For Testimony to
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
& DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
by Barbara McCracken, OSB

May 23, 2007

Friends:

I'm a religious sister, a nun, from the Atchison Kansas community of Mount St Scholastica. I have lived and worked with the poor and have been involved in peace and justice issues in Kansas City Kansas for over 30 years. Currently I am assistant director of the Keeler Women's Center at Donnelly College.

I would like to share with you a little information on the current attitude of the Catholic Church toward the possibility of a new generation of nuclear weapons.

Some believe the Catholic Church has lost some of its teaching credibility regarding issues related to sexuality due to recent scandals. However the Church is still highly involved in the full spectrum of life issues, teaching that all people and all of creation is made in God's image. Thus our role is to have at least enough love and respect for what God has made to not kill or destroy it.

For those who accept this, the possibility of nuclear weapons is unthinkable. The Holy has numerous statements regarding nuclear weapons. As recently as last week the Holy Father's permanent observer at the UN made three points that I would like to share with you.

To counter terrorism the U.S. needs to move away from reliance on nuclear weapons as a central part of our nations? military doctrine. There is a strong bond between nuclear disarmament and nuclear nonproliferation.

We need to create a climate of confidence and cooperation with other nations. Our collective security is key. The U.S. needs to pay more attention to treaties to cut and eliminate these weapons of mass destruction. His would furnish a legal basis for international verification under the auspices of the international Atomic Energy Agency. It could also assist in the elimination of nuclear weapons.

We need to raise awareness in the international community that the U.S. believes in peace by doing analysis, and taking practical steps toward disarmament. That would mean abandoning the ill-conceived ideas around COMPLEX 20/30, The Reliable Replacement Warhead and other such abominations.

On a final note, as awareness of global warming increases I old like to see Dept. of Energy devote the $175 billion planned for COMPLEX 20/30 to be used, not on weapons, war and killing people but on countering climate change.

Thanks you for your patience in listening to this. Know you will be remembered in the prayers of my Benedictine monastic community.