News & Reports

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

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"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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28 September 2006 Norman Kember - six months after... Visiting Iraq with a Christian Peacemaker team, 74 year old Norman Kember was taken hostage. In the first TV interview since his release, he talks to BBC's Hardtalk. Click here to watch the interview.

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17 July 2006

Pax Christi call to end violence and punishment in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon

1.  Calls on Israel to cease immediately its indiscriminate assault on the people of Lebanon, and in the near future, to open talks with Palestinian representatives on the equitable and just resolution of the long-running conflict with Palestine.  The continuing Administrative Detention of hundreds of Palestinian citizens and the collective punishment of the Palestinian people is at the root of the ongoing violence against the people of Israel.

2.  Calls on Hizbollah and Hamas, or whoever hold them, to release at once the captured Israeli soldiers, held in violation of international law, and to cease immediately their indiscriminate  rocket attacks on the people of Israel.

3.  We affirm the message of Pope Benedict XVI, “neither terrorist acts nor reprisals, especially when they entail tragic consequences for the civilian population, can be justified,… by such paths, as bitter experience shows, positive results are not achieved."

4.  Calls on all people of faith to pray that those everywhere, including those in the government of our country, who take the path of violence, will come to see that violence solves no problems.  It only generates more violence and creates deeper divisions between communities.

 ‘Peace is the fruit of anxious daily care to see that everyone lives in the justice that God intends’. (Pope Paul VI Populorum Progressio 1967)

See also Letters from Lebanon

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18 June 2006

Pax Christi Annual General meeting - Call to challenge replacement of Trident

At its Annual General meeting in Birmingham on 17th June, the UK section of Pax Christi, the International Catholic Peace Movement, urged its members to take action now to counter the proposed government plans to upgrade and replace the Trident nuclear weapon system. This campaign has the support of Bishop Malcolm McMahon, National President of Pax Christi.

A document entitled Pax Christi Response to Trident (PDF format - needs Acrobat Reader) was launched at the meeting: “Trident is immoral, illegal and ineffective for our age. Possession and threatened use of such weapons of mass destruction is an affront to life and a gross misuse of power and status in a fragile world.  Nuclear weapons have not and will not bring us security, rather the opposite: they are likely to cause animosity and resentment.”   The meeting reaffirmed the Easter message of Cardinal Keith O’Brien calling for Christian people to raise their voices on this issue and  “demand that these weapons of mass destruction be replaced, but not with more weapons. Rather, replace Trident, as the Holy Father has said, with projects that bring life to the poor.” Pax Christi's document states that a clear message needs to be put to the British Government, urging that it take a lead at this time by not going ahead with a replacement programme and making a commitment to decommission existing nuclear weapons systems.  The Government, it says, should build on such an act of disarmament by committing itself to invest resources, skills and ingenuity in models of security that meet human needs and create just relationships. There could be no better way to fulfil our obligation to Make Poverty History. Those present also heard from Veronica Zundell, a writer and theologian from the Mennonite community.  She spoke of the theology behind the Christian  Peacemaker Teams, the group with whom Norman Kember visited Iraq before his kidnap last October.  It is a theology that encourages its members to embrace the cross and become reconciling people in the world.  The vision for the CPT project, she explained,  was influenced by US Theologian Ronald Sider who in 1984 put out a call for 100,000 peaceworkers to be trained to work in areas of conflict. That challenge still stands...	Pax Christi Chair, Stewart Hemsley, speaker Veronica Zundell and National President, Bishop Malcolm McMahon
	Promoting Peace Packs
	Valerie Flessati, Pax Christi editor, Pat Gaffney, General Secretary, with Stewart Hemsley

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11 April 2006

Easter Homily by Card. Keith Patrick O'Brien

A call to destroy Trident nuclear weapons - PDF format (needs Acrobat Reader)

11 April 2006

Catholic Bishops release statement on Trident

Following the meeting last week of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, the following statement on the Trident Nuclear Weapons System has been agreed by Scotland's eight Catholic Bishops.

BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF SCOTLAND

STATEMENT ON TRIDENT – April 11, 2006

The Bishops of Scotland welcome the Prime Minister’s recent comment that there should be the “fullest possible” public debate on the Trident nuclear missile system. The Catholic Church has clear and consistent teaching on nuclear weapons. The use of weapons of mass destruction would be a crime against God and against humanity it must never happen.

The Church teaches that it is immoral to use weapons of mass destruction in an act of war: “Any act of war aimed indiscriminately at the destruction of entire cities or extensive areas along with their population is a crime against God and man himself. It merits unequivocal and unhesitating condemnation.” (1)

Equally, storing and accumulating such weapons gives rise to strong moral reservations. “The arms race does not ensure peace. Far from eliminating the causes of war, it risks aggravating them. “ (2)

In a widely endorsed statement released in 1982 the Bishops of Scotland said:

“We are convinced, however, that if it is immoral to use these weapons it is also immoral to threaten their use. Some argue that the threat can be justified as the lesser of two evils. The crux of the problem is whether in any foreseeable circumstances a policy of self-defence based on the use or even the threat of use of these weapons of terrible destructiveness can ever be morally justified.”

In January of this year, Pope Benedict XVI stated clearly, “In a nuclear war there would be no victors, only victims”. He called on those countries in possession of nuclear weapons to “strive for a progressive and concerted nuclear disarmament.”

In repeating our previous statement, and endorsing the statements from the Pope, we urge the Government of the United Kingdom not to invest in a replacement for the Trident system and to begin the process of decommissioning these weapons with the intention of diverting the sums spent on nuclear weaponry to programs of aid and development.

(1) VATICAN II, Gaudium et Spes 80; cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church 2314
(2) Catechism of the Catholic Church 2315

For more information contact: Peter Kearney, Director Catholic Media Office, 5 St. Vincent Place, Glasgow G1 2DH
0141 221 1168 - pk@scmo.org - www.scmo.org

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24 March 2006

• Norman Kember’s Release Welcomed by British Muslims
  
  "The Muslim Council of Britain welcomes the release today of the British peace activist, Norman Kember, and his two Canadian colleagues, in Iraq.
  Norman Kember is a man who cares deeply for the people of Iraq and his kidnap and detention was completely unjustifiable. Our faith of Islam holds in great esteem the peaceful bridge-building work that Mr Kember was involved in. We are delighted for him and his family that he has been released unharmed. As much as we all rejoice at the safe release of Norman Kember and his colleagues, we continue to witness scores of innocent deaths on a daily basis which causes immense pain to the families of innocent victims. It is the responsibility of the international community, with the support of the Iraqi government and its people, to bring stability and peace to the country. Unfortunately, the terrible devastation unleashed by the US/UK invasion of Iraq on the people of that country continues unabated - said Sir Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary-General of the MCB. The MCB commends the work of all those who contributed to the efforts to secure Mr. Kember's release."
  
  Notes to Editors:
  The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK's representative Muslim umbrella body with over 400 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools.
  For further information please contact: The Muslim Council of Britain, Boardman House, 64 Broadway, Stratford, London E15 1NT.
  
  
• NCC on Christian Peacemakers: joy and still grief
  
  Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches USA expresses thanks for release of Christian Peacemakers, and thanks Council on American Islamic Relations for support. The Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar heads the oldest ecumenical Christian association in the United States. It consists of 35 member churches from the Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox traditions. Those communions represent 100,000 congregations with 45 million member.
  
  Statement by Bob Edgar on release of the Christian Peacemaking Team members:
  
  We lift up prayers of thanksgiving for the rescue of our Christian brothers, Norman Kember, James Loney and Harmeet Sooden. We are also thankful for the courageous men and women of Coalition and Iraqi forces who accomplished this rescue without violence. Our joy is boundless and we greet God's mercy with humility and awe.
  
