Joint interfaith statement on 80th anniversary of first use of nuclear weapons

Peace lanterns on anniversary of Nagasaki. Photo by Bobby on Unsplash

Source: WCC

Dozens of churches organizations and faith groups have signed a joint Interfaith statement marking 80 years since the first use of nuclear weapons. The statement remains open for further endorsements until the end of August.

"Hiroshima and Nagasaki were deliberate attacks, intended to result in mass deaths and total destruction, while the 2000+ nuclear weapons tests have been done with complete disregard to the consequences, in order to kill elsewhere and to demonstrate strength to enemies," the statement reads. "The ongoing destruction and violence of the development of nuclear technologies and nuclear accidents demonstrate how dangerous we have made our world towards these ends."

The statement calls for peace, nuclear abolition, and justice. "While the challenges are immense, this is a time to affirm that another way is possible: one rooted in solidarity, human dignity, and hope," the statement reads. "The 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings offers a critical moment to reimagine our priorities."

The statement honours the legacy of all who bear the wounds of nuclearism. "We lament the equating of nuclear weapons with technological, strategic, or political advancement, or with the assurance of safety," the statement reads. "We reject the equating of the nuclear power industry as a symbol of decolonization or environmentalism."

Peter Prove, WCC Director of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs emphasized the timeliness of the issue. "The risk of the nuclear war, whether by design or accident, is once again a major and growing existential threat, among the many crises confronting the world today". He said that the WCC has been an active participant in the civil society efforts that led to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, currently signed by 94 States. "Surely no church or Christian community, nor any right-thinking person, can tolerate the development, possession or use of the most catastrophically, indiscriminately and inter-generationally destructive weapons ever devised by human beings", Prove emphasized."The doctrine of nuclear deterrence is necessarily founded on the willingness to actually use such weapons, which must be rejected from a Christian ethical point of view" he concluded.

The interfaith message commits to efforts that are local, regional, national, global, and metaphysical in scope. "The work for nuclear abolition vitalizes and prioritizes ethical ways of being that are based in truth, right relationship, and very real analyses of survival," the text reads. "We must rise to the occasion and act together, as called by our faith traditions, moral compasses, and spiritual commitments."

The full statement follows:

We as people of faith join in solidarity, with our voices and our power, for disarmament, nuclear abolition, and ways of being that are in the right relationship.

On July 16, 1945, the United States detonated the first nuclear explosion in the Tularosa Basin of New Mexico-causing radioactive ash to rain down, contaminating the land, water, food, and air throughout the region. Just weeks later, Hiroshima and Nagasaki became the first cities to experience the hell on Earth of nuclear weapon attacks on August 6 and 9, 1945.

Since these early days of the nuclear age, countless survivors of the Trinity Test and of the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki-the hibakusha and their descendants-have been joined in both their suffering and their survival by other communities who have borne the intolerable consequences of nuclear development, weapons testing, and accidents: from Shinkolobwe to Church Rock, from the Republic of the Marshall Islands to Semipalatinsk to In Ekker, from Three Mile Island to Chernobyl to Fukushima. The effects of these and many other disasters- some intentional, some accidental-have left legacies of sickness, sorrow, and resistance.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were deliberate attacks, intended to result in mass deaths and total destruction, while the 2000+ nuclear weapons tests have been done with complete disregard to the consequences, in order to kill elsewhere and to demonstrate strength to enemies. The ongoing destruction and violence of the development of nuclear technologies and nuclear accidents demonstrate how dangerous we have made our world towards these ends.

Our spiritual traditions inform our perspectives: while humanity is capable of inflicting grave, even apocalyptic harm, humanity is also capable of collaborating in solidarity for life and well-being.

Today, as unbearable violence and conflicts plague the world, we as faith communities and organizations join with the rising movement of people-awakened to the intolerable nature of violence and greed-to call for peace, nuclear abolition, and justice in all their forms.

While the challenges are immense, this is a time to affirm that another way is possible: one rooted in solidarity, human dignity, and hope. The 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings offers a critical moment to reimagine our priorities. For example, by redirecting the approximately $100 billion spent on nuclear weapons development in 2024 instead toward health, education, human rights, and ecological well-being, we could make a profound difference in supporting the realization of the UN 2030 Agenda and responding to the crises of our time.

We honour the legacy of all who bear the wounds of nuclearism; who cry out midst the horrors of war; and who insist on the truth of our interconnectedness. We must co-create a peaceful and nuclear-free world, for the sake of all this planet's people and non-human beings.

While the detonation of a nuclear weapon promises the end of life as we know it, the entire nuclear fuel chain-mining, tests, transportation, production, use, storage, and waste- inflicts grave harm to people, land, water, air, and ecosystems for generations, most acutely in indigenous and marginalized frontline communities.

Throughout these eight decades, nuclearism has burdened humanity and all life on Earth by perpetuating unbearable power dynamics based on domination. These technologies and logics are characterized by, and accelerate, militarism and the pursuit of terrifying weapons of war;

exploitation and ecological destruction through extraction and contamination; and the influence of powerful interests over the demands, rights, and pleas of Nature and civil society.

