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Church leaders call for political progress 10 years on from 9/11

A decade on from the 9/11 attacks British Church leaders arecalling for the Government to examine its use of military force inresponse to violent extremism.

They state:

"It is clear that our reaction to the attacks on 9/11 has causedmore suffering and loss than the original attacks. The 'War onTerror' has done little to make anyone safer, but has harmed humanrights, depleted our coffers and damaged our standing in the world,and at a cost of many lives."

The Churches will celebrate Peacemaking Sunday on 18 September. Aservice booklet and worship resources are available to downloadonline here: jointpublicissues.org.uk/peacemakingsunday.

The full statement follows:

The ten year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks will be a day of hugesadness for the whole world and our hearts and prayers are with allthose who continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones in theterrible atrocities of 9/11. We remember those who died in theattacks, and those who died in the wars that followed.

A decade on, it is also an appropriate moment to pause and considerwhat lessons we have learned as a nation in the intervening years.Our military action in Afghanistan and Iraq has taught us thatdefeating an enemy may take only days, but rebuilding a just andinclusive society will take many years.

It is clear that our reaction to the attacks on 9/11 has causedmore suffering and loss than the original attacks. The 'War onTerror' has done little to make anyone safer, but has harmed humanrights, depleted our coffers and damaged our standing in the world,and at a cost of many lives.

It is sad and ironic that regimes that seek to maintain their rulethrough military force have often purchased their weapons fromBritain, such as Libya, which has purchased 120 million Euros worthof British arms since 2005.

Our government aspires to support democratic reform in the MiddleEast, but at the same time tax-payers' money is being used tosupport the London Arms Fair, hosting 1,300 weapons companies fromaround the world.

There can be no future security if we place our trust in moresophisticated weapons. We cannot rely on military intervention butmust concentrate on supporting the principles of politicalprogress, human security and economic justice if we are to achievea better and more secure world for all.

As Christians we follow Jesus, the Prince of Peace. We pray forworld leaders, for peacemakers and for those suffering violenceeverywhere, and we look to the future with hope.

Revd Jonathan Edwards
General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain

Revd Lionel E Osborn
President of the Methodist Conference

Revd Roberta Rominger
General Secretary of the United Reformed Church