  Yet in the midst of this celebration, we continue to grieve for Tom Fox, the fourth Christian Peacemaker captured by terrorists in Iraq. Tom was brutally tortured and killed by his abductors, who undoubtedly singled him out because he was an American. But Tom was no different than his three friends -- a devoted Christian who stood for peace and was an understanding advocate of millions who felt the same bitterness as his murderers.
  
  Our prayers also continue for the safety of other gentle and courageous sisters and brothers who stand for peace and God's love around the world. The Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq, Africa, Colombia and Palestine, the World Council of Churches' Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel, and others routinely go to the world's trouble spots to place themselves between looming danger and vulnerable innocents. We thank God for those who risk their lives to remind the world that the realm of God is peaceful and just. As Jesus said, greater love has no one.
  
  Statement by Bob Edgar on Muslim support for endangered Christians:
  
  The National Council of Churches USA stands with other persons of faith and good will in calling upon the government of Afghanistan to release Abdul Rahman, who faces the death penalty for converting from Islam to Christianity.
  
  We also express our deepest thanks to Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and other Muslim groups who have called for Abdul Rahman's release. In the post-9/11 world, CAIR has never hesitated to speak words of conscience and compassion based on their understanding of the Qur'an. "Truth stands out clear from error," CAIR said recently, quoting Qur'an 2:256. "Therefore, whoever rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks."
  
  CAIR was among the first to call for the release of the Christian Peacemaker Team members in Iraq, they were among the first to urge freedom for captured journalist Jill Carroll and they have consistently spoken words of healing to a world torn by sectarian divisions. Their partnership is a model of interfaith understanding and dialogue. Their rejection of evil and trust in God is a bond we shall forever share.

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23 March 2006

Joy and Thanksgiving as Christian Peacemakers released in Baghdad

FREE AT LAST!

James Loney (Canada)

Norman Kember (UK)

Harmeet Singh Sooden (Canada)

"It is with joy and relief that we heard today of the release of Norman Kember, James Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden in Baghdad.

We give thanks for their safety and for the fact that no person was harmed during their release. We remember and pray for the family of Tom Fox who was held with our friends until his murder on 10th March. We know that the work of the Christian Peacemaker Teams, with their commitment to the people of Iraq and in particular Iraqi detainees will continue and we greatly value this work.

Since our friends were taken on 26th November 2005, there has been an outpouring of goodwill, prayer and solidarity from people of all faiths in the UK and beyond and of much valued cooperation with member of the Muslim community. This has been one of the positive outcomes of this sad and difficult experience. It shows that many people have understood the nature of their peace-work and presence in Iraq and of the need to continue to speak up and witness for peace for the Iraqi people.

We hope that our friends will be given the time and space they need to be reunited with their families and come to terms with their experience. We look forward to the time when we can celebrate with Norman and his family."

Pax Christi
020 8203 4884

 

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11 March 2006

The British Section of Pax Christi mourns the death of Tom Fox, Christian Peacemaker Team member found murdered in Iraq today. This is a shock and a tragedy. A message of condolence was sent to the Christian Peacemaker Team in the USA and to the family of Tom Fox. It reads:

Dear Christian Peacemaker Team friends, it was with great sadness that today we heard the news of the death of Tom Fox. These must be very difficult times for you all and we in Pax Christi UK hope that you and the family of Tom find the strength and love you need to carry you through your loss. Since our friends were abducted we have been holding weekly vigils in London and around the country - trying to be a sign of hope and witness to the strength and power of nonviolent love in action - so wonderfully lived out by our friends in their commitment to the people of Iraq. These brave men unite people of faith around the world in a common search to discover the nonviolent path to peace in Iraq and beyond. Know that you and the family of Tom are all held in our thoughts and prayers. In solidarity, peace and friendship. Pat Gaffney General Secretary

RIP Iraq, 10 March 2006 "Why are we here? We are here to root out all aspects of dehumanisation that exist within us. We are here to stand with those being dehumanised by oppressors and stand firm against that dehumanisation." Reflections from Tom Fox before his abduction in November 2005

We urge our members and others throughout the country to continue to pray and hold public vigils for Norman, Harmeet and James who are still being held hostage in Iraq . At the same time, we must remember the daily violence and abuse that plagues the lives of the ordinary people of Iraq and do all we can to help bring peace with justice to the region.

