Statements from Religious Leaders about Iraq
Catholic
We respectfully urge you to step back from the brink of war and help
lead the world to act together to fashion an effective global response
to Iraq's threats that conforms with traditional moral limits on the use
of military force. US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Letter to President
Bush, Sept. 13, 2002
Episcopalian
The question for us now must be: what is our role in the community of
nations? I believe we have the capacity within us to help lead our world
into the way of justness and peace. The freedoms we enjoy as citizens of
the United States oblige us to attend not only to our own welfare, but
to the well-being of the world around us. A superpower, especially one
that declares itself to be "under God," must exercise the role of super
servant. Our nation has an opportunity to reflect the values and ideals
that we espouse by focusing upon issues of poverty, disease and despair,
not only within our own nation but throughout the global community of which
we are a part. The Presiding Bishop's statement on military action
against Iraq, September 6, 2002
Jewish
International cooperation is far, far better than unilateral action,
and the U.S. must explore all reasonable means of attaining such support.
Non-military action is always preferable to military action, and the U.S.
must fully explore all options to resolve the situation through such means.
If the effort to obtain international cooperation and support through the
United Nations fails, the U.S. must work with other nations to obtain cooperation
in any military action. Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Executive
Committee Decision on Unilateral Action by the U.S. Against Iraq
Lutheran
While we are fully aware of the potential threat posed by the government
of Iraq and its leader, I believe it is wrong for the United States to
seek to over-throw the regime of Saddam Hussein with military action.
Morally, I oppose it because I know a war with Iraq will have great consequences
for the people of Iraq, who have already suffered through years of war
and economic sanctions. Further, I believe it is detrimental to U.S. interests
to take unilateral military action when there is strong international support
for weapons inspections, and when most other governments oppose military
action. I also believe that U.S. military action at this time will
further destabilize the region. I call upon members of our congregations
to be fervent in prayer, engaged in conversation with one another and with
our leaders. In the final analysis, we must stand unequivocally for
peace. . ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson's Statement on Iraq
Situation, August 30, 2002
Mennonite
To speak against war and invasion is to hold up a conviction that, in
light of all uncertainties, peace and security are enlarged when authorities
choose the path of non-violent diplomacy. The concerns noted above convince
us that this is both a moral and a practical path. Our call is also a statement
of belief that God wills the path of peace and will work alongside those
who have the courage to take risks for peace. Statement of the Mennonite
Central Committee, April 20, 2002
Methodist
United Methodists have a particular duty to speak out against an unprovoked
attack. President Bush and Vice-President Cheney are members of our denomination.
Our silence now could be interpreted as tacit approval of war. Christ came
to break old cycles of revenge and violence. Too often, we have said we
worship and follow Jesus but have failed to change our ways. Jesus proved
on the cross the failure of state-sponsored revenge. It is inconceivable
that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior and the Prince of Peace, would support
this proposed attack. Secretary Jim Winkler of The United Methodist
Church General Board of Church and Society, August 30, 2002
Presbyterian
We urge Presbyterians to oppose a precipitate U.S. attack on Iraq and
the Bush administration’s new doctrine of pre-emptive military action.
