We Humans have No Right to Destroy God’s Creation
Posted on June 1, 2023, by Loretto Community
By Beth Blissman and Allison Lemons
Although threats are increasingly bandied about globally regarding the use of nuclear weapons, the United Nations has brokered two treaties, which, if implemented, would usher in a world free of nuclear weapons. These are the 1970 Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
The objective of the NPT is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving complete nuclear disarmament. More countries (over 190) have ratified the NPT than any other arms limitation agreement. The U.S., Russia and China are among the signatories. Unfortunately, the treaty has not prevented the spread of nuclear weapons. Nine countries now possess such weapons, with a combined arsenal of 12,000 nuclear warheads, and the U.S. is planning once again to build more.
The TPNW, which went into force on Jan. 22, 2021, is based on the belief that the only way to truly prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology is to eliminate them altogether. The treaty prohibits the development or possession of nuclear weapons and their use or threat of use and applies to all countries that ratify the treaty. The treaty was approved by 122 countries in 2017; unfortunately, none of the “nuclear nine” was among that number.
Members of the Loretto Community are planning to attend a demonstration against nuclear weapons to be held Aug. 4-8 in New Mexico.
We welcome all who can join us. If you cannot come to New Mexico, write your members of Congress reminding them that we have signed a treaty (NPT) prohibiting the proliferation of nuclear weapons; we should abide by our promise not to build more nuclear bombs. Ask them to strike money for nuclear weapons production from the 2024 budget proposals and ask your senators to support the TPNW.
We read in the Gospel that Jesus says of the birds of the air that ‘not one of them is forgotten before God’ (Lk 12:6). How then can we possibly mistreat them or cause them harm? I ask all Christians to recognize and to live fully this dimension of their conversion.
Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ #221
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