As Christians, we recognize the rights of conscientious objectors under Constitutional Law. Thousands of young men and women from some of our member denominations have served with distinction in various forms of noncombatant and alternative service, often at the cost of their own lives.
We make a distinction, however, between these rights, and the concept of amnesty for draft evaders and deserters. While such people have every right to believe as they do, they do not at the same time have the right to break the laws of the United States of America without penalty.
We urge upon Congress the passage of such legislation as may be needed to assure fair and impartial treatment of those who, though sincere, have broken the law; and we further suggest the provision of compensatory alternative service in individual cases where mitigating circumstances exist.