Religious order leaders say fair resolution to Iraqi conflict needed

Published: 2003-10-30

SILVER SPRING, Md. (CNS) -- U.S. and British leaders of religious orders are urging British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush to reconstruct Iraq in a way that benefits the Iraqi people and protects human rights. In a rare joint letter to Blair and Bush, the presidents of three conferences of religious superiors asked the world leaders to reduce the number of U.S. military personnel in Iraq and quickly return the country to local control. The Oct. 29 letter was signed by Sister Constance Phelps, a Sister of Charity who is president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Sulpician Father Ronald D. Witherup, president of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, both of the United States, and Sister Margaret Scott, a Handmaid of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and president of the Conference of Religious of England and Wales. A copy of the letter was released by LCWR from its headquarters in the Washington suburb of Silver Spring.

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