Religious Leaders Urge Bush to Avoid War
Chicago Religious Leaders Unite in Letter Urging Bush to Avoid War
The Associated Press


C H I C A G O, Dec. 1 — In an unprecedented show of unity, Chicago's top Christian,
Jewish and Muslim leaders have drafted a joint letter urging President Bush to avoid war
with Iraq.
It is the first public statement on any national issue by the Council of Religious Leaders
of Metropolitan Chicago since the group was founded in 1984.
The letter was to be released Sunday at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. James. An advance
copy obtained by the Chicago Tribune read, in part: "In the present situation, conditions
justifying war have not been met. We still lack compelling evidence that Iraq is planning
to launch an attack ... We believe that there is ample time and latitude for pursuing
alternatives that could avoid warfare, saving untold thousands of lives."
Other religious groups also have voiced concerns about the possibility of war. The U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops acknowledged in September that Iraq posed a threat, but
said it would be difficult to justify a pre-emptive attack under Catholic teachings on
warfare.
Signers of the Chicago letter include Cardinal Francis George of the Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of Chicago, Bishop William Persell of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago,
Rabbi Ira Youdovin of the Chicago Board of Rabbis, Metropolitan Iakovos of the Greek
Orthodox Diocese of Chicago, Bishop C. Joseph Sprague of the United Methodist Church
and Kareem Irfan, chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago.
Irfan acknowledged that many Muslims would have preferred stronger wording.

www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Religious-Letter.html