Kairos
Times, Special Edition: 21 March 2003 KAIROS
thanks the thousands of Canadians who have spoken out for
peace and tried to prevent a war against Iraq. A war has now
begun despite the efforts of the largest global movement
against war in history. Yet this does not mean that our
efforts have been in vain. KAIROS believes that we must
continue to speak out, throughout the war and beyond. Below
please find a KAIROS statement regarding the war issued by the
Board of Directors now meeting in Ottawa. Following the
statement are a list of actions you might wish to consider. A.
STATEMENT KAIROS:
Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives Statement Regarding
the War against Iraq
March 21, 2003 KAIROS,
a partnership of Canadian churches and religious
organizations, expresses its deep sadness and anguish that a
military invasion of Iraq is underway. Our faith in the God of
peace compels us to oppose this unjust, unnecessary and
destructive war. As
we have stated consistently over the past six months, our
primary concern is for the people of Iraq who have already
suffered enormously as a result of the 1991 Gulf War, the
ensuing sanctions, and the actions of their own government. We
lament the loss of life, human suffering, and ecological
destruction that this war will cause and do not believe it
will bring peace and justice to the Iraqi people. We
pray for all who will suffer the horrors of war: Iraqi
civilians; soldiers who are pitted against one another; and
for all people of the Middle East, be they Muslim, Christian
or Jewish, who have already witnessed far too much violence
and bloodshed. We fervently hope that the war will end soon
and that peace will come to Iraq and the region. We
are grateful for the courageous decision of the Canadian
government in refusing to participate in this war that has no
justification in international law. We call on the Canadian
government to oppose the war actively and to continue to press
for a multilateral approach to resolving outstanding issues in
Iraq. As Christians,
we are called upon to love our neighbours and respond to their
cries for help. Many churches will help the Iraqi people, both
in their immediate needs as a result of war, and in the
long-term task of rebuilding their society after the war. At
the same time, we know that a much larger effort will be
required to meet all of the needs. We call on those countries
that have inflicted destruction through this war to provide
the majority of financing for a United Nations administered
reconstruction fund. The
vision of the world that underlies the wider military strategy
of the United States is one of fear, insecurity and despair.
We believe another vision is possible. It is inspired by
compassion, understanding and justice--values that are shared
by many faiths. It is also inspired by a common commitment to
resolving differences through international laws and
procedures, a commitment that has been breached by the United
States and for which it must be held accountable. We
call on our church constituencies to persist in opposing this
war through public demonstrations, prayer vigils and other
expressions of non-violent resistance. These can be signs of
faith that, although there is much suffering in the world, God
continues to call people to build a world where there is peace
and justice for all. Approved
at the KAIROS Board of Directors meeting
March 21, 2003 KAIROS
unites Canadian churches and religious organizations in a
faithful ecumenical response to God’s call to seek justice.
KAIROS members include the Anglican Church of Canada, the
United Church of Canada, the Presbyterian Church in Canada,
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Primate’s
World Relief and Development Fund, the Canadian Religious
Conference, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the
Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, the
Christian Reformed Church in North America, the Mennonite
Central Committee Canada and the Religious Society of Friends.
www.kairoscanada.org B.
ACTION SHEET Continue
to Make Your Voice Heard: We Oppose War Against Iraq Consider
what the Spirit of Peace now calls you to do. We and many
other voices for peace ask you to do the following: 1)
Join or organise a public demonstration or vigil against the
war: We urge faith communities to open their places of worship
or a community space for a regular vigil or public event. The
Canadian Peace Alliance is gathering a list of events–
please be sure to add yours: www.acp-cpa.ca/febemergencyresponses.htm
Watch the KAIROS website for further event updates. On
every Sunday while the war continues: *
Include several minutes of silence to reflect on the broken
relationships within the human family, and with God, that war
represents. * Ring
your church bells (or make another “sound for peace”) as a
sign of your church community’s commitment to continue to
oppose war and work for peace. *
Provide educational and liturgical resources for your faith
community’s use. See the Iraq “e-kit” on the KAIROS
website. 2) Contact
your Member of Parliament, Foreign Affairs Minister Bill
Graham and Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. Make them aware that
we (i) support their decision to keep our armed forces out of
this war and (ii) oppose any form of Canadian military
participation in any phase of this war. 3)
Sign the Declaration Prepare for Peace in Iraq.
Add your name as a group or individual, and join over twenty
thousand signatories. A statement for peace is more important
than ever. www.kairoscanada.org/english/programme/iraq/statement.htm 4)
Download the Canadian churches’ advertisement and “sign
for peace” from the KAIROS website. Use them in bulletin
inserts, posters, and public spaces. 5)
Continue to educate yourself and your community. Ask yourself:
Will war achieve anything positive? Why do so many oppose this
war? View the KAIROS background kit on Iraq and many related
links: www.kairoscanada.org/english/programme/iraq/index.htm#3 Jennifer
Henry
Acting Team Leader, Animation, Communications and Education
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives/Initiatives
canadiennes oecuméniques pour la justice
129 St. Clair Avenue West Toronto, ON Canada M4V 1N5 Tel.
416-463-5312 x236, Fax. 416-463-5569 jhenry@kairoscanada.org
www.kairoscanada.org | 
