StatementsStatement on Collegiality and Solidarity On January 9th, 2016, the members of the Society of Christian Ethics approved by majority vote a "Statement on Collegiality and Solidarity." The Society of Jewish Ethics has joined the Society of Christian Ethics in endorsing this statement, which is intended especially to offer affirmation and support to members of the Society for the Study of Muslim Ethics in this time of rising indiscriminate prejudice against Muslims. Much of the scholarly work of members of the SCE and SJE has been directed against a wide range of forms of discrimination, and their memberships are deeply committed to respect for and the protection of the religious freedom of members of all faiths. The approved statement reads as follows: A disturbing wave of hostility and hatred aimed at Muslims continues to sweep across the globe. The Society of Christian Ethics repudiates this hostility directed at Muslims, including anti-Muslim hate crimes, mosque closures, and proposed registration programs. The Society recognizes and respects the gifts and perspectives that diverse traditions bring to the academy. As a partner of the Society for the Study of Muslim Ethics, we will continue to foster relationships of collegiality and solidarity with our Muslim colleagues in the academy and Muslims across the globe. * * * * * Society of Christian Ethics Presidential Cabinet Statement on “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States” The January 27 executive order’s restrictions to US refugee, immigration, and travel policy have evoked principled resistance across the United States. The legality and constitutionality of the order and its initial chaotic enforcement are already under analysis, and we entrust those matters to our elected representatives, the judicial system, and to public and private entities with the expertise to analyze them. We agree that the U.S. government is justified in taking deliberate, proportionate actions to protect its citizens. Even so, as scholars of Christian ethics we are conscientiously obliged to object publicly to dimensions of the order we find morally disturbing.
We especially abhor all government actions that effectively establish a state preference for any religious group, including our own, over any others. Global history reminds us of the dangers of creating, endorsing, and/or exploiting prejudice against whole classes of persons on the basis of religion. Our scripture teaches us to welcome strangers, no matter their religious affiliation. Our ethics command us to respect the dignity of all who suffer for any reason and use our resources to ease the plight of innocent victims of violence regardless of their faith. David Gushee, President Diane Yeager, President Elect Patricia Beattie Jung, Vice President Cristina Traina, Past President February 3, 2017 Statement by American Academy of Religion: https://www.aarweb.org/about/board-statement-on-us-executive-order-%E2%80%9Cprotecting-the-nation-from-foreign-terrorist-entry-into Statement by university professors and Nobel laureates: https://notoimmigrationban.com/ Statement by the Board of the Catholic Theological Society of America: https://www.ctsa-online.org/BoardStatements/CTSABoardStatement.RefugeeMigration1.31.17.pdf
- - - The Society of Christian Ethics, founded in 1959, is a non-denominational academic association seeking to advance scholarly work in Christian ethics. The current president of the Society of Christian Ethics is Dr. Cristina Traina of Northwestern University. For more information about this resolution or the Society of Christian Ethics, contact[email protected], or check our website at: http://www.scethics.org. |