Anglican bishops suggest churches apologise for war on Iraq

A report from the Church of England released on Monday suggests that Christian leaders should apologise to the Muslim counterparts for the war on Iraq. Urging a "truth and reconciliation" meeting of religious leaders, the report, entitled Countering Terrorism: Power, Violence and Democracy Post 9/11, says it would provide a "public act of institutional repentance". The report says the war was one of a "long litany of errors". It cites mistakes in the West's handling of Iraq, included support of Saddam Hussein over many years as a strategic ally against Iran, a willingness to sell him weapons and the suffering caused to the Iraqi people by sanctions. It also says the war appeared to be "as much for reasons of American national interest as it was for the well-being of the Iraqi people". The report said religious institutions had apologised for past injustices, including the Vatican's remorse over Christians' responsibility for the persecution of Jews. "These indicate that it is possible for institutions to take responsibility for their corporate action in the past, not in order to make individual Christians today feel guilty, but as a mature, public act of institutional repentance." Source: CoE Comms