Faith > Issues > Peace
Peace
on Earth
2004
Peace Resources
From the archives...
Dennis Warner is a member of the Pax
Christi Metro DC board. In 2002, while working with the International
Solidarity Movement in Palestine, he filed reports from the siege of the Church
of the Nativity in Bethlehem for The Catholic Peace Voice. He is currently
in Iraq providing emergency humanitarian aid to victims of the war there.
As he is able, he is sending back reports
and reflections on the situation in Iraq -- a few were posted in April
2003.
From the beginning...
On January 24, 2002, religious leaders from around the world gathered in
Assisi, Italy. They included Pope John Paul II and a number of Catholic cardinals;
Bartholomew I, spiritual leader of all Orthodox Christians; a dozen Jewish
rabbis, including some from Israel; 30 Muslim imams from Iran, Iraq, Saudi
Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan; dozens of ministers representing Baptists, Lutherans,
Anglicans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, Disciples of Christ, Mennonites,
Quakers, Moravians, The Salvation Army and the World Council of Churches;
and dozens of monks, gurus and others representing Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs
and Zoroastrians and native African religions. Their meeting culminated in
a commitment to peace adopted by all present. It is called the Decalogue
of Assisi for Peace (reprinted on this site). [For
the complete text from the Vatican -- scroll down the Vatican page for
the 10 points.] The Pope's letter transmitting the Decalogue states:
"I hope that the spirit and
commitment of Assisi will lead all people of goodwill to seek truth, justice,
freedom and love, so that every human person may enjoy his inalienable rights
and every people, peace. For her part, the Catholic Church, who trusts and
hopes in 'the God of love and peace' (II Cor 13,11), will continue to work
for loyal dialogue, reciprocal forgiveness and mutual harmony to clear the
way for people in this third millenium."
On November 13, 2002, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops met and presented
a Statement
on Iraq. Their statement concluded:
"We pray for President Bush
and other world leaders that they will find the will and the ways to step
back from the brink of war with Iraq and work for a peace that is just and
enduring. We urge them to work with others to fashion an effective global
response to Iraq's threats that recognizes legitimate self defense and conforms
to traditional moral limits on the use of military force."
On the occasion of the World Day of Peace, January 1, 2003, Pope
John Paul II provided a summary and commentary on the earlier papal encyclical,
Pacem
in Terris (complete text from the Vatican), requesting
a permanent commitment to its values -- Peace on Earth.
A few weeks later on January 13, the Pope stated "NO
TO WAR"! in an address to the Diplomatic Corps. John Paul went further:
"War is not always inevitable.
It is always a defeat for humanity. International law, honest dialogue, solidarity
between States, the noble exercise of diplomacy: these are methods worthy
of individuals and nations in resolving their differences."
ZENIT, an international news agency providing
coverage of events and issues emanating from or concerning the Catholic Church,
provided more commentary
on the Pope's January 13 statement.
On February 26, 2003, Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, President
of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued an updated Statement
on Iraq. This updated statement included:
"We join with Pope John Paul
in the conviction that war is not 'inevitable' and that 'war is always a defeat
for humanity.' This is not a matter of ends, but means. Our bishops' conference
continues to question the moral legitimacy of any preemptive, unilateral use
of military force to overthrow the government of Iraq."
Closer to home, our pastor Fr.
Creedon provides some resources in a homily.
Additionally, other Catholic organizations including the Benedictines have issued statements of concern and alarm
regarding the potential for war.
The Diocese of Arlington
issued a news release entitled "Arlington Bishop Calls For Prayer And Sacrifice
For Peace" on March 17, 2003:
"Bishop Paul S. Loverde, Bishop
of the Diocese of Arlington which encompasses the twenty-one counties and
seven independent cities of northern Virginia, is calling on local Catholics
to pray and sacrifice for the next three days, March 18-20, for the cause
of true and lasting peace in our world and for the welfare of our armed forces
and their families.
"'In response to President Bush's address, I ask the members of the Diocese
of Arlington to join me in storming heaven with prayer and sacrifice for
the next three days (March 18-20) to obtain a peaceful resolution to the
crisis in Iraq. It is still not too late for Saddam Hussein to choose exile
rather than face an armed conflict. I encourage our Catholics to participate
in daily Mass and pray the rosary to obtain a conversion of mind, heart
and will on the part of Saddam Hussein, the grace of true and lasting peace,
divine protection for our armed forces and comfort for their families.'"
Once war was announced, Bishop
Loverde issued a press release entitled "Arlington Bishop Reaction to War"
on March 20, 2003:
"Having for months called
the almost 400,000 Catholics registered throughout the Diocese of Arlington
to pray for a peaceful resolution between the world community and the government
of Iraq, Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde issues the following statement regarding
the outbreak of war. Bishop Loverde will be celebrating the Mass in Times
of War today at 12:05 at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More, 3901 Cathedral
Lane, Arlington.
"'I am deeply saddened that intense diplomatic efforts have failed to
prevent the outbreak of war in Iraq. Peace at any cost is an ineffective
strategy in a fallen world inhabited by evil dictators who oppress our brothers
and sisters, but war, as our Holy Father repeatedly tells us, is always
a defeat for humanity. War means that we have failed in our peace efforts;
it must always be the last resort.
"'I call on the people of our diocese to pray for the innocent civilians
who will be in danger in this conflict, for the protection and safety of
coalition military personnel engaged in this conflict and for leaders of
nations, especially our own, that God will grant them divine wisdom and
farsightedness in the decisions they make and the courage to build true
and lasting peace in our world. History has shown that there are times when
those entrusted with the common good must resort to the use of force to
promote true peace in the world. Nonetheless, I pray with people of good
will everywhere that this time of war will soon end and that efforts will
quickly commence to restore stability and order as well as a realistic process
for securing a lasting peace in Iraq and the Middle East.'"
Bishop Walter
Sullivan of our neighboring Catholic Diocese of Richmond issued a statement
on March 20, 2003, concerning the United States entering into war against
Iraq. It says in part:
"I deeply regret that our
nation’s leaders have determined that war is necessary to resolve our differences
with Iraq. Yet, we must now be united in a concern for all those caught up
in this conflict."
Reviewed/Revised January 13,
2004
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
3304 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA, 22201, USA
Tel: 703-527-5500 | Fax: 703-527-5505 | Web: www.stcharleschurch.org
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