Hiroshima and Nagasaki anniversaries remembered: Westminster Cathedral London and Coventry Cathedral

Pax Christi members and supporters gave out thousands of leaflets and held prayer vigils outside Westminster Cathedral on 6 and 9 August,engaging tourists, visitors and worshipers in conversation about the Hiroshima and Nagasaki anniversaries. They also gathered signatures on a 'NO Trident' petition. As part of the prayers offered in London and Coventry, a message from the Mayor of Hiroshima, Tadatoshi Akiba was read. He urged the international community to adopt the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocal at the 2010 NPT Review Conference.	Information stall, Westminster Cathedral	Chapel of Unity, Coventry Cathedral
Paper cranes and candles, Chapel of Unity, Coventry Cathedral	Leafletting,Westminster Cathedral

4 August 2009

64 years on Christians continue to remember the first use of nuclear weapons

Christians around the country will commemorate the first use of nuclear weapons on 6th and 9th August – the anniversaries of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Events will take place at Cathedrals, outside arms factories and military establishments, to remind communities of the horrors of nuclear weapons and to pray for a change of heart and mind on the part of our own Government to turn away from its nuclear weapons policies.  Speaking of the anniversaries, Pat Gaffney, general Secretary of Pax Christi said: "64 years on and eight states still possess a total of 23,300 nuclear weapons, of which 160 are in the UK. The government plans to spend £76 billion on replacing the Trident nuclear weapons system.  We must work now to reverse this decision and invest in peace based on human and sustainable security, meeting real needs and protecting our planet. This week Pope Benedict has announced the theme for the 2010 World Peace Message, ‘If you want to cultivate peace, protect the creation’.  Nuclear weapons are one of the greatest threats to humanity and to the planet.  Unless we learn to use skills, technology and resources for the good of all creation we are doomed”

Some of the events taking place around the country: London, 6 and 9 August. Pax Christi stall and prayers in the Piazza at Westminster Cathedral from 10.00 - 5.00 on each day. Coventry, 6 August, Chapel of Unity, Coventry Cathedral. Hiroshima Day Commemoration at 6.00pm Derby, 6 August. Hiroshima day vigil at Rolls Royce factory, Raynesway, place where fuel rods to power Trident are made

Aylesford Priory, 6 August. An evening vigil Aylesford Priory, Kent a time of prayer as world leaders renew efforts to reduce the nuclear stockpiles Aldermaston, 8 August. Reading to Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment.An Inter-faith pilgrimage for Peace ending with an inter-faith Oxford, 9 August.  Lantern Floating on Nagasaki Day. 7 p.m. Donnington Bridge, Oxford.

 

17 June 2009

Giovanni Scudiero RIP

It is with great sadness that we have to share the news that Giovanni Scudiero, our friend and colleague, died on Sunday morning 14 June 2009. Pat Gaffney, Coordinator of Pax Christi UK, was with him all of Saturday and during his last night as were his brothers and sister. Giovanni had a terrible struggle for the last hours... as for the last two weeks... such a trial, but through it all he was serene, ready, lucid and as critical as ever. What a great loss to us all. Many friends have been so wonderful in keeping Giovanni in their prayers and thoughts, especially the last weeks and months. His funeral took place in Casa Madre (the mother house of the Consolata Missionaries) where Giovanni had lived in the infirmary during this year of his struggle with cancer on 16 June. Below the tribute offered at his funeral by Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi UK. Here you can read more about Giovanni's life and tributes received from around the world.

A tribute to Giovanni Scudiero from Pax Christi  For 25 years Giovanni’s work with Pax Christi, the international Catholic movement for peace, has been one of the special threads of his life – another expression of his passion to bring peace and justice into our world. Giovanni’s understanding of peace was something alive and active – a peace that disturbs us and moves us to act for others.  Aware of the scale of human suffering caused by injustice, greed, political indifference, Giovanni has always spoken and acted with courage –some say with a prophetic voice -  reminding us that it is only through the power of love in action that we can transform the world. These are some of the gifts that Giovanni has offered us over these years: Discernment: Giovanni always asked difficult questions, such as  ‘whose peace, whose security do we seek?’ Not the peace of politicians. Not the peace of the market place. Not the peace of the military - but the peace of Christ, urging us to stay on this path – no matter how costly this might be. Humour: Giovanni’s warmth, smile and humour opened many hearts and minds in difficult situations.  Giovanni always found the right words, the right gestures, to help people to see one another as human beings first and foremost – and so break cycles of anger and bitterness.

Critical thinking: Giovanni helped us get to the root of problems – sometimes getting under our skin – when he felt people were being damaged by injustice or violence. Their needs were a priority.

Openness: Giovanni was able to communicate to people of all ages, all cultures and traditions. Through his encouragement and support many people throughout the world have been brought into this work for peace – to bring the good news of the Gospel where it has been most needed.

Giovanni, you are our friend, our comforter, our kindred spirit. We know that you have found your own peace now but we ask you to stay with us, disturb us, inspire us to love and serve God and one another as you did in your tireless work for peace and justice.

Pat Gaffney, Pax Christi UK, 16 June, 2009, Torino  

 

Physicians for Human Rights tell of terror attacks on civilians in Gaza

Sr Alicia and Miri

Seeking truth and accountability were the key themes presented by two members of Physicians for Human Rights - Israel, on a speaking tour in England coordinated by Pax Christi and MEDACT. A full copy of the report can be found here Miri Weingarten, international advocacy director for PHR and Sr Alicia Vacas, a member of the delegation and a Comboni Missionary Sister, both produced the report and spoke of their belief that the people of Gaza had been sacrificed in the December 08 - January 09 attacks. The ultimate purpose of the attacks seemed to be to terrorise the people of Gaza. Their mission was in two parts, first in Gaza, to record attacks on medical facilities, gather data on the causes of injuries and deaths and the impact of the attacks on the civilian population and then in Egypt to follow-up on seriously injured people who had been referred to hospitals in Egypt.

In their talks they reported on major delays in the evacuation of injured people - in some cases civilians waited days to be taken for treatment - a number dying from simple wounds because of lack of care. They showed slides of a new, disc-like weapon, released from drones, which caused devastating injuries resulting in a very large number of amputations. They explained that these wounds, the reality of which will stay with the individuals and communities for years to come, will be a terrible reminder of the war. The people of Gaza had experienced a physical amputation as a result of the war... human injury, blockades, etc. At the same time, Miri described what has happened to Israel as a moral amputation - a distancing from the realities of military actions in Gaza, a kind of dehumanising of Israeli society and the military in particular. They spoke of the importance of the UN team, led by Richard Goldstone, to investigate whether Israel and Hamas committed war crimes during the war. The four-member team entered Gaza from Egypt after Israel failed to grant visas, despite repeated requests by the UN. Two days of hearings take place in Jerusalem on 28th and 29 June, followed by similar hearings in Geneva in July, where Physicians for Human Rights will contribute, and the publication of a report in September.

Sr Alicia with members of the Comboni community in London

 

16 May 2009

Pax Christi Annual Meeting - Challenged by South African Bishop

More than 100 Pax Christi members and supporters gathered in London on 16 May for the Annual Meeting of the movement - to learn about the work of the past year and to celebrate achievements of the organisation and of individual members. Those taking part learned of the success of the 2009 Peace Sunday - more parishes than ever had been involved. They also heard of the wide range of publications and resources produced to support people in their own peacemaking at parish and community level. The Pax Christi Peace Award was also presented at the meeting to three sets of people. First, posthumously, to Theresa and Hans Kohen, founder members of the British friends of Neve Shalom / Wahat al Salam. Theresa and Hans had supported Jewish – Christian studies at the Ammerdown Centre, the International Mass at St. Catherine’s Church, Birmingham, and the Jubilee Debt Campaigns. Then, London teacher Rachel Kane, from Our Lady's High School, Hackney, received an award for her support for peace and justice issues in the curriculum. Rachel has championed the work of CAFOD and Pax Christi and engaged her pupils in a critical look at the world, inviting journalists and campaigners to her school.	Executive Committee member Michael Mitchel leads the opening prayer. Chair, Stewart Hemsley and General Secretary Pat Gaffney at the table.
Marjorie and James Welch with Pax Christi President, Bishop Malcolm McMahon.	Marjorie and James Welch have have devoted more than 30 years to the work for peace and justice. In the 1970’s they created a Justice and Peace group in Twickenham to raise awareness of Nuclear Disarmament, an issue much to the fore at the time. In the 80’s they played their part in spreading the word of peace, particularly at parish level, addressing the question of how to engage parish clergy. Marjorie and James have been an inspiration to many, in their persistence in the work of bringing peace, they have not given up, nor lost hope or perspective but persevered on their journey of life, faithful to the Gospel. Each was given a special peace medal from the Neve Shalom / Wahat al Salam Jewish/Arab project in Israel. The Pax Christi Peace Award was introduced in 2003 to recognise grass roots and community approaches to peace work in the UK. Read more about the Peace Awards Guest speaker, Bishop Kevin Dowling addressed the theme of transitional justice - in particular relating to his own work in Sudan and Zimbabwe. Bishop Kevin is a Vice-President of Pax Christi International and deeply involved in issues of peace, justice and HIV/Aids.
Bishop Kevin Dowling from South Africa addresses the audience	Bishop Kevin spoke of his involvement in peace initiatives in Africa, particularly expressing concern about the 2005 peace agreement in Southern Sudan which ended several decades of civil war. He attended a meeting in March 2009 in Khartoum where Christian leaders spoke of the possibility of war erupting again unless resources are put into rebuilding the South’s ruined infrastructure and community services. “The international community should work together to implement programmes on the ground, for example, with the internally displaced” he urged. He outlined the work of the Solidarity Peace Trust in relation to Zimbabwe. Set up by bishops from Zimbabwe and South Africa, including Bishop Dowling, it has documented and denounced human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, calling for an end to the impunity of state-sponsored abusers. He said Pax Christi members open up opportunities for peacemaking and help create “a global community of solidarity” and he urged more people to join the British section. Full text of Bishop Dowling's talk here

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23 March 2009

Schools hear story of forgiveness and resilience

Over 100 students from Catholic Schools in Westminster Diocese heard Richard Moore share his inspiring story of forgiveness and determination at a gathering organised in central London by Pax Christi.

At the age of 10 Richard was blinded by a rubber bullet (see photo on the right) after being shot by a British soldier in Derry 1972. He described his childhood, coming to terms with his disability and the support he experienced from his parents and siblings which have helped him to live without anger or bitterness. In 2006 Richard met Charles, the soldier who had blinded him. He spoke of the role of forgiveness in his life: "Forgiveness is a gift to yourself, I was able to find the freedom to be able to give forgiveness. Forgiveness is also about realising that while you cannot change the past you can change the future".

Referring to the prayers and concerns of his family, that some cure might be found for his blindness Richard said: "I have not had my sight restored but I have gotten a lot more - a vision". This vision has enabled him to found Children in Crossfire, a charity set up to help other children across the world who are caught in poverty and conflict.  Speaking of the importance of this work he said: "I have first hand experience of what it is like to have your whole life changed or affected by conflict. In the last 10 years Children in Crossfire has been working to improve the lives of young people right across the world. We have seen the difference that support and understanding can make."

In his closing remarks Richard affirmed his belief that violence and war achieve nothing. He remarked on the renewed fears in Northern Ireland that violence will return following the murders in February, but reminded the students that dialogue and mediation are the only real way to achieve peace.

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20 March

Remembering Iraq and Afghanistan - 6 years on

Two Christian Peace Organisations, Pax Christi and the Fellowship of Reconciliation, will hold a prayer vigil at Downing Street on 20 March for all victims of war and violence Afghanistan and Iraq.

Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi said: "The people of Afghanistan are now living through their eighth year of war following the tragedy of 11 September 2001. 20 March 2009 marks the 6th anniversary of the start of the war with Iraq. Our vigil is to remember the people of Iraq& Afghanistan, to pray for all those tens of thousands who have died in war and violence over the past years and to repent at the role our nation has played in these wars"

According to the Nobel Economist, Joseph Stiglitz, the budgetary cost to the UK alone of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will reach £18 billion by the year 2010. If the social costs within the UK are added, the total impact on the UK will exceed £20 billion

143 and 178 military personnel have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq respectively. In March 2008 Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul was kidnapped and murdered in Iraq. The Christian community of Iraq has decreased from 1.4 million in 2003 to around 600,000 today and continues to experience persecution

The vigil, which will run between 4 - 5 pm, will include times public prayer where names of those who had died will be read out.

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26 February

Ash Wednesday call to turn away from Trident and nuclear war preparations

The annual Ash Wednesday liturgy of Repentance and Resistance to nuclear war preparations took place at the Ministry of Defence in London on 25th February, drawing more than 70 Christians from around the country. This witness, which began in 1984, uses powerful liturgical symbols associated with the day and acts of nonviolent civil disobedience to call the British Government to repent and reject nuclear weapons and nuclear war preparations. This action was organised by Pax Christi with Catholic Peace Action and Christian CND. Following prayers in Embankement Gardens, where charcoal and ash were blessed and those taking part were marked with the sign of the cross, the group formed a procession, stopping first at the Old War Office and then at the Ministry of Defence Building. On route the building was marked with blessed charcoal by members of the London Catholic Worker. Prayers were offered for victims of war and violence while black and purple ribbons were tied to a white cross. At the MoD building the word REPENT was marked on sackcloth laid at the front entrance.

This annual witness seeks to articulate messages and teaching of Christian churches. In his 2006 World Peace Day message Pope Benedict XVI said “What can be said, too, about those governments which count on nuclear arms as a means of ensuring the security of other countries? Along with countless persons of good will, one can state that this point of view is not only baneful but also completely fallacious. In a nuclear war there would e no victors only victims…” and from 20 Anglican Bishops, writing in 2006, “Nuclear weapons are a direct denial of the Christian concept of peace and reconciliation, which are social and economic as well as physical and spiritual...The costs involved in the maintenance and replacement of Trident could be used to address pressing environmental concerns, the causes of terrorism, poverty and debt, and enable humanity and dignity to be the right of all.”

all photos by Elil - to see more go to Elil's photogallery

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23 February

Remaining Steadfast for Peace - Pax Christi Delegation to Palestine/Israel

Members of a Pax Christi delegation returned to the UK on 20 February following an 8 day visit to Palestine and Israel. The focus of the visit was to make contact with teachers and those working with young people, to encounter life and occupation in the West Bank and Jerusalem and to meet with Pax Christi partners- women, teachers, peace and human rights NGOs - to learn from them and share approaches to teaching and presenting issues of conflict and violence.

An overarching concern, expressed by nearly all those whom the delegation met, was the war with Gaza. Many Christian and Muslim Palestinians articulated their fear that the West Bank would be 'next' and their frustrations that in spite of so many words of concern about the impact of occupation by the international community, nothing on the ground has improved. Teachers spoke of how their pupils had appeared absent minded in class during the war and how they had to struggle to prevent the burden of Gaza from overwhelming their students.

The delegation also experienced some of the practical realities of occupation that Palestinians face on a daily basis. They joined Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) volunteers at the Bethlehem checkpoint at 5.00 am in the morning to witness the humiliation of hundreds of Palestinian workers who queue daily, some from as early at 2.00 am, to pass through turnstiles and security searches in order to work in Jerusalem. In Hebron the delegation joined Accompaniers who walk daily with teachers and pupils of the Cordoba school to protect them from harassment from Israeli settlers who live in the centre of the old city and from members of the Israeli Defence Forces who staff checkpoints.

In spite of the hardships and mis-treatment of people the delegation were aware of a great spirit of steadfastness or Sumud (the Arabic word) in the lives of those they met. Israeli and Arab teachers who bravely challenge acts of violence and stereotyping of the 'other'; mothers who talk of their pain 'giving them power' to overcome obstacles; young people who choose to stay and make a life for themselves in a situation that seems totally hopeless; Israeli and Palestinian NGOs, some working to monitor human rights while others work to restore the culture and traditions of Palestine that are threatened by occupation.

On 14 February the delegation joined with their partner organisation the Arab Educational Institute near the separation wall at Rachel's Tomb at the entrance to Bethlehem for a candle-lit vigil for peace in Israel and Palestine. Prayers for peace and texts from holy scriptures were read during the vigil. The delegation will work to produce a range of reports and resources based on their visit and make these available through Pax Christi's networks and website.

Download leaflet about candle-lit vigil for peace in Israel-Palestine

Watch video of candle-lit vigil for peace in Israel-Palestine

Members of the delegation - all Pax Christi members: John Harkin, Vice-Principal, Oakgrove Integrated School, Derry, Northern Ireland; Ann Farr, Pax Christi Executive Committee member, Coventry; Mary Boley, Christian Education Centre, Tooting, London; John Williams, Adviser Catholic Education - secondary support team, Westminster Diocese, London; Hilary Topp, Peace Education Worker, Pax Christi; Pat Gaffney, General Secretary, Pax Christi.

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24 January

Award for Pax Christi Volunteers

Five Pax Christi volunteers were given an award in acknowledgement of their work by the Mayor of Barnet, John Marshall at a ceremony organised by Barnet Volunteer Council on 23 January. The ceremony took place at Middlesex University, who partnered the evening with Barnet Voluntary Service Council.

The volunteers, Peggy Oliver, Helga Calloway, Sr Mary Ann Tyler, Sr Margaret Terese and Michael Mitchell, had each contributed more than 100 hours to Pax Christi. At the ceremony Mayor John Marshall spoke of the enormous value of volunteering to the community, calling volunteers the salt of the earth.

Pax Christ would be unable to undertake much of its work without the commitment, energy and encouragement of its volunteers. Fausta Valentine, Pax Christi's Administrator said: In our busy world it is heart warming to find people who are generous with their time and skill to work for the common good". Peggy Oliver is a member of Our Lady of Dolors parish in Hendon; Helga Calloway is from Christ the King parish, Cockfosters; Sr Mary Ann is a member of the Religious of the Assuption, Kensington; Sr Margaret Terese is member of the Franciscan Sisters of Mill Hill. The fifth award winner Michael Mitchell, was unable to attend.

Top: Helga Calloway, Fausta Valentine (Pax Christi Administrator), Sr Mary Ann Lower: Sr Margaret Terese and Peggy Oliver, at Middlesex University ceremony

Sr Mary Ann, Sr Margaret Terese and Helga Calloway in the Pax Christi office

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20 January

Peace Sunday celebrated in style

Pax Christi members around the country helped to mark Peace Sunday in parish and other communities. Peace Sunday, celebrated in England and Wales on the Second Sunday in ordinary time, is a time to learn about the Pope's annual Peace Day message and the work of Pax Christi. Members use this opportunity to engage all ages in thinking about, praying for and celebrating peace. Thousands of the new Pax Christi family prayer cards were given out - in many cases by the children of the community. Other parishes took up the invitation to say NO to child soldiers, encouraging children to write their 'Hands up for Peace' messages, which are to be gathered and sent to the UN in New York by 12 February 2009 Look at more images celebrating Peace Sunday over the years... they may give you ideas and encouragement for next year.

Parishoners from a parish in North Finchley, London, help to give out prayer cards

International students with Chaplain Rev Stuart Jennings at Warwick University Chaplaincy - lighting candles as a commitment to peacemaking in the year ahead

Hands up for Peace - young people at a London Parish write their messages to the UN to protest against children being used in war

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10 January 2009

Pax Christi joins with other Christian groups at rally for Gaza

Members of Pax Christi, Quakers, Friends of Sabeel and others gathered for a silent witness in Hyde Park at the start of a rally for Gaza. 10 January marked the 15th day of heavy Israeli military action in Gaza. The rally drew thousands of people from around the country including many hundreds from the British Muslim communty as well as Jewish groups such as Jews for Justice for Palestinians and the Jewish Socialists. At one point during the speeches in Hyde Park names of children who had been killed in Gaza were read out.

Pax Christi has called on its members and churches around the country to pray for peace in Palestine and Israel and will continue in its work to offer solidarity to peacemakers in the region and in the UK. The people of Gaza continue to carry the terrible burden of military violence. These 15 days have compounded the humanitarian crisis that was created by the seige of Gaza. In February Pax Christi will send a delegation to the West Bank.

Silent Vigil in Hyde Park	Message from "Jews for Justice for Palestinians"
Message at rally in Hyde Park	Rally in Hyde Park

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6 January 2009

In the skies above Gaza lightning falls on human rights

"It is out of a spirit of hope in a time of great sadness and fear that the British Section of Pax Christi calls on Churches throughout the UK to pray and act for peace and justice in Palestine and Israel.

On this the 11th day of the military bombardment of Gaza, with no ceasefire in site, we must show our solidarity with the dispossessed who suffer the violence of the bombs and the violence of the on-going siege.  We must show our solidarity with those Christians, Jews and Muslims in the region who bravely call for an end to violence – pointing to futility of violence and military responses to the long and tragic political problems of Palestine and Israel.

We are with Pope Benedict in declaring that, "the dramatic news that we are receiving from the Gaza Strip shows that the refusal to dialogue leads to situations that weigh unspeakably on the populations who are again victim to hatred and war" (Speaking in Rome, Angelus,  4th January 2009)

We are with former International President of Pax Christi, Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah who has said that “every hour is not just a war crime but a crime against humanity.” The Patriarch was speaking earlier this week at a service in Jerusalem.  "In the skies above Gaza lightning falls on human rights. We have seen this in the past and what we see in the Strip, unfortunately, is repeated generation after generation. It is not an act of God. God created man in His own image and likeness, created love and reconciliation and justice, but what we see is the destruction of human beings in Gaza and everywhere, and the destruction of all of Palestine."

In preparing to mark Peace Sunday on 18 January 2009

1. We ask that people of faith set aside time each day to pray for the people of Gaza and Israel and for a ceasefire which will allow time for other responses and voices to be heard.  On 18th January the Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates Peace Sunday – on this day special thoughts and prayers should be offered for the people of Palestine and Israel.  
2. We ask fellow citizens to speak or write to political and religious leaders expressing concern for what is happening and urging them to use their position and voice to call an immediate halt to Israel’s military assault and Hamas’ rocket attacks on Israel, and work towards the ending of the illegal occupation of Palestinian Territories by Israel – at the root of so much of the injustice, fear and anger in the region.
3. We ask people of faith to join together at local and national level, with secular groups, to speak out and act nonviolently against the destruction of the people of Gaza and the threats to the civilian population of Israel. "

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2008

10 December

Hundreds gather for Annual Pax Christi Advent Peace Service

St Aloysius Church, Euston, London was the venue for the annual Pax Christi Advent Peace Service. Hundreds gathered to take part in a liturgy with music led by composer and liturgist, Bernadette Farrell, and hear scriptural and contemporary readings and prayers that set out the longing of our world for peace. The Westminster Diocesan Deaf Service signed the whole service, adding a new, inclusive element to the evening which was much appreciated. During the service those gathered were invited to take part in the Pax Christi Christmas Messages of Hope and Peace to Bethlehem, a project Pax Christi has supported for some years. They were also urged to 'stay with Pax Christi' for the whole year, seeking ways in which each one can build a culture of peace in schools, parishes and communities. Around a centrepiece featuring the Earth surrounded by images of war, conflict and violence, worshipers lit candles of hope as part of a prayer commitment to work for peace in the year ahead. The service was followed by an alternative christmas market, offering goods in support of small scale peace and justice projects in the UK and around the world.

every candle of hope... a commitment to pray and work for peace!

Into this world... preparing for the Prince of Peace

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10 December

Wife's love gave Austrian martyr strength, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn says
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service ROME (CNS)

Blessed Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian farmer beheaded for refusing to serve in the Nazi army, had the strength to follow his conscience because of his wife Franziska, said Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna. With the 95-year-old widow and the couple's three daughters in the front row, Cardinal Schönborn participated in the Dec 9 presentation of a new biography in Italian, "Christ or Hitler? The Life of Blessed Franz Jagerstatter." The book launch was held in Rome's St. Bartholomew Church, which Pope John Paul II designated as a shrine to martyrs of the 20th century. The original handwritten copy of Blessed Jägerstätter's "spiritual testament" is on a side altar in the church, along with letters and objects owned by other victims of Nazism and communism in Europe and of dictatorships in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The Austrian martyr's widow said she did not want to respond to reporters' questions, but she did say her happiest memory was the 1936 honeymoon pilgrimage she and Franz took to Rome. Her daughter, Maria, said her earliest memory was "the whole family sitting around the table and Mother reading the letter that my father had been beheaded. Everyone cried." Maria was 4 years old when her father was beheaded by guillotine on Aug. 9, 1943. "We never felt he abandoned us," she said. Rather they believed he was in heaven and "he protected us." Her father was beatified in 2007, but he "was always a saint to us. If you read his last letter, you would know he was," she said. In the letter, written a few hours before he was executed, Blessed Jägerstätter apologized to his wife and family for the suffering they endured; he promised to watch over them always; and he talked about how Jesus must have suffered knowing that his mother was there watching him die. Cardinal Schönborn told the audience that he first heard of Blessed Jägerstätter in 1968 when he read the late Gordon Zahn's book, "In Solitary Witness: The Life and Death of Franz Jägerstätter." Strangely, he said, almost no one seemed to have heard of the Austrian martyr and his transformation from a superficial Catholicism to a deep faith that forced him to question how one could be "a soldier for Christ" and a soldier in Hitler's army at the same time. The growth in faith, the cardinal said, was due to the example of his wife. "Franz had the strength to follow his conscience because he was supported by the love of his wife," he said. Cardinal Schönborn introduced Franziska Jägerstätter and her three daughters to Pope Benedict XVI Dec. 10 at the end of the pope's general audience. The pope stood to greet the widow and continued to hold her hands as they spoke; then, her daughters came up and gave the pope flowers and other gifts. Read more about Franz Jägerstätter...	Franz Jägerstätter, proclaimed "blessed" on 26 Oct. 2007
	Franziska at Beatification of husband Franz
	www.photovat.com Franziska meets Pope Benedict XVI - 10 Dec 2008

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29 September 2008

Two Priests and a Christian community honoured with Pax Christi Peace Awards

This Autumn the annual Pax Christi International Peace Award will be given to Franciscan priest, Dom Luiz Flávio Cappio, the bishop of Barra in the state of Bahia, Brazil, and the members of the Brazilian community who have worked with him.
In the United States, the Pax Christi USA annual book award goes to Jesuit theologian, Jon Sobrino.

The Pax Christi International award ceremony will take place during a weekend of events entitled “Waters for Peace” from the 17 to 19 October 2008 in Sobradinho, in the state of Bahia, Brazil, organized by the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT), a Member Organisation of Pax Christi International in Brazil. Events for 17 October include a seminar on the issue of water and environment, a Eucharistic liturgy and a press conference. On 18 October, an inter-religious event will take place followed by a prayer pilgrimage to the Säo Francisco River. An international day of fasting in solidarity will be launched that day. The Pax Christi Peace Award ceremony will be held on 19 October. Laura Vargas Valcarcel, Vice President of Pax Christi International, will deliver the award speech. Dom Luiz is being recognised for his nonviolent action in protest against the Säo Francisco river transposition project. Brazil’s third-largest river, the Rio Säo Francisco in the north-eastern state of Bahia, was relocated to build more hydropower stations and supply water for industrial farming, shrimps production and steel plants in an area inhabited by rich people. The project would effectively destroy many villages of fisher folk and river inhabitants and cause vast environmental damage. The award will also honour the actions of the members of the community, who worked actively against the project themselves. The struggle behind this Award also echoes the many struggles around the world related to land and water resources and rights.

Dom Luiz Flávio Cappio

Jesuit theologian Jon Sobrino is the recipient of this year's Pax Christi USA Book Award, No Salvation Outside the Poor: Prophetic-Utopian Essays. Fr Sobrino will join Pax Christi USA at its traditional Friday evening gathering at the School of the Americas (November 21) to accept the award, address the audience and answer questions. He is the survivor of the November 1989 massacre at the University of Central America, committed by School of the Americas graduates. Six of his brother Jesuits, their co-worker and her daughter were murdered.

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19 September

UK Churches want to know more about crisis for Christians in Holy Land -

Ecumenical day conference: Hallows Church, 83 London Wall, LONDON EC2 5ND  - begins at 10.00am

Over 100 UK church leaders from all denominations will gather on Monday 22nd September for a day conference to discover more about the ongoing crisis in the Holy Land and how this affects the Christian community.  "More and more UK churches are wanting to find out more about the situation for Christians in the Holy Land. They are telling us that they want to be able to talk about it confidently in their churches and want to have information to pass on to congregations. Whilst Christians in Bethlehem are calling for Christians in the U.K. to hear them.... " said Garth Hewitt, Director of the Amos Trust and one of the speakers at the conference entitled The Disappearance of the Holy Land.

