Islamic Center

I now join the conversation that is abuzz about the construction of an Islamic Center on 45 Park Place, New York City. The conversation around its building near (4 to 5 blocks) from where the World Trade Center towers stood reveals a much deeper conversation than the building of the Islamic Center. It exposes the use of political propaganda designed to produce the intense polarities within our political world with the goal of grinding this country’s political process to a halt, stalling any legislation that could bring relief to the suffering that comes with our weakened economy, and shaming the “other” side.
Those politicians who passionately oppose the Center are flaming the fires of hate and resentment that resides within the hearts of many people. While the conversation is about the Community Center at a deeper level, it is about the misconceptions we have as a culture about the Islamic religion as a whole. It is about the fear that lives within the hearts of many people that gets directed against people who differ from them. It is about bigotry. It is about political power… Those who oppose the building of the Center would be some of the first who would decry that Supreme Court justices are appointed to uphold the Constitution of the United States, and would challenge justices, not follow their political agendas in interpreting the law of the land. The Constitution is pretty clear about the right of Americans to freely practice their religion and that discrimination based upon religion is prohibited under the Constitution. If the Community Center is prohibited from developing in this location because it is too close to where the World Trade Centers stood, how far away is far enough? Will Manhattan be entirely off limits, or Brooklyn, or New Jersey, or Illinois or Alaska? Where does it stop?

Pride Parade

Another wonderful Pride Parade. Throughout the route, voices were cheering our presence in the parade. The parade is always a hopeful time for me when I see 75 people marching to represent welcoming and affirming congregations; there is power in their demonstration to the all embracing love of God.

Annual Fundraiser

Thanks to everyone who contributed, worked and supported our fundraiser efforts during the Old Town Art Fair. I am always amazed at the energy and commitment of this congregation. We had over 55 volunteers, volunteering over 500 hours. AMAZING. Because of the weather and visible lower attendance, our fundraising efforts not up to previous years, but with rough numbers at this point it looks like our net income will be around $5,000. These funds are still a great support for our budget through our summer months.

El Salvador

Hi, All:
For those of you interested in my Human Rights travels, I went to El Salvador March 19-27 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero on March 24, 1980.
A year ago Salvadorans elected Mauricio Funes, a member of FMLN (the former guerillas), as President. That election has made a
considerable difference in official attitudes in that country.
President Funes officially apologized on behalf of the government for the violence against the people. He declared March 24th a National holiday. He dedicated a special mural, "Homage to Monseñor Oscar Arnolfo Romero," by Rafael Varela, at the San Salvador airport on the anniversary. He is moving to take civilian control over police and the military (aware of the possibility of a Honduras-type coup if he moves too fast). Things are looking better.
Despite that, there are still major problems in El Salvador. Crime is still rampant (the Chargé at the U.S. Embassy, with whom we met, said there is no safe place in El Salvador). The latest wrinkle is private extortion, where petty criminals threaten to harm members of a person's family unless regular payments are made. Because of impunity (less than 5% of all crimes are even prosecuted), people have essentially only the choices of paying or moving, and many people cannot move all their family members.
A second problem is the continuing contentions of conservatives that Romero was a Marxist Communist who threatened to turn El Salvador into another Cuba or Venezuela. In Cinquera in the North, where the guerillas were active, a new conservative Priest insulted people at Good Friday processions last year by calling the banners containing photos and statements of Archbishop Romero "garbage." He subsequently closed the Church. On December 23, the local Bishop (who is also conservative) came to "purify" the Church. He ordered a group of nuns who had accompanied him to literally tear the photos of victims of the violence from the Church walls and burn them, which they did. The Bishop then excommunicated the congregation and again closed the Church. At a later date, the Priest showed up with 140 people from other communities to tear down the Church. Church members put their bodies in front of the Church ("If you want to put that pickaxe into the Church, you will have to put it through me first," said one woman), and after hearing from community members, the others left without harming the Church.
Even though the Bishop has now been replaced, the Catholics of Cinquera are still unable to attend and worship at the Church in their own community.
The theme of the delegation was "Romero vive! (Romero lives). In El Salvador, I witnessed that in the people.
Frank Schneider

Honduras

Hi, All:
To bring you up to date on the deplorable, sad and disgraceful situation in Honduras, government encouraged killings of activists continues to take place in that country. There have been six killings in February and March alone. Since the coup last June, there have been dozens of killings of union activists and of members of the Honduran National Resistance Front (FNRP), which has called for a Constitutional convention and a peaceful change in the political system.
A textbook case occurred on March 23, when hooded gunmen invaded the high school where FNRP member Jose Manuel Flores was teaching and killed him in front of his students. It is unknown whether the gunmen were police or paramilitaries, because the Minister of Government has instituted and maintained the practice of having hooded police participate in raids. It is also known that landowners have imported right wing paramilitaries from Colombia to do their "clensing" of union and other leaders and activists.
On March 27, two investigating journalists were ambushed and murdered.
If you want to protest the situation in Honduras, or call for our government to investigate and speak out against these gross violations of human rights, the Honduras desk at the State Department can be reached at 202-647-3482. I have gone to voice mail each time, but I think it is important that they hear from as many people as possible.
And pray for the people of Honduras, that they may be delivered from this terrible time.
Frank Schneider

Spring Here

I walked past a barren patch of city dirt - darkened by the winter's grim. Layers and layers of winter build-up which reflected the layers upon layers of snow, when melted formed a single compacted crust of grim. I wondered when spring would come and cover the winter's mess. Then I saw it - a small white flower emerging - breaking through the grim. Hopes of spring pushed through - and a smile broke across my face and a stood there for a moment body defiant against the chill.

Lenten Reflection

As Congress debates the health care reform bill - it is clear there are differences in philosophical ideologies crashing into each other on Capital Hill. These crashes, while complex are not unlike all philosophical crashes over human history where one group's ideas of how to resolve social issues clashes with others. Lent is the time to particularly spend pondering our ideas, social commitments and how those commitments stand up against the alternative views of Jesus.