What Can We at CPF Do

to Have the U.S. Bishops Declare the Iraq War as Unjust?

In response to a 13 September and a 15 November follow up, op eds in America, the Jesuit weekly magazine, both of which strongly condemned the Iraq war as “unjust” and therefore immoral, a committee has been formed at CPF to act on this issue.

The America articles specifically castigated George Bush and the “Vulcans” around him for starting this war despite the previously stated opposition of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the warning of Pope John Paul II himself (not to mention the millions of Americans and foreigners who took to the streets in demonstrations against it).

The purpose of this new CPF committee is to petition the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to formally and finally declare the current U.S.-conceived and U.S.-led war in Iraq as unjust. The moral implications of such action by U. S. Bishops could be significant and far reaching.

To this end, the CPF Iraq War Committee is taking the following steps:

► Requesting a meeting with our local Bishop to ask for his guidance and assistance.

► Asking for meetings with John Langan, S.J., theologian at Georgetown University, and Drew Christensen, S.J., editor of America. We will seek their advice and assistance.

► Seek a venue in the Philadelphia area for either Fr. Langan, or Fr. Christensen, or both, to come and speak on this issue.

► Write letters to Catholic and secular newspapers and publications condemning the Iraq war as unjust and immoral.

► Attempt to organize and energize those members of the Roman Catholic clergy (sisters and priests) who oppose this war as “immoral,” encouraging them to speak out and act publicly against the war.

► Connect with and coordinate with other Catholic peace and justice groups across the U.S., expecting that they too will promote this idea in their own dioceses.

Anyone who wishes to join the IRAQ War Committee or assist in some way, contact Joe Bradley, 215-952-0718, Charlie Bauerlein, 215-843.6716, or Dee Bodell, 610-649-5674.

Charlie Bauerlein

The Human Cost of the War and Occupation
December 8, 2004

Coalition military fatalities
since war began on March 19, 2003:
(http://icasualties.org/)

U.S.: 1, 276
UK: 74
Other: 72

Civilian Deaths in Iraq:

The Iraq Body Count Project reports between 14,619 and 16,804 civilian deaths. The Iraq Body Count Project is a human security project to establish an independent and comprehensive public database of media-reported civilian deaths in Iraq resulting directly from military action by the U.S.A. and its allies in 2003/2004. This number does not include Iraqi military deaths (estimated between 4,895 to 6,370). (www. iraqibodycount.org)

Other reliable sources, including the Philadelphia Inquirer, estimate that as many as 100,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed in relation to the U.S. led invasion and occupation. (www.nytimes.com, www.afsc.org, www.philly.com) The U.S. will provide no estimate of Iraqi casualties.

return to 1/05 CPF Newsletter