The conference aims to give more information about the current situation and discuss how churches should respond. Issues to be addressed include the crisis of the diminishing Christian presence in the Holy Land, the denial of human rights of the Palestinian Community, the impact of settlements, the segregation wall and the destruction of the biblical landscape. It will also discuss the implication for church pilgrimages to the Holy Land in the light of new and differing restrictions for Palestinian and Israeli tour guides.

The ecumenical conference has been organised by a coalition of 9 Christian and Jewish groups and charities namely Living Stones, Ekklesia, Pax Christi, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Friends of Sabeel, Justpeace60, Amos Trust, the Interfaith Group for Morally Responsible Investment, and the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions.

The speakers are from both the Palestinian and Israeli communities providing first hand reports of the current situation in the Holy Land. Speakers will be: Jeff Halper, Jewish Israeli anthropologist and founder of the Israeli Campaign Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) , and author of "An Israeli in Palestine: Resisting Dispossession, Redeeming Israel." - Sami Awad, a Christian Palestinian from Bethlehem, who is the director of the Holy Land Trust, an organisation that supports alternative tourism and facilitates nonviolence workshops across the West Bank - Garth Hewitt, director of the Amos Trust, Canon of St Georges Cathedral, Jerusalem, and author of "Bethlehem Speaks: Voices from the Little Town Cry Out" - Palestinian Ambassador, Dr Manuel Hassassian, (who is a Christian from Bethlehem) will also greet the conference.

There will also be a launching of a new film for churches - "Bethlehem - Hidden from View", which gives an updated picture of the crisis in Bethlehem and features all of the conference speakers.  The conference follows up the Just Peace 60 initiative of May of this year, when over 140 Church leaders and theologians put their names to a historic joint declaration calling for a just peace in Palestine/Israel. The signatories included Archbishop Desmond Tutu, other senior bishops and ministers from many denominations, who committed themselves "to a courageous settlement whose details will honour both peoples, shared love for the land, and protect the individual and collective rights of Jews and Palestinians."

Conference Venue: All Hallows Church, 83 London Wall, London EC2 5ND  - begins at 10.00am

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1 September

Pax Christi members experience the global village - in Lourdes!

This summer five members of Pax Christi British Section went to volunteer in the Pax Christi Peace Pavillion in Lourdes. Open all year, this summer was an especially busy time as people from around the world came for the Jubilee of the first apparition of Mary to Bernadette 150 years ago. This project is just one of several that the Pax Christi family ran this summer and it is a unique and exciting way to experience the international nature of Pax Christi. We invited two of the volunteers, Sr Eileen McGrath and Anthea Fairey to share something of their experience with us. They give a great flavour of what has been happening in Lourdes this summer and of the scope and breadth of peacemaking by encounter and dialogue. First Anthea: I had a really good time in Lourdes.  Good time isn't really the right phrase but I don't know how else to phrase it.  Helen and I worked with Francoise from Lille and I think we made a good team, well balanced. Helen's French was good, Francoise was of course a native speaker and my French was/is minimal but my goodness me it did improve!!... On the Monday we were told that there would be 15, 12-15 year old visiting form the Limoge diocese for 1 hour.  Helen and I frantically planned an hour's worth of activities - they stayed for 2 and a half hours!! Mr Martin came at the same time so he talked to them and they did a quiz produced by PC France, which they found interesting.  We got them to make a wall of tiles where they each wrote what peace meant to them.  We also got each of them to write a personal prayer for peace.  I put them on the altar in the PC chapel whilst we said prayers the next day and then brought them back to the house mounted then on card and we have left them there. Read more here

Pax Christi Peace House, Lourdes

And from Sr Eileen : 15th August, feast of the Assumption. The Cardinal of Paris came to Lourdes to concelebrate the Mass as it was the National French Pilgrimage.  There were thousands in the large park at the other side of the grotto. We attended this open air Mass. Two sisters from Central Africa drop in for information about something else but I invite them to sit down and write something about Peace.  This is what they wrote: No to violence. No to war. No to genocide. No to racism. No to bomb attacks. Yes to fraternity. Yes to sharing. Yes to humility I SAY YES TO PEACE.     Jo Kirby age 15 Peace is something universal. The slogan “Peace and Love” is not a slogan for fun but it means the love we have for others.   Iwada age 12 We put them on the wall. They are wonderful... Our last evening we attended a conference entitled “Peace in the great lakes of Africa”. Burundi, Congo, Rwanda.  A priest called Father Gaston from Goma spoke as a member of Pax Christi who suffered in Rwanda.  The room was packed and the Bishop of Lourdes attended with a wonderful French priest who lives in the City Saint Pierre with the homeless and poor people. Read more here

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27 August

LONDON VIGIL CHALLENGES CANADIAN GOVERNMENT OVER DEPORTATION OF US WAR RESISTERS

Members of Pax Christi, the Oxford Catholic Worker and Voices in the Wilderness held a 10-hour vigil outside the Canadian High Commission in London to call attention to the Canadian Government's plans to deport US soldiers who have fled the war in Iraq. On the same day the organisers had a letter published in The Guardian, calling on its readers to join their campaign and write to the high commissioner James R Wright urging that the Canadian government abide by the will of its parliament and people and make provision for US war resisters to have sanctuary in Canada. They held giant placards bearing pictures of the resisters and the words ‘Canada: Stop Deporting US Soldiers Who Refuse to Fight in the Illegal War in Iraq. Grant Them Sanctuary’ will be exhibited outside. There are currently at least 12 US soldiers in Canada seeking asylum [2]. They have refused to take part in the invasion and occupation of Iraq – an invasion deemed “illegal” by the UN Secretary General [3], that has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis [4]. If they are returned to the US, they face lengthy periods of incarceration. Last month Robin Long became the first US war resister to be deported [5], and a second war resister, Jeremy Hinzman, has now been given a 23 September deadline to leave Canada with his wife, son and baby daughter, or be deported [6]. Long is currently serving a jail-term in Colorado.

Though its people [7] and Parliament [8] both oppose such deportations, Canada's minority government has refused to stop them. A spokesperson for the vigil said: “Between 1965-1973 more than 50,000 draft-age Americans made their way to Canada, refusing to participate in the Vietnam war. At the time, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau said: "Those who make the conscientious judgment that they must not participate in this war... have my complete sympathy, and indeed our political approach has been to give them access to Canada. Canada should be a refuge from militarism." Today, we call on Canada’s Government to stand by these ideals, and to abide by the will of its people and Parliament, by halting the ongoing deportation of US soldiers who have refused to fight in Iraq.”   NOTES [2] See http://tinyurl.com/63ov9d [3] ‘Iraq War Illegal, Says Annan’, BBC, 16/09/04, http://tinyurl.com/4ndcw [4] ‘655,000 Iraqis Killed Since Invasion’, Guardian, 11/10/06, http://tinyurl.com/6dlcgz [5] ‘U.S. deserter to appeal Canada deportation order’, Reuters, 14/08/08, http://tinyurl.com/6fecta [6] ‘US army deserter ordered deported from Canada’, AP, 13/08/08, http://tinyurl.com/6eveab [7] On 3 June Canada’s Parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling on the Government to “cease any removal or deportation actions” against US soldiers “who have refused or left military service related to a war not sanctioned by the United Nations”, and “to allow conscientious objectors and their immediate family members … to apply for permanent resident status and remain in Canada.” See http://tinyurl.com/67cjll. [8] In a June poll 64% of Canadians agreed that US soldiers who had ‘fled to Canada after refusing to take part in the Iraq war’ should be allowed to become permanent residents of Canada. See See http://tinyurl.com/699drz

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12 August

Franz Jägerstätter Commemorations

Sixty-five years after his execution,the life and witness of Blessed Franz Jägerstätter is still remembered around the world.

In London, a hundred people gathered in the Crypt Chapel in Westminster Cathedral for the annual Pax Christi memorial service where a reflection was offered, making the links between the witness and challenge of Franz and the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, Japan 9th August 1945. Both call Christians to examine their conscience in the face of violence and warfare.

In Austria, in his home village of St. Radegund a vigil was held at 4 pm, his hour of death, and in the evening a services was concelebrated in the parish church. Bishop Manfred Scheuer of Tirol gave the homily at the Mass. Fransiska Jägerstätter and her daughters also took part in this service. Photograps and video clips of the events can be seen here.

Earlier, Kuno Füssel, theologian and mathematician spoke at a gathering of around 60 people, organised by Pax Christi Upper Austria and Munich. In his talk he spoke of Franz as a liberation theologian - clear of mind and with a bold heart. Following the gathering participants, including members of Pax Christi Italy, made a pilgrimage from Burghausen to St. Radegund

The text of Kuno Füssel's talk in German can be downloaded here.

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7 August 2008

Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembered

Pax Christi members around the country have marked the 63rd anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6th and 9th August 1945. Among them, day-long vigils on the steps of Westminster Cathedral in Central London; a service in the Chapel of Unity in Coventry Cathedral with readings prayers and poems; a night vigil at Aylesford Priory in Kent; a memorial service in Swinton, Salford and an evening service of prayer in Aigburth, Liverpool. In London, hundreds of people took leaflets about the anniversaries and others joined with twice daily times of prayer for peace. Ninety people attended the Coventry event where they were addressed by guests form Japan and by the Mayor of Coventry. The event was coordinated by the Lord Mayors Committee for Peace and reconciliation, the Quakers and Pax Christi. Pax Christi vice-president Bruce Kent participated in the memorial service in Hiroshima on the morning of 6th August where he was attending on behalf of CND. The Mayor of Hiroshima, Tadatoshi Akiba issued a Peace Declaration at the ceremony, urging that the citizens of the world pledge to do everyting in their power to accomplish the total eradication of nuclear weapons..	Pax Christi member Ann Farr with Yuka, a Japanese student who addressed the Coventry service.
Pax Christi partner in Japan, Sr Filo Hirota, who works with the Japanese Conference of Bishops', has asked the Pax Christi movement to support the Save Article 9 Campaign. Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution renounces war as a means of settling international disputes and prohibits the maintenance of armed forces and other war potential. Article 9 is an international oath declaring No to War, a shared property of all the world’s citizens who wish for peace. Today, however, the Japanese government is moving towards amending Article 9, partly due to the U.S. demand for full-fledged military support from Japan in its “war on terror”. Despite the restrictions of Article 9, Japan’s Self-Defence Forces have gradually expanded over the years, bringing Japan’s military expenditure to one of the highest in the world, and they provided support to U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. You can find out more about the campaign here	Mrs Keiko Mukai, a guest from Japan who sang the Hiroshima Peace Song at the Coventry service
Pax Christi members in London brave the wind and rain at their stall/vigil outside Westminster Cathedral	More images of the ceremony in Hiroshima and of other events around the world can be seen here

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25 - 26 June

Pax Christi Chair, Stewart Hemsley, meets Iraqi Christian delegation in Brussels

Pax Christi International recently hosted a series of meetings in Belgium, France and Germany, for a church-led delegation from Iraq. Stewart Hemsley, Chair of the British Section of Pax Christi attended on our behalf. The meetings began in Brussels with briefings at the Pax Christi International office and then moved to the European Union where the delegation made representtion to the UK permanent representative, Owen Jenkins. They spoke of the plight of the Christian minority who feel that they lack any real representation in the new Iraqi Parliament. They also met representatives at the European Commission, Karin Gatt-Rutter of the Iraq Desk and MEPs Nickolay Lmadenov and Jana Hybaskova at the European Parliament.

These meetings were arranged following the Pax Christi International Northern Consultation in June when the movement made a commitment to offering greater solidarity to Christians in Iraq. In March 2008 the British Section of Pax Christi wrote to Mr Gordon Brown on the anniversary of the war with Iraq and following the murder of Archbishop Rahho. A copy of the reply letter can be downloaded here.

A copy of a report by Stewart Hemsley can be downloaded here. In order to protect the security of members of the Iraqi delegation their names have been removed.

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15 June

Claudette Werleigh speaks at Pax Christi Annual Meeting in York

Pax Christi members and guests gathered in York on 14 June for the Annual General Meeting of the movement. During the day they heard from Claudette Werleigh, the new International General Secretary of Pax Christi. Claudette, from Haiti, spoke about the early influences of liberation theology and the education work of Paulo Friere on her work in community development - both of which empower people to challenge injustice and violence themselves. In talking about the work of Pax Christi International, she stressed the importance of the solidarity that can be created through international movements that bring people from very different backgrounds in contact with one another in their search for peace.. Two members were elected to the Executive Committee, Arianna Andreageli who teaches law at Liverpool University and Michael Mitchell, a former volunteer who now lives in Sussex. Nan Saeki and Josie Campbell stood down after six years of service to the Comittee and were thanked for all their support and encouragement.
	A liturgy of commitment during the afternoon celebrated the work of the past year and invited all present to renew their work for peace for the future. The Pax Christi book of remembrance was presented during the liturgy and Pax Christi members and friends who died during the past year were recalled. Members heard of new projects of the movement - publications such as Peace People Who Changed the World and Franz Jagerstatter - A Different Kind of Hero, suitable for youth and schools groups and of a number of international opportunities for young people - the summer workcamp in Florence and the international peace pilgrimage to the First World War graves to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the war. In addition members were encouraged to continue solidarity work with peacemakers in Israel and Palestine.

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8 May

Christian Leaders on Israel’s 60th Anniversary

Over 140 Christian leaders have made a unified call for a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians, to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel. Their declaration is published in The Independent newspaper. Never before has such a diverse range of prominent Christians acknowledged that for Palestinians, Israel's celebration has become a 'Catastrophe' (Nakba). They seek a shared solution to the longstanding conflict. Stewart Hemsley, Chair of the British Seciton of Pax Christi, Fr. Claude Mostowik, National President of Pax Christi Australia, Dave Robinson, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, Prof Mary Grey, and Nobel Peace Laureat Mairead Corrigan Maguire are among the co-signers. The letter reads as follows:

Today, millions of Israelis and Jews around the world will joyfully mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the state of Israel. For many, this landmark powerfully symbolises the Jewish people's ability to defy the power of hatred so destructively embodied in the Nazi Holocaust. Additionally, it is an opportunity to celebrate the wealth of cultural, economic and scientific achievements of Israeli society, in all its vitality and diversity. This same day, millions of Palestinians living inside Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the worldwide diaspora, will mourn 60 years since over 700,000 of them were uprooted from their homes and forbidden from returning, while more than 400 villages were destroyed. For them, this day is not just about the remembrance of a past catastrophic dispossession, dispersal, and loss; it is also a reminder that their struggle for self-determination and restitution is ongoing. To hold both of these responses together in balanced tension is not easy. But it is vital if a peaceful way forward is to be forged, and is central to the Biblical call to "seek peace and pursue it" (Ps. 34:14). We acknowledge with sorrow that for the last 60 years, while extending empathy and support to the Israeli narrative of independence and struggle, many of us in the church worldwide have denied the same solidarity to the Palestinians, deaf to their cries of pain and distress. To acknowledge and respect these dual histories is not, by itself, sufficient, but does offer a paradigm for building a peaceful future. Many lives have been lost, and there has been much suffering. The weak are exploited by the strong, while fear and bitterness stunt the imagination and cripple the capacity for forgiveness. We therefore urge all those working for peace and justice in Israel/Palestine to consider that any lasting solution must be built on the foundation of justice, which is rooted in the very character of God. After all, it is justice that "will produce lasting peace and security" (Isaiah 32:17). Let us commit ourselves in prophetic word and practical deed to a courageous settlement whose details will honour both peoples' shared love for the land, and protect the individual and collective rights of Jews and Palestinians in the Holy Land. “Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid” (Micah 4:4)

Read more and see complete list of signatories at http://justpeace60.blogspot.com/

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20 March

Vigils around the country recall 5 years of suffering in Iraq

A number of vigils and times of prayer and reflection for peace were held round the country on 19th March, the eve of the start of the war with Iraq.

In London fifty people gathered for an ecumenical vigil at Downing Street, London. This involved saying prayers on the half-hour and the reading of the names of Iraqi and Coalition war dead. In Oxford another ecumenical group gathered at Carfax in the city centre. In North London following a time of prayer members of the Justice and Peace group at St Melitus Church leafleted commuters at the local train station. Other vigils took place in Birmingham, Coventry, Stafford, Kendal, Woodbridge, Bridgened and Somerset. Extract from a prayer used at the Downing Street vigil: We pray for others: for the people of Iraq, whose lives and dreams are broken daily; for the victims of torture and abuse and their perpetrators, whose bodies, hearts, minds and souls are being scarred for ever; for soldiers and their families, torn apart by war, sacrificing more than many of us can understand. This project was organised by Pax Christi and the Fellowship of Reconciliation who also sent a letter about the UK's responsibilities for the war to Prime Minister, Gordon Brown

Ecumenical vigil, Downing Street, London

Downing Street Vigil, London

Vigil at Carfax, Oxford City centre

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13 March 2008

A Call for remembrance, prayer and action: Iraq 5 years on

20th March marks the 5th anniversary of the war with Iraq – a war which has cost tens of thousands of lives, displaced millions and brought fear and destruction to all communities.  In recent months, Christians will also be aware that the minority Christian community has borne its own share of this violence.  The destruction of churches,  the targeting of church personnel leading this week to the death, following kidnap, of Chaldean Archbishop Rahho of Mosul. 

The Pax Christi and Fellowship of Reconciliation are calling on Christians throughout the country to make 19th March, the eve of the start of the war, a day of remembrance, repentance and prayer for the people of Iraq and the role that our nation has played in this war.

In London there will be a vigil at Downing Street between 5.00 – 6.30 pm on Wednesday 19th.  During the vigil prayers will be shared and names of the dead will be read out in public.  This will include the names of Iraq people as well as of US and UK military personnel who have been killed in this war.  A number of similar public vigils will be held around the country, including Oxford, Coventry, Stafford, North London and Kent  and there will be times of prayer and reflection taking place as part of church- community commemorations on the same day.

Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi  said: “ The vigil takes place in Holy Week when we remember Jesus’ path to the Cross – the betrayal, the torture, the abandonment – and so too we remember the people of Iraq and the years of suffering they have experienced through wars, sanctions and now occupation.  We will be urging our Government to make reparation for the destruction we have caused and calling on all people of good will to join efforts to being stability and peace to Iraq.”

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13 February 2008

Call for remembrance, prayer and action for Iraq

A call for day remembrance, prayer and action on 19 March, the eve of the anniversary of the war with Iraq is one of the responses that came from an ecumenical seminar held in London on 12 February entitled ‘Iraq War – 5 years on : A continuing challenge to Christians.’ Representatives from Justice and Peace and social responsibility networks gathered to discuss ways in which might Christians might respond to the war and on-going occupation of Iraq.

Speaker Paul Rogers, professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford, described how the UK Government has been drawn into an almost endless war in the region, beginning with Afghanistan, spreading to Iraq and possibly beyond which has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and detentions without trial. He went on to say that the military path is not working. The resistance that we see in the Middle East cannot be controlled by what he called ‘lid-ism’, the use force and militarism.  State centred security models need to be turned to human security models addressing the real insecurity threats to our world – the rich-poor divide, climate change and the expansion of military technology. Milan Rai, co-founder of Justice not Vengeance and editor of Peace News outlined the decision making process that had taken us into war and the role that public opinion had played delaying this decison. While some feel that anti-war actions of Spring 2003 did not stop the UK from becoming a key partner in the war they did force, the Blair government had to make accommodations at the time, and he believes, have helped prevent the escalation  of a military response to the situation in Iran. Public opinion now stands 2:1 in opposition to the on-going occupation and a deep sense of responsibility for the suffering of the people of Iraq.  This means that a way must be found of withdrawing the US and UK troops while offering support and protection to the people of Iraq, perhaps by a replacement peacekeeping force acceptable to the Iraqi people. Suha Rassam, an Iraqi and former professor of medicine at the University of Baghdad, spoke of the particular plight of the ancient Christian community of Iraq which now fears extinction. She spoke of the gradual displacement of the Christian community during the Iraq–Iran war, during the first Gulf War and the period of sanctions now exacerbated by this 5 years of war. 44% of Iraqi refugees in Syria are from the Christian community. Christian churches and church personnel have been especially targeted in recent months.  Suha spoke of the need to challenge both Muslim and Christian fundamentalism and to create ways for people to recognise their need of each other in building peace in Iraq. Find out more about Iraqi Christians in Need and support their work. At the seminar, the organisers, Pax Christi and the Fellowship of Reconciliation, launched their Christian Peace Witness for Iraq on 19 March, urging churches and communities to hold vigils or prayer services in town centres on 19 March to remind local communities of the 5th anniversary of the war with Iraq. There will be a national gathering in central London in the early evening of 19 March.  At the same time, they ask that church communities write to local MPs about the plight of Iraqi refugees and detainees and to urge that the UK Government work at non-military ways of bringing justice and sustained peace to the people of Iraq.  They also urge Christians to support Muslim and Christian agencies working with displaced people.   (left to right) Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi, Paul Rogers and Milan Rai (left to right) Chris Cole of Fellowship of Reconciliation, Suha Rassam and Milan Rai Copy of the leaflet Christian Peace Witness for Iraq

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11 February 2008

Ministry of Defence building marked with blessed ash on Ash Wednesday, 6 February 2008

2008 marked the 25th anniversary of prayer, repentence and resistance to nuclear war preparations at the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall, London. Around 70 people from around the country gathered in Embankment Gardens where they were marked with ash as is the tradition on Ash Wednesday. In a silent procession they then made their way to three stopping points in Horseguards Avenue: The Old War Office, Whitehall and the Ministry of Defence building. A group who had prepared in advance marked the Old War Office and Minsitry of Defence buildings with blessed charcoal. There were no arrests although there was a very strong police presence during the whole afternoon.

At the prayer stop at the Old War Office, Stewart Hemsley, the Chair of Pax Christi addressed the group saying: "The liturgy we are celebrating is an act of ‘Repentance and Resistance to Nuclear War Preparations.’ We use the symbols of ashes and sackcloth to show our repentance for trusting as a nation in death dealing weapons like the Trident missile system. We reject the idea of security by what our leaders call ‘hard power’ which is aggressive and threatening behaviour backed up by military might. Scripture teaches us not to put our trust in ‘Princes’ or their weapons.Those who advocate ‘hard power’ and all that that means are the agents of despair, death and destruction. The full text of Stewarts reflection can be downloaded here

This action was supported by Pax Christi, Christian CND and Catholic Peace Action. Other actions and vigils took place in Edinburgh and Newcastle upon Tyne. You can dowload a copy of the liturgy here.

Gathering for prayer in front of Ministry of Defence building, London	Cross bearing images of Martyrs for Peace and 21 Theses of Peace by Philip Berrigan
Words: Choose Life - No Trident written in blessed charcoal on the Old War Office building	Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi is stopped by police from continuing her message

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11 January 2008

Pax Christi Celebrates Peace Sunday

On Sunday 20th January Catholic  parishes in England and Wales will celebrate Peace– Sunday  a day that offers us an opportunity to reflect on the Holy Father’s World Peace Day message with the  theme “The Human Family: Community of Peace”.  In this years message the Holy Father reminds us that we are all called to make peace and build relationships of solidarity and cooperation as befits members of the one human family

Pax Christi have provided every parish in the country with liturgy and reflection materials to help mark the day.  Hundreds of parishes around the country have been in contact with Pax Christi to order additional materials for use with young people, children and adults. Some parishes will focus on the theme “The Human Family: Community of Peace” to celebrate the diversity of their parish community encouraging activities that help to map out the breadth of countries represented in the parish.  Others will use the children’s activities to create peace chains – where children describe words that indicate what it takes to be a peacemaker or make peace boxes containing poems, images, photographs of peace activities which can be passed on as a gift to another community.

Pat Gaffney, General Secretary of Pax Christi said: Pax Christi has worked since the 1960s to help promote the Pope’s World Peace Day message.  Each year we see more and more parishes becoming involved – using our resources with creativity and imagination to help communicate a message of peace.  This year we know that people will be praying especially for communities in Kenya, Pakistan and Iraq – reflecting the images we see daily on our television screens.  These remind us of the need to work for peace every day – to discover what part we may be playing as a country in contributing to violence in the world and act to challenge this.  This is what solidarity is about – finding practical and real ways of being with people in times of violence and warfare.
Liturgy and reflection materials from Pax Christi are available at
 http://www.paxchristi.org.uk/PeaceSunday.html

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30 December 2007

Human Star at Separation Wall - Bethlehem

Members of the Arab Educational Institute, a Pax Christi partner in Bethlehem, created a human star in the shadow of the separation wall near Rachel's Tomb, Bethlehem, in anticipation of Christmas 2007. The AEI had asked for solidarity for their act of witness.  In London, the team of staff and volunteers of Pax Christi gathered around their own 'star' to send greetings and best wishes to members of the AEI women's group. In Cambridge a silent street vigil was held outside the Guildhall in support of the 'walled-in' people of Bethlehem.

At the same time, messages and prayers for peace and justice were sent to Bethlehem from individuals, parishes and schools around the world. See below a Peace Tree of messages created in the Chapel of Unity in Coventry Cathedral. Read the Christmas Messages received from around the world.

Sumud-Star, Bethlehem - click photo to watch video	Pax Christi team, London
Peace Vigil, Cambridge	Peace-Tree messages, Coventry Cathedral

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19 December

Gordon ZAHN - R.I.P

It is with sadness that we report the death on 9 December 2007 of Gordon Zahn, aged 84 years.

Below extracts from a full Obituary compiled by Mike Hovey, a long-standing colleague and friend and  Director of Catholic Social Teaching for the Archdiocese of Detroi

" It was while he served in the CPS camps that Gordon “fine-tuned” his pacifist understanding and commitment, particularly as a Catholic.  His religious education had been extremely slim – he read the entire King James Version of the Bible on his own in high school, and never attended any formal catechetical program in Catholic teaching – but in the camps he met several men who were steeped in the Catholic intellectual tradition and a critique of the traditional teaching on “just wars,” as opposed to the Age of Martyrs, when military service was deemed unsuitable for a “soldier of Christ.”  Some of the “campers” were graduates of elite universities, and Gordon’s desire to resume his academic studies was rekindled. Upon his release from CPS, Gordon and another CPS camper, Richard Leonard, applied for entrance to the Benedictine-run St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota and received full tuition scholarships and jobs to earn their room and board.  After one year, they received a telegram from the Prior with the news that some of the faculty (former military chaplains) were opposed to pacifists receiving such generous benefits, and suggested that they take a year off to let the situation cool down.  Gordon and Dick scraped the funds together for their tuition and traveled back to St. John’s – only to sleep on the school’s shuttle bus for two nights while the debate about their presence on campus continued.  In the end, Fr. Godfrey Diekmann, O.S.B., one of their staunchest defenders, told the men that the community was too deeply divided to allow them to return.

Gordon Zahn 1918 - 2007 Gordon died in St. Camillus Nursing Home in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on Sunday, December 9, 2007 after suffering with Alzheimer's disease for several years.  He will be cremated and his funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, December 18 in Milwaukee.  Plans are being made for a more public Memorial early in 2008.

Bishop Thomas Gumbleton with Gordon Zahn, London 1986 Read another acknowledgement of Gordon's work from the Catholic Peace Fellowshhip, USA "Let us now praise Gordon Zahn" by Michael Gallagher, Catholic Peace Fellowship 2003 www.catholicpeacefellowship.org/downloads/gordon_zahn.pdf

The dean gave them letters of recommendation to the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, where they were accepted and from which they graduated with degrees in sociology.  One of their professors, Eugene McCarthy, was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1948, and provided patronage jobs for both men in Washington, D.C., and they enrolled at Catholic University of America, under the tutelage of Fr. (later Msgr.) Paul Hanly Furfey, one of the first “Catholic sociologists” (then considered a bit of an oxymoron) and counselor to Dorothy Day and the Catholic Workers movement… While engaged in the research on German Catholics in the late 1950s, Gordon "discovered" the story of an Austrian farmer and family man, Franz Jägerstätter who, upon being called into the Nazi army for duty in 1943, refused to go as a matter of conscience and because he believed he would be fighting in an unjust war, and was beheaded in Berlin on August 9, 1943 for his conscientious objection.  Zahn received a research grant from the American Philosophical Society and spent a summer interviewing family and friends of the martyr, along with tracking down other written source material.  In 1964, In Solitary Witness: The Life and Death of Franz Jaegerstaetter was published.  Gordon believed that he had stumbled upon the story of an unheralded (and unsupported, by his Church) martyr for the faith – in other words, a saint.  On October 26 of this year, the Church recognized Franz's heroic witness to the faith when it declared Franz "blessed" at a joyous celebration in Linz Cathedral.  Franz’s widow, Franziska – now 94 years old – and his daughters and their families joined 5,000 others as the Catholic Church at last recognized the holy witness of this man.  Gordon’s dream had been realized.

