wfn.org | Iraq Attack 'Wrong,' Say ELCA, Other Religious Leaders

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

September 13, 2002

IRAQ ATTACK 'WRONG,' SAY ELCA, OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS
02-220-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In a letter to President George W. Bush, 48
Christian church and church organization leaders say "it is wrong as
well as detrimental to U.S. interests" for the United States to launch
pre-emptive military action against Iraq for the purpose of toppling the
regime of Saddam Hussein.  The Rev. Mark. S. Hanson, presiding bishop of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was among the church
leaders who signed the letter.
     The Sept. 12 letter was sent to Bush through Churches for Middle
East Peace, a Washington, D.C.-based ecumenical working group of
Christian organizations that work with elected leaders on issues related
to the Middle East.  The letter to Bush was similar to a public
statement issued Aug. 30 by Hanson.
     The religious leaders noted the Bush Administration's efforts in
the past year to bring people "of disparate faiths together in worship,
to mourn and to move on boldly with their lives" in the aftermath of the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.  But they warned
that such progress may be damaged by the Bush Administration's
suggestions of unilateral military action against Iraq.
     The leaders say they are morally opposed to further military
action against Iraq because of the consequences for the Iraqi people.
And, they say, unilateral military action is detrimental to U.S.
interests "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," the letter to Bush
said.
     "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
religious leaders wrote.
     "The pre-emptive use of military force ... establishes a dangerous
precedent, particularly for other nations that feel threatened by the
weapons capabilities of their neighbors," the letter said.
"Furthermore, unilaterally overthrowing enemy governments heightens
concerns in other countries about American respect for their integrity
as nations, as well as for international law."
     U.S. military action at the present time may further destabilize
the region, the religious leaders wrote.  It is likely international
support for the war on terrorism will "erode" if the United States
attacks Iraq without a mandate from the United Nations, and militants in
Arab and Islamic majority countries may "incite" people against the
United States and governments that cooperate with it, they said.
     "Rather than attacking Iraq, we urge that your priority in the
Middle East be an Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire and peace settlement,"
the letter said.  "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."
-- -- --
     The text of the religious leaders' letter to President Bush can be
found at http://www.cmep.org/iraqletter.htm on the Churches for Middle
East Peace Web site.

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