USCCB urges Catholics to lobby for dramatic reduction in nuclear weapons

March 06, 2012

The Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is urging Catholics to lobby for a dramatic reduction in nuclear weapons.

“The Obama administration is currently weighing cuts in US nuclear forces,” a USCCB action alert states. “Within weeks, the President will be making important, once-in-a-decade decisions on the Presidential nuclear weapons policy ‘guidance.’”

“Now is our opportunity to make our voices heard by pressing President Obama to make good on his commitment to ‘put an end to Cold War thinking’ and pursue further, dramatic steps that would make us all safer from the threat of nuclear weapons,” the action alert continued.

The USCCB asks Catholics to sign a petition to President Obama that states:

In the coming weeks, I urge you to end outdated US nuclear war-fighting strategy, dramatically reduce the number of US nuclear weapons and the number of submarines, missiles, and bombers that carry those weapons, and take US nuclear weapons off high alert. Maintaining large numbers of nuclear forces on alert increases the risk of accident or miscalculation.

By taking these steps, you will facilitate reductions in Russia's nuclear arsenal, encourage other nuclear-armed countries to join in reductions, and move us closer to a world free of nuclear weapons.

 

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Further information:

• Urge President Obama to Change Outdated Nuclear Policy (USCCB)