Catholic groups call for October 9 lobby day in Washington

Salt shakers
October 2002

Catholic groups call for October 9 lobby day in Washington
NETWORK—a Catholic Social Justice Lobby, The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), and Pax Christi USA have designated October 9 as a lobby day against a war with Iraq. The groups are encouraging Catholic citizens to visit with or contasct their legislators in Washington to demonstrate their resistance to an Iraqi invasion. The groups plan to help organize visits to legislative offices and plan to hold a vigil as the decision about launching the U.S. into war is made.

Over 100 members and friends of NETWORK, Pax Christi USA, the Leadership Council of Women Religious and the National Council of Churches came to Washington on during a previous effort on September 25 and visited 30 Senators.

The three groups offer the following suggestions for lobbying legislators on Iraq:

IF YOU CAN COME TO Washington on October 9:
1. Call to make your own appointments with your Members of Congress for October 9. Capitol Switchboard 1-800-839-5276 or 202-224-3121.

2. Gather at the United Methodist Building, starting at 9 a.m. (100 Maryland Ave. NE., Rm. #3). Packets will be provided for lobby visits and people will be available to answer your questions. The closest metro station is Union Station. For a map of the area, go to www.senate.gov/visiting/visit_map.html; check NETWORK's website for additional information.

3. Lobby during the day at House and Senate office buildings.

4. Vigil during the day with LCWR near the House and Senate office buildings as Members of Congress are debating.

5. Evening Prayer Vigil for Peace at Freedom Plaza at 6:00 p.m.

6. Stay, if you are able, for additional events planned by other peace groups on October 10 and 11.

If you can't get to Washington:
1. Engage in prayer and fasting for nonviolent options to prevail.

2. Call your Members of Congress on October 9 - NETWORK/LCWR/Pax Christi USA Lobby Day and tell them you do not support war as a solution to conflict and implore them to use every possible diplomatic means to avert a war. The Capitol Switchboard is 1-800-839-5276 or 202-224-3121 or call your Members local district office.

3. Organize a delegation to visit the district offices of your Legislators and meet with staffers to discuss your opposition to war on Iraq.

4. Send postcards or emails to your elected officials—to find out who represents you, go to www.congress.org.

5. Create a media event—organize nonviolent group actions such as public demonstrations or prayer vigils. Pax Christi USA is currently calling for a National Day of Protest Against War in Iraq on Monday, October 7 but each and every action is important over these next critical days so do what you can when you can but do not remain silent!

6. Letters-to-the-editors is a widely read section of your newspaper, utilize this resource as a vehicle for making your opposition to the war known. Take advantage of radio and television talk shows as well.

TALKING POINTS
1. A preemptive, unilateral military action is unconscionable and illegal under international law and will only serve to destabilize an already fragile situation within the region. Additionally, a policy of war for "regime change" is unjust, unwise, and incompatible with any criteria for establishing the basis for peace.

2. The Bush Administration has offered no evidence of any links between Saddam Hussein and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2002.

3. There is no demonstrable evidence that Iraq currently has useable weapons of mass destruction.

4. The best way to security and peace in the region continues to be through the United Nations, including the UN-administered process of weapons inspections and a strategy for regional disarmament as called for in the UN Security Council Resolution 687, Article 14.

5. The United States must allow the UN process of weapons inspections to proceed unhindered; any Congressional resolutions should include a prohibition of U.S. interference with weapons inspections teams.

6. War risks the lives of thousands of U.S. soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians.

7. Any attack on Iraq will further alienate U.S. Allies and likely dramatically increase anti-American sentiment throughout the world.

For more information:
Pax Christi USA
NETWORK: Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Education for Peace In Iraq

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