Gordon's written work appeared regularly in AMERICA and Commonweal magazines, in addition to other publications, as he laid out an impassioned and articulate argument for rejecting violence and war as an essential element of our Catholic/Christian faith.  In the early 1980s, he was a key witness (and ghostwriter) as the U.S. bishops drafted their pastoral letter on war and peace, "The Challenge of Peace:  God's Promise and Our Response."  In 1983, he retired from academia and devoted his remaining "good years" as National Director of the Pax Christi Center on Conscience and War, continuing to write and speak around the country on peace, conscience and the nonviolent message of Jesus. 

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22 November 2007

Pax Christi Thanksgiving for Beatification of Franz Jägerstätter

Several hundred people gathered at a Mass at Westminster Cathedral in London on 21 November, in thanksgiving for the beatification of Franz Jägerstätter. Those attending included the Austrian Ambassador in London Dr Gabriele Matzner, from Austria Dr Erna Putz – a biographer of Franz Jägerstätter and Gotlind Hammerer, vice president of Pax Christi Austria and Pax Christi partners from the ecumenical and interfaith networks.   During the Mass, celebrated by Pax Christi’s Bishop Malcolm McMahon, members of the congregation heard Bruce Kent, a vice president of Pax Christi reflect on the witness of Franz for today.  He said:  “I move at once to the wise words written recently by Bishop Schwarz of Linz and Bishop Scheuer of Innsbruck. Their perspective is the future. They do not want Jägerstätter to be seen as quaint piece of history - as happens in the case of quite a few Saints. This is what they said: 'It is your situation that is being dealt with here, it is your motivation that is at issue, it is your God that is under debate. What part does sacrifice play in your own life? How seriously do you take the question of whether there is something in your life so big that you would, if necessary, be willing to die for it?' In other words. when does the time come for all of us to have to say 'No'? Our 'NO' here in Britain will not lead to an execution. But it will cost promotion, popularity even some loss of liberty and certainly hard work. Why?  The world we live in today is in many respects out of step with the world of the Gospels. The two Kingdoms do collide in values and life styles.”
Pax Christi hosted a reception following the Mass at which the Austria Ambassador, Dr Gabriele Matzner spoke, reminding those present of the political reality in Austria in the late 1930s: “ The Catholic leadership in Austria did not openly oppose the illegal annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938. Cardinal Innitzer did not welcome Hitler in person, but he recommended that Austrians accept the fait accompli. Most did, in the farcical referendum staged by the Nazis in already occupied Austria, in April 38, and from which 8% of the population were excluded beforehand. But, very soon, with the onslaught of anti-Catholic Nazi politics, many Catholics, including Innitzer, changed their minds. In October 1938 at least 7000 young Catholics marched against the regime in the centre of Vienna, shouting "Christus ist unser Führer", "Christ is our Leader". It was and remained the largest demonstration ever against Hitler in the German realm, since he came to power in Germany 5 years earlier. It was brutally quashed.  Ladies and gentlemen, motives to resist mass violations of human rights are manifold. Some are religious. Whatever the spiritual sources, self-sacrificing demonstrations of decency such as  Jägerstätter's deserve our greatest admiration. They should inspire others, especially world leaders, to prevent situations in which choices of life or death have to be made by decent human beings."
Pax Christi hope that schools and parishes will  make the life and witness of Franz Jägerstätter a focus for reflection on Christian peacemaking in the year ahead and will provide resources materials to support this work.   Copies of the newly published Franz Jägerstätter Martyr: A Shining Example in Dark Times by Erna Putz is available in hardback from Pax Christi - price £10.00 plus postage Copy of Bruce Kent's text available here Copy of Austrian Ambassador Dr. Gabriele Matzner-Holzers' text available here

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7 November 2007

Pax Christi International - Triennial World Assembly in Belgium

Bishop Malcolm McMahon, national president of Pax Christi UK, joined staff and members of Pax Christi UK at the Triennial World Assembly of Pax Christi International which took place in Torhout/Bruges, Belgium between 30 October – 4 November 2007. The theme around which more than 100 people from 50 different countries gathered was  “Remember – Reaffirm – Renew: Acting together for Peace”. Those taking part shared experiences on the vision and mission of Pax Christi International as well as on the global concerns of the movement. Pax Christi’s work for peace is based on the Gospel and inspired by faith and involves approaches that include peace education, advocacy and campaigning, peace building and interfaith and intercultural cooperation for peace.	Stewart Hemsley, Chair of Pax Christi with Bishop Malcolm McMahon
New Presidency Pax Christi International welcomed Marie Dennis, Director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns in the USA and Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo of Kisangani, DRC, as the new Co-Presidents of the movement. H.B. Michel Sabbah, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has been International President since 1999. One of the gifts presented to the Patriarch was a Peace Flag bearing the names of all the delegates at the Assembly. New Secretary General The work and commitment of Etienne De Johghe, Secretary General of Pax Christi for 29 years, was honoured as he stood down, and the new Secretary General, Claudette Werleigh of Haiti, was welcomed. A former vice-president of Pax Christi, Claudette has most recently been the Conflict Transformation Programmes Director of the Life and Peace Institute in Uppsala, Sweden. Pax Christi has grown immeasurably under Etienne's leadership - from a relatively small number of national sections when he assumed office to the worldwide network of member organisations which now define the movement.	Pax Christi UK delegation with outgoing President, Patriach Michel Sabbah
Marie Dennis, new Co-President of Pax Christi International	Marina Shishova(Russia), Bishop Kevin Dowling (South Africa), Bishop Gabino Zavala, (USA)
"The mourning parents" at Vladslo cemetery	Peace Pilgrimage On 2 November - the feast of Holy Souls - participants undertook a Peace Pilgrimage to a number of the Flanders Fields war cemeteries, including Tyne Cot, the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world, and the German cemetery of Vladslo where a peace vigil was held which ended with all those present placing candles on the simple flat granite stones that mark the graves of the 25,600 German soldiers buried there. A plaque at the entrance to the cemetery bore the message of Albert Schweitzer, Nobel Peace Laureat, "The soldiers' graves are the greatest preachers of peace". The image on the left is of a pair of statues entitled 'The mourning parents' by Kathe Kollwitz a German artist. They are placed near her son's tomb. Celebrations On Sunday 4th November a Mass was celebrated in St Salvator's Cathedral in Bruges to acknowledge the work of the movement and of Etienne De Johghe and his wife Magda van Damme in particular.

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26 October 2007

Blessed Franz Jägerstätter

Frau Franziska Jägerstätter

Thousands gather in Linz, Austria, for the Beatification of
Franz Jägerstätter

More than 5,000 people gathered in Linz Cathedral, Austria on Friday 26 October to celebrate the Beatification of Franz Jägerstätter. At a moving service, attended by his widow Franziska, 94 years old, and his four daughters, Hildegard, Maria, Aloisia and Rosalia, the petition for the cause of martyrdom was presented by Bishop Manfred Scheuer to Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins representative of Pope Benedict XVI.

27 Bishops and Cardinals participated, including Bishop Luigi Bettazi from Italy and Bishop Thomas Gumbleton from the United States. Both have been involved with Pax Christi and with the cause of beatification for many years. During the service Franziska Jägerstätter carried a relic of her husband Franz and presented it to Cardinal Martins. The Cardinal announced that the future day set to mark the Beatification will be 21 May, the day of Franzs' baptism.

Pax Christi members from England, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Austria and the USA had travelled to Linz to be a part of the celebration. They later met with Frau Jägerstätter and her family at a reception offered by the civic authorities in Linz. One of those taking part was Bruce Kent who has worked since the mid 1970's to promote the story and witness of Franz. Bruce organised his first pilgrimage to St Radegund, the home town of the Jägerstätter family, in 1975.

Franziska with Helga Galloway, Valerie Flessati and Bruce Kent

Pax Christi members from UK

Pax Christi members also attended an evening vigil in the town of östermiething on Saturday 27th October and the first Eucharist in remembrance of the newly beatified Franz Jägerstätter at St. Radegund on Sunday 28th October in the small Parish Church where both Franz and his widow Franziska had been sacristans.

Speaking at the vigil Bruce Kent said: “The courage of Franz Jägerstätter obliges us all to find other ways of resolving our conflicts. It is my belief that wars today are bound to be unjust. Nonviolent solutions to conflict are available. The death and destruction that wars cause is beyond any possible proportion. Wars create and do not solve conflict. That the world needs political and social justice as well as a police force is clear. What it does not need is war. That is how I apply the message of Jägerstätter in 1943 to our world of 2007.

With astonishing courage Franz taught us how to say ‘No’ to immoral promises and immoral wars. As citizens, taxpayers, or soldiers, and above all as Christians, the best honour we can pay him is to learn in our time, whatever the cost, to say NO to war and to build instead a culture of peace.”

Read English /Italian presentation given by Bruce Kent on Saturday 27th October

For more photographs go to www.dioezese-linz.at/kirchenzeitung/galerie/Seligsprechung_FJ_2007/

Pax Christi will host a Mass to celebrate the beatification at Westminster Cathedral, London, on 21 November at 7.00pm celebrated by Bishop Malcolm McMahon, National President of Pax Christi UK

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22 October 2007

Pax Christi members to attend Beatification of Franz Jägerstätter in Austria

Pax Christi members from the UK, Ireland, the USA, Germany and Italy will travel to Austria this week to take part in a Mass for the beatification of Franz Jägerstätter, the Austrian farmer who was beheaded in Brandenburg, Germany, on 9 August 1943, for refusing to fight in Hitler's army. Franz believed that he would be committing a sin if he acted against his conscience and agreed to fight for the National Socialist state. For him, this was a situation in which he had to obey God more than the commands of secular rulers. In following the commandment 'you shall love your neighbour as yourself' Franz decided that he could not fight with weapons of war. For refusing to undertake military service he was sentenced to death in Berlin and was beheaded in Brandenburg on 9 August 1943.

The Mass will be celebrated on 26 October at 10.00 am in St Mary's Cathedral in Linz, the home Diocese of the Franz Jägerstätter and his family. The celebrant will be Diocesan Bishop Dr. Ludwig Schwarz, who was one of the promoters of the cause of beatification.

Speaking of Franz the Bishop said: "Franz Jägerstätter is a prophet with a global view and a penetrating insight which very few of his contemporaries had at that time; he is a shining example in his fidelity to the claims of his conscience, an advocate of nonviolence and peace, a voice of warning against ideologies, a deep-believing person for whom God really was the core and centre of life. His prophetic witness to Christian truth is based on a clear, radical and far-sighted analysis of the barbarism of the inhuman and godless system of Nazism, its racial delusions, its ideology of war and deification of the state, as well as its declared programme of annihilating Christianity and the Church. His educated, mature conscience led him to say a resolute 'No' to Nazism and he was executed due to his consistent refusal to take up arms as a soldier in Hitler's war."

There will also be celebrations on 27 and 28 October in St Radegund, the home village of the Jägerstätter family, where his widow Franziska and her three daughters still live.

Pax Christi has long promoted the life and witness of Franz, holding an annual memorial service in August on the anniversary of his execution and producing publications and articles on his life. Pax Christi will host a Mass at Westminster Cathedral, London, on 21 November to celebrate the Beatification.

Read English /Italian presentation to be given by Bruce Kent at a vigil in Austria on Saturday 27th October

For more news of events in Austria go to http://www.dioezese-linz.at/redaktion/index.php?page_new=870

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16 August 2007

Bring your umbrellas to the Greenbelt PeaceZone!

The 20,000 people expected at this years Greenbelt Festival will be praying for good weather, but staff at the PeaceZone are hoping they will bring their umbrellas with them.  Hilary Topp from Pax Christi explains:

“The PeaceZone this year will feature an umbrellas art installation, which is part of a project called poetry in protest.  Greenbelters will be invited to decorate their umbrellas with poems, symbols and quotes.”

The PeaceZone, run by the Network of Christian Peace Organisations, will be trying to raise awareness of how ordinary people can make a difference, reflecting the Greenbelt 2008 theme, ‘Heaven in Ordinary’. 

Over the weekend people will be encouraged to share their stories about what they or their friends are doing for peace.  These will be displayed in the PeaceZone and added to the Greenbelt PeaceZone blog.  To view the blog go to www.everylittlepeace.blogspot.com and add your stories and photographs by emailing network4radicalchange.peacezone@blogspot.com

There will be opportunities to send a message to Gordon Brown to encourage him to promote policies which promote true human security, and a chance for people to reflect on their own commitment to peace.  There will also be workshops and the chance to talk to peacemakers from around the world.  The Greenbelt Festival is a Christian music and arts festival.  It takes place this year on 24 - 27 August at the Cheltenham Racecourse.  For more information and the full line up see www.greenbelt.org.uk

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22 July 2007

A life of peace-work honoured

The life-long work of Valerie Flessati and Bruce Kent, vice-presidents of Pax Christi British Section, was acknowledged at the annual National Justice & Peace Conference in Swanwick on Sunday 22 July.  Among other things, they were presented with an olive tree, a symbol of peace, bearing messages from friends and colleagues. Instrumental in establishing the British Section of Pax Christi, following its merge with PAX in 1971, Valerie Flessati and Bruce Kent have been tireless in their support and engagement in a host of peacemaking projects. Valerie was the first General Secretary of Pax Christi and has remained close to the movement since then, not only in her role as a vice president but also in her writing, editing and educational outreach – for both the British Section and for Pax Christi International.  Valerie has also worked to capture and promote the history of Christian peacemaking in Britain – her Doctoral thesis of 1991 was on The History of a Catholic Peace Society in Britain 1936-1971 – and in 1997 she wrote Waking the Sleeping Giant – The Story of Christian CND. Valerie has also worked to promote peace studies at an academic level, first with the MA in Peace Studies from the Department of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford - Valerie was administrator to this course when it was run from Heythrop College in London - then with the MA in Mission, Peace and Spirituality at the Missionary Institute London where she was a course tutor.  Bruce Kent was the first Chaplain to Pax Christi following his involvement in a Pax Christi International route in the 1960s and worked for the movement on a range of issues in the early 1970s.  A former chair and then General Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Bruce has  been a committed anti-nuclear campaigner – going on to support more recent initiatives including Abolition 2000, the World Court Project and Nuclear Awareness Project.  Bruce is also founder of the Movement for the Abolition of War. Together Valerie Flessati and Bruce Kent have offered friendship, enthusiasm and encouragement to individuals and movements in their work for peace, often bringing together faith-based and secular networks.  They have shown the true meaning of faithful persistence and steadfastness to the task of peacemaking, showing us all how to build community and church in the process.

Valerie's & Bruce's shocked reaction to the announcement by Pat Gaffney...

... what a "peace-full" couple!

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20 - 22 July 2007

Christians challenged to unpack the nonviolent tradition at National Justice & Peace Conference, Swanwick

Braving adverse weather conditions, more than 370 Christians gathered in Swanwick, Derbyshire for the annual National Network of Justice and Peace conference, Called to be Peacemakers - Who Me? . For the first time the conference was ecumenically organised in partnership with the Fellowship of Reconciliation and Pax Christi. Young and old, newcomers and seasoned conference goers took part in a full programme that offered stimulating talks, workshops on peacemaking, liturgy and celebration.

Participants were reminded of the roots and traditions of both FoR and Pax Christi - both born out of experiences of war by Christians who wanted to make a radical difference in the world - rejecting war and violence as a means of resolving conflict, and of the breadth of peacemaking opportunities, from lobbying to public witness to education and nonviolent direct action.

Speaker John Dear sj, a Jesuit priest, recalled the words of Martin Luther King that the choices before us today are choices of nonviolence and nonexistence, siting the war on terrorism and the war on Iraq as models of a choice of nonexistence. Drawing on his experiences of challenging militarism and war preparations of the United States Government, John said that war is not the will of God... war is anti everything that is Gospel. Zoughbi Zoughbi, a Palestinian Christian who is founder of the Palestinian Centre for Conflict Resolution in Bethlehem spoke of the daily crucifixion of the people of Palestine. He also spoke of the need to work for restorative justice in situations of conflict such as that experienced in Palestine/Israel as a way of stopping the cycle of violence from repeating itself generation after generation. He said that a free Palestine must be formed from collective responsibility - and not collective guilt as Israel was formed.

To view photogalleries of the Conference click HERE

The stage is set.... the conference opens	Speaker, John Dear sj
Questions from the floor...	Ihitisham Hibatullah gives testimony
Chris Cole of FoR with speaker Zoughbi Zoughbi	Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi with Roula Maarouf and Maya Evans
Young and old.... participants join in a liturgy	Young and old... never miss a chance to dance!!

Participants also hear testimonies from three people whose lives have been affected by events in our world since September 11th 2001: Ihitisham Hibatullah from Sri Lanka, member of Muslim Association of Britain and media coordinator for the British Muslim Initiative who spoke of his work to challenge the xenophobic hatred of Muslims generated following 9/11 and the personal impact this has had on him and the fears he experienced for him family. Roula Maarouf, spoke of her family who were made refugees from Galilee when they were expelled from Palestine in 1948 and who now live in Lebanon. For her the war on terror has created an even greater atmosphere of exclusion and fear. Maya Evans spoke of her work with the group Voices in the Wilderness and Justice not Vengeance and how her awareness of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq prompted the action of reading out names of British soldiers and Iraqi civilians killed in Iraq as part of a peace protest at Downing Street. This led to her becoming the first person to be arrested under the new SOCA laws.

Parallel youth and children's programmes also offered insights into issues of violence and conflict and an opportunity to develop tools and skills for peacemaking.

To view photogalleries of the Conference click HERE

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17 June 2007

Pax Christi Peace Awards at Annual General Meeting in London

At a packed meeting in Central London, Pax Christi members and supporters honoured and acknowledged six peacemakers of our time whose work spans from Northern Ireland to Iraq and UK. Pax Christi instituted the award, given every two years, in 2001, to acknowledge the steadfast commitment of grass-roots peace work. Those receiving the award from Bishop Malcolm McMahon, President of Pax Christi, were Brian Wicker, Sr Lelia Newman op, Patricia and Michael Pulham, Tom Mallon and Milan Rai. Brian Wicker’s involvement in Catholic peacemaking, with a particular focus on security and disarmament, goes back 50 years. Brian is an active member of the Christian Council on Approaches to Defence and Disarmament and served for years on the Committee for International Justice and Peace of the Bishops’ Conference.  Most recently Brian initiated dialogue between Muslims and Christians, leading to a book entitled Witness to Faith? Martyrdom in Christianity and Islam. Sister Lelia Newman O.P, formally a teacher now retired, has lived and worked in Belfast for the past 17 years where she has promoted understanding between different communities. She became involved with the regeneration of three communities in the Falls Road area, Belfast – Beechmount, Iveagh and Springfield, which led to the building of a community centre in the Beechmount area. Most recently, Lelia took part in  protests with others from Belfast at the nuclear submarine base in Faslane, Scotland.

Patricia and Michael Pulham have over thirty years involvement with both Pax Christi and Christian CND – recently playing an important role in the CCND executive committee.  Their peacework has ranged from the production of education resources for churches on nuclear issues to organising acts of Christian witness at various nuclear sites such as Aldermaston and Faslane to encouraging others in peace and justice work parish and Diocese level. Tom Mallon, another peacemaker from Northern Ireland, initiated summer play schemes for children from the mid 1970s and helped to co-ordinate hospitality  for many Pax Christi volunteers from around the world to work on these projects. This all happened during the most bloody and vicious period in Northern Ireland’s ‘troubles’. Thanks to Tom Mallon and others, bridges were built between the communities. Milan Rai ‘s work is a powerful witness to active nonviolence.  As a co-founder of Voices in the Wilderness UK, he was instrumental in putting the impact of the sanctions on Iraq before the peace movement and on the political agenda. His visit to Iraq, during the time of the sanctions, provided evidence of the madness of UK and US policies. Following the September 11th 2001 attack Mil helped establish the organisation ‘Justice not Vengeance’, taking on the causes of Afghanistan, Iraq and recently Iran. He has published books including ‘War Plan Iraq’ and more recently ‘July Bombings’ to look at the reasons for the violence being generated in our name. Those at the meeting also heard of Pax Christi’s strengthened work in the area of peace education and youth work through the appointment of Hilary Topp, education worker who presented the winning CD produced by pupils of Finchley  Catholic High School in London for a Pax Christi European contest entitled  “Mad World”.  Pax Christi also affirmed its commitment to continue its work in solidarity and support of partners in Palestine, especially during this year that marks the 40th anniversary of Israeli occupation. At a Mass celebrated by Bishop Malcolm, former members of the movement were remembered, including Margot Hutchison who died on 14th June. Margot, from Birmingham, had been active with Pax Christi, CARJ, the National Board of Catholic Women and diocesan Justice and Peace work for more than thirty years.

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9 June 2007

ENOUGH: End Palestine occupation rally in London

Pax Christi joined thousands at a rally for Palestine in Trafalgar Square, London People from around the country came to London on Saturday in support of the Enough: End the Israeli Occupation of Palestine rally.  This week marks the 40th anniversary of the six-day war and the subsequent Israeli occupation of Palestine. Similar events took place around the world. On Pentecost Sunday Church leaders of Jerusalem issued the following statement about the anniversary: “This year marks the 40th anniversary of occupation by the Israelis of land previously held by Palestinians.  It is totally unacceptable for the situation to continue where the Palestinians endure daily hardships and humiliations with deprivations of international human rights, allegedly to ensure the safety and security of the Israelis, whereas we believe the security of Israel is dependent on the freedom and justice of the Palestinians.”  A host of speakers urged those taking part to work for dialogue and political change to bring justice for the people of Palestine. Speakers included Mustafa Barghouti - Palestinian Minister of Information, Anglican Bishop Riah from Palestine, Mairead Corrigan Maguire - Nobel Peace Laureate, Netan'l Silverman - Combatants for Peace and Bruce Kent, vice-president of Pax Christi. Bishop Riah spoke movingly of the role of Jerusalem as the capital of the Holy Land, saying that the shortest way to peace  in the world is through peace in Jerusalem.  He urged political leaders to be  peace makers and not just peace talkers.

Mairead Corrigan Maguire who recently visited Palestine, spoke of the parallels between her own country Northern Ireland and Palestine.  She reminded those listening that thirty years ago she stood at this same spot calling for peace, justice and human rights for the people of Northern Ireland and today she made the same appeal for the people of Palestine. Bruce Kent called for a spirit of hope – drawing on the recent peace plan in Northern Ireland as a sign of how situations of injustice and violence can be turned around. Netan'l Silverman, a former Israeli soldier, spoke of the work of Combatants for Peace, a group of former Israeli soldiers and Palestinian fighters, and of the culture of fear which keeps people apart and breads violence. Combatants for Peace seek to challenge acts of violence in Israel / Palestine and to encourage nonviolent resistance to the occupation. The ENOUGH Coalition, made up of more than 50 organisations including Pax Christi, War on War, Quaker Peace & Social Witness, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Interpal, Medical Aid for Palestine and a number of Trade Unions will now work towards  a of Lobby of Parliament which will take place in November.

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4 June 2007

Franz Jägerstätter to be beatified as a Martyr for Peace

It is with great joy that we hear of the plans for the beatification of Franz the Austrian farmer who was beheaded in Brandenburg, Germany, on 9 August 1943, for refusing to fight in Hitler’s army. (Announcement from Congregation for the Causes of Saints, 1 June 2007). His cause has been long promoted by Pax Christi. 

Speaking of the beatification, Bishop Malcolm McMahon, President of Pax Christi UK said: “The extraordinary courage of Franz Jägerstätter, a faithful Catholic, has been an inspiration to many and a powerful witness to peace and nonviolence.  In an age of war and violence we urgently need the example of those who use their consciences to make judgements about what is evil - and refuse to take part in it. The recognition of this man’s holiness by the Church should encourage us all to stand up for peace, justice and human dignity.”

Franz believed that he would be committing a sin if he acted against his conscience and agreed to fight for the National Socialist state.  For him, this was a situation in which he had to obey God more than the commands of secular rulers.  In following the commandment ‘you shall love your neighbour as yourself’ Franz decided that he could not fight with weapons of war.  For refusing to undertake military service he was sentenced to death in Berlin and was beheaded in Brandenburg on 9th August 1943.

Pax Christi offers a warm message of support to his widow, Fransiska Jägerstätter, a faithful partner in his terrible sacrifice and a witness to peace herself.  Their three daughters were all under the age of six at the time of his death.  Franziska suffered many years of economic punishment, discrimination and social exclusion before Austrian attitudes to her husband’s conscientious objection began to change.  He is now honoured as a hero in Austria.  Franziska still serves the small village church in St Radegund, Upper Austria, where Franz himself was sacristan.  We rejoice with her and her family. 

Pax Christi commemorates the anniversary of Franz Jägerstätter with an ecumenical service in London each year, and has organised several pilgrimages to St Radegund since the first British Pax Christi group went there in 1975.

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28 May 2007

Faith groups in joint rally to mark 40 years of Israeli occupation

Pax Christi will join with other faith groups at a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, to mark the 40th anniversary of the Six Day War and the start of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, on Saturday 9 June.

Former Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem, Riah Abul Asal, and Nobel Peace laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire, will be among those addressing the rally which begins at 2:30pm.

The event is organised by the Enough! Coalition, which was formed in the UK to advocate the end of the Israeli occupation.  Pax Christi UK, the Quakers, the Scottish Episcopal Church’s Justice Peace and Creation Network, and the Amos Trust have joined charities, trade unions, British Muslim and Jewish groups and MPs to commemorate the anniversary.

Church Leaders in Jerusalem, including Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, issued a message on Pentecost Sunday which says: “This year marks the 40th anniversary of occupation by the Israelis of land previously held by Palestinians.  It is totally unacceptable for the situation to continue where the Palestinians endure daily hardships and humiliations with deprivations of international human rights, allegedly to ensure the safety and security of the Israelis, whereas we believe the security of Israel is dependent on the freedom and justice of the Palestinians.”  The Church leaders have also called upon  Christians and all people of goodwill  to join in the International  Church Action for Peace in Palestine & Israel between 3rd and 9th June. Pax Christi is urging its members and churches in the UK to offer prayers for peace in Palestine & Israel at this time.
 
Supporters of the Enough! coalition include Lord Hylton, Rev Kathy Galloway, Leader of the Iona Community, Rev Garth Hewitt, director of the Amos Trust, Professor Mary Grey and Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate.

