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When
I was first informed of the horrible events that were unfolding at the
World Trade Center and Pentagon last September, I released a statement
to the media that said, "We are in shock as we pray for countless,
innocent victims and their families. The calculated, cold-blooded, cowardly
taking of precious human lives in the name of religion is beyond blasphemy.
It is pure evil."
Little
did I know in those early moments that my own brother, David, and his
wife, Lynn, were among those "countless, innocent victims."
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David
Angell (left) with sister Claire Angell Miller and the Bishop
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As
I watched the first plane crash into the World Trade Tower on television,
I didn’t think they were on that plane. I had been with them the day before
for a family wedding on Cape Cod, where I had stayed the weekend with
them in their home. We had a great time. They brought me to the airport
on September tenth, and I flew back to Burlington. I knew that they were
leaving the following day to go back to California, but they usually took
a later plane. And of course at first we had no idea where the plane originated.
When
I found out that it was a plane out of Boston, it gave me some concern,
but I still believed that they were leaving later. I got the call about
noon from my sister telling me that David and Lynn had been on the plane.
Our
family was devastated, and yet in times of such crisis you get a strength
that’s rather incredible. You don’t really know where it comes from. It
comes ultimately from God, but it comes through many people who are supportive.
It comes from one’s faith that’s and the belief that the Lord takes care
of us, and his will must be done.
David
and Lynn were going to return to the East to live permanently, on Cape
Cod. He was one of the creators and producers of Frasier, and he
was going to stay connected to the show, but from a distance. They felt
more at home here in the East. He and Lynn loved the Cape. For the last
several years they owned a house there, but they were building a new one—a
house that was going to be their permanent home and the house of their
dreams. It’s a lovely place on a hill overlooking the water, and their
property went right down to the water’s edge.
As
a couple they were generous to a lot of people. I knew David to be a giving
person, and Lynn was the same. I don’t know how many people and institutions
they have helped. Lynn gave much of her time to a place called Hillside,
a home for abused children. She worked hard there and established a library.
She was like a full-time employee, and yet she wasn’t paid. I’ve heard
stories that the two of them have supported young people, even sending
some to college. They did such wonderful things with the money that was
theirs and it was very typical of them. They left practically everything
to a foundation that will serve other people. So they had a very rich
life, and they enriched my life and the lives of my sister, my family,
and many people.
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Bishop
Angell on his 25th Anniversary of being ordained
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"Where
is God in all of this senseless, painful evil?" Not exactly a new
question. Job struggledwith it more than 2,500 years ago. It has always
been a question easy to ask but difficult to answer. One modern expression
of it is Rabbi Kushner’s question, "Why do bad things happen to good
people?" In our early history as a Church, the great saint Augustine
pondered this question and concluded, "The power of God is demonstrated
in his ability to bring good out of apparent evil."
I
have seen that evil being transformed already into good. The perpetrators
of this tragedy probably thought they had brought us to our knees. And
indeed they have—but not in the way they intended. America is on its knees
in prayer. America is on its knees to God. This is the good that can come
out of evil. Yes, the terrorists should be brought to justice, but we
must respond in a Christ-like manner by striving to forgive our persecutors—even
the perpetrators of this infamous day of evil in America.
The
Lord says that we have to love him first and foremost. But we have to
love our brothers and sisters as well, including the people who committed
this terrible act. Acts of terrorism are evil, but we have to love those
who commit this evil—and that’s hard to do. I suppose I’ve preached that
my entire priesthood. And I’ve tried to live it, but when it comes to
something like this, it’s difficult.
Yet
we know that this is what the Lord wants of us: We have to forgive those
who hurt us. We have to forgive those that perpetrated this terrible violence
against our country. We have to say, "Lord, they know not what they
do, and so we forgive them."
Six
days after the attack I said the memorial funeral Mass for my brother
and sister-in-law. A week after that I said the Blue Mass for Vermont
police, firemen, and emergency medical service personnel. There were about
800 of them. I was touched deeply by their generosity, their concern for
others—to the extent that many of them gave their lives. I’ve always had
great admiration for these people who put their lives on the line day
after day. I was happy to be able to go with them and to pray with them
for their fallen comrades and to pray for all of those that have lost
their lives in this terrible tragedy.
I’ve
been grieving since that fateful day, and my grief is still very much
there. But there is that good that comes from evil. Think of the numbers
of people who turned to the Lord at the time of the attack. The churches
were full that following Sunday. Some of my pastors tell me that for the
most part that has been maintained: People are going to Mass, people are
praying. There’s a new respect and reverence for one another, I think,
as a result of this, more of an appreciation of one another—more patience,
more kindness. I suppose that in time some of that fades away, but I still
see some great things that have come out of this.
I
think there’s a new patriotism in the country, which is good. People are
proud of our way of life, and we want to try to protect that way of life
to the best of our abilities. I don’t want war. I don’t want our people
to have to occupy countries like Afghanistan—I want them to come home.
But I also do not want this type of violence to be perpetrated against
any other people or any other nation. So perhaps out of all of this might
come peace. That’s something that we’ve been striving for since Adam and
Eve were put on the face of the earth.
We
have to be peaceful in ourselves and we have to try to reverence and respect
everyone from the unborn to the elderly. We have to have a whole new approach
to loving our neighbor. Jesus said the most important thing that we do
in this life is to love God and that the second commandment was like the
first one: We have to love one another. Perhaps that will be the result
of this terrible tragedy—maybe people will begin to love one another a
little more.
Another
good that has come out of all this is that my faith is deeper because
of it. I think the spiritual effort it took to overcome my initial anger
has made me more peaceful. I think the faith that is mine has grown because
of the goodness of so many people. I see Christ reflected in these people,
and I am encouraged.
None
of us in this life are alone. The Lord sends many wonderful people into
our lives through whom he works. My faith in him has increased tremendously
because of 9/11. I’ve never had any problems with faith: I believe in
Jesus, and I believe in his promises, and I believe with all my heart
and soul that he loves us and he knows what’s best for us. And to get
to that point in your faith experience, to completely put yourself in
the hands of God and put your loved ones in the hands of God and say,
"God, you take over. You take over." I think that’s been one
of the blessings that has come out of all of this.
I
believe in the goodness of people as a whole. Our newspapers are filled
with stories of violence and the terrible things that people do to one
another. And yet that’s not the America that I see. I see wonderful parents
rearing their children and trying to instill values into them. I see elderly
people who have given of themselves all of their lives and are still helping
their brothers and sisters. I see families sacrificing for one another.
I see so many good things. That’s the America that I know. That’s the
America that I want to see preserved: one nation, under God.
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