From Pittsburgh-Tribune Revue:
Presbyterians & Hezbollah: Apologists & terrorists
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Will buttering up Middle Eastern fanatics for the destruction of Israel become an annual prelude to welcoming the Prince of Peace?
Word comes to us that elements of the Presbyterian Church USA met with a top official of the southern Lebanon-based terrorist organization Hezbollah last month.
In October 2004, retired theology professor Ronald Stone of Pittsburgh praised Hezbollah during an official "fact-finding" mission for the Presbyterian Church USA. The public outcry was deafening; the national church distanced itself from the remarks.
Yet, the well-regarded Middle East Media Research Institute says Lebanese media on Oct. 21 reported another delegation of the Presbyterian Church USA met with terrorist commander Nabil Qawuq at Hezbollah's invitation.
Hezbollah was assured that the Presbyterian delegation had voted for the Democratic Party. A delegation spokesman said U.S. Jewish organizations are pressuring the church to back away from divesting its investments in corporations doing business with Israel.
Troubles with Jews allow a basis for solidarity with Hezbollah, eh?
"The Americans hear in the Western media that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, and they do not hear any other opinion," spokesman Robert Worley said.
Of course they hear other opinions; they're quite common.
These are the ideas of people who cloak their despicable apologies for terror with "Christian understanding." [link]
ADL and the rest of the Jewish Liberal establishment are forever beholden to the Democratic party. They bravely fight Evangelical friends of Israel and are strangely silent about the leftist agenda of terrorist appeasement on the part of their liberal brethren among the main Christian denominations. Meanwhile regular, good Americans, who are rank and file of these churches refuse to be silent. They challenge their leftist leadership. Here is a fax sent by Presbyterian laymen to their "leaders". (Hat tip Deep Throat):
IMPORTANT! PROMPT REPLY REQUESTED
TO THE ATTENTION OF:
Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk, PCUSA
Mr. John Detterick, Executive Director, General Assembly Council, PCUSA
FAX: 502-569-8005 NUMBER OF PAGES: 4
CC: American Interfaith Institute, FAX: 215-925-3800
RE: Is the PCUSA biased in favor of the Palestinians?
Please reply to the following questions regarding the seeming bias of the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) in their relationships with Middle East organizations and personalities.
Missionary work
1. PCUSA paid staff Douglas Dicks, Nuhad Tomeh, and Marthame Sanders have served on the Board of Directors or Advisors of Pro-Palestinian organizations. Have any of them been a member or attended meetings of interfaith organizations that have representation from all sides of Middle East issues?
2. PCUSA missionary Nuhad Tomeh is assigned to the Middle East Council of Churches, which is known for its pro-Palestinian bias. What role did Mr. Tomeh play in arranging meetings between representatives or members of the Presbyterian Church USA and the terrorist group Hezbollah? (In answering the above please specifically address the Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding (EMEU) tour of Al-Khiam Detention Center/Prison in southern Lebanon on May 23, 2002; the San Francisco Theological Seminary tour group in June 2004; and the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) in October 2004).
3. How much money has the PCUSA given to the Middle East Council of Churches each year from 2000 to 2005?
4. During and subsequent to their PCUSA missionary assignment in the Middle East, Marthame and Elizabeth Sanders produced and marketed a video entitled “Salt of the Earth: Palestinian Christians in the Northern West Bank.” a. Does the PCUSA endorse the content of this video as being consistent with its
“Guidelines for Avoiding Anti-Semitism” and its policy of being unbiased on Middle East issues?
b. Does any official publication or information medium of the PCUSA promote the
sale of the Sanders’ video and if so, under what authority?
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5. Does the Presbyterian Hunger Program known as, “Joining Hands Against Hunger” or the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program allocate any mission funds toward any Palestinian organizations that spend money on “pro-Palestine” propaganda campaigns that are anti-Semitic or intended to change U.S. policy with regard to Israel? If so, does that violate PCUSA Guidelines for Avoiding Anti-Semitism?
Trips to the Middle East
6. In July 2003, Executive Director John Detterick took a fact-finding tour of the Middle East. a. Who accompanied Mr. Detterick on this trip? b. How much money was spent on this fact-finding trip? c. Did Mr. Detterick meet with any Israeli governmental officials on this trip? If so, whom?
7. In February 2004, Executive Director John Detterick and Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick took another fact-finding tour of the Middle East. a. Who accompanied Mr. Detterick and Mr. Kirkpatrick on this trip? b. How much money was spent on this fact-finding trip? c. Did Mr. Detterick and Mr. Kirkpatrick meet with any Israeli governmental officials on this trip? If so, whom?
8. In October 2004, many PCUSA staff and General Assembly Committee members took yet another fact-finding trip to the Middle East. a. Who were the staff and committee members on that trip? b. How much money was spent for that trip? c. Did the participants meet with any Israeli governmental officials on that trip? If so, whom?
