Free the Captives: Witness Against Illegal Detention and Torture

from Reuters: The U.S. Conference for the World Council of Churches condemned the U.S.-led war in Iraq on Saturday for "raining down terror" on helpless Iraqis.

"We lament with special anguish the war in Iraq, launched in deception and violating global norms of justice and human rights," the Conference said in an emotional letter released during the World Council of Churches Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

The World Council of Churches represents Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox and other Christian churches in more than 100 countries. [...]

"We confess that we have failed to raise a prophetic voice loud enough and persistent enough to deter our leaders from this path of pre-emptive war. Lord, have mercy," the letter said.

World Council of Churches is a fellowship "bring[ing] together more than 340 churches, denominations and church fellowships in over 100 countries and territories throughout the world, representing some 550 million Christians."

Reuters is also tracking foreign hostages in Iraq, in addition to security incidents, and military and civilian deaths. Their tallies include up to 8,840 military casualties, and 32,041 Iraqi civilians. Of over 200 foreigners and thousands of Iraqi's taken hostage in Iraq since 2003, Reuters names thirty-eight internationals still believed missing. The number of Iraqis presently held captive is unknown.

At the time of this writing, no new reports have emerged regarding the four Christian Peacemakers still missing in Iraq. In painful solidarity with the families and communities of Iraq who still await news of family members who have disappeared, we continue to pray that our friends will be released, that their witness for peace may go on. They remind us that the Peaceable Realm of God is built on serving others and fostering civility and tenderness on the fronteirs between "friend" and "enemy."