Statement of UUA President on TN shootings

[LiberalEsto]

UUA President Releases Statement on Tennessee Shootings

July 27, 2008

Rev. William G. Sinkford, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, on the Tennessee church shootings:


I am shocked and sorrowed by the terrible shootings in the sanctuary of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. My heart is heavy and my prayers are with our injured sisters and brothers in Knoxville. While many details of this tragedy remain unclear, our Association will do all we can to support Unitarian Universalists in Knoxville in the hard days to come.

A tragedy such as this makes us acutely conscious of the beauty and fragility of our lives and those of our loved ones. I am especially saddened by this intrusion of violence into a worship service involving children and youth. I know that many people, both in Knoxville and around the country, are struggling with shock and grief right now. I pray that those so affected will find strength and comfort.

Members of the Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry are on their way to Knoxville to offer additional ministry to the congregation as it grieves. And Unitarian Universalists around the world are sending love and prayers to the Tennessee Valley congregation to tell them they are not alone on this dark day.

Last updated on Monday, July 28, 2008.

http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/117154.shtml

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. A more loving and Jesus-like response than many denominations would offer, I think.

Odd how the more liberal, hated, and feared Christian/Pseudo-Christian* expressions are the ones that act more Jesus-like.

I wonder if the Freepers even care about this shooting, since it was just "Unitarian ACLU supporting america-haters".



(* I used Christian/Pseudo-Christian here because I know some Unitarians don't like to be thought of as Christian, while some others do)

[charlie]

3. Heh

Freepers are debating, in their own imitable way, whether or not UUs are Christians.

And this post is awesomely perfect -- only a freeper could draw self-martyrdom from another's tragedy:

It’s amazing how Satan works. He tells that loser, “Go kill some Christians, there’s some right over there.” But he really just kills some liberals who hate God themselves. Then that loser looks like a right wing fundamentalist giving the media ammunition to get churches like mine shut down.

[LiberalEsto]

5. UUs are also debating whether they are Christians

We've been doing that for generations.

[charlie]

6. Not like the freeps are

Like I said, imitable. As if UUs are worthy enough to even be mistaken for Christians.

[LiberalEsto]

8. I hope you didn't mean the way that came out

It seems as though you were saying that UUs are somehow not good enough to be Christians?

Please, let's not debate the relative worthiness of religious and individuals.

As a UU, I believe that every person has inherent worth. Even this mentally ill person who got hold of a gun (which he shouldn't have had access to) and killed innocent people who never hurt him. I wonder what kind of terrible damage he went through in his life that led him to act like this.

[charlie]

9. No, that was poorly expressed

That's the attitude on the freep boards. Not mine. Everything okay now?

[LiberalEsto]

10. Of course it's okay!

I didn't think you really meant the way it came out, but I was concerned that our visiting trolls might jump on it, so I asked for clarification.

I feel just sick about this whole thing -- the poor kids who watched church members getting shot and killed are the ones that concern me the most. What if they become afraid to go back to the UU church?

To me, it boils down to a few questions:

why did a mentally ill person like this get access to a deadly weapon? He couldn't have done that much damage with a knife.

Why don't we have health care and social services networks designed to help people, instead of using our tax dollars for propping up crooked corporations?

Why don't we provide jobs for Americans instead of shipping them overseas so corporations can grab bigger profits?

[charlie]

12. Okay, swell

:D

I'm an atheist and the UUC is one of a handful of religious orgs I actually admire, so I appreciate being able to say so here. I'd hate to inadvertently cause ill feelings without a chance to clarify.

[Possumpoint]

2. Did You Catch

The police statement where the shooter in a written statement claimed his reasons were in part because of his hatred of liberal values.

[Vickers]

11. Yeah, the liberal values, like feeding poor people...and he was on food stamps?

:eyes:

[LiberalEsto]

4. From the web page of the TV UU church:

"Love is the spirit of this church, and service is its law. This is our great covenant: to live together in peace, seek the truth in love, and help one another."


Ironic, isn't it?

[nam78_two]

7. I love the Unitarian church

I would consider joining it if I weren't so lazy. They do a lot of good work-they are very big-hearted, good people generally...very supportive of gay rights, for helping the poor etc.