A renewed condemnation of the attacks on the Twin Towers of 11 September, recognition of the right to self-defence balanced by the need for a just peace, the conviction that any military action must be targeted and limited in time, and hope in the improvement of the conditions of the Afghan people, thanks also to the aid and solidarity of Catholics. That, in essence, is what is expressed by the Catholic bishops of England and Wales in a document issued at the end of their meeting in November. In particular the bishops express “concern for the fact that many Moslems perceive the current military attacks in Afghanistan as a war against Islam”. In their joint document the bishops reaffirm “the need for all religions to seek peace and justice, as is also declared by many Moslem leaders”. “The current humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan say the bishops of England and Wales has deteriorated as a result of the political and military situation, and is of great concern. Catholics are called to prayer and solidarity with Moslems in this time of Ramadan”. Conscious that the solution to the grave international crisis is also linked to the conflict in the Holy Land, the bishops reaffirm, in this regard, that “the resolutions of the UNO remain the only basis for a just peace and that the illegal occupation of land must be stopped”, adding that “each killing is a further step in the spiral of violence”. To the Christians who live in the Holy Land and to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem the bishops assure their solidarity, prayer and support. A concrete sign of this commitment is the recommendation that the practice of pilgrimage to the holy places be continued, though this they stress should be conducted with due caution.
