IRD: Catholic Bishops Address Iraq Thoughtfully; National Council of Churches Addresses Iraq Ridiculously
Contact: Loralei Coyle, The Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, 202-905-6852 cell, lcoyle@ird-renew.org
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- The General Assembly of the National Council of Churches of Christ (NCC) has demanded “an immediate phased withdrawal” of all U.S. forces from Iraq and faulted the U.S. almost exclusively for Iraq’s problems. In contrast the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop thanked U.S. troops for their “heroic sacrifices on behalf of the Iraqi people,” commended Iraqi elections, urged Iraqi religious freedom, defended Iraqi Christians, and supported U.S. withdrawal only as security will permit.
In response, IRD UMAction director Mark Tooley released the following statement:
“The NCC only echoes talking points from Moveon.org. It offers nothing constructive, and bashes the U.S. as a global villain.
“In contrast with the left-wing NCC, the Catholic bishops noted that the U.S. has a moral responsibility to help Iraqis to secure and rebuild their country. The Catholic bishops thanked our troops and expressed concern about human rights, religious freedom and Iraq’s Christians.
“The NCC had no words of thanks for our troops, alleged the U.S. military presence was fraudulent, expressed no specific concern about human rights, assumed that war would end as soon as the U.S. withdraws, and did not mention Iraqi Christians.
“Like the secular left, the NCC and the Religious Left can blame only the U.S. for the world’s ills. The Catholic bishops, with a more morally nuanced and thoughtful Christian worldview, recognize that all evil does not originate with U.S. foreign policy.
“Members of the NCC should review the NCC’s inability to represent them responsibly, and its even more serious unwillingness to address the world from a thoughtful Christian perspective.”
The Institute on Religion and Democracy, founded in 1981, is an ecumenical alliance of U.S. Christians working to reform their churches’ social witness, in accord with biblical and historic Christian teachings, thereby contributing to the renewal of democratic society at home and abroad.
