- LET’S GET THE ATTENTION of the New Mexican congressional delegation! If Archbishop Wester wins Arms Control Person of the Year, our state & local politicians would notice.
- This is a prestigious award that would enhance Archbishop Wester’s credibility as a leader on nuclear weapons issues.
- The international arms control community and regional media would notice.
- Perhaps the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops would notice, hopefully enhancing our ongoing efforts to promote the issue of nuclear weapons disarmament as a right to life issue.
- It could perhaps galvanize efforts in the Catholic Church in the U.S. and beyond, plus national and international interfaith leaders, toward nuclear disarmament. It would be the first time since 2008 (maybe since it started) that a person of faith was elected (see armscontrol.org/acpoy/previous).
- It would likely bring more public attention to bear upon the Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories that are located within the Santa Fe Archdiocese, and in general the U.S.’ $2 trillion nuclear weapons modernization program.
Vote HERE
Voting will take place until Jan. 12, 2023. The results will be announced on Jan. 13, 2023. It’s simple to do. You don’t have to be a member of the Arms Control Association.
Learn More HERE
Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe was nominated for preaching the nuclear disarmament gospel in a religious context, including through his 52-page pastoral letter “Living in the Light of Christ’s Peace – A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament,” published on Jan. 11, 2022. Wester’s letter affirms that U.S. citizens, recognizing the United States as the nation that created and has used nuclear weapons, “must be the people to dismantle them and make sure they are never used again,” by taking “concrete steps toward abolishing nuclear weapons and ending the nuclear threat.” Wester’s letter notes the Catholic Church has a long history of speaking out against the threats posed by nuclear weapons and has expressed its support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Also see: See: “Making the Case That Nuclear Weapons Are Immoral: An Interview With Archbishop John C. Wester,” in Arms Control Today.
Reasons to Vote for Archbishop Wester:
- This is a prestigious award that would enhance Archbishop Wester’s credibility as a leader on nuclear weapons issues.
- The international arms control community and regional media would notice.
- The New Mexican congressional delegation and state and local politicians would notice.
- Perhaps the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops would notice, hopefully enhancing our ongoing efforts to promote the issue of nuclear weapons disarmament as a right to life issue.
- It could perhaps galvanize efforts in the Catholic Church in the U.S. and beyond, plus national and international interfaith leaders, toward nuclear disarmament. It would be the first time since 2008 (maybe since it started) that a person of faith was elected (see armscontrol.org/acpoy/previous).
- It would likely bring more public attention to bear upon the Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories that are located within the Santa Fe Archdiocese, and in general the U.S.’ $2 trillion nuclear weapons modernization program.
Since 2007, the independent, nongovernmental Arms Control Association has nominated individuals and institutions that have, in the previous 12 months, advanced effective arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament solutions and raised awareness of the threats posed by mass casualty weapons.
All of this year’s nominees, in their own way, provided important leadership that helped reduce weapons-related security dangers during the past year.
Once again, please vote HERE.