Ends

Full statement from the Church Leaders of Jerusalem and copy of the Ecumenical Service produced for the International Church Action for Peace in Palestine & Israel available here

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6 May 2007

Remember the Christians in the Middle East

This was the theme of a seminar held at York St John University in York on Saturday, 5 May.
Sponsored by Pax Christi, the British Province of Carmelites and Middlesbrough Diocese Justice & Peace Network, the seminar brought together more than one hundred and fifty people to hear Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah and Anthony O’Mahony, Director of the Centre for Christianity and Inter-religious Dialogue at Heythrop College, University of London speak on the theme.
Patriarch Sabbah spoke of the good ecumenical relations between the thirteen Churches of Jerusalem who regularly speak with one voice when addressing some of the deep problems faced by Christians in Israel and Palestine caused by the on-going conflict. While acknowledging the real fears of Israel he went on to say that it is often the powerful military actions of Israel that elicit counter violence from militant Palestinians groups. He stressed that the majority of the Palestinian people – Christians and Muslims, seek a peaceful and just resolution tothe conflict but often feel let down by the inaction of the international community, including the EU and British government.  He challenged those present to find ways of being in solidarity with people in both Israel and Palestine who are working for peace, and gave as an example the Ecumenical Week of Solidarity between 2–9 June that has been called to mark the 40th anniversary of Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
Anthony O’Mahony spoke of the historical displacement of the Christian community in the Middle East, exacerbated by the recent conflicts in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine. He cited Lebanon as an example.  Lebanon once had a Christian majority that has been greatly diminished as a result of the Lebanese Civil War and more recently the war between Lebanon and Israel.  He challenged the audience not to forget Christians in Middle East – the heart and the origin of the Christian family - now a minority faith in the region. They have experienced and continue to experience great suffering.  In spite of this, he spoke about the positive opportunity created for ecumenical cooperation in the Middle East, seeing this as a future feature of Christian identity in the region.
Speaking of the Christian family in Palestine, Patriarch Sabbah described them as a community of endurance with a deep will to exist.
The Seminar was one of the events organised by the British Province of Carmelites to mark the 800th anniversary of the Carmelite rule of life and was preceded by a Mass celebrated in York Minister by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

For more information contact
Pat Gaffney, Pax Christi
020 8203 4884

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30 April 2007 Brussels

New Presidency of Pax Christi International

Pax Christi International has elected Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo and Marie Dennis as the new co-Presidents of Pax Christi International at their Annual General Assembly taking place 28 April 2007 in Antwerp, Belgium. Their 3-year mandate as co-presidents begins at the Triennial World Assembly of Pax Christi International, which will take place from 30 October to 4 November 2007 in Torhout/Bruges. The present International President, H.B. Michel Sabbah, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, will remain in office until 3 November 2007.

Pax Christi International was founded in 1945 in France as a movement of Catholics in Europe who wanted to promote reconciliation at the end of the Second World War. Madame Marthe Dortel-Claudot and Msgr. Théas inspired the foundation of the movement. Today, Pax Christi is a dynamic faith based network with more than 100 member organisations active worldwide. By electing co-presidents, a lay woman and a bishop to lead the movement, Pax Christi returns to its roots and lifts up a model of shared leadership in the Catholic Church.

Msgr. Laurent MONSENGWO PASYNIA (DR Congo)
Archbishop of Kisangani and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Democratic Republic of Congo. As former President of SECAM (Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar), Msgr. Monsengwo worked continually for peace building efforts in his country, and throughout Africa. He is convinced that a lasting peace can only be realised through dialogue among the citizens of all countries. He is often consulted by high officials concerning Africa. Member of the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International since 1999 and Vice President until 3 November 2007. He is member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Marie DENNIS (USA)
As director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns Marie Dennis is responsible for bringing the voice and experience of Maryknoll Missionaries and their commitment to peace, social justice and the integrity of creation into policy discussions in the U.S. and other governments, the World Bank, the IMF, the United Nations and the corporate world.  She has international experience particularly in Latin America and Africa and is author or co-author of six books on peace, social justice and spirituality. Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace. Member of the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International since 1999 and Vice President until 3 November 2007. The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns is a member organisation of Pax Christi International.

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2 April 2007

Pax Christi winners create a culture of peace
 
The winning teams of the 2007 Pax Christi European Peace Contest created their own culture of peace on a four day trip to Brussels last week.  Hilary Topp, Peace Education Worker at Pax Christi UK explained: ‘The young people participating in the trip illustrated so well what it takes to build a culture of peace.  They shared ideas and culture, respected each others opinions, and formed friendships despite differences in culture, language and religion.  On the first evening they stayed up playing cards until midnight!’

Stephen Murphy, one of the winning team from Finchley Catholic High School in London said: “I enjoyed meeting the groups from other countries, it was a really interesting experience.”

Visiting the European Parliament reminded us of the importance of international institutions in building a stable and peaceful world.  On a visit to the Pax Christi International offices the young people heard about the many ways in which ordinary people are working for peace all over the world and how Pax Christi works for peace and justice for all. The visit ended on Sunday evening with an ecumenical service to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Europe.  Candles were lit for all the countries in the European Union and we were reminded of the contribution of every country and person to building peace.  The service ended with a lively song called ‘Together’, led by a group from Sweden; “Together! We are creating together! Participating together! We are celebrating a World Culture of Peace!” Pax Christi will be running the competition again next year – look out for details on our website in the autumn at www.paxchristi.org.uk

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31 March, Brussels

R.I.P. - Maria Julia Hernández, Director of the Office of Tutela Legal of the Archdiocese of San Salvador and Member of the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International

Dr. Maria Julia Hernandez Chavarria, 68, passed away on Friday 30 March 2007. After having cardiac problems, she underwent a successful surgery at the end of February, but relapsed on 8 March. She did not recover. The last three weeks, she remained in the hospital with artificial respiration, in critical conditions.

Maria Julia was born in Tegucilgapa (the Honduras’ Capital - her nationality was Salvadoran), on 30 January 1939. She got a PhD in Human Rights and International Law. Since 1977, Maria Julia had been working at the Archdiocese of San Salvador taking care of the pastoral work in the field of human rights. She became the promoter of human rights and the protector of the dignity of all Salvadorian people, especially the victims of the civil war in El Salvador. Maria Julia was a good friend of the late Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero who was assassinated on 24 March 1980. For several years she had been active in the development of a network of various human rights offices of the Bishops’ Conferences in dioceses across Latin America.

In May 1982, she became the Founding Director of Tutela Legal (Legal Protection), the Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese of San Salvador. The office documents and opens up judicial proceedings to claim justice in regard to massacres not yet resolved that to this day foster impunity in the country. Maria Julia devoted her life to truth and justice and acted very strongly against impunity. Tutela Legal became a member organisation of Pax Christi International.

Ms. María Julia Hernández had been elected member of the Executive Committee at the Pax Christi International Council in Amman/Jerusalem, July 1999. That visit and peace pilgrimage to the Holy Land impressed her deeply. In 1995, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Pax Christi International in Assisi, Italy, Maria Julia was the keynote speaker. She was involved in fact-finding missions of Pax Christi International to Mexico (Chiapas), Guatemala, and El Salvador. Maria Julia was a member of the Steering Committee preparing the First Latin America Consultation of Pax Christi International to take place in Lima, Peru, in August 2007.

The International President, the Executive Committee members and the staff of the International Secretariat are deeply touched by the loss of such an extraordinary human rights defender. We present our condolences to her family and collaborators. Her death and resurrection, close to the liturgical Celebration of Easter, feed our hope and our commitment.

A prayer vigil was held on Friday evening, 30 March. The funeral will be held on Monday 2 April 2007, at 3 pm, in the Crypt of the Cathedral of San Salvador.

Read more

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27 March 2007

Pax Christi's response to power-sharing agreement in Northern Ireland

The British Section of Pax Christi warmly welcomes the historic agreement reached by the two main parties in Northern Ireland.  The sight of the two leading, implacable souls, pledging themselves to work for a better and more stable future for all the people of Northern Ireland was truly remarkable.  It marked an end to decades of bloodshed and violence and opened a new and promising chapter in the long and turbulent history of this part of Ireland.  Everyone involved now owes it to the victims and suffering families of the conflict to seize this opportunity to build a lasting peaceful and a just society.

This historic agreement sends not only to the long-suffering people of Northern Ireland, but also to those in other conflict situations, a powerful message of hope that whatever their problems and difficulties peaceful progress is possible with trust and dialogue.

Our hope and prayer must be that the example of Northern Ireland will prove inspirational to all those who are working tirelessly and non-violently to bring about peace and justice in so many troubled areas of our world

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23 March, London

Iraq anniversaries marked with vigil of remembrance

On the anniversary of the release of Christian peacemaker hostages Norman Kember, James Loney and Harmeet Sooden in Iraq, and the fourth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq, Christians kept a vigil of remembrance in Trafalgar Square in London for all victims of violence in Iraq. Norman Kember and his wife Pat took part in the vigil. Norman Kember and his colleagues were held hostage in Iraq for 118 days between November 2005 and March 2006. Tom Fox, an American Quaker, member of the Christian Peacemaker Teams, with whom Norman was held, was murdered in Iraq on 10th March 2006.  Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi said: “we want to give thanks for the safe release of Norman, James and Harmeet and to remember Tom and all those whose have died as a result  of the war in Iraq and those who continue to be displaced, wounded or tortured in the name of the so-called ‘war on terror’.”  Members of Pax Christi, the Fellowship of  Reconciliation, Christian  Peacemaker Teams, Quaker Peace & Social Witness and friends of Norman Kember took part in the vigil. During the time Norman was held in Iraq these groups coordinated support and solidarity actions throughout the country. On his release in 2006 Norman Kember reminded us that “we must remember the people of Iraq who still await the stable and just society they deserve.”

John Johansen Berg of FoR, Pat and Norman Kember and Bruce Kent

At the same time Pax Christi International, together with Dominicans for Justice and Peace, Franciscans International and other religious orders was offering oral evidence to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Their statement said: There are about 1,800,000 Iraqi displaced persons in the country. An estimated 100,000 Iraqis leave their country each month, including many of Iraq’s best educated professionals.  Approximately 2,000,000 Iraqis have fled since the 2003 invasion…. We also urge the international community through the United Nations to take with utmost seriousness its responsibilities for the monumental and long-term sanctions and the ravages of war. On 22 March Norman’s book Hostage in Iraq was launched. It is published by Darton Longman and Todd.

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19 March

PARLIAMENT SQUARE BECOMES A WAR CEMETERY
London Catholic Workers mourn on 4th anniversary of invasion of Iraq -

Remember the Innocent: Stop the War

The London Catholic Worker joined with Voices in the Wilderness to plant 186 crosses – each bearing the name of an Iraqi killed by US/UK forces – in Parliament Square yesterday to mark the 4th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and call for an immediate end to the occupation. Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi joined those planting the crosses. While this ritual was going on, Chris Goodchild and Henrietta Cullinan prayed and led the 'stations of the cross', reminding us that our God suffers with this crucified people, and yearns with us that their liberation be achieved. A reading from 'Isaiah According to Lauren Cogswell' of the Open Door Community, Atlanta, reinforced this message and prayer.

A banner bearing the word “186,000 Iraqis killed by US/UK forces” was also displayed. According to a survey published in the Lancet last October, at least 186,000 Iraqis have been killed by “coalition” forces in Iraq since the beginning of the 2003 invasion – 31% of all violent deaths in Iraq through June 2006. So each cross represented a thousand killed. A sobering and somewhat depressing thought on this annversary. The stations of the cross, however, finished with Resurrection and God's hope of liberation - a reminder for us to 'hold our heads high, for liberation is near at hand.' This event was not “authorised” by the police. Consequently, participants were risking arrest, a criminal conviction, and a fine of up to £1,000 under the SOCPA (Serious Organised Crime and Policing Act) laws. However, the few police who were present seemed to prefer to look the other way, or race past, sirens screaming, apparently more concerned with London's mis-timed (a day late) St Patrick's Day celebrations! Superficial entertainment once more preventing recognition of deeper truths. Gabriel Carlyle said: “Over the past four years US-led forces have been one of the main sources of violent death in Iraq, killing at least 186,000 Iraqis. At the same time the occupation has helped to push Iraq into a state of civil war, and acted as a recruiting sergeant for extremists across the Muslim world. Moreover 78% of Iraqis believe that the occupation is causing more conflict than it prevents. It’s time to end Britain’s participation in this disastrous and immoral occupation and bring the troops home.” More in London Catholic Worker and indymedia report

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13 March 2007

Brussels, here we come!

Four students, Chris Nickolls, Simon NG, Stephen Murphy and Daniel O'Sullivan, from Finchley Catholic High School in London will be making a trip to Brussels next week as the award winners of a Pax Christi European Peace Contest. There they will meet with other young people who have participated in the contest from Portugal and France. Their challenge was to create a power-point presentation on the theme "Living together in School - what does it take to make peace". The quality of entry was very high but the 'Mad World' presentation had the edge. Commenting on the entry, Hilary Topp, the Peace Education worker for Pax Christi said:

"The judges felt that 'Mad World' reflected the reality of the world we live in but at the same time offered a challenging and hopeful message about what kind of world might be possible if people come together rather than being divided by religion, ethnicity and race." The winning teams meet in Brussels between 22 - 26 March 2007. In Brussels they will have the opportunity to visit the European Parliament and the Pax Christi International offices, as well as a chance to explore Belgium and take advantage of the many special events to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome which marked the creation of the European Union. Pax Christi hopes to strengthen this contest in 2008, encouraged by the quality of work presented this year and in the belief that young people have important messages to communicate to others as to their own views on what it takes to make peace in our world. As an international movement for peace, Pax Christi believes that encounter visits such as this are invaluable in breaking down barriers between people and building friendships that stretch across national and cultural differences. For more information contact: Hilary Topp - 0208 203 4884

Stephen, Chris, Simon and Daniel prepare for their trip to Brussels

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25 February 2007

Pax Christi members join anti Trident rally, London

Tens of thousands of people gathered in London on 24 February to challenge the Government's proposed plans to replace Trident. Among them were Pax Christi members from Cambridge, Southampton, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Sussex and London. Before joining the rally, they gathered with other Christians for an ecumenical service at Hinde Street Methodist Church where they heard Graham Sparks from the Baptist Union of Great Britain speak of the the challenge of the Gospel to the model of security offered by programmes such as Trident. The service took the form of prayers, scripture readings and song. Bishop Stephen Cotterell, the Anglican Bishop of Reading, was in the congregation and later addressed the rally in Trafalgar Square. Among the Christian groups taking part in the rally were Christian CND, the Quakers, Fellowship of Reconciiation, Christian Artists for Peace and the Baptist Peace Fellowship.

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22 February 2007

Ash Wednesday 2007 – Call to repent and resist Britain’s nuclear weapons plans

More than a hundred people from around the country gathered in Central London for a liturgy and actions of repentence and resistance to the Government's plans to replace the Trident nuclear system. As part of the liturgy, the walls of the Ministry of Defence were marked with blessed ash and charcoal with the words No Trident and Choose Life.

Those taking part were adding their voice to that of Church leaders in England, Scotland and Wales, and Pope Benedict XVI, who have all spoken clearly against the replacement of Trident.  In January 2006, Pope Benedict XVI called government policies that rely on nuclear weapons as a means of ensuring security ‘baneful and also completely fallacious’.  In July 2006, 20 Anglican Bishops wrote in a national newspaper that ‘nuclear weapons are a direct denial of the Christian concept of peace and reconciliation’. Following the witness at the Ministry of Defence, postcards, addressed to Mr Blair, bearing messages  that challenge the replacement of Trident, were be presented at Downing Street by members of Pax Christi, Christian CND and the Fellowship of Reconciliation.  Pax Christi has distributed 10,000 such postcards in just three weeks to those wanting to make their views known to Mr Blair. Pax Christi members will join others in an ecumenical service " Praying for Peace - Resisting Trident" at Hinde Street Methodist Church in London on Saturday 24th February before joining the national "No Trident" demonstration between Hyde Park Corner and Trafalgar Square. This was the twenty-fourth anniversary of Christian witness at the Ministry of Defence in London. This action is supported by Pax Christi, Catholic Peace Action and Christian CND. Addressing the gathering Pat Gaffney, General Secretary of Pax Christi said: "What is our purpose here today? We give a public and a human face to our liturgy of Ash Wednesday and its call to turn away from those things that separate us from God and from one another - nuclear weapons and nuclear war preparations... Our prayers and actions are a plea to the humanity and integrity of those political leaders who maintain nuclear defence systems and who plan to replace them. Our prayers and actions are an act of solidarity and compassion with those whose lives are already blighted by nuclear weapons".

6th form students take part in prayer vigil at Ministry of Defence The Ministry of Defence building, marked with blessed ash

Members of Pax Christi and the Fellowship of Reconciliation present "No to Trident" postcards to Mr Tony Blair, Downing Street

Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi addresses the gathering

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5 February 2007

Military attack on Iran would have disastrous consequences warns new report: Time to Talk Coalition which includes Pax Christi, urges new diplomatic push to avoid crisis

Military action against Iran could have disastrous global consequences according to a new report published today by a diverse group of organisations including Oxfam, the Foreign Policy Centre, faith groups and others.

On the one year anniversary of Iran’s referral to the Security Council, a new joint report by 15 organisations - including think tanks, aid agencies, religious groups and Trade Unions - warns that, despite the seriousness of the situation, there is still ‘time to talk’. This must be used to avoid an escalation with potentially disastrous consequences.

Sir Richard Dalton, UK Ambassador to Iran 2002-2006, who spoke at the launch of the report said:

"After three years in Iran, I am well aware of the threat Iran poses and of the frustrations of engagement. I also know that firmness, patience and a commitment to diplomacy offer the best chance of success.  Given Iranian defiance of the Security Council, there is bound to be a break in the negotiations on the nuclear issue. But both sides should work for a resumption.  It is vital that the US becomes fully involved in creative diplomacy.  Recourse to military action - other than in legitimate self-defence - is not only unlikely to work but would be a disaster for Iran, the region and quite possibly the world."

The report urges the UK government to work with allies in a sustained effort to find a diplomatic solution. In particular, they should push for:

• Face to face talks between Iran and the US
• A compromise on the suspension of uranium enrichment as a precondition for negotiation
• Further development of a ‘grand bargain’ in which the EU offer of June 2006 is developed further to include security guarantees between Israel, Iran and the US.

“The consequences of military action against Iran are not only unpalatable, they are unthinkable. Even according to the worst estimates, Iran is still years away from having a nuclear weapon. There is still time to talk and the Prime Minister must make sure our allies use it,” said Stephen Twigg, Director of the Foreign Policy Centre.

" A military attack on Iran could add yet more human misery to a region where nearly 70 million people are already suffering from the effects of conflict and war*," said Adam Leach, Oxfam GB’s Regional Director for the Middle East.

"I think our decision makers have yet to appreciate the full consequences of a military attack against Iran. As this report shows such an attack would open a Pandora's box. The view held by some in Washington that all diplomatic and political options have been exhausted is a palpable nonsense that needs to be challenged,” said Dr Ali Ansari, Director of the Institute of Iranian Studies at St Andrews University.

*Combined populations of Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Israel

For more information, a copy of the report contact Crisis Action on: 020 7324 4747 / 4748

The Coalition includes: Amicus, Amos Trust, British Muslim Forum, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Foreign Policy Centre, GMB, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Medact, Muslim Council of Britain, Muslim Parliament, Ockenden International, Oxfam, Oxford Research Group, Pax Christi, PCS, People and Planet, Unison.

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30 January 2007

Launch of new coalition: "ENOUGH! : End Israeli Occupation of Palestine"

Actors, politicians and members of human rights, solidarity and peace movements, including Pax Christi, gathered today in Westminster for the launch of a new coalition ENOUGH: End the Israeli Occupation of Palestine. 2007 marks the 40-year anniversary of the Six Day War, in which the Israeli Army took military control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including East Jerusalem. Since that time the government of Israel has built 'settlements' in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and assisted its citizens in setting up homes and businesses using land and resources taken from the Palestinian people. This situation has continued to the current day despite Israel being in violation of international humanitarian law and over 60 UN resolutions. Speaking at the launch Prof Manuel Hassassian, the Palestinian Delegate and a Christian, spoke of the occupation as the longest in modern history and he described it as a common enemy to the long-term security of the people of Israel and Palestine. Another speaker, Yonathan Shapira, a former Israeli pilot, told of his desire to join the nonviolent struggle against occupation - to liberate both Jews and Palestinians from the occupation. He spoke of his love for his country and of the need for pressure within Israel itself, and from the international community, to work for peace and justice in Palestine. The ENOUGH! Coalition has come together to work for peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Members believe that this can only be built on justice, equality and freedom. In order to achieve this goal, governments like the British government must stand up for international law and human rights. The Coalition will organise awareness raising events during the course of the year, a national rally on 9 June 2007 and a lobby of parliament in November. For more information: Pat Gaffney, Pax Christi 020 8203 4884 or ENOUGH!

Actress Miriam Margolyes and Richard Burden MP at Enough! launch in Westminster

Coalition members include: Amicus, Amos Trust, Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group, CAABU, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Friends of Birzeit University, Green Party, ICAHD UK, Interpal, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Jewish Socialist Group, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Muslim Association of Britain, Muslim Council of Britain, Muslim Public Affairs Committee, NUJ, Open Bethlehem, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Palestinian Return Centre, Pax Christi, PCS, Quaker Peace and Social Witness, Trade Union Friends of Palestine, UNISON, War on Want, Welfare Association Back to TOP

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1 January 2007

Pax Christi offers New Year Peace message on Vatican Radio

Pax Christi's General Secretary, Pat Gaffney, was invited to contribute a New Year peace message to Vatican Radio. Text below.

Vatican radio also carried an interview on the theme of World Peace Day with Cardinal Martino and Bishop Malcolm McMahon, National President of the British Section of Pax Christi.

"I have before me the photograph of a little child, running playfully through the billowing folds of a huge rainbow coloured peace banner.  Taken at a peace gathering in Assisi during the past year, this is the image we have chosen in Pax Christi to illustrate Pope Benedict’s World Peace Day message “The Human Person - the Heart of Peace.”  This child, playing in safety and freedom, reminds me that all children, indeed all people, and especially the weakest among us, have a right to life and protection.

Over the Christmas season we see many images of another child, the Christ-child.  Small, beautiful, vulnerable, lovable. We are drawn to protect such life. It makes sense to want to protect such life.   But sometimes the real life of those around us is not so neat, so beautiful or lovable.

Those whose lives are damaged by poverty, domestic violence, armed conflict, prejudice, hatred and fear are seldom beautiful in the eyes of the world, if, indeed they are seen at all.  They become an affront to the culture of celebrity, success and   achievement  that so dominates our world.   So, they may be silenced, hidden and ignored.

In his World Peace Day message, Pope Benedict reminds us that it is when we begin to see and respect the human person – the women, the man, the child before us, however they may appear to us - that we truly begin to build peace in our world.  The needs, the rights, the protection of others becomes the measure of all that is important in building  deep and meaningful relationships.

One of the great insights which our faith and its teachings offer us is the ability to make connections between the personal and the social, the private and the political. So, we challenge the practice of abortion and we also challenge the use of the death penalty. We speak out against the use of torture and we also speak out against the possession and threatened use of weapons of mass destruction.    We reject so-called ‘mercy-killings’ and we also reject structural poverty that degrades thousands of the world’s people.   We strive to be consistent in the way we place the human person at the heart of all the choices and decisions we make in life. 

The image of the Seamless Garment, the  Seamless Cloak - or indeed the rainbow peace banner that flowed around the child in Assisi -  illustrate well this all-enveloping  approach to life.  From the cradle to the grave, from the womb to the tomb, the human person is held and protected by acts of love, acts of justice and acts of peacemaking. 

With these images in mind we begin our New Year - seeking ways of sheltering one another and upholding one another with dignity and in justice.

From the world-wide family of Pax Christi, the international Catholic movement for Peace I wish you all a happy and joy-filled New Year." 

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December 20, 2006

Christmas Message 2006 by HB Msgr. Michel Sabbah, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

The message is addressed mainly to the Christians of Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Cyprus that fall within the jurisdictionof the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The Patriarch states that "our fundamental need is for peace, justice, freedom, and an end to the occupation... Salvation will come from bringing the two peoples together, not from separating them.  In that lies the salvation of the Palestinians and the Israelis, as well as of the entire region.  The two peoples are capable of living together in peace and tranquility.  When that comes about, murders, vengeance, rejection, and extremism will disappear little by little, as they progressively cease to feed on oppression, occupation, poverty, and humiliation."

Read the full message in PDF or RTF format

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December 19, 2006

USA Pax Christi leaders call on President Bush to enact a Christmas ceasefire

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Recognizing the widespread violence engulfing Iraq, national and regional leaders of Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement (www.paxchristiusa.org/), sent a letter today asking President George W. Bush to announce a Christmas ceasefire, halting all military operations on Christmas day—including hostile raids, all special operations and all targeted patrols.

“As conscientious Catholics we are urging this Christmas ceasefire as a way to remember the birth of the Prince of Peace,” said Dr. Rosemarie Pace, Director of Pax Christi Metro New York. Pace suggested that a ceasefire could be seen as a “concrete gesture of hope amidst the spiraling violence.”

The letter calling for a Christmas ceasefire is part of a nationwide campaign focusing on peace in Iraq enacted during the Christian season of Advent by Pax Christi USA. Geared at bringing attention to the failed U.S. policies in Iraq and the need for a new path, the campaign includes public prayer vigils, letter writing campaigns, visits to congressional offices, and peaceful demonstrations. Thousands of Catholics throughout the U.S. are participating in the campaign.

“More than a change of strategy in the way the war in Iraq is conducted, our nation needs a change of heart,” said Dave Robinson, executive director of Pax Christi USA. “The time has passed for the U.S. to demonstrate it can play a positive role in stopping the violence within Iraq through force. By calling for a Christmas ceasefire the Bush administration can send a powerful signal that it is truly seeking a new direction.”

Beyond the gesture of a ceasefire, Pax Christi USA continues to call upon the Bush Administration to bring the troops home, abandon the permanent bases it has erected, increase reconstruction assistance that employs Iraqis, and seek regional solutions to the growing refugee catastrophe.

For information or interview requests of grassroots Pax Christi leaders in your area, contact:
Johnny Zokovitch, Pax Christi USA Communications Director
johnnypcusa@yahoo.com

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08 December 2006

Unconditional forgiveness for Iraqi captors  

Three peace campaigners who were taken hostage say they "unconditionally" forgive their Iraqi captors. Briton Norman Kember and Canadians James Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden, meeting for the first time in London after their ordeal, said: "We unconditionally forgive our captors for abducting and holding us. We have no desire to punish them. Punishment can never restore what was taken from us... The death penalty is an irrevocable judgment. It erases all possibility that those who have harmed others, even seriously, can yet turn to good. We oppose the death penalty." Read more    Watch BBC 

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20 November 2006

Catholic Bishops' Conference of England & Wales calls for decommissioning UK nuclear weapons

"The very existence of nuclear weapons has always posed grave moral questions. Their uniquely destructive power means that they belong in a different category from any other weapons; this has always been recognised in the particular attention with which they have been regarded by the Holy See and by our own Bishops' Conference. In his World Day of Peace message for 2006, Pope Benedict XVI, in pressing for progressive and concerted nuclear disarmament, argues powerfully that the retention of nuclear weapons does not enhance the security of their possessors or the peace of the world.

The United Kingdom is now at a moral and strategic crossroads. Its present nuclear-weapon capability is not expected to be sustainable beyond the early 2020s without major new investment in renewal or replacement. Initial decisions about its continuance need to be taken within the lifetime of the present Parliament, which could extend to 2010.

The Church has always been clear in its teaching about the vital necessity for eventual total nuclear disarmament.   Our judgement is that, by decommissioning its nuclear weapons, the UK now has a unique opportunity to offer the international community an approach to security and legitimate self-defence without the unconscionable threat of nuclear destruction.  At the same time it could give a new impetus to the wider process towards total nuclear disarmament.

We recognise the Government's grave responsibilities in these matters of security, both for our countries and the wider world.  We urge the government to take a long-term view and act with courageous leadership by seeking to make this breakthrough towards total nuclear disarmament."

 20 November 2006

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18 November 2006

• Appointment of New Secretary General for Pax Christi International

  Claudette Antoine Werleigh of Haiti will become the next Secretary General of Pax Christi International, taking office in November 2007. The decision was made at a recent Executive Committee meeting, which took place on 13 and 14 November 2006. Claudette will succeed to Etienne De Jonghe, who will be retiring at the end of 2007. Claudette Werleigh can boast extensive international experience in the fields of peace, justice and reconciliation using non-violent means. She was Vice President and a Member of the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International, from 1992 to 2001. She has been the head of Pax Christi International delegations attending the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna (1993) and visiting Brazil (1994) and Central America (1997) on Pax Christi fact-finding missions. Claudette has a university degree in Law and Economics, as well as a Post Graduate Specialisation in Adult Non-Formal Education. She has previously held a number of different governmental and non-governmental positions. From 1975, as Secretary General of Caritas Haiti, Caribbean Regional Coordinator with Caritas and Member of the Executive Committee of Caritas Internationalis, she has gained extensive experience working within the Catholic Church.

