[Peace-discuss] Fwd: FCNL INFOLINE (8/14/03): Response to War

Tue Aug 19 15:58:32 CDT 2003

>Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2003 15:57:41 -0400 (EDT)
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>Subject: FCNL INFOLINE (8/14/03): Response to War
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>FCNL INFOLINE
>August 14, 2003
>
>(To learn more about the FCNL INFO LINE, please see the end of this
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>
>Why No Peace Fund for War Opponents?
>
>Should U.S. Citizens who are conscientious objectors to participation in
>war be required to pay for it?  A recent op-ed by Thomas Jeavons,
>General Secretary of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, examines this as he
>discusses recent action by the Internal Revenue Service against
>Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and the historic stance of Quakers in their
>resistance and response to war.
>--------------------------------------------
>
>Why No Peace Fund for War Opponents?
>By Thomas H. Jeavons
>
>Members of the Religious Society of Friends, the Quakers, have long been
>considered pillars of the community in the Philadelphia area. We have
>generally been law-abiding citizens who have been very active in civic
>affairs. We do not break the law lightly. Now, we are in the news
>because our 12,000-member Yearly Meeting - the church organization that
>covers Eastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey, Delaware and Maryland's
>Eastern Shore - is being sued by the federal government for refusing to
>garnish the wages of an employee who refuses to pay taxes that support
>the military.
>
>Why would we do that? Simply put, because we do not believe that those
>who pray and work for peace should be forced to pay for war. This is a
>conflict between religious convictions and religious freedom and the
>demands of the state.
>
>Probably every human being longs for peace in this world. Quakers have
>long been known for their advocacy and work for peace. Our commitment to
>peacemaking derives directly from our faith.
>
>We believe God intends human beings to live in peace. We believe Jesus
>meant it when he told us to turn the other cheek. We believe that when
>we pay attention to the best instincts within us, and to the guidance
>the divine spirit offers us, we can find nonviolent ways to settle
>differences with others. And we believe, now more than ever, that the
>nations of this world can and must find ways to resolve conflicts
>without war.
>
>Since our origins in the 1600s, most Quakers have refused to participate
>in warfare, and some have refused to pay taxes to support wars and
>preparation for wars. We have willingly offered alternative service
>during times of war, such as running an ambulance corps during World War
>II. We gladly pay taxes that support government's provision of services
>that build up our communities and care for those in need.
>
>Long ago, it was easier to separate different kinds of taxes. Often
>specific taxes were levied to support the military. But now the federal
>government asks everyone to pay taxes on income, and uses those revenues
>to underwrite all its functions, including the military. We have
>calculated that about 50 percent of our taxes pay for weapons and
>warfare. This puts those who believe it is immoral to support warfare
>(as we do) in a difficult position.
>
>How do we avoid supporting war through our taxes? Some members of the
>Philadelphia Yearly Meeting choose to restrict their income to a level
>below taxable amounts. A few refuse to pay a portion of their taxes that
>go to military purposes, while others refuse to pay any income taxes at
>all, knowing 50 percent will go to those purposes. One member and
>employee of our Yearly Meeting, Priscilla Adams, has taken this last
>stance as a matter of religious conscience. Currently, she is the only
>tax resister on our 42-member staff.
>
>For some years we have been under an order from the IRS to garnish
>Adams' wages to pay what the IRS considers as back taxes due them. We
>have refused for two reasons. First, to do so requires us to violate the
>religious convictions of this employee. Second, this order asks us to
>become a collection agent for the government in violation of our own
>principles.
>
>There are, in fact, simple ways the IRS could accommodate those who
>cannot in good conscience pay for war. We have long sought the creation
>of a Peace Tax Fund, a government fund for nonmilitary uses, where the
>taxes of such persons could go. Legislation for this has been in
>Congress for many years. It should be passed now.
>
>Meanwhile, many of us continue to fervently pray for peace and
>unwillingly pay for war. But a few among us have said, "I cannot do
>that. I cannot pay for war."
>
>As a religious body that takes seriously the teachings of Jesus and that
>cares deeply for the welfare and the future of everyone on this planet,
>we will do all we can to support this principled stance of faith. And we
>will look for some way that allows us to be the good citizens we want to
>be without violating our religious principles.
>
>
>
>This article was originally written by Thomas H. Jeavons and published
>by the Philadelphia Enquire on August 7, 2003.  This article is
>reproduced with his permission.
>
>--------------------------------------------
>
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>--------------------------------------------
>We seek a world free of war and the threat of war
>We seek a society with equity and justice for all
>We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled
>We seek an earth restored...
>--------------------------------------------