Sisters of Charity Lobbied for Peace

On March 11, 2003, Sisters of Charity of New York Teresita Duque, Theresa Courtney, Patricia A. Walsh, Claire E. Regan, and Associate Pat Devaney had the opportunity to meet with the staff of both New York Senators Schumer and Clinton on the urgent matter of potential war with Iraq. The group presented them with 257 signed affirmations of the congregation’s recent Assembly statement on peace.Sisters of Charity Lobby N.Y. Senators on Peace in Iraq

Sister Claire serves as Director of Justice Effectiveness and Corporate Responsibility for the Sisters of Charity of New York. She reported, “We expressed our concerns to them about unilateral action, pre-emptive action, the need for UN support, and our horror at the potential destruction which our weapons could unleash. We felt that a US first strike would justify the use of biological or chemical weapons by Saddam Hussein. We also felt that there would be many people drawn to join terrorists in response. These were just some of the arguments and concerns we offered. We also spoke to the devastation which Desert Storm and the sanctions have imposed upon the people of Iraq. We spoke of the cuts in services to the poor here in the US.”

The staff members listened, Sr. Claire said, but maintained their respective beliefs that Saddam is an imminent threat to our national security because he has weapons and could sell them to others who would want to do us harm. They supported the US policy of regime change, which began in 1999 when Saddam put out the UN weapons inspectors. They both also said that they would want to work through the UN and with other nations in this effort to unseat Hussein. Both affirmed, however, that they would not be bound by receiving the support of the UN Security Council, but would support the President and that they would vote today as they had voted in October. They are being barraged by both sides of public opinion on this issue almost everywhere they go. They see the need to increase measures for homeland security especially as New York is at risk and our ports of entry are many.

“In spite of our differences with our elected officials,” Sr. Claire reflected, “we felt empowered by the experience of expressing our viewpoints. We felt empowered by the presence of our Sisters who had sent in the signed statements, and we even were accompanied in thought and prayer by our deceased Sisters, especially Srs. Virginia Unsworth and Elizabeth Earley [both articulate and committed to social justice]. It was a great experience of our strength in community and the freedom in our democracy.”

For more information, contact Sr. Claire Regan, 718-549-9235.

From the New York Sisters of Charity Newsletter courtesy of Sr. Regina Bechtle.