Parishioners take a stand against nuclear weapons

SALT LAKE CITY — Saint Ambrose parishioners are supporting the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, in the editorial he wrote about abolishing nuclear weapons.

Bishop Wester’s editorial in the Salt Lake Tribune July 5, gave a religious perspective to the detailed proposals made by a number of leading national security experts, endorsed recently by former Utah Senator Jake Garn and University of Utah Professor John Bennion ("Curbing the global threat," Salt Lake Tribune Opinion, May 24).

Following the weekend Masses July 19-20, 365 parishioners, including children, signed letters written to President George W. Bush, Senator John McCain, and Senator Barack Obama. Some letters included whole families and listed the childrens’ ages. The letters asked each leader to dedicate himself to the abolishment of nuclear weapons.

The project to support Bishop Wester, was an effort by Saint Ambrose Parish supported by members of the Peace and Justice Committee.

"John Brockert and I are co-chairpersons of the Peace and Justice Committee," said Catherine Kreuter, Saint Ambrose parishioner. "We asked parishioners to join Bishop Wester in taking a written stand against nuclear weapons. Brockert and I had the letters prepared, asked people to sign their names, and left space for them to personalize the letters or add any additional information they would like. If they preferred to write their own letter, we understood that as well.

"One woman wrote that non-nuclear war is bad enough," said Kreuter. "She also said we do not need nuclear war, that is way too destructive. Another woman wrote that for the sake of her children and grandchildren, she hoped they would do all they could to allow life to exist on the planet for future generations. Another person said, ‘This has to go for all countries.’

The children also took a stand said Kreuter. One child said, ‘If you do this I will really respect you.’ Another child said, ‘We don’t want to just kill people, that is what the Nazi’s did.’

"The letters all contained such touching remarks," said Kreuter. "The letters asked, in Jesus’ name, for a nuclear weapon-free planet."

Three packets of letters and a copy of Bishop Wester’s editorial were mailed July 22, after being blessed by Father Anastasius Iwuoha, a chaplain at CHRISTUS Saint Joseph Villa.

"John and I also belong to a prayer group who has met every Tuesday afternoon since the Iraq war began, to pray for peace," said Kreuter. "We are currently meeting at Saint Joseph Villa. The prayer group also said silent prayers over the three packets of letters. We want these letters to be taken seriously, to be put in the right hands, and given to the three leaders. We want them to actually make a difference so we can abolish nuclear weapons, and we can begin, as Bishop Wester said, to speak up and speak out against nuclear weapons."

In the editorial, Bishop Wester referred to Pope Benedict XVI’s World Day of Peace message. He quoted Pope Benedict as saying, "Humanity today is unfortunately experiencing great division and sharp conflicts which cast dark shadows on its future." The pope said, "At a time when the process of nuclear nonproliferation is at a stand-still, I feel bound to entreat those in authority to resume with greater determination negotiations for a progressive and mutually agreed dismantling of existing nuclear weapons. In renewing this appeal, I know I am echoing the desire of all those concerned for the future of humanity."

Bishop Wester said the way to ensure a future of peace for everyone is found not only in international accords for the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, but also in the determined commitment to seek their reduction and definitive dismantling.

Finally Bishop Wester said after living in Utah for a year, he has learned of the devastating health effects Utah citizens living downwind of the Nevada nuclear test site have experienced. Bishop Wester believes Utah should be a leader in promoting public policy that leads to the end of nuclear weapons development and the total elimination of existing nuclear weapons.

"Our Peace and Justice Committee participated in Pax Christi’s People’s Peace Initiative in 2007," said Kreuter. "We had several meetings answering the call from Pax Christi to really consider how we could promote peace on earth as a church, as a community, and as individuals. Pax Christi is a Catholic organization that strives to create a world that reflects the peace of Christ by exploring, articulating, and witnessing to the call of Christians.

"The Peace and Justice Committee did a lot of thinking about this request, and we sent in a summary about nuclear abolishment to Pax Christi," said Kreuter. "They are going to publish a book. They polled many Catholic parishes, Catholic institutions, and Catholic universities, as well as priests, religious, and brothers, all over the United States, who all came out strongly against nuclear weapons and encouraged nuclear disarmament."

Kreuter has had a passion for peace in the world since she was a small child.

"I was born in 1939, when there was tension and upset in the country with the prospect of going to war with Germany," said Kreuter. "Then we went to war with Japan during World War II. When I got older and learned what atomic bombs can do and did do, I was so horrified. I do not think I have ever lost that experience of horror. Since that time I have been willing to work for disarmament.

"In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Utahns took a stand against the mobile MX missile system planned for deployment in our desert," said Kreuter. "We publicly opposed the nuclear MX "shell game" plan, which eventually put a stop to the MX intercontinental ballistic missile system. That was enough to stop it. I believe when people stick together and they are well informed, and willing as citizens to step out of their comfort zones and take action, the results can be excellent. People do not imagine they can have influence over a policy regarding nuclear weapons."