WASHINGTON -- The U.S. bishops reiterated their opposition to an American-led war against Iraq, saying an attack lacked "moral legitimacy."

"Our bishops' conference continues to question the moral legitimacy of any pre-emptive, unilateral use of military force to overthrow the government of Iraq," said Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, Ill., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a Feb. 26 statement.

Bishop Gregory said his fellow prelates "had no illusions about the behavior and intentions of, or dangers posed by, the Iraqi government."

The bishop said the Iraqi government also must do its part to avoid war by complying with U.N. demands for disarmament and by abandoning efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction.

But it was still difficult for the United States to justify an invasion of Iraq, "lacking clear and adequate evidence of an imminent attack of a grave nature or Iraq's involvement in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11" or without the broad support of the international community, Bishop Gregory said.

An attack on Iraq would not meet the "strict conditions in Catholic teaching" that would justify the use of military force, the bishop said.

The U.S. bishops were calling on world leaders to continue to work through the United Nations to "contain, deter and disarm Iraq," Bishop Gregory said.

If a war with Iraq ensues, the United States would be morally and legally obligated to follow strict rules of engagement, the bishop said.

The U.S. use of weapons of mass destruction would be "clearly unjustified," as would "anti-personnel land mines, cluster bombs and other weapons that cannot distinguish between soldiers and civilians," he said.

"We must value the lives and livelihood of Iraqi civilians as we would the lives and livelihood of our own families and our own citizens," he said.

Bishop Gregory said the United States also must plan and be prepared for the reconstruction of post-war Iraq.

"A post-war Iraq would require a long-term commitment to reconstruction, humanitarian and refugee assistance and establishment of a stable, democratic government at a time when the U.S. federal budget is overwhelmed by increased spending and the costs of war," he said.

Bishop Gregory called on U.S. Catholics to "think deeply" on the effects of a war with Iraq and urged them to pray and fast for justice and peace during the upcoming Lenten season.