Bishop backs call for an end to nuclear proliferation
-15/03/05
The Bishop of Hereford has joined the call for an end to nuclear proliferation following a meeting with veteran peace campaigner Bruce Kent.
The Right Rev Anthony Priddis spent time at a CND stall which was collecting signatures for a petition calling on governments to work towards nuclear disarmament.
Bishop Anthony Priddis signed the petition calling on the British government to back a call for all countries with nuclear weapons to negotiate, sign and ratify an effective treaty abolishing all such weapons.
He said that countries without nuclear weapons could not be expected to do the right thing unless those that had them took steps to disarm.
The Bishop of Hereford interrupted an all-day meeting to meet the peace campaigner.
“I think it is right to align myself with this process” he said.
“The work of promoting initiatives that help the peace process are worth seeking”.
ìI hope as many people as possible will join me in signing up to an end to nuclear weapons,î said Bishop Anthony.
ìIt is a small thing to do but will hopefully put pressure on all governments, not just our own, to abolish these weapons and make the world a more peaceful place for everyone.î
The Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty takes place in New York in May 2005. It involves all world governments.
The 75-year-old president of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Bruce Kent is touring the country in the run up to that meeting encouraging as many people as possible to sign the petition.
Other high profile bishops have previously backed calls for nuclear disarmament including Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Christian CND is asking congregations to back the campaign and “consider the nuclear weapons programme in the light of the Gospel”.
Since his appointment last year, the Bishop of Hereford has thrown his weight behind a number of radical campaigns and joined with other Church of England bishops in backing the call to Make Poverty History at the beginning of the year.