ELCA NEWS SERVICE
December 12, 2006
ELCA Presiding Bishop, Other Leaders Applaud Passage of Haiti Legislation
06-195-AL*
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson,
presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), and four other Christian leaders in the United States
commended members of the U.S. Congress this week for passing
landmark legislation to bring economic opportunity to Haiti, one
of the world's most impoverished countries.
Congress passed the Haiti Hemispheric Opportunity through
Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act December 9 in the final
hours of the 109th Congress. The HOPE Act grants preferential
access to Haitian exports for entry into the U.S. market. The
ELCA joined with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the
Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ, and the United
Methodist Church to support the legislation.
"As religious leaders, we will continue to stand in
solidarity with Haitians as they work to increase the stability
of their nation and lift their people out of poverty," said
Hanson.
Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and
has been "plagued by political violence for most of its history,"
according to "The World Factbook" published by the Central
Intelligence Agency.
In an October 31 letter, leaders from the Episcopal Church,
United Church of Christ, United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB), and United Methodist Church urged members of
Congress to take action on the HOPE Act.
"Despite [its] legacy of poverty, the present moment offers
great hope that Haiti is on the path to deeper security for its
people and the entire region," the leaders wrote. The leaders
listed reform initiatives undertaken by Haiti President Rene
Préval in recent years, including combating drug transshipment
and violent crime, but noted, "stability will not take root in
Haiti without economic development and the textile and apparel
sector - the segment of the economy that would benefit most from
the HOPE Act - offers the best opportunity for job creation."
The Lutheran World Federation has worked with Haiti on
development and community organizing for more than 20 years,
according to Dennis W. Frado, director of the Lutheran Office for
World Community, which represents the ELCA and the Lutheran World
Federation at the United Nations, New York.
"As people of faith, we are called to work for justice and
peace for all, and striving for economic justice in Haiti is a
critical part of our accompaniment of the Haitian people," he
said.
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop
and primate of the Episcopal Church, pointed to the grassroots
advocacy that helped galvanize support for the legislation.
"Thousands of Christians contacted their lawmakers in support of
the HOPE Act over the past week because they knew that this
legislation is good not only for the people of Haiti, but also
for Americans," she said. The United States is Haiti's principal
trading partner, and the HOPE Act will have no adverse impact on
U.S. manufacturers, according to a recent study by the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID).
"Congress has brought a light of hope to the long-suffering
people of Haiti with bipartisan legislation," said Bishop Thomas
G. Wenski of Orlando, chair, USCCB International Policy
Committee. "This action reflects the desire of the American
people to be good neighbors to a deeply impoverished county so
close to our own border. We continue to urge our political
leaders to recognize that as the richest nation in the world we
have a moral responsibility to help our most vulnerable brothers
and sisters around the globe."
---
* Annie Lynsen is director for grassroots advocacy and
communication, ELCA Washington Office.
The full text of the letter supporting passage of the HOPE
Act is at http://www.ELCA.org/advocacy/issues/latinamerica/06-10-
31-haiti.html on the ELCA Web site.
Information about the ELCA's advocacy ministries is at
http://www.ELCA.org/advocacy
on the ELCA Web site.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
