February 7, 2003
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information, Contact:
Bud Bunce (503) 233-8373
bbunce@archdpdx.org
Archdiocesan Justice and Peace Commission urges peace in Iraq
The Archdiocesan Justice and Peace Commission has issued a statement urging
the United States to avoid war with Iraq.
The Commission noted that it raises its
collective voice as have other faith communities
and the U. S. Bishops. Referring to the
November 13, 2002 statement of the American
Bishops, the Justice and Peace
Commission asserts that lay Catholics
"have the responsibility to transform the social
order in light of the Gospel, truly living
the Gospel values that we profess."
The Commission emphasized, "People of many faiths are questioning the risk
and cost of a potential war that could
easily result in unpredictable and unintended
consequences." The Commission noted that
analysts "alert us to the possibility of high
numbers of civilian causalities, the loss
of military personnel, more anti-American
sentiment around the world, increased
terrorism, greater instability among nations and
more violent reactions in an already volatile
Middle East."
The statement asks that national leaders "avoid the destructiveness of
war by
finding a better way to resolve the very
real threats involved in the conflict with Iraq."
Quoting from the prophet Micah, "in the
days to come… they shall beat their swords into
plowshares, and their spears into pruning
hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword
against another, nor shall they train
for war again" (Micah 4:3).
The members of the Archdiocesan Justice and Peace Commission are: Sister
Kathy Carr, BVM, Corvallis, Father Patrick
Donoghue, Sublimity, Edward Gallagher,
Portland, Sister Dodi Poelzer, MM, Eugene,
Sabino Sardineta, Cornelius, Jim
Scherzinger, Portland, Estelle Sullivan,
Gresham, Wendy Van Elverdinghe, Dallas,
Silvia Vazquez-Rios, Corvallis, and Gertrude
L. Welsh, Portland.
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