We, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious of the United States, are deeply saddened that our country has made a preemptive strike against the people of Iraq.

We grieve the senseless loss of life of Iraqi citizens and of our own young men and women in military service.  We hold a deep belief that each person is made in the image of God.  To do harm to another diminishes us as persons and offends the God who loves us.

As members of the community of nations, we are ashamed that our country has ignored the pleas of our world neighbors

                           -To find diplomatic solutions to this conflict through the
                             Security Council and the world body of the UN.
                           -To let the UN inspections continue to work.
                           -To exercise the restraint appropriate to a great nation.

We believe that this act of aggression violates our national soul and betrays our cherished foundational values.  By this unprovoked attack, we deprive the citizens of Iraq of their rights to self-determination, and to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

We share the sentiments expressed by President Jimmy Carter when he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize:

 War may sometimes be a necessary evil.  But no matter how necessary,
 it is always an evil, never a good.  We will not learn how to live together
 in peace by killing each other’s children. . . . We can choose to work 
 together for peace.  We can . . . and we must.