Four nationally-known religious leaders* held a press conference by telephone on Wednesday, January 23, 2002 where they called for a change in the way that the war on terrorism is being prosecuted. Held on the eve of the gathering by Pope John Paul II of world religious leaders in Assisi, Italy (January 24) to pray for peace, the U.S. religious called for an approach to terrorism that is better equated to criminal justice than to military means; one that would use mechanisms that would be within an international criminal court context. They also called upon the U.S. and allies to work towards long-term political and economic development in Central Asia and the Middle East. This would include the Bush administration playing a more significant and more of a leadership role in working for peace between Israel and Palestine. Finally, they called for a reassessment of the use of the "just war" theory in judging the use of military force. They believed that modern military weapons and the cost that they levy on innocent non-combatants are too high if justice is truly to be achieved.

Episcopal Bishop Richard Shimpfky began the conversation by stating that, "In the U.S., the voice of dissent has a virtuous and important role to play and the voice is there. Consensus is not a goal that will serve us, but a search for answers that are compatible with justice and peace is more important than surface unity."

The conversation continued with Methodist Bishop C. Joseph Sprague reflecting on the negative nature of the "just war theory" and how it has been used to justify the type of military force being used by the U.S. and its allies. He stated, "Monstrous situations produce monstrous results. Military actions provide a kind of seed bed for more fanatical actions from a fringe of persons who are driven at least in part by the actions of the dominant powers."

Sr. Kathleen Pruitt amplified the call for a different way to address the war on terrorism and to question the use of the "just war theory." Sr. Pruitt shared, "We must ask religious leaders to reassess and reapply the presumption against violence in the just war tradition and to pressure governments around the world to change the way the we approach war and peace."

Rabbi Arthur Waskow questioned the false choice between bringing the terrorists to justice and addressing root causes that can lead to terrorism. The Rabbi stated, "Many act as if there is a choice between dealing with the terrorists themselves, and dealing with the pools of despair and anger out of which terrorism can and has grown. It is like dealing with malaria, you attempt to end the epidemic with medicine, but you also must drain the standing water. It is the same here, if we want to end terrorism in the long-term, then we must eliminate the pools of cultural deprivation, poverty, and despair through long-term engagement that is based in economic and political development."

* The religious leaders that participated in the January 23, 2002 news phone conference were:

• The Right Reverend Richard Shimpfky, Chair of the Episcopal Church's Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns, and Bishop of the California Central Coast, Diocese of El Camino Real.
• Bishop C. Joseph Sprague, Bishop, Chicago Area of the United Methodist Church.
• Sister Kathleen Pruitt, CSJP, President of the Leadership Conference for Women Religious (LCWR), Province Leader of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Peace, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace, and former Vice-President of Pax Christi International. LCWR represents 12,000 congregations of religious women, approximately 76,000 Catholic nuns.
• Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Director, Shalom Center, Philadelphia, PA

This event was organized by a group of religious leaders and concerned citizens that have formed an Interfaith Coalition for a Peaceful End to Terrorism. Father James Hug, SJ, President, Center of Concern, Washington, DC chaired the telephone news conference on behalf of the coalition. The press conference by telephone was organized in solidarity with the gathering of world religious leaders in Assisi (January 24), convened by the Pope. The U.S. religious leaders wanted to share in the message of Assisi that "religion should not be a reason for conflict, hatred, and violence."

For more information on the religious leaders that spoke, details of the press conference, or on the Interfaith Coalition for a Peaceful End to Terrorism, please contact Ms. Rowena Gono at
202-635-2757 x122 or rgono@coc.org.