The following letter was sent to President Bush by 28 American church leaders on September 12. Signatories include: the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, the General Secretary of the Reformed Church, the Primate of the Episcopal (Anglican) Church, the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the President of the Disciples of Christ, the General Secretary of the Friends Central Service Commitee, as well as a host of Catholic religious Provincials. It opposes the prospect of a war in Iraq in the strongest possible terms, and urges that the Bush administration redouble efforts to bring about a ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A similar, if more moderate, letter was sent to our own PM by Australia’s National Council of Churches on August 29. See it here: http://www.ncca.org.au/mediarelease/2002/Iraq&war_29-8-02.html

Perhaps it would be helpful if these were shared with worshipping congregations this Sunday?

______________________________________________

September 12, 2002

The Honorable George W. Bush President of the United States of America The White House Washington, D.C. 20500

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.

Sincerely,

Rev. Dr. Robert Edgar General Secretary National Council of Churches USA

Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel Moderator, 214th General Assembly Presbyterian Church (USA)

Marilyn Borst Executive Director Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding

Rev. Dennis Cleary, MM U.S. Regional Superior Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers

Rev. Canice Connors, OFM.Conv Provincial, Immaculate Conception Province Conventual Franciscans President, Conference of Major Superiors of Men

Rev. John Doctor, OFM Provincial, Sacred Heart Province Franciscans

Rev. Michael Guimon, OSM Provincial Order of Servites

Corinne Whitlatch Director Churches for Middle East Peace

Wesley Granberg-Michaelson General Secretary Reformed Church in America

The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold Presiding Bishop and Primate The Episcopal Church, USA

The Rev. Dr. Richard L. Hamm General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

in the United States and Canada

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson Presiding Bishop Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Stan Hastey Executive Director Alliance of Baptists

Rev. Michael Higgins, CP Provincial, Western Province Passionists

Elenie K. Huszagh, Esq. President National Council of Churches USA

Thomas H. Jeavons General Secretary Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch for the Eastern USA

Rev. Ted Keating, SM Executive Director Conference of Major Superiors of Men

Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick Stated Clerk of the General Assembly Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rev. Michael E. Livingston Executive Director International Council of Community Churches

Ronald J.R. Mathies Executive Director Mennonite Central Committee

Canon Patrick Mauney Chairman, Board of Directors Church World Service

Rev. John L. McCullough Executive Director Church World Service

Mary Ellen McNish General Secretary American Friends Service Committee

Rev. Mark Miller, CPPS Provincial Society of the Precious Blood Joseph Nangle, OFM Co-Director, Franciscan Mission Service Franciscan Brothers and Fathers

Jose Ortiz Executive Director Mennonite Central Committee U.S.

Lindsay Penn-Matheson President of the Board of Directors Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America

Sr. Constance Phelps, SCL Vice President Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Sr. Kathleen Pruitt, CSJP Past President Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Rev. Judy Mill Reimer General Secretary Church of the Brethren General Board

Leonard Rodgers President/Founder Venture International

Rev. Dr. Roy Sano Bishop (Retired)

United Methodist Church

James F. Schrag Executive Director Executive Board, Mennonite Church USA

Dr. William J. Shaw President National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

Sr. Carol Shinnick, SSND Executive Director Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Ronald J. Sider President Evangelicals for Social Action

Rev. William Sinkford President Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

John Thomas General Minister and President United Church of Christ

Kathy Thornton, RSM National Coordinator NETWORK A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

Lydia Veliko Ecumenical Officer United Church of Christ

Joe Volk Executive Secretary Friends Committee on National Legislation

Rev. Austin Walsh, ST General Custodian Missionary Servants of the Holy Trinity

Dr. Robert K. Welsh President, Council on Christian Unity Ecumenical Officer Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada

The Rev. David L. Wickmann President Moravian Church, Northern Province

Jim Winkler General Secretary General Board of Church and Society United Methodist Church

Rev. Ronald Witherup, SS Provincial, Sulpicians President-Elect Conference of Major Superiors of Men

Sr. Mary Ann Zollman, BVM President Leadership Conference of Women Religious

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