The Canadian Council of Churches has publicly supported Prime Minister Jean Chretien in his refusal to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom

Christian Century, April 19, 2003

* The Canadian Council of Churches has publicly supported Prime Minister Jean Chretien in his refusal to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The council's March 26 letter to him commends the government "for remaining firm" in its position that though Iraq should fully abide by resolutions of the UN Security Council, Canada will not participate in a war on Iraq led by the U.S.

"Now that the war has started, we cannot but deplore the fact that the United States did not abide by international law and acted in spite of the United Nations' opposition to war." Meanwhile, while stopping short of endorsing Canada's refusal to send troops to Iraq, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops said it supports Chretien "in every undertaking toward international solidarity and enduring peace in our time."