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
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
