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Kirk asked to reaffirm opposition to nuclear arms

The Church of Scotland was yesterday forced at the General Assembly to reaffirm its opposition to nuclear weapons.

Members criticised the view that the UK’s own stockpile should not be linked to the argument to stop Iran from developing them.

Opponents were not happy that they were expected to support a motion to urge the UK Government to disband its arsenal to give credence to a call to urge the Middle East country to stop producing its own supplies.

The Church and Society Council argued that the UK Government’s position would be “gravely weakened” and susceptible to accusations of “gross hypocrisy” if they did not do so.

It added that it was already in breach of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty by taking steps to renew Trident weapon systems used by submarines based at Faslane, near Helensburgh.

But the Rev Mark Nicholas, of the Presbytery of Lothian, said the Church of Scotland was “mistaken” in its view that the UK should give up its nuclear deterrent and urged assembly not to lobby for disarmament. Geoffrey Smith, a church elder from the Presbytery of Dumfries and Galloway, added: “Unilateral nuclear disarmament is naive in my opinion and I do not believe that Jesus Christ would want to render this country or our grandchildren defenceless against possible nuclear attack.”

Full story at the Aberdeen Press & Journal.