Chaplains’ Joint Statement on the War in Iraq
Our nation is now at war.
It is a grievous thing that any nation should ever wage war upon another. Throughout history, people of faith have struggled with the use of force and the conditions under which it is legitimate. Some have concluded that violence is never morally justified. Others have concluded that when certain conditions are met, the use of force may be justified in defense of justice.
The present military conflict has been the subject of much debate among people of good will. Many remain divided over the necessity for and appropriateness of this war.
While we cannot pretend that all people of faith are of one mind as to the appropriateness of this war, we are of one mind in the prayers that we lift up:
We pray for the well-being of our nation; that our leaders may be guided by a spirit of peace and love, and not violence and retribution. We pray that in the prosecution of this conflict, all efforts be made to shorten the duration of this war, to minimize human suffering, and to avoid the loss of innocent civilian life.
We pray for the men and women who serve our nation in uniform, that they may be comforted in a time of conflict, that they be guided by a sense of duty tempered with compassion and not by feelings of hate and demonization of the enemy. We pray for the families of those servicemen and women who will not return safely again to these shores.
We pray for the people of Iraq, that they may be spared needless suffering; that they be treated with compassion and a sense of mercy and justice; that if they be defeated, they be comforted by a compassionate and merciful victor.
We pray for our community, that in the contentious days that lie ahead, where people of goodwill will debate the necessity for and prosecution of this war, that we engage with each other with compassion and with respect for each person's human dignity, and that we not demonize those who disagree with us on matters of conscience.
We pray for our world, that the days in which disagreements among nations are settled by force are numbered on this earth. We pray that we are more able to see in each other the image of the One who made us all, so that we may serve one another in love and live with one another in peace.
Date: March 18, 2003
Signed,
Ms. Charlotte Jones Carroll, Unitarian Universalist Lay Chaplain
Rabbi Kenneth L. Cohen, Hillel Chaplain
Pastor Cito Cruz, Christian Fellowship Church Outreach to International Students
Rev. Joe Eldridge, University Chaplain
Ms. Marinetta Cannito Hjort, Baptist Chaplain
Ms. Donna Denize, Baha’i Chaplain
Mike and Jen Godzwa, Chi Alpha Chaplains (Assemblies of God)
Ms. Melissa Levy, Hillel Program Director
Mr. Amit Pandya, Blue Mountain Center Meditation Chaplain
Rev. Mark Schaefer, United Methodist Chaplain
Ms. Carolyn Seaton, Episcopal Lay Chaplain
Bhante Uparatana, Buddhist Chaplain
Rev. Fr. Keith Woods, Catholic Chaplain