IN THE NEWS -- Please help us put together webpages on David Kelly and suicide

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Posted by Jonah (64.114.149.212) on August 22, 2003 at 14:52:04:

From yesterday's Guardian:

Barney Leith, secretary of the National Spiritual assembly of Britain, who knew Dr Kelly and will testify before the Hutton inquiry about the impact of the Baha'i faith had on him, said he could not know whether the scientist might have taken his own life because of guilt. But he added: "The teachings of the Baha'i faith strongly emphasise the importance of ... keeping one's word."

Journalists and their readers are visiting this site in large numbers. Can you help put together two webpages on this topic? Using the collaborative software Wiki, anyone can edit the page anytime, without even registering (to keep such an open system from getting messed up, it retains a copy of each version after editing).

Here are the two pages I just started. Please add to them!
David Kelly
Suicide

Letter from the House

I'm burying this letter here. It's of direct relevance to our work, and I must share it with Baha'is reading and helping with this. But it's not really a public document, so I'm not advertising it or posting it in the main collection. -Jonah

UK BAHA'I NEWS EMAIL SERVICE
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the UK
18 August 2003

Dear Baha'i friends

The National Spiritual Assembly was moved to receive the following message from the Universal House of Justice concerning Dr David Kelly. The National Assembly believes that the friends in the UK will draw solace and guidance from the message.

With loving Baha'i greetings

National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the UK
Barney Leith, Secretary

--------------------------------------------

MESSAGE FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

7 August 2003

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom

Dear Baha'i Friends,

We deeply sympathize in your grief over the tragic circumstances compounded by the political atmosphere surrounding the death of Dr. David Kelly, a devoted member of your community. Our ardent prayers in the Holy Shrines join yours that his soul may progress throughout the divine realms and that the members of his family may be solaced through the boundless grace of God.

For obvious reasons, the press has shown particular interest in the view of the Baha'i Faith on suicide. Our Teachings are clear on this subject and can be stated simply: The act of suicide is strongly condemned, but Baha'is do not adopt a condemnatory attitude toward those who commit suicide.

We hope and pray that the public arguments aroused by the conflicting issues associated with Dr. Kelly's death will soon subside. Our expectation is encouraged by the prospect that the investigation of these issues that has been officially initiated will not be unduly prolonged. In whatever way, whether by request of the official investigation or of the media, members of the Baha'i community may be called upon to provide information or comment, they will no doubt respond in a manner that upholds the principled character of our Faith. They will speak with complete truthfulness, and will not permit themselves to take sides in the ongoing public debate, eschewing all partisanship.

With loving greetings,
The Universal House of Justice

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