Bishops urge nonpartisan talks on 'responsible transition' in Iraq

Published: 2006-11-13

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- In a statement endorsed by the full body of bishops gathered in Baltimore, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called for a "substantive, civil and nonpartisan discussion" leading to "a responsible transition in Iraq." "We hope our nation has moved beyond the divisive rhetoric of the recent campaign and the shrill and shallow debate that distorts reality and reduces the options to 'cut and run' versus 'stay the course,'" Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., said in the statement. The four-page document was prepared by the USCCB Committee on International Policy in collaboration with the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services and the USCCB Administrative Committee, which approved its addition to the agenda of the bishops' fall general meeting Nov. 11. The bishops approved release of the statement in Bishop Skylstad's name in a voice vote Nov. 13. The same day, President George W. Bush met with a 10-member, bipartisan Iraq Study Group charged with making recommendations to change the direction of the war in Iraq.

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