There is broad, interfaith support for a world free of nuclear weapons.
Denominational Statements
American Baptist Churches
General Board
“We call on all nations to abolish their nuclear weapons and to dispose of such weapons in a manner that is not harmful to either the physical or political environment.”
Policy Statement on Peace, 12/1985
The American Baptist Churches have expressed support for the adoption of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Catholic Church
Archbishop Renato Martino, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
“Nuclear weapons cannot be justified and deserve condemnation. The world must move to the abolition of nuclear weapons though a universal, non-discriminatory ban with intensive inspection by universal authority.”
General and Complete Disarmament
The Catholic Church has expressed support for the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
“We must continue to say No to the very idea of nuclear war. The eventual elimination of nuclear weapons is more than a moral ideal; it should be a policy goal.”
The Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace, 11/1993
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has expressed support for the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Church of the Brethren
Annual Conference
“The Church of the Brethren shall advocate the forging of bilateral and multilateral agreements and treaties, which abolish nuclear, biological chemical and conventional weaponry.”
Peacemaking: The Calling of God’s People in History, 03/04/1991
The Church of the Brethren has expressed support for the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Daoism
Min Zhiting, Chinese Taoist Organization President
“The hi-tech wars that assume biochemical and nuclear weapons are especially threatening to both human life and its environment. Hence our Daoists advocate that (1) only by challenging our attitudes to nature, recognizing the unity between man and nature, and following the way of nature can we realize sustainable development; (2) respect life, control desire, do not kill animals and expand our benevolence to all creatures; (3) stop any war and resolve disputes by negotiation, stop any damage to the environment and live in natural ways.”
Daoism in China, 08/2000
Episcopal Church
General Convention
“The 76th General Convention [of the Episcopal Church] calls upon US policy makers to determine a timely process for the dismantling of existing U.S. nuclear weapons while urging other countries to do likewise; and be it further resolved, that this Church urge the President and Congress to explore a moratorium on production of new nuclear arms.”
Dismantle Nuclear Weapons and Explore a Moratorium on New Nuclear Arms, 2009
The Episcopal Church has expressed support for the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Churchwide Assembly
“Give high priority to arms control and reduction. We particularly urge a sharp reduction in the number of weapons of mass destruction. We call for arms control agreements that are substantial, equitable, verifiable and progressive.”
For Peace in God’s World, 08/20/1995
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has expressed support for the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Hinduism
Mahatma Gandhi
“So far as I can see, the atomic bomb has deadened the finest feeling that has sustained mankind for ages. There used to be so-called laws of war, which made it tolerable. Now we know the naked truth. War knows no law except that of might. The atomic bomb brought an empty victory to the allied armies but it resulted for the time being in destroying the soul of Japan. What has happened to the soul of the destroying nation is yet too early to see…”
The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas, 07/07/1946
Islam
Muzammil Siddiqi, former Islamic Society of North America President
“We must say to ourselves first and then to the world that we want a total and universal ban on the possession and production of nuclear weapons. All countries, starting with those that have the largest amount of nuclear weapons, should destroy these weapons. There should be a total ban on their production and testing.”
Nuclear Reduction/Disarmament Initiative, 06/2000
The American Muslim Council has expressed support for the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Jainism
Sagarmal Jain, Professor at Jainism Studies Parshwanath Vidyapeeth Jainist Institute
“It is through firm faith in mutual credibility and non-violence that humanity can get rid of this mad race for nuclear weapons and thus can solve the problem of its survival.”
The Solutions of World Problems from Jaina Perspective, 2002
Judaism
Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
“We stand together in this House of God, informed by our values, aware of the horrible human cost of war and conflict, weary of the threat posed by nuclear proliferation – to call upon Congress, the President, the American Military and the American people to lead the way towards a process of nuclear reduction and disarmament.”
Nuclear Reduction/Disarmament Initiative, 06/21/2000
The Central Conference of American Rabbis has expressed support for the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Mennonite Church USA
General Assembly of the Mennonite Church (Predecessor to Mennonite Church USA)
“While we are confident that the ultimate destiny of the world is in God’s hand, we cannot ignore humanity’s apparent capability of annihilating God’s creation via nuclear weapons. The church must plead and pray for reversal of the world’s collision to course in manufacturing and deploying the most destructive weapons in all history.”
Militarism and Conscription Statement, 08/16/1979
The Mennonite Central Committee has expressed support for the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
National Association of Evangelicals
National Association of Evangelicals Board
“While the threat of armed nuclear conflict no longer captivates the public imagination as it did a generation ago, these weapons of mass destruction, now capable of being delivered in ever more sophisticated ways, continue to threaten humankind. Many argue that they weaken rather than strengthen our security. And so we prayerfully and boldly call on evangelicals to re-engage the national dialogue on nuclear peace and security in our globalizing age, making a distinctively evangelical contribution..”
