Clergy backs UK forces in Gulf

Clergy backs UK forces in Gulf

Thousands of UK troops are in the Gulf

After weeks of voicing their opposition to war in Iraq, some church leaders appear to be changing their emphasis.

In a show of solidarity with British forces in the Gulf, Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops have been visiting the headquarters of 16 Air Assault Brigade in Colchester on Monday.

It appears that while they are opposed to military intervention, they want to show their support for the troops themselves.

Church leaders have consistently denounced the deployment of British forces in a conflict with Iraq, dismissing the argument that it could be considered a just war.

Spiritual support

Now the Anglican Bishop of Chelmsford John Perry and his Roman Catholic counterpart Thomas McMahon decided to visit the Colchester garrison.

The base has 2,500 soldiers in the Gulf, including seven of the 60 chaplains serving with the British forces.

The bishops appeared on the garrison's radio station.

They wanted to promise practical as well as spiritual support.

Bishop Perry said:"Great uncertainty faces the men and women of our armed services and their families at this difficult time.

"Whilst we all pray that a war may be avoided, we want to pay tribute to the dedication and commitment of our servicemen and women and their families."

'Other ways'

In Suffolk, home to several British and American bases, a letter from clergy makes a similar gesture.

Other clergy have been to the bases in recent weeks to demonstrate against a war with Iraq.

In February the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, issued a joint statement calling for continued weapons inspections.

They said such a course could avert the need for military action.

Dr Williams said: "There are other ways to disarm Iraq apart from war.

"There could be a sustained United Nations presence as part of a containment policy."

As far back as August 2002 Dr Williams was among 2,500 signatories of a Christian petition delivered to Downing Street opposing military action against Iraq.

The declaration, drawn up by the Christian peace group Pax Christi, called any attack on Iraq "immoral and illegal".