"He came to us after a speaking event, telling us we must get our story into the schools. He came with a pleading voice, desperate to find a way to keep our young people from making a decision that could eventually send them to war. He said they need to hear what you have to say. We said words are not the answer if there is no program for change in the works to back them up. We cannot tell our youth not to join the military if we are not willing to raise the funds, create the programs and present the alternative in something other than idle talk.
As we sellout to the highest bidder in the race to get rich, leaving small communities in the dust, forsaking the values that have helped them survive through depressions, oil busts and droughts, we leave little behind for our youth to turn to except the very corporate entities we claim to disdain." - Monica Benderman
According to the Zimbabwean bishops, "The God of the Bible is always on the side of the oppressed. He does not reconcile Moses and Pharaoh, or the Hebrew slaves with their Egyptian oppressors. Oppression is sin and cannot be compromised with. It must be overcome. God takes sides with the oppressed. As we read in Psalm 103:6: "God who does what is right, is always on the side of the oppressed". ...
We conclude our pastoral letter by affirming with a clear and unambiguous "yes" our support of morally legitimate political authority. At the same time we say an equally clear and unambiguous "no" to power through violence, oppression and intimidation. We call on those who are responsible for the current crisis in our country to repent and listen to the cry of their citizens. To the people of Zimbabwe we appeal for peace and restraint when expressing their justified grievances and demonstrating for their human rights."
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