National Council of Churches Leader calls for quick end to “immoral” Iraq war
Posted by Web Editor on April 15th, 2007
On March 16 the leader of the National Council of Churches USA (NCC) reiterated that the Iraq war is “immoral” as he prepared to take part in peace actions that night and the next day in Washington, D.C., marking the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. “It is the life and ministry of Jesus Christ that prompted our stand then and compels us now to reiterate the continued prosecution of this war is immoral. It should be ended as quickly as possible,” said the Rev. Bob Edgar, NCC’s general secretary, in a public statement. “There is a numbness that seems to have overcome America about the purpose, cost and effects the Iraq war has had on our country’s soul,” Edgar said. His prescription for healing the soul of the nation is a time-honored, Biblically-based action. “In church language, when you make a mistake you examine your conscience, promise not to do it again and change the direction of your life. It’s called repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation,” Edgar said. The NCC leader also spoke of the toll to America’s soul due to the torture of human beings in secret prisons and abuses at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. The Rev. Edgar joined thousands in a Christian peace witness [www.christianpeacewitness.org] at the Washington National Cathedral, followed by a candlelight march to the White House with many thousands more “to surround the White House with the bright light of Christ,” according to event planners. The NCC is the ecumenical voice of America’s Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican, historic African American and traditional peace churches. These 35 communions have 45 million faithful members in 100,000 congregations in all 50 states. Info: Dan Webster, 212-870-2252, e-mail NCCnews@ncccusa.org or www.councilofchurches.org.