The Christian churches of France on Thursday issued a strong condemnation of the war in Iraq, calling it a "dramatic failure for humanity."
"This was not necessary," said the Council of Christian Churches in France, which brings together the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches.
"We hope, at least, that humanitarian organizations will be able, quickly and unimpeded, to bring help to the population," the churches said in a statement.
The council warned that the war could trigger violence between followers of various religions, in France and in the Middle East, "by those who would present this war as that of 'Christian' countries against the Muslim world."
The churches called on officials of France's Christian community to contact the Jewish and Muslim communities to organize "meetings for peace."
Calling violence a "blasphemy," the churches also said that beyond rebuilding Iraq after the war, "an international order founded on peace and justice" will also have to be built.