We lament the equating of nuclear weapons with technological, strategic, or political advancement, or with the assurance of safety. We reject the equating of the nuclear power industry as a symbol of decolonization or environmentalism. Despite what powerful institutions might insist, nuclear weapons and nuclear power are not sacred rights. Nor are they where we place our faith.

Our ethics and spiritualities insist that we join together for nuclear abolition; attend to the historic and ongoing harms of nuclear disasters; and lift up our sincere prayers and efforts so that all lands, communities, and beings may be safe, healthy, and peaceful.

We commit to joining the work of survivors, teachers, labor unions, family members, artists, schoolchildren, scientists, elected officials, religious folk, and so many members of civil society.

Such efforts include the 2021 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which is currently joined by 73 states parties, and which is inspiring grassroots movements and a growing number of nations, and hundreds of municipalities around the world to take a stand. From major capital cities like Athens to small communities, these local endorsements show that meaningful change does not rely solely on nation-states, but on the conscience and courage of people everywhere, as civil society and elected representatives influence global policy.

Indeed, such international agreements are made powerful by the efforts and the resolve of the people, who are organizing in the form of testimonies and economic activism, peace marches and civilian research; nonviolent direct actions and municipal resolutions; prayers, delegations and civil disobedience; lesson plans and countless thousands of peace cranes; and much more.

And so, as people of faith we bring our gifts, insights, and positionalities to forward efforts for peace, right relationship, and nuclear abolition-motivated and guided not only by the apocalyptic terror of nuclear weapons and the intolerable suffering caused by nuclearism, but also by the powerful collaborative work of justice and peace.

We commit to efforts that are local, regional, national, global, and metaphysical in scope-from the core of our organizations and communities, to interfaith collaborations and work with secular groups-as we recognize the power and importance of solidarity and cooperation.

The work for nuclear abolition vitalizes and prioritizes ethical ways of being that are based in truth, right relationship, and very real analyses of survival. We must rise to the occasion and act together, as called by our faith traditions, moral compasses, and spiritual commitments.

Endorsing Organizations (as of 4 August 2025):

To sign this joint statement on behalf of your organization, please obtain internal approval and enter your information via this form: https://bit.ly/InterfaithAug2025-Form. We will keep the endorsements open until the end of August.

1. ACT Alliance

2. All Souls Nuclear Disarmament Task Force

3. Alliance of Baptists

4. American Friends Service Committee

5. Anglican Pacifist Fellowship

6. Association Modeste et Innocent

7. Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC)

8. beHuman

9. Bruderhof

10. Buddhist Council of South Australia

11. Buddhist Council of Western Australia Inc.

12. Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace

13. Catholic Religious Australia

14. Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos

15. Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (UK)

16. Christian Conference of Asia (CCA)

17. Christians for Peace Newcastle Australia

18. Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations

19. Comisión General Justicia y Paz

20. Community of Christ

21. Community of Christ (British Isles)

22. Community of Christ - Western Europe Mission Center

23. Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids (CAMYOSFOP)

324. Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa

25. Federation of Australian Buddhist Council Inc

26. Franciscan Peace Center, Clinton, Iowa

27. Gandhi Development Trust

28. Independent Catholic News (ICN)

29. Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada

30. International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR)

31. International Peace Research Association

32. InterReligious Task Force on Central America and Colombia

33. Justice and Peace Office Sydney Archdiocese

34. Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission Union of Superiors General and the International Union of Superiors General

35. Kerk en Vrede (Netherlands)

36. Loretto/ BVM at the UN

37. May Peace Prevail On Earth International

38. Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

39. Mennonite World Conference

40. Mingala Thukha Buddhist Association Inc

41. Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice

42. Namdhari Sikh Sangat UK (NSSUK)

43. Nevada Desert Experience

44. Norfolk (VA) Catholic Worker

45. North Carolina Council of Churches

46. Pace e Bene

47. Parliament of the World's Religions

48. Pax Christi Dallas TX

49. Pax Christi Flanders (Belgium)

50. Pax Christi International

51. Pax Christi Korea (PCK)

52. Pax Christi Long Island (New York)

53. Pax Christi New York State

54. Pax Christi USA

55. People's Federation for National Peace and Development (PEFENAP)

56. Presbyterian Peace Fellowship

57. Quakers Australia / Religious Soc'ty of Friends

58. Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Australia Yearly Meeting

59. Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Regional Meeting Queensland

60. Rissho Kosei Kai of New York

61. Sant'Egidio Foundation for Peace and Dialogue

62. SEHLAC (Red de Seguridad Humana en América Latina y el Caribe)

463. Shepparton Interfaith Network

64. Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa

65. Sisters of St.Joseph of Springfield, MA

66. Soka Gakkai International

67. Sri-Lanka Doctors for Peace and Development

68. Srs. of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary/U.S. Ontario Province Leadership Team

69. The Peace Committee of the Swedish Society of Friends, the Quakers

70. The United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society

71. The Wellspring Community of Australia

72. Transformational Council

73. UPDDHE-Union pour la Promotion/Protection, la Défense des Droits Humains et de l'Environnement

74. Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economic Community

75. Uniting Church in Australia

76. United Church of Christ

77. Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons (United Religions Initiative)

78. Wheaton Franciscan JPIC Office

79. World Council of Churches

80. World Yoga Community