Anglican Communion News Service

Our Prime Minister and our President are confident we will unite to send our Armed Forces our thoughts and prayers. We must do more than that. Nurse Edith Cavell, before she was shot in the First World War, declared, "Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness toward anyone." Our concern, as Christians, is not only for our own Forces, but also for all the people of Iraq and throughout the Middle East.

Iraq did not threaten either Britain or America. The UN Chief Weapons Inspector wanted more time to further peaceful disarmament. Instead, we invaded with massive force including the use of cluster bombs, whose unexploded fragments act like landmines to kill indiscriminately, and missiles tipped with depleted uranium whose long-term effects may well be deadly.

Protests have failed to stop the war, but concerned voices may help to build the peace. We must insist that: the US and UK Governments, having spent hugely on destruction, now spend equally on rebuilding and restoration; the United Nations, rather than the combatant nations, is in control of the reconstruction programme; we ourselves say, "never again" should unilateral national action be allowed.

Politicians may yet be obliged to listen to the voices of peace. We must maintain the pressure to find a better way than war to solve our differences.

The Rt Revd Colin Scott
Chair, Anglican Pacifist Fellowship

The Revd David Selzer
Chair, Episcopal Peace Fellowship

Sue Dempsey Claydon
Vice Chair, Anglican Pacifist Fellowship

Janet Chisholm
Vice Chair, Episcopal Peace Fellowship