(Presbyterian USA)Assembly declares Iraq war illegal, branding U.S. soldiers as 'war criminals'

Layman Online ^ | 7/2/04 | Paula R. Kincaid

[PAR35]

RICHMOND, Va. – The 216th General Assembly has declared the "military action against Iraq" as "unwise, immoral and illegal," which, according to a commissioner, essentially brands U.S. soldiers as war criminals.

"If we declare this war illegal, that means we declare our soldiers engaged in an illegal war, which essentially makes them war criminals. It makes them open to persecution as war criminals," he said. "It says something harmful to our soldiers in Iraq."

The comments came after commissioners had approved the resolution from the assembly's Peacemaking Committee. A motion to reconsider the resolution was made in light of that information.

Commissioners voted by a 66 percent margin not to reconsider the resolution, regardless of the message it sent to U.S. military personnel. The Iraqi resolution, titled "Iraq: Our Responsibility and the Future," was approved by a vote of 78 percent to 22 percent.

During debate, an assembly resource person, Edward LeRoy Long Jr., made the statement that it was the "judgment of the committee that the term 'illegal' was appropriate under UN law."

An advisory delegate, who was a member of the Peacemaking Committee, said the committee felt the statement, in which the commissioners concurred with the judgment that the invasion was "unwise, immoral, and illegal," was the "base of this entire resolution. To take it out would gut it."

[PAR35]

More liberalism from the Presbyterian Church USA (not to be confused with other Presbyterian bodies) major supporters of the National Council of Churches.

[cyborg]

The PU church is irrelevant. PCA and a church I used to attend Dutch Reformed Church in USA are the ones towing the line of biblical christianity.

[steplock]

the 216th General Assembly can go straight to hell~!

[AmishDude]

What kills me is that these ersatz "Christians" seem to think their best argument is not based on Biblical principles but on UN law.

[Paul Atreides]

Shouldn't they be off recruiting priests from NAMBLA, or something?

[Dont Mention the War]

I just held a meeting with myself and declared that all members of the Presbyterian Church USA are "Anti-Christian Criminals."

Now I just need to issue my press release.

[Graybeard58]

It makes them open to persecution as war criminals

Not persecution PLEASE!

[Paul Atreides]

What is telling is that we never heard a peep from them about Saddam or Osama.

[cmsgop]

It's crap like this is why I don't go to Church anymore.....

[nothingnew]

Why don't you post the whole disgusting piece?

FMCDH(BITS)

[JoJo Gunn]

Did I read it right that a steaming pile of Leftist said what they did was appropriate under UN law?

What's that about Jesus not coming to bring together, but to tear apart?

[John Thornton]

Your household probably has more people than they have members who actually attend their Sunday services. Talk about a whited sepulcher.

[JoJo Gunn]

Assembly declares Iraq war illegal,
branding U.S. soldiers as 'war criminals'

By Paula R. Kincaid
The Layman Online
Friday, July 2, 2004

---

2004 General Assembly
Richmond, Virginia
June 26-July 3, 2004
General Assembly news index

RICHMOND, Va. – The 216th General Assembly has declared the "military action against Iraq" as "unwise, immoral and illegal," which, according to a commissioner, essentially brands U.S. soldiers as war criminals.

"If we declare this war illegal, that means we declare our soldiers engaged in an illegal war, which essentially makes them war criminals. It makes them open to persecution as war criminals," he said. "It says something harmful to our soldiers in Iraq."

The comments came after commissioners had approved the resolution from the assembly's Peacemaking Committee. A motion to reconsider the resolution was made in light of that information.

Commissioners voted by a 66 percent margin not to reconsider the resolution, regardless of the message it sent to U.S. military personnel. The Iraqi resolution, titled "Iraq: Our Responsibility and the Future," was approved by a vote of 78 percent to 22 percent.

During debate, an assembly resource person, Edward LeRoy Long Jr., made the statement that it was the "judgment of the committee that the term 'illegal' was appropriate under UN law."

An advisory delegate, who was a member of the Peacemaking Committee, said the committee felt the statement, in which the commissioners concurred with the judgment that the invasion was "unwise, immoral, and illegal," was the "base of this entire resolution. To take it out would gut it."

In part the resolution read:

"… Opposition to the military action against Iraq based on just war principles and other principles of conscience, while not unanimous among Presbyterians, has been sufficiently widespread to indicate much concern. From the beginning, it has been the judgment of many church leaders, both in the United States and elsewhere, that an invasion of Iraq has been unwise, immoral, and illegal. The 216th General Assembly (2004) concurs with this judgment. That judgment has also been evident in widespread public feeling in numerous countries, including countries long friendly to the United States. …"

"… Presbyterians affirm, 'God alone is Lord of the conscience.' Every member of the Presbyterian Church (USA) is both entitled, and called upon, to consider this matter prayerfully and lovingly. Every Presbyterian, however, is also called upon to treat those with whom they disagree with respect. We deplore the actions of those who regard persons with positions different from their own as being unpatriotic or un-Christian."

"Moreover, the military action taken against Iraq is not directly or necessarily connected to the effort to deal with the threat of terrorism. It raises different issues and must be assessed using different moral considerations."

"… there is widespread agreement that the United States bears a legal and moral burden for the reconstruction of Iraq. Many people feel this burden can only be carried out properly and successfully through full cooperation with the international community, especially the United Nations."

"Expresses deep regret over the failure of the current administration, prior to military action, to meet with religious leaders seeking to offer a full explanation of the basis for their opposition to an invasion of Iraq, and the subsequent unwillingness of the administration to meet with those leaders to discuss the role the churches might play in creating a free and prosperous future for Iraq."

In a related matter, the assembly also approved "A Resolution and Confession on the Torture and Abuse of Prisoners" by 85 percent of the vote.

It reads, in part, that "citizens of our country, members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) have been urged to engage in repentance for these actions, even if their personal responsibility for them is indirect and minimal. That call for repentance is an indication of the extent to which these actions must be deplored."
The resolution directs the stated clerk to:

• "Commend all who have brought this prison abuse to the attention of the public as well as all who have recognized the seriousness of the issues raised and the need to deal vigorously with the policy and administrative questions that are involved;

• Urge the U.S. Congress to direct an appropriate independent and formal inquiry to determine what led to these events. This body should have full investigative powers and issue its findings publicly.

• Urge government officials to develop safeguards that will serve to prevent such behavior from arising in the future.

When presenting the resolution to the assembly, Peacemaking Committee moderator Bruce Gillette said the committee spent a great deal of time in this, so "we hope the assembly will approve it as it is before you."

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[Paul Atreides]

Just let a phone booth full of losers challenge a Republican, and the media deems it newsworthy.

[BenLurkin]

BARF

[BykrBayb]

There was House of God being mis-used in Jesus' day. Remember what He did?

[Jackson Brown]

During debate, an assembly resource person, Edward LeRoy Long Jr., made the statement that it was the "judgment of the committee that the term 'illegal' was appropriate under UN law."

What UN "law"?

The UN is NOT a world "governing" body...at least not yet.

[Cicero]

I hope this makes them feel better, because that's about the only effect it will have.

[PAR35]

Shouldn't they be off recruiting priests from NAMBLA, or something?

Committee won't endorse Declaration on Marriage, doesn't want to affiliate with Catholics, Baptists
http://www.layman.org/layman/news/2004-general-assembly/committee-wont-endorse-declaration.htm