Churches Condemn Iraqi Invasion, Support Bush : Gulf crisis: Religious groups, critical of past U.S. military excursions, see a different situation this time.

Religious groups, often critical of U.S. military expeditions, have indicated general support for America’s intervention in the Persian Gulf crisis.

They see the situation as different in this case, although they, like most others in and out of government, hope for a nonviolent solution.

Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Jewish representatives have backed in principle President Bush’s stand against Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, including steps to resist it.

The National Council of Churches, including most major Protestant and Eastern Orthodox denominations, denounced the “unjustifiable act of aggression by Iraq against Kuwait,” adding:

“The council supports the demands of the international community for a speedy and complete withdrawal of Iraqi forces.”

Those demands have included United Nations sanctions against Iraq, and sending of multinational forces, including those of the United States, to prevent an Iraqi military drive into Saudi Arabia.

Although the council and many religious leaders have strongly criticized some past U.S. military initiatives, such as in Panama, Grenada and military aid in Central America, that hasn’t happened this time.

“One reason there hasn’t been that kind of criticism is that the taking of Kuwait was so wrong--going into that little country and gobbling it up,” said Carol Birkland, head of the interchurch council’s Middle East committee.

Birkland, also secretary for the Middle East of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said the churches sometimes are accused of “knee-jerk, anti-government” criticism of U.S. foreign interventions.

But that’s not true, she said, as the reaction this time demonstrates. “We look at each situation on a case-by-case basis,” she added, and in this instance, “we’ve been generally supportive” of the U.S. stance.

“But there still is the old pattern. We can only hope and pray there will be no further violence.”

Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk of Cincinnati, president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the Iraqi invasion was “devoid of provocation or any justification.”

It “poses a severe threat to international peace,” he said, noting that the international community has responded “through the use of multiple sanctions against Iraq.”

The official Catholic statement asked prayers “for the members of the armed forces and their families.” It also urged prayers for “continued international cooperation to protect both human rights and peace.”

The American Jewish Committee commended President Bush for “the forceful leadership you have demonstrated” in the crisis, urged a “firm and collective response to the naked act of aggression perpetrated by Iraq” and added:

“American determination to resist Saddam Hussein’s bid for power sends a powerful signal to the world that ruthless tyrants . . . cannot violate international law with impunity, nor attempt too hold the world’s oil supply hostage to their will.”

The Rev. Emilio Castro, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, said in a statement in Geneva that the council “opposes strongly” Iraq’s seizure of Kuwait and supports the U.N.’s “firm stand and action” against it.

Urging the Arab League to “go further” in mediating the conflict, Castro said, “We call on all nations concerned to exercise patience and good will by refraining from use of force or show of force.”

Father J. Bryan Hehir, a Roman Catholic specialist on international affairs at Georgetown University, commended the U.N. call for sanctions, and said deployment of U.S. and other troops could be regarded as a means of preserving peace rather than aggravating hostilities.

Robert T. Hennemeyer, director for justice and peace of the U.S. Catholic Conference in Washington, said U.S. church officials “regard this as a clear case of aggression that thereby would meet the just-war criteria.”

By that criteria, he noted, “a nation is justified in helping a friend attacked unjustly.”