Methodist Minister self-immolates (to inspire social justice) -- what a story

[grasswire]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/07/16/79-year-old-retired-reverend-set-himself-on-fire-to-inspire-social-justice/


The Tyler Morning Telegraph obtained a copy of the suicide note from Grand Saline police. In it, Moore lamented past racism in Grand Saline and beyond. He called on the community to repent and said he was “giving my body to be burned, with love in my heart” for those who were lynched in his home town as well as for those who did the lynching, hoping to address lingering racism.
.....snip


In his letters, obtained by The Washington Post, he called his death an act of protest. He said he felt that after a lifetime of fighting for social justice, he needed to do more. “I would much prefer to go on living and enjoy my beloved wife and grandchildren and others,” he wrote, “but I have come to believe that only my self-immolation will get the attention of anybody and perhaps inspire some to higher service.”

Moore had gone on a two-week hunger strike in the 1990s to move the United Methodist Church to remove discriminatory language against homosexuals. While working with the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, he stood vigil in front of George W. Bush’s governor’s mansion to protest more than 100 executions. He served in the slums of India, Africa and the Middle East.

Moore had “a conviction that if the Bible stood for anything, it stood for radical inclusiveness,” the Rev. Sid Hall, a former colleague, told the Dallas Morning News. “If you ever were on the side of powerlessness, if you were ever on the margins yourself and were looking for someone to help you, Charles was the person.”

[jwirr]

1. Very dedicated to his causes. But if we all followed his example the only ones left would be the

racists and the oppressors.

[grasswire]

3. Obviously we aen't all going to do that.

So when one does, we just pay heed.

[jwirr]

4. Yes, we can do that so that he does not die in vain.

[Old and In the Way]

6. Point is, none of those cwards who are antithecal to this man would ever make this type of statement

You can find hundreds of psuedo-religious morons on FR. None would make this kind of statement for their beliefs. Hell, I wouldn't either. This takes a conscious courage very few have.

[jwirr]

7. No I don't think I could do that either - the ones you are talking about probably would never even

think about it let alone sacrifice to it. Most of them practice prosperity gospel and think only the bad guys should suffer.

[grasswire]

2. Rev. Charles Moore

https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=&w=1484

[longship]

5. My gosh!

RIP!


And may your desires for justice come to pass.

[demosincebirth]

8. This is not the way to further a just cause...or any cause.

[SheilaT]

10. I agree.

Setting oneself on fire accomplishes nothing. The only take away is the horror of the death, not the intention.

Stay alive and work for what you want.

[Enthusiast]

9. K&R! How incredible!

radical inclusiveness