1,400 religious people supports a peace appeal

The Joint Peace Declaration of Religious People Abiding by the Peace Constitution and Opposing Wartime Legislation has gained support from about 1,400 religious people as of September 8.

About a year after the September 11 terrorist attack, on September 8, the network held a meeting for religious people to pray for peace at Tokyo's Tsukiji Honganji Temple. About 200 Christians, Buddhists, and Muslims took part.

It was announced that the joint peace declaration has received the support of 900 Christians and 500 Buddhists so far.

The declaration was proposed by the Peace Network of Religious People, which was inaugurated in April to develop prayers and action for peace, irrespective of the difference of religious sects and denominations.

The joint peace declaration regretted that religious people in the past did not express opposition to their country waging war and even cooperated with it, with the result of their being partners to slaughter. It goes on to say that religious people should respect the dignity of life and thereby oppose wartime legislation so that they remain faithful to the teaching that "thou shall not kill."

After the meeting, participants, including Buddhist monks in clerical robes, paraded on the Ginza. (end)