Canadian activists urge Catholics to weigh in against missile defense

Published: 2006-11-20

TORONTO (CNS) -- A renewed debate on whether Canada should join the United States' missile defense system desperately needs a Catholic voice, said Deacon Steve Barringer, a founding member of Catholics for Peace. In Deacon Barringer's view, and the views of other peace activists, a Catholic voice would say "no." Calls for Canada to reverse former Prime Minister Paul Martin's decision not to join the missile defense system have come pouring out of think tanks and newspaper editorial pages since North Korea conducted a nuclear test in early October. "I would like to see people talking to the government, but also talking to their own institutional church with letters to the bishops saying, 'Look, it's time we spoke up on this,'" said Deacon Barringer. In 2004, the Canadian Council of Churches sent a letter signed by leaders of 20 of the largest churches in Canada urging Martin to decline a U.S. invitation to participate in a missile defense system. Archbishop Brendan O'Brien, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops president at the time, signed the letter on behalf of the Canadian bishops.

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