 Religious community establishes Article 9 Circle Religious leaders representing various sects/denominations of Buddhism and Christianity on April 15 established the Article 9 Circle of Religious People in support of the Article 9 Association's appeal. The organization is aimed at increasing support in the religious community for the appeal calling for the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution to be defended. At the inaugural meeting, five people, including Muranaka Yusho, Buddhist and then Taisho University president, were elected as representatives of the 55 founders. The meeting also adopted a statement entitled, "Wishes of the Article 9 Circle of Religious People" to: - talk about the significance of Article 9 with those who wish to let it "shine" and tell others our opinion; - believe that Article 9 provides universal significance and direction for the establishment of peaceful cultures; - believe that peaceful nations will be the core of moral precepts in the process of internationalization; - think about the concept of peace with peace-loving people and take an oath with them; and - propose harmony and restriction based on one's belief in order to realize world peace. (Akahata April 16, 2005) |