Onward Christian soldiers. What took you so long? Dissent is coming from all quarters – even in Bush’s own church:
But the most dramatic intervention comes from President George Bush’s own United Methodist church which launched a scathing attack on his plans for war.
Jim Winkler, responsible for the application of the church’s teachings to social policy, said war against Iraq was ‘without any justification according to the teachings of Christ’.
After careful study of Christian doctrinal writings on Just War, Winkler said he was ‘told flatly’ by the church’s scholars, ‘that they simply did not apply to this situation’.
Winkler said ‘we keep the lines of communication open’ to the White House, but added: ‘I regret that the lines have been one way. I hope and pray that the President has considered the church’s teachings.’
Winkler’s sentiments have an impact beyond the usual circles of dissent in a church-going society that, for the most part, supports Bush.
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