Comments on: Responding Responsibly to Disasters like the Haiti Earthquake

By: Rich Brown

Rich Brown — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:49:26 +0000

I think it’s an express lane.

By: Doug Gregory

Doug Gregory — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:41:06 +0000

Is there a passing lane on that road?

By: Rich Brown

Rich Brown — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:25:24 +0000

Actually, I just learned that they’re American Baptists, not Southern Baptists. Not sure that matters at all, but thought I should correct my previous error.

By: Margie Miller

Margie Miller — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:55:51 +0000

I agree. They should be prosecutes. But what do you want to bet they won’t be.

They’re Southern Baptist.

By: bewarethechicken

bewarethechicken — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:44:53 +0000

Whether they did or didn’t – they broke the law (and a good one) and should be punished accordingly.

By: Margie Miller

Margie Miller — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:25:34 +0000

That’s a tragedy, isn’t it? It reminds me of a remark made by Matthew about “missionaries”.

Those people knew exactly what they were doing.

By: Rich Brown

Rich Brown — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:41:58 +0000

I’ve been watching the TV reports of the 10 Southern Baptist church members being held in Haiti, charged with kidnapping after they were detained at the DR border with 30 Haitian children. Apparently at least some of the children are not orphans at all. Different reports describe the group as “well-meaning” and with “the best of intentions” but also that they knew exactly what they were doing (in violating Haitian law) and believed they would succeed “if God wanted them to.”

There’s obviously several layers of concern with this story: the “actual best interests” of the children (from their and others’ viewpoints), the appropriateness of religious groups “rescuing” children whether they are orphans or have been signed over by parents, the image of Western nations descending on Haiti to exploit the situation, and the short- and long-term effects this arrest may have on other religious and secular groups attempting to sincerely help the Haitian people.

My first thought was to recall that statement I’ve heard all my life about a certain road paved with good intentions. Anybody else have thoughts on this?

By: Margie Miller

Margie Miller — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:34:32 +0000

Thank you, Matthew.

By: Matthew Bolton

Matthew Bolton — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:24:20 +0000

Firetag and Margie

Feel free to crosspost or present any of the above information.

By: FireTag

FireTag — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:42:15 +0000

Thank you, Matt. I will copy your response to the comments on my post on the differing strategies used by the LDS/CofChrist in Haiti at Mormon Matters.

Please feel free to join the conversation there. People there are trying to figure out how best to help within the context of their own faith structures and church guidance, so your perspective may be very valuable and will be appreciated.