Joint Interfaith Statement on the Entry into Force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Joint Interfaith Statement on the Entry into Force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

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As a wide coalition of faith-based communities from around the world, we speak with one voice to reject the existential threat to humanity that nuclear weapons pose. We wholeheartedly welcome the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), the first international treaty to comprehensively ban nuclear weapons. The Treaty addresses the disproportionate impact of nuclear weapons on women and indigenous peoples and the importance of victim assistance and healing environmental harms in a groundbreaking way. We congratulate, celebrate and appreciate the countries that have ratified and signed this important Treaty, as well as all who have worked for nuclear disarmament and abolition for many decades.

As people of faith, we believe that the possession, development and threat to use nuclear weapons is immoral. There are no safe hands for these weapons. The accidental or deliberate detonation of a nuclear weapon would cause severe, long-lasting and far-reaching harm on all aspects of our lives and our environment throughout the world. Further, these technologies are part of structures and systems that bring about great suffering and destruction. We commit, therefore, to the ethical and strategic necessity of working together for economic and social justice, right relationship with the Earth, and accountability and restoration where there is violence and harm. We rejoice at the possibilities of a new world that this Treaty ushers in. At a time when the world desperately needs fresh hope, the TPNW inspires us to continue to work to fully eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons, and to create conditions for peace, justice, and well-being.

We recognize the legacy of the global hibakusha, survivors whose courage and perseverance serve as our inspiration, guidance, and moral foundation in the quest for a world free from nuclear weapons. This quest will continue until all nuclear weapons are eliminated from our planet. We invite everyone, especially those in communities of faith, to join us in this work for peace, justice, and respect for life—against which nuclear weapons stand in complete opposition—in ways that are meaningful and authentic to your traditions and how you are inspired to participate. We urge all States to join the growing community of States which have rejected nuclear weapons and to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, or work toward that end by joining the First Meeting of the States Parties planned to take place this year.

At this historic moment, we must act decisively to strengthen the power of the TPNW upon its entry into force, and to work for peace, cooperation, and common security.

Endorsing Organizations

Act Church of Sweden
All Africa Conference of Churches
The All Souls Nuclear Disarmament Task Force
Alliance of Baptists
American Baptist Churches, USA
American Friends Service Committee
Arkport Catholic Worker
Baltimore Nonviolence Center
Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
Bruderhof
The Buddhist Council of New York
Casa Generalizia della Societa del Sacro Cuore
Casa Maria Catholic Worker
Catholic Committee of Appalachia
Charter for Compassion
Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Christian Conference of Asia
Christian Council of Sweden
Christians for Peace Newcastle Australia
Church and Peace
Church Council of Greater Seattle
Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations
The Church of Scotland
Church of Sweden Archbishop Emeritus
Church of Sweden Youth
Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach
Comboni Missionary Sisters
Comisión de Ecología y Cuidado de la Creación de la Diócesis de Lurín, Lima Perú
Comisión General Justicia y Paz
Community of Christ
Community of Christ – British Isles
Congregation de NDC du Bon Pasteur à Madagascar
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (Global)
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, Latin America and the Caribbean
Congregation of Our Lady of the Good Shepherd, US Provinces
Congregation of St. Joseph
Congregation of the Mission
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace
Congregations of St. Joseph
Council of Churches in the Netherlands
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul USA
Disciples Peace Fellowship
Dominican Leadership Conference
Dominican Sisters of Hope
Dominican Sisters of Houston
Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa
ECAR JUSTICE ET PAIX MADAGASCAR
Ecumenical Peace Institute
Episcopal Peace Fellowship
Fachgruppe Gerechtigkeit, Frieden unbd Bewahrung der Schöpfung der Evangelisch-methodistischen Kirche in Deutschland
Fellowship of Reconciliation – USA
Franciscan Peace Center
Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers)
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ
Gonzaga Nuclear Peace Club
Good Shepherd Sisters
Green Hope Foundation
Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart
Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New York
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, JPIC-USA
House of Peace
Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Loreto Generalate
International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation
International Gurukula Community
International Presentation Association
InterReligious Task Force on Central America
Islamic Society of North America
Justice and Peace Scotland
Katarina församling in Svenska kyrkan
Kvekersamfunnet i Norge/the Religious Society of Friends in Norway
Lake City Catholic Worker Farm
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Leadership Council of the IHM Sisters
The London Catholic Worker
Loretto Community
Loretto Peace Committee
Martha Justice Ministry
Mary’s House
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic
Mennonite World Conference
Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Council of Churches
Nevada Desert Experience
Newman Hall Non Violent Committee
North Carolina Council of Churches
North Shore Coalition for Peace & Justice
Office of Peace, Justice, and Ecological Integrity/Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
On Earth Peace
The Open Door Community
Oregon Fellowship of Reconciliation
Pace e Bene and Campaign Nonviolence
Pacific Conference of Churches
Passionists International
Parliament of the World’s Religions
PAX
Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand
Pax Christi Castro Valley
Pax Christi Flanders
Pax Christi France
Pax Christi International
Pax Christi Ireland
Pax Christi Metro New York
Pax Christi Northern California
Pax Christi – Perú
Pax Christi USA
Peace Economy Project
PMU
Pooha-Bah Traditional Native American Healing Center
Precious Blood Missionaries Kansas City Province
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
Religieus Genootschap der Vrienden (Quakers)
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Sweden
Saint Peter Claver Catholic Worker
School Sisters of Notre Dame
School Sisters of Notre Dame, Central Pacific Province
Sisters of Bon Secours, USA
Sisters of Charity Federation
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Congregational Leadership
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Western Province Leadership
Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
Sisters of Saint Anne, St. Marie Province
Sisters of Saint Francis
Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi
Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa
Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania OH
Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden, PA
Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange
Sisters of the Holy Cross
Sisters of the Humility of Mary
Sisters of the Presentation, Dubuque, IA
Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary
Social Justice Office Srs of St. Joseph-TOSF
Soka Gakkai International
SS. Francis and Therese Catholic Worker
Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation
Thomas Berry Forum for Ecological Dialogue at Iona College
Tikkun/Network of Spiritual Progressives
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
The United Reformed Church, United Kingdom
United Religions Initiative
The Uniting Church in Sweden / Equmeniakyrkan
Vereniging Kerk en Vrede
Veterans for Peace, Ch. 45
Viva House, Baltimore Catholic Worker
VIVAT International
Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons
World Council of Churches
World Yoga Community