Catholic, other religious leaders call Bush's Iraq War policies 'morally bankrupt'

By Chaz Muth
2/23/2007
Catholic News Service (www.catholicnews.com)

BALTIMORE, Md. (CNS) – Baltimore Christian leaders used the backdrop of Ash Wednesday and props of a dead soldier's combat boots as they called President George W. Bush's Iraq War policies immoral and urged Marylanders to take part in an organized anti-war rally in Washington.

The 13 religious leaders from varying Christian faiths – including Auxiliary Bishop Denis J. Madden of Baltimore – chose the first day of Lent Feb. 21 to launch their collective anti-war platform, because it's a penitential season.

"The time has come to confess our mistakes and wrongdoing and withdraw our troops" from Iraq, said the Rev. Peter K. Nord, head of the Presbytery of Baltimore, part of the national Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

"The Jesus we follow prays for peace and so do we," Rev. Nord said at the news conference at City Temple Baptist Church in the Bolton Hill neighborhood of Baltimore. "I'm troubled that our commander in chief neither shares this prayer nor listens to his people."

In an effort to pump up the volume and force Bush to hear their opposition to his war policies and troop surge, the group urged Maryland Christians to travel to Washington March 16 and surround the White House in a nonviolent, candle-lit demonstration.

A group called Christian Peace Witness for Iraq is hosting a 7 p.m. service March 16 at the National Cathedral in Washington. Following the service, they will march the 2.5 miles from the cathedral to the White House for the rally, which is expected to run from 9 to 10:30 p.m.

A major anti-war rally is planned for the next day in Washington, organized by the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism Coalition to mark the fourth anniversary of the war, launched March 20, 2003, in Iraq.

The Baltimore religious leaders often used harsh language to express their disgust for the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq and said Bush's goal of keeping terrorist activity out of that country backfired and instead created a haven for violent radical groups.

They called the president a "naive politician" and "morally bankrupt" and said it was their duty to rally their congregations to protest this war.

"We cannot remain silent while American men and women in increasing numbers are being sent to Iraq to kill and be killed," said United Methodist Bishop John R. Schol of the Baltimore-Washington Episcopal Area. "While thousands of Iraqi people needlessly suffer and die, ... poverty increases and preventable diseases go untreated."

The morning of the press conference, the United Kingdom announced it would begin to withdraw 40 percent of its troops in Iraq in the next year, an example the Baltimore Christian leaders would like Bush to follow.

"Our leaders have a moral obligation to honestly examine where things really stand in pursuing peace in Iraq and to assess what is actually achievable there by our continued presence," Bishop Madden said. "May this day and the march that is to follow be enlightened by the great splendor of truth and aid us on the path to peace."


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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops