By Katsuhiro Asagiri and Aurora Weiss
VIENNA (IDN) — Faith communities “from a diversity of traditions and located all over the world” have joined together “with one voice to mark” the first meeting of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).”
In a ‘Joint Interfaith Statement’ issued on June 21 they “welcome this historic occasion and celebrate this milestone that moves us closer to a world without nuclear weapons”. The Statement urges the States Parties of the TPNW to heed the voices of the world’s hibakusha.
The statement reads: “We gather at a time when the threat of nuclear annihilation feels closer than before. So many more of us suffer from anxiety in response to the increasing threats by nuclear-armed states. In the face of these urgent existential threats, we are more determined than ever to abolish nuclear weapons.
“We are acutely aware of the threats facing humanity and our beloved planet. From the devastating impacts of a global pandemic to the rising threat of climate catastrophe, the stakes for life on earth have never felt higher. Nuclear weapons represent a tangible manifestation of the worst of these threats with the risk they pose to human health and environmental stability.
“The resources currently spent on the development and maintenance of these weapons should be directed towards supporting the most vulnerable people and protecting the planet through investing in food, education, health care and climate justice.
“Our faith traditions call us to denounce this misuse of resources and to call for greater international cooperation to end nuclear weapons forever. Nuclear weapons are a tool of domination and violent coercion in a time when we urgently need to prioritize human security.
“Our religious and spiritual traditions uphold an ethos of mutual aid, care for the stranger and trust in the community. Our faith traditions continue to nurture the belief in a better future. We are reminded of our shared vulnerability and our shared capacity to make compassionate, intelligent policy choices.
“We remain committed not only to our own security but to the security and well-being of one another. We understand the interrelationship between justice and peace and we continue to commit ourselves to working for a world in which no community has the power to annihilate another, where the security of some does not depend on the insecurity of others.
“We urge the States Parties of the TPNW to heed the voices of the world’s hibakusha and contribute to strengthening the treaty through fully including the voices of affected communities so that as the international community we can begin the work of healing the harms caused by nuclear weapons.
“We also urge all States to work for the universalization of the TPNW, and invite all countries that have yet to ratify the treaty to do so in a timely manner. And finally, we urge all nuclear-weapon states to act in accordance with their commitment to nuclear disarmament and take concrete measures towards reducing nuclear threats.”
The joint statement concludes: “In a world that often seems bleak, we celebrate this first MSP as a glimmer of light and hope. Just as we come together to unite our voices and prayers beyond our own faith traditions, we applaud your commitment to multilateralism and diplomacy in a time of divisiveness and tensions. We stand with you to rid the world of nuclear weapons, and create a world where we can advance together for common security and mutual flourishing.”
Soka Gakkai International is one of the eminent organizations that have endorsed the Statement. All others are listed below:
All Souls Nuclear Disarmament Task Force
Alliance of Baptists
American Friends Service Committee
Anglican Pacifist Fellowship
Bruderhof
Buddhist Council of New York
Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP)
Canadian Interfaith Fast For the Climate
Casa Generalizia della Società del Sacro Cuore
Center for Peace Education
Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos-México
Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Christian Reformed Church Office of Social Justice
Christians for Peace Newcastle Australia
Church and Peace – European Ecumenical Peace Network
Church Council of Greater Seattle
Church of Scotland
Colectivo familiares en Búsqueda Maria Herrera Chilpancingo
Comisión General Justicia y Paz
Community of Christ
Community of Christ – British Isles
Community of Christ – Western Europe Mission Centre
Community of Christ International Peace and Justice Team
Community Pope John XXIII – APG23
Company of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul
Comunidad Luterana Santísimo Redentor
Conferencia de iglesias Evangelicas Anabautistas Menonitas de Mexico (CIEAMM)
Conselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristãs do Brasil
