Monday, September 26, 2005
The "ecumenical group" that traveled to Israel for fact-finding purposes has returned. The ADL is reporting:
Yeah, right. Good luck on that.
Someone should tell all those denominations that are sending representatives and sponsoring the Friends of Sabeel conference in Canada next month. All attendees must agree to the conference mission "To reach out to organizational representatives of churches, CROs and NGOs around the globe who are interested in learning about economic strategies as they pertain to ending the Israeli occupation and promoting a just peace for Israel and Palestine." It's on the registration form.
It is good to see the ADL taking further steps to make Sabeel poison to the touch...
The cleric, Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek, is Director of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, which, according to ADL, has been the driving force behind the scenes pushing mainline Protestant denominations to adopt a policy of divestment against companies doing business with Israel...
..."We accept it may not be his intent to disseminate anti-Semitism, but we made it clear that was what has been done," added the rabbi. "We hope that he may reconsider his language and imagery. But the significance of this is that those people and those churches that use Sabeel's writings and theology to support their political point of view potentially may be considered accessories in the advancement of anti-Semitic theology."...
In other words, we're not going to wrangle over (arguably) the mind-reading necessary to determine whether Ateek himself is an intentional anti-Semite, but whoa be to those groups who get too close -- we're letting you know you'll have no excuse.
According to the ADL, mission participants included: Alliance of Baptists, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Episcopal Church USA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, National Council of Churches, Presbyterian Church USA, United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church -- many of whom are helping to sponsor (either themselves or have participating affiliates) the Sabeel conference.
(Links via UCCTruths.com)
