Posted on 07/19/2007 9:04:58 AM PDT by madprof98
WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) – The current situation in Iraq is unacceptable and unsustainable with the human and financial impact on Iraqi and American lives staggering, the U.S. bishops said in a message to Congress.
In a July 17 letter, Bishop Thomas G. Wenski of Orlando, Fla., chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Policy, reiterated the bishops’ call for members of Congress and the Bush administration to break the political stalemate in Washington and "forge bipartisan policies on ways to bring about a responsible transition and an end to the war."
The letter, released by the USCCB on July 18, was written in response to a June 28 request for a meeting on Iraq from Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio. In it, Bishop Wenski agreed to meet with Ryan and a group of 13 other Catholic House Democrats to discuss how to move toward the goal of a “responsible transition” to end the war in Iraq.
Pointing to the “dangerous and deteriorating situation in Iraq,” Bishop Wenski noted the “staggering” costs of the war.
“Too many Iraqi and American lives have been lost. Too many Iraqi communities have been shattered. Too many civilians have been driven from their homes,” he said.
“The current situation in Iraq is unacceptable and unsustainable, as is the policy and political stalemate among decision makers in Washington,” the bishop said.
He criticized congressional members of both political parties in not opposing the “authorizing the use of force” when the American bishops, “in solidarity with Pope John Paul II, repeatedly raised grave moral questions about military intervention in Iraq and the unpredictable and uncontrollable negative consequences of an invasion and occupation.”
“Sadly,” he added, “many of the tragic consequences we and others had feared have come to pass.”
U.S. military action in Iraq has brought with it “new moral responsibilities toward the Iraqi people,” Bishop Wenski noted, urging that the United States begin the process of making “provisions for refugees who have fled their native land in search of safety and security for their families.”
He noted the bishops’ conference concerns “for Christians and other minority groups who have suffered in the aftermath of military action in Iraq along with the rest of the Iraqi population.”
“Our Conference is under no illusions regarding Iraq,” he said. “None of the alternative courses of action are without consequences for human life and dignity. There is no path ahead that leads to an unambiguously good outcome for Iraq, our nation and the world.”
“Nevertheless, our nation must have the moral courage to change course in Iraq and to break the policy and political stalemate in Washington so that we can walk a difficult path that does the most good and the least damage in human and moral terms,” Bishop Wenski said.
In a statement dated June 25 and released June 27, Bishop Wenski said that the deadly cycle of violence must stop in Iraq if justice for all in the warring nation is to be realized.
Calling for immediate action to protect Christian Iraqi and all other religious minorities there, he pointed to the recent attack on the holy shrine in Samarra as “a heinous crime and an ominous sign of the political and sectarian violence engulfing Shia and Sunni communities” and the “particularly disturbing” killings of a Catholic priest and three deacons following Sunday Mass.
Father Ragheed Ganni and three subdeacons – Basman Yousef Daud, Wahid Hanna Isho, Gassan Isam Bidawed – were killed June 3 immediately following Sunday Mass in Mosul.
“These incidences of violence make the possibilities of a secure, stable and democratic Iraq ever more difficult to achieve,” the bishop said. “The deadly cycle of violence must stop if peace with justice for all Iraqis is to be achieved.”
In the statement entitled “A Plea for Solidarity with Religious Minorities in Iraq,” Bishop Wenski pointed to the estimated prewar Christian population of 1.2 million that has dropped to an estimated several hundred thousand as Christians have been “forced to flee” to neighboring countries or to other areas of Iraq as internally displaced persons.
“In a special way, we are deeply concerned for Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq who are especially vulnerable,” he said. “Christians fear an existential threat to their ancient presence in Iraq.”
“We call for an immediate halt to the deliberate violence against our Christian sisters and brothers and other religious minorities in Iraq,” the bishop said on behalf of the U.S. bishops’ conference.
Catholics better not become the religious left. Or Buh Bye.
Time to fire off a very stern letter to these ill infomed bishops.
Too late! Cardinal Mahoney in L.A. is leading the unwashed masses across the border.
These Bishops the guys helping other priests rape choir boys?Yes. And to divert attention from that, they have to blame SOMETHING on Bush.
I happen to be Catholic, but the Bishops would do better to stay in the churches and don’t get involved with something they know nothing about.
And the blasphemous hypocrites on the American left wail about the confluence of “Church and State” among conservatives; while the Conference of Catholic Bishops operates as the most politicized “religious” organization in the nation.
“deteriorating situation in Iraq”
... This statement shows just how out of touch with reality these people are.
When bishops are responsible for physical security in Iraq then I’ll listen to their opinion on military matters. Until then they should spend their time tending to the flock and STFU.
Good Lord, I’m glad these “experts” weren’t around during WWII. War usually is unacceptable and unsustainable, but then one side quits or is annihilated.
I happen to be Catholic, but the Bishops would do better to stay in the churches and don’t get involved with something they know nothing about.
I’m also Catholic and I agree. I don’t remember the bishops doing anything for Sadam’s victims.
As a practicing Catholic this is the sort of crap that infuriates me...
while they try and dictate foriegn policy they had no problem turning their heads while priests took their toll on human lives here....what a bunch of garbage..
and before anyone jumps on me I went to Catholic school for 17 years and go to Mass every week....
” The current situation in Iraq is unacceptable and unsustainable with the human and financial impact on Iraqi and American lives staggering, the U.S. bishops said in a message to Congress.”
These guys are experts based on what????
Transition to what? Al Qaeda in charge of one half of the country and Iran the other half? Do these idiots ever think anything through? God save us from the politicized Catholic bishops who in their cups listen to the communist lesbian nuns who run their households.
This is what Bishops say, it's what they've said in the past, it's what they will say a thousand wars or a thousand years from now. Once you've been alive 40 or 50 years and seen the total lack of moral action [see: altar boys] vs. moral judgement press releases from this group, you'll simply hear it as "Yada Yada Yada". These guys never brought anyone religious freedom - Religious freedom has been and continues to be purchased by the blood and sacrifice of the US Military.
Same issue with the 65% of Americans who want us out of Iraq. They don’t care if other people are suffering or dying, as long as it is not them. They are not smart enough to realize that it will be them suffering and dying if we don’t get the job done over there.
Sickening and Pathetic
Gee, as long as Saddam was there, feeding his enemies including Christians and Shiites feet first into industrial strength plastic shredders where he couldn't be seen behind the veil of his tyranny, I guess that was okay.
Sheesh. I am a Catholic, thinking of changing, and when I hear stuff like this...
Nice words meaning what? Get out now? Get out later?
Calling for immediate action to protect Christian Iraqi and all other religious minorities there...
Ohhh "immediate action". What would that be? Withdrawing our troops?
“These incidences of violence make the possibilities of a secure, stable and democratic Iraq ever more difficult to achieve,” the bishop said. “The deadly cycle of violence must stop if peace with justice for all Iraqis is to be achieved.”
Thanks professor, let me write that down in my notebook.
Sorry if any of my comments offended anyone but I'm really really tired of people with their panties all twisted up, whining with no real suggestions. These kinds of platitudes help no one and just lead to more demoralization.
So the Catholic Bishops Pedophile Club wants to run from Iraq. This is the same group of pedophiles who want to flood the country with illegal aliens. Birds of a feather.
I’m waiting the dems to tell the Bishops to ‘butt out’ of affairs of State.
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