WASHINGTON, D.C.  The Faithful America group is working to mobilize religious groups in the U.S. in support of a humanitarian intervention in Sudan. In Darfur, Sudan, 1,000 people are dying every day, and that number is rising, the group reported.
In an e-mail to supporters and religious groups Faithful America reported that the U.S. Government estimates that 370,000 human beings are already dead or certain to die of starvation in refugee camps. Up to 1 million could die within the next few months.
The group appealed to members and other religious groups last week. "As people of faith and members of the human family, we cannot let this horror continue. Our government's response so far has been slow and weak. Only an immediate international humanitarian intervention to protect the people of Darfur and ensure aid gets to them will stop the slaughter."
The group is calling for Congress to pass a resolution for the U.S. to take actions to stop the genocide in Darfur.
More than 92,000 people endorsed a mid-June apology ad on Arab TV sponsored by FaithfulAmerica.org, expressing sorrow over torture in Iraq. The ad was also a project of the National Council of Churches, with support from the grassroots group, TrueMajority, and activists group, ResPublica.
The group organized the ad campaign primarily via e-mail and received $150,000 in contributions from people who endorsed it. The ad ran on Arabic-language television networks several times beginning June 15, and was subsequently featured on MSNBC, CNN, and in most major newspapers.
Now, instead of money, Faithful America is soliciting people via e-mail to voice their outrage over the Sudan crisis. "We must act now," the letter reads. "The people of Darfur need a miracle, and are praying for it. We must ask ourselves whether we are the instruments through which that miracle can happen."
Faithful America is calling itself a "new, progressive, faith movement." Included are people of Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim faiths.
FaithfulAmerica.org is not aligned with any political party, but does offer members opportunities for political involvement. Their Web site features an easy way to send messages to their elected officials, communicate with each other, sign petitions, and access inspiring sermons and commentaries from religious leaders about moral and spiritual challenges facing society.
For more information: www.faithfulamerica.org
