CHICAGO (AP)—Leaders of the world’s major faiths have declared a global ethic that laments environmental abuses, calls disarmament the newest commandment and condemns sexual discrimination.

The Declaration of a Global Ethic, a historic attempt to find values common to the world’s religions, has been signed by 20 leaders of major faiths who are presidents of the 1993 Parliament of World’s Religions.

Signers range from the Dalai Lama, leader of Tibetan Buddhism, to the Rev. Wesley Ariarajah, deputy general secretary of the World Council of Churches, which represents most major Protestant denominations.

The document, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, goes before a larger assembly of more than 200 spiritual leaders for their consideration beginning Thursday. They will be asked to sign it, but no other changes may be made, parliament officials said.

A list of the major signers will be made available at a formal ceremony Saturday.

The statement affirms that a common set of core values are found in the teachings of religion, and expresses hope ‘‘that the ancient wisdom of our religions can point the way for the future.’‘

But the religious leaders reserved their harshest criticism for the sins of their own faiths in a world where up to two-thirds of armed conflicts invoke the name of religion.

‘‘Time and again we see leaders and members of religions incite aggression, fanaticism, hate and xenophobia—even inspire and legitimize violent and bloody conflicts. … We are filled with disgust,’‘ the statement says.

Hans Kung, the Swiss Roman Catholic theologian who was the document’s main author, hopes history will compare it to the American Bill of Rights.

‘‘I really believe that we have already a change of consciousness in the question of nature and environment, in the questions of war and peace, in the partnership of men and women,’‘ Kung said in an interview.

The declaration is the most visible action of the parliament, a weeklong gathering that attracted more than 6,000 representatives of the world’s religions. The goal of the parliament, the first since an 1893 gathering that marked the beginning of the interfaith movement, is to promote peace among religions and nations.

In that spirit, the document does not delve into controversial issues such as abortion, euthanasia, women clergy or homosexuality that are divisive even within each of the world’s major faiths. Doing so would have doomed the effort, Kung said.

‘‘In terms of trying to reflect certain common values … I think it goes a long way and you have to start somewhere,’‘ said Roman Catholic Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago, who plans to sign the statement.

It does catalogue a list of sins that leaders of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and other religions can struggle against together.

‘‘We condemn the social disarray of the nations; the disregard for justice which pushes citizens to the margin; the anarchy overtaking our communities; and the insane death of children from violence. In particular, we condemn aggression and hatred in the name of religion,’‘ the statement says.

The religious leaders also condemn environmental abuse, lamenting that in an age of unparalleled technological progress poverty, hunger, the death of children ‘‘and the destruction of nature have not diminished but rather have increased.’‘

The statement also makes a strong call for a non-violent approach to world problems.

‘‘Armament is a mistaken path; disarmament is the commandment of the times,’‘ the ethic says.

Sexual equality is also a major theme. The document condemns ‘‘sexual exploitation and sexual discrimination as one of the worst forms of human degradation.’‘

David Ramage, the parliament chairman, said he knows the global ethic won’t change the world overnight, but it does establish religious standards to which people can be held accountable.

Whenever anyone kills in the name of religion in the future, Ramage said, ‘‘There is now a world standard that is non-negotiable that the religious people of the world can stand up and say ‘No.’‘’