wfn.org | Church executive calls bombing of Iraq 'international disgrace'

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Dec. 18, 1998	Contact: Thomas S. McAnally((615)742-5470(Nashville,
Tenn.    10-21-71B{747}

NOTE:  Only the General Conference speaks for the United Methodist
Church.  The General Board of Church and Society, headquartered in
Washington, is the international public policy and social agency of the
denomination. A full text of this statement is at the close of this
story. 
*  *  *

WASHINGTON (UMNS) -- "The bombing of Iraq is a matter of international
disgrace that reaches far beyond narrow partisan interests," U.S.
congressional leaders are told by the Rev. Thom White Wolf Fassett,
staff executive of the Board of Church and Society of the United
Methodist Church,  in a statement released here Dec. 17.

Condemning the "United States-British bombing," Fassett calls upon
President Clinton to stop what he considers "an act of war."

He points to the church's official positions that
* consider war to be "incompatible with the teachings and example of
Christ";
* reject war as an instrument of national foreign policy;
* insist that the first moral duty of all nations is to resolve by
peaceful means every dispute that arises between or among them;
* (affirm) that human values must outweigh military claims.
  
"Our concern and prayers are with the Iraqi people,"  Fassett says.
"They have been oppressed by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein a despot
leader intent on the genocide of his own people, as well as the United
States and other nations who have contributed to the mounting death toll
of Iraqi citizens.

"Previous bombings and punitive international sanctions have failed to
force the Iraqi government to comply with international and United
Nations disarmament efforts," Fassett  continues. "Further violent
actions by the United States and other governments will serve no purpose
other than denying the possibility of peace in a season commemorating,
for the Christian world, the coming of Jesus Christ, the Peace Maker.

Fassett questions whether the recent attack is warranted after so much
pain has been inflicted on the Iraqi people.  "Diplomatic means have
been utilized by the United States and the international community to
address similar  concerns with North Korea and Israel, who are also
suspected of developing weapons of mass destruction. Why do we continue
to seek the selective enforcement of U.S./international will on one
nation when others with equally dangerous weapons, are treated
deferentially?"

During these high holy days for Muslims, Christians and Jews, Fassett
invites all people of faith to:

* "Pray for an immediate end to this war against the Iraqi people;
* "Urge their governments to hear their opposition to this devastating
action;
* "Mobilize humanitarian relief for the Iraqi people;
* "Demand for non-violent means to achieve international disarmament."

The 62-member governing body of the Board of Church and Society is
headed by Bishop Charles W. Jordan of Des Moines, Iowa.  Official
policies of the denomination are established every four years by the
church's General Conference, an international body of nearly 1,000
delegates. 
#  #  # 
NOTE:  Full text of the Dec. 17 letter follows:

Cease the US-British Bombing of Iraq
This is a statement of Thom White Wolf Fassett, general secretary of the
General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church.

The General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church
must, once again, strongly condemn the United States- British bombing,
beginning Dec. 16, against the people and government of Iraq.  We call
upon U.S. President Bill Clinton to cease this bombing, which we
consider an act of war.  The United Methodist policy on war is clear:
The United Methodist Church believes war is "incompatible with the
teachings and example of Christ."  Therefore, the Church "reject(s) war
as an instrument of national foreign policy and insist(s) that the first
moral duty of all nations is to resolve by peaceful means every dispute
that arises between or among them; that human values must outweigh
military claims..." (United Methodist Social Principles, Paragraph 69C).

Our concern and prayers are with the Iraqi people.  They have been
oppressed by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, a despot leader intent on
the genocide of h is own people, as well as the United States and other
nations who have contributed to the mounting death toll of Iraqi
citizens.  Previous bombings and punitive international sanctions have
failed to force the Iraqi government to comply with international and
United Nations disarmament efforts.  Further violent actions by the U.S.
and other governments will serve no purpose other than denying the
possibility of peace in a season of commemorating, for the Christian
world, the coming of Jesus Christ, the Peace Maker.

The bombing raises serious questions about why such an attack is
warranted now after so much pain has already been inflicted on the Iraqi
people.  Diplomatic means have been utilized by the United States and
the international community to address similar concerns with North Korea
and Israel, who are also suspected of developing weapons of mass
destruction.  Why do we continue to seek the selective enforcement of
US/international will on one nation when others, with equally dangerous
weapons, are treated deferentially?

U.S. congressional leaders need to set aside their partisan conflicts
and address the moral and ethical conduct of a nation in the context of
war and international affairs.  The bombing of Iraq is a matter of
international disgrace that reaches far beyond narrow partisan
interests.

During these high holy days for Muslims, Christians and Jews, we invite
all people of faith to:

* Pray for an immediate end to this war against the Iraqi people.
* Urge their governments to hear their opposition to this devastating
action.
* Mobilize humanitarian relief for the Iraqi people.
* Demand for non-violent means to achieve international disarmament.

Only General Conference speaks for the entire denomination.  The General
Board of Church and Society is the international public policy and
social action agency of The United Methodist Church.
#  #  #

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
Releases and photos also available at
http://www.umc.org/umns/