One of the clearest positions taken by Quakers (members of the Religious Society of Friends) is our opposition to violence in general and war in particular. Throughout our 300+ years, Quakers have recognized that killing an enemy is not only a violation of a commandment. Killing an enemy is violence against a portion of God's creation, it is a failure to commune with the divine essence that is present in every person, it is the loss of an opportunity to convert an enemy into an ally. Over the centuries, there have been times when the Quaker testimony against war has been controversial, particularly during so-called "just" wars. The current (February 1998) situation, in which the United States threatens military assault against Iraq in order to coerce compliance with United Nations resolutions, is far from being a just war. If any situation exemplified the wisdom taught by Jesus and taken to heart by Friends, it is the present.
Sondra and I are Quakers, in a branch known as Friends General Conference. Another branch of Quakerism, Friends United Meeting, has issued a statement on the brink of what appears to imminent military action by the United States. As Friends are in the habit of saying, the FUM statement "speaks our mind." We unite with it, and reproduce it below.
Mario Cavallini
16 February 1998
PS: On 22 February, the Quaker meeting (congregation) to which we belong, Mickleton Monthly Meeting, minuted its support of the FUM minute, even though Sondra and I were absent from the session. Later in February, we attended the Interim Meeting of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Several minutes and statements were considered at that meeting, and I was not too surprised to find that they were quite consistent with each other. Still, for me, the FUM minute best reflects my portion of the truth. - - MC, 24 March 1998
We, the General Board of Friends United Meeting, have observed with deep concern the rising tension between Iraq and the countries which led the 1991 coalition against Iraq, notably the United States and Britain. We sense that, on both sides of this tense relationship, leaders have not behaved in a way which would be pleasing to our Creator who says, "You shall not kill," and our Savior who says, "Love your enemies."
There are many moderate voices today who call for further diplomatic efforts before force is employed. We do not feel that additional diplomacy that relies on the ultimate use of force is a genuine alternative.
We call upon the leaders of Iraq, the United States, and all nations involved in this conflict to cease their threats and their preparations for combat, and commit themselves to a process of looking for an effective and just resolution. If this proves impossible, we ask them to submit their grievances to binding arbitration in a trustworthy forum, such as the Secretary General of the United Nations might arrange. We ask that no nation engage in inflammatory rhetoric or military action which would pre-empt such a step.
Our faith as Friends teaches that "all war is utterly incompatible with the plain precepts of our divine Lord and Lawgiver." However, even secular and pragmatic calculations would reveal that violent methods only sow the seeds of future conflict. We call upon all leaders and nations to be as determined and eloquent in finding a peaceful solution as they have been up to this point in threatening each other.
Approved by the General Board of Friends United Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), February 14, 1998.
Copyright © 1998,
Mario
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