  From August 1990 onwards Mrs. Werleigh became active in public administration and politics in Haiti, as a Minister for Social Affairs and Foreign Affairs (1990 to 1995). Notably, she also served as Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti in 1995 and 1996. Since 1999, Claudette has been the Conflict Transformation Programmes Director of the Life and Peace Institute in Uppsala, Sweden. As such, she leads field activities aimed at facilitating and strengthening local peace building initiatives in war-torn societies such as in the Horn of Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo Brazzaville. Claudette’s work has taken her all over Latin America, to several countries in Asia and Africa, to most countries in Western Europe, especially to conflict areas. Years of teaching and lobbying experience have made her a confident and effective public speaker, building on excellent communication skills. She is bilingual in French and Haitian Creole, fluent in English and Spanish, and has a good understanding of Portuguese. Claudette Werleigh is widely recognized for being a dedicated person. She is inspired by Christian values and spirituality, and has experience in cooperating with people of other faiths. She is also accustomed to working with an international staff with diverse backgrounds, facilitating collaborative action in order to reach common goals.

  
  
• Pax Christi International: Statement on the Status of Jerusalem

At its meeting of 13 - 14 November 2006, the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International, adopted a statement on the question of Jerusalem. A new and concerted effort to reach a definitive agreement that respects and assures the special status of Jerusalem is urgently needed. Unilateral actions should be rejected and international solutions are needed to secure a definitive and just peace for the city and for the two peoples and three religions who are its major stakeholders. The current political and religious status of Jerusalem is unsatisfactory. Pax Christi International is calling upon the United Nations to convene an international conference during which the Palestinian and Israeli governments, along with other international interested parties, will begin negotiations to assure the rights of two peoples and three religions to live together in Jerusalem in harmony, respect, mutual acceptance and cooperation. Representatives of major stakeholder political groups and religions should be involved in the process of establishing a just and durable solution to the Jerusalem question. The statement will be used for further international advocacy. Read the statement in English, in French, and in Spanish

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17 October 2006

Pax Christi joins day of action to close the Defence Export Services Organisation

Pax Christi members from around the country joined more than two hundred protesters in central London in an action to highlight the work of DESO and call for its closure.

DESO is a government department of 500 civil servants dedicated to selling military equipment around the world on behalf of arms companies. It receives government funding, costing the taxpayer around £15 million a year.

Comedian Mark Thomas speaks outside the DESO office.

Quaker group offer their message

Pax Christi member, Fr Martin Newell, wraps 'danger zone' tape around the building

Protesters made a human chain around the building, designating it a 'global danger zone'. Street polls were also taken during the day, to determine if people in London had ever heard of DESO, and to offer information on the work and funding of DESO. This was part of a wider objective to raise awareness of the role of DESO and Britain in the global arms trade. See poll results here

Ealier in the morning, members of Pax Christi, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, SPEAK and CAAT Christian Network gathered around DESO for a prayer vigil.

Comedian and anti-arms trade protestor Mark Thomas joined the demonstration, calling for the DESO office to be closed and for people to turn their skills to socially useful projects.

The event was coordinated by the Campaign Against Arms Trade and FoR. See photos and read more about the day here

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5 October 2006

Challenging Trident: The proper work of religion

At an ecumenical seminar in Central London on 4th October, Douglas Roche, former Canadian parliamentarian and adviser to the Holy See on disarmament issues, asked the question: “Does the UK government have the courage to face the world without nuclear armour?” The seminar, organised by Pax Christi, brought together representatives from Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Quakers and other free-church members, to discuss church responses to the proposed Trident replacement programme. Mr Roche said: "The Trident decision will be a signal to the world whether the government is serious about its commitments or just playing with words to strike an agreeable posture in international meetings… It is the proper work of religion to expose falsehoods, particularly when they impact on the lives of the people in the mammoth way that nuclear weapons do.  Thus Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien of Edinburgh should be commended for speaking out so clearly against the Trident replacement.”  Affirming the consistent teaching of the Catholic Church in opposition to nuclear weapons, he went on to say: “In addressing the Trident issue, Cardinal O’Brien has projected locally what the Holy See is stating universally: 'The Holy See has never countenanced nuclear deterrence as a permanent measure…'” The second speaker, Revd Alan McDonald, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, spoke of the important ecumenical cooperation which is taking place in Scotland and the political challenge to Trident that is so clearly coming from Scotland. He said that we are in a Kairos moment; the issue of Trident replacement should be of concern to all Christians.  Both Douglas Roche and Revd McDonald spoke at a public meeting in Edinburgh the previous evening.  More than 150 people attended the meeting at the Lauriston Jesuit Centre where they also heard Cardinal Keith O’Brien and Gerry Hughes sj. Cardinal O’Brien reaffirmed his call to all men and women of faith to raise their voice for peace. Click here for the full text of Douglas Roche in PDF (needs Acrobat Reader) or Word format

Douglas Roche taking questions from audience in Edinburgh Douglas Roche, Pat Gaffney, Bruce Kent

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2 October 2006

New report reveals global arms industry exploiting major loopholes in arms regulations

The globalisation of the arms industry has opened up major loopholes in all current arms export regulations, allowing sales to human rights abusers and countries under arms embargoes, according to a new report by the Control Arms Campaign (Amnesty International, Oxfam and IANSA).

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2009

23 March 2009

Schools hear story of forgiveness and resilience

Over 100 students from Catholic Schools in Westminster Diocese heard Richard Moore share his inspiring story of forgiveness and determination at a gathering organised in central London by Pax Christi.

At the age of 10 Richard was blinded by a rubber bullet (see photo on the right) after being shot by a British soldier in Derry 1972. He described his childhood, coming to terms with his disability and the support he experienced from his parents and siblings which have helped him to live without anger or bitterness. In 2006 Richard met Charles, the soldier who had blinded him. He spoke of the role of forgiveness in his life: "Forgiveness is a gift to yourself, I was able to find the freedom to be able to give forgiveness. Forgiveness is also about realising that while you cannot change the past you can change the future".

Referring to the prayers and concerns of his family, that some cure might be found for his blindness Richard said: "I have not had my sight restored but I have gotten a lot more - a vision". This vision has enabled him to found Children in Crossfire, a charity set up to help other children across the world who are caught in poverty and conflict.  Speaking of the importance of this work he said: "I have first hand experience of what it is like to have your whole life changed or affected by conflict. In the last 10 years Children in Crossfire has been working to improve the lives of young people right across the world. We have seen the difference that support and understanding can make."

In his closing remarks Richard affirmed his belief that violence and war achieve nothing. He remarked on the renewed fears in Northern Ireland that violence will return following the murders in February, but reminded the students that dialogue and mediation are the only real way to achieve peace.

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20 March

Remembering Iraq and Afghanistan - 6 years on

Two Christian Peace Organisations, Pax Christi and the Fellowship of Reconciliation, will hold a prayer vigil at Downing Street on 20 March for all victims of war and violence Afghanistan and Iraq.

Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi said: "The people of Afghanistan are now living through their eighth year of war following the tragedy of 11 September 2001. 20 March 2009 marks the 6th anniversary of the start of the war with Iraq. Our vigil is to remember the people of Iraq& Afghanistan, to pray for all those tens of thousands who have died in war and violence over the past years and to repent at the role our nation has played in these wars"

According to the Nobel Economist, Joseph Stiglitz, the budgetary cost to the UK alone of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will reach £18 billion by the year 2010. If the social costs within the UK are added, the total impact on the UK will exceed £20 billion

143 and 178 military personnel have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq respectively. In March 2008 Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul was kidnapped and murdered in Iraq. The Christian community of Iraq has decreased from 1.4 million in 2003 to around 600,000 today and continues to experience persecution

The vigil, which will run between 4 - 5 pm, will include times public prayer where names of those who had died will be read out.

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26 February

Ash Wednesday call to turn away from Trident and nuclear war preparations

The annual Ash Wednesday liturgy of Repentance and Resistance to nuclear war preparations took place at the Ministry of Defence in London on 25th February, drawing more than 70 Christians from around the country. This witness, which began in 1984, uses powerful liturgical symbols associated with the day and acts of nonviolent civil disobedience to call the British Government to repent and reject nuclear weapons and nuclear war preparations. This action was organised by Pax Christi with Catholic Peace Action and Christian CND. Following prayers in Embankement Gardens, where charcoal and ash were blessed and those taking part were marked with the sign of the cross, the group formed a procession, stopping first at the Old War Office and then at the Ministry of Defence Building. On route the building was marked with blessed charcoal by members of the London Catholic Worker. Prayers were offered for victims of war and violence while black and purple ribbons were tied to a white cross. At the MoD building the word REPENT was marked on sackcloth laid at the front entrance.

This annual witness seeks to articulate messages and teaching of Christian churches. In his 2006 World Peace Day message Pope Benedict XVI said “What can be said, too, about those governments which count on nuclear arms as a means of ensuring the security of other countries? Along with countless persons of good will, one can state that this point of view is not only baneful but also completely fallacious. In a nuclear war there would e no victors only victims…” and from 20 Anglican Bishops, writing in 2006, “Nuclear weapons are a direct denial of the Christian concept of peace and reconciliation, which are social and economic as well as physical and spiritual...The costs involved in the maintenance and replacement of Trident could be used to address pressing environmental concerns, the causes of terrorism, poverty and debt, and enable humanity and dignity to be the right of all.”

all photos by Elil - to see more go to Elil's photogallery

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23 February

Remaining Steadfast for Peace - Pax Christi Delegation to Palestine/Israel

Members of a Pax Christi delegation returned to the UK on 20 February following an 8 day visit to Palestine and Israel. The focus of the visit was to make contact with teachers and those working with young people, to encounter life and occupation in the West Bank and Jerusalem and to meet with Pax Christi partners- women, teachers, peace and human rights NGOs - to learn from them and share approaches to teaching and presenting issues of conflict and violence.

An overarching concern, expressed by nearly all those whom the delegation met, was the war with Gaza. Many Christian and Muslim Palestinians articulated their fear that the West Bank would be 'next' and their frustrations that in spite of so many words of concern about the impact of occupation by the international community, nothing on the ground has improved. Teachers spoke of how their pupils had appeared absent minded in class during the war and how they had to struggle to prevent the burden of Gaza from overwhelming their students.

The delegation also experienced some of the practical realities of occupation that Palestinians face on a daily basis. They joined Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) volunteers at the Bethlehem checkpoint at 5.00 am in the morning to witness the humiliation of hundreds of Palestinian workers who queue daily, some from as early at 2.00 am, to pass through turnstiles and security searches in order to work in Jerusalem. In Hebron the delegation joined Accompaniers who walk daily with teachers and pupils of the Cordoba school to protect them from harassment from Israeli settlers who live in the centre of the old city and from members of the Israeli Defence Forces who staff checkpoints.

In spite of the hardships and mis-treatment of people the delegation were aware of a great spirit of steadfastness or Sumud (the Arabic word) in the lives of those they met. Israeli and Arab teachers who bravely challenge acts of violence and stereotyping of the 'other'; mothers who talk of their pain 'giving them power' to overcome obstacles; young people who choose to stay and make a life for themselves in a situation that seems totally hopeless; Israeli and Palestinian NGOs, some working to monitor human rights while others work to restore the culture and traditions of Palestine that are threatened by occupation.

On 14 February the delegation joined with their partner organisation the Arab Educational Institute near the separation wall at Rachel's Tomb at the entrance to Bethlehem for a candle-lit vigil for peace in Israel and Palestine. Prayers for peace and texts from holy scriptures were read during the vigil. The delegation will work to produce a range of reports and resources based on their visit and make these available through Pax Christi's networks and website.

Download leaflet about candle-lit vigil for peace in Israel-Palestine

Watch video of candle-lit vigil for peace in Israel-Palestine

Members of the delegation - all Pax Christi members: John Harkin, Vice-Principal, Oakgrove Integrated School, Derry, Northern Ireland; Ann Farr, Pax Christi Executive Committee member, Coventry; Mary Boley, Christian Education Centre, Tooting, London; John Williams, Adviser Catholic Education - secondary support team, Westminster Diocese, London; Hilary Topp, Peace Education Worker, Pax Christi; Pat Gaffney, General Secretary, Pax Christi.

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24 January

Award for Pax Christi Volunteers

Five Pax Christi volunteers were given an award in acknowledgement of their work by the Mayor of Barnet, John Marshall at a ceremony organised by Barnet Volunteer Council on 23 January. The ceremony took place at Middlesex University, who partnered the evening with Barnet Voluntary Service Council.

The volunteers, Peggy Oliver, Helga Calloway, Sr Mary Ann Tyler, Sr Margaret Terese and Michael Mitchell, had each contributed more than 100 hours to Pax Christi. At the ceremony Mayor John Marshall spoke of the enormous value of volunteering to the community, calling volunteers the salt of the earth.

Pax Christ would be unable to undertake much of its work without the commitment, energy and encouragement of its volunteers. Fausta Valentine, Pax Christi's Administrator said: In our busy world it is heart warming to find people who are generous with their time and skill to work for the common good". Peggy Oliver is a member of Our Lady of Dolors parish in Hendon; Helga Calloway is from Christ the King parish, Cockfosters; Sr Mary Ann is a member of the Religious of the Assuption, Kensington; Sr Margaret Terese is member of the Franciscan Sisters of Mill Hill. The fifth award winner Michael Mitchell, was unable to attend.

Top: Helga Calloway, Fausta Valentine (Pax Christi Administrator), Sr Mary Ann Lower: Sr Margaret Terese and Peggy Oliver, at Middlesex University ceremony

Sr Mary Ann, Sr Margaret Terese and Helga Calloway in the Pax Christi office

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20 January

Peace Sunday celebrated in style

Pax Christi members around the country helped to mark Peace Sunday in parish and other communities. Peace Sunday, celebrated in England and Wales on the Second Sunday in ordinary time, is a time to learn about the Pope's annual Peace Day message and the work of Pax Christi. Members use this opportunity to engage all ages in thinking about, praying for and celebrating peace. Thousands of the new Pax Christi family prayer cards were given out - in many cases by the children of the community. Other parishes took up the invitation to say NO to child soldiers, encouraging children to write their 'Hands up for Peace' messages, which are to be gathered and sent to the UN in New York by 12 February 2009 Look at more images celebrating Peace Sunday over the years... they may give you ideas and encouragement for next year.

Parishoners from a parish in North Finchley, London, help to give out prayer cards

International students with Chaplain Rev Stuart Jennings at Warwick University Chaplaincy - lighting candles as a commitment to peacemaking in the year ahead

Hands up for Peace - young people at a London Parish write their messages to the UN to protest against children being used in war

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10 January 2009

Pax Christi joins with other Christian groups at rally for Gaza

Members of Pax Christi, Quakers, Friends of Sabeel and others gathered for a silent witness in Hyde Park at the start of a rally for Gaza. 10 January marked the 15th day of heavy Israeli military action in Gaza. The rally drew thousands of people from around the country including many hundreds from the British Muslim communty as well as Jewish groups such as Jews for Justice for Palestinians and the Jewish Socialists. At one point during the speeches in Hyde Park names of children who had been killed in Gaza were read out.

Pax Christi has called on its members and churches around the country to pray for peace in Palestine and Israel and will continue in its work to offer solidarity to peacemakers in the region and in the UK. The people of Gaza continue to carry the terrible burden of military violence. These 15 days have compounded the humanitarian crisis that was created by the seige of Gaza. In February Pax Christi will send a delegation to the West Bank.

Silent Vigil in Hyde Park	Message from "Jews for Justice for Palestinians"
Message at rally in Hyde Park	Rally in Hyde Park

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6 January 2009

In the skies above Gaza lightning falls on human rights

"It is out of a spirit of hope in a time of great sadness and fear that the British Section of Pax Christi calls on Churches throughout the UK to pray and act for peace and justice in Palestine and Israel.

On this the 11th day of the military bombardment of Gaza, with no ceasefire in site, we must show our solidarity with the dispossessed who suffer the violence of the bombs and the violence of the on-going siege.  We must show our solidarity with those Christians, Jews and Muslims in the region who bravely call for an end to violence – pointing to futility of violence and military responses to the long and tragic political problems of Palestine and Israel.

We are with Pope Benedict in declaring that, "the dramatic news that we are receiving from the Gaza Strip shows that the refusal to dialogue leads to situations that weigh unspeakably on the populations who are again victim to hatred and war" (Speaking in Rome, Angelus,  4th January 2009)

We are with former International President of Pax Christi, Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah who has said that “every hour is not just a war crime but a crime against humanity.” The Patriarch was speaking earlier this week at a service in Jerusalem.  "In the skies above Gaza lightning falls on human rights. We have seen this in the past and what we see in the Strip, unfortunately, is repeated generation after generation. It is not an act of God. God created man in His own image and likeness, created love and reconciliation and justice, but what we see is the destruction of human beings in Gaza and everywhere, and the destruction of all of Palestine."

In preparing to mark Peace Sunday on 18 January 2009

1. We ask that people of faith set aside time each day to pray for the people of Gaza and Israel and for a ceasefire which will allow time for other responses and voices to be heard.  On 18th January the Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates Peace Sunday – on this day special thoughts and prayers should be offered for the people of Palestine and Israel.  
2. We ask fellow citizens to speak or write to political and religious leaders expressing concern for what is happening and urging them to use their position and voice to call an immediate halt to Israel’s military assault and Hamas’ rocket attacks on Israel, and work towards the ending of the illegal occupation of Palestinian Territories by Israel – at the root of so much of the injustice, fear and anger in the region.
3. We ask people of faith to join together at local and national level, with secular groups, to speak out and act nonviolently against the destruction of the people of Gaza and the threats to the civilian population of Israel. "

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2008

10 December

Hundreds gather for Annual Pax Christi Advent Peace Service

St Aloysius Church, Euston, London was the venue for the annual Pax Christi Advent Peace Service. Hundreds gathered to take part in a liturgy with music led by composer and liturgist, Bernadette Farrell, and hear scriptural and contemporary readings and prayers that set out the longing of our world for peace. The Westminster Diocesan Deaf Service signed the whole service, adding a new, inclusive element to the evening which was much appreciated. During the service those gathered were invited to take part in the Pax Christi Christmas Messages of Hope and Peace to Bethlehem, a project Pax Christi has supported for some years. They were also urged to 'stay with Pax Christi' for the whole year, seeking ways in which each one can build a culture of peace in schools, parishes and communities. Around a centrepiece featuring the Earth surrounded by images of war, conflict and violence, worshipers lit candles of hope as part of a prayer commitment to work for peace in the year ahead. The service was followed by an alternative christmas market, offering goods in support of small scale peace and justice projects in the UK and around the world.

every candle of hope... a commitment to pray and work for peace!

Into this world... preparing for the Prince of Peace

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10 December

Wife's love gave Austrian martyr strength, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn says
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service ROME (CNS)

Blessed Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian farmer beheaded for refusing to serve in the Nazi army, had the strength to follow his conscience because of his wife Franziska, said Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna. With the 95-year-old widow and the couple's three daughters in the front row, Cardinal Schönborn participated in the Dec 9 presentation of a new biography in Italian, "Christ or Hitler? The Life of Blessed Franz Jagerstatter." The book launch was held in Rome's St. Bartholomew Church, which Pope John Paul II designated as a shrine to martyrs of the 20th century. The original handwritten copy of Blessed Jägerstätter's "spiritual testament" is on a side altar in the church, along with letters and objects owned by other victims of Nazism and communism in Europe and of dictatorships in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The Austrian martyr's widow said she did not want to respond to reporters' questions, but she did say her happiest memory was the 1936 honeymoon pilgrimage she and Franz took to Rome. Her daughter, Maria, said her earliest memory was "the whole family sitting around the table and Mother reading the letter that my father had been beheaded. Everyone cried." Maria was 4 years old when her father was beheaded by guillotine on Aug. 9, 1943. "We never felt he abandoned us," she said. Rather they believed he was in heaven and "he protected us." Her father was beatified in 2007, but he "was always a saint to us. If you read his last letter, you would know he was," she said. In the letter, written a few hours before he was executed, Blessed Jägerstätter apologized to his wife and family for the suffering they endured; he promised to watch over them always; and he talked about how Jesus must have suffered knowing that his mother was there watching him die. Cardinal Schönborn told the audience that he first heard of Blessed Jägerstätter in 1968 when he read the late Gordon Zahn's book, "In Solitary Witness: The Life and Death of Franz Jägerstätter." Strangely, he said, almost no one seemed to have heard of the Austrian martyr and his transformation from a superficial Catholicism to a deep faith that forced him to question how one could be "a soldier for Christ" and a soldier in Hitler's army at the same time. The growth in faith, the cardinal said, was due to the example of his wife. "Franz had the strength to follow his conscience because he was supported by the love of his wife," he said. Cardinal Schönborn introduced Franziska Jägerstätter and her three daughters to Pope Benedict XVI Dec. 10 at the end of the pope's general audience. The pope stood to greet the widow and continued to hold her hands as they spoke; then, her daughters came up and gave the pope flowers and other gifts. Read more about Franz Jägerstätter...	Franz Jägerstätter, proclaimed "blessed" on 26 Oct. 2007
	Franziska at Beatification of husband Franz
	www.photovat.com Franziska meets Pope Benedict XVI - 10 Dec 2008

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29 September 2008

Two Priests and a Christian community honoured with Pax Christi Peace Awards

This Autumn the annual Pax Christi International Peace Award will be given to Franciscan priest, Dom Luiz Flávio Cappio, the bishop of Barra in the state of Bahia, Brazil, and the members of the Brazilian community who have worked with him.
In the United States, the Pax Christi USA annual book award goes to Jesuit theologian, Jon Sobrino.

The Pax Christi International award ceremony will take place during a weekend of events entitled “Waters for Peace” from the 17 to 19 October 2008 in Sobradinho, in the state of Bahia, Brazil, organized by the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT), a Member Organisation of Pax Christi International in Brazil. Events for 17 October include a seminar on the issue of water and environment, a Eucharistic liturgy and a press conference. On 18 October, an inter-religious event will take place followed by a prayer pilgrimage to the Säo Francisco River. An international day of fasting in solidarity will be launched that day. The Pax Christi Peace Award ceremony will be held on 19 October. Laura Vargas Valcarcel, Vice President of Pax Christi International, will deliver the award speech. Dom Luiz is being recognised for his nonviolent action in protest against the Säo Francisco river transposition project. Brazil’s third-largest river, the Rio Säo Francisco in the north-eastern state of Bahia, was relocated to build more hydropower stations and supply water for industrial farming, shrimps production and steel plants in an area inhabited by rich people. The project would effectively destroy many villages of fisher folk and river inhabitants and cause vast environmental damage. The award will also honour the actions of the members of the community, who worked actively against the project themselves. The struggle behind this Award also echoes the many struggles around the world related to land and water resources and rights.

Dom Luiz Flávio Cappio

Jesuit theologian Jon Sobrino is the recipient of this year's Pax Christi USA Book Award, No Salvation Outside the Poor: Prophetic-Utopian Essays. Fr Sobrino will join Pax Christi USA at its traditional Friday evening gathering at the School of the Americas (November 21) to accept the award, address the audience and answer questions. He is the survivor of the November 1989 massacre at the University of Central America, committed by School of the Americas graduates. Six of his brother Jesuits, their co-worker and her daughter were murdered.

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19 September

UK Churches want to know more about crisis for Christians in Holy Land -

Ecumenical day conference: Hallows Church, 83 London Wall, LONDON EC2 5ND  - begins at 10.00am

Over 100 UK church leaders from all denominations will gather on Monday 22nd September for a day conference to discover more about the ongoing crisis in the Holy Land and how this affects the Christian community.  "More and more UK churches are wanting to find out more about the situation for Christians in the Holy Land. They are telling us that they want to be able to talk about it confidently in their churches and want to have information to pass on to congregations. Whilst Christians in Bethlehem are calling for Christians in the U.K. to hear them.... " said Garth Hewitt, Director of the Amos Trust and one of the speakers at the conference entitled The Disappearance of the Holy Land.

The conference aims to give more information about the current situation and discuss how churches should respond. Issues to be addressed include the crisis of the diminishing Christian presence in the Holy Land, the denial of human rights of the Palestinian Community, the impact of settlements, the segregation wall and the destruction of the biblical landscape. It will also discuss the implication for church pilgrimages to the Holy Land in the light of new and differing restrictions for Palestinian and Israeli tour guides.

The ecumenical conference has been organised by a coalition of 9 Christian and Jewish groups and charities namely Living Stones, Ekklesia, Pax Christi, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Friends of Sabeel, Justpeace60, Amos Trust, the Interfaith Group for Morally Responsible Investment, and the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions.

The speakers are from both the Palestinian and Israeli communities providing first hand reports of the current situation in the Holy Land. Speakers will be: Jeff Halper, Jewish Israeli anthropologist and founder of the Israeli Campaign Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) , and author of "An Israeli in Palestine: Resisting Dispossession, Redeeming Israel." - Sami Awad, a Christian Palestinian from Bethlehem, who is the director of the Holy Land Trust, an organisation that supports alternative tourism and facilitates nonviolence workshops across the West Bank - Garth Hewitt, director of the Amos Trust, Canon of St Georges Cathedral, Jerusalem, and author of "Bethlehem Speaks: Voices from the Little Town Cry Out" - Palestinian Ambassador, Dr Manuel Hassassian, (who is a Christian from Bethlehem) will also greet the conference.

There will also be a launching of a new film for churches - "Bethlehem - Hidden from View", which gives an updated picture of the crisis in Bethlehem and features all of the conference speakers.  The conference follows up the Just Peace 60 initiative of May of this year, when over 140 Church leaders and theologians put their names to a historic joint declaration calling for a just peace in Palestine/Israel. The signatories included Archbishop Desmond Tutu, other senior bishops and ministers from many denominations, who committed themselves "to a courageous settlement whose details will honour both peoples, shared love for the land, and protect the individual and collective rights of Jews and Palestinians."

Conference Venue: All Hallows Church, 83 London Wall, London EC2 5ND  - begins at 10.00am

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1 September

Pax Christi members experience the global village - in Lourdes!

This summer five members of Pax Christi British Section went to volunteer in the Pax Christi Peace Pavillion in Lourdes. Open all year, this summer was an especially busy time as people from around the world came for the Jubilee of the first apparition of Mary to Bernadette 150 years ago. This project is just one of several that the Pax Christi family ran this summer and it is a unique and exciting way to experience the international nature of Pax Christi. We invited two of the volunteers, Sr Eileen McGrath and Anthea Fairey to share something of their experience with us. They give a great flavour of what has been happening in Lourdes this summer and of the scope and breadth of peacemaking by encounter and dialogue. First Anthea: I had a really good time in Lourdes.  Good time isn't really the right phrase but I don't know how else to phrase it.  Helen and I worked with Francoise from Lille and I think we made a good team, well balanced. Helen's French was good, Francoise was of course a native speaker and my French was/is minimal but my goodness me it did improve!!... On the Monday we were told that there would be 15, 12-15 year old visiting form the Limoge diocese for 1 hour.  Helen and I frantically planned an hour's worth of activities - they stayed for 2 and a half hours!! Mr Martin came at the same time so he talked to them and they did a quiz produced by PC France, which they found interesting.  We got them to make a wall of tiles where they each wrote what peace meant to them.  We also got each of them to write a personal prayer for peace.  I put them on the altar in the PC chapel whilst we said prayers the next day and then brought them back to the house mounted then on card and we have left them there. Read more here

Pax Christi Peace House, Lourdes

And from Sr Eileen : 15th August, feast of the Assumption. The Cardinal of Paris came to Lourdes to concelebrate the Mass as it was the National French Pilgrimage.  There were thousands in the large park at the other side of the grotto. We attended this open air Mass. Two sisters from Central Africa drop in for information about something else but I invite them to sit down and write something about Peace.  This is what they wrote: No to violence. No to war. No to genocide. No to racism. No to bomb attacks. Yes to fraternity. Yes to sharing. Yes to humility I SAY YES TO PEACE.     Jo Kirby age 15 Peace is something universal. The slogan “Peace and Love” is not a slogan for fun but it means the love we have for others.   Iwada age 12 We put them on the wall. They are wonderful... Our last evening we attended a conference entitled “Peace in the great lakes of Africa”. Burundi, Congo, Rwanda.  A priest called Father Gaston from Goma spoke as a member of Pax Christi who suffered in Rwanda.  The room was packed and the Bishop of Lourdes attended with a wonderful French priest who lives in the City Saint Pierre with the homeless and poor people. Read more here

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27 August

LONDON VIGIL CHALLENGES CANADIAN GOVERNMENT OVER DEPORTATION OF US WAR RESISTERS

Members of Pax Christi, the Oxford Catholic Worker and Voices in the Wilderness held a 10-hour vigil outside the Canadian High Commission in London to call attention to the Canadian Government's plans to deport US soldiers who have fled the war in Iraq. On the same day the organisers had a letter published in The Guardian, calling on its readers to join their campaign and write to the high commissioner James R Wright urging that the Canadian government abide by the will of its parliament and people and make provision for US war resisters to have sanctuary in Canada. They held giant placards bearing pictures of the resisters and the words ‘Canada: Stop Deporting US Soldiers Who Refuse to Fight in the Illegal War in Iraq. Grant Them Sanctuary’ will be exhibited outside. There are currently at least 12 US soldiers in Canada seeking asylum [2]. They have refused to take part in the invasion and occupation of Iraq – an invasion deemed “illegal” by the UN Secretary General [3], that has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis [4]. If they are returned to the US, they face lengthy periods of incarceration. Last month Robin Long became the first US war resister to be deported [5], and a second war resister, Jeremy Hinzman, has now been given a 23 September deadline to leave Canada with his wife, son and baby daughter, or be deported [6]. Long is currently serving a jail-term in Colorado.

