The following is an "open" letter. Our purpose with it is to recommend the early formation of yet another cabinet post along with a new agency (or department) -- an agency devoted to fostering apology, forgiveness and humility on the national and international levels, even whilst the terrorists and those who harbor them are being searched out and brought to justice via other of our agencies in concert with our allies.

It is our fervent prayer that the Lord enable you to do what is right in His eyes and hence right for the nation vis-à-vis the terrorists, as well as Iraq and Afghanistan. But we are equally fervent in our prayers that He simultaneously enable you to be a strong force in the moral/spiritual healing of our nation, in the belief that the causes of the terrible events of September 11th intimately relate to the spiritual condition of this once strongly Christian nation: its deepening inability to discern between liberty and license, plus the defensive arrogance such immorality brings forth. We firmly believe that if national humbling does not come to pass or, at the very least, is not strongly initiated and pursued, our efforts against terrorism will not succeed. God, Who, as the Scriptures say, is the Source of all things, is likely not to permit it! But, as He said to Solomon, in Second Chronicles 7:14, "…if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." As we see it, this scripture alone could provide sufficient reason for the formation of the agency we recommend.

What would be the mission of the agency? How would it work, considering the hugeness of the task that would be set before it? First to foster a humble and apologetic American attitude on the international level, in the hope that such an attitude on our part would gradually help foster similar attitudes in those being apologized to. Such apologies also have a way of helping the initial apologizer to examine his own (usually dismal) record. In such light, it could well begin to open the door toward a humbling of our own collective national soul. As part of such apologies, an agency, such as we speak of, would apologize to other nations not only for our many past errors on the international level, carried out for the sake of political and economic expediency, but also for our nation's permissive attitudes toward fornication and other blatant forms of sexual misconduct (all now bearing the name of "freedom") which have helped, via our public educational system and, especially, via our entertainment media, to corrupt young souls both in our own land and in lands all around the world -- about which clergymen here and abroad, Christian and those of other faiths, are deeply concerned.

The very making of such points on the part of a courageous national agency (headed by souls of consummate tact and courage) might well begin to hold up a mirror, as it were, to the tarnished visage of our own society. Sir, we have to begin somewhere! The good Lord has made it clear, we believe, that we absolutely must take strong steps -- now! Such an agency, once established, would certainly have the task of encouraging the undoing of some of our recent educational and legal follies in the area of morality. Efforts to undo the acceptance of sexual depravity as normative behavior would indeed call for tact, wisdom and courage such as only our Lord can provide; but when the grim fate of Sodom is reflected upon, in the violent light of 9/11 and numerous other events, we believe the fear of God leaves us but little choice.

The agency we recommend might well be titled the Department of Reconciliation, Apology and Forgiveness (DRAF). Or, simply, the Department of Reconciliation (DOR). It is to be remembered that our Republic has been by no means monolithic during its history. Division of powers has been one of its prime earmarks. We believe an agency promoting conciliatory/Godly love on the national/international level could indeed coexist with, and even harmonize with, an agency devoted to national defense. The new agency also could have ombudsman duties.

Though this recommendation may sound almost unbelievably idealistic, it may, upon reflection, be recognized as pragmatic indeed. The meek will inherit the Earth; and never the debased and proud. Our pride will only further antagonize those who so dislike us. Such an agency or department, if its mission is carried out with prayerful, humble and loving adroitness, could prove to be at least as effective in saving our society, in the days ahead, as an agency that would physically undo the terrorist groupings. It is our firm belief that one agency cannot rightly function without the other. Not really!

An administrative decree, and an explanation justifying the formation of such a new agency, also would be a helpful step toward undercutting that dreadful proclivity toward blind vengeance which lurks deep within the human soul, side by side with Godly forgiving tenderness. Dear sir, we implore you to now more openly foster the latter, and to consider the efficacy of this recommendation.

(A thought added in December2002: If you hold to the view that such lying tyrants as the ruler of Iraq must be courageously stood up against, lest like Hitler they gain their terrible way, those in our own country who loudly foster immorality as normative behavior must likewise be courageously stood against. Their twistings of truth and their defiant outspokenness have caused the nation to largely [timidly] back down and turn against its own basic principles. It's time to turn things back into a more worthy, Godly frame, both at home and in our dealings abroad!)

P.S.: Upon reflection, we want to add a further thought, this one on the subject of causality: on perception of the Highest Cause of all events that transpire in this strange world (which has been deemed both a "charnel house" and a "Schoolhouse of Love"). If one asks "Who crucified Christ?" it seems there are three correct answers, the third being by far the most correct: First, men crucified the Lord; second, the devil through men; and third, God Himself, Who sent the Lord Jesus into this world as its Sacrificial Lamb.

Who, then, brought down the towers on 9/11? The answers would be the same! -- the third and most correct again being Him, from Whom all things come, both good and ill, to the inhabitants of this Earth, as per Romans 11:36, First Corinthians 8:5-6; Lamentations 3:37-40, Isaiah 45:6-7, and, for that matter, Amos 3:6 (the NAS and RSV are quite appropriate in their translations). We believe His Book helps clarify the "why" of such disasters as have been occurring.

Sir, you are to be congratulated on your courage and conduct in endeavoring to weld this nation together against its external enemies, and for encouraging citizens to raise an eye heavenward. We pray you now will go further, in the light of such thoughts as herein presented, and endeavor openly and publicly to weld this nation together against its deadly internal enemy: spiritual/moral corruption. Thank God that He, in Christ Jesus, is our strength, wisdom and courage, as we call upon Him!