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Faith Communities hail Ban Treaty: “We believe the possession, development and threat to use nuclear weapons to be immoral.”

More than 170 faith communities from around the world marked the January 22, 2021 entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by releasing a Joint Interfaith Statement. Below, the text of the statement at the current list of signers.

Joint Interfaith Statement on the Entry into Force of the Treaty on

the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

22 January 2021

As a wide coalition of faith-based communities from around the world, we speak with one voice to reject the existential threat to humanity that nuclear weapons pose. We wholeheartedly welcome the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), the first international treaty to comprehensively ban nuclear weapons. The Treaty addresses the disproportionate impact of nuclear weapons on women and indigenous peoples and the importance of victim assistance and healing environmental harms in a groundbreaking way. We congratulate, celebrate and appreciate the countries that have ratified and signed this important Treaty, as well as all who have worked for nuclear disarmament and abolition for many decades.

As people of faith, we believe that the possession, development and threat to use nuclear weapons is immoral. There are no safe hands for these weapons. The accidental or deliberate detonation of a nuclear weapon would cause severe, long-lasting and far-reaching harm on all aspects of our lives and our environment throughout the world. Further, these technologies are part of structures and systems that bring about great suffering and destruction. We commit, therefore, to the ethical and strategic necessity of working together for economic and social justice, right relationship with the Earth, and accountability and restoration where there is violence and harm. We rejoice at the possibilities of a new world that this Treaty ushers in. At a time when the world desperately needs fresh hope, the TPNW inspires us to continue to work to fully eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons, and to create conditions for peace, justice, and well-being.

We recognize the legacy of the global hibakusha, survivors whose courage and perseverance serve as our inspiration, guidance, and moral foundation in the quest for a world free from nuclear weapons. This quest will continue until all nuclear weapons are eliminated from our planet. We invite everyone, especially those in communities of faith, to join us in this work for peace, justice, and respect for life—against which nuclear weapons stand in complete opposition—in ways that are meaningful and authentic to your traditions and how you are inspired to participate. We urge all States to join the growing community of States which have rejected nuclear weapons and to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, or work toward that end by joining the First Meeting of the States Parties planned to take place this year.

At this historic moment, we must act decisively to strengthen the power of the TPNW upon its entry into force, and to work for peace, cooperation, and common security.

Endorsing Organizations

This list is being updated regularly to reflect the current endorsing organizations.

Act Church of Sweden

Agape Community

All Africa Conference of Churches

The All Souls Nuclear Disarmament Task Force

Alliance of Baptists

American Baptist Churches, USA

American Friends Service Committee

Anglican Pacifist Fellowship

Arkport Catholic Worker

Augustinians Internationsl

Awakening/art & culture

Baltimore Nonviolence Center

Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America

Bruderhof

The Buddhist Council of New York

Casa Generalizia della Societa del Sacro Cuore

Casa Maria Catholic Worker

Catholic Committee of Appalachia

Charter for Compassion

Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

Christian Conference of Asia

Christian Council of Sweden

Christians for Peace Newcastle Australia

Church and Peace

Church Council of Greater Seattle

Church of the Brethren, Office of Peacebuilding and Policy

Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations

The Church of Scotland

Church of Sweden Archbishop Emeritus

Church of Sweden Youth

Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach

Comboni Missionary Sisters

Comisión de Ecología y Cuidado de la Creación de la Diócesis de Lurín, Lima Perú

Comisión General Justicia y Paz

Community of Christ

Community of Christ – British Isles

Congregation de NDC du Bon Pasteur à Madagascar

Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (Global)

Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, Latin America and the Caribbean

Congregation of Our Lady of the Good Shepherd, US Provinces

Congregation of St. Joseph

Congregation of the Mission

Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace

Congregations of St. Joseph

Council of Churches in the Netherlands

Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul USA

Disciples Peace Fellowship

Dominican Leadership Conference

Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids

Dominican Sisters of Hope

Dominican Sisters of Houston

Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa

ECAR JUSTICE ET PAIX MADAGASCAR

Ecumenical Peace Institue

Edmund Rice International

Episcopal Peace Fellowship

Fachgruppe Gerechtigkeit, Frieden unbd Bewahrung der Schöpfung der Evangelisch-methodistischen Kirche in Deutschland

