Press Conference Remarks by Bishop Hubbard on New START Treaty December 7, 2010

Press Conference Remarks by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard on New START Treaty, December 7, 2010

Bishop Hubbard's remarks were delivered on behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in collaboration with the National Association of Evangelicals. It emphasized the moral and humanitarian dimensions of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The bishops urge the Senate to act promptly. Ratification will make the U.S. and the world safer by verifiably reducing nuclear weapons. It demonstrates moral leadership and commitment to peace.

Key Points

Why the Catholic Church Addresses Nuclear Weapons

• Rooted in Catholic teaching on the sanctity of life: every person is created in the image of God.
• Just war principles (discrimination and proportionality) reject nuclear war:
  • Nuclear weapons cannot distinguish between combatants and civilians.
  • Their destructive power and radiation make proportionality impossible.
• Vatican II condemned indiscriminate destruction as a crime against God and humanity.
• Pope Benedict XVI: “In a nuclear war there would be no victors, only victims.”

Why Support the New START Treaty

• Treaty reduces deployed strategic warheads, limits delivery systems, and adds verification measures.
• Aligns with long-standing Catholic advocacy for:
  • Nuclear disarmament.
  • Non-proliferation.
  • Securing nuclear materials from terrorists.
• U.S. and Russia, as leading nuclear powers, have a moral duty to lead by example.
• Ratification strengthens the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty’s “grand bargain”:
  • Nuclear states commit to disarmament.
  • Non-nuclear states refrain from acquiring weapons.
  • All states access peaceful nuclear energy.
• Fewer weapons reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism.

Why Timely Senate Ratification Matters

• Verification builds transparency and trust, reducing risks of accidents or misunderstandings.
• Previous START verification expired a year ago; no current inspections—a dangerous gap.
• Bipartisan leaders, diplomats, and military experts support ratification.
• Ratification sends a strong moral signal and enhances global security.

press-conference-remarks-by-bishop-hubbard-on-new-start-treaty-2010-12-07.pdf