Bishops of Poland and the Ukraine Release Appeal Warning of War with Russia "Every act of war, which indiscriminately aims at the destruction....is a crime against God and against humanity..." FULL TEXT
Strengthened by previous experiences, we appeal to the rulers to refrain from warfare. War is always a defeat of humanity - the Polish and Ukrainian Catholic Bishops wrote about the danger of warfare in Ukraine.
The Polish and Ukrainian Catholic Bishops stressed that they learned with concern the news that the negotiations between Russia and the West did not lead to an agreement. “The occupation of Donbas and Crimea has shown that the Russian Federation - violating the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine - has no respect for the existing rules of international law. The current situation is a great threat to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and to the entire European continent, which can destroy the legacy of many generations who have built a peaceful order and unity in Europe "- underlined the Bishops.
In their appeal they recalled that "the totalitarian regimes of the twentieth century brought tragic experiences of wars and political terror to the world, ignoring the authority of God". “Even today we want to clearly emphasize that any war is a disgrace and can never be an appropriate way to solve international problems” - they wrote. “Ultimately, war is always a defeat for humanity. It is an expression of barbarism and a rather ineffective tool for resolving misunderstandings ”- reads the Appeal.
The Bishops have defined every act of war, according to Gaudium et spes, "a crime against God and against humanity itself and must be condemned firmly and without hesitation". They also recalled the teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, where we read that „the extermination of a people, a nation or an ethnic minority must be condemned as a mortal sin. It is morally obligatory to resist orders that command a "genocide" "(CCC 2313).
The bishops also stressed the need to seek alternatives to war in the resolution of international conflicts. “Strengthened by the experience of previous generations, we therefore appeal to the rulers to refrain from war. We urge leaders to withdraw ultimatums immediately and not to take advantage of other countries as a bargaining chip ”- they wrote. They added that any conflicts of interest must be resolved through agreements. “The international community should join its efforts in solidarity and actively support the threatened society in all possible ways” - reads the document.
On their own behalf and on behalf of their communities, the Bishops recalled that the promotion and construction of peace in the world is an integral part of the Church's mission and an expression of the Christian faith in God's love for every person. "The current situation demands from Christians of Eastern and Western tradition full responsibility for the present and future of our continent and the willingness to sacrifice in defense of the family, national and state community" - they wrote.
In the last part of the appeal, the Polish and Ukrainian Catholic Bishops invited everyone to a common prayer for peace with a text from St. John Paul II which ends with the words: “Father, grant our time days of peace. No more war ”.
The Appeal for a dialogue and an agreement was signed by: Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Szewczuk, Primate of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church; Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, President of the Polish Bishops' Conference; Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki, acting as President of the Ukrainian Bishops' Conference; Archbishop Eugeniusz Popowicz, Metropolitan of Przemysł-Warsaw of the Greek-Catholic Church in Poland; the Bishop of Nił Łuszczak, Apostolic Administrator, vacant seat of the Greek-Catholic Eparchy of Mukaczewska sui juris in Ukraine.
Press Office of the Polish Bishops' Conference
We publish the full text of the Appeal:
APPEAL
OF POLISH AND UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS
IN SEARCH OF DIALOGUE AND UNDERSTANDING
TO AVOID THE DANGER OF WAR
With concern, we learn the news that recent rounds of talks between Russia and the West have not led to an agreement. In their speeches, the leaders of many countries underline the growing pressure from the Russian side against Ukraine, on whose borders weapons and military have been massively gathered. The occupation of Donbas and Crimea has shown that the Russian Federation, violating the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, disrespects the existing rules of international law. The current situation is a great threat to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and to the entire European continent, which can destroy the legacy of many generations who have built peaceful order and unity in Europe.
- The totalitarian regimes of the twentieth century brought tragic experiences of wars and political terror to the world, ignoring the authority of God. In the name of false ideologies, entire nations were condemned to extermination, respect for human dignity was destroyed and the essence the exercise of political power is limited to violence alone.
