August 22, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jennifer Roseman, Director of Communications & Development
(509) 474-2395 or (509) 994-5032
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Call on Bush and Congress to seek negotiated, multi-lateral resolution; tone down language
Sisters of Providence in the western United States have unanimously adopted a resolution opposing “a United States act of aggression or war against the people and the state of Iraq.” The sisters also called on President George Bush, members of his administration and the U.S. Congress to proactively seek “a negotiated, multi-lateral resolution of the conflict with Iraq” and to “stop using language and making pronouncements that create an environment of fear and aggression.”
The action was taken at the annual Provincial Chapter of Mother Joseph Province, which was held in Spokane, August 8-12. About 100 women religious attended from throughout the province, which includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California and Alaska in the United States, in addition to El Salvador.
“Our awareness of our common humanity and our respect for the life and dignity of persons and for the earth, which is our common home, leaves us no choice but to oppose first-strike, unilateral acts of war,” the resolution reads. “Furthermore, we cannot support actions which will shift resources, human and financial, away from being placed at the service of the very real human and ecological needs of our society and world.”
The resolution passed at the Provincial Chapter urges individual sisters and Providence Associates to join with others working to prevent a first-strike, unilateral aggressive action of the United States against Iraq.
Resolution regarding a U.S. war against Iraq
Passed 12 August 2002 at the Mother Joseph Province Provincial Chapter, Spokane, WA
We are members of the Church through baptism, and therefore
share in its universal mission: to bring the Good News
to the whole world and to be a sacrament of salvation for all.
The mission of our community is to proclaim Providence
as the loving presence of God, watchful over the created universe,
attentive to the needs of all, active in us and through us.
[Constitutions #5, 7]
Our awareness of our common humanity and our respect for the life and dignity of persons and for the earth which is our common home leaves us no choice but to oppose first-strike, unilateral acts of war.
Furthermore, we cannot support actions which will shift resources, human and financial, away from being placed at the service of the very real human and ecological needs of our society and world.
Therefore:
We, Sisters of Providence in the western United States, publicly state our opposition to a United States act of aggression or war against the people and the state of Iraq.
We call on President George W. Bush, the members of his administration, and the membership of the U.S. Congress
to be pro-active in seeking a negotiated, multi-lateral resolution of the situation with Iraq; and
to stop using language and making pronouncements that create an environment of fear and aggression.
This statement calls for the Sisters and Associates of Mother Joseph Province, personally and in groups, to join with others who are working to prevent a first-strike, unilateral aggressive action of the United States against Iraq.
This statement also authorizes the Leadership Team of Mother Joseph Province to speak and to act on behalf of the Sisters of Mother Joseph Province with regard to this issue.