US bishops praise pope's 'clarion call' for nuclear disarmament

Washington D.C., Feb 14, 2020 / 17:00 pm

The bishops of the United States released a statement on Friday calling for the United States and other nuclear powers to dismantle their arsenals and praising Pope Francis for drawing the world's attention to nuclear weapons.

"The Committee on International Justice and Peace is grateful to the Holy Father for this renewed effort to bring about a world of peace and justice that is not based upon fear or the threat of nuclear annihilation but justice and human solidarity," said the statement released Feb. 14. 

The statement was co-signed by the eight bishops who comprise the committee, as well as the two bishop consultants to the committee. The chairman of the committee is Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford. 

The bishops referenced Pope Francis' November visit to Hiroshima and Nagasaki while he was in Japan. Both cities were attacked with atomic bombs at the end of World War II. The bishops said the pontiff "spoke forcefully" on the issue. 

"Speaking at Nagasaki, he emphasized the need for a wide and deep solidarity to bring about security in a world not reliant on atomic weapons," said the bishops.

They quoted the pope calling on "individuals, religious communities and civil society, countries that possess nuclear weapons and those that do not, the military and private sectors, and international organizations" to work together to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

In Hiroshima, the bishops recalled, Pope Francis stated that the use of nuclear weapons is always immoral, as is their possession.

"The words of Pope Francis serve as a clarion call and a profound reminder to all that the status quo of international relations, resting on the threat of mutual destruction, must be changed," they said. 

The bishops noted that the continued existence of nuclear weapons "weighs on the consciences of all to find a means for complete and mutual disarmament based in a shared commitment and trust that needs to be fostered and deepened."

"As such, we also call upon our own government to be part of and indeed renew its primary responsibility in that effort." they said. In addition to the United States, the other nations possessing nuclear weapons "must take the lead in mutual reduction" of their stockpiles.  

"The international community [has] recognized the need to move away from the threat of mutual destruction and toward genuine and universal disarmament," said the bishops. 

Currently, eight countries--the United States, Russia, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and the United Kingdom--are known to possess nuclear weapons. Israel is also believed to have nuclear weapons, but has refused to confirm the matter. 

The former Soviet states of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine, along with South Africa, have all disarmed themselves of nuclear weapons.