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“CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF REV. WILLIAM SLOANE COFFIN, JR.” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E586 on April 25, 2006.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF REV. WILLIAM SLOANE COFFIN, JR.
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HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL
of new york
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of the life of an American patriot, the Reverend William Sloane Coffin Jr. As a prophetic mouthpiece for God, Reverend Coffin spoke truth to power. He trumpeted the call to America to live up to its moral ideals by remembering the plight of the poor and oppressed at home and abroad. Reverend Coffin was a peace maker around the world, encouraging America and nations alike to pursue peace over war; ``Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.''
Reverend Coffin fought for civil rights and was a staunch opponent of the Vietnam war in the 1960's. In Montgomery he was arrested in protest of segregation in the South; he was a disciple and advocate of civil disobedience. He believed civil disobedience could bring social and political change in the world pervaded with inequality and injustice. As an ordained Presbyterian minister he adhered to a strong sense of call to social activism. He was in the early 60s the senior minister at the historic Riverside Church in my congressional district.
His ministry focused on a variety of social and moral issues facing humanity. He drew attention to the plight of the poor, political and military power, nuclear disarmament and interfaith understanding. Reverend Coffin exemplified tremendous courage in standing up for what he believed was just and fair. He would often say that ``courage is the first virtue, because ``it makes all other virtues possible.'' Reverend Coffin was indeed courageous in his fight against genocide in certain parts of the world, particularly in Bosnia.
``Every minister is given two roles, the priestly and the prophetic.'' He would often remind his interviewers of this theological claim to help America and the world understand why a minister was concerned with social-political affairs. In the tumultuous years of the Vietnam war he was outspoken in opposition to the war along side another prominent minister, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He led major demonstrations in protest concerning the grave injustice and moral wrongness of the Vietnam war which garnered him international recognition. His prophetic role mandated Reverend Coffin to challenge the status quo on an international level.
In addition to serving as a senior minister, Reverend Coffin also assumed the chaplaincy post at Yale University. At Yale, during the Vietnam war, he counseled and encouraged students to protest the draft by returning their draft cards to the Justice Department. He infuriated the Johnson administration but he stood courageous and firm. Students at Yale respected him for his genuine and sincere approach to ministry and were urged to become sensitive to social struggle around the world by championing the cause of justice and peace. He remained at Yale until 1976, when he began to work on world hunger programs.
Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the life of Rev. William Sloane Coffin, his life reminds America that the voice of dissent is patriotism at its best. When he engaged in debate about American social policies and practices he would often characterize them as a partner engaged in a lovers' quarrel.
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