When I was looking for a pic of Ahmadinejad

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

Maybe I was totally unaware, but this is the first I read about this meeting.

 

Not really sure if it will have any affect, but it is nice to note that there is a voice of reason being expressed.

 

U.S. religious leaders meet with Iran's president, stress diplomacy

 

By Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) --

 

 

 

 

U.S. religious leaders are "deeply concerned about the prospect of war with Iran," said a professor from a Catholic college who was part of an interfaith delegation that met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Sept. 26 in New York. But Joseph Fahey, professor of religious studies at Manhattan College in Riverdale, said he left the meeting feeling hopeful because of statements Ahmadinejad made about the "renunciation of war and the quest for peace.""This meeting was an attempt to build bridges with Iran despite the generally hostile reception President Ahmadinejad received here in New York City," Fahey said in a statement issued after the meeting.

"We strongly believe that only through formal and informal diplomacy and respect for international law can there be peace between Iran and the U.S."

Protests greeted Ahmadinejad while he was in New York to address the U.N. Security Council Sept. 25. He spoke to an audience at Columbia University the same day.

The Iranian president has been criticized for questioning whether the Holocaust and the extermination of 6 million Jews during World War II ever happened. He also has said Israel should not exist.In addition, his country's nuclear program has brought the threat of sanctions from the U.S., France and other countries who say Iran is enriching uranium for nuclear weapons, but Iranian officials say the program's goal is to produce energy.

In his U.N. remarks Ahmadinejad said the nuclear issue is closed.

The interfaith delegation had an hourlong meeting with the Iranian leader. The religious group -- made up of more than 100 faith representatives, including Catholics, United Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Unitarians -- stressed the need for diplomacy to prevent war.Organized by the Mennonite Central Committee, the meeting was held under tight security at the Church Center for the United Nations, across the street from U.N. headquarters. It was billed as a "time of dialogue and prayerful reflection among the children of Abraham."

It was the third interfaith discussion focused on dialogue between the United States and Iran.

The first discussion came during the Iranian president's visit to the U.N. last year; U.S. religious leaders met with him at his hotel.

The second was this February, when a group of American religious leaders traveled to Iran to meet with political, academic and religious leaders.The meetings have included frank discussions on the Holocaust, nuclear weapons, the role of religion in peacemaking, Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the use of hostile rhetoric.

The Catholic group that was part of the delegation was organized by Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement, and included theologians, clergy and religious, and leaders of national Catholic organizations."Our message today, both in our words and by our actions, is that our country and our political leaders need to engage Iran in respectful and meaningful dialogue in order to overcome the historical enmity that has existed between our two nations," said Dave Robinson, executive director of Pax Christi USA.Ahmadinejad responded to questions submitted by invited panelists who included Jesuit Father Drew Christiansen, editor of the national Catholic magazine America; Karen A. Hamilton, a Canadian Anglican who is general secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches; the Rev. Chris Ferguson, a Canadian who represents the World Council of Churches at the United Nations; and Glen Stassen, a professor of Christian ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary, an evangelical institution.The gathering closed with comments by Ahmadinejad and the gathering's moderator, Burt Lobe, interim executive director of the Mennonite Central Committee. Lobe described the dialogue as conversation that "occurred in sacred space."

"We believe that it is conversation like this, conversation emanating from religious space and out of our particular Christian tradition that carries the voice and call to dialogue," he said.

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

I figured this wouldn't get any response from the board...doesn't fit into the little box.

[myboyblue]

I figured this wouldn't get any response from the board...doesn't fit into the little box.

 

it's only been posted for an hour or so. I don't really have a comment beyond why are you looking for a picture of Ahmadinejad?

[Duck-Billed Catechist]

Someone brought this up in church yesterday. Apparently the Mennonite Central Committee has taken a lot of flack for this, including from some Mennonites. I suggest that you write them if this heartens you. They have had programs in Iran for years and feel like these conversations have been fruitful.

[viatroy]

"We strongly believe that only through formal and informal diplomacy and respect for international law can there be peace between Iran and the U.S."

 

 

agreed. There's nothing to be gained by not having dialog at all possible levels.

[Duck-Billed Catechist]

http://mcc.org/iran/buildingpeace/conversation.html

[Guest Jules]

I figured this wouldn't get any response from the board...doesn't fit into the little box.

If by "little box", you mean "short enough to bother reading", then yes.

[quarter23cd]

I figured this wouldn't get any response from the board...doesn't fit into the little box.

Fatigue?

 

This is interesting--I hadn't heard about this, either. The article is a little short on details (ie, Lobe described the dialogue as conversation that "occurred in sacred space." -- that doesn't really say anything to me), but I'm a pretty firm believer in the idea that diplomacy is a good thing. I'm not sure what reaction you were hoping for. For now, file this one under "Huh, that's interesting."

[Griddles]

Did he speak at Columbia again this year? Why has his visit been covered less than last year?

[kagee]

Whats wrong with talking to them?

 

Isn't it better than starting another conflict in the Middle East (like a lot of the hawks want) which could lead to a nuclear war?

[MrRain422]

Whats wrong with talking to them?

 

Isn't it better than starting another conflict in the Middle East (like a lot of the hawks want) which could lead to a nuclear war?

 

Kagee, why do you hate America?

[sweetheart-mine]

Whats wrong with talking to them?

absolutely nothing. i'm surprised by this article and find it heartening. who knows if anything will come of it in the long run, but at least someone is making the effort.

 

p.s. didn't even see this thread yesterday.

[moxiebean]

Mennonites are cool.