Des Moines Bishop supports call for non-violence against Iraq

The bishop of the Des Moines Catholic Diocese is supporting a call for the U-S to consider non-violent options in dealing with Iraq. Diocese spokeswoman Ann Marie Cox says in doing so, Bishop Joseph Charron is in line with the conference of Catholic bishops. She says the bishop believes that even with those who support the “just war” theory, war must be the last resort. Cox says the bishop arrived at his position through reading newspapers about the Mideast conflict, and reading the letter sent to the president by Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. She explains that the bishop believes that through the conflict, we must keep the highest regard for human life and dignity, and quotes him as saying the war could have grave consequences for the people of Iraq, who’ve already suffered from war, repression and an embargo.