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The latest edition of the electronic bulletin "Behind the News: Visions for peace - Voices of faith", which focuses on the war in Iraq and provides information about statements and actions of churches and the ecumenical family, humanitarian relief, and additional resources and information, is available at:

Free photos are available - see below

by Kristine Greenaway *

As the military attack on Iraq has begun,

Reacting with "profound sorrow" to news that a military attack on Iraq has begun, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser has today released a statement calling the attack "immoral, illegal and ill-advised".

Increasing religious intolerance in India, Indonesia and Pakistan is being highlighted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) at the current (59th) session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) that began on 17 March and continues through 24 April. The denial of socio-economic and cultural rights to the people of West Papua, as well as human rights violations committed under the Israeli military occupation of Palestine will also be addressed by the WCC.

cf. Press update, Up-03-02 of 5 February 2003

"I told Islamic leaders they should thank the churches and Christians in Europe and the US for their stand on military violence against a Muslim country," said the foreign minister of Pakistan, Mr Mehmood Kasuri, to World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser during a March 8 meeting between the ecumenical leader and Pakistan government officials.

Cf. WCC Press Update, Up-03-06 of 28 February 2003

The WCC Executive Committee on 20 February invited churches around the world to unite in prayers for peace in Iraq on the first day of Lent (see their statement at www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/exco03-iraq.html ). Liturgical resources in various languages contributed by members of the international ecumenical community are available on our website at:

Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), will be visiting four Asian countries from 26 February to 9 March. Laos, Thailand, Myanmar (formerly Burma), and Pakistan will be receiving their first official visit from a WCC general secretary. The visit will assure Christian communities living in a minority situation that they have the support of the worldwide ecumenical family.

The Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC), meeting in Bossey, Switzerland, 18-21 February, "strongly deplores the fact that the most powerful nations of this world again regard war as an acceptable instrument of foreign policy" in a statement against military action in Iraq. Expressing deep concern for the humanitarian situation in Iraq, and the need for all political leaders to pursue paths for sustainable peace in the region, the Executive Committee calls on churches to join in a day of prayer for peace in Iraq at the beginning of Lent.

The Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) will discuss the situation in Iraq, Cyprus and Sri Lanka at its forthcoming regular meeting from 18 to 21 February. Also on its agenda will be the search for candidates for the post of general secretary, preparations for the WCC's next assembly, and the follow-up to the work of the Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC.  The Committee will also have to decide on this year's focus for the Decade to Overcome Violence.

The latest edition of Behind the News: Visions for peace - Voices of faith, which focuses on threatened military action against Iraq, is now online.