As part of Grace Church's long
tradition of ministry to "least of these my brethern", the work of the God's Mercy Mission
continues to be be remembered with pride by the parish. The
book describing this misson, Let the Bastards Go, is written by Bishop
Joe Morris Doss, Rector of Grace Church during this period.
Today from the vantage point of over two decades, we at Grace Episcopal Church can reflect on the dramatic events which occupied our life for many years. Beginning in the 70s, Hispanic immigrants moved to our neighborhood and many joined Grace Episcopal Church. The Cuban members of our church wanted and waited for years to get their relatives out of Cuba where the Communist government persecuted its political enemies. One could even become a political prisoner by simply having a family member escape to the United States.
In the spring of 1980, Cuban President Fidel Castro began releasing his political prisoners, and U. S. President Jimmy Carter promised them asylum here in the United States. Our Cuban parishioners asked for assistance from Grace Episcopal Church. Under the leadership of Father Joe Morris Doss (now Bishop of New Jersey, retired) and Father Leopold Frade (now Bishop of Southeast Florida), our parish began planning the rescue. The process included filling out countless official documents and raising funds for the undertaking. The church purchased a submarine chaser--surplus from World War II--and christened it God's Mercy. As our plans moved along, however, President Carter ordered a blockade because he could see that the number of arriving immigrants would overwhelm the social resources in the ports of entry. Nevertheless, we decided to go ahead.
God's Mercy with clergy and crew set out for Cuba in May, 1980, where they assembled their band of political refugees. Rain fell during the tedious return journey to Florida. More than 400 refugees crowded the upper and lower decks of the vessel. Because the ship was assisting small yachts carrying other refugees, the trip required far more time than expected. When the rescue mission finally docked, the U.S. government arrested the two priests and crew members. While the people of Grace Episcopal Church welcomed the frightened immigrants and helped them settle in, the two priests began a decade-long litigation which finally ended when they were declared innocent of all charges.
Why would two priests leave their flock and travel to another country to rescue people they didn't even know? Why would a community give so much money to the venture? Why would a parish choose to sacrifice by sending their spiritual leaders off on such a mission, and suffer their repeated absence for many years, thereafter? Simply put, because their brothers and sisters needed help. Bishop Doss and Bishop Frade chose not to emulate the priest in the parable of the Good Samaritan who ignored the man beaten and robbed and left by the side of the road to Jericho. The congregation of Grace Episcopal Church concurred.
What
was the outcome of these dramatic events? Some members of the parish
think
they had no lasting effect on the parish; in fact, the events have
faded from their memory. On the other hand, the
Cuban immigrants found new lives in the United States--still the
promised land
of Freedom and opportunity. Over twenty years later, many have become
established in
New Orleans and elsewhere, obtained citizenship and sent their children
to
college. For Bishop Doss and Bishop Frade, the rescue mission and its
aftermath
brought them national attention and--perhaps--contributed to their
eventual
election as bishops in different dioceses. Others saw the events unfold
as Grace Episcopal Church changed from a conservative, white
middle-class
parish into a multi-cultural, inclusive parish which welcomes persons
of diverse
backgrounds. One parishioner recently said of the rescue mission of
1980, "It defined who we are today."
Joe Morris Doss, retired Bishop of the
Diocese of New Jersey in the Episcopal Church, was rector of Grace
Episcopal Church in New Orleans from 1973 to 1985. He is the author
of: The Death Penalty: Law and Morality; The Songs of the Mothers; and the play Earnest. Now a resident of Mandeville, Louisiana,
he leads an ecumenical effort to foster reform and unity within the
global church.
To
purchase the above mentioned book, "Let the Bastards Go," by
Bishop Joe Morris Doss
http://www.lsu.edu/lsupress/catalog/Spring2003/books/Doss_Let_Bastards_Go.html