Virginia Catholic, Episcopalian and Methodist Bishops Defend Colleague

By Andrew I. Killgore

It wasn't quite an intifada of Christian bishops, and it took a month to begin, but Virginia prelates have closed ranks with embattled Bishop C. Charles Vaché of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia. Vaché, whose 34,000-member diocese extends from South Richmond across the southeastern part of the state, had come under highly personalized attack from two local Jewish leaders and in the editorial columns of two Richmond newspapers.

What prompted the attack was a letter from the bishop in the April edition of the Jamestown Cross, the publication of the Diocese of Southern Virginia, written upon the bishop's return from 10 days in Jerusalem and the West Bank. In the letter, Bishop Vaché cited "the increased hostility and aggressiveness of the Israeli government in its efforts to rid the West Bank and Jerusalem of Palestinians. " The effectiveness of these efforts is demonstrated, the bishop wrote, by the fact that "in 1967 there were approximately 27,000 native (i.e. Palestinian) Christians in Jerusalem; now there are only approximately 7,000."

Citing the fact that Israel "denies basic human and civil rights to one and a half million Palestinian people living under a military regime," the bishop continued

"For the first time in my 39 years of ordained ministry, I am requesting that vestries and individuals write to the president, secretary of state, senators and representatives. I urge you to write or call asking that our government take definite steps to limit its aid to Israel until full civil and human rights are granted the one and a half million Palestinians residing in Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and Golan Heights and that Israel agree to abide by United Nations Resolution 242, which calls for withdrawal from the occupied territories."

The bishop's statement was picked up by reporters for Richmond papers, one of whom also filed it to the Associated Press. Angry reaction from two local Jewish leaders focused on Bishop Vaché's statement in the letter warning that if the US did not put restrictions on further aid to Israel immediately "our tax dollars will continue to support what approaches genocide of the type which the Jews experienced in the late '30s and early '40s in Germany ...

"The churches were sinfully silent then and millions suffered—we must speak out now. Such activities in Israel erode the moral fiber of the Israeli nation and people and our complicity as a nation compromises our moral integrity," Vache wrote.

Ira Gissen, Norfolk-based regional director of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, was quoted on May 9 by the Associated Press as saying there is "no reasonable explanation for the bishop's" statements. In a wide-ranging attack on churches as well as on the bishop, he continued: "The churches were actively teaching contempt, which created the climate in which the Holocaust was possible. Perhaps the bishop is trying to relieve his own profound sense of guilt by making this ludicrous comparison."

Unlike Gissen, Helen P. Horowitz, president of the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, limited her criticism to Bishop Vaché's comments. "I deplore that kind of name-calling," she said. She added, however, that she is against "excessive action" by either side in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

On the same day there appeared in the Richmond News Leader a remarkably intemperate editorial alternating charges (some of them erroneous) against Jordan, Egypt, the World War II allies, the PLO and Saddam Hussain with a refrain-like statement, repeated 12 times in the editorial, that "Vache accuses the Israelis of Nazi-like tactics. " On the same editorial page the News Leader asked rhetorically: "Having aligned himself symbolically with Arafatism, why doesn't the Episcopal bishop of Southern Virginia symbolically offer the region of his diocese—including Chesterfield and South Richmond—as a Palestinian state?"

The following day, May 10, the Richmond Times-Dispatch published a lengthy editorial in even more overdrawn and personally insulting language.

"Of all the pernicious blather that has emerged from the mouths of politicized clergymen in recent times, the most ludicrous, most offensive and most dangerous is the charge that Episcopal Bishop C. Charles Vaché has just made against Israel," the editorial began.

The Press Attacks

Among other personal attacks were comments such as: "Is this man for real? Has he no understanding of history, no sense of justice, no concept of the enormity of his invalid comparison? ... He has given comfort to the forces of intolerance and religious hatred that always lurk in the dark recesses of our society. He has run the risk of encouran outburst of anti-Semitism. It is incredible, and profoundly distressing, that he has done so."

One day later, the Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk printed a more measured editorial, which did not disagree with Bishop Vache's statements, and described him as "a man of goodwill, interfaith commitment and social consciousness." It took exception to his comparison of Israeli actions against the Palestinians with those of Nazi Germany against Jews, however, and declared that "the reference has stirred a controversy that diverts attention from his central point at a time when Israeli treatment ought to be examined and challenged in the United States, Israel's most prominent and generous benefactor."

