Peace and justice

PEACE & JUSTICE

Lead us from death to life,
from falsehood to truth.
Lead us from despair to hope,
from fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to love,
from war to peace.
Let peace fill our hearts,
our world,
our universe.
Peace, peace, peace.

from Prayers for Peace & