wfn.org | ACNS3368 ...not a religious war - Joint Statement by Religious

["Anglican Communion News Service" <acnslist@anglicancommunion.org>]

ACNS 3368     |     LAMBETH PALACE     |     21 MARCH 2003

...not a religious war

Joint Statement by Religious Leaders

We have gathered against the backdrop of military action in Iraq involving
British forces. They, their families and everyone caught up in this conflict
are in our thoughts and prayers-especially those whose lives or loved ones
have been lost.

As religious leaders from several faiths, we are here to signal the common
ground on which we stand and to reaffirm the values we share at this time of
tension, conflict and discord.

We pray that almighty God will grant wisdom, judgement and compassion to the
political and military leaders who carry the immense burden of
responsibility for the way this war is prosecuted.

Respect for every human being in times of armed conflict, as set out in the
Geneva conventions and protocols, must be guaranteed on all sides. The
rights and needs of civilians innocently affected by the conflict must be
fully protected.

This is a conflict neither about religion nor between religions. We
completely reject any attempt to misrepresent it in this way. As Christian,
Jewish and Muslim religious leaders in this country, we believe that it is
vital, amid so much uncertainty and turmoil, to resist any attempt to drive
our communities apart.

We commend the continuing efforts being made in Britain to build a society
in which different faith communities can flourish side-by-side in mutual
respect and harmony.

We urge all communities to maintain their commitment to this goal, at a time
when it may come under strain. We commit ourselves fully to strive to that
end, for the sake of our shared well-being and as a mark of our commitment
to a more harmonious, less conflict-ridden world.

Although, sadly, the diplomatic road is currently blocked, military action
can only be a limited means to an end. We pray that early efforts to achieve
a just, lasting and secure peace both in Iraq and throughout the Middle East
may follow swiftly in the footsteps of war. We urge those with the power to
help make real this vision, to remain true, amid the clamour of conflict, to
that noble and vital purpose.

It is a vision which we commend in the confident belief that by so doing we
are acting in the true interests of our God given humanity.

This joint statement has been issued by:

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams
The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor
The Free Churches Moderator, the Revd David Coffey
The Chief Rabbi, Dr Jonathan Sacks
Chairman of the Council of Mosques and Imams UK, Shaikh Dr Zaki Badawi
Co-President of Churches Together in England, the Revd Esme Beswick

[A photograph to accompany this article is available from
www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/]

Photo: James Rosenthal/Anglican World
(Left to right: Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Dr Jonathan Sacks, Dr Rowan
Williams, Shaikh Dr Zaki Badawi, Revd Esme Beswick, Revd David Coffey)

___________________________________________________________________

For details about the Enthronement of the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury,
the Most Revd Rowan D Williams, visit http://www.anglicancommunion.org/

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