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2007 Diocesan Convention

EPF proposed a resolution on first use of nuclear weapons, which passed by an overwhelming majority. We also operated a table.


Resolution text
Resolved,  That this convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York calls upon our U.S. Representatives and Senators to propose or support legislation that:
1.  States as national policy that the U.S. disavows first use of nuclear weapons;
2.  Prohibits by law the use of nuclear weapons of any sort or size by the U.S. Armed Forces or any agency or contractor of the U.S. government, in all circumstances except an actual nuclear attack on the U.S. or an ally, and then only against the attacker; and

Resolved,  that the Convention requests the Bishop of the Diocese to communicate this call to these Representatives and Senators.

Explanation
    In 1982, General Convention adopted (in both houses) Resolution 1982-D031: “Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 67th General Convention urges the governments of both the United States and the Soviet Union to adopt a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons; and directs the Secretary of this Convention to communicate this to the President of the United States, members of Congress, and the President of the USSR.”
    Despite the end of the Cold War, this issue is if anything more urgent today.  Actually using nuclear weapons, as opposed to possessing them in order to deter attack, is under active consideration.  The weapons that might be used are called tactical, but they are more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.  The administration has repeatedly refused to rule out using nuclear weapons against Iran, and many of the 2008 presidential candidates take the same position.  In addition, recent official statements of U.S. nuclear policy envisage nuclear weapons being used for “rapid and favorable war termination on US terms,” to “defeat,” not just to “deter,” an enemy.*
    All Christian traditions dealing with war place limits on the ways in which even a just war can be fought.  Christians are not permitted to use the most militarily effective or efficient means, if these violate fundamental principles.  The use of nuclear weapons, which have devastating, far-reaching, and hard to predict effects, not only on combatants but also on civilians, countries downwind, future generations, international stability, and the natural environment, can be condoned by a Christian, if at all, only in the most extreme situations.  The moral consensus of humankind since 1945 has been that nuclear weapons must never be used again, and are to be possessed only for deterrence.  This resolution asks that the U.S. government join the consensus.

Footnote
* U.S. Army and Navy, Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations, published 15 Mar 2005, p. III-2.   U.S. Nuclear Posture Review, submitted to Congress on 31 Dec 2001, pp. 12-13. 

Supporting materials referred to in the resolution and footnote
    Nuclear Posture Review (2001)
    Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations (2005)

Click here for the resolution in the form of a 1-page document (PDF).

Other materials on the first use of nuclear weapons:

Chap. 1 from Joseph Gerson, Empire and the Bomb, a careful and informative overview of American nuclear policy since 1945, and the motives behind our policy.  (Caution to dial-up users: file size 2MB)

"Not Everyone Wanted to Bomb Hiroshima," on the debate at the time about using nuclear weapons on Japan, from History News Service.