On Wednesday, December 20, a number of faith groups are urging our members and supporters to take a moment to call the White House to ask President Biden to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to end the tremendous misery that is taking place.
Co-sponsors so far include: Pax Christi USA; Franciscan Action Network; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Institute Justice Team; Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; National Advocacy Center of Sisters of the Good Shepherd; Churches for Middle East Peace; Franciscan Peace Center (Clinton, IA); Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Office of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation; Conventual Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of Angels Province; Franciscan Friars Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe; U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph; Quixote Center; the Assisi Community; and Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL, the Quakers).
>>The U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph will host a brief online prayer service at 12:30 PM (Eastern) tomorrow as part of the call-in day. Join via the Sisters’ Facebook feed or use this link to join on Zoom; no registration required. All are welcome to participate. Closed captioning will be provided.
As people of faith, we are called not to turn away from horrifying human suffering, but to respond in the most loving way possible even when that is difficult or inconvenient. During this busy week before Christmas, we ask you to take out time to call the White House and ask President Biden to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to end the mass slaughter.
Recently the leaders of major global humanitarian organizations wrote, “In no other war we can think of in this century have civilians been so trapped, without any avenue or option to escape to save themselves and their children.” The horrifying killing of two women inside the Holy Family Church compound in Gaza on December 16, along with the injury of others and displacement of 54 persons cared for by the Missionaries of Charity on the property, is a recent example.
With more than 18,000 killed in Gaza so far – 70 percent of them women or children – we are asking President Biden to stop sending to Israel weapons such as bombs and tank rounds, because sending them clearly contradicts his call to protect the lives of civilians. We ask him instead to call for a ceasefire now and prioritize release of hostages.
Wednesday, December 20 call-in day:
- Call the White House between 11 AM and 3 PM Eastern (8 AM-12 PM Pacific).
- The White House call-in number is 202-456-1111.
- You might need to wait on hold some time before getting an operator to take your comment.
- If you have trouble getting through, use this link to send an email to the White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Suggested talking points for your call:
- I am a [Catholic or other denomination] voter and I am appealing to President Biden as a person of faith to support an immediate, sustained ceasefire for Gaza.
- I want President Biden to know that I do not agree with his recent decision to send thousands of tank shells, bombs, and other munitions to Israel, in some cases bypassing Congressional review.
- Sending such weapons directly contradicts the president’s calls to avoid killing civilians and could make the U.S. complicit in violations of international law.
- More than 18,000 people have died in Gaza already due to Israeli bombing and shelling, and more than 70 percent of them were women or children.
- As Christmas approaches, I ask President Biden to tell Israel it is time for a ceasefire to end the trauma.
- Only a ceasefire will stop the massive loss of life in Gaza, allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need, decrease the threat of regional violence, and create an atmosphere to restart negotiations for the release of hostages held by Hamas as well as Palestinian prisoners held by Israel without due process of law.
- I join Pope Francis [and the U.S. Catholic bishops] in calling for an immediate cessation of all hostilities as well as the release of hostages. As a U.S. citizen, I also ask President Biden to stop providing weapons to Israel now.
Please see here information sources for the points:
- Latin Patriarchate report on killings at Holy Family Church
- USCCB call for immediate cessation of hostilities
- State Department bypasses Congress to send thousands of munitions to Israel
- Biden pledges $14.3 billion of military aid to Israel. How industry, protestors, and watchdogs see it.
- Number of Palestinians killed in Gaza
- “A mass assassination factory”: Inside Israel’s calculated bombing of Gaza
- Why the U.S. must change course on Gaza today – The New York Times
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to take loving action for peace in Gaza and Israel!