Ecumenical coalition supports campaign to aid U.S. military deserters

Published: 2005-07-05

TORONTO (CNS) -- The campaign to help U.S. military deserters stay in Canada rather than serve in Iraq has drawn official support from Canada's largest ecumenical social justice coalition. Kairos -- which is funded by the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Lutheran and United churches -- has signed a War Resisters Support Campaign declaration calling on the Canadian government to "demonstrate its commitment to international law and the treaties to which it is signatory by making provision for U.S. war objectors to have sanctuary in this country." "Given the strong opposition from Kairos and the churches to the war in Iraq, because of our understanding that it was illegal as well as immoral, we felt that this particular initiative -- the war resisters -- was congruent with that position that we took," said Kairos team leader Dale Hildebrand. Kairos is one of more than 40 signatories to the declaration.

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