Religion and Politics Collide in a Cathedral

I have been aware that the religious leaders of the Washington National Cathedral have been pushing a Christian-only, pro-Iran agenda for some time. Last night, I witnessed it first-hand at, “an evening of respectful engagement and open discussion between representatives from the United States and Iran.”The purpose of the event, held in the Cathedral nave, appeared nothing more than an opportunity for Cathedral leaders — The Right Reverend John Chane, Bishop of Washington, and the Reverend Canon John Peterson, director of the Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation — to bash the U.S. and Israel and push their own political opinions and agendas.

First, I was offended by the anti-Semitic tone of these Christian leaders, who trumpet a theme that Iran is right, Israel is wrong. Further, I do not believe the Washington National Cathedral should be a front for a political action group, such as the one headed by Peterson. There was a time, by the way — before Chane and Peterson — when the Washington National Cathedral was a symbol of all religions in America.

Both Chane and Peterson regularly have made first-class visits to Iran, all expenses paid by the Iranian government, and they return to promote Iran’s allegedly peaceful intentions and to criticize American foreign policy towards Iran. They never mention Iran’s harsh, violent and oppressive regime which restricts religious rights and punishes freedom of speech in Iran, among other things. They never mention Iran’s para-military Revolutionary Guard which is coordinating covert operations in Iraq that kill American soldiers.

Perhaps it is time for both Chane and Peterson to step down and run for elected public office or begin to act as responsible religious leaders and embrace all faiths, not just their own agendas.

(You can view the Cathedral event online - click here.)