Church leaders sign anti-war statement

PRESSURE intensified on Tony Blair yesterday as senior religious leaders in Scotland signed a joint declaration opposing US military action to overthrow the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein.

In an unprecedented show of multi-faith unity, representatives from the Church of Scotland, the Iona Community and the Scottish Episcopal Church backed the statement questioning the morality and legality of war with Iraq.

The Christian declaration, signed by more than 2,500 religious figures, including Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury designate, will be presented to Downing Street today to coincide with the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, the first time atomic weapons were used. Signatories include the Rev Alan McDonald of the Church of Scotland church and nation committee; the Most Rev Bruce Cameron, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church; Kathy Galloway, the leader of the Iona Community; and the Rt Rev Maurice Taylor, Bishop of Galloway.

The declaration, drawn up by the Catholic organisation Pax Christi last month, reads: "It is deplorable that the world's most powerful nations continue to regard war, and the threat of war, as an acceptable instrument of foreign policy, in violation of the ethos of both the United Nations and Christian moral teaching.

"The way to peace does not lie through war, but through the transformation of structures of injustice and of the politics of exclusion, and that is the cause to which the West should be devoting its technological, diplomatic and economic resources."

Dr Tina Beattie, a member of the delegation presenting the declaration, said: "When our elected leaders are considering fighting a war in our name, funded by our taxes, there is no morally neutral position.

"Christians have a responsibility to affirm certain fundamental principles of justice, and for those who consider that a military attack on Iraq would violate those principles, then there is a duty to speak out publicly.

"The response to this declaration suggests that many welcome an opportunity to do so, adding our voices to the growing number expressing disquiet in military and political circles as George Bush and Tony Blair prepare for a war that could further destabilise one of the world’s most volatile and violent regions, with devastating consequences for all the people of the Middle East."

The declaration marks a stepping-up of the campaign by religious groups and churches against the conflict with Saddam.

The Church of Scotland church and nation committee wrote to the Prime Minister last month requesting that he reconsider his backing for American aggression.

An opinion poll last night showed more than half the country believed Britain should not join any US military action against Iraq.

The NOP poll for Channel 4 News found 52 per cent believed Britain should not become involved militarily if America goes to war with Iraq. This was against the 34 per cent who believed it should.