War talk upsets church

The Anglican Church of New Zealand has asked Governments and the media to avoid calling the Iraq crisis a religious conflict.

Anglican bishops and the General Synod Standing Committee said yesterday that they would continue to work with other faith leaders, in New Zealand and overseas, "to strengthen the bonds of community relations and cohesion at this difficult time".

"At a time of widespread suspicion and insecurity, we urge Governments and the media to avoid the use of language or rhetoric that might cast this crisis in religious terms or contribute to extremist and exclusionist attitudes," the committee said.

Waikato Bishop David Moxon said: "Sometimes you get the impression that Iraq is evil and particular Governments that are considering a pre-emptive strike are good.

"We want to avoid that kind of black-and-white description of a very complicated crisis."

Bishop Moxon said it was unfortunate to describe the situation as a Muslim/Christian crisis "because it's essentially come out of a political and military series of tensions that have had some people from the Muslim world and some people from the Christian world involved".

New Zealand's Anglican bishops were keen for the crisis not to be seen as a crusade or a Christian/Muslim conflict, "because we don't see religion as driving this at all".

"We would hope religion would be a means for helping to solve this."

The committee said it remained convinced that the policy of disarming Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction "is best pursued by facilitating and strengthening the work of UN weapons inspectors".

"It is crucial that this process be allowed to run its course.

"To launch military action while there remains the potential to secure a peaceful resolution would be ill-judged and premature."

The United States and Britain are advocating war against Iraq for its alleged failure to get rid of weapons of mass destruction under United Nations resolutions imposed after the Gulf War.

Other nations, such as UN Security Council members France and Russia, want the issue resolved diplomatically.

The committee said that a conclusive case had yet to be made in favour of military action.

"Without compelling new evidence to the contrary, we contend that military action could not be morally justified."

The committee called on all Christians to "engage with people of other faith traditions in working and praying for peace".

- NZPA