CHICAGO/TORONTO: Litanies of liberation and peace

From: CPTnet editor, Webster, NY (CPTnet.editor.guest.445947@MennoLink.org)
Date: Sat Dec 10 2005 - 10:43:08 EST

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CPTnet
10 December 2005

[Note: Christian Peacemaker Teams offers the following litanies for people
remembering the four CPTers missing in Iraq in church or in vigils.]

LITANY OF LIBERATION

In a time of yearning, a season of advent, may we be guided by the vision
recounted in the Book of Isaiah (Is 61) and repeated in Luke's gospel.
These are the words Jesus chose to read in the synagogue:

***"The spirit of our God is upon me, anointing me to preach good news to
the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable
year of the Lord." ***

Forty-four US military autopsy reports present evidence that US operatives
tortured detainees to death during interrogations.

*** "The spirit of our God is upon us, calling us to preach good news to the
poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable
year of the Lord." ***

Palestinians and other Muslims have demonstrated for the freedom of the four
Peacemakers, an exemplary action. Our prayers are also with US Catholic
Workers who are in Cuba now, demonstrating for justice on behalf of
detainees held in Guantanamo.

Many of the families of 11,500 Iraqis imprisoned by the US forces in Iraq
have had to wait for months or years with no information as to their loved
ones' well being or whereabouts.

The Christian Peacemaker Teams have worked and will continue to work around
the world for peaceful and steadfast responses to horror, and their response
this week included loving concern for the victims on all sides, and for the
detainees on all sides, and for the anxious friends and families on all
sides, and for the armed parties on all sides, and for all the abductors on
all sides, those following orders and those taking their own dreadful
initiatives.

According to Amnesty International there have been over 70,000 people
imprisoned in the US "War on Terror" since 9/11/2001, and today prisoners
are held in Guantanamo, US, Afghanistan, Iraq, and secret CIA facilities
around the world. Some of have been transferred to third-party countries.
None of the thousands of people detained by the US in foreign countries has
been charged.

Over one million Iraqi children under the age of five suffer from chronic
malnutrition. Infant mortality today (107 deaths per 1,000 live births) is
more than double what it was at the end of the 1980s. The under-five
mortality rate (131 deaths per 1,000 live births) is two-and-a-half times
what it was in 1989. Preventable illnesses such as diarrhea and
respiratory infections account for 70 per cent of child deaths. (UNICEF)

We do not know what will befall our friends. But we know what must befall
so many persons living under any occupation: and so we pray for all those
afflicted by warfare, military occupation, and captivity. In this Advent
season, we prepare for the birth of Christ, the Prince of Peace, born into
an occupied land, imprisoned, tortured, and killed as he heralded our
essential oneness. He called us to "get in the way." We pray for grace to
be disciples of Jesus, pursuing the works of mercy and working--despite
danger-- for justice and peace.

LITANY OF PRAYERS FOR PEACE

by CPTer Sarah MacDonald

Reader: God of all grace, we lift up our brother peacemakers who are missing
in Iraq. Be present with Harmeet, James, Norman and Tom wherever they are.
May the prayers being offered all over the world on their behalf fill their
spirits with courage and strength, endurance and hope.