Post Office Box 476
Lacombe, Louisiana 70445-0476

Telephone: (504) 524-2398
Facsimile: (504) 524-5011

February 4, 2003

President George Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

As a religious congregation of women ministering in the United States and the Philippines, we express our strong moral reservations regarding the use of military force against Iraq.

As a nation, the United States has always stood against aggression. We judge a preemptive strike against Iraq by the United States to be a war of aggression and as such violates just-war standards and the standards against aggression followed by the United States.

We share the world’s concern and especially our government’s concern about Iraq’s possible possession and use of weapons of mass destruction. However, we are not convinced that all means short of war have been exhausted. We urge our government to assist the United Nations in locating these weapons of mass destruction. In doing so we can save thousands of lives.

In addition to the loss of life, war would bring disaster to the already damaged infrastructure of Iraq where 49% of Iraqi families do not earn enough to meet their basic needs and the infant mortality rate has soared by 50%.

Our prayers for wisdom, courage and compassion are offered for you and our nation.

Sincerely,

(signed)

Sister Ursula Diasselliss, O. Carm.
President