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Episcopalian leader arrested during SF antiwar protest
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Steve Rubenstein, San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, December 7, 2006
(12-07) 15:47 PST SAN FRANCISCO --
For Photos click here
"In the Eucharist we are aware that to a living God, all live,
all are remembered — even those who are from a human point of view, dead.
At the Eucharistic table we become aware of this divine reality, that while
humans may forget the dead — and may indeed wilfully forget them — God
remembers them. In the Iraq
wars the numbers of those who have died mounts, and is staggering. While even
the numbers of the dead are unknown to many of us, our faith teaches us that
God does not forget them"
Northern California's Episcopalian leader, the newly appointed Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, was arrested this afternoon for blocking the front door of the San Francisco federal building to protest the Iraq war.
Andrus, carrying a shepherd's staff and singing "Down by the Riverside,'' was among 200 protesters who had marched from Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill to join the weekly "die-in" at on Golden Gate Avenue near City Hall.
The bishop celebrated communion at the entrance plaza before Federal Protective Service officers began arresting protesters for lying down and blocking the two main doors.
The officers passed Andrus in their first round of arrests as he was not positioned in front of the doors. After Andrus, in his purple robe, got up, moved a few steps and lay down again directly in front of the entrance, the officers returned and placed him in handcuffs -- as one said, "How are you?'' and shook the priest's hand.
Protesters applauded, cheered and sang as Andrus was photographed by another officer and led inside the building.
"God is with all who have suffered in Iraq,'' the bishop said. "This war needs to be opposed. Even though there is widespread sentiment against the war, we need to continue to push for peace.''
Andrus became the eighth bishop of the 80-congregation Episcopal Diocese of California in July.
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