"The (nuclear) arms race is an utterly treacherous trap for humanity, and one which ensnares the poor to an intolerable degree.”
- Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes (The Church in the Modern World,) no. 81
Resources for the 75th Anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
: A Study Guide for use with Nuclear Tipping Point
Action Alert: Tell Your Members of Congress to Extend New START and Reduce the Nuclear Threat!
July 2020
Policy Letters on Nuclear Weapons
Latest Information
U.S. Bishops’ President Reflects on the 75th Anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued the following statement on the 75th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Backgrounder on Nuclear Disarmament and Challenging Increases in Military Spending
January 2020
Letters to Congress Regarding Maintaining Limits on Russian Nuclear Forces
Bishop David J. Malloy, November 27, 2019
News Release: Statement from U.S. Bishops’ Chairman of International Justice and Peace Committee on Nuclear Weapons
Bishop David J. Malloy, November 25, 2019
Joint Letter with the National Association of Evangelicals to the Armed Services Committees Offering Reflections on the Provisions Related to Nuclear Disarmament and the New START Treaty in the National Defense Authorization Act
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio and Rev. Dr. Leith Anderson, August 22, 2019
News Release: Chairman of U.S. Bishops' International Justice Committee Statement on INF Treaty Withdrawal
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, February 5, 2019
Backgrounder on Korean Peninsula: Nuclear Disarmament / De-escalation of Conflict
February 2019
Previous Years
2019
Letters to Congress Regarding Maintaining Limits on Russian Nuclear Forces
Bishop David J. Malloy, November 27, 2019
News Release: Statement from U.S. Bishops’ Chairman of International Justice and Peace Committee on Nuclear Weapons
Bishop David J. Malloy, November 25, 2019
Joint Letter with the National Association of Evangelicals to the Armed Services Committees Offering Reflections on the Provisions Related to Nuclear Disarmament and the New START Treaty in the National Defense Authorization Act
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio and Rev. Dr. Leith Anderson, August 22, 2019
News Release: Chairman of U.S. Bishops' International Justice Committee Statement on INF Treaty Withdrawal
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, February 5, 2019
Backgrounder on Korean Peninsula: Nuclear Disarmament / De-escalation of Conflict
February 2019
2018
Letter to National Security Council Regarding P5+1 Iran Deal
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, May 4, 2018
Letter to National Security Advisor McMaster Regarding Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, February 26, 2018
Backgrounder on Nuclear Weapons
February 2018
2017
Letter to Senate to Oppose the Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act
Bishop Oscar Cantú, November 9, 2017
Letter to Secretary of State Tillerson Regarding Inter-related Nuclear Non-Proliferation Efforts: Iran and North Korea
Bishop Oscar Cantú, October 3, 2017
Letter to Secretary of State Tillerson Regarding Crisis on Korean Peninsula
Bishop Oscar Cantú, August 10, 2017
Nuclear Disarmament: Seeking Human Security
Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich, Conference of European Justice and Peace Commissions (Justice & Peace Europe) and Bishop Oscar Cantú, July 6, 2017
Letter to Secretary of State Tillerson on Nuclear Disarmament
Bishop Oscar Cantú, February 14, 2017
2016
Colloquium on Catholic Approaches to Nuclear Proliferation and Disarmament
Bishop Robert McElroy participates on a panel during a colloquium organized to explore current Catholic approaches to non-proliferation and disarmament in the context of the wider religious, ethical, and policy debate.
Letter to Under Secretary Gottemoeller Regarding the President's Visit to Hiroshima
Bishop Oscar Cantú, May 6, 2016
Faith and Science Leaders Agree: Reduce the Threat of Nuclear Catastrophe Now
Signed by Bishop Oscar Cantú for USCCB
May 4, 2016
2015
The Pope and the Bomb: New Nuclear Dangers and Moral Dilemmas
Bishop Oscar Cantú, September 17, 2015
Homily on Peace and a World without Nuclear Weapons for a Mass at Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki, Japan
Bishop Oscar Cantú, August 9, 2015
Letter to Congress Welcoming P5+1/Iran Nuclear Agreement
Bishop Oscar Cantú, July 14, 2015
Letter to Secretary of State Kerry on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
Bishop Oscar Cantú, May 12, 2015
Letter to Congress on Negotiations with Iran
Bishop Oscar Cantú, April 13, 2015
Nuclear Disarmament: Time for Abolition
Bishop Oscar Cantú, April 9, 2015
Letter to Secretary of State Kerry on Negotiations with Iran
Bishop Oscar Cantú, April 8, 2015
Letter to Congressional Leaders Urging Continued Support of Dialogue with Iran
Bishop Oscar Cantú, January 13, 2015
2014-2000
Letter to Secretary of Energy Moniz on U.S. Budget for Nuclear Weapons
Bishop Richard E. Pates, October 30, 2014
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Negotiations with Iran
Bishop Richard E. Pates, January 6, 2014
Letter to Secretary Kerry on Six Month Accord on Iranian Nuclear Program
Bishop Richard E. Pates, November 27, 2013
Letter to President Obama on Nuclear Disarmament and on Israeli-Palestinian Peace
Timothy Cardinal Dolan and Bishop Richard E. Pates, June 25, 2013
Letter to National Security Advisor Donilon on U.S. Nuclear Weapons
Bishop Richard E. Pates, March 2, 2012
Background on Nuclear Arms Treaties
February 2011
Catholic-Evangelical Press Conference Supporting New START Treaty
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, December 7, 2010
Letter Urging Senate to Ratify the New START Treaty
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, November 29, 2010
