USCCB leaders join pope's call for day of fasting, prayer for peace

04 Sept. 2013:Two leaders of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops –USCCB, urged U.S. Catholics to take up Pope Francis' call to fast and pray for peace in Syria, the Middle East and the world on Saturday, (Sept.7.) Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, President of USCCB,
and Bishop Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, chairman of the bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace, expressed anguish over the suffering of the Syrian people and echoed the pope's exhortation for negotiation and dialogue to resolve Syria's long civil war, as the United States contemplates military action against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
The statement came as US President Barack Obama met congressional leaders on Monday to outline his justification for a military response to Syria's reported use of chemical weapons Aug. 21. U.S. officials said the attack claimed 1,429 lives. "As our nation's leaders contemplate military action, it is particularly appropriate and urgent that we in the United States embrace the Holy Father's call to pray and fast on Sept. 7 for a peaceful end to the conflict in Syria and to violent conflicts everywhere," said Cardinal Dolan. The prelates also called for prayers for those who have died and were injured during the chemical weapon attack. "Pope Francis has exhorted 'the international community to make every effort to promote clear proposals for peace based on dialogue and negotiation, for the good of the entire Syrian people," the statement said.
"The Holy Father reminds us that 'peace is a precious gift, which must be promoted and protected' and that 'all men and women of good will are bound by the task of pursuing peace,'" the statement said. "We ask all U.S. Catholics and people of goodwill to join us in witnessing to the hope we have in our hearts for peace for the Syrian people. May our prayers, fasting and advocacy move our nation to promote a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria. And may Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us and the people of Syria," the statement concluded.
Source: CNS