What's the problem with drones? Clergy are parsing that very question.
Religious and community leaders as well as scholars came together from across the country at Princeton Theological Seminary last month for the nation's first interfaith conference on drone warfare. The Peace Action Education Fund convened 150 participants represented by nearly 20 different religious traditions including Protestant denominations, Catholic organizations and Jewish, Muslim and Sikh traditions, in an effort to educate and engage the interfaith community on the issue of U.S. drone strikes around the world.
Following a weekend of presentations, discussions, interfaith prayer and deliberation, we adopted a set of policy recommendations to guide the faith community in addressing the issue of drone warfare to be presented to U.S. leadership.
We went to Princeton to represent the Arkansas Interfaith Alliance at this conference. What we learned was there are more questions than answers when it comes to drones. But as persons of faith, regardless of the tradition, we found ourselves grappling with the complex issue of drone warfare and its consequences, which have moral and ethical implications.
In our teachings, we are compelled to come to terms with issues that involve life and death, justice and equality, including the very quality of life itself. It's not enough for us to let others make these difficult decisions on our behalf as though we have no responsibility or accountability. It is in the very heart of our faith traditions that we must seek guidance and then determine solutions that serve our beliefs with not just ideas, but with viable actions.
There are two moral issues which we believe important to consider. Any technology can be used both for good and destructive ends. We support the development of drones for commercial and business use, but the arming of drones brings up particular ethical and religious questions that must be addressed. First, we learned that as pinpoint-accurate as the drones can be, many innocent people (often children) are fatalities in these strikes. Second, we have to be asking ourselves as a nation what response countries will make when innocent people are killed by the use of weaponized drones. It runs the risk of causing them to want to take innocent lives in the United States in retaliation for the innocent lives which they have lost.
We call on the administration to be more transparent and accountable in regard to the past use of such strikes by public disclosures such as acknowledging strikes conducted, accounting for victims, explaining official criteria for selection of persons targeted, detailing the methods of investigating deaths and disclosing the standards for compensating victims. This transparency is necessary to explain the loss of innocent life.
Furthermore, we as citizens within a democracy have an obligation to be informed and kept apprised of the issues involved in the policies regarding weaponized drones. We will then be better able to understand how we can participate in finding viable solutions compatible with our deeply held religious and spiritual convictions. Experiencing confusion and discomfort can be a way forward to motivate us.
While still grappling with this complex issue, we invite others within the faith community to a deeper discussion. This is a conversation that needs to occur in our community here in Arkansas and around the country. It is not a discussion which needs to be approached by labeling others, but rather with heartfelt conviction. Only this approach will allow for deeper clarity and understanding. Join us in this conversation.
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Rev. Stephen Copley is chair of Arkansas Interfaith Alliance; Anthony Falkowski is director of Mission and Outreach at First United Methodist Church in Little Rock.
Editorial on 02/26/2015