In these 10 essays, 5 European and 5 American political and religious leaders examine the ethics of possessing and using nuclear weapons. They appraise the policy of nuclear deterrence. Protestant and Catholic viewpoints are represented. There are disagreements on details and differences in emphasis on positions and policies. There is general agreement on the moral legitimacy and political necessity of the Western alliance. Essay and authors are: "Four Decades with Nuclear Arms" (Stephen Haseler); "Toward a Responsible Policy" (Sven F. Kraemer); "War and Peace in the Nuclear Age" (Erwin Wilkens); "A Crisis of Faith" (Richard John Neuhaus); "The German Churches Speak Out" (Wolfhart Pannenberg); "The U.S. Catholic Bishops and Nuclear Arms" (J. Bryan Hehir); "The U.S. Catholic Bishops and Soviet Reality" (Michael Novak); "Nuclear Pacifism and True Peace" (Frans A.M. Alting von Geusau); "NATO and 'First Use'" (Robert A. Gessert); "Christian Morality and Nuclear Arms" (Edward R. Norman). A bibliography is included. (JP)