NPR 3-17-2007
Thousands of Christians opposed to the war in Iraq gathered at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., Friday night to pray and protest U.S. involvement in the Middle Eastern country. »listen

Rousing, emotional start to war protests
by Steve Vogel and Clarence Williams
The Washington Post 3-17-2007
Dozens of demonstrators, many of them Christian peace activists, were arrested outside the White House late last night and early this morning as part of a protest against the war in Iraq. About 11:30 p.m., police began handcuffing the first of about 100 protesters who had assembled on the White House sidewalk to pray in a planned act of civil disobedience. The protesters were part of a larger group that had assembled at the Washington National Cathedral for a service on the fourth anniversary of the start of the war. From the service, demonstrators marched through the wind, cold and dampness to the White House. »read more

Anti-war protestors arrested
by United Press International
United Press International 3-17-2007
The late-night start of a rally against the U.S. war in Iraq resulted in dozens of protesters being arrested by police outside the White House. The demonstrators handcuffed about 11:30 p.m. Friday were among about 100 people who appeared on the sidewalk to pray in a planned act of civil disobedience, The Washington Post said Saturday. The group was part of a crowd of about 3,000 that had gathered at the Washington National Cathedral for a service marking the fourth anniversary of the war and timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the 1967 march on the Pentagon against the Vietnam War. »read more

Christians prepare for war protest
by Bob Dart
Austin American-Statesman 3-17-2007
WASHINGTON — From pulpits and pews across America, a multitude of anti-war Christians congregated in the nation's capital Friday and began a long weekend of prayer and protest for peace in Iraq. On the eve of today's massive anti-war march on the Pentagon, about 3,500 of the faithful came to pray at the Washington National Cathedral and then carry candles to the White House, where 700 stood ready to be arrested in a nonviolent protest. The Christian Peace Witness members came the night before tens of thousands of protesters were set to march from the Lincoln Memorial to the Pentagon to mark the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and to commemorate the 40th year since the historic Vietnam War-era march on the Pentagon in 1967. »read more

Thousands of Christians hold anti-war service in D.C.
by Sarah Karush
Associated Press 3-17-2007
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Thousands of Christians prayed for peace at an anti-war service Friday night at the Washington National Cathedral, kicking off a weekend of protests around the country to mark the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq. The ecumenical coalition that organized the event, Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, distributed 3,200 tickets for the service in the cathedral, with two smaller churches hosting overflow crowds. The cathedral appeared to be packed, although sleet and snow prevented some from attending. "This war, from a Christian point of view, is morally wrong -- and was from the beginning," the Rev. Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners/Call to Renewal, one of the event's sponsors, said toward the end of the service to cheers and applause. "This war is ... an offense against God." »read more

Peace vigils mark night before protest
by Bob Dart
Cox News Service 3-17-2007
From pulpits and pews across America, antiwar Christians congregated in the nation's capital Friday for a long weekend of prayer and protest for peace in Iraq. On the eve of a massive antiwar march on the Pentagon, about 3,500 faithful came to pray at the Washington National Cathedral and then carry candles to the White House. »read more

Christian groups to stage protest
by Michael Ruane
The Washington Post 3-16-2007
Several thousand Christian peace activists plan to march on the White House tonight to demonstrate their opposition to the war in Iraq, organizers said yesterday. The event is sponsored by the District-based Sojourners/Call to Renewal, a progressive religious group, along with the American Friends Service Committee, Lutheran Peace Fellowship, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, and more than two dozen other Protestant and Catholic groups. »read more

Local faithful to join D.C. anti-war rally
by Mark Fisher
The Columbus Dispatch 3-16-2007
After four years of watching the carnage in Iraq, Danielle Gadomski decided to put her Christianity into action and speak out against the war. The Denison University senior from Grove City will be among at least two busloads of people traveling from central Ohio to Washington today for an anti-war vigil at the National Cathedral and a protest march to the White House. Organizers of the event, Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, said they expect at least 3,400 participants. The worship service and vigil at the National Cathedral will start at 7 p.m. and will be followed by the 2-mile, candlelit procession to the president’s home. »read more

Time for Christians to preach peace
by Marion C. Bascom and Andrew Foster Connors
The Baltimore Sun 3-14-2007
The Christian Witness for Peace in Iraq was born out of frustration and anger with a war justified far too often in vaguely Christian terms, a battle of good vs. evil. At least once, the president referred to a crusade. Disturbingly, public opinion polls reveal that the group that has consistently been most supportive of the president's war policy has been regular churchgoers. Somehow this image of Christian soldiers has permeated the mass culture and, occasionally, the media. »read more