9. Rev. Victor Makari, coordinator of Middle East-Interfaith Ecumenical Relations of the Presbyterian Church USA, is known to frequently visit the Middle East. a. How many official trips has Rev. Makari made to the Middle East since 2000? b. What were the purposes of these trips? c. Who accompanied Mr. Makari on these trips? d. How much money was spent on these trips? e. Did Mr. Makari meet with any Israeli governmental officials on these trips? If so, whom
10. How many trips to the Middle East have been made by other PCUSA paid staff or official committee members since 2000, including PCUSA NEWS staff and photographers? Please provide the dates and costs of Middle East visits by Peter Sulyok, Alexa Smith,Kathy Leukhart, Jay Rock, and all those who accompanied them. Did any of the above trips include meetings with Israeli governmental officials? If so, whom? 2
Affiliations with Palestinian advocates
11. At the 2002 General Assembly Moderator’s Conference there was a major presentation on Middle East relations. a. Who were the speakers at this event? b. What were the subjects of their talks? c. Did the PCUSA pay the travel expenses for the speakers?
12. Palestinian Lutheran Minister Mitri Raheb, the speaker who argued in favor of divestment at the 216th meeting of the General Assembly, was a missionary-in-residence at Louisville headquarters prior to July 2004. a. When did Rev. Raheb begin his assignment as missionary-in-residence? b. How much money did the PCUSA pay to Rev. Raheb? c. How much time did Rev. Raheb spend on staff at Louisville Theological Seminary?
13. Several Palestinian advocates (Mitri Raheb, Naim Ateek, Elias Chacour, among others) have made tours in the United States to speak at Presbyterian churches and other venues. a. Who coordinates with the churches and other venues for these speaking engagements? b. How much money has the PCUSA spent to finance these tours?
14. After Laurel Nelson and Catherine Gordon (PCUSA Washington Office) completed their two year assignment with the Sabeel organization in the Middle East, the Sabeel organization wrote that they are regarded as “Sabeel Ambassadors raising awareness back home.” How do you evaluate the job performance of Catherine Gordon with regard to performing her current duties without bias against Israel?
Divestment-related travel, meetings, publicity
15. Since the passage of the Israel Divestment Resolution in July 2004, many PCUSA personnel have traveled to churches, presbyteries and other venues to give presentations on the divestment resolution. a. Which PCUSA personnel have made these trips? b. Where did they speak? (please provide a complete list) c. How much money was spent for their travel? d. How much time were they away from their regular jobs because of these trips?
16. In February 2005, more than 200 Presbytery and Synod leaders traveled to Louisville for a 3-day meeting explaining divestment. a. How much money was spent for this meeting including travel expenses for the participants? b. How many Palestinian advocates were invited to this meeting -- who paid their travel expenses? c. Were any Israeli governmental officials invited to this meeting?
17. Publications regarding the Israel divestment issue have been prepared and sent to the 11,000 churches in the PCUSA. a. How many times has Louisville sent publications of this nature to the churches? b. How much money has been spent to prepare, print, and mail these publications?
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College/Seminary Presentation
18. In October 2002, the Presbyterian Whitworth College hosted a Pro-Palestinian symposium with Palestinian Episcopal Priest Naim Ateek as a featured speaker. Has the Presbyterian Whitworth College hosted a Pro-Israel symposium?
19. In October 2003, the Ecumenical Working Group for Middle East Peace hosted a Pro-Palestinian symposium with Palestinian Episcopal Priest Naim Ateek as a featured speaker. Has the Ecumenical Working Group for Middle East Peace hosted a Pro-Israel symposium?
20. In October 2003, a Presbyterian sponsored event at Wooster College in Ohio featured anti-Semitic speaker Samir Makhlouf. a. Which Presbyterian organization sponsored this event? b. Who arranged for Makhlouf to be the speaker? c. How much money was spent by the PCUSA on this anti-Semitic presentation
21. In February 2005, the Presbyterian Austin Theological Seminary hosted a Pro-Palestinian symposium with Palestinian Episcopal Priest Naim Ateek as a featured speaker. Has the Austin Theological Seminary hosted a Pro-Israel symposium?
22. In October 2005, the Presbyterian McCormick Theological Seminary co-hosted a Pro-Palestinian symposium with Palestinian Episcopal Priest Naim Ateek as a featured speaker. Has the McCormick Theological Seminary hosted a Pro-Israel symposium?
23. In February 2005, the Presbyterian Columbia Theological Seminary hosted a Pro-Palestinian symposium with Palestinian Episcopal Priest Naim Ateek as a featured speaker. Has the Columbia Theological Seminary hosted a Pro-Israel symposium?
24. In October 2005, Presbyterian-affiliated Coe College in Iowa hosted a Pro-Palestinian symposium with Palestinian Episcopal Priest Naim Ateek as a featured speaker. Has Coe College hosted a Pro-Israel symposium?
Thank you for your prompt reply.
Name ______________________________________________________________
Church _____________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________ State ______ Zip _____________
Email ______________________________________________________________
Fax to Rev. Kirkpatrick and Mr. Detterick at 502-569-8005
Cc: American Interfaith Institute, Fax 215-925-3800
Does it sound strangely familiar? An enlightened leftist elite versus regular Americans. Reminds of us of our Jewish liberal elite -- supporting "peace" that is appeasement, donating community lists to the Democratic campaigns.
Throw the rascals out!
posted by: jrtelegraph
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