The Russian Orthodox Church has also added its voice to the chorus of those rejecting a war in Iraq – an opposition that has unanimously brought together in recent days all the Christian Churches and religious communities of Europe and the world (USA included). “The experience of history teaches us that it is very easy to unleash a war but very difficult to bring it to a conclusion. No one can predict all the consequences of a conflict, especially in a region so complex as that of the Middle East”. The position of the Patriarchate of Moscow regarding a probable war in Iraq was explained by Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, in response to the “Ria-Novosty” press agency. “I am profoundly convinced said Kirill that we can and must combat the danger of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction only through the peaceful ways of diplomacy and in total conformity with international law and the resolution of the UN Security Council”. Kirill further pointed out that the Russian Church’s rejection of a war in Iraq coincided with that expressed in recent days by all the Christian confessions and religious communities (including Islamic and Jewish ones) in the world. “The unity of intentions by the representatives of the various Christian confessions he said should be no cause for surprise: each people of good will is convinced that nations must aspire to peace and cooperation”.
