Catholic bishops’ conference calls on UK to abandon nuclear weapons

-22/11/06

Amid gr


Catholic bishops’ conference calls on UK to abandon nuclear weapons

-22/11/06

Amid growing scepticism about the genuineness of the British governmentís ëreviewí of the Trident nuclear submarine replacement options (the PM and senior cabinet figures have already made it clear they favour replacement), the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales issued a statement yesterday calling for total nuclear disarmament.

Identifying nuclear arms as a grave moral and physical threat, the bishops have said that the UK is now in a unique position to ìoffer the international community an approach to security and legitimate self-defence without the unconscionable threat of nuclear destruction.î

The campaign against Trident replacement is very widely-based among both religious and non-religious groups, and is being spearheaded by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which brings people together from a range of backgrounds.

The Catholic bishopsí statement reads, in full:

ìThe very existence of nuclear weapons has always posed grave moral questions. Their uniquely destructive power means that they belong in a different category from any other weapons; this has always been recognised in the particular attention with which they have been regarded by the Holy See and by our own Bishops’ Conference.

ìIn his World Day of Peace message for 2006, Pope Benedict XVI, in pressing for progressive and concerted nuclear disarmament, argues powerfully that the retention of nuclear weapons does not enhance the security of their possessors or the peace of the world.

ìThe United Kingdom is now at a moral and strategic crossroads. Its present nuclear-weapon capability is not expected to be sustainable beyond the early 2020s without major new investment in renewal or replacement. Initial decisions about its continuance need to be taken within the lifetime of the present Parliament, which could extend to 2010.

ìThe Church has always been clear in its teaching about the vital necessity for eventual total nuclear disarmament. Our judgement is that, by decommissioning its nuclear weapons, the UK now has a unique opportunity to offer the international community an approach to security and legitimate self-defence without the unconscionable threat of nuclear destruction. At the same time it could give a new impetus to the wider process towards total nuclear disarmament.

ìWe recognise the Government’s grave responsibilities in these matters of security, both for our countries and the wider world. We urge the government to take a long-term view and act with courageous leadership by seeking to make this breakthrough towards total nuclear disarmament.î


Catholic bishops’ conference calls on UK to abandon nuclear weapons

-22/11/06

Amid growing scepticism about the genuineness of the British governmentís ëreviewí of the Trident nuclear submarine replacement options (the PM and senior cabinet figures have already made it clear they favour replacement), the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales issued a statement yesterday calling for total nuclear disarmament.

Identifying nuclear arms as a grave moral and physical threat, the bishops have said that the UK is now in a unique position to ìoffer the international community an approach to security and legitimate self-defence without the unconscionable threat of nuclear destruction.î

The campaign against Trident replacement is very widely-based among both religious and non-religious groups, and is being spearheaded by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which brings people together from a range of backgrounds.

The Catholic bishopsí statement reads, in full:

ìThe very existence of nuclear weapons has always posed grave moral questions. Their uniquely destructive power means that they belong in a different category from any other weapons; this has always been recognised in the particular attention with which they have been regarded by the Holy See and by our own Bishops’ Conference.

ìIn his World Day of Peace message for 2006, Pope Benedict XVI, in pressing for progressive and concerted nuclear disarmament, argues powerfully that the retention of nuclear weapons does not enhance the security of their possessors or the peace of the world.

ìThe United Kingdom is now at a moral and strategic crossroads. Its present nuclear-weapon capability is not expected to be sustainable beyond the early 2020s without major new investment in renewal or replacement. Initial decisions about its continuance need to be taken within the lifetime of the present Parliament, which could extend to 2010.

ìThe Church has always been clear in its teaching about the vital necessity for eventual total nuclear disarmament. Our judgement is that, by decommissioning its nuclear weapons, the UK now has a unique opportunity to offer the international community an approach to security and legitimate self-defence without the unconscionable threat of nuclear destruction. At the same time it could give a new impetus to the wider process towards total nuclear disarmament.

ìWe recognise the Government’s grave responsibilities in these matters of security, both for our countries and the wider world. We urge the government to take a long-term view and act with courageous leadership by seeking to make this breakthrough towards total nuclear disarmament.î