wfn.org | Churches for Middle East Peace Statement on Iraq War

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Churches for Middle East Peace
a program of the American Friends Service Committee

Contact:  Jim Wetekam, 202-543-4150, jim@cmep.org

Churches for Middle East Peace Statement on Iraq War

(WASHINGTON, March 20, 2003)  On behalf of Churches for Middle East Peace,
the
following statement was issued by Fr. Stan DeBoe, chair, and Corinne
Whitlatch, director.  The full text follows:

Churches for Middle East Peace deeply regrets the decision by the United
States and other nations to begin military action against Iraq.  We are
concerned about the injury and loss of life of U.S. personnel who have been
deployed to the region and of the Iraqi people who once again suffer the
devastating effects of war.

In the midst of these horrific events, our prayers are with our brothers and
sisters in the Middle East.  Mindful of God's will for peace and justice on
earth, we pledge our efforts to work actively for peace and to urge the U.S.
government to:
	  bring hostilities to a swift end,
	  take measures to protect civilians and non-combatants,
	  abide by the Geneva Conventions and international law in the
conduct
of war and    in its aftermath,
	  support efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis that will
result from the war,
	  support multilateral measures under the leadership of the United
Nations to rebuild Iraq and protect the Iraqi people,
	  bolster regional arms control measures following the war, and
	  provide concrete and immediate leadership to the process of
establishing a viable	Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.

We pray that the leaders of our nation and the nations of the world will have
compassion and wisdom.	We join the members of our churches in praying for
the
safety of United States servicemen and women and for the safety of the people
of Iraq.  We call upon members of our churches to act in a manner consistent
with their faith and conscience to foster peace in the Middle East.

As a people of faith, we believe that God calls us to paths of peace rooted
in
mercy and justice.  In the midst of conflict, violence, and death, we will
not
stray from that path. Instead, we recommit ourselves to God's vision of peace
and will strive to build a world of greater understanding, compassion and
care, until we can live without the threat of war and all people can live in
peace.

Formed in 1984, Churches for Middle East Peace is a Washington-based program
of the American Friends Service Committee, Catholic Conference of Major
Superiors of Men's Institutes, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church
of the Brethren, Church World Service, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America, Franciscan Mission Service, Friends Committee on National
Legislation, Maryknoll Missioners, Mennonite Central Committee, National
Council of Churches, Presbyterian Church (USA), Reformed Church in America,
Unitarian Universalist Association, United Church of Christ, and the United
Methodist Church.