[Imc-newsroom] Press Conference: Churches Speak Out Agaisnt the War

[Charlotte Green]

 URBANA-CHAMPAIGN FRIENDS MEETING
 
 For Immediate Release:
 December 13, 2005
 
 Contact: Merlin Taber,  217-351-9286, m-taber at uiuc.edu
 
 C-U Churches Speak Out Against Iraq War
 Press Conference
 Thursday, December 15, 12:15 PM
 McKinley Presbyterian Church
 809 S. Fifth, Champaign
 
 Nine local religious organizations have passed resolutions and faith-based statements calling on the United States to withdraw troops and bases from Iraq.  The church groups will hold a joint press conference on Thursday, December 15 at 12:15 PM at McKinley Presbyterian Church,  809 S. Fifth St., Champaign.  Representatives from Urbana-Champaign Friends (Quaker) Meeting, Methodist Federation for Social Concerns (Illinois Great Rivers Chapter), First Mennonite Church of Urbana, McKinley Presbyterian Church Social Action Committee, and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Social Action Committee will speak.  Other groups who have endorsed statements calling for an end to the military occupation of Iraq are Channing-Murray Foundation, C-U Interfaith Alliance, Illinois Disciples Foundation, and Outreach Ministries at Wesley United Methodist Church.  Merlin Taber, one of the organizers of the press conference, expects 100-200 supporters from the various church groups to attend.
 
 'Churches Speak Out' is the theme of this group according to Taber of the U-C Friends.  “Before this invasion most major churches strongly opposed it, and none supported it.  Our group is asking, isn’t it time for churches to speak out again?”said Taber.
 
 The statement by the Methodist Federation for Social Concerns emphasizes the injustice of the war and “urges the United States government to develop and implement a plan for the withdrawal of troops.”  The statement continues, “The war is especially tragic in that a bi-partison U.S. commission appointed by President Bush and chaired by former Governor Tom Keane and former Representative Lee Hamilton has established that:
 ∑ No weapons of mass destruction were stored in Iraq;
 ∑ There was no attempt on the part of the government of Saddam Hussein to purchase uranium from the nation of Niger
 ∑ There were no ties between Saddam Hussein and the events of September 11, 2001
 ∑ There were no ties between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda”
 
 Several groups have passed a resolution calling on Congress to pass legislation stating that it is the policy of the United States to withdraw all U.S. military troops and bases from Iraq.  According to the resolution, the root cause of the increase in violence in Iraq is the perception that the U.S. intends to permanently occupy Iraq.  Furthermore,  many insurgent groups have expressed a willingness to engage in political dialogue if the U.S. would clearly state its intention to withdraw from Iraq.  Such a statement would send a strong signal to the people of Iraq and the international community that the U.S. does not have imperial intentions in Iraq.  The following groups have endorsed this resolution: U-C Friends Meeting, First Mennonite Church of Urbana,  C-U Interfaith Alliance, McKinley Presbyterian Church Social Action Committee, Channing-Murray Foundation, Illinois Disciples Foundation, and the Outreach Ministries at Wesley United Methodist Church.
 
 First Mennonite Church has also endorsed a faith-based statement, making it clear that peace is at the heart of Mennonite beliefs and practice.  “We believe that peace is the will of God.  God created the world in peace, and God’s peace is most fully revealed in Jesus Christ, who is our peace and the peace of the whole world.  Led by the Holy Spirit, we follow Christ in the way of peace, doing justice, bringing reconciliation, and practicing nonresistance, even in the face of violence and warfare.”  Specific reference is made to the Iraq war: “We will join our voices with many other people of faith who are calling for our national leaders to end the U.S. military presence in Iraq, recognizing that such visibility is fueling a growing insurgency movement and adding to the daily suffering of ordinary Iraqis.”
 
 Sharon Dorsey of St. Patrick’s Social Action Committee will read from a recent statement by the U.S. Catholic bishops, which “urge(s) the United States to send a clear signal that the U.S. goal is to help Iraqis assume full control of their governance and not to occupy the nation for an indeterminate period” and to “re-emphasize the urgent need for humanitarian relief and substantial rebuilding.” 
 
 Several of the church groups have endorsed legislation, which has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives including the “Homeward Bound Act” (H.J. Res. 55), the first bipartisan effort to bring home U.S. troops, and H. Con. Res. 197, calling for no permanent bases in Iraq.  All the groups agree that there are more workable methods to address terrorism and help Iraq, which have more promise than continued escalation of violence.
 
 
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