Though its people [7] and Parliament [8] both oppose such deportations, Canada's minority government has refused to stop them. A spokesperson for the vigil said: “Between 1965-1973 more than 50,000 draft-age Americans made their way to Canada, refusing to participate in the Vietnam war. At the time, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau said: "Those who make the conscientious judgment that they must not participate in this war... have my complete sympathy, and indeed our political approach has been to give them access to Canada. Canada should be a refuge from militarism." Today, we call on Canada’s Government to stand by these ideals, and to abide by the will of its people and Parliament, by halting the ongoing deportation of US soldiers who have refused to fight in Iraq.”   NOTES [2] See http://tinyurl.com/63ov9d [3] ‘Iraq War Illegal, Says Annan’, BBC, 16/09/04, http://tinyurl.com/4ndcw [4] ‘655,000 Iraqis Killed Since Invasion’, Guardian, 11/10/06, http://tinyurl.com/6dlcgz [5] ‘U.S. deserter to appeal Canada deportation order’, Reuters, 14/08/08, http://tinyurl.com/6fecta [6] ‘US army deserter ordered deported from Canada’, AP, 13/08/08, http://tinyurl.com/6eveab [7] On 3 June Canada’s Parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling on the Government to “cease any removal or deportation actions” against US soldiers “who have refused or left military service related to a war not sanctioned by the United Nations”, and “to allow conscientious objectors and their immediate family members … to apply for permanent resident status and remain in Canada.” See http://tinyurl.com/67cjll. [8] In a June poll 64% of Canadians agreed that US soldiers who had ‘fled to Canada after refusing to take part in the Iraq war’ should be allowed to become permanent residents of Canada. See See http://tinyurl.com/699drz

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12 August

Franz Jägerstätter Commemorations

Sixty-five years after his execution,the life and witness of Blessed Franz Jägerstätter is still remembered around the world.

In London, a hundred people gathered in the Crypt Chapel in Westminster Cathedral for the annual Pax Christi memorial service where a reflection was offered, making the links between the witness and challenge of Franz and the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, Japan 9th August 1945. Both call Christians to examine their conscience in the face of violence and warfare.

In Austria, in his home village of St. Radegund a vigil was held at 4 pm, his hour of death, and in the evening a services was concelebrated in the parish church. Bishop Manfred Scheuer of Tirol gave the homily at the Mass. Fransiska Jägerstätter and her daughters also took part in this service. Photograps and video clips of the events can be seen here.

Earlier, Kuno Füssel, theologian and mathematician spoke at a gathering of around 60 people, organised by Pax Christi Upper Austria and Munich. In his talk he spoke of Franz as a liberation theologian - clear of mind and with a bold heart. Following the gathering participants, including members of Pax Christi Italy, made a pilgrimage from Burghausen to St. Radegund

The text of Kuno Füssel's talk in German can be downloaded here.

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7 August 2008

Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembered

Pax Christi members around the country have marked the 63rd anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6th and 9th August 1945. Among them, day-long vigils on the steps of Westminster Cathedral in Central London; a service in the Chapel of Unity in Coventry Cathedral with readings prayers and poems; a night vigil at Aylesford Priory in Kent; a memorial service in Swinton, Salford and an evening service of prayer in Aigburth, Liverpool. In London, hundreds of people took leaflets about the anniversaries and others joined with twice daily times of prayer for peace. Ninety people attended the Coventry event where they were addressed by guests form Japan and by the Mayor of Coventry. The event was coordinated by the Lord Mayors Committee for Peace and reconciliation, the Quakers and Pax Christi. Pax Christi vice-president Bruce Kent participated in the memorial service in Hiroshima on the morning of 6th August where he was attending on behalf of CND. The Mayor of Hiroshima, Tadatoshi Akiba issued a Peace Declaration at the ceremony, urging that the citizens of the world pledge to do everyting in their power to accomplish the total eradication of nuclear weapons..	Pax Christi member Ann Farr with Yuka, a Japanese student who addressed the Coventry service.
Pax Christi partner in Japan, Sr Filo Hirota, who works with the Japanese Conference of Bishops', has asked the Pax Christi movement to support the Save Article 9 Campaign. Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution renounces war as a means of settling international disputes and prohibits the maintenance of armed forces and other war potential. Article 9 is an international oath declaring No to War, a shared property of all the world’s citizens who wish for peace. Today, however, the Japanese government is moving towards amending Article 9, partly due to the U.S. demand for full-fledged military support from Japan in its “war on terror”. Despite the restrictions of Article 9, Japan’s Self-Defence Forces have gradually expanded over the years, bringing Japan’s military expenditure to one of the highest in the world, and they provided support to U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. You can find out more about the campaign here	Mrs Keiko Mukai, a guest from Japan who sang the Hiroshima Peace Song at the Coventry service
Pax Christi members in London brave the wind and rain at their stall/vigil outside Westminster Cathedral	More images of the ceremony in Hiroshima and of other events around the world can be seen here

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25 - 26 June

Pax Christi Chair, Stewart Hemsley, meets Iraqi Christian delegation in Brussels

Pax Christi International recently hosted a series of meetings in Belgium, France and Germany, for a church-led delegation from Iraq. Stewart Hemsley, Chair of the British Section of Pax Christi attended on our behalf. The meetings began in Brussels with briefings at the Pax Christi International office and then moved to the European Union where the delegation made representtion to the UK permanent representative, Owen Jenkins. They spoke of the plight of the Christian minority who feel that they lack any real representation in the new Iraqi Parliament. They also met representatives at the European Commission, Karin Gatt-Rutter of the Iraq Desk and MEPs Nickolay Lmadenov and Jana Hybaskova at the European Parliament.

These meetings were arranged following the Pax Christi International Northern Consultation in June when the movement made a commitment to offering greater solidarity to Christians in Iraq. In March 2008 the British Section of Pax Christi wrote to Mr Gordon Brown on the anniversary of the war with Iraq and following the murder of Archbishop Rahho. A copy of the reply letter can be downloaded here.

A copy of a report by Stewart Hemsley can be downloaded here. In order to protect the security of members of the Iraqi delegation their names have been removed.

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15 June

Claudette Werleigh speaks at Pax Christi Annual Meeting in York

Pax Christi members and guests gathered in York on 14 June for the Annual General Meeting of the movement. During the day they heard from Claudette Werleigh, the new International General Secretary of Pax Christi. Claudette, from Haiti, spoke about the early influences of liberation theology and the education work of Paulo Friere on her work in community development - both of which empower people to challenge injustice and violence themselves. In talking about the work of Pax Christi International, she stressed the importance of the solidarity that can be created through international movements that bring people from very different backgrounds in contact with one another in their search for peace.. Two members were elected to the Executive Committee, Arianna Andreageli who teaches law at Liverpool University and Michael Mitchell, a former volunteer who now lives in Sussex. Nan Saeki and Josie Campbell stood down after six years of service to the Comittee and were thanked for all their support and encouragement.
	A liturgy of commitment during the afternoon celebrated the work of the past year and invited all present to renew their work for peace for the future. The Pax Christi book of remembrance was presented during the liturgy and Pax Christi members and friends who died during the past year were recalled. Members heard of new projects of the movement - publications such as Peace People Who Changed the World and Franz Jagerstatter - A Different Kind of Hero, suitable for youth and schools groups and of a number of international opportunities for young people - the summer workcamp in Florence and the international peace pilgrimage to the First World War graves to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the war. In addition members were encouraged to continue solidarity work with peacemakers in Israel and Palestine.

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8 May

Christian Leaders on Israel’s 60th Anniversary

Over 140 Christian leaders have made a unified call for a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians, to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel. Their declaration is published in The Independent newspaper. Never before has such a diverse range of prominent Christians acknowledged that for Palestinians, Israel's celebration has become a 'Catastrophe' (Nakba). They seek a shared solution to the longstanding conflict. Stewart Hemsley, Chair of the British Seciton of Pax Christi, Fr. Claude Mostowik, National President of Pax Christi Australia, Dave Robinson, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, Prof Mary Grey, and Nobel Peace Laureat Mairead Corrigan Maguire are among the co-signers. The letter reads as follows:

Today, millions of Israelis and Jews around the world will joyfully mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the state of Israel. For many, this landmark powerfully symbolises the Jewish people's ability to defy the power of hatred so destructively embodied in the Nazi Holocaust. Additionally, it is an opportunity to celebrate the wealth of cultural, economic and scientific achievements of Israeli society, in all its vitality and diversity. This same day, millions of Palestinians living inside Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the worldwide diaspora, will mourn 60 years since over 700,000 of them were uprooted from their homes and forbidden from returning, while more than 400 villages were destroyed. For them, this day is not just about the remembrance of a past catastrophic dispossession, dispersal, and loss; it is also a reminder that their struggle for self-determination and restitution is ongoing. To hold both of these responses together in balanced tension is not easy. But it is vital if a peaceful way forward is to be forged, and is central to the Biblical call to "seek peace and pursue it" (Ps. 34:14). We acknowledge with sorrow that for the last 60 years, while extending empathy and support to the Israeli narrative of independence and struggle, many of us in the church worldwide have denied the same solidarity to the Palestinians, deaf to their cries of pain and distress. To acknowledge and respect these dual histories is not, by itself, sufficient, but does offer a paradigm for building a peaceful future. Many lives have been lost, and there has been much suffering. The weak are exploited by the strong, while fear and bitterness stunt the imagination and cripple the capacity for forgiveness. We therefore urge all those working for peace and justice in Israel/Palestine to consider that any lasting solution must be built on the foundation of justice, which is rooted in the very character of God. After all, it is justice that "will produce lasting peace and security" (Isaiah 32:17). Let us commit ourselves in prophetic word and practical deed to a courageous settlement whose details will honour both peoples' shared love for the land, and protect the individual and collective rights of Jews and Palestinians in the Holy Land. “Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid” (Micah 4:4)

Read more and see complete list of signatories at http://justpeace60.blogspot.com/

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20 March

Vigils around the country recall 5 years of suffering in Iraq

A number of vigils and times of prayer and reflection for peace were held round the country on 19th March, the eve of the start of the war with Iraq.

In London fifty people gathered for an ecumenical vigil at Downing Street, London. This involved saying prayers on the half-hour and the reading of the names of Iraqi and Coalition war dead. In Oxford another ecumenical group gathered at Carfax in the city centre. In North London following a time of prayer members of the Justice and Peace group at St Melitus Church leafleted commuters at the local train station. Other vigils took place in Birmingham, Coventry, Stafford, Kendal, Woodbridge, Bridgened and Somerset. Extract from a prayer used at the Downing Street vigil: We pray for others: for the people of Iraq, whose lives and dreams are broken daily; for the victims of torture and abuse and their perpetrators, whose bodies, hearts, minds and souls are being scarred for ever; for soldiers and their families, torn apart by war, sacrificing more than many of us can understand. This project was organised by Pax Christi and the Fellowship of Reconciliation who also sent a letter about the UK's responsibilities for the war to Prime Minister, Gordon Brown

Ecumenical vigil, Downing Street, London

Downing Street Vigil, London

Vigil at Carfax, Oxford City centre

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13 March 2008

A Call for remembrance, prayer and action: Iraq 5 years on

20th March marks the 5th anniversary of the war with Iraq – a war which has cost tens of thousands of lives, displaced millions and brought fear and destruction to all communities.  In recent months, Christians will also be aware that the minority Christian community has borne its own share of this violence.  The destruction of churches,  the targeting of church personnel leading this week to the death, following kidnap, of Chaldean Archbishop Rahho of Mosul. 

The Pax Christi and Fellowship of Reconciliation are calling on Christians throughout the country to make 19th March, the eve of the start of the war, a day of remembrance, repentance and prayer for the people of Iraq and the role that our nation has played in this war.

In London there will be a vigil at Downing Street between 5.00 – 6.30 pm on Wednesday 19th.  During the vigil prayers will be shared and names of the dead will be read out in public.  This will include the names of Iraq people as well as of US and UK military personnel who have been killed in this war.  A number of similar public vigils will be held around the country, including Oxford, Coventry, Stafford, North London and Kent  and there will be times of prayer and reflection taking place as part of church- community commemorations on the same day.

Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi  said: “ The vigil takes place in Holy Week when we remember Jesus’ path to the Cross – the betrayal, the torture, the abandonment – and so too we remember the people of Iraq and the years of suffering they have experienced through wars, sanctions and now occupation.  We will be urging our Government to make reparation for the destruction we have caused and calling on all people of good will to join efforts to being stability and peace to Iraq.”

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13 February 2008

Call for remembrance, prayer and action for Iraq

A call for day remembrance, prayer and action on 19 March, the eve of the anniversary of the war with Iraq is one of the responses that came from an ecumenical seminar held in London on 12 February entitled ‘Iraq War – 5 years on : A continuing challenge to Christians.’ Representatives from Justice and Peace and social responsibility networks gathered to discuss ways in which might Christians might respond to the war and on-going occupation of Iraq.

Speaker Paul Rogers, professor of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford, described how the UK Government has been drawn into an almost endless war in the region, beginning with Afghanistan, spreading to Iraq and possibly beyond which has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and detentions without trial. He went on to say that the military path is not working. The resistance that we see in the Middle East cannot be controlled by what he called ‘lid-ism’, the use force and militarism.  State centred security models need to be turned to human security models addressing the real insecurity threats to our world – the rich-poor divide, climate change and the expansion of military technology. Milan Rai, co-founder of Justice not Vengeance and editor of Peace News outlined the decision making process that had taken us into war and the role that public opinion had played delaying this decison. While some feel that anti-war actions of Spring 2003 did not stop the UK from becoming a key partner in the war they did force, the Blair government had to make accommodations at the time, and he believes, have helped prevent the escalation  of a military response to the situation in Iran. Public opinion now stands 2:1 in opposition to the on-going occupation and a deep sense of responsibility for the suffering of the people of Iraq.  This means that a way must be found of withdrawing the US and UK troops while offering support and protection to the people of Iraq, perhaps by a replacement peacekeeping force acceptable to the Iraqi people. Suha Rassam, an Iraqi and former professor of medicine at the University of Baghdad, spoke of the particular plight of the ancient Christian community of Iraq which now fears extinction. She spoke of the gradual displacement of the Christian community during the Iraq–Iran war, during the first Gulf War and the period of sanctions now exacerbated by this 5 years of war. 44% of Iraqi refugees in Syria are from the Christian community. Christian churches and church personnel have been especially targeted in recent months.  Suha spoke of the need to challenge both Muslim and Christian fundamentalism and to create ways for people to recognise their need of each other in building peace in Iraq. Find out more about Iraqi Christians in Need and support their work. At the seminar, the organisers, Pax Christi and the Fellowship of Reconciliation, launched their Christian Peace Witness for Iraq on 19 March, urging churches and communities to hold vigils or prayer services in town centres on 19 March to remind local communities of the 5th anniversary of the war with Iraq. There will be a national gathering in central London in the early evening of 19 March.  At the same time, they ask that church communities write to local MPs about the plight of Iraqi refugees and detainees and to urge that the UK Government work at non-military ways of bringing justice and sustained peace to the people of Iraq.  They also urge Christians to support Muslim and Christian agencies working with displaced people.   (left to right) Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi, Paul Rogers and Milan Rai (left to right) Chris Cole of Fellowship of Reconciliation, Suha Rassam and Milan Rai Copy of the leaflet Christian Peace Witness for Iraq

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11 February 2008

Ministry of Defence building marked with blessed ash on Ash Wednesday, 6 February 2008

2008 marked the 25th anniversary of prayer, repentence and resistance to nuclear war preparations at the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall, London. Around 70 people from around the country gathered in Embankment Gardens where they were marked with ash as is the tradition on Ash Wednesday. In a silent procession they then made their way to three stopping points in Horseguards Avenue: The Old War Office, Whitehall and the Ministry of Defence building. A group who had prepared in advance marked the Old War Office and Minsitry of Defence buildings with blessed charcoal. There were no arrests although there was a very strong police presence during the whole afternoon.

At the prayer stop at the Old War Office, Stewart Hemsley, the Chair of Pax Christi addressed the group saying: "The liturgy we are celebrating is an act of ‘Repentance and Resistance to Nuclear War Preparations.’ We use the symbols of ashes and sackcloth to show our repentance for trusting as a nation in death dealing weapons like the Trident missile system. We reject the idea of security by what our leaders call ‘hard power’ which is aggressive and threatening behaviour backed up by military might. Scripture teaches us not to put our trust in ‘Princes’ or their weapons.Those who advocate ‘hard power’ and all that that means are the agents of despair, death and destruction. The full text of Stewarts reflection can be downloaded here

This action was supported by Pax Christi, Christian CND and Catholic Peace Action. Other actions and vigils took place in Edinburgh and Newcastle upon Tyne. You can dowload a copy of the liturgy here.

Gathering for prayer in front of Ministry of Defence building, London	Cross bearing images of Martyrs for Peace and 21 Theses of Peace by Philip Berrigan
Words: Choose Life - No Trident written in blessed charcoal on the Old War Office building	Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi is stopped by police from continuing her message

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11 January 2008

Pax Christi Celebrates Peace Sunday

On Sunday 20th January Catholic  parishes in England and Wales will celebrate Peace– Sunday  a day that offers us an opportunity to reflect on the Holy Father’s World Peace Day message with the  theme “The Human Family: Community of Peace”.  In this years message the Holy Father reminds us that we are all called to make peace and build relationships of solidarity and cooperation as befits members of the one human family

Pax Christi have provided every parish in the country with liturgy and reflection materials to help mark the day.  Hundreds of parishes around the country have been in contact with Pax Christi to order additional materials for use with young people, children and adults. Some parishes will focus on the theme “The Human Family: Community of Peace” to celebrate the diversity of their parish community encouraging activities that help to map out the breadth of countries represented in the parish.  Others will use the children’s activities to create peace chains – where children describe words that indicate what it takes to be a peacemaker or make peace boxes containing poems, images, photographs of peace activities which can be passed on as a gift to another community.

Pat Gaffney, General Secretary of Pax Christi said: Pax Christi has worked since the 1960s to help promote the Pope’s World Peace Day message.  Each year we see more and more parishes becoming involved – using our resources with creativity and imagination to help communicate a message of peace.  This year we know that people will be praying especially for communities in Kenya, Pakistan and Iraq – reflecting the images we see daily on our television screens.  These remind us of the need to work for peace every day – to discover what part we may be playing as a country in contributing to violence in the world and act to challenge this.  This is what solidarity is about – finding practical and real ways of being with people in times of violence and warfare.
Liturgy and reflection materials from Pax Christi are available at
 http://www.paxchristi.org.uk/PeaceSunday.html

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30 December 2007

Human Star at Separation Wall - Bethlehem

Members of the Arab Educational Institute, a Pax Christi partner in Bethlehem, created a human star in the shadow of the separation wall near Rachel's Tomb, Bethlehem, in anticipation of Christmas 2007. The AEI had asked for solidarity for their act of witness.  In London, the team of staff and volunteers of Pax Christi gathered around their own 'star' to send greetings and best wishes to members of the AEI women's group. In Cambridge a silent street vigil was held outside the Guildhall in support of the 'walled-in' people of Bethlehem.

At the same time, messages and prayers for peace and justice were sent to Bethlehem from individuals, parishes and schools around the world. See below a Peace Tree of messages created in the Chapel of Unity in Coventry Cathedral. Read the Christmas Messages received from around the world.

Sumud-Star, Bethlehem - click photo to watch video	Pax Christi team, London
Peace Vigil, Cambridge	Peace-Tree messages, Coventry Cathedral

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19 December

Gordon ZAHN - R.I.P

It is with sadness that we report the death on 9 December 2007 of Gordon Zahn, aged 84 years.

Below extracts from a full Obituary compiled by Mike Hovey, a long-standing colleague and friend and  Director of Catholic Social Teaching for the Archdiocese of Detroi

" It was while he served in the CPS camps that Gordon “fine-tuned” his pacifist understanding and commitment, particularly as a Catholic.  His religious education had been extremely slim – he read the entire King James Version of the Bible on his own in high school, and never attended any formal catechetical program in Catholic teaching – but in the camps he met several men who were steeped in the Catholic intellectual tradition and a critique of the traditional teaching on “just wars,” as opposed to the Age of Martyrs, when military service was deemed unsuitable for a “soldier of Christ.”  Some of the “campers” were graduates of elite universities, and Gordon’s desire to resume his academic studies was rekindled. Upon his release from CPS, Gordon and another CPS camper, Richard Leonard, applied for entrance to the Benedictine-run St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota and received full tuition scholarships and jobs to earn their room and board.  After one year, they received a telegram from the Prior with the news that some of the faculty (former military chaplains) were opposed to pacifists receiving such generous benefits, and suggested that they take a year off to let the situation cool down.  Gordon and Dick scraped the funds together for their tuition and traveled back to St. John’s – only to sleep on the school’s shuttle bus for two nights while the debate about their presence on campus continued.  In the end, Fr. Godfrey Diekmann, O.S.B., one of their staunchest defenders, told the men that the community was too deeply divided to allow them to return.

Gordon Zahn 1918 - 2007 Gordon died in St. Camillus Nursing Home in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on Sunday, December 9, 2007 after suffering with Alzheimer's disease for several years.  He will be cremated and his funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, December 18 in Milwaukee.  Plans are being made for a more public Memorial early in 2008.

Bishop Thomas Gumbleton with Gordon Zahn, London 1986 Read another acknowledgement of Gordon's work from the Catholic Peace Fellowshhip, USA "Let us now praise Gordon Zahn" by Michael Gallagher, Catholic Peace Fellowship 2003 www.catholicpeacefellowship.org/downloads/gordon_zahn.pdf

The dean gave them letters of recommendation to the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, where they were accepted and from which they graduated with degrees in sociology.  One of their professors, Eugene McCarthy, was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1948, and provided patronage jobs for both men in Washington, D.C., and they enrolled at Catholic University of America, under the tutelage of Fr. (later Msgr.) Paul Hanly Furfey, one of the first “Catholic sociologists” (then considered a bit of an oxymoron) and counselor to Dorothy Day and the Catholic Workers movement… While engaged in the research on German Catholics in the late 1950s, Gordon "discovered" the story of an Austrian farmer and family man, Franz Jägerstätter who, upon being called into the Nazi army for duty in 1943, refused to go as a matter of conscience and because he believed he would be fighting in an unjust war, and was beheaded in Berlin on August 9, 1943 for his conscientious objection.  Zahn received a research grant from the American Philosophical Society and spent a summer interviewing family and friends of the martyr, along with tracking down other written source material.  In 1964, In Solitary Witness: The Life and Death of Franz Jaegerstaetter was published.  Gordon believed that he had stumbled upon the story of an unheralded (and unsupported, by his Church) martyr for the faith – in other words, a saint.  On October 26 of this year, the Church recognized Franz's heroic witness to the faith when it declared Franz "blessed" at a joyous celebration in Linz Cathedral.  Franz’s widow, Franziska – now 94 years old – and his daughters and their families joined 5,000 others as the Catholic Church at last recognized the holy witness of this man.  Gordon’s dream had been realized.

Gordon's written work appeared regularly in AMERICA and Commonweal magazines, in addition to other publications, as he laid out an impassioned and articulate argument for rejecting violence and war as an essential element of our Catholic/Christian faith.  In the early 1980s, he was a key witness (and ghostwriter) as the U.S. bishops drafted their pastoral letter on war and peace, "The Challenge of Peace:  God's Promise and Our Response."  In 1983, he retired from academia and devoted his remaining "good years" as National Director of the Pax Christi Center on Conscience and War, continuing to write and speak around the country on peace, conscience and the nonviolent message of Jesus. 

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22 November 2007

Pax Christi Thanksgiving for Beatification of Franz Jägerstätter

Several hundred people gathered at a Mass at Westminster Cathedral in London on 21 November, in thanksgiving for the beatification of Franz Jägerstätter. Those attending included the Austrian Ambassador in London Dr Gabriele Matzner, from Austria Dr Erna Putz – a biographer of Franz Jägerstätter and Gotlind Hammerer, vice president of Pax Christi Austria and Pax Christi partners from the ecumenical and interfaith networks.   During the Mass, celebrated by Pax Christi’s Bishop Malcolm McMahon, members of the congregation heard Bruce Kent, a vice president of Pax Christi reflect on the witness of Franz for today.  He said:  “I move at once to the wise words written recently by Bishop Schwarz of Linz and Bishop Scheuer of Innsbruck. Their perspective is the future. They do not want Jägerstätter to be seen as quaint piece of history - as happens in the case of quite a few Saints. This is what they said: 'It is your situation that is being dealt with here, it is your motivation that is at issue, it is your God that is under debate. What part does sacrifice play in your own life? How seriously do you take the question of whether there is something in your life so big that you would, if necessary, be willing to die for it?' In other words. when does the time come for all of us to have to say 'No'? Our 'NO' here in Britain will not lead to an execution. But it will cost promotion, popularity even some loss of liberty and certainly hard work. Why?  The world we live in today is in many respects out of step with the world of the Gospels. The two Kingdoms do collide in values and life styles.”
Pax Christi hosted a reception following the Mass at which the Austria Ambassador, Dr Gabriele Matzner spoke, reminding those present of the political reality in Austria in the late 1930s: “ The Catholic leadership in Austria did not openly oppose the illegal annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938. Cardinal Innitzer did not welcome Hitler in person, but he recommended that Austrians accept the fait accompli. Most did, in the farcical referendum staged by the Nazis in already occupied Austria, in April 38, and from which 8% of the population were excluded beforehand. But, very soon, with the onslaught of anti-Catholic Nazi politics, many Catholics, including Innitzer, changed their minds. In October 1938 at least 7000 young Catholics marched against the regime in the centre of Vienna, shouting "Christus ist unser Führer", "Christ is our Leader". It was and remained the largest demonstration ever against Hitler in the German realm, since he came to power in Germany 5 years earlier. It was brutally quashed.  Ladies and gentlemen, motives to resist mass violations of human rights are manifold. Some are religious. Whatever the spiritual sources, self-sacrificing demonstrations of decency such as  Jägerstätter's deserve our greatest admiration. They should inspire others, especially world leaders, to prevent situations in which choices of life or death have to be made by decent human beings."
Pax Christi hope that schools and parishes will  make the life and witness of Franz Jägerstätter a focus for reflection on Christian peacemaking in the year ahead and will provide resources materials to support this work.   Copies of the newly published Franz Jägerstätter Martyr: A Shining Example in Dark Times by Erna Putz is available in hardback from Pax Christi - price £10.00 plus postage Copy of Bruce Kent's text available here Copy of Austrian Ambassador Dr. Gabriele Matzner-Holzers' text available here

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7 November 2007

Pax Christi International - Triennial World Assembly in Belgium

Bishop Malcolm McMahon, national president of Pax Christi UK, joined staff and members of Pax Christi UK at the Triennial World Assembly of Pax Christi International which took place in Torhout/Bruges, Belgium between 30 October – 4 November 2007. The theme around which more than 100 people from 50 different countries gathered was  “Remember – Reaffirm – Renew: Acting together for Peace”. Those taking part shared experiences on the vision and mission of Pax Christi International as well as on the global concerns of the movement. Pax Christi’s work for peace is based on the Gospel and inspired by faith and involves approaches that include peace education, advocacy and campaigning, peace building and interfaith and intercultural cooperation for peace.	Stewart Hemsley, Chair of Pax Christi with Bishop Malcolm McMahon
New Presidency Pax Christi International welcomed Marie Dennis, Director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns in the USA and Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo of Kisangani, DRC, as the new Co-Presidents of the movement. H.B. Michel Sabbah, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has been International President since 1999. One of the gifts presented to the Patriarch was a Peace Flag bearing the names of all the delegates at the Assembly. New Secretary General The work and commitment of Etienne De Johghe, Secretary General of Pax Christi for 29 years, was honoured as he stood down, and the new Secretary General, Claudette Werleigh of Haiti, was welcomed. A former vice-president of Pax Christi, Claudette has most recently been the Conflict Transformation Programmes Director of the Life and Peace Institute in Uppsala, Sweden. Pax Christi has grown immeasurably under Etienne's leadership - from a relatively small number of national sections when he assumed office to the worldwide network of member organisations which now define the movement.	Pax Christi UK delegation with outgoing President, Patriach Michel Sabbah
Marie Dennis, new Co-President of Pax Christi International	Marina Shishova(Russia), Bishop Kevin Dowling (South Africa), Bishop Gabino Zavala, (USA)
"The mourning parents" at Vladslo cemetery	Peace Pilgrimage On 2 November - the feast of Holy Souls - participants undertook a Peace Pilgrimage to a number of the Flanders Fields war cemeteries, including Tyne Cot, the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world, and the German cemetery of Vladslo where a peace vigil was held which ended with all those present placing candles on the simple flat granite stones that mark the graves of the 25,600 German soldiers buried there. A plaque at the entrance to the cemetery bore the message of Albert Schweitzer, Nobel Peace Laureat, "The soldiers' graves are the greatest preachers of peace". The image on the left is of a pair of statues entitled 'The mourning parents' by Kathe Kollwitz a German artist. They are placed near her son's tomb. Celebrations On Sunday 4th November a Mass was celebrated in St Salvator's Cathedral in Bruges to acknowledge the work of the movement and of Etienne De Johghe and his wife Magda van Damme in particular.

