Canadian Church Leaders Criticize Attacks on Afghanistan

Going further than most North American Christian organizations, a coalition of top Canadian church leaders is urging an end to what it calls the "highly regrettable" bombing of Afghanistan.

"The essential goal of preventing further terrorist attacks ... will not be accomplished through military attacks on Afghanistan," said the influential religious lobby, which includes senior officials of the Roman Catholic, United, Anglican, Mennonite and Lutheran denominations.

Most other ecumenical groups in Canada and the United States have not gone so far as the Christian leaders whom, under the auspices of the Canadian Council of Churches, have called for the United States, Britain and Canada to "demilitarize" the battle against terrorism.

The Christian leaders' opposition to the U.S.-led attacks against Afghanistan reflects the viewpoint of Canadian Muslim organizations and, at a national political level, only the left-wing New Democratic Party, which has the support of about 10 percent of the Canadian population.

After the bombing of Afghanistan began, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada restricted itself in a letter to Prime Minister Jean Chretien to saying it was "praying for peace" and urging a "just response (that is) measured and transparent."

EFC spokesman Bruce Clemenger, however, would not criticize the Canadian Council of Churches' position, saying only that his umbrella organization represents 2.5 million Canadians from 27 conservative denominations, some of which would oppose the air attacks on Afghanistan and others which would support them as just.

The Rev. Bob Edgar, the general secretary of the United States' National Council of Churches, which is a sister organization to the Canadian Council of Churches, cautiously welcomed the Canadian anti-war message.

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