Creation-Justice-Peace Steering Group, European Province Third Order Society St Francis
Deben prohibirse las armas nucleares porque son una ofensa a Dios al poner en riesgo la vida de
la Humanidad y del Planeta
Disciples Peace Fellowship
Divine Word Missionaries
Dominican Sister of Hope
Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids
Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa
Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House, Washington, DC
Ecumenical of Peace Institute/CALC
Edmund Rice International
Eje de Iglesias de Morelos
Eje de Iglesias y Comunidades de Fe de la Brigada Nacional de Búsqueda
Ejes de Iglesia
Episcopal Peace Fellowship
Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Franciscan Peace Center
Franciscan Sisters, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart
Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers)
Fundação Luterana de Diaconia
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ
Hale Ho’onani A.M.E. Fellowship
Imdosoc
Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada
International Fellowship of Reconciliation – IFOR
InterReligious Task Force on Central America
JPIC NDS
Kairos Foundation of Nigeria
Kosmos Associates. Unity Earth
Kristna Fredsrörelsen i Göteborg
Kvekersamfunnet i Norge – the Religious Society of Friends in Norway
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
May Peace Prevail On Earth International
Melbourne Unitarian Peace Memorial Church
Mennonite World Conference
Missionary Oblates JPIC Office
Missionary Society of St Columban (Australia)
Mujeres para el Diálogo
Multifaith Association of South Australia Inc
Multifaith Voices for Peace and Justice
Muslim Peace Fellowship
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
National Shrine of Our Lady if la Salette Pax Christi
New Humanity International NGO
Northern Friends Peace Board
One Billion Youth for Peace
Pace e Bene & Campaign Nonviolence
Pacific Conference of Churches (33 member churches and 10 National Council of Churches)
Pastoral Social, Iglesia Anglicana de México
Pax Christi Australia
Pax Christi Fatima Shrine Holliston MA
Pax Christi International
Pax Christi Long Island
Pax Christi MA
Pax Christi Metro New York
Pax Christi New York State
Pax Christi Philippines
Pax Christi Queensland
Pax Christi Victoria
Pax Christi Vlaanderen
Pax Christi Western Massachusetts
Peace and Social Justice Committee of Friends Meeting at Cambridge (Quaker)
Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
Presentation Sisters San Francisco, CA
Presentation Sisters USA Unit
Public Affairs Commission, Anglican Church of Australia
Quaker Peace and Legislation Committee
Raelian Movement
Red de Entidades para el Desarrollo Solidario-REDES
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Western American Area
School Sisters of Notre Dame, Central Pacific Province
Serviço de Paz – SERPAZ
Shepparton Interfaith Network
Sisters of Charity Federation
Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Office of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Congregational Leadership
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Western Province Leadership
Sisters of Charity of New York
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur USA
Sisters of Providence
Sisters of Providence Holyoke, Massachusetts
Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chestnut Hill Philadelphia, PA
Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa
Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden, PA
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, LA
Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Province of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
Sisters of the Humility of Mary
Soka Gakkai International
SS. Francis and Therese Catholic Worker
St. Susanna Parish, Dedham, MA
Swedish fellowship of Reconciliation/Kristna Fredsrörelsen
THE CHURCH OF THE LORD (TCL) Worldwide
The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus
The Faith and Justice Network (FJN) of the Mano River Basin Countries, West Africa
The Swedish Society of Friends (Quakers)
The United Church of Canada / L’Église Unie du Canada
Trinity Cathedral Episcopal Church, Cleveland, Ohio
Una luz en el camino
United Church of Christ, Justice and Local Church Ministries
United Reformed Church (UK)
United Religions Initiative
Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
Valley and Mountain Fellowship
Vichara, Mavelikara, India
We Can Disarm the World
Wellspring Community Australia
Wheaton Franciscans
World Council of Churches
World Yoga Community
Youth Arts New York/Hibakusha Stories [IDN-InDepthNews – 22 June 2022]
Photo: First Meeting of the States Parties (MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Credit: Seikyo Shimbun