wfn.org | Religious, Military Leaders Address Nuclear Weapons Threat

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 23, 2002

RELIGIOUS, MILITARY LEADERS ADDRESS NUCLEAR WEAPONS THREAT
02-200-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA)   Calling nuclear weapons instruments "of
indiscriminate effect and terror," the presiding bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) joined religious and
former military leaders this month in a call for "verifiable arms
control and non-proliferation efforts to safeguard nuclear facilities
everywhere."
     The events of Sept. 11, 2001, should not be used "as a
justification for use of nuclear weapons," the leaders warned.
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson was one of 21 religious leaders and 13
retired military leaders who signed the statement, "A Reaffirmation:
Concerning Terrorism and U.S. Nuclear Policy."  The statement was
made public by the Nuclear Reduction/Disarmament Initiative through
the Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy.  The Churches'
Center is a national, ecumenical research center, located at Wesley
Theological Seminary, a United Methodist Church seminary in
Washington, D.C.
     This statement affirms a similar statement issued in 2000 and
includes some commentary on the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.  In
June 2000 several religious and former military leaders proclaimed
long-term reliance on nuclear weapons is "morally untenable and
militarily unjustifiable."  The Rev. H. George Anderson, then ELCA
presiding bishop, signed that statement.
     The 2002 statement notes there are "worldwide apprehensions
about the nature of U.S. military responses" to the Sept. 11 attacks.
In particular, the threat of the use of nuclear weapons "represents
an abhorrent condition we seek to eliminate cooperatively," the
statement said.
     "Nuclear weapons constitute a threat to the security of our
nation, a peril to world peace [and] a danger to the whole human
family," the statement said.  Controlling such weapons must become top
priority, it said.  Exports of related materials and technologies
must be prevented, governments should be persuaded to "turn away"
from nuclear weapons, and terrorists must be prevented from obtaining
such weapons, the statement said.
     "Strengthening international cooperation in bringing unlawful
conduct to justice, in addressing the root causes of terrorism, and
working through the rule of law to eliminate nuclear weapons is a
path toward greater security consistent with international
requirements and our basic American values," the statement concluded.
     Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders were among those who
signed the statement.  Leaders representing the ELCA's full communion
partner churches also signed the statement.  They represented the
Episcopal Church, Moravian Church in America, Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.), Reformed Church in America and United Church of Christ.
Also signing was the Rev. Bob Edgar, general secretary, National
Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
-- -- --
     Information about the Nuclear Reduction/Disarmament Initiative
can be found at http://www.nrdi.org on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html