Ash Wednesday Observed With Antiwar Protest At White House
Story summary:
Members of Washington-area Catholic groups began the Lenten season Wednesday by smearing ashes over walkways in front of the White House as a symbol of what they called repentance for the country's involvement in the war in Iraq and the torture of Guantanamo detainees. Though the group read prayers and sang hymns over a megaphone in front of the White House gates, event organizer James Salt said the event was meant to be a symbolic gesture rather than a loud rally. “Our only hope is that you are a forgiving God and this sign of repentance will stay your hand over an evil empire,” the Rev. Joseph Nangle said as he led the ashes ceremony.
Ash Wednesday Observed With Antiwar Protest At White House
Members of Washington-area Catholic groups began the Lenten season Wednesday by smearing ashes over walkways in front of the White House as a symbol of what they called repentance for the country's involvement in the war in Iraq and the torture of Guantanamo detainees.
Approximately 30 protesters marched from Washington's Cathedral of St. Matthew to the White House, toting plastic sandwich bags filled with ashes and displaying cardboard and cloth banners scrawled with messages such as “War Makes Some Rich and Others Dead” and “Either Jesus was a Liar or War is Never Necessary.”
Though the group read prayers and sang hymns over a megaphone in front of the White House gates, event organizer James Salt said the event was meant to be a symbolic gesture rather than a loud rally.
“Our only hope is that you are a forgiving God and this sign of repentance will stay your hand over an evil empire,” the Rev. Joseph Nangle said as he led the ashes ceremony while policemen on horseback circled the crowd of protestors.
“I think most Catholics are just into personal repentance, but I think it goes way beyond that,” said Nangle, who works at an Arlington, Va., parish. “The social sins of our country need to be addressed.”
The protesters came from groups representing the core of the Catholic social justice movement, said Salt, who is a member of Catholics for an end to the war in Iraq.
“I think that it's important to remember the foundation of most faiths is peace,” said protester Lorig Charkoudian.
Though Pope John Paul II spoke out against the war in Iraq at its outset, he did not direct Catholic dioceses to officially oppose the war, David Reynolds, legislative liaison for the Connecticut Catholic Conference, said in a telephone interview.
Reynolds said individual Catholics have the freedom to decide their position on the war.
Judith Kelly, an Arlington, Va. representative of the Catholic peace group Pace e Bene, who said she has nephews who have served in Iraq, said serving as a public witness against the war makes it more bearable for her.
