Church summit addresses nuclear weapons

An international group of church representatives has met in Edinburgh to discuss the prospects for a world without nuclear weapons.

The group was brought together by the World Council of Churches as it seeks to develop a common advocacy agenda among the global church community to help engage public and political support for the next steps towards a world free of nuclear weapons.

The summit was joined by nuclear policy specialists, academics and campaigners from various denominations and traditions,and a broad spectrum of countries including the UK, Germany, South Korea, Kenya and the USA.

The Rev Ian Galloway, Convener of the Church of Scotland's Church and Society Council, said: “We need to continue to press the case that nuclear weapons are inherently evil and that Britain must not replace Trident.”

Scotland is home to the UK's nuclear weapons arsenal at Faslane. The base has faced strong opposition from churches and peace campaigners.

Delegates at the summit shared their ideas about church action against nuclear weapons with the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Very Rev Dr Alan McDonald, and the head of the Catholic Church in Scotland, Cardinal Keith O'Brien.

On Thursday, they met Bruce Crawford MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Parliamentary Business and Government Strategy, to find out about the context of the nuclear debate in Scotland and with the prospect of independence.

Talks were also held with the Cross Party Group for Nuclear Disarmament in the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Crawford said the Scottish Government remained firmly opposed to the possession, threat and use of nuclear weapons.

"An independent Scotland would not have such weapons of mass destruction based in its waters," he said.

"Until then, the Scottish Government is committed to building Scotland’s role in international peace building and I welcomed the opportunity to meet with the World Council of Churches and to work with others to take this important agenda forward, with and for the people of Scotland.

“We must work together to maximise the opportunities for engaging with international partners on matters of peace, conflict resolution and nuclear disarmament.”