‘A coalition of American churches
sharply denounced the US-led war in Iraq on Saturday, accusing Washington of
"raining down terror" and apologizing to other nations for "the
violence, degradation and poverty our nation has sown." 

The statement, issued at the
largest gathering of Christian churches in nearly a decade, also warned the
United States was pushing the world toward environmental catastrophe with a
"culture of consumption" and its refusal to back international
accords seeking to battle global warming. 

"We lament with special
anguish the war in Iraq, launched in deception and violating global norms of
justice and human rights," said the statement from representatives of the
34 US members of World Council of Churches. "We mourn all who have died or
been injured in this war. We acknowledge with shame abuses carried out in our
name." 

The World Council of Churches
includes more than 350 mainstream Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox churches;
the Roman Catholic Church is not a member. The US groups in the WCC include the
Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Methodist Church,
several Orthodox churches and Baptist denominations, among others.’ 

Of course, not a moral peep
from our great religious leaders.

US
Church Alliance Denounces Iraq War