This month, we commemorate the 76th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9) by the United States. Our office will join hibakusha (survivors of nuclear attacks) and other people of faith at vigils at the White House and the Pentagon, praying for the victims and for the abolition of nuclear weapons. You can pray this prayer along with us.
To mark these anniversaries, we invite you to take action to reduce nuclear weapons spending: Click here to contact your Members of Congress today.
President Biden has indicated an interest in reducing the number of nuclear weapons, but his 2022 budget proposal includes unnecessary and immoral nuclear weapons spending. The Senate Armed Services Committee has actually increased the topline amount for the armed defense budget this year. Now is the time to urge Congress to reduce that number by beginning with cutting funding for nuclear weapons programs.
Pope Francis has been clear: the Catholic Church teaches that the mere possession of these weapons of mass destruction is immoral and unacceptable. He has also directly connected the money spent on weapons and war to the money needed for dire human security needs and economic development, especially during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
As we mark the solemn anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, click here to take action: urge your Members of Congress to reduce the armed defense budget by cutting nuclear weapons programs and instead invest the money in nonviolent human security programs and other urgent needs facing our nation and world.