Vatican diplomat renews call for nuclear disarmament

Last updated on: October 4, 2013 at 8:01 am by CNA Daily News

Vatican diplomat renews call for nuclear disarmament 2013-10-04T08:01:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

New York City, N.Y., Oct 4, 2013 / 02:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- A top Vatican diplomat has reaffirmed the Holy See’s support for nuclear disarmament, warning that dedication to continued research into nuclear weapons will hinder anti-proliferation efforts.

“The Holy See, which has long called for the banishment of these weapons of mass destruction, joins in this concerted effort to give vigorous expression to the cry of humanity to be freed from the specter of nuclear warfare,” Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for the Holy See’s relations with states, said.

The archbishop addressed a high-level United Nations meeting on nuclear disarmament Sept. 26 in New York City.

“We must emphasize anew that military doctrines based on nuclear arms, as instruments of security and defense of an elite group, in a show of power and supremacy, retard and jeopardize the process of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation,” he said.

There are about 22,000 nuclear weapons in the world today, the United Nations’ disarmament office says. The United States and Russia have the world’s largest stockpiles.

The United Nations has officially supported nuclear disarmament since its first General Assembly in 1946.

Archbishop Mamberti noted that the international non-proliferation treaty requires states to make “good faith” efforts to negotiate the elimination of nuclear weapons, yet many nuclear powers continue to modernize their weapons programs.

“Concern over the proliferation of nuclear weapons into other countries rings hollow as long as the nuclear weapons states hold on to their nuclear weapons,” he said.

The archbishop criticized the continued acceptance of “nuclear deterrence” as a justification for the possession of nuclear weapons.

“With the end of the Cold War, the time for the acceptance of this doctrine is long past. The Holy See does not countenance the continuation of nuclear deterrence, since it is evident it is driving the development of ever newer nuclear arms, thus preventing genuine nuclear disarmament.”

He urged a global effort to provide security that is not based on nuclear deterrence.

Nuclear deterrence policy, he said, diverts human, financial and material resources from efforts to improve health, education and social services. These resources also are diverted from countering threats like poverty, climate change, and terrorism and other crimes.

These factors should make countries consider the “ethical dimension and the moral legitimacy” of nuclear weapons production and development.

Archbishop Mamberti said nuclear disarmament efforts should counter “the logic of fear” with “the ethic of responsibility.” Countries should foster “a climate of trust and sincere dialogue” that can promote “a culture of peace” through international cooperation.

Previous Post

October 4, 2013

Seeking transparency, Vatican Bank issues first annual report

Next Post

October 4, 2013 Beauty necessary to restore culture, says Bishop Conley

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many chapters are in the Book of Isaiah?

Select your answer to see how you score.

52 31 22 66