Pax Christi UK

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Monday 6 March 2006

Vigils to mark 100 days since abduction of Christian Peacemakers in Iraq

People of faith from around the country gathered on Sunday 5th March to mark the 100th day since Norman Kember, James Loney, Tom Fox and Harmeet Singh Sooden were taken hostage in Iraq. At a vigil in Trafalgar Square, London, at which more than one hundred people participated, prayers were led by Rev Nagase a Buddhist monk from the London Peace Pagoda, from Dr Daud Abdullah of the Muslim Council of Britain and Rev John Johansenberg, Chair of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. A message from Pat Kember, wife of Norman Kember, thanking people for their support and encouragement, was also read. The London vigil was intended to be a sign of hope that the Christian Peacemakers would soon be released. 100 paper doves were held high during a time of silence as a symbol of that hope. Vigils will continue in Trafalgar Square each Wednesday between 6.00pm and 7.00pm. Other vigils were held in Oxford, Cambridge, Peterborough, Derby and Nottingham and on Saturday 4th March Baptist Churches around the country also held a chain of vigils for the men.

Vigil in Trafalgar Square

Message from Pat Kember, wife of Norman Kember Norman has always been involved in peace-making activities ever since he chose to do hospital work instead of national service. He went with a peace team to support those who were suffering in Iraq. On November 26th he and Tom, James and Harmeet were taken as hostages. Two videos have been shown and two dead-lines have passed. It has been a traumatic time for me and the family but we have been wonderfully supported by our friends, byu church people of all denominations, by people of other faiths, including Muslims and by hundreds of well-wishers worldwide. I'd like to thank everyone who is taking the time and trouble to pray and to send cards, letters and flowers. Watch Skynews report on the vigil held in London

Thursday 2 March

Christians take their faith to the Ministry of Defence in London - 1st March, Ash Wednesday 2006

More than seventy people braved freezing weather conditions to gather at the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall, London, on 1st March, Ash Wednesday to challenge the morality and legality of government policy on nuclear weapons. Members of Catholic Peace Action and Pax Christi have been gathering in this way since 1984 to urge the government to build security through a commitment to justice and actions that recognise the dignity of each person rather than through fear and the strength of nuclear arms. Early in the morning, members of Catholic Peace Action and the London Catholic Worker prayed and marked the building with blessed ash. They returned to join others in a liturgy which began in Embankment Gardens and continued at the Old War Office and the Ministry of Defence. The liturgy, based on the passon and crucifixion of Christ, incorporated traditional symbols of Ash Wednesday, ash and charcoal. Contemporary facts and readings were used to match with scripture as a way of witnessing to the love of God in the face of violence and cruelty in our world. There is an even greater urgency to challenge nuclear weapons this year as the Government is actively planning to develop and deploy another generation of British nuclear weapons after the existing Trident submarine system is decommissioned. This move is in opposition to our commitment under the Non-Proliferation Treaty "to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament…" (Art.VI) Writing in his World Peace Day message in January of this year Pope Benedict XVI said: "What can be said about those governments which count on nuclear arms as a means of ensuring the security of their 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 be no victors, only victims. The truth of peace requires that all agree to change their course by clear and firm decisions, and strive for a progressive and concerted nuclear disarmament." These words were used as part of the liturgy on Ash Wednesday. Click here to download the Liturgy booklet (PDF format).

