Christians and church leaders from a variety of denominations in Scotland have united in opposition to what they call the “immorality” of possessing nuclear weapons.
Around 150 protesters gathered outside HM Naval Base Clyde, near Glasgow, which is home to Britain’s fleet of Trident submarines.
Among those present were representatives of Scotland’s three largest denominations, the Most Rev William Nolan, Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow and Bishop-President of Justice and Peace Scotland, Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, who led the event.
The peace vigil was in recognition of the eightieth anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Japan within the closing days of the Second World War.
The bombing remains to be considered controversial today, with critics pointing to the 200,000-plus death toll, supplemented by the hideous consequences of radiation among the many survivors. Supporters of the bombing nonetheless claim that the motion compelled Japan to give up, thus bringing the war to an end and saving countless lives.
One of the goals of the peace vigil was, in accordance with the Church of Scotland, to return together “for prayer and reflection on the immorality of possessing nuclear weapons”. The protesters said that nuclear weapons were not only an abstract theory, but were still getting used as diplomatic and strategic tools even today.
The Rt Rev Rosie Frew, addressing the vigil, said, “In the warring mess that’s our world in the intervening time, the specter of the deployment of nuclear weapons remains to be getting used.
“Yet here in Scotland, whilst we stand outside His Majesty’s Naval base Clyde, which hosts Britain’s nuclear deterrent, the Scottish Government and the Church of Scotland, together with many others, are against the possession never mind the deployment of nuclear weapons.”
Rev Frew concluded her remarks with a call for peace.
“On this anniversary once we remember a lot horror and destruction, once we go searching our warring world today, we work and hope and pray for peace. We cannot hope for a world at peace if we cannot live at peace amongst ourselves,” she said.
“Peace begins with you and me – our attitudes, our actions, the way in which we treat each other. In our homes, in our day by day lives, in our communities, in our world. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with you and me.”
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