U.S. church leaders urge Bush to
avoid military action against Iraq
Kirkpatrick, Abu-Akel agree Saddam is a threat, but
to attack is wrong
[9-13-02]
A statement has
also been issued by leaders of US, Canadian and British churches.
| update --
12-11-02
Stated
Clerk Kirkpatrick says it is 'imperative' to let U.N.
inspection process work
Stated Clerk Kirkpatrick has again sent a
letter urging President Bush that it is 'imperative' to let
United Nations weapons inspections run their course and to
seek a peaceful resolution of the crisis. |
| GAC calls for U.S. restraint on
Iraq, urges Presbyterians to witness - and
work - for peace [10-1-02] Meeting
in Louisville at the end of September, the General Assembly
Council issued a "call to prayer and
action," urging Presbyterians to oppose a precipitate U.S. attack
on Iraq and the Bush administration's 'new doctrine of pre-emptive
military action.'
|
by Jerry L. Van Marter, Presbyterian News Service
and Charles Wetekam, CMEP
LOUISVILLE -- September 12, 2002 -- Leaders of many
U.S. Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic churches and organizations issued
a letter today to President Bush opposing military action against Iraq.
The letter, coming on the heels of Bush's tough speech
to the United Nations General Assembly, said: "(Saddam) Hussein
poses a threat to his neighbors and to his own people, [but] we
nevertheless believe it is wrong, as well as detrimental to U.S.
interests to launch an attack on Iraq."
The letter, written by Churches for Middle East Peace
(CMEP), cited probable humanitarianconsequences, civilian casualties,
and the chaotic political aftermath of such a war as primary reasons for
its opposition. The letter noted that U.S. military force could
easilydestabilize the region with possible catastrophic results and
further increase anti-American sentiment in the Middle East and Gulf.
The signers of the letter included Presbyterian Church
(USA) moderator the Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel and stated clerk the Rev.
Clifton Kirkpatrick.
Responding to the president's U.N. address, CMEP chair
Father Stan DeBoe, commented, "Consulting with the U.N. while
insisting that the U.N. precisely implement our own policy is not what
international cooperation is about. It is not a matter of 'you go along
with us or else we'll do what we want,' but rather how does the U.S.
work with and through the U.N. to implement the consensus of the
international community.?
DeBoe continued, "We are urging the President to
uphold the values of our great country by working closely with the
community of nations, not by rattling sabers nor by threatening to
overthrow governments with force."
The full text of the letter:
September 12, 2002
Dear Mr. President:
We, like all Americans, kneel in prayer and
remembrance for the tragedy and violence that obliterated the lives of
so many people one year ago. As American religious leaders, we have
sought during this year to listen, to learn, and to grow in our faith
and compassion both for persons in our congregations and also for those
many outside of our churches. We applaud your leadership in bringing
peoples of disparate faiths together to worship, to mourn, and to move
on boldly with our lives -- in a more caring fashion and with
appreciation for the precious gifts of God given to all humankind.
Today, however, we write out of concern that those
same precious gifts may be damaged by actions being contemplated by our
nation.
We, leaders of American churches and church-related
organizations, are alarmed by recent statements by yourself and others
in the Administration about pre-emptive military action against Iraq for
the expressed purpose of toppling the regime of Saddam Hussein.
Understanding that Mr. Hussein poses a threat to his neighbors and to
his own people, we nevertheless believe it is wrong, as well as
detrimental to U.S. interests, to take such action.
We oppose on moral grounds the United States taking
further military action against Iraq now. The Iraqi people have already
suffered enough through more than two decades of war and severe economic
sanctions. Military action against the government of Saddam Hussein and
its aftermath could result in a large number of civilians being killed
or wounded, as well as increasing the suffering of multitudes of
innocent people.
It is detrimental to U.S. interests to take unilateral
military action when there continues to be strong multilateral support
for a new weapons inspection regime and when most governments in Europe
and the Middle East resist supporting military action. It is important
for the U.S. to cooperate with international efforts to control Iraq's
weapons of mass destruction, if possible, through a regional
weapons-of-mass-destruction control initiative.
The pre-emptive use of military force by the United
States to deal with proliferation problems, as serious as they may be,
establishes a dangerous precedent, particularly for other nations that
feel threatened by the weapons capabilities of their neighbors.
Furthermore, unilaterally overthrowing enemy governments heightens
concern in other countries about American respect for their integrity as
nations, as well as for international law.
U.S. military action at this time has great potential
to further destabilize the region. It is likely that international
support for the war on terrorism will erode if the United States attacks
Iraq without a United Nations mandate. Militants in Arab and Islamic
majority countries would seize the opportunity to incite people against
not only the United States but also against governments that cooperate
with the U.S. An invasion of, or intensified military action against,
Iraq will divert attention from the need to seek ways to reduce
international terrorism and will retard efforts to restore stability in
Afghanistan.
Rather than attacking Iraq, we urge that your priority
in the Middle East be an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire and peace
settlement. As do many in the world, we look to the United States
government to set an example for the international community. As
Christian religious leaders responsible for millions of U.S. citizens we
expect our government to reflect the morals and values we hold dear --
pursuing peace, not war; working with the community of nations, not
overthrowing governments by force; respecting international law and
treaties while holding in high regard all human life.