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Monday 6 February

Christian and Muslim religious leaders presented an open letter of concern for the four Christian Peacemaker Team hostages held in Iraq since 26 November 2005 and for the thousands of Iraqis also held without charge or trial

Bruce Kent, a vice-president of Pax Christi, today presented an open letter signed by 45 Christian and Muslim religious leaders expressing concern for the four Christian Peacemaker Team hostages held in Iraq since 26 November 2005 and for the thousands of Iraqis also held without charge or trial since the war with Iraq began almost three years ago. It states: "The practice of detention without charge, sometimes exacerbated by torture and abuse, cannot be allowed to continue as it heightens the level of fear and feeds into a terrible cycle of violence. Just as we are concerned for our brothers with Christian Peacemaker Teams we are also concerned for Iraqi detainees and for their families. We long for true peace to be restored to the people of Iraq and we ask our government to do all it can to secure this peace. This must include: - clear condemnation of detention without charge and the abuse of prisoners - accountability on the part of all UK military personnel for their treatment of prisoners and of the Iraqi people - work with the Iraqi authorities to ensure that the highest United Nations human rights standards of treatment and due process for detainees are met."
Mr Anas Altikriti, former President of the Muslim Association of Britain who visited Baghdad in December on behalf of the hostages, said that it was humbling to be put in a position of trying to secure the release of the men. He spoke of his hope since the last video in January which set no fixed deadline and he said that if the abductors are sincere people they will see that the best thing to do for Iraq is to release the hostages. He also spoke of the achievements in Muslim-Christian co-operation over the release of the men which has seen a coming together of a unity of faith and a sharing of the essence of humanity. The Rev John Rackley, Past President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland and a personal friend of Norman Kember, said that his captors had nothing to fear from Norman. He went to Iraq with open hands to see for himself what was happening to the people of Iraq and now his hands are bound.
The message was supported by Pat Kember, wife of Norman Kember: I am happy to endorse this message and appeal. All our adult lives Norman and I have actively supported a variety of peace groups. We should like to see our country lead by the example of overcoming evil with mercy and by serving the suffering people of Iraq . In this way, we believe that peace is possible.

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25 January 2006

Vigils remember thousands of Iraqis held without trial and Christian Peacemakers held since November 2005

It is more than two months since Norman Kember, Harmeet Singh Sooden, Tom Fox and James Loney were kidnapped in Iraq. Nothing has been heard about the men since 8th December 2005 when the group holding them, the Swords of Truth Brigade threatened to kill them unless all Iraqi detainees were released.

A vigil will be held in Trafalgar Square, London between 6 -7 pm on Thursday, 26th January. The vigil will remind people that there are many innocent people detained without charge or trial in Iraq, including the four members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams. The call is for the release of innocent Iraqis as well as the release of Norman, Harmeet, Tom and James.

Earlier this week, Church leaders in the United States, including Bishop Gabino Zalva of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Los Angeles, Rev Rob Edgar of the National Council of Churches and Rev Roy Medley, American Baptist Churches in the USA, supported by Michel Sabbah, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, issued a letter to President Bush and the US Congress in which they state:

“ We know that thousands of Iraqis have been held without charge since the war in Iraq began almost three years ago. Just as we fear for the safety of our Christian Peacemakers, we know that the Iraqi families of those detainees are also afraid. Their fears multiply when there are no reports of abuse of detainees, whether by Iraqi or U.S forces. We believe there can be no end to the conflict in the Middle East so long as this practice continues. Detention without charge is a practice that cannot be allowed to continue, for it simply heightens the level of fear, and in our world today fear too often leads to further violence… We continue to pray for the safety and release of our brothers with Christian Peacemaker Teams. We are grateful for the thousands of Muslims, in our own country and across the globe, who have taken some risk to denounce the kidnapping of these volunteers, and who remain steadfast in their call for peace. ”

Click here for the full text

For more information contact: Pax Christi 0208 203 4884 or Fellowship of Reconciliation 01865 748 796.

Similar vigils continue around the country during the weeks ahead:

Vigil held for peaceworkers hostages in Iraq

Members of Pax Christi and the Fellowship of Reconciliation gathered in Trafalgar Square, London, on Saturday 7 January to hold a vigil for abducted peace activist Norman Kember.

