U.S. Bishops Call For An Examination Of ‘Alternative
Courses Of Action’ In Iraq; Cite Human, Moral And Financial
Costs Of The War
BALTIMORE
(November 13, 2006) – Bishop William S. Skylstad, President
of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement today
calling for a more substantive, civil and non-partisan discussion
about a responsible transition in Iraq.
“The Administration and the new Congress need to engage in
a collaborative dialogue that honestly assesses the situation in
Iraq, acknowledges past difficulties and miscalculations, recognizes
and builds on positive advances, and reaches agreement on concrete
steps to address the serious challenges that lie ahead,” Bishop
Skylstad said.
While not addressing a specific timeline for withdrawal of troops,
Bishop Skylstad stated that the military should remain in Iraq “only
as long as their presence contributes to a responsible transition.
Our nation should look for effective ways to end their deployment
at the earliest opportunity consistent with this goal.”
The complete text of Bishop Skylstad’s statement
follows.
Call For Dialogue And Action On Responsible
Transition In Iraq
A Statement of the President of the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops
Bishop William S. Skylstad
November 13, 2006
As the Catholic bishops of the United States gather in Baltimore,
our thoughts and prayers are with our military personnel in Iraq,
their families, and the suffering people of Iraq. The situation
in Iraq is perilous—taking the lives of so many Iraqis, Americans
and others, and undermining the dignity of many more. The current
situation is taking a terrible toll—on the Iraqi people and
our military personnel, as well as on the region, our nation, and
the world. The war’s costs are measured in lives lost and
many more injured, in widespread sectarian strife, civil insurgency
and terrorist attacks, and in the daily struggles of Iraqis to build
a decent future for their devastated nation.
At the beginning of this year, Bishop Thomas Wenski, Chairman of
our Committee on International Policy, issued a statement entitled
Toward a Responsible Transition in Iraq. The increases in sectarian
violence and civil strife have made the challenge of securing a
“responsible transition” in Iraq even more urgent today.
The search for genuine justice and peace in Iraq requires moral
urgency, substantive dialogue and new directions.
To meet these challenges, we hope our nation has moved beyond the
divisive rhetoric of the recent campaign and the shrill and shallow
debate that distorts reality and reduces the options to “cut
and run” versus “stay the course.” Our nation
needs a much more substantive, civil and non-partisan discussion
of ways to plan and secure a responsible transition in Iraq. In
that spirit, our Conference offers this statement as a contribution
to the genuine dialogue these times demand.
The Administration and the new Congress need to engage in a collaborative
dialogue that honestly assesses the situation in Iraq, acknowledges
past difficulties and miscalculations, recognizes and builds on
positive advances (e.g. broad participation in elections), and reaches
agreement on concrete steps to address the serious challenges that
lie ahead. This national dialogue should not re-fight past battles,
but rather seriously examine alternative courses of action, especially
in light of their human, moral and financial costs. We hope the
report of the forthcoming Iraq Study Group, chaired by former Secretary
James Baker and former Congressman Lee Hamilton, will help bring
about the honest dialogue that our nation needs.
The Holy See and our bishops’ Conference have repeatedly
expressed grave moral concerns about military intervention in Iraq
and the unpredictable and uncontrollable negative consequences of
invasion and occupation.
The Holy See and our Conference now support broad and necessary
international engagement to promote stability and reconstruction
in Iraq. Therefore, our nation cannot just look back. The complex
situation in Iraq demands that our nation look around at what we
face now and look ahead to what we can do in the future. The intervention
in Iraq has brought additional moral responsibilities to help Iraqis
to secure and rebuild their country. Our nation’s military
forces should remain in Iraq only as long as their presence contributes
to a responsible transition. Our nation should look for effective
ways to end their deployment at the earliest opportunity consistent
with this goal.
Basic benchmarks for a responsible transition in Iraq include:
fostering adequate levels of security; curbing wanton killings,
indefensible terrorist attacks and sectarian violence; strengthening
the basic rule of law; promoting economic reconstruction to begin
to create employment and economic opportunity for Iraqis; and supporting
the further development of political structures and solutions that
advance stability, political participation, and respect for religious
freedom and basic human rights. Ultimately, this work must be done
by Iraqis, but the United States and its coalition partners have
a moral obligation to continue and intensify efforts with Iraqis,
other countries in the region and the international community toward
achieving these benchmarks. In particular, we urge Arab nations
and the countries of Western Europe to take concrete steps against
terror and to seek stability in the region. In addition, the future
of Iraq and the whole region would be improved by our nation’s
concerted leadership to resolve, in concert with the international
community, other conflicts in the region, especially by pursuing
a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Of particular concern is the deadly sectarian violence engulfing
the Shia and Sunni communities in Iraq. The resolution of these
conflicts also rests ultimately with Iraqis. They must reject violence
and focus on political accommodation and just economic and social
policies that benefit all segments of Iraqi society. This will demand
leadership, compromise and accountability. The U.S. should use its
power, influence and presence to advance these ends and to make
clear that failure to make progress on them will require a re-examination
of our role and presence.
As bishops, and as defenders of the human rights and religious
freedom of all, we are alarmed by the deteriorating situation of
Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq. Their vulnerability
is dramatic evidence of the serious and growing dangers facing the
entire nation of Iraq. Christians in particular are caught in the
middle of civil strife between Sunnis and Shiites. Our prayerful
support goes out to our brothers and sisters in the Christian community
and to all those threatened by the deadly violence. We are deeply
impressed by the courage of many Christians who remain in the land
of their birth. Effective efforts are required to end all sectarian
violence and to make Iraq secure for persons of all faith communities.
Our bishops’ Conference continues to dialogue with U.S. policy
makers regarding Iraq. In statements, letters and meetings, we have
expressed grave moral concern regarding “preventive war,”
noted the new moral responsibilities that our nation has in Iraq,
worked to protect religious freedom in Iraq, supported firm resolve
and effective strategies in the struggle against terrorism, condemned
torture and called for efforts to address the abuse of prisoners
and detainees, shared the moral elements of a “responsible
transition,” and sought to contribute to a serious and civil
discussion regarding ways forward in Iraq.
We remain concerned for the safety of the men and women who serve
generously in the U.S. military. We are grateful for their heroic
sacrifices on behalf of the Iraqi people and affirm the extraordinary
ministry of military chaplains among them. We are deeply concerned
for the lives and dignity of the Iraqi people who are also our sisters
and brothers and deserve our care and solidarity.
Our Conference of bishops calls upon all Catholics to pray daily
for the safety of those who honorably serve our nation and for their
families. We especially offer our support and solidarity to those
who have lost loved ones in Iraq. Our prayers and solidarity must
also include the Iraqi people, who have suffered so greatly under
a brutal dictator and now face continuing violence, instability
and deprivation.
At this critical time, our nation needs open and courageous dialogue
to examine where things stand in pursuing justice and peace in Iraq,
assess what is achievable there, and evaluate the moral and human
consequences of alternative courses of action. Let us pray for the
wisdom and courage needed to take steps along the difficult path
toward a responsible transition that helps Iraqis build a better
future. As President of our Conference of bishops. I make this appeal
in the spirit of the Beatitudes, which assure us, “Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
(Matthew 5:9)
|