Cardinal urges UK to abandon nuclear weapons

(April 20, 2011) Scotland’s leading prelate has called upon the British government to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Addressing an anti-nuclear rally at a submarine base at Faslane, which is the very heart of Britain’s nuclear weapons industry, Cardinal Keith O’Brien said “I’ve been speaking of the teaching of the Catholic Church on nuclear weapons for many years now. It’s a message I’m all the more glad to repeat here.” He said the consistent message of the Catholic Church is plain and simple and was summed up by Pope Benedict in his very first message for World Day for Peace, in 2006. The Pontiff was speaking to our British government, and to those other few governments, who mistakenly believe nuclear weapons have any place in a civilised society. Pope Benedict’s message said “This point of view, that nuclear weapons have any place in a civilised society, is not only harmful but also completely fallacious. In a nuclear war there would be no victors only victims. The truth of peace requires that all agree to change their course by clear and firm decisions, and strive for a progressive and concerted nuclear disarmament.” Cardinal O’Brien noted that in the same message for World Day For Peace, Pope Benedict chose to refer to the entire trade in weapons, not just nuclear weapons. That is a teaching we lose sight of at our peril. Weapons production, from the smallest handgun to rocket launchers, and fighter aircraft, is big business, a massive industry, and to our shame, Britain has a leading role. Our own Scottish Bishops have often echoed the peace demands of Pope Benedict, and of his predecessor Pope John Paul, and I am here to repeat it once more. Here at the gates of Faslane, there is no better place to say that it is not courageous of Britain to have these dreadful weapons of mass destruction. If our government wished to truly be courageous, it would unilaterally give up its nuclear deterrent, giving the witness and impetus for other nations to do the same.