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Bishops moral object Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021113/ap_wo_en_po/us_bishops_iraq_4 http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021113/ap_wo_en_po/us_bishops_iraq_4 America's Catholic bishops raise moral objections to an attack on Iraq Wed Nov 13, 6:55 PM ET By RICHARD N. OSTLING, AP Religion Writer WASHINGTON - America's Roman Catholic bishops raised serious moral doubts Wednesday about the nation going to war with Iraq. By a vote of 228-14 with three abstentions, the bishops endorsed a statement declaring that they "find it difficult to justify the resort to war against Iraq, lacking clear and adequate evidence of an imminent attack of a grave nature." The hierarchy said it is "deeply concerned" about use of preventive wars "to overthrow threatening regimes or to deal with weapons of mass destruction." The bishops also said a decision to attack Iraq requires "some form of international sanction, preferably by the U.N. Security Council," though several bishops opposed mention of the United Nations (news - web sites). "We are saying, in our judgment concerning possible war in Iraq — this situation here and now — we shouldn't do this alone. The better way to do this is internationally," said Boston's Cardinal Bernard Law. The statement was written hurriedly by the international policy committee chaired by Law, who has been subject to intense criticism all year for his handling of sex abuse claims against Boston priests. The document also reaffirmed the Catholic teaching that the faithful have the right to object to participation in war in general, or to a specific war. And the bishops acknowledged that "people of good will may differ" on which wars are moral. Officials from major U.S. Protestant and Eastern Orthodox denominations have also opposed war with Iraq over the past several months, though spokesmen for the largest Protestant body, the Southern Baptist Convention, have backed President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s policy. "We have no illusions about the behavior or intentions of the Iraqi government," the Catholic bishops said. They called on the Iraqi regime to halt internal repression, threats to neighbors, support for terrorism and development of weapons of mass destruction. Iraq accepted a United Nations resolution Wednesday that demands it allow weapons inspectors back in the country. Bush has made it clear the United States is ready to attack Iraq if it does not disarm. The president of the U.S. bishops, Wilton Gregory of Belleville, Illinois, delivered a letter to Bush in September that expressed reservations about a pre-emptive military strike. The bishops supported U.S. action in Afghanistan (news - web sites) last year, though they cautioned that worldwide poverty and human rights must be factors in U.S. foreign policy. Law told the meeting that Afghanistan was "a different case" because a pre-emptive strike was not involved. ___ On the Net: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: http://www.usccb.org

Archbishop warns nuclear Bishop question war { November 15 2002 } Bishops moral object Bishops not justified { November 14 2002 } British church leaders { September 5 2002 } Catholic no justify war Clergy bishop { October 15 2002 } Coalition churches against war { January 24 2003 } Hard to justify { November 14 2002 } Muffled bishops voice { November 13 2002 } Pope calls fast for peace { March 5 2003 } Pope deeply worried Pope plea peace { December 25 2002 } Pope tells iraqi opposes war { February 14 2003 } Pope wants peace in land of jesus Questions sanctions { March 5 2003 } Vatican top official Files Listed: 17

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