We call upon President George W. Bush and other leaders to: Refrain
from language that seems to label certain individuals and nations as ‘evil’
and others as ‘good’; Oppose ethnic and religious stereotyping, Guard against
a unilateralism, rooted in our unique position of political, economic and
military power, that perpetuates the perception that ‘might makes right’;
Allow United Nations weapons inspections in Iraq, without undue pressure
or threats of pre-emptive, unilateral action; and End the economic sanctions
against Iraq, which have been ineffectual but have done untold damage to
the Iraqi people. The General Assembly Council and the staff leadership
team of the Presbyterian Church (USA), September 28, 2002
Quaker (Society of Friends)
We call upon Friends to witness and work to prevent this war, to reverse
this new military doctrine, to call upon our governments to implement multilateral,
diplomatic responses to the threats posed by the government of Iraq, and
to continue developing positive, nonviolent approaches to resolving international
conflicts. We know that there are millions of people of good will with
whom we can join in this work. Joint Statement in Response to Threat of
War with Iraq from the General and Executive Secretaries of Five Quaker
Organizations, September 24, 2002
Unitarian Universalist
We will not all stand in the same place on this issue. But we can all
stand in the same faith. Above all, that is my hope. In these troubling
days and all those that lie ahead, my deepest prayer is that we stand in
this faith with Universalist Olympia Brown, who wrote, over one hundred
years ago, “Every nation must learn that the people of all nations are
children of God, and must share the wealth of the world. You may say this
is impracticable, far away, can never be accomplished, but it is the work
we are appointed to do." Responding to the Threat of War: A Pastoral
Letter from the Rev. William G. Sinkford, President, Unitarian Universalist
Association, September 20, 2002
United Church of Christ
With heavy hearts we hear once again the drumbeat of war against Iraq.
As leaders committed to God’s reign of justice and peace in the world and
to the just conduct of our nation, we firmly oppose this advance to war.
While Iraq’s weapons potential is uncertain, the death that would be inflicted
on all sides in a war is certain. Striking against Iraq now will not serve
to prevent terrorism or defend our nation’s interests. We fear that war
would only provoke greater regional instability and lead to the mass destruction
it is intended to prevent. UCC leaders, September 13, 2002
Ecumenical
As Christians, we are concerned by the likely human costs of war with Iraq, particularly for civilians. We are unconvinced that the gain for humanity would be proportionate to the loss. Neither are we convinced that it has been publicly demonstrated that all reasonable alternative means of containing Iraq's development of weapons of mass destruction have been exhausted. We call upon our governments to pursue these diplomatic means in active cooperation with the United Nations and to stop the apparent rush to war. World Council of Churches, August 30, 2002
We are compelled by the prophetic vision of peace to speak a word of
caution to our governments and our people. We represent a diversity of
Christian communities - from the just war traditions to the pacifist tradition.
As leaders of these communities in the United States and the United Kingdom,
it is our considered judgment that a preemptive war against Iraq, particularly
in the current situation, would not be justified. Statement from Religious
Leaders, October 11, 2002
Feel free to reproduce this flyer or to enlarge to poster size.
Please encourage others to speak out to friends and co-workers, to elected
officials, in the media, in protests and vigils, and in other ways help
reverse the rush to war. The democratic process did not end with the vote
in Congress. We the people can stop this war by listening to, educating,
and activating others. For more information please contact Lutheran Peace
Fellowship, 1710 11th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122, 206-720-0313,
lpf@ecunet.org www.LutheranPeace.org
Lutheran (ELCA)
In recent days, leaders of the United States government have talked openly about the possibility of a pre-emptive strike against the government of Iraq and its leader, Saddam Hussein. As presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), I am deeply concerned about any such action. In the 1995 ELCA social statement, "For Peace in God's World," we said that, as Christians, "the love of our neighbor obligates us to act to prevent wars and seek alternatives to them." This is a time to stop the use of hostile rhetoric and verbal threats, and to focus again on diplomacy. ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson's Statement on Iraq Situation, August 30, 2002
While we are fully aware of the potential threat posed by the government of Iraq and its leader, I believe it is wrong for the United States to seek to over-throw the regime of Saddam Hussein with military action. Morally, I oppose it because I know a war with Iraq will have great consequences for the people of Iraq, who have already suffered through years of war and economic sanctions. Further, I believe it is detrimental to U.S. interests to take unilateral military action when there is strong international support for weapons inspections, and when most other governments oppose military action. I also believe that U.S. military action at this time will further destabilize the region. I call upon members of our congregations to be fervent in prayer, engaged in conversation with one another and with our leaders. In the final analysis, we must stand unequivocally for peace. . ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson's Statement on Iraq Situation, August 30, 2002
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“We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we do about peacemore about killing than we do about living”Omar Bradley