Where was the clergy during the hurricane and flooding?

[Cassandra]

Particularly of the poorer sections of town. There was a Reverend from the 9th (I think) ward on Washington Journal this morning and that set me to wondering. Did they do everything they could? Did they grab their families and leave town? Did anyone stay to minister to people other than some doctors and nurses, who are in the physical but not the spiritual ministering business?

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. Here, there and everywhere.

Many clergy coordinated with their congregations to make sure people made it out. Some ministers probably thought about themselves and got the heck out. I know of some clegy who stayed behind in hospitals, nursing homes and shelters.

A network of clergy tried to go to LA and MS as first responders but were told (probably rightly so) to hold off until physical needs were addressed first. There are interfaith clerical organizations working to get pastoral counseling to victims in every state.

Hope that helps.

Rev. Pacifist ;)

[Cassandra]

3. Thank you

[Ian David]

2. I heard some people got bibles before they got food

I'm not sure where I heard that from, but it might be worth chasing down.

[Pacifist Patriot]

4. Given the speed with which food arrived I wouldn't doubt it.

We could have gotten them the Koran and the Pali Canon faster.

[etherealtruth]

5. I think I could have copied all major world religion religious ...

... texts by hand, in the time it took.

I am reasonably sure that the bibles came from outside ... I do recall snips of religious clergy begging for help (CNN)...

edit: spelling

[Ian David]

7. The Canadians got to some of the worst neighborhoods before we did

I'm telling you...

If Canada waits until winter so they can get the dogsleds across the border, they'd have an easy time invading us while our forces are stretched so thin.

And they will be greeted as liberators, with hot chocolate and gingerbread men.

[ladjf]

6. As usual, they were waiting for their daily "talking points" to arrive.

[patcox2]

8. Waiting for that massive atheist-organized relief effort.

Probably be waiting a while yet.

[DeepModem Mom]

13. Good one!

I'm only an occasional church-goer, a seeker of some kind of spirituality, but I have to hand it to churches, anecdotally, in the response to Katrina. In Arkansas, for example, according to an article posted in LBN, Republican Governor Huckabee was reported as saying he'd been asked by FEMA if he had any evacuees. He had 75,000! They were being taken care of largely by volunteer groups, many of them churches. And in my town churches were very helpful with our relatively small number of evacuees.

[Pacifist Patriot]

14. I'd like to take this moment to share this little tidbit.

http://www.uubrevard.org/hurricane.htm

Yes, churches, mosques, synagogues, etc. have definitely stepped up to the plate all over.

[DeepModem Mom]

15. Thanks for that additional info, PP! nt

[Pacifist Patriot]

17. LOL!

[Nikki Stone 1]

9. My friend from Lacombe credits local churches in the small town where

she is staying with great concern and care for the evacuees. My friend is not religious, but she was touched by the churchgoers of the working class town where she is holed up at the moment. These people have little, but they are giving from what they have to help the Katrina victims.

Now, were the clergy part of this effort? Probably. But from my own church experience, I imagine it was a lot of caring individuals who stepped up and the church gave them a place to do that.

If you are asking where the TV evangelists are or where the big bishops are, I can't tell you. I haven't seen a one. I know that Pope Ratzinger is praying for everyone, but I haven't seen him give so much as a lira to the effort. I think John Paul II would have had a much more humane response, bless his soul.

[Pacifist Patriot]

16. This is just a drop in the bucket...

http://www.uubrevard.org/hurricane.htm but it will give people an idea of how churches are pulling together on this.

I don't consider televangelists clergy, but that's an uppity bias on my part. ;)

[TWiley]

10. They were busy looting the "faith based initiates" coffers.

and plotting to assassinate foreign presidents. You know, the usual "christ-like" activities like planting more land mines, and polluting a river somewhere.

[ObaMania]

11. Why, walking on water of course! n/t

[Cassandra]

12. Of course they have to keep scraping...

the oil and chemicals off the bottoms of their sandals.

[spuddonna]

18. On wwltv.com, they had on an archbishop I believe of NO...

He was talking about trying to set-up emergency schools and help raise money for the survivors...

Now, I'm guessing that was from Baton Rouge, but I'm not positive. I think I remember a priest calling in to say he was praying for the newsteams that were staying behind in NO, but don't know where he was.

A very good and valid question...

[DanCa]

19. Most of the episcopal churches on the gulf were destroyed

Maybe they were in shock mourning or grieving for their members of thier congregation . I do think the response in the aftermath of the storm is wonderful.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

20. But Episcopal Relief and Development is already active down there

We had a special offering last for ERD last Sunday that raised $12,000 from about 500 people.

And you can be 100% sure that the Salvation Army and the Mennonite Volunteer Corps are pouring everything they have into relief efforts.

The Mennonites don't grag about their efforts, but they're in for the long haul. When Vernonia, Oregon was hit by a flash flood a few years ago, the Mennonites stayed for months helping with repairs and rebuilding.

[unless]

21. I'm a (liberal) minister's wife and I have to say....

...my husband would not have been much help in NOLA during the hurricane, during the flood, or during the search and rescue.

He's an "egghead", not a fireman-type. Isn't much of a power-tool guy, and isn't great with directions or crisis situations. Would probably end up kicking the plug out of a boat.

(did I mention I love him?)

He would have been more useful bugging out of town (with a minivan full of people - we are always taking carless people places) and:
1) networking with churches in other areas to set up shelters
2) requesting help from churches and other organizations
3) providing spiritual help to those who need it
4) helping reunite families

Additionally, people forget that ministers are hired for the job, not their families.