Mr Kember was kidnapped with three other men, members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq on 26 November. The vigil was held to recall their 42 days of captivity. Nothing has been heard of the men since 8th December 2005. Mr Kember is a trustee of the Christian Peace Education Fund, set up by Pax Christi in 1984 to support peace education initiatives.

Pax Christi and the Fellowship of Reconciliation have been holding vigils in Central London every 10 days since the men were taken. They believe it is important to keep the plight of the men on the public and media agenda. Another vigil was held in Birmingham city centre on 7th January.

Pat Gaffney, General Secretary of Pax Christi, has kept in contact with Pat Kember, the wife of Norman. She said that Mrs Kember is very grateful for all of the messages of support she has received from individuals, parishes and schools around the country.

If the men are not released before, the next vigil will take place on Thursday, 26th January Venue: London - At the North End of Trafalgar Square, opposite St Martin in the Fields Time: 6.00pm - 7.00pm The 26th Jan marks two months since Norman,Tom, James and Harmeet have been abducted. For more information contact Pat Gaffney, Pax Christi - tel 020 82034884

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28 December 2005

Pax Christi Chairperson, Stewart Hemsley together with others, including members of London Catholic Worker, on the feast of the Holy Innocents held a vigil outside 10 Downing Street with the reading of some names of those killed in the war with Iraq. In doing so, they challenged the law preventing actions or demonstrations taking place within the new 'designated' security area of London, introduced as part of the anti-terror legislation.
Click on the following link to see the BBC's photo and article reporting the event.

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20 December 2005

The following is the reflection offered by Pat Gaffney, General Secretary of Pax Christi UK, at Vatican Radio for Christmas 2005:

"This year my sense of the waiting in Advent, and that of many other Pax Christi people around the world, has been more focused than ever before.

A good friend of mine, Norman Kember is being held hostage with three other men, Tom Fox, Harmeet Singh Sooden and James Loney, in Iraq . They are all part of the Christian Peacemaker Teams, there to monitor human rights and see first-hand the consequence of the war on the population of Iraq .

With people of good will around the world, we have been praying and keeping vigil for friends, for their families and their captors. Our vigils and prayers are an attempt to 'wait' with them, to remember them. We also remember those who hold them at this time and hope that they hear the message of peace which the men bring to Iraq . We vigil and witness as a reminder of the on-going challenge to do all we can to bring peace and justice to the people of the Middle East and Iraq in particular.

Since the start of the so-called War on Terror, hundreds of people have been detained and held captive, often treated in the most in- human of ways. When we hear the words Guantanamo or Abu Graib, images of shackles, blindfolds and worse come to mind.

Some have said that the global ban on torture and the civil liberties of many communities have become a casualty of the war on terror. Our faith and hope in the goodness of humanity can also become a casualty of this war when we see acts of injustice and violence carried out in the name of security and freedom.

We must challenge such actions. As we remember the grave damage to relationships between peoples that are created through war and violence, we must at this time of hope and expectation re-awaken our trust in God who alone is our security and peace.

This Christmas I pray that all those held captive will be remembered in our prayers. The scriptures tell us that the God we await will take pity on those in distress and will remove fear from our lands. We too must play our part in this project. As we receive the Peace of Christ this Christmas we must, in the words of the song, reach out a hand and take the hand of our brother, our sister, remembering that they have an honoured place before God, a place where they will stand in dignity and grace."

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15 December 2005

Twenty-two Catholic activists protest near Guantanamo

American anti-torture activists have prayed and fasted for a third day near the US naval base at Guantanamo in eastern Cuba, in protest against the treatment of terror suspects held there. It was the first demonstration allowed by Cuba near the perimeter of the US military enclave where 500 suspected members of al-Qaida and Taliban fighters have been held without trial for more than three years.

