Report - The Interfaith Alliance
November 29, 2005
Dear Friends of The Interfaith Alliance:
On October 21, 2005, The Interfaith Alliance led an unprecedented interfaith delegation of religious leaders to Baton Rouge. This delegation met with Katrina evacuees and the many religious leaders and community, local and state agencies providing relief efforts to all those adversely affected.
This is not the report we expected to issue. Because our organizational focus is on the protection of people's religious and civil liberties, our lens with which to see Baton Rouge was focused in this direction. But what we saw and heard were the personal stories of the people from this region--personal stories laced with important insights into the gross tardiness of governmental officials, the stark failure of government agencies, the repulsive ugliness of a rampant racism that knows no socio-economic boundaries and which, if left unresolved, in the long run, will prove more destructive than the onslaught of a cluster of Category 5 hurricanes. These stories also abound with references to heroic efforts on the part of people of faith, compassion, and goodwill who have demonstrated a level of generosity without which the region today would be devoid of most of the most helpful efforts of the past several months.
This report is a collection of what The Interfaith Alliance saw, felt, heard, touched, and thought during its visit to Baton Rouge, 56 days after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast region. While thousands of people's lives were impacted in the area, this report only deals with the current situation in Baton Rouge.
Were it not for the initiative and generosity of many social agencies and religious groups, the Gulf Coast region would be in even more terrible trouble than is presently the case. But let us not blame the government. We are the government. Let us blame those whom we have employed to do the essential work of government. Let us demand that they do better or get out of the way and allow someone else a chance to lead by helping people in need.
This report carries the substance and spirit of voices which I, and other religious leaders on the trip, have heard. Thus, I share this with gnawing disappointment, profound sadness and a whole lot of danger, yet with high expectations about what still can be done, firm resolve related to help, and high hopes that many of us are ready to get on with it.
Residents of the trailer city in Baker, LA named their new neighborhood Renaissance Village. Let us learn from them as we redouble our efforts on the ground there, here in our nation's Capitol and in neighborhoods around the country. We are the people who in varied ways can help bring life, hope, and the promise of a future to this region again.
Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy
President, The Interfaith Alliance, The Interfaith Alliance Foundation
Pastor for Preaching and Worship, North Minster Baptist Church, Monroe, LA
