Christian anti-war petition delivered to Downing Street

The Christian Declaration Against War on Iraq, signed by more than 2,500 church representative from all denominations, was delivered to Number Ten Downing Street today - the anniversary of the first use of nuclear weapons at Hiroshima in 1945. The next Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, Catholic Bishops Malcolm McMahon, Thomas McMahon and Edwin Regan, and Anglican Bishops John Gladwin, John Perry and Peter Price are among the signatories The declaration drawn up by Pax Christi calls any attack on Iraq "immoral and illegal". It states: "It is deplorable that the world's most powerful nations continue to regard war, and the threat of war, as an acceptable instrument of foreign policy." Dr Tina Beattie, of Pax Christi who was presented the declaration at Downing Street, said there was a "growing number expressing disquiet" about the US plans. She said a war would have "devastating consequences" for people living in the Middle East and that it was the responsibility of Christians to speak out. "When our elected leaders are considering fighting a war in our name, funded by our taxes, there is no morally neutral position," said Dr Beattie. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's World At One, Bishop Perry said: "It doesn't meet any of the criteria that, as a Christian leader, I would be looking for. I don't think it meets any of the criteria for any pre-emptive military action at the moment." See also: ICN - 2 August 2002 - Massive support for Christian Declaration against war on Iraq