Bishops seek end to war; Clergy, McGovern, other Catholic Dems to meet.

Byline: Bronislaus B. Kush 

A delegation from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will meet later this summer with 14 Catholic Democratic congressmen, including U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, to discuss ways of ending the war in Iraq.

Bishop Thomas G. Wenski of Orlando, Fla., chairman of the USCCB's Committee on International Policy, said his panel has agreed to meet with the House Democrats in an attempt to find a bipartisan solution to terminating U.S. military involvement in the Middle Eastern nation.

"Too many Iraqi and American lives have been lost. Too many Iraqi communities have been shattered," said Bishop Wenski, in a letter sent to the lawmakers this week. "Too many civilians have been driven from their homes. The human and financial costs of the war are staggering."

U.S. Rep. Timothy J. Ryan, D-Ohio, had requested the meeting with the bishops in a June 28 letter that was co-signed by 13 fellow Democrats, including Mr. McGovern.

In accepting the invitation, Bishop Wenski wrote that the

situation in Iraq is "unacceptable and unsustainable, as is the policy and political stalemate among decision makers in Washington."

A day after agreeing to meet with the Democrats, Bishop Wenski sent a letter to U.S. Rep. John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, offering a similar meeting with GOP House members.

A USCCB spokesman said yesterday that Mr. Boehner, the House minority leader, has not

responded to Bishop Wenski's request.

Church officials said the USCCB effort to mediate a solution should come as no surprise.

They said American bishops repeatedly raised moral questions about an invasion of Iraq and the consequences of an "occupation," long before President

Bush made the decision to launch the attack that would eventually topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Last November, the bishops said they hoped the report of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group would lead to a "candid assessment" and "honest dialogue" about finding a "responsible way" to end the U.S. engagement.

Pope Benedict XVI has

repeatedly called for a cessation of hostilities.

Raymond L. Delisle, a spokesman for the Diocese of Worcester, said the USCCB has issued several statements on the Iraqi conflict.

He said Worcester Bishop Robert J. McManus echoes the conference's call for efforts that will quickly lead to "a peaceful resolution to the conflict and an end to the violence."

Mr. Delisle said he did not know whether Bishop McManus has personally discussed Iraq with Mr. McGovern.

Michael Mershon, a spokesman for Mr. McGovern, said he expects that it will take a few weeks to schedule a meeting.