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26 October 2007

Blessed Franz Jägerstätter

Frau Franziska Jägerstätter

Thousands gather in Linz, Austria, for the Beatification of
Franz Jägerstätter

More than 5,000 people gathered in Linz Cathedral, Austria on Friday 26 October to celebrate the Beatification of Franz Jägerstätter. At a moving service, attended by his widow Franziska, 94 years old, and his four daughters, Hildegard, Maria, Aloisia and Rosalia, the petition for the cause of martyrdom was presented by Bishop Manfred Scheuer to Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins representative of Pope Benedict XVI.

27 Bishops and Cardinals participated, including Bishop Luigi Bettazi from Italy and Bishop Thomas Gumbleton from the United States. Both have been involved with Pax Christi and with the cause of beatification for many years. During the service Franziska Jägerstätter carried a relic of her husband Franz and presented it to Cardinal Martins. The Cardinal announced that the future day set to mark the Beatification will be 21 May, the day of Franzs' baptism.

Pax Christi members from England, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Austria and the USA had travelled to Linz to be a part of the celebration. They later met with Frau Jägerstätter and her family at a reception offered by the civic authorities in Linz. One of those taking part was Bruce Kent who has worked since the mid 1970's to promote the story and witness of Franz. Bruce organised his first pilgrimage to St Radegund, the home town of the Jägerstätter family, in 1975.

Franziska with Helga Galloway, Valerie Flessati and Bruce Kent

Pax Christi members from UK

Pax Christi members also attended an evening vigil in the town of östermiething on Saturday 27th October and the first Eucharist in remembrance of the newly beatified Franz Jägerstätter at St. Radegund on Sunday 28th October in the small Parish Church where both Franz and his widow Franziska had been sacristans.

Speaking at the vigil Bruce Kent said: “The courage of Franz Jägerstätter obliges us all to find other ways of resolving our conflicts. It is my belief that wars today are bound to be unjust. Nonviolent solutions to conflict are available. The death and destruction that wars cause is beyond any possible proportion. Wars create and do not solve conflict. That the world needs political and social justice as well as a police force is clear. What it does not need is war. That is how I apply the message of Jägerstätter in 1943 to our world of 2007.

With astonishing courage Franz taught us how to say ‘No’ to immoral promises and immoral wars. As citizens, taxpayers, or soldiers, and above all as Christians, the best honour we can pay him is to learn in our time, whatever the cost, to say NO to war and to build instead a culture of peace.”

Read English /Italian presentation given by Bruce Kent on Saturday 27th October

For more photographs go to www.dioezese-linz.at/kirchenzeitung/galerie/Seligsprechung_FJ_2007/

Pax Christi will host a Mass to celebrate the beatification at Westminster Cathedral, London, on 21 November at 7.00pm celebrated by Bishop Malcolm McMahon, National President of Pax Christi UK

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22 October 2007

Pax Christi members to attend Beatification of Franz Jägerstätter in Austria

Pax Christi members from the UK, Ireland, the USA, Germany and Italy will travel to Austria this week to take part in a Mass for the beatification of Franz Jägerstätter, the Austrian farmer who was beheaded in Brandenburg, Germany, on 9 August 1943, for refusing to fight in Hitler's army. Franz believed that he would be committing a sin if he acted against his conscience and agreed to fight for the National Socialist state. For him, this was a situation in which he had to obey God more than the commands of secular rulers. In following the commandment 'you shall love your neighbour as yourself' Franz decided that he could not fight with weapons of war. For refusing to undertake military service he was sentenced to death in Berlin and was beheaded in Brandenburg on 9 August 1943.

The Mass will be celebrated on 26 October at 10.00 am in St Mary's Cathedral in Linz, the home Diocese of the Franz Jägerstätter and his family. The celebrant will be Diocesan Bishop Dr. Ludwig Schwarz, who was one of the promoters of the cause of beatification.

Speaking of Franz the Bishop said: "Franz Jägerstätter is a prophet with a global view and a penetrating insight which very few of his contemporaries had at that time; he is a shining example in his fidelity to the claims of his conscience, an advocate of nonviolence and peace, a voice of warning against ideologies, a deep-believing person for whom God really was the core and centre of life. His prophetic witness to Christian truth is based on a clear, radical and far-sighted analysis of the barbarism of the inhuman and godless system of Nazism, its racial delusions, its ideology of war and deification of the state, as well as its declared programme of annihilating Christianity and the Church. His educated, mature conscience led him to say a resolute 'No' to Nazism and he was executed due to his consistent refusal to take up arms as a soldier in Hitler's war."

There will also be celebrations on 27 and 28 October in St Radegund, the home village of the Jägerstätter family, where his widow Franziska and her three daughters still live.

Pax Christi has long promoted the life and witness of Franz, holding an annual memorial service in August on the anniversary of his execution and producing publications and articles on his life. Pax Christi will host a Mass at Westminster Cathedral, London, on 21 November to celebrate the Beatification.

Read English /Italian presentation to be given by Bruce Kent at a vigil in Austria on Saturday 27th October

For more news of events in Austria go to http://www.dioezese-linz.at/redaktion/index.php?page_new=870

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16 August 2007

Bring your umbrellas to the Greenbelt PeaceZone!

The 20,000 people expected at this years Greenbelt Festival will be praying for good weather, but staff at the PeaceZone are hoping they will bring their umbrellas with them.  Hilary Topp from Pax Christi explains:

“The PeaceZone this year will feature an umbrellas art installation, which is part of a project called poetry in protest.  Greenbelters will be invited to decorate their umbrellas with poems, symbols and quotes.”

The PeaceZone, run by the Network of Christian Peace Organisations, will be trying to raise awareness of how ordinary people can make a difference, reflecting the Greenbelt 2008 theme, ‘Heaven in Ordinary’. 

Over the weekend people will be encouraged to share their stories about what they or their friends are doing for peace.  These will be displayed in the PeaceZone and added to the Greenbelt PeaceZone blog.  To view the blog go to www.everylittlepeace.blogspot.com and add your stories and photographs by emailing network4radicalchange.peacezone@blogspot.com

There will be opportunities to send a message to Gordon Brown to encourage him to promote policies which promote true human security, and a chance for people to reflect on their own commitment to peace.  There will also be workshops and the chance to talk to peacemakers from around the world.  The Greenbelt Festival is a Christian music and arts festival.  It takes place this year on 24 - 27 August at the Cheltenham Racecourse.  For more information and the full line up see www.greenbelt.org.uk

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22 July 2007

A life of peace-work honoured

The life-long work of Valerie Flessati and Bruce Kent, vice-presidents of Pax Christi British Section, was acknowledged at the annual National Justice & Peace Conference in Swanwick on Sunday 22 July.  Among other things, they were presented with an olive tree, a symbol of peace, bearing messages from friends and colleagues. Instrumental in establishing the British Section of Pax Christi, following its merge with PAX in 1971, Valerie Flessati and Bruce Kent have been tireless in their support and engagement in a host of peacemaking projects. Valerie was the first General Secretary of Pax Christi and has remained close to the movement since then, not only in her role as a vice president but also in her writing, editing and educational outreach – for both the British Section and for Pax Christi International.  Valerie has also worked to capture and promote the history of Christian peacemaking in Britain – her Doctoral thesis of 1991 was on The History of a Catholic Peace Society in Britain 1936-1971 – and in 1997 she wrote Waking the Sleeping Giant – The Story of Christian CND. Valerie has also worked to promote peace studies at an academic level, first with the MA in Peace Studies from the Department of Peace Studies at the University of Bradford - Valerie was administrator to this course when it was run from Heythrop College in London - then with the MA in Mission, Peace and Spirituality at the Missionary Institute London where she was a course tutor.  Bruce Kent was the first Chaplain to Pax Christi following his involvement in a Pax Christi International route in the 1960s and worked for the movement on a range of issues in the early 1970s.  A former chair and then General Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Bruce has  been a committed anti-nuclear campaigner – going on to support more recent initiatives including Abolition 2000, the World Court Project and Nuclear Awareness Project.  Bruce is also founder of the Movement for the Abolition of War. Together Valerie Flessati and Bruce Kent have offered friendship, enthusiasm and encouragement to individuals and movements in their work for peace, often bringing together faith-based and secular networks.  They have shown the true meaning of faithful persistence and steadfastness to the task of peacemaking, showing us all how to build community and church in the process.

Valerie's & Bruce's shocked reaction to the announcement by Pat Gaffney...

... what a "peace-full" couple!

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20 - 22 July 2007

Christians challenged to unpack the nonviolent tradition at National Justice & Peace Conference, Swanwick

Braving adverse weather conditions, more than 370 Christians gathered in Swanwick, Derbyshire for the annual National Network of Justice and Peace conference, Called to be Peacemakers - Who Me? . For the first time the conference was ecumenically organised in partnership with the Fellowship of Reconciliation and Pax Christi. Young and old, newcomers and seasoned conference goers took part in a full programme that offered stimulating talks, workshops on peacemaking, liturgy and celebration.

Participants were reminded of the roots and traditions of both FoR and Pax Christi - both born out of experiences of war by Christians who wanted to make a radical difference in the world - rejecting war and violence as a means of resolving conflict, and of the breadth of peacemaking opportunities, from lobbying to public witness to education and nonviolent direct action.

Speaker John Dear sj, a Jesuit priest, recalled the words of Martin Luther King that the choices before us today are choices of nonviolence and nonexistence, siting the war on terrorism and the war on Iraq as models of a choice of nonexistence. Drawing on his experiences of challenging militarism and war preparations of the United States Government, John said that war is not the will of God... war is anti everything that is Gospel. Zoughbi Zoughbi, a Palestinian Christian who is founder of the Palestinian Centre for Conflict Resolution in Bethlehem spoke of the daily crucifixion of the people of Palestine. He also spoke of the need to work for restorative justice in situations of conflict such as that experienced in Palestine/Israel as a way of stopping the cycle of violence from repeating itself generation after generation. He said that a free Palestine must be formed from collective responsibility - and not collective guilt as Israel was formed.

To view photogalleries of the Conference click HERE

The stage is set.... the conference opens	Speaker, John Dear sj
Questions from the floor...	Ihitisham Hibatullah gives testimony
Chris Cole of FoR with speaker Zoughbi Zoughbi	Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi with Roula Maarouf and Maya Evans
Young and old.... participants join in a liturgy	Young and old... never miss a chance to dance!!

Participants also hear testimonies from three people whose lives have been affected by events in our world since September 11th 2001: Ihitisham Hibatullah from Sri Lanka, member of Muslim Association of Britain and media coordinator for the British Muslim Initiative who spoke of his work to challenge the xenophobic hatred of Muslims generated following 9/11 and the personal impact this has had on him and the fears he experienced for him family. Roula Maarouf, spoke of her family who were made refugees from Galilee when they were expelled from Palestine in 1948 and who now live in Lebanon. For her the war on terror has created an even greater atmosphere of exclusion and fear. Maya Evans spoke of her work with the group Voices in the Wilderness and Justice not Vengeance and how her awareness of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq prompted the action of reading out names of British soldiers and Iraqi civilians killed in Iraq as part of a peace protest at Downing Street. This led to her becoming the first person to be arrested under the new SOCA laws.

Parallel youth and children's programmes also offered insights into issues of violence and conflict and an opportunity to develop tools and skills for peacemaking.

To view photogalleries of the Conference click HERE

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17 June 2007

Pax Christi Peace Awards at Annual General Meeting in London

At a packed meeting in Central London, Pax Christi members and supporters honoured and acknowledged six peacemakers of our time whose work spans from Northern Ireland to Iraq and UK. Pax Christi instituted the award, given every two years, in 2001, to acknowledge the steadfast commitment of grass-roots peace work. Those receiving the award from Bishop Malcolm McMahon, President of Pax Christi, were Brian Wicker, Sr Lelia Newman op, Patricia and Michael Pulham, Tom Mallon and Milan Rai. Brian Wicker’s involvement in Catholic peacemaking, with a particular focus on security and disarmament, goes back 50 years. Brian is an active member of the Christian Council on Approaches to Defence and Disarmament and served for years on the Committee for International Justice and Peace of the Bishops’ Conference.  Most recently Brian initiated dialogue between Muslims and Christians, leading to a book entitled Witness to Faith? Martyrdom in Christianity and Islam. Sister Lelia Newman O.P, formally a teacher now retired, has lived and worked in Belfast for the past 17 years where she has promoted understanding between different communities. She became involved with the regeneration of three communities in the Falls Road area, Belfast – Beechmount, Iveagh and Springfield, which led to the building of a community centre in the Beechmount area. Most recently, Lelia took part in  protests with others from Belfast at the nuclear submarine base in Faslane, Scotland.

Patricia and Michael Pulham have over thirty years involvement with both Pax Christi and Christian CND – recently playing an important role in the CCND executive committee.  Their peacework has ranged from the production of education resources for churches on nuclear issues to organising acts of Christian witness at various nuclear sites such as Aldermaston and Faslane to encouraging others in peace and justice work parish and Diocese level. Tom Mallon, another peacemaker from Northern Ireland, initiated summer play schemes for children from the mid 1970s and helped to co-ordinate hospitality  for many Pax Christi volunteers from around the world to work on these projects. This all happened during the most bloody and vicious period in Northern Ireland’s ‘troubles’. Thanks to Tom Mallon and others, bridges were built between the communities. Milan Rai ‘s work is a powerful witness to active nonviolence.  As a co-founder of Voices in the Wilderness UK, he was instrumental in putting the impact of the sanctions on Iraq before the peace movement and on the political agenda. His visit to Iraq, during the time of the sanctions, provided evidence of the madness of UK and US policies. Following the September 11th 2001 attack Mil helped establish the organisation ‘Justice not Vengeance’, taking on the causes of Afghanistan, Iraq and recently Iran. He has published books including ‘War Plan Iraq’ and more recently ‘July Bombings’ to look at the reasons for the violence being generated in our name. Those at the meeting also heard of Pax Christi’s strengthened work in the area of peace education and youth work through the appointment of Hilary Topp, education worker who presented the winning CD produced by pupils of Finchley  Catholic High School in London for a Pax Christi European contest entitled  “Mad World”.  Pax Christi also affirmed its commitment to continue its work in solidarity and support of partners in Palestine, especially during this year that marks the 40th anniversary of Israeli occupation. At a Mass celebrated by Bishop Malcolm, former members of the movement were remembered, including Margot Hutchison who died on 14th June. Margot, from Birmingham, had been active with Pax Christi, CARJ, the National Board of Catholic Women and diocesan Justice and Peace work for more than thirty years.

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9 June 2007

ENOUGH: End Palestine occupation rally in London

Pax Christi joined thousands at a rally for Palestine in Trafalgar Square, London People from around the country came to London on Saturday in support of the Enough: End the Israeli Occupation of Palestine rally.  This week marks the 40th anniversary of the six-day war and the subsequent Israeli occupation of Palestine. Similar events took place around the world. On Pentecost Sunday Church leaders of Jerusalem issued the following statement about the anniversary: “This year marks the 40th anniversary of occupation by the Israelis of land previously held by Palestinians.  It is totally unacceptable for the situation to continue where the Palestinians endure daily hardships and humiliations with deprivations of international human rights, allegedly to ensure the safety and security of the Israelis, whereas we believe the security of Israel is dependent on the freedom and justice of the Palestinians.”  A host of speakers urged those taking part to work for dialogue and political change to bring justice for the people of Palestine. Speakers included Mustafa Barghouti - Palestinian Minister of Information, Anglican Bishop Riah from Palestine, Mairead Corrigan Maguire - Nobel Peace Laureate, Netan'l Silverman - Combatants for Peace and Bruce Kent, vice-president of Pax Christi. Bishop Riah spoke movingly of the role of Jerusalem as the capital of the Holy Land, saying that the shortest way to peace  in the world is through peace in Jerusalem.  He urged political leaders to be  peace makers and not just peace talkers.

Mairead Corrigan Maguire who recently visited Palestine, spoke of the parallels between her own country Northern Ireland and Palestine.  She reminded those listening that thirty years ago she stood at this same spot calling for peace, justice and human rights for the people of Northern Ireland and today she made the same appeal for the people of Palestine. Bruce Kent called for a spirit of hope – drawing on the recent peace plan in Northern Ireland as a sign of how situations of injustice and violence can be turned around. Netan'l Silverman, a former Israeli soldier, spoke of the work of Combatants for Peace, a group of former Israeli soldiers and Palestinian fighters, and of the culture of fear which keeps people apart and breads violence. Combatants for Peace seek to challenge acts of violence in Israel / Palestine and to encourage nonviolent resistance to the occupation. The ENOUGH Coalition, made up of more than 50 organisations including Pax Christi, War on War, Quaker Peace & Social Witness, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Interpal, Medical Aid for Palestine and a number of Trade Unions will now work towards  a of Lobby of Parliament which will take place in November.

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4 June 2007

Franz Jägerstätter to be beatified as a Martyr for Peace

It is with great joy that we hear of the plans for the beatification of Franz the Austrian farmer who was beheaded in Brandenburg, Germany, on 9 August 1943, for refusing to fight in Hitler’s army. (Announcement from Congregation for the Causes of Saints, 1 June 2007). His cause has been long promoted by Pax Christi. 

Speaking of the beatification, Bishop Malcolm McMahon, President of Pax Christi UK said: “The extraordinary courage of Franz Jägerstätter, a faithful Catholic, has been an inspiration to many and a powerful witness to peace and nonviolence.  In an age of war and violence we urgently need the example of those who use their consciences to make judgements about what is evil - and refuse to take part in it. The recognition of this man’s holiness by the Church should encourage us all to stand up for peace, justice and human dignity.”

Franz believed that he would be committing a sin if he acted against his conscience and agreed to fight for the National Socialist state.  For him, this was a situation in which he had to obey God more than the commands of secular rulers.  In following the commandment ‘you shall love your neighbour as yourself’ Franz decided that he could not fight with weapons of war.  For refusing to undertake military service he was sentenced to death in Berlin and was beheaded in Brandenburg on 9th August 1943.

Pax Christi offers a warm message of support to his widow, Fransiska Jägerstätter, a faithful partner in his terrible sacrifice and a witness to peace herself.  Their three daughters were all under the age of six at the time of his death.  Franziska suffered many years of economic punishment, discrimination and social exclusion before Austrian attitudes to her husband’s conscientious objection began to change.  He is now honoured as a hero in Austria.  Franziska still serves the small village church in St Radegund, Upper Austria, where Franz himself was sacristan.  We rejoice with her and her family. 

Pax Christi commemorates the anniversary of Franz Jägerstätter with an ecumenical service in London each year, and has organised several pilgrimages to St Radegund since the first British Pax Christi group went there in 1975.

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28 May 2007

Faith groups in joint rally to mark 40 years of Israeli occupation

Pax Christi will join with other faith groups at a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, to mark the 40th anniversary of the Six Day War and the start of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, on Saturday 9 June.

Former Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem, Riah Abul Asal, and Nobel Peace laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire, will be among those addressing the rally which begins at 2:30pm.

The event is organised by the Enough! Coalition, which was formed in the UK to advocate the end of the Israeli occupation.  Pax Christi UK, the Quakers, the Scottish Episcopal Church’s Justice Peace and Creation Network, and the Amos Trust have joined charities, trade unions, British Muslim and Jewish groups and MPs to commemorate the anniversary.

Church Leaders in Jerusalem, including Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, issued a message on Pentecost Sunday which says: “This year marks the 40th anniversary of occupation by the Israelis of land previously held by Palestinians.  It is totally unacceptable for the situation to continue where the Palestinians endure daily hardships and humiliations with deprivations of international human rights, allegedly to ensure the safety and security of the Israelis, whereas we believe the security of Israel is dependent on the freedom and justice of the Palestinians.”  The Church leaders have also called upon  Christians and all people of goodwill  to join in the International  Church Action for Peace in Palestine & Israel between 3rd and 9th June. Pax Christi is urging its members and churches in the UK to offer prayers for peace in Palestine & Israel at this time.
 
Supporters of the Enough! coalition include Lord Hylton, Rev Kathy Galloway, Leader of the Iona Community, Rev Garth Hewitt, director of the Amos Trust, Professor Mary Grey and Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate.

Ends

Full statement from the Church Leaders of Jerusalem and copy of the Ecumenical Service produced for the International Church Action for Peace in Palestine & Israel available here

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6 May 2007

Remember the Christians in the Middle East

This was the theme of a seminar held at York St John University in York on Saturday, 5 May.
Sponsored by Pax Christi, the British Province of Carmelites and Middlesbrough Diocese Justice & Peace Network, the seminar brought together more than one hundred and fifty people to hear Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah and Anthony O’Mahony, Director of the Centre for Christianity and Inter-religious Dialogue at Heythrop College, University of London speak on the theme.
Patriarch Sabbah spoke of the good ecumenical relations between the thirteen Churches of Jerusalem who regularly speak with one voice when addressing some of the deep problems faced by Christians in Israel and Palestine caused by the on-going conflict. While acknowledging the real fears of Israel he went on to say that it is often the powerful military actions of Israel that elicit counter violence from militant Palestinians groups. He stressed that the majority of the Palestinian people – Christians and Muslims, seek a peaceful and just resolution tothe conflict but often feel let down by the inaction of the international community, including the EU and British government.  He challenged those present to find ways of being in solidarity with people in both Israel and Palestine who are working for peace, and gave as an example the Ecumenical Week of Solidarity between 2–9 June that has been called to mark the 40th anniversary of Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
Anthony O’Mahony spoke of the historical displacement of the Christian community in the Middle East, exacerbated by the recent conflicts in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine. He cited Lebanon as an example.  Lebanon once had a Christian majority that has been greatly diminished as a result of the Lebanese Civil War and more recently the war between Lebanon and Israel.  He challenged the audience not to forget Christians in Middle East – the heart and the origin of the Christian family - now a minority faith in the region. They have experienced and continue to experience great suffering.  In spite of this, he spoke about the positive opportunity created for ecumenical cooperation in the Middle East, seeing this as a future feature of Christian identity in the region.
Speaking of the Christian family in Palestine, Patriarch Sabbah described them as a community of endurance with a deep will to exist.
The Seminar was one of the events organised by the British Province of Carmelites to mark the 800th anniversary of the Carmelite rule of life and was preceded by a Mass celebrated in York Minister by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

For more information contact
Pat Gaffney, Pax Christi
020 8203 4884

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30 April 2007 Brussels

New Presidency of Pax Christi International

Pax Christi International has elected Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo and Marie Dennis as the new co-Presidents of Pax Christi International at their Annual General Assembly taking place 28 April 2007 in Antwerp, Belgium. Their 3-year mandate as co-presidents begins at the Triennial World Assembly of Pax Christi International, which will take place from 30 October to 4 November 2007 in Torhout/Bruges. The present International President, H.B. Michel Sabbah, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, will remain in office until 3 November 2007.

Pax Christi International was founded in 1945 in France as a movement of Catholics in Europe who wanted to promote reconciliation at the end of the Second World War. Madame Marthe Dortel-Claudot and Msgr. Théas inspired the foundation of the movement. Today, Pax Christi is a dynamic faith based network with more than 100 member organisations active worldwide. By electing co-presidents, a lay woman and a bishop to lead the movement, Pax Christi returns to its roots and lifts up a model of shared leadership in the Catholic Church.

Msgr. Laurent MONSENGWO PASYNIA (DR Congo)
Archbishop of Kisangani and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Democratic Republic of Congo. As former President of SECAM (Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar), Msgr. Monsengwo worked continually for peace building efforts in his country, and throughout Africa. He is convinced that a lasting peace can only be realised through dialogue among the citizens of all countries. He is often consulted by high officials concerning Africa. Member of the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International since 1999 and Vice President until 3 November 2007. He is member of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Marie DENNIS (USA)
As director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns Marie Dennis is responsible for bringing the voice and experience of Maryknoll Missionaries and their commitment to peace, social justice and the integrity of creation into policy discussions in the U.S. and other governments, the World Bank, the IMF, the United Nations and the corporate world.  She has international experience particularly in Latin America and Africa and is author or co-author of six books on peace, social justice and spirituality. Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace. Member of the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International since 1999 and Vice President until 3 November 2007. The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns is a member organisation of Pax Christi International.

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2 April 2007

Pax Christi winners create a culture of peace
 
The winning teams of the 2007 Pax Christi European Peace Contest created their own culture of peace on a four day trip to Brussels last week.  Hilary Topp, Peace Education Worker at Pax Christi UK explained: ‘The young people participating in the trip illustrated so well what it takes to build a culture of peace.  They shared ideas and culture, respected each others opinions, and formed friendships despite differences in culture, language and religion.  On the first evening they stayed up playing cards until midnight!’

Stephen Murphy, one of the winning team from Finchley Catholic High School in London said: “I enjoyed meeting the groups from other countries, it was a really interesting experience.”

Visiting the European Parliament reminded us of the importance of international institutions in building a stable and peaceful world.  On a visit to the Pax Christi International offices the young people heard about the many ways in which ordinary people are working for peace all over the world and how Pax Christi works for peace and justice for all. The visit ended on Sunday evening with an ecumenical service to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Europe.  Candles were lit for all the countries in the European Union and we were reminded of the contribution of every country and person to building peace.  The service ended with a lively song called ‘Together’, led by a group from Sweden; “Together! We are creating together! Participating together! We are celebrating a World Culture of Peace!” Pax Christi will be running the competition again next year – look out for details on our website in the autumn at www.paxchristi.org.uk

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31 March, Brussels

R.I.P. - Maria Julia Hernández, Director of the Office of Tutela Legal of the Archdiocese of San Salvador and Member of the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International

Dr. Maria Julia Hernandez Chavarria, 68, passed away on Friday 30 March 2007. After having cardiac problems, she underwent a successful surgery at the end of February, but relapsed on 8 March. She did not recover. The last three weeks, she remained in the hospital with artificial respiration, in critical conditions.

Maria Julia was born in Tegucilgapa (the Honduras’ Capital - her nationality was Salvadoran), on 30 January 1939. She got a PhD in Human Rights and International Law. Since 1977, Maria Julia had been working at the Archdiocese of San Salvador taking care of the pastoral work in the field of human rights. She became the promoter of human rights and the protector of the dignity of all Salvadorian people, especially the victims of the civil war in El Salvador. Maria Julia was a good friend of the late Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero who was assassinated on 24 March 1980. For several years she had been active in the development of a network of various human rights offices of the Bishops’ Conferences in dioceses across Latin America.

