Thousands of members of www.FaithfulAmerica.org, the online community of the National Council of Churches USA, are urging their Members of Congress to take the moral step to end the war in Iraq.

“The moral imperative to end this horrendous war should far outweigh any political compromise,” says the FaithfulAmerica letter to Representatives.

The network is backing its call for a practical response with an annunciation of biblical principles concerning peace with justice.

Its initiative coincides with news that the Iraqi government is involved in behind-the-scenes talks with insurgent groups to seek a resolution of grievances.

Analysts admit this is an uphill task, but many argue that there is no external military solution to Iraq’s woes – and campaigners against the war stress it is not their intention to abandon the country or its people.

“As you debate the options before you, I ask that above all you recognize your moral obligation to place peace above politics,” says the FaithfulAmerica letter.

It goes on: “Anything less than a total commitment to ending this war as quickly as possible amounts to complicity in war. I ask you to set aside political compromise and embrace the high purpose of pursuing peace.”

In an email alert to the whole membership, Vince Isner, director of FaithfulAmerica.org, called attention to an expected vote in the House of Representatives on a bill that has brought out a “lot of political wrangling and dealmaking…in an effort to get passage of a bill that already the President has promised to veto.”

“We people of faith and conscience must once again remind our elected leaders in Washington that as they seek political solutions, this war is simply immoral and that any action that delays its end for political reasons is simply not acceptable,” said Isner.

The email alert was sent to the nearly 105,000 online members of the advocacy website.

The NCC USA is the ecumenical voice of America’s Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican, historic African American and traditional peace churches. These 35 communions have 45 million members in 100,000 congregations in all 50 states.