On Ash Wednesday, February 6th Catholics for an End to the War in Iraq delivered ashes to the White House and prayed for forgiveness. The use of ashes at the White House is a sign of atonement for President Bush’s war in Iraq, his continued support of torture and for his squandering of our nation’s moral leadership in the world. Read more in The Connecticut Day or in the Austin American-Statesman.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and it is a time when Catholics pray for forgiveness in preparation for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Catholics believe that Jesus’ death was an act of atonement for personal and social sins.

Fr. Joe Nangle OFM, a Catholic priest serving at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Arlington blessed the ashes. “The use of ashes is an ancient and sacred sign that we are ultimately accountable to a higher power. If anyone needs this pastoral advice, it is President Bush.,” said Fr. Nangle.

In his final year in office, Americans are evaluating President Bush’s moral legacy. “President Bush’s standing in the Catholic community is compromised by his decision to wage war in Iraq,” said James Salt, Organizing Director of Catholics for an End to the War in Iraq. “The Catholic community is very clearly against war and torture. On this day of fasting, our nation must make amends by ending the war and speaking out against torture.”

Wednesday’s event at the White House is part of a larger effort in the Catholic community to organize against the Iraq war during the Lenten season. CEWI is inviting Catholics to pray for peace while also working to bring more Catholics into the anti-war movement. In the past six months, CEWI has collected 20,000 signatures from American Catholics calling for an end to the war. Organizers have a goal of collecting 30,000 signatures by Easter.