Unlike many previous victims around the United States of what can only be described as local "pro-Israel McCarthyism, " Bishop Vaché fought back, initially all alone. During confirmation services at two Episcopal churches, he said modern Israel is like a person who, having been abused as a child, becomes a child abuser in maturity.

Israeli-imposed curfews keep Palestinians from work and from getting food or medical help, he explained. They can bejailed for up to six months at a time without a trial and their homes can be confiscated.

A minority of Palestinians are involved in terrorism against the Israelis, the bishop said, and yet all are being punished for the actions of a few. "What should also be remembered is that there were Jewish terrorists before 1943. No one is innocent here."

A way to stop the mistreatment of Palestinians, he told parishioners, is for the United States to withhold aid from Israel until it gives Palestinians full civil rights. "A third of all our foreign aid goes to support the Israeli government, " he pointed out.

In a letter to the editor of the Virginian Pilot, Bishop Vaché wrote, "I agree with your criticism—and the vituperous reaction of the Richmond editors validates it—that even the mention of the '30s and early '40s, before the Holocaust, in Germany was a distraction from the main points of my letter, which were to encourage everyone to write to our national leaders supporting the present peace initiatives and urging the leaders to place some conditions on our financial aid to Israel regarding human rights and justice for the Palestinians, and Israel's support for and wholehearted participation in the peace initiatives."

The bishop added that he was sending "your gentler, kinder and most thoughtful response" to the Richmond papers.

Vache, who is a trustee of St. George's College, an Anglican/Episcopal institution in Israel, and who intends after his retirement next September to spend a year there as a volunteer faculty member, stood his ground in interviews with reporters from the Richmond papers that had criticized his stand. Before he wrote his letter, he told Times Dispatch religion writer Ed Briggs, he had tried unsuccessfully to get Jewish leaders to discuss the issue with him. After the letter appeared, however, he was contacted by the Arab-Jewish Dialogue in Richmond.

"I have no intention of carrying on a public debate, " he explained, adding that he stands by his contention that Israeli leaders and soldiers are treating the Palestinians like German Nazis treated Jews. "I've been at great pains not to accuse the Israeli government of Holocaust," he explained. "My criticism has been in terms of the abuse of the civil rights of the Palestinians."

In an article carried by the Associated Press even before the critical editorials, he had explained that his half dozen visits to Israel had given him a first hand look at the way Palestinians are treated and led him to wonder: "Who are the terrorists? Those who shoot bullets or those who throw stones?" Speaking of the Israelis, he added, "Now in no way do I intend to say they have gas ovens. But for all intents and purposes, their goal is to remove from Israel those who are not of the Jewish faith."

In the same interview he had explained, "I have not been able to do much dialogue with the Jewish community. " He said that some of his Jewish critics think "if you criticize the Israeli government in any way, you're anti-Semitic."

Asked why he had gone ahead with his letter, he said that his most recent visit to Israel, which included taking part in Holy Week services of the Christian Orthodox churches there, had prompted it.

"Palestinians are asking that we speak out. I can't sit on it any longer. I just think we need to speak out."

The remarkably harsh and personalized criticism of Bishop Vaché eventually prompted some of his fellow prelates to speak out as well.

Bishop Thomas B. Stockton, head of the Virginia conference of the United Methodist Church, was the first to align himself with Bishop Vaché. In a letter printed on the editorial page of the Richmond Times Dispatch on June 4, he cited the "massive human rights violations that are experienced by the Palestinians at the hands of the Israelis. " He added: "Not only does Israel violate action taken by the United Nations, but it violates fundamental, biblical guidelines as to how human beings should treat other human beings ... Bishop Charles Vaché of the Episcopal Church speaks of reality when he describes the humiliating situation of the Palestinians in Israel.

"In a few months Congress will deal with a bill to provide massive financial assistance to Israel ... Hopefully, our government in Washington will have the integrity to take advantage of this opportunity to move toward peace."

At the same time, Bishop Vaché's fellow Episcopalian, Bishop W. Heath Light of the 13,000-member Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, speaking from his Roanoke office, told a Times-Dispatch reporter: "I share the perception that there appears to be a considerable amount of injustice going on. " He said he was concerned that the Israeli government is moving toward "a solidification of what I think is a regrettable establishment of permanent settlements on the West Bank."

Two other Virginia bishops who also joined in the criticism of Israeli handling of the Palestinian issue were Episcopal Bishop Peter J. Lee of the 78,000-member Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and Bishop Walter F. Sullivan of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.

Andrew I. Killgore is the publisher of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.