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PHILIPPINES - BISHOPS' CONFERENCE DECLARES
'NO TO WAR' IN IRAQ
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MANILA
The clouds of war loom over Iraq. The U.S. President has threatened
to wage war on the Middle East nation unless it disarms itself of
"weapons of mass destruction." This threat has alarmed
the entire world. A war with Iraq will have serious international
repercussions. Even now the moral unity of the United Nations as
a voice for the whole world is being fractured. A war would seriously
inflict great damage on the people of Iraq and their neighbors.
Our own economy and people would most certainly be affected.
Therefore, once again, we express our grave concern over this threat
of war and wish to make a strong appeal for world peace.
The Lord Jesus has commanded us to love both friends and foes alike.
Pope John Paul II also declares to the world: "NO TO WAR! War
is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity"
(Address of Pope John Paul II to the Diplomatic Corps, January 13,
2003).
We live in one world. We belong to each other as members of the
same human family under God. We must settle our differences through
negotiation and dialogue, in non-violent ways -- in every peaceful
way possible.
We, therefore, strongly appeal with all our heart to the leaders
of Iraq, the United Nations and particularly the United States to
settle without recourse to arms the grave issues that threaten to
become causes of war. At this juncture of human history, with the
incredible swiftness of attack and counterattack, using weapons
of incredible devastation that can threaten worldwide security,
the strict moral conditions of a just war are almost impossible
to comply with. If war must be resorted to, it must be absolutely
the last resort. "War is always a defeat for humanity."
We appeal to the United Nations, including the United States and
its allies to persevere in the dialogue for peace. Give as much
time as necessary for the United Nations Inspection Teams to do
their work. We appeal to the leaders of Iraq to cooperate fully
with the United Nations in this task without placing any impediment.
We strongly appeal to the United States and its allies not to launch
an offensive against Iraq without explicit authorization from the
United Nations. We appeal to our own Philippine authorities not
to support such a pre-emptive strike. Still, we believe that authorization
from the United Nations may give war a sense of legality, but our
Christian sense of peace would require especially in these most
uncertain times the higher demands of justice, peace and love.
On bended knees we beg the Lord to give peace to the world and turn
the hearts of leaders to the ways of peace. May Jesus, the Prince
of Peace, make peace reign over the region where he was born of
the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of Peace. Finally, we ask our
people to pray ardently for peace and to work for peace, knowing
that God's cause must truly be our own.
For the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines,
+ Orlando B. Quevedo, O.M.I.
Archbishop of Cotabato
President, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines
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