As families across North Texas come together for the spring celebrations of Easter and Passover, we asked prominent local clergy to help us take stock of this time.
Reporter David Schechter asked them to examine why the nation is so divided, and how we can do a better job of taking care of those who need help most.
Joining us are Pastor Fredrick Haynes of Friendship West Baptist Church; Rabbi Adam Raskin from Congregation Beth Torah; and Bishop-Elect Douglas Deshotel with the Catholic Diocese of Dallas. Here is an edited transcript of a portion of their 20-minute conversation:
RASKIN: "It's like that adage, show me your checkbook ledger and I'll tell you what your priorities are. I imagine our children and grandchildren. What will they say? How did you take care of the least among you?"
SCHECHTER: "They'll hold us responsible."
RASKIN: "They'll hold us responsible. And they should hold us responsible."
HAYNES: "And how does that bode for our future? The budget is a moral issue. Every time the budget is passed it’s a reflection of what we feel in terms of our values and our principals."
SCHECHTER: "Is prosperity bad? Is a pro-business outlook a bad thing?"
RASKIN: "Prosperity is not a sin. The sin is becoming intoxicated by prosperity and blinded by prosperity and only concerned with your own well-being."
DESHOTEL: "I think we have to presume the goodwill of people even who are out there. Not presume they are out for headline grabbing, or being unkind to each other, but they are honestly seeking the good of the position they are proposing in their discussion and then proceed from that viewpoint."
SCHECHTER: "In lieu of a tragedy what can people do? Wake up tomorrow, what can I do?"
DESHOTEL: "I'm going to look at the world in a different way and see that I'm a part of the human family."
HAYNES: "Refuse to sit on the sidelines, research where the greatest need is. Go to that area. Sit where people sit. Understand what they feel. And then get involved in being part of the solution. I always say to our members, try to do something for someone who can never pay you back."
RASKIN: "You know, I like to talk about not making the world a better place, but making my small corner of the world a better place. Because I think people can more readily respond to immediate needs, to a community that's filled with opportunities to feed the hungry to clothe the naked, to give charity, to be involved in numerous social service projects all over the City of Dallas and the Metroplex. Find one that you're passionate about."
SCHECHTER: "Well, thank you very much gentlemen for this conversation, let's do it again."
Click the link in the sidebar to view the unedited conversation.
E-mail dschechter@wfaa.com
