WASHINGTON (October 7, 1999) -- Bishop John J. Glynn of the International Policy Committee of the Catholic Bishops' Conference, who is also Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, today urged the U.S. Senate to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). He said the Bishops are seeking to mobilize the Catholic community in support of the treaty.

Bishop Glynn spoke (October 7) at a press conference of religious leaders and others as the Senate prepared to vote on ratification of the CTBT.

"In accord with recent popes, the U.S. Catholic bishops have, for decades, called for a test ban treaty and, today, we are seeking to mobilize the Catholic community in support of this treaty," he said. "In our view, the treaty is not just a political or legal instrument; it is a moral commitment," Bishop Glynn said. "It recognizes the moral predicament we have gotten ourselves into with nuclear weapons, and the moral urgency of stopping nuclear testing as one essential step in escaping this moral predicament."

The 1996 treaty, which would ban all nuclear test explosions worldwide, was signed by 154 nations, including the United States, but the Senate never ratified it. Over 200 national and religious leaders, have called on the Senate to ratify the treaty. The vote is scheduled for October 12.

Full text of Bishop Glynn's statement.

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