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Refreshing to see unity in opposition

To the editor:
I want to thank Fr. Xavier Thelakkatt of Sacred Heart Catholic Church for his article on a Catholic perspective on the possibility of war with Iraq. At the same time, Fr. Xavier did not state the official position of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, namely, based on the information now available, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has raised serious questions and concerns about the moral legitimacy of preemptive use of military force against Iraq. The bishops have said it is difficult to justify the resort to war against Iraq lacking clear and adequate evidence of an imminent attack of a grace nature (www.usccb.org/sdwp/hill203.htm). Pope John Paul II even has made stronger statement calling a preemptive strike, morally wrong.
Fr. Xavier referenced Michael Novak who he identifies as a priest. Mr. Novak is not a priest, but a conservative writer for the National Review. Catholic theologians have been quite clear that a preemptive attack against Iraq does not meet St. Thomas criteria for a just war. In fact, for the first 300 years Catholics, no war was ever justified, as it clearly states in the New Testament, love your enemies.
Fr. Xavier makes a number of other statements that are not entirely accurate, but he does conclude with a prayer for peace, an appropriate Christian response to the threat of war.
Catholics are not alone in their opposition to a war with Iraq. Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches (http://bruno. ncccusa.org) has launched a win without war campaign. In fact every major religious denomination (http://www.mnchurches.org/peace) has come out against going to war with Iraq, as almost every country in the world, including the citizens of Spain and Great Britain.
If you are wondering how wide spread opposition to a preemptive strike against Iraq consider that there were almost 7,000 peace vigils in 140 countries on the evening of March 16th following the call by Archbishop Desmond Tutu for such a vigil (www.moveon.org/ vigil/). Opposition to the war also includes Baptists (www. bpfna.org) and evangelicals such as Rev. James Wallis of Sojourners (www.sojo.net) and Rev. Ron Sider of Evangelicals for Social Action (www.esa-online.org).
I donít know if all the prayers and growing opposition by the faith community against a war with Iraq will prevent a war, but it is refreshing to see Christianity united in its opposition. It gives me hope, best expressed in this Every Church a Peace Church quote: The church could turn the world toward peace if every church lived and taught
as Jesus lived and taught. (www.ecapc.org).
It is surprising how little we have learned as a country from our experience in Vietnam. I suspect it is because we believe our overwhelming military strengthen will win the day in Iraq. The problem is winning the day does not mean winning the battle for lasting peace or justice, nor will it make us safer as a nation either at home or abroad. It will result in thousands of deaths, many American, a huge national deficit for our children to pay, and may morally bankrupt our nation.
In conclusion, a preemptive strike against Iraq would be morally wrong. This doesnít mean we shouldnít support our troops, but the best way may be in bringing them back home without going to war (maybe that is why so many veterans are against a war with Iraq, (www.veteransforpeace.org/).
Robert G. Walz,
Chair Social Justice
Leadership Team
Charity and Justice Ministry
St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church,
North Branch
and Director of Congregations in Community
Saint Paul Area Council of Churches

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