WASHINGTON—On the same day that Pope Francis asked the G20 nations to "lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution" in Syria, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, chairman of the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace, wrote to every member of Congress, urging them not to resort to military intervention, but instead work to end the violence in Syria through a political solution.

In their September 5 letter, Cardinal Dolan and Bishop Pates affirmed the finding of a proposed Congressional resolution that acknowledges that "the conflict in Syria will only be resolved through a negotiated political settlement," and questioned military intervention. The bishops also condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria, declaring these "indiscriminate weapons have no place in the arsenals of the family of nations." They noted that more than 100,000 Syrians have lost their lives, more than 2 million have fled the country as refugees, and more than 4 million within Syria have been driven from their homes by the ongoing conflict.

"Our focus is on the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Syria and on saving lives by ending the conflict, not fueling it," the bishops wrote. They echoed the appeals of Pope Francis and bishops in the Middle East who "have made it clear that a military attack will be counterproductive, will exacerbate an already deadly situation, and will have unintended negative consequences."

"We ask the United States to work urgently and tirelessly with other governments to obtain a ceasefire, initiate serious negotiations, provide impartial humanitarian assistance, and encourage efforts to build an inclusive society in Syria that protects the rights of all its citizens, including Christians and other minorities," they wrote. The bishops also assured Congress of their prayers in the midst of this complex situation.

Cardinal Dolan and Bishop Pates wrote to President Obama September 4, also urging a political solution in Syria.

The full text of the letter to Congress is available online: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/global-issues/middle-east/syria/letter-to-congress-from-cardinal-dolan-and-bishop-pates-on-syria-2013-09-05.cfm

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