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As Orthodox Christians, we seek the conversion of enemies to friends in Christ. Saddam Hussein is an enemy of the United States and of the people of Iraq, but we declare that there are better ways to respond to terrorism than to respond in kind.
We do not argue against attacking Iraq because of any admiration for Saddam Hussein. He came to office by intrigue and murder, and remains in power by the same means; he is his own country's worst enemy. The Iraqi people deserve to be rid of him.
The United States is ready to overthrow him by any means, including an attack which would kill thousands of civilians and maim many more, justifying such an attack on the possibility that Hussein's regime is producing weapons of mass destruction and preparing to use them against America and Israel and their allies.
Because we seek the reconciliation of enemies, a conversion which grows from striving to be faithful to the Gospel, the Orthodox Church has never regarded any war as just or good, and fighting an elusive enemy by means which cause the death of innocent people can be regarded only as murder. Individual murderers are treated by psychiatrists and priests and isolated from society. But who heals the national psyche, the wounded soul of a nation, when it is untroubled by the slaughter of non-combatant civilians?
As Orthodox Christians, we find healing in Christ, Who made us responsible for His sacred gift of life. God created us in His image and likeness, and we best reflect Christ -- Who neither killed anyone nor blessed anyone to kill -- by loving, helping, and forgiving.
Friends help each other do good things, not evil things. We find echoes of holy friendship in the world's unfolding reaction to events in Iraq.
Many nations traditionally allied with America -- along with many patriotic Americans -- oppose an invasion of Iraq. They see how difficult a position the US will assume by attacking Iraq, and seek instead a renewed program of weapons inspection.
Iraq's closest neighbors are far from supportive of the course the United States is pursuing, even though they are aware of Saddam's shameful, destructive regime. Not having rallied to America's side does not mean that they support Saddam.
An attack on Iraq will be seen by many as an attack on all Arabic and Islamic states. America, despite the rhetoric, is perceived as seeing itself under attack by Islam. America helped install and maintain the despotic Shah of Iran, but withdrew its support when Iran became an Islamic republic (itself undemocratic in many ways). Now America is seen as the largely uncritical supporter of Israel, against the interests of Palestinians, both Muslim and Christian. Bombing Iraq will confirm these perceptions among Muslims.
An attack by Saddam on any nation would be viewed as proper cause for a military response to Iraq by the attacked nation and its allies, as was the case with Kuwait. This may not be good, but it is true. Saddam now attacks only his own people, and they need help -- but not the "help" of being killed in an effort by other countries to bring about "regime change" in Iraq.
"Pre-emption" (the notion that one nation may attack another because of what it might do) is philosophically, ethically, and pragmatically perilous. After all, an enemy may return the favor. Once "pre-emption" is established as a valid principle for international relations, nations which invoke that principle will have no conceptual shelter.
If the world can be convinced that it's possible to work peacefully to make life more livable for all, we will all be better off. This is the reconciliation we hope for as Christians among individuals. Can it not happen among nations, between Iraq and its neighbors, and for all the good people of the world?
The Orthodox Peace Fellowship calls on the United States and the United Nations to follow diplomatic paths predicated on mercy, honesty, and justice, and to seek peacefully negotiated resolutions to the impasse in Iraq.
We implore Christ, Who is our peace, to bless every endeavor directed toward our complete reconciliation with each other, and with Him.
The Council for the Orthodox Peace Fellowship in North America:
John Brady, Jim Forest, David Holden, Daniel Lieuwen, John Oliver, John Oliver III, Alex Patico, Sheri San Chirico, Monk James Silver and Renee Zitzloff
A partial list of other signers as of 12 December 2002:
Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada, Orthodox Church in America
Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk, Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Administrator of Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA
Bishop Basil of Sergievo, Diocese of Sourozh, Russian Orthodox Church in Great Britain
Rev. Ted Bobosh, priest, St. Paul's Orthodox Church, Dayton, Ohio
V. Rev. John Breck, Professor of Bioethics and Patristic Exegesis, St. Sergius Theological Institute, Paris, France; Director, St. Silouan Retreat, Charleston, South Carolina
Prof. Sheila D. Campbell, Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, Toronto, Canada
Fr. John Chryssavgis, professor, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts
Fr. Dragan and Mirjana Filipovic, St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Canton, Ohio
Fr. John Garvey, priest of the Orthodox Church in America; Commonweal columnist; New York City
Fr. Stanley Harakas, retired Professor of Orthodox Theology, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts
Fr. Gregory Havrilak, Associate General Secretary, Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, New York City
Fr. Stephen C. Headley, priest, parish of St. Stephen and St. Herman, Vezeley, France
Fr. Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus, St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, New York
Frederica Mathewes-Green, author, Baltimore, Maryland
Fr. Thomas Mueller, Dean, Chicago Deanery, Orthodox Church in America; pastor, SS. Cyril & Methodius Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Archpriest Michael J. Oleksa, Dean, St. Innocent Cathedral, Anchorage, Alaska
Fr. Paul Schroeder, Chancellor, Greek Orthodox Diocese of San Francisco.
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