Statement on Iraq
Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory
President
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
February 26, 2003
As our nation and world face grave choices about war, peace, security and
justice, this is a time for renewed prayer, continued moral reflection, and
active and faithful citizenship. This is a time to reaffirm and raise again
the serious ethical questions and concerns our Conference has expressed in a
letter to President Bush last September and in a major statement of the full
body of bishops last November.
We have no illusions about the behavior and intentions of, or dangers posed
by, the Iraqi government. Once again, we renew our calls for the Iraqi
leadership clearly to abandon efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction
and to meet its obligations to destroy such weapons. We join with Pope John
Paul II in insisting that Iraq make "concrete commitments" to meet the
legitimate demands of the international community and to avoid war. The Iraqi
regime has to recognize that it has not to date responded adequately to these
demands and that it must act immediately and effectively to meet them, both to
avoid armed conflict and to prove that it intends to change its ways.
We join with Pope John Paul in the conviction that war is not "inevitable" and
that "war is always a defeat for humanity." This is not a matter of ends, but
means. Our bishops' conference continues to question the moral legitimacy of
any preemptive, unilateral use of military force to overthrow the government
of Iraq. To permit preemptive or preventive uses of military force to
overthrow threatening or hostile regimes would create deeply troubling moral
and legal precedents. Based on the facts that are known, it is difficult to
justify resort to war against Iraq, lacking clear and adequate evidence of an
imminent attack of a grave nature or Iraq's involvement in the terrorist
attacks of September 11. With the Holy See and many religious leaders
throughout the world, we believe that resort to war would not meet the strict
conditions in Catholic teaching for the use of military force.
In our judgment, resort to war in this case should have broad international
support. As crucial decisions draw near, we join the Holy See in once again
urging all leaders to step back from the brink of war and to continue to work
through the United Nations to contain, deter and disarm Iraq. We hope and pray
that leaders in Iraq, the United Nations and in our own land will hear and
heed the persistent pleas of Pope John Paul II to take concrete steps to avoid
war and build peace based on respect for international law and for all human
life.
If the decision to use military force is taken, the moral and legal
constraints on the conduct of war must be observed. This is expected of every
civilized nation. It surely is expected of ours. We are threatened by regimes
and terrorists who ignore traditional norms governing the use of force; all
the more reason that we must uphold and reinforce them through our own
actions. Any implied or express threats to defend against Iraq's weapons of
mass destruction by using our own weapons of mass destruction would be clearly
unjustified. The use of anti-personnel landmines, cluster bombs and other
weapons that cannot distinguish between soldiers and civilians, or between
times of war and times of peace, should also be avoided. In all our actions in
war, including assessments of whether "collateral damage" is proportionate, we
must value the lives and livelihood of Iraqi civilians as we would the lives
and livelihood of our own families and our own citizens.
If there is armed conflict, we must be prepared for all of its implications
and its aftermath. An already long-suffering Iraqi population could face
terrible new burdens, and a region already full of conflict and refugees could
see more conflict and many more refugees, with ethnic and religious minorities
particularly vulnerable. A post-war Iraq would require a long-term commitment
to reconstruction, humanitarian and refugee assistance, and establishment of a
stable, democratic government at a time when the U.S. federal budget is
overwhelmed by increased defense spending and the costs of war.
As pastors and teachers, we understand that there are no easy answers. People
of good will may differ on how traditional norms apply in this situation. The
gravity of the threat and whether force would be preemptive are matters of
debate, as are the potential consequences of using or failing to use military
force. We urge Catholics, especially lay men and women who are called to be
"leaven" in society, to continue to think deeply about the choices we face, to
review carefully the teaching of our Church and to speak out strongly in
accord with their conscience. Our hearts and prayers go out especially to
those who may bear the burden of these terrible choices -- the men and women
of our armed forces and their families, the people of Iraq, and the leaders of
our nation and world who face momentous decisions of life and death, of war
and peace.
At times like these, we turn to the Lord and ask for wisdom and courage. We
Christians are called to be "sentinels of peace," the Holy Father reminds us.
We join with him in urging Catholics to dedicate fasting on Ash Wednesday for
"the conversion of hearts and the long-range vision of just decisions to
resolve disputes with adequate and peaceful means." In the days ahead, our
community of faith is called to reflection and discernment, dialogue and
action, and especially to prayer and worship. As we approach the Lenten
season, let us pray and fast that our nation and world will find effective
ways short of war to secure justice, increase security and promote genuine
peace for all of God's people.
Note: This statement coincides with the release of
liturgical and other pastoral and educational resources for dioceses and
parishes to use as our nation prepares for a possible war. See
www.usccb.org.
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Office of Social Development & World Peace
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3000