Twenty-two Catholic activists of the Witness Against Torture group, including a nun and a priest, have camped out since Monday at a Cuban military checkpoint 8km from the US base, which is as close as Cuba had allowed them to get.

(READ more ... or LISTEN to the participants' witness)

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12 December 2005

British Cardinal joins prayers for Iraq Captives' Release

In a message to Pat Gaffney, General Secretary of Pax Christi UK, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor of Westminster stated:

"Dear Pat, I want to unite my prayers to your as you remember in your vigil the four members of Christian Peacemaker Teams being held hostage in Iraq. I want the families of Norman, Tom, Harmeet and James to know that we are thinking of them, and praying, too, that the hearts of those who hold them be converted to the cause of peace and love. I plead with their captors to have mercy, as God, is merciful, and to release them."

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7 December 2005

Call by Pat Gaffney for creation of a ‘Culture of Christian Citizenship'

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3 December 2005

Patriarch of Jerusalem pleads for release of Iraq hostages

Message from H.B. Michel Sabbah President Pax Christi International Brussels, 3 December 2005 As International President of Pax Christi I wish to add my voice to those pleading for the lives of Norman Kember, Tom Fox, Harmeet Singh Sooden and James Loney. They are men of peace. They went to Iraq to witness to peace, to learn of the suffering of Iraq, to be in solidarity with the people of Iraq. They are friends, not enemies, of the people of Iraq. In mercy and justice I urge those who are holding these men to release them as soon as possible. As a movement of peace, reconciliation and non-violence, Pax Christi supports the work of the Christian Peacemaker Teams who have been present in Palestine and Iraq for several years. We value their role in supporting communities and providing first-hand, independent reports from the region. +His Beatitude Michel Sabbah Patriarch of Jerusalem. President Pax Christi International

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1 December 2005

WCC Call for immediate release of peace workers in Iraq

The World Council of Churches (WCC) called today for the immediate release of four peace-workers kidnapped in Iraq. In a statement signed by Peter Weiderud, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, the WCC asked the government of Iraq to undertake whatever steps are necessary to secure the safe release of the four members of the Christian Peacemaker Team.

"Their prolonged captivity is not in any one's interest and is likely to further embitter and polarize Iraqi society, causing anger and frustration," the statement affirms. Recalling the Council's assessment of the war on Iraq as being "immoral, illegal and ill-advised," the statement says organizations and people working today in Iraq to bring about peace and reconciliation need "encouragement and support".

> Full text of the statement follows:

WCC CALLS FOR RELEASE OF PEACE WORKERS IN IRAQ

The World Council of Churches is deeply distressed at the kidnapping of four members of the Christian Peacemaker Team in Iraq. The four peace workers [are] Tom Fox (USA), Norman Kember (UK), James Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden (Canada). All four were engaged in work for the Christian Peacemaker Teams, a volunteer organization that has a history of sending teams to situations of conflicts and crisis zones around the world.

The World Council of Churches since its inception in 1948 has clearly spoken out against war and violence and has always called for dialogue and engagement to settle disputes and disagreements. The Council in March 2003 spoke out on the war on Iraq as being immoral, illegal and ill-advised.

Those organizations and their staff who are working in Iraq to bring about peace and reconciliation and for protection of civilians need our encouragement and support. These peacemakers are undertaking this work at great risk to their personal safety and security. In situations of conflicts like Iraq, churches are called to seek peace and pursue it. Efforts therefore need to be made by those concerned about human life to intensify initiatives for active non-violence and peace building to resolve conflicts.

The kidnappings have caused immense pain, suffering and anxiety amongst the families and friends of those held captive. Their prolonged captivity is not in anyone's interest and is likely to further embitter and polarize Iraqi society, causing anger and frustration. We appeal on humanitarian grounds to those holding them captive to ensure that while under captivity they are treated well and looked after.

The World Council of Churches calls on those responsible for the kidnappings to immediately release all four peace workers so that they can join their families and loved ones. The Council also calls on the government of Iraq to undertake the steps necessary to secure their safe release.