In May 1982, she became the Founding Director of Tutela Legal (Legal Protection), the Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese of San Salvador. The office documents and opens up judicial proceedings to claim justice in regard to massacres not yet resolved that to this day foster impunity in the country. Maria Julia devoted her life to truth and justice and acted very strongly against impunity. Tutela Legal became a member organisation of Pax Christi International.

Ms. María Julia Hernández had been elected member of the Executive Committee at the Pax Christi International Council in Amman/Jerusalem, July 1999. That visit and peace pilgrimage to the Holy Land impressed her deeply. In 1995, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Pax Christi International in Assisi, Italy, Maria Julia was the keynote speaker. She was involved in fact-finding missions of Pax Christi International to Mexico (Chiapas), Guatemala, and El Salvador. Maria Julia was a member of the Steering Committee preparing the First Latin America Consultation of Pax Christi International to take place in Lima, Peru, in August 2007.

The International President, the Executive Committee members and the staff of the International Secretariat are deeply touched by the loss of such an extraordinary human rights defender. We present our condolences to her family and collaborators. Her death and resurrection, close to the liturgical Celebration of Easter, feed our hope and our commitment.

A prayer vigil was held on Friday evening, 30 March. The funeral will be held on Monday 2 April 2007, at 3 pm, in the Crypt of the Cathedral of San Salvador.

Read more

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27 March 2007

Pax Christi's response to power-sharing agreement in Northern Ireland

The British Section of Pax Christi warmly welcomes the historic agreement reached by the two main parties in Northern Ireland.  The sight of the two leading, implacable souls, pledging themselves to work for a better and more stable future for all the people of Northern Ireland was truly remarkable.  It marked an end to decades of bloodshed and violence and opened a new and promising chapter in the long and turbulent history of this part of Ireland.  Everyone involved now owes it to the victims and suffering families of the conflict to seize this opportunity to build a lasting peaceful and a just society.

This historic agreement sends not only to the long-suffering people of Northern Ireland, but also to those in other conflict situations, a powerful message of hope that whatever their problems and difficulties peaceful progress is possible with trust and dialogue.

Our hope and prayer must be that the example of Northern Ireland will prove inspirational to all those who are working tirelessly and non-violently to bring about peace and justice in so many troubled areas of our world

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23 March, London

Iraq anniversaries marked with vigil of remembrance

On the anniversary of the release of Christian peacemaker hostages Norman Kember, James Loney and Harmeet Sooden in Iraq, and the fourth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq, Christians kept a vigil of remembrance in Trafalgar Square in London for all victims of violence in Iraq. Norman Kember and his wife Pat took part in the vigil. Norman Kember and his colleagues were held hostage in Iraq for 118 days between November 2005 and March 2006. Tom Fox, an American Quaker, member of the Christian Peacemaker Teams, with whom Norman was held, was murdered in Iraq on 10th March 2006.  Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi said: “we want to give thanks for the safe release of Norman, James and Harmeet and to remember Tom and all those whose have died as a result  of the war in Iraq and those who continue to be displaced, wounded or tortured in the name of the so-called ‘war on terror’.”  Members of Pax Christi, the Fellowship of  Reconciliation, Christian  Peacemaker Teams, Quaker Peace & Social Witness and friends of Norman Kember took part in the vigil. During the time Norman was held in Iraq these groups coordinated support and solidarity actions throughout the country. On his release in 2006 Norman Kember reminded us that “we must remember the people of Iraq who still await the stable and just society they deserve.”

John Johansen Berg of FoR, Pat and Norman Kember and Bruce Kent

At the same time Pax Christi International, together with Dominicans for Justice and Peace, Franciscans International and other religious orders was offering oral evidence to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Their statement said: There are about 1,800,000 Iraqi displaced persons in the country. An estimated 100,000 Iraqis leave their country each month, including many of Iraq’s best educated professionals.  Approximately 2,000,000 Iraqis have fled since the 2003 invasion…. We also urge the international community through the United Nations to take with utmost seriousness its responsibilities for the monumental and long-term sanctions and the ravages of war. On 22 March Norman’s book Hostage in Iraq was launched. It is published by Darton Longman and Todd.

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19 March

PARLIAMENT SQUARE BECOMES A WAR CEMETERY
London Catholic Workers mourn on 4th anniversary of invasion of Iraq -

Remember the Innocent: Stop the War

The London Catholic Worker joined with Voices in the Wilderness to plant 186 crosses – each bearing the name of an Iraqi killed by US/UK forces – in Parliament Square yesterday to mark the 4th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and call for an immediate end to the occupation. Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi joined those planting the crosses. While this ritual was going on, Chris Goodchild and Henrietta Cullinan prayed and led the 'stations of the cross', reminding us that our God suffers with this crucified people, and yearns with us that their liberation be achieved. A reading from 'Isaiah According to Lauren Cogswell' of the Open Door Community, Atlanta, reinforced this message and prayer.

A banner bearing the word “186,000 Iraqis killed by US/UK forces” was also displayed. According to a survey published in the Lancet last October, at least 186,000 Iraqis have been killed by “coalition” forces in Iraq since the beginning of the 2003 invasion – 31% of all violent deaths in Iraq through June 2006. So each cross represented a thousand killed. A sobering and somewhat depressing thought on this annversary. The stations of the cross, however, finished with Resurrection and God's hope of liberation - a reminder for us to 'hold our heads high, for liberation is near at hand.' This event was not “authorised” by the police. Consequently, participants were risking arrest, a criminal conviction, and a fine of up to £1,000 under the SOCPA (Serious Organised Crime and Policing Act) laws. However, the few police who were present seemed to prefer to look the other way, or race past, sirens screaming, apparently more concerned with London's mis-timed (a day late) St Patrick's Day celebrations! Superficial entertainment once more preventing recognition of deeper truths. Gabriel Carlyle said: “Over the past four years US-led forces have been one of the main sources of violent death in Iraq, killing at least 186,000 Iraqis. At the same time the occupation has helped to push Iraq into a state of civil war, and acted as a recruiting sergeant for extremists across the Muslim world. Moreover 78% of Iraqis believe that the occupation is causing more conflict than it prevents. It’s time to end Britain’s participation in this disastrous and immoral occupation and bring the troops home.” More in London Catholic Worker and indymedia report

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13 March 2007

Brussels, here we come!

Four students, Chris Nickolls, Simon NG, Stephen Murphy and Daniel O'Sullivan, from Finchley Catholic High School in London will be making a trip to Brussels next week as the award winners of a Pax Christi European Peace Contest. There they will meet with other young people who have participated in the contest from Portugal and France. Their challenge was to create a power-point presentation on the theme "Living together in School - what does it take to make peace". The quality of entry was very high but the 'Mad World' presentation had the edge. Commenting on the entry, Hilary Topp, the Peace Education worker for Pax Christi said:

"The judges felt that 'Mad World' reflected the reality of the world we live in but at the same time offered a challenging and hopeful message about what kind of world might be possible if people come together rather than being divided by religion, ethnicity and race." The winning teams meet in Brussels between 22 - 26 March 2007. In Brussels they will have the opportunity to visit the European Parliament and the Pax Christi International offices, as well as a chance to explore Belgium and take advantage of the many special events to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome which marked the creation of the European Union. Pax Christi hopes to strengthen this contest in 2008, encouraged by the quality of work presented this year and in the belief that young people have important messages to communicate to others as to their own views on what it takes to make peace in our world. As an international movement for peace, Pax Christi believes that encounter visits such as this are invaluable in breaking down barriers between people and building friendships that stretch across national and cultural differences. For more information contact: Hilary Topp - 0208 203 4884

Stephen, Chris, Simon and Daniel prepare for their trip to Brussels

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25 February 2007

Pax Christi members join anti Trident rally, London

Tens of thousands of people gathered in London on 24 February to challenge the Government's proposed plans to replace Trident. Among them were Pax Christi members from Cambridge, Southampton, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Sussex and London. Before joining the rally, they gathered with other Christians for an ecumenical service at Hinde Street Methodist Church where they heard Graham Sparks from the Baptist Union of Great Britain speak of the the challenge of the Gospel to the model of security offered by programmes such as Trident. The service took the form of prayers, scripture readings and song. Bishop Stephen Cotterell, the Anglican Bishop of Reading, was in the congregation and later addressed the rally in Trafalgar Square. Among the Christian groups taking part in the rally were Christian CND, the Quakers, Fellowship of Reconciiation, Christian Artists for Peace and the Baptist Peace Fellowship.

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22 February 2007

Ash Wednesday 2007 – Call to repent and resist Britain’s nuclear weapons plans

More than a hundred people from around the country gathered in Central London for a liturgy and actions of repentence and resistance to the Government's plans to replace the Trident nuclear system. As part of the liturgy, the walls of the Ministry of Defence were marked with blessed ash and charcoal with the words No Trident and Choose Life.

Those taking part were adding their voice to that of Church leaders in England, Scotland and Wales, and Pope Benedict XVI, who have all spoken clearly against the replacement of Trident.  In January 2006, Pope Benedict XVI called government policies that rely on nuclear weapons as a means of ensuring security ‘baneful and also completely fallacious’.  In July 2006, 20 Anglican Bishops wrote in a national newspaper that ‘nuclear weapons are a direct denial of the Christian concept of peace and reconciliation’. Following the witness at the Ministry of Defence, postcards, addressed to Mr Blair, bearing messages  that challenge the replacement of Trident, were be presented at Downing Street by members of Pax Christi, Christian CND and the Fellowship of Reconciliation.  Pax Christi has distributed 10,000 such postcards in just three weeks to those wanting to make their views known to Mr Blair. Pax Christi members will join others in an ecumenical service " Praying for Peace - Resisting Trident" at Hinde Street Methodist Church in London on Saturday 24th February before joining the national "No Trident" demonstration between Hyde Park Corner and Trafalgar Square. This was the twenty-fourth anniversary of Christian witness at the Ministry of Defence in London. This action is supported by Pax Christi, Catholic Peace Action and Christian CND. Addressing the gathering Pat Gaffney, General Secretary of Pax Christi said: "What is our purpose here today? We give a public and a human face to our liturgy of Ash Wednesday and its call to turn away from those things that separate us from God and from one another - nuclear weapons and nuclear war preparations... Our prayers and actions are a plea to the humanity and integrity of those political leaders who maintain nuclear defence systems and who plan to replace them. Our prayers and actions are an act of solidarity and compassion with those whose lives are already blighted by nuclear weapons".

6th form students take part in prayer vigil at Ministry of Defence The Ministry of Defence building, marked with blessed ash

Members of Pax Christi and the Fellowship of Reconciliation present "No to Trident" postcards to Mr Tony Blair, Downing Street

Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi addresses the gathering

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5 February 2007

Military attack on Iran would have disastrous consequences warns new report: Time to Talk Coalition which includes Pax Christi, urges new diplomatic push to avoid crisis

Military action against Iran could have disastrous global consequences according to a new report published today by a diverse group of organisations including Oxfam, the Foreign Policy Centre, faith groups and others.

On the one year anniversary of Iran’s referral to the Security Council, a new joint report by 15 organisations - including think tanks, aid agencies, religious groups and Trade Unions - warns that, despite the seriousness of the situation, there is still ‘time to talk’. This must be used to avoid an escalation with potentially disastrous consequences.

Sir Richard Dalton, UK Ambassador to Iran 2002-2006, who spoke at the launch of the report said:

"After three years in Iran, I am well aware of the threat Iran poses and of the frustrations of engagement. I also know that firmness, patience and a commitment to diplomacy offer the best chance of success.  Given Iranian defiance of the Security Council, there is bound to be a break in the negotiations on the nuclear issue. But both sides should work for a resumption.  It is vital that the US becomes fully involved in creative diplomacy.  Recourse to military action - other than in legitimate self-defence - is not only unlikely to work but would be a disaster for Iran, the region and quite possibly the world."

The report urges the UK government to work with allies in a sustained effort to find a diplomatic solution. In particular, they should push for:

• Face to face talks between Iran and the US
• A compromise on the suspension of uranium enrichment as a precondition for negotiation
• Further development of a ‘grand bargain’ in which the EU offer of June 2006 is developed further to include security guarantees between Israel, Iran and the US.

“The consequences of military action against Iran are not only unpalatable, they are unthinkable. Even according to the worst estimates, Iran is still years away from having a nuclear weapon. There is still time to talk and the Prime Minister must make sure our allies use it,” said Stephen Twigg, Director of the Foreign Policy Centre.

" A military attack on Iran could add yet more human misery to a region where nearly 70 million people are already suffering from the effects of conflict and war*," said Adam Leach, Oxfam GB’s Regional Director for the Middle East.

"I think our decision makers have yet to appreciate the full consequences of a military attack against Iran. As this report shows such an attack would open a Pandora's box. The view held by some in Washington that all diplomatic and political options have been exhausted is a palpable nonsense that needs to be challenged,” said Dr Ali Ansari, Director of the Institute of Iranian Studies at St Andrews University.

*Combined populations of Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Israel

For more information, a copy of the report contact Crisis Action on: 020 7324 4747 / 4748

The Coalition includes: Amicus, Amos Trust, British Muslim Forum, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Foreign Policy Centre, GMB, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Medact, Muslim Council of Britain, Muslim Parliament, Ockenden International, Oxfam, Oxford Research Group, Pax Christi, PCS, People and Planet, Unison.

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30 January 2007

Launch of new coalition: "ENOUGH! : End Israeli Occupation of Palestine"

Actors, politicians and members of human rights, solidarity and peace movements, including Pax Christi, gathered today in Westminster for the launch of a new coalition ENOUGH: End the Israeli Occupation of Palestine. 2007 marks the 40-year anniversary of the Six Day War, in which the Israeli Army took military control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including East Jerusalem. Since that time the government of Israel has built 'settlements' in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and assisted its citizens in setting up homes and businesses using land and resources taken from the Palestinian people. This situation has continued to the current day despite Israel being in violation of international humanitarian law and over 60 UN resolutions. Speaking at the launch Prof Manuel Hassassian, the Palestinian Delegate and a Christian, spoke of the occupation as the longest in modern history and he described it as a common enemy to the long-term security of the people of Israel and Palestine. Another speaker, Yonathan Shapira, a former Israeli pilot, told of his desire to join the nonviolent struggle against occupation - to liberate both Jews and Palestinians from the occupation. He spoke of his love for his country and of the need for pressure within Israel itself, and from the international community, to work for peace and justice in Palestine. The ENOUGH! Coalition has come together to work for peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Members believe that this can only be built on justice, equality and freedom. In order to achieve this goal, governments like the British government must stand up for international law and human rights. The Coalition will organise awareness raising events during the course of the year, a national rally on 9 June 2007 and a lobby of parliament in November. For more information: Pat Gaffney, Pax Christi 020 8203 4884 or ENOUGH!

Actress Miriam Margolyes and Richard Burden MP at Enough! launch in Westminster

Coalition members include: Amicus, Amos Trust, Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group, CAABU, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Friends of Birzeit University, Green Party, ICAHD UK, Interpal, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Jewish Socialist Group, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Muslim Association of Britain, Muslim Council of Britain, Muslim Public Affairs Committee, NUJ, Open Bethlehem, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Palestinian Return Centre, Pax Christi, PCS, Quaker Peace and Social Witness, Trade Union Friends of Palestine, UNISON, War on Want, Welfare Association Back to TOP

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1 January 2007

Pax Christi offers New Year Peace message on Vatican Radio

Pax Christi's General Secretary, Pat Gaffney, was invited to contribute a New Year peace message to Vatican Radio. Text below.

Vatican radio also carried an interview on the theme of World Peace Day with Cardinal Martino and Bishop Malcolm McMahon, National President of the British Section of Pax Christi.

"I have before me the photograph of a little child, running playfully through the billowing folds of a huge rainbow coloured peace banner.  Taken at a peace gathering in Assisi during the past year, this is the image we have chosen in Pax Christi to illustrate Pope Benedict’s World Peace Day message “The Human Person - the Heart of Peace.”  This child, playing in safety and freedom, reminds me that all children, indeed all people, and especially the weakest among us, have a right to life and protection.

Over the Christmas season we see many images of another child, the Christ-child.  Small, beautiful, vulnerable, lovable. We are drawn to protect such life. It makes sense to want to protect such life.   But sometimes the real life of those around us is not so neat, so beautiful or lovable.

Those whose lives are damaged by poverty, domestic violence, armed conflict, prejudice, hatred and fear are seldom beautiful in the eyes of the world, if, indeed they are seen at all.  They become an affront to the culture of celebrity, success and   achievement  that so dominates our world.   So, they may be silenced, hidden and ignored.

In his World Peace Day message, Pope Benedict reminds us that it is when we begin to see and respect the human person – the women, the man, the child before us, however they may appear to us - that we truly begin to build peace in our world.  The needs, the rights, the protection of others becomes the measure of all that is important in building  deep and meaningful relationships.

One of the great insights which our faith and its teachings offer us is the ability to make connections between the personal and the social, the private and the political. So, we challenge the practice of abortion and we also challenge the use of the death penalty. We speak out against the use of torture and we also speak out against the possession and threatened use of weapons of mass destruction.    We reject so-called ‘mercy-killings’ and we also reject structural poverty that degrades thousands of the world’s people.   We strive to be consistent in the way we place the human person at the heart of all the choices and decisions we make in life. 

The image of the Seamless Garment, the  Seamless Cloak - or indeed the rainbow peace banner that flowed around the child in Assisi -  illustrate well this all-enveloping  approach to life.  From the cradle to the grave, from the womb to the tomb, the human person is held and protected by acts of love, acts of justice and acts of peacemaking. 

With these images in mind we begin our New Year - seeking ways of sheltering one another and upholding one another with dignity and in justice.

From the world-wide family of Pax Christi, the international Catholic movement for Peace I wish you all a happy and joy-filled New Year." 

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December 20, 2006

Christmas Message 2006 by HB Msgr. Michel Sabbah, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

The message is addressed mainly to the Christians of Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Cyprus that fall within the jurisdictionof the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The Patriarch states that "our fundamental need is for peace, justice, freedom, and an end to the occupation... Salvation will come from bringing the two peoples together, not from separating them.  In that lies the salvation of the Palestinians and the Israelis, as well as of the entire region.  The two peoples are capable of living together in peace and tranquility.  When that comes about, murders, vengeance, rejection, and extremism will disappear little by little, as they progressively cease to feed on oppression, occupation, poverty, and humiliation."

Read the full message in PDF or RTF format

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December 19, 2006

USA Pax Christi leaders call on President Bush to enact a Christmas ceasefire

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Recognizing the widespread violence engulfing Iraq, national and regional leaders of Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement (www.paxchristiusa.org/), sent a letter today asking President George W. Bush to announce a Christmas ceasefire, halting all military operations on Christmas day—including hostile raids, all special operations and all targeted patrols.

“As conscientious Catholics we are urging this Christmas ceasefire as a way to remember the birth of the Prince of Peace,” said Dr. Rosemarie Pace, Director of Pax Christi Metro New York. Pace suggested that a ceasefire could be seen as a “concrete gesture of hope amidst the spiraling violence.”

The letter calling for a Christmas ceasefire is part of a nationwide campaign focusing on peace in Iraq enacted during the Christian season of Advent by Pax Christi USA. Geared at bringing attention to the failed U.S. policies in Iraq and the need for a new path, the campaign includes public prayer vigils, letter writing campaigns, visits to congressional offices, and peaceful demonstrations. Thousands of Catholics throughout the U.S. are participating in the campaign.

“More than a change of strategy in the way the war in Iraq is conducted, our nation needs a change of heart,” said Dave Robinson, executive director of Pax Christi USA. “The time has passed for the U.S. to demonstrate it can play a positive role in stopping the violence within Iraq through force. By calling for a Christmas ceasefire the Bush administration can send a powerful signal that it is truly seeking a new direction.”

Beyond the gesture of a ceasefire, Pax Christi USA continues to call upon the Bush Administration to bring the troops home, abandon the permanent bases it has erected, increase reconstruction assistance that employs Iraqis, and seek regional solutions to the growing refugee catastrophe.

For information or interview requests of grassroots Pax Christi leaders in your area, contact:
Johnny Zokovitch, Pax Christi USA Communications Director
johnnypcusa@yahoo.com

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08 December 2006

Unconditional forgiveness for Iraqi captors  

Three peace campaigners who were taken hostage say they "unconditionally" forgive their Iraqi captors. Briton Norman Kember and Canadians James Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden, meeting for the first time in London after their ordeal, said: "We unconditionally forgive our captors for abducting and holding us. We have no desire to punish them. Punishment can never restore what was taken from us... The death penalty is an irrevocable judgment. It erases all possibility that those who have harmed others, even seriously, can yet turn to good. We oppose the death penalty." Read more    Watch BBC 

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20 November 2006

Catholic Bishops' Conference of England & Wales calls for decommissioning UK nuclear weapons

"The very existence of nuclear weapons has always posed grave moral questions. Their uniquely destructive power means that they belong in a different category from any other weapons; this has always been recognised in the particular attention with which they have been regarded by the Holy See and by our own Bishops' Conference. In his World Day of Peace message for 2006, Pope Benedict XVI, in pressing for progressive and concerted nuclear disarmament, argues powerfully that the retention of nuclear weapons does not enhance the security of their possessors or the peace of the world.

The United Kingdom is now at a moral and strategic crossroads. Its present nuclear-weapon capability is not expected to be sustainable beyond the early 2020s without major new investment in renewal or replacement. Initial decisions about its continuance need to be taken within the lifetime of the present Parliament, which could extend to 2010.

The Church has always been clear in its teaching about the vital necessity for eventual total nuclear disarmament.   Our judgement is that, by decommissioning its nuclear weapons, the UK now has a unique opportunity to offer the international community an approach to security and legitimate self-defence without the unconscionable threat of nuclear destruction.  At the same time it could give a new impetus to the wider process towards total nuclear disarmament.

We recognise the Government's grave responsibilities in these matters of security, both for our countries and the wider world.  We urge the government to take a long-term view and act with courageous leadership by seeking to make this breakthrough towards total nuclear disarmament."

 20 November 2006

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18 November 2006

• Appointment of New Secretary General for Pax Christi International

  Claudette Antoine Werleigh of Haiti will become the next Secretary General of Pax Christi International, taking office in November 2007. The decision was made at a recent Executive Committee meeting, which took place on 13 and 14 November 2006. Claudette will succeed to Etienne De Jonghe, who will be retiring at the end of 2007. Claudette Werleigh can boast extensive international experience in the fields of peace, justice and reconciliation using non-violent means. She was Vice President and a Member of the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International, from 1992 to 2001. She has been the head of Pax Christi International delegations attending the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna (1993) and visiting Brazil (1994) and Central America (1997) on Pax Christi fact-finding missions. Claudette has a university degree in Law and Economics, as well as a Post Graduate Specialisation in Adult Non-Formal Education. She has previously held a number of different governmental and non-governmental positions. From 1975, as Secretary General of Caritas Haiti, Caribbean Regional Coordinator with Caritas and Member of the Executive Committee of Caritas Internationalis, she has gained extensive experience working within the Catholic Church.

  From August 1990 onwards Mrs. Werleigh became active in public administration and politics in Haiti, as a Minister for Social Affairs and Foreign Affairs (1990 to 1995). Notably, she also served as Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti in 1995 and 1996. Since 1999, Claudette has been the Conflict Transformation Programmes Director of the Life and Peace Institute in Uppsala, Sweden. As such, she leads field activities aimed at facilitating and strengthening local peace building initiatives in war-torn societies such as in the Horn of Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo Brazzaville. Claudette’s work has taken her all over Latin America, to several countries in Asia and Africa, to most countries in Western Europe, especially to conflict areas. Years of teaching and lobbying experience have made her a confident and effective public speaker, building on excellent communication skills. She is bilingual in French and Haitian Creole, fluent in English and Spanish, and has a good understanding of Portuguese. Claudette Werleigh is widely recognized for being a dedicated person. She is inspired by Christian values and spirituality, and has experience in cooperating with people of other faiths. She is also accustomed to working with an international staff with diverse backgrounds, facilitating collaborative action in order to reach common goals.

  
  
• Pax Christi International: Statement on the Status of Jerusalem

At its meeting of 13 - 14 November 2006, the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International, adopted a statement on the question of Jerusalem. A new and concerted effort to reach a definitive agreement that respects and assures the special status of Jerusalem is urgently needed. Unilateral actions should be rejected and international solutions are needed to secure a definitive and just peace for the city and for the two peoples and three religions who are its major stakeholders. The current political and religious status of Jerusalem is unsatisfactory. Pax Christi International is calling upon the United Nations to convene an international conference during which the Palestinian and Israeli governments, along with other international interested parties, will begin negotiations to assure the rights of two peoples and three religions to live together in Jerusalem in harmony, respect, mutual acceptance and cooperation. Representatives of major stakeholder political groups and religions should be involved in the process of establishing a just and durable solution to the Jerusalem question. The statement will be used for further international advocacy. Read the statement in English, in French, and in Spanish

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17 October 2006

Pax Christi joins day of action to close the Defence Export Services Organisation

Pax Christi members from around the country joined more than two hundred protesters in central London in an action to highlight the work of DESO and call for its closure.

DESO is a government department of 500 civil servants dedicated to selling military equipment around the world on behalf of arms companies. It receives government funding, costing the taxpayer around £15 million a year.

Comedian Mark Thomas speaks outside the DESO office.

Quaker group offer their message

Pax Christi member, Fr Martin Newell, wraps 'danger zone' tape around the building

Protesters made a human chain around the building, designating it a 'global danger zone'. Street polls were also taken during the day, to determine if people in London had ever heard of DESO, and to offer information on the work and funding of DESO. This was part of a wider objective to raise awareness of the role of DESO and Britain in the global arms trade. See poll results here

Ealier in the morning, members of Pax Christi, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, SPEAK and CAAT Christian Network gathered around DESO for a prayer vigil.

Comedian and anti-arms trade protestor Mark Thomas joined the demonstration, calling for the DESO office to be closed and for people to turn their skills to socially useful projects.

The event was coordinated by the Campaign Against Arms Trade and FoR. See photos and read more about the day here

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5 October 2006

Challenging Trident: The proper work of religion

At an ecumenical seminar in Central London on 4th October, Douglas Roche, former Canadian parliamentarian and adviser to the Holy See on disarmament issues, asked the question: “Does the UK government have the courage to face the world without nuclear armour?” The seminar, organised by Pax Christi, brought together representatives from Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Quakers and other free-church members, to discuss church responses to the proposed Trident replacement programme. Mr Roche said: "The Trident decision will be a signal to the world whether the government is serious about its commitments or just playing with words to strike an agreeable posture in international meetings… It is the proper work of religion to expose falsehoods, particularly when they impact on the lives of the people in the mammoth way that nuclear weapons do.  Thus Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien of Edinburgh should be commended for speaking out so clearly against the Trident replacement.”  Affirming the consistent teaching of the Catholic Church in opposition to nuclear weapons, he went on to say: “In addressing the Trident issue, Cardinal O’Brien has projected locally what the Holy See is stating universally: 'The Holy See has never countenanced nuclear deterrence as a permanent measure…'” The second speaker, Revd Alan McDonald, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, spoke of the important ecumenical cooperation which is taking place in Scotland and the political challenge to Trident that is so clearly coming from Scotland. He said that we are in a Kairos moment; the issue of Trident replacement should be of concern to all Christians.  Both Douglas Roche and Revd McDonald spoke at a public meeting in Edinburgh the previous evening.  More than 150 people attended the meeting at the Lauriston Jesuit Centre where they also heard Cardinal Keith O’Brien and Gerry Hughes sj. Cardinal O’Brien reaffirmed his call to all men and women of faith to raise their voice for peace. Click here for the full text of Douglas Roche in PDF (needs Acrobat Reader) or Word format

Douglas Roche taking questions from audience in Edinburgh Douglas Roche, Pat Gaffney, Bruce Kent

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2 October 2006

New report reveals global arms industry exploiting major loopholes in arms regulations

The globalisation of the arms industry has opened up major loopholes in all current arms export regulations, allowing sales to human rights abusers and countries under arms embargoes, according to a new report by the Control Arms Campaign (Amnesty International, Oxfam and IANSA).

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