Parishioners Take a Stand Against Nuclear Weapons

Saint Ambrose parishioners are supporting the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, in the editorial he wrote about abolishing nuclear weapons.

Bishop Wester’s editorial in the Salt Lake Tribune July 5, gave a religious perspective to the detailed proposals made by a number of leading national security experts, endorsed recently by former Utah Senator Jake Garn and University of Utah Professor John Bennion (“Curbing the global threat,” Salt Lake Tribune Opinion, May 24).

Following the weekend Masses July 19-20, 365 parishioners, including children, signed letters written to President George W. Bush, Senator John McCain, and Senator Barack Obama. Some letters included whole families and listed the childrens’ ages. The letters asked each leader to dedicate himself to the abolishment of nuclear weapons.

The project to support Bishop Wester, was an effort by Saint Ambrose Parish supported by members of the Peace and Justice Committee.

“John Brockert and I are co-chairpersons of the Peace and Justice Committee,” said Catherine Kreuter, Saint Ambrose parishioner. “We asked parishioners to join Bishop Wester in taking a written stand against nuclear weapons. Brockert and I had the letters prepared, asked people to sign their names, and left space for them to personalize the letters or add any additional information they would like. If they preferred to write their own letter, we understood that as well.

“One woman wrote that non-nuclear war is bad enough,” said Kreuter. “She also said we do not need nuclear war, that is way too destructive. Another woman wrote that for the sake of her children and grandchildren, she hoped they would do all they could to allow life to exist on the planet for future generations. Another person said, ‘This has to go for all countries.’

The children also took a stand said Kreuter. One child said, ‘If you do this I will really respect you.’ Another child said, ‘We don’t want to just kill people, that is what the Nazi’s did.’

“The letters all contained such touching remarks,” said Kreuter. “The letters asked, in Jesus’ name, for a nuclear weapon-free planet.”

Three packets of letters and a copy of Bishop Wester’s editorial were mailed July 22, after being blessed by Father Anastasius Iwuoha, a chaplain at CHRISTUS Saint Joseph Villa.