Even today we want to make it clear that any war is a disgrace and can never be an appropriate way to solve international problems. It never has been and never will be because it creates new, more serious conflicts. When a war breaks out, it becomes a "senseless massacre", "a risk from which there is no turning back" that destroys the present and threatens the future of people: "With peace nothing is lost, with war you can lose everything ". Ultimately, war is always a defeat for humanity. It is an expression of barbarism and a rather ineffective tool for resolving misunderstandings. Pope Paul VI, during his speech at the Session of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament in 1978, defined war as "an irrational and unacceptable means of settling disputes between states".
"Every act of war, which indiscriminately aims at the destruction of entire cities or vast regions and their inhabitants, is a crime against God and against humanity itself and must be condemned firmly and without hesitation" ( Gaudium et spes , 80).
“Actions manifestly contrary to the law of nations and its universal principles, not unlike the provisions that impose them, are crimes. Blind obedience is not enough to justify those who submit to it. Thus the extermination of a people, a nation or an ethnic minority must be condemned as a mortal sin. It is morally obligatory to resist orders that command a "genocide" (CCC 2313).
- The search for alternative methods to war to resolve international conflicts has now become an urgent need, because the terrifying power of the tools of destruction available to even the medium and small powers and the ever stronger ties existing between the nations of the whole world today make difficult or even practically impossible to limit the effects of the conflict. Strengthened by the experience of previous generations, we therefore appeal to the rulers to refrain from war. We urge leaders to withdraw ultimatums immediately and not to take advantage of other countries as a bargaining chip. Any divergence of interests should be resolved not through the use of arms but through agreements.
- On our behalf and on behalf of our communities, we remind you that “the promotion of peace in the world is an integral part of the mission through which the Church continues Christ's saving work on earth. Because the Church is a sacrament "in Christ", that is, a sign and instrument of peace in the world and for the world. Building true peace is an expression of the Christian faith in God's love for every person. From the liberating faith in God's love derives a new vision of the world and a new way of approaching one's neighbor, be it an individual or an entire nation: it is faith, inspired by the peace that Christ left to his disciples (Jn 14 , 27), which transforms and renews life (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 516). The foundations of the interpersonal relationships of the Judeo-Christian culture are the values of faith, hope and love, as well as truth, beauty and goodness, without which there is and will not be a lasting and peaceful future. The current situation demands from Christians of Eastern and Western tradition full responsibility for the present and future of our continent and readiness to sacrifice in defense of the family, national and state community.
- Therefore, we invite everyone to unite in common prayer: “God of our Fathers, great and merciful, Lord of peace and life, Father of all. You have plans for peace and not for affliction, you condemn wars and overthrow the pride of the violent. You sent your Son Jesus to announce peace to near and far, to unite men of every race and every lineage in one family.
Hear the unanimous cry of your children, heartfelt plea of all humanity: no more war, no return adventure, no more war, […] which threatens your creatures in heaven, on land and at sea.
In communion with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, we again beg you: speak to the hearts of those responsible for the fate of peoples, stop the logic of retaliation and revenge, suggest with your Spirit new solutions, generous and honorable gestures, spaces for dialogue and of patient waiting more fruitful than the hasty deadlines of war.
Father, grant days of peace to our time. No more war. Amen. (St. Pope John Paul II.
Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Szewczuk
Primate of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church
Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki
President of the Polish Bishops' Conference
Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki
F.F. President of the Ukrainian Episcopal Conference
Archbishop Eugeniusz Popowicz
Metropolitan of Przemysł-Warsaw of the Greek Catholic Church in Poland
Bishop of Nił Łuszczak
Apostolic Administrator vacant seat
of the Greek-Catholic Eparchy of Mukaczewska sui juris
Kiev - Warsaw - Lviv - Użhorod, January 24, 2022
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