Methodist Federation for Social Action

Press Release
October 2, 2001

For more information contact:
Methodist Federation for Social Action
202-546-8806
mfsa@mfsaweb.org

MFSA URGES AMERICAN LEADERS NOT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE LARGER PICTURE AS THEY RESPOND TO SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS

Washington – In a letter sent to thousands of members of the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA), the Rev. Kathryn J. Johnson, MFSA Executive Director, urges United Methodists to make their voices heard in the midst of the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11th. Acknowledging the “ache of our hearts” and the “anguish we feel” for those touched directly by this tragedy, she warns that “the events that have unfolded within our nation since that fateful morning are setting our country and our people on a path that threatens to compound the tragedy of September 11th.” Johnson states that the voices of United Methodists must “continue to be heard throughout the land urging our government to seek justice through peaceful means.”

MFSA members across the country will be doing just that as they gather signatures on petitions to send to President Bush, write letters to members of Congress and take a variety of other actions seeking justice in the midst of the pain and anguish currently being felt by our nation.

The petition being sent to President Bush applauds his calls to respect the rights and personhood of Arab Americans and Americans of the Islamic faith, as well as the government’s restraint thus far in not launching military strikes. At the same time it urges “a broad reexamination of US foreign policies” and recommends “a shift from unilateral policies to a multilateral approach, leading to US support for existing treaties banning landmines and chemical or biological weapons, and the adoption of a comprehensive nuclear test ban.”

MFSA concerns expressed in letters to Congress include:

Support for providing help to the poor at this time of national crisis and a weakened economy
Support for the use of judicial processes to bring the terrorists to justice and for the use of restraint in the use of military measures against civilian populations
Opposition to the weakening of civil liberties in the current rush to authorize various types of surveillance
Opposition to further funding of the missile defense program

Finally MFSA urges that both Congress and President Bush to examine and address the root causes of the anger against the United States in many parts of the world.