Update On Letters To Methodist Bishops
If you are a regular reader, you know that for some time I’ve been trying to get the United Methodist Bishops (at the U.S. ones) to pay attention to the issue of government sponsored torture. I’ve sent several letters you can read here, here and here.
In response to my second letter, the Bishop of New Jersey agreed to write a letter, and in response to the most recent letter, Bishop Lyght of West Virginia sent the following letter to W:
June 20, 2005
The Honorable George W. Bush, President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500Dear President Bush:
Grace and Peace be unto you.
I am writing to you about my concern regarding recent news reports that the U.S. government allegedly has engaged in acts of torture against detainees in Iraq and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
If there is any torturing of Iraqi prisoners, I ask that the U.S. stop such an inhumane practice. The democratic posture for the U.S. government would be either to bring charges against detainees or release them under the tenants of the Geneva Conventions.
Thank you for your attention given to this matter.
May God’s love, joy, and peace abide with you as you provide leadership as President of the United States.
Faithfully,
Ernest S. Lyght
BishopCc: Senator Robert C. Byrd
Senator John D. Rockefeller, IV
I realize I’m often gilting at windmills, but once in a while you slay one. If you would like to join me in calling on the U.S. Bishops of the United Methodist Church to demand that the U.S. Government cease torturing men, women and children, I’ve included a copy of the mailing list here in both Excel Format at PDF Format.