Fellowship of Reconciliation – USA

Fondazione Proclade Internazionale-onlus

Franciscan Peace Center

Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers)

Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ

Gonzaga Nuclear Peace Club

Good Shepherd Sisters

Green Hope Foundation

Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart

Heiwa Peace and Reconciiation Foundation of New York

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, JPIC-USA

House of Peace

Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Loreto Generalate

International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation

International Gurukula Community (India)

International Gurukula Community (USA)

International Presentation Association

International Public Policy Institute

InterReligious Task Force on Central America

Islamic Society of North America

Justice and Peace Scotland

Justice Coalition of Religious

Katarina församling in Svenska kyrkan

Kvekersamfunnet i Norge/the Religious Society of Friends in Norway

Lake City Catholic Worker Farm

Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Leadership Council of the IHM Sisters

The London Catholic Worker

Loretto at the UN

Loretto Community

Loretto Peace Committee

Martha Justice Ministry, Sisters of St. Martha, Antigonish, NS

Mary’s House

Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers

Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic

Mennonite World Conference

Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice

Muslim Peace Fellowship

National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

National Council of Churches

Nevada Desert Experience

Newman Hall Non Violent Committee

North Carolina Council of Churches

North Shore Coalition for Peace & Justice

Office of Peace, Justice, and Ecological Integrity/Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth

On Earth Peace

The Open Door Community

Oregon Fellowship of Reconciliation

Pace e Bene and Campaign Nonviolence

Pacific Conference of Churches

Pacifica Peace People

Passionists International

Parliament of the World’s Religions

PAX

Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand

Pax Christi Castro Valley

Pax Christi Flanders

Pax Christi France

Pax Christi International

Pax Christi Ireland

Pax Christi Massachusetts

Pax Christi Metro New York

Pax Christi Northern California

Pax Christi – Perú

Pax Christi Scotland

Pax Christi USA

Peace Economy Project

PMU

Pooha-Bah Traditional Native American Healing Center

Precious Blood Missionaries Kansas City Province

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship

Religieus Genootschap der Vrienden (Quakers)

Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Sweden

Saint Peter Claver Catholic Worker

School Sisters of Notre Dame

School Sisters of Notre Dame, Central Pacific Province

Sisters of Bon Secours, USA

Sisters of Charity Federation

Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Congregational Leadership

Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Western Province Leadership

Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

Sisters of Saint Anne, St. Marie Province

Sisters of Saint Francis

Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi

Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa

Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania OH

Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden, PA

Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange

Sisters of St. Martha, PEI

Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand

Sisters of the Holy Cross

Sisters of the Humility of Mary

Sisters of the Presentation, Dubuque, IA

Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary

Social Justice Office Srs of St. Joseph-TOSF

Soka Gakkai International

SS. Francis and Therese Catholic Worker

Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation

Thomas Berry Forum for Ecological Dialogue at Iona College

Tikkun/Network of Spiritual Progressives

Trinity Cathedral Episcopal Church

United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries

The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society

The United Reformed Church, United Kingdom

United Religions Initiative

The Uniting Church in Sweden / Equmeniakyrkan

Vereniging Kerk en Vrede

Veterans for Peace, Ch. 45

Viva House, Baltimore Catholic Worker

VIVAT International

Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons

World Council of Churches

World Yoga Community (Argentina)

World Yoga Community (India)

World Yoga Community (USA)

Resources:

OREPA Newsletter

Latest:

Reflections for Nonviolent Community

Latest:

Sunday Vigil at Y-12 in Oak Ridge Tennessee

Sunday Vigil

OREPA has held Sunday vigils every week for more than 22 years at the main entrance to the Y-12 Nuclear Weapons Complex (intersection of Scarboro Rd and East Bear Creek Road). We will now be holding the vigil at 4:00PM ET during the winter months so we don’t have to be sitting out in the dark. We are outdoors and space our chairs; when covid numbers are up, we encourage people to wear masks. Bring your own chair, we have some umbrellas for sun shade or rain.

Learn More »
Where Should I park? vigil-map.jpg

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