British Theologians Call War on Iraq ‘Terrorism’

Any preemptive war against Iraq would be immoral and “an act of state terrorism,” according to the Catholic Theological Assn. of Great Britain.

In a resolution adopted at its annual conference, the association said that a preemptive war by the United States against Iraq would not fulfill even the minimum requirements for a “just war” according to traditional teaching.

The theologians said in their resolution that “notwithstanding the malignant character of the present Iraqi regime, the United Kingdom and the United States do not possess the necessary international authority to remove by violence the ruler of a sovereign state .... Peaceful means of resolving disputes with Iraq have not been exhausted.”

In the United States, meanwhile, a top official of the United Methodist Church has joined critics of the Bush administration and called on U.S. officials to seek a peaceful solution through the United Nations.

“The Bush administration has declared its intent to launch a war against Iraq, ignoring the advice of its allies, many members of Congress, key experts and millions of U.S. citizens,” said Jim Winkler, chief staff executive of its Board of Church and Society.