007

Dear friend,

Last week we celebrated Mother’s Day. When I first came to the Cathedral of Hope in 1987 the church celebrated Mother’s Day with a vengeance. We passed out white or red roses to everyone, forcing them to answer ushers’ questions about whether their mother was dead or alive. We had the mothers stand, and we recognized the oldest mother, in a kind of age bidding. I arrived in November, and, when May came around and they told me their plans, I exercised my first veto. The music director had a fit. He went over my head to the Board of Directors, and they wanted to debate the matter. I reminded them that planning worship was not in their job description; it was the pastor’s role. I warned them that if they didn’t like what I did with Mother’s Day they were going to hate what I did (or didn’t do) with the Fourth of July.

Ironically, this same music director who insisted the church had to celebrate the secular holiday of Mother’s Day also refused to use inclusive language. He saw no irony in his insistence on using sexist language and his passion for honoring women who are mothers. The only place where a sense of irony is rarer than the church these days seems to be in politics.

In the aftermath of September 11, political leaders of all stripes stoked national fervor in the direction of vengeance. With religious fervor we declared “War on Terror.” Here is where our first “Irony Warning” should have gone off. In the name of feeling secure from violence, we declared war. In the name of protecting the innocent, we launched not one but two wars, which, by most estimates, have now killed at least half a million innocent children, women and men in pursuit of our feeling more secure. In defense of our democratic lifestyle, we continue to torture prisoners, repress freedom of the press, diminish civil liberties and disdain basic core values like habeas corpus.

This week, former Senator John Edwards, who is running for president, distinguished himself by speaking truths that haven’t been heard in this country since September 2001. In a Time magazine interview, he repudiated the use of the phrase “war on terror” saying:

While it seems way too early to be campaigning for anyone for president, I want to advocate that we launch our own campaign to support candidates who have a sense of irony and who dare to speak truth that has been silenced by the propaganda of war. We need leaders who dare to challenge the cloak of Americana—mom, apple pie and flag—and who stand up for true values. Sure, love your mom, but work for gender equality; love your country, but don’t sacrifice the things that make it good for the illusion of security; protect the innocent, but don’t support doing it by continuing to make them “collateral damage” as if their lives are less precious to God.

If we are to change directions in this country, it is critical that we speak the truth and challenge the clichés that continue to be used to cover un-American values and actions. John Edwards may not make a good president, but, in this case, at least he makes good sense … and that has been all too rare in all our leaders.

Sincerely,

Rev. Michael S. Piazza
President

Rev. Piazza Responds to Falwell’s Death

“Rev. Jerry Falwell was largely responsible for mobilizing millions of fundamentalist Christians to become involved in the political process of this country. While I disagreed with almost everything he said, did and believed, I had enormous respect for his devotion and passion. He effectively was responsible for slowing equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and stalling social progress on many other fronts. It was as if he knew it was inevitable but wanted to ensure it didn’t happen in his lifetime. Now that he is gone, I hope that liberal leaders will rise with the same passion and devotion to get us back on track. Falwell’s peers Pat Robertson and James Dobson will carry on the fundamentalist fight, but I believe Christian fundamentalism, like Muslim fundamentalism, will fail because it violates the core compassions of the human heart. While our sympathy goes out to his family and congregation, our hope is that Rev. Falwell’s influence will fade quickly.”