By Father James Maciejewski

A motion that would have recommended “immediate and complete withdrawal of American forces” from Vietnam was defeated by the Atlanta senate of priests last week, in action complicated by parliamentary wrangling.

Fr. Tony Morris introduced the resolution. It had been framed by the senate’s Justice and Peace Committee of which Fr. John Adamski is chairman.

Voting on the motion was preceded by lengthy debate in which many of the 25 priests present participated. The first vote of the Senate members resulted in a 4-3-1 decision, with Frs. Tony Curran, Tony Morris, Matt Kemp and Joseph Sanches in favor; Frs. James Cummings, Walter Donovan and John McDonough opposed; and Fr. Tom Kenny abstaining.

At that point Fr. Daniel O’Connor, president of the priest’ senate, attempted to register a “no” vote which would have deadlocked the senate at 4-4. Proponents of the resolution argued that Fr. O’Connor could only vote in case of a tie.

Just as it seemed that progress of the meeting had foundered on the rocks of a procedural question, Fr. Tom Kenny called for a re-count and changed his vote from “abstain” to “no,” after which Fr. O’Connor broke the tie and also voted “no.”

Fr. Kenny explained his change of heart by saying that, while he favored a peace statement, he had deep reservations about the particular statement offered.

The statement as presented was to have been sent to Georgia Congressman. It said:

“We are writing you because we are deeply upset over our country’s escalation of the war in Vietnam. More bombs will mean only just that much more suffering, mutilation, hunger, separation and death for mothers, children, elderly people, as well as more military victims too. We think that this latest action of our government makes it all the more clear that this war is immoral and inhumane. We especially deplore the fact that our nation and Soviet Russia are using the poor people of both North and South Vietnam in a tragic game of war.

“Ten years of death, suffering and violence have accomplished none of the goals of freedom, self-determination and assurance for peaceful living. We encourage the leaders of our nation to act not just out of a concern for United States security and honor but also for the following values: a reverence for life (which is of equal value, whether it is American or Asian life), the self-determination of all nations which precludes linking Vietnamese politics to American prestige, and progress in international agreements for arms control and disarmament which is threatened by recent military action.

“Specifically we recommend an immediate end to American military action and complete withdrawal of American forces, and American aid sufficient to restore a battered country and support restoration of a destroyed culture.”

In opposition, Fr. Daniel O’Connor said the statement was “simplistic” and “very poorly written.” It could have been an embarrassment to Atlanta priests, he said.

Concurring with Fr. O’Connor, Msgr. McDonough said he felt the language of the statement was “intemperate.” It reflected, he felt, a peace-at-any-price philosophy. He drew what he called historical parallels for the senate, alluding to the capitulation of Demosthenes to Philip of Macedonia and Chamberlain to Hitler of Munich.

In defense of the language of the statement, Fr. Adamski said that every word of it was borrowed from various pronouncements of American bishops. Expressing disappointment with the resolution’s defeat he stated:

“I can’t see how a Christian can continue to support the action of our country. I find it very difficult to understand how Christian principles can be applied and accepted in the present military course of action taken by the president.”