Washington D.C., Oct 28, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The international community should step up its pressure on Sudan to bring an end to the crisis in Darfur, a delegation of religious and human rights leaders told United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan Oct. 27.
Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Center joined Nobel Peace laureate Elie Wiesel and other leaders in calling for a clear United Nations mandate for the African Union to protect innocent civilians, and for other financial and logistical support from the international community.
Bishop Murphy, who served as under-secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace in Rome from 1980 to 1987, is a member of the International Policy Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He was delegated by Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, chairman of the committee, to represent the USCCB at the meeting.
In a statement, the bishops called upon the international community to increase its pressure on the Sudanese government to insure that innocent lives will be saved, that people will return to their home eventually in peace and security, and that the internally displaced Sudanese in the camps and those providing humanitarian aid will be protected.