Policy Resolution on Nuclear Weapons, 2011
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
General Assembly
“The 215th General Assembly (2003) call[s] on all nations to fulfill their commitments under the Nonproliferation Treaty and move together with the other nuclear powers, step by carefully inspected and verified step, to the abolition of nuclear weapons.”
Statements on Nuclear Weapons and Disarmament, 06/2004
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has expressed support for the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Religious Society of Friends
Friends Committee on National Legislation
“We believe that nations must move toward comprehensive disarmament. We urge the elimination of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.
“We also advocate that the United States take unilateral steps toward its own disarmament, believing that other nations will respond affirmatively to this example. The risks of disarmament are far smaller than the risks involved in the current course of weapons stockpiling and development.”
FCNL Policy Statement, 11/2013
The Friends Committee on National Legislation supports the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Unitarian Universalist Association
General Assembly
“The 1977 General Assembly of the Universalist Unitarian Association urges the United States Government to undertake substantial independent initiatives for nuclear disarmament, to challenge the other nuclear powers to match these initiatives with equivalent action and to review their disarmament policies periodically for progress.”
General Resolution on Nuclear Proliferation, 1977
The Unitarian Universalist Association has expressed support for the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
United Church of Christ
General Synod
“We declare our opposition to all weapons of mass destruction. All nations should: (1) declare that they will never use such weapons; (2) cease immediately the testing, production and deployment of nuclear weapons; (3) begin dismantling these arsenals, and; (4) while the process of dismantling is going on, negotiate comprehensive treaties banning all such future weapons by any nation.”
A Resolution of Witness, 07/05/2011
The United Church of Christ has expressed support for the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
United Methodist Church
Council of Bishops
“We support the earliest possible negotiation of phased but rapid reduction of nuclear arsenals, while calling upon all other nuclear-weapon states to agree to parallel arms reductions, to the eventual goal of a mutual and verifiable dismantling of all nuclear armaments.”
Saying No to Nuclear Deterrence, 2004
The United Methodist Church has expressed support for the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Interfaith and Ecumenical Statements
World Council of Churches
Executive Committee
“The only ultimate protection against nuclear weapons is their total elimination.”
Statement on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, 02/20/2004
The World Council of Churches has expressed support for the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
General Assembly
“Jesus Christ, the good shepherd, declared that He had come to bring ‘abundant life’ to humanity. Nuclear weapons, which have the capacity to destroy entire cities and nations, and, indeed, all life on earth, represent the diametric opposite to this. In fact, the only thing they are capable of producing is ‘abundant death.’ The time has arrived to eliminate all of them, before they eliminate all of us. Be it therefore resolved that the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. hereby recommends itself to the total worldwide eradication of nuclear weapons.”
Nuclear Disarmament: The Time is Now, 11/12/2009
The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. has expressedsupport for the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Canadian Council of Churches
Project Ploughshares, Peace and Security Council and Analysis for the Canadian Council of Churches
“[We] encourage explicit Canadian support, in voice and action, for the elimination of nuclear weapons and contribute, through NGO and government initiative, to international policies and actions that support nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.”
Nuclear Weapons Objective, 1977-2012
Conference of European Churches
Ecumenical Assembly
“[We] urge political decision-makers and the citizens to encourage disarmament and the development of nonviolent conflict management, and fostering without delay negotiation leading to complete elimination of nuclear arms, according to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.”
CEC Second European Ecumenical Assembly, 06/29/1997
1999 Parliament of the World’s Religions
Parliament of Religious Leaders and People of Faith
“The threat posed to humanity and all other forms of life by the sheer destructiveness of nuclear weapons presents an unacceptable risk for this and future generations. This unacceptable risk presents a moral imperative for the elimination of nuclear weapons.”
A Moral Call to Eliminate the Threat of Nuclear Weapons, 12/1999
Muslim-Christian Initiative on the Nuclear Weapons Danger
Islamic Society of North America and Churches’ Center for Theology and Public Policy
“We believe that chemical, biological, and particularly nuclear weapons do not discriminate between combatants and non-combatants and inevitably destroy innocent human life, even as they destroy other forms of life such as animal and vegetation, cause irrevocable damage to the environment for many generations to come and cause human suffering and disease. Therefore, we hold that these weapons are contrary to our religious and ethical principles.”
We Affirm Our Belief in the One God, 05/2005
FCNL developed this resource to illustrate the multidenominational support for disarmament of nuclear weapons in the United States and the rest of the world. The idea for its development and basis for research came from Howard Hallman, former moderator of zero-nukes.org. The information was compiled by Grace Cason, Nuclear Disarmament Intern.
Revised August 10, 2012.