Christian candlelight vigil to mark war anniversary
by Todd Guild
Santa Cruz Sentinel 3-14-2007
Nationwide, the vigils were spearheaded by Christian Peace Witness, a coalition of religious groups from across the country. They're designed as an all-Christian event to dispel the belief that the majority of Christians favor the war, according to Katie Barge, spokeswoman for the group Faith in Public Life, which works with Christian Peace Witness. »read more

Peace vigil organizers plan ‘powerful,' ‘solemn' event
by Garthia Elena Halbert
The Commercial Dispatch 3-13-2007
Inspired by a moderate Christian activist group called Sojourners, who believe Christians should lobby for world peace, Pope decided to hold a community-wide peace rally in conjunction with the four-year anniversary of the war. »read more

Christian Groups Plan War Protest
by Bob Allen
EthicsDaily.com 3-13-2007
Participants in Friday's Christian Peace Witness for Iraq plan to gather for an ecumenical worship service at Washington National Cathedral, followed by a candlelight procession to the White House. Marchers plan to encircle the White House with prayer and candlelight. Hundreds have indicated they are considering whether to kneel in an act of civil disobedience, knowing it could lead to their arrests. »read more

Presbyterians and other Christians to rally against Iraq war
by Evan Silverstein
Presbyterian News Service 3-12-2007
Scheduled speakers at the National Cathedral will include the Rev. Jim Wallis, an activist, author and founder of Sojourners/Call to Renewal, a Washington-based progressive Christian network; and Celeste Zappala, a United Methodist peace activist whose 30-year-old foster son, Sgt. Sherwood Baker, was killed in Iraq in April 2004. »read more

Standing up for faith by opposing the war
by Hillary Wundrow
Beloit Daily News 3-12-2007
"I have a sense that to say no to torture is to say yes to what is very best in my faith and my country. I feel this is a deeply conservative movement and reaffirming our core values," Wickersham said. Wickersham and her friend Michelle Dennis will attend The Christian Peace Witness for Iraq event held in Washington, D.C. on March 16 at the National Cathedral. »read more

Rallying for peace
by Mark D. Marotta
The Reporter (PA) 3-10-2007
Derstine said that Christian Peace Witness for Iraq‚ which is organizing the event‚ is spearheaded by Sojourners‚ a Christian peace and justice group based in Washington‚ D.C. The Christian Peace Witness Web site affirms five principles‚ including supporting the troops‚ opposing torture and creating a federal budget giving priority to human needs over conducting war. "As followers of Jesus Christ‚ the Prince of Peace‚ our faith compels us to make our voice heard – to repent of our complicity with the invasion and occupation of Iraq and renew our commitment to peacemaking‚" the Web site says. »read more

Clergy Speak on Iraq War: 'Enough is Enough'
by Dan Rodricks
The Baltimore Sun 2-22-2007
Yesterday, Ash Wednesday in the Christian world, I sat in an old, comforting church in Bolton Hill and heard peace-loving clergy - Catholic, Episcopalian, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, United Church of Christ - speak eloquently against George Bush and his war in Iraq. I would say some of them spoke angrily, too, even if they do not like that characterization, because that's what I heard. That's what it sounded like. It sounded like righteous men and women turning over the tables in the temple. »read more

Media Advisories

3 , 500 Christian Leaders from 48 States to Protest War at National Cathedral, Risk Arrest at White House
3-12-2007
Christian Peace Witness for Iraq will begin with a worship service on Friday, March 16 at Washington National Cathedral to be attended by more than 3,500 Christians from 48 states, followed by a candlelight procession through the center of our nation's capital to the White House, where thousands of Christians will surround the White House bearing the light of peace, and 700 will risk arrest by remaining in prayer in front of the White House. The service begins at 7 p.m., and the White House vigil will begin at 10:30 p.m. It will be the largest Christian peace demonstration, as well as the largest single civil disobedience action at the White House, since the beginning of the Iraq war four years ago. »read more

Thousands from Across America Worship and Protest to End Iraq War
2-20-2007
(Washington, D.C.) Thousands of Christians -- Evangelicals, Protestants, and Catholics -- from across the country will worship together on March 16th to mark the fourth anniversary of the Iraq War with public prayer, a candlelight procession through the center of the nation's capital, vigils in cities and towns throughout the country and a protest culminating with 1500 Christians surrounding the White House with the light of peace. The Christian Peace Witness, organized by a broad cross section of Christian denominational peace groups and organizations, is expected to be the largest peace gathering of Christians expressing opposition to the war since it began four years ago. Prominent religious leaders and peace activists, including Jim Wallis, Celeste Zappala, Bernice Powell Jackson, and Raphael Warnock will speak at a worship service, which begins at 7 p.m. at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington D.C on Friday, March 16, 2007. »read more