Letter to Senators Who Supported the New START Treaty in Committee
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, September 17, 2010
Moral Reflections on U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy
Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, April 26, 2010
Letter to Senate Urging Ratification of New START Treaty
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, April 15, 2010
Letter to President Obama Supporting New START Treaty | en Español
Francis Cardinal George, OMI, President, April 8, 2010
Resources on New START Treaty and Catholic Social Teaching on Nuclear Weapons
April 2010
Remarks on Nuclear Disarmament at Global Zero Summit
Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, February 3, 2010
Letter to House Supporting Global Security Priorities Resolution
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, November 2, 2009
Letter to Senate on U.S. Nuclear Policy
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, September 28, 2009
Open Letter to President Obama on Nuclear Weapons
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, September 18, 2009
Nuclear Weapons and Moral Questions: The Path to Zero
Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, July 29, 2009
Letter to Secretary Clinton on Nuclear Nonproliferation
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, April 8, 2009
Letter to House Foreign Affairs Committee on Reintroduced Global Security Priorities Act
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, March 30, 2009
Letter to House Foreign Affairs Leaders on Global Security Priorities Act
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, July 11, 2008
Letter Supporting Global Security Priorities Act
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, February 5, 2008
Letter to Senate on Funding for Reliable Replacement Warhead
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, December 5, 2007
Letter to Secretary of State Rice on Iran
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, November 1, 2007
Statement from Religious Leaders on Denuclearization Agreement with North Korea
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, July 17, 2007
Letter to Senate and House Committee Leaders on Nuclear Weapons Funding
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, May 9, 2007
Letters to Senators Brownback, DeWine, and Specter Requesting Opposition to Funding of the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator
Bishop John H. Ricard, September 1, 2005
Letter to Bishop Nagoya on 60th Anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Bishop William S. Skylstad, August 2, 2005
Letter to Senate Appropriations Leaders on Nuclear Research Funding
Bishop John H. Ricard, July 18, 2005
Letter to Congress on Research on the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator
Bishop John H. Ricard, May 10, 2005
Statement on Nuclear Weapons
Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, August 6, 2004
Theological and Moral Perspectives on Today's Challenge of Peace
Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, November 10, 2003
Letter to Senate on Funding for Research on Nuclear Weapons in Appropriations Bill (S.1424)
Bishop John H. Ricard, September 15, 2003
Intervention by the Holy See at the Third Conference on Facilitating the Entry Into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty
Msgr. Pietro Parolin, Wien, 3-5 September 2003
Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Reflections on Two Anniversaries
Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, August 4, 2003
Testimony on the Moscow Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions Before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Fr. Drew Christiansen, July 23, 2002
Statement on New Nuclear Treaty and U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy
Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, May 24, 2002
Joint Nuclear Reduction/Disarmament Press Release & Statement
Msgr. Dennis M. Schnurr, June 2000
1999 and earlier
Bishop of Military Services Endorses Treaty
Bishop John Glynn, October 7, 1999
Senate Rejection of Nuclear Test Ban
Bishop Joseph Fiorenza, October 14, 1999
A Time to Remember War and Recommit to Peace
Most Reverend Daniel P. Reilly, August 2, 1995
Building Cooperative Security Special Problems
Excerpts from The Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, November 17, 1993
USCCB Statement: The Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace
United States Catholic Conference, 1993
Statement on the START II Treaty
Archbishop John R. Roach, January 5, 1992
Statement on the START Treaty
Archbishop John R. Roach, July 18, 1991
Missile Defense: Excerpts from A Report on The Challenge of Peace and Policy Developments 1983-1988
Ad Hoc Committee on the Moral Evaluation of Deterrence
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, June 1988
The Strategic Defense Initiative: Moral Question, Public Choices
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1988
The Challenge of Peace, God's Promise and Our Response
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, May 3, 1983
Resources/Backgrounders/Educational Materials
Backgrounder on Nuclear Disarmament and Challenging Increases in Military Spending
January 2020
Backgrounder on Korean Peninsula: Nuclear Disarmament / De-escalation of Conflict
February 2019
Backgrounder on Nuclear Weapons
February 2018
Colloquium on Catholic Approaches to Nuclear Proliferation and Disarmament
Bishop Robert McElroy participates on a panel during a colloquium organized to explore current Catholic approaches to non-proliferation and disarmament in the context of the wider religious, ethical, and policy debate.
Background on Nuclear Arms Treaties
February 2011
Resources on New START Treaty and Catholic Social Teaching on Nuclear Weapons
April 2010
