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Statement on "Operation Iraq Freedom"

by Bishop William K. Weigand

Bishop of Sacramento
March 20, 2003

The Diocese of Sacramento joins with millions throughout the world who deeply regret that war was not averted. We deplore Saddam Hussein's willful refusal to prevent war by failing to comply with successive United Nations resolutions since 1991. Nevertheless, we had favored continuing diplomatic efforts and we wonder whether all alternatives had been exhausted.

 

We make our own what Bishop Wilton Gregory, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops stated on March 19: "While we have warned of the potential moral dangers of embarking on this war, we have also been clear that there are no easy answers. War has serious consequences, so could the failure to act. People of good will may and do disagree on how to interpret just war teaching and how to apply just war norms to the controverted facts of this case. We understand and respect the difficult moral choices that must be made by our President and others who bear the responsibility of making these grave decisions involving our nation's and the world's security."

 

"We worked and prayed and hoped that war would be avoided. The task now is to work and pray and hope that war's deadly consequences will be limited, that civilian life will be protected, that weapons of mass destruction will be eliminated, and that the people of Iraq soon will enjoy a peace with freedom and justice."

We pray for all those affected by this war: the innocent civilians of Iraq, who long for liberation from years of oppression and injustice. We pray for the men and women who risk their lives serving in our armed forces, in particular, those who come from the twenty counties of our diocese, their families, and the families of all who serve. We pray that Saddam Hussein may refrain from using chemical or biological weapons, just as we pray that all may avoid the use of unethical means in the conduct of this war.

 

We pray for the Holy Spirit to lead by his kindly light President Bush and all world leaders toward the peace that Christ offers us. Finally, we echo the recent words of Pope John Paul II that we Christians are all called to be "sentinels of peace." "We join with him in urging Catholics to dedicate this Lenten season to reflection, prayer, and fasting that the trials and tragedy of war will soon be replaced by a just and lasting peace." (Bishop Gregory)

 

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