Tokyo (Fides Service) - The Catholic Bishops of Japan have issued a statement declaring their opposition to war as a solution to solving the present crisis over Iraq, even if it were proven that the Iraqi regime does possess weapons of mass destruction. However, the Bishops call on Iraq to abolish weapons of mass destruction and they urge other countries to do the same. The statement, issued on the occasion of a special Plenary Assembly at the end of February, recalls the teaching of Jesus on peace and refers to the Peace on Earth encyclical written forty years ago by Pope John XXIII. The Bishops urge Japanese leaders to speak out in favour of peace and "to have the courage to energetically promote pathways of peace for international society".
The statement reads: "We, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan, openly declare that our fundamental position is opposition to all war. At present it is alleged that military means are justified as a legitimate self-defense to cope with Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Even if the United Nations should declare such a war to be legitimate self-defense, we oppose such a war. We are opposed to the use of military power against Iraq. Though it will require great courage and solidarity, we appeal to international society to use all possible peaceful means to solve this problem….In addition, we call upon the government of Iraq to abolish weapons of mass-destruction, to cease development of such weapons and to immediately and clearly prove to the world that it has done so. Moreover, we strongly urge other states to do what we have asked Iraq to do, to completely destroy any and all nuclear and other weapons of mass-destruction they have in their possession. See statement at www.fides.org PA (Fides Service 3/3/2003 EM lines 25 Words: 319).