Maryknoll OGC Joins Interfaith Letter to Congress Urging Nuclear Disarmament

Read this letter as a PDF.

As faith-based organizations committed to the preservation of life and the promotion of peace, we write to express our strong support for renewed diplomatic efforts to reduce nuclear arsenals through intentional engagement with Russia and China. President Donald Trump’s recent comments acknowledging the “tremendous” costs and dangers associated with nuclear weapons underscore the urgent need for bipartisan action in pursuit of arms control agreements that safeguard global security and human dignity.

Our diverse faith traditions teach us that nuclear weapons, by their very nature, pose a direct threat to humanity. Their use would result in catastrophic humanitarian consequences, violating fundamental moral and ethical principles. Nuclear weapons are incompatible with our fundamental values of respect for human dignity and their continued role in national security should be questioned.

We commend President Trump’s recent public statements that emphasize the financial and existential burden of nuclear proliferation. As President Trump stated, “Tremendous amounts of money are being spent on nuclear… and the destructive capability is something that we don’t even want to talk about.” We agree that a serious effort must be made to reverse the current trajectory of an escalating arms race. Pursuing diplomacy, rather than increasing existing stockpiles, will strengthen national security while allowing critical resources to be directed toward initiatives that promote human well-being.

Furthermore, we recognize that any meaningful nuclear arms reduction strategy must involve multilateral engagement, particularly with China and Russia. President Trump has stated his intention to work with these nations to achieve nuclear arms limitations, a step we believe is essential to preventing future conflict. Sustained diplomatic engagement can pave the way for a more stable and secure world. We welcome the renewed discussion of nuclear arms control and nonproliferation, and we collectively believe negotiations are vital to heading off a costly and dangerous unconstrained nuclear arms race. 

Bipartisan cooperation in Congress will be essential to ensuring that the United States prioritizes diplomatic solutions over further nuclear expansion. As representatives of faith communities across the nation, we urge Congress to actively support and encourage nuclear weapons reduction negotiations. We stand ready to support legislative efforts that advance arms control agreements and reaffirm the moral and national security imperative to reduce the threat posed by these weapons.

We appreciate your attention to this critical issue and urge you to take action in support of diplomatic efforts to reduce nuclear risks.

Sincerely,

See the full list of signatories

Alliance of Baptists

American Friends Service Committee

California Council of Churches IMPACT

Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces

Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, Washington DC

Franciscan Action Network  

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns Mennonite Central Committee U.S.

National Advocacy of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

National Council of Churches

Pax Christi USA

Presbyterian Church, (USA), Office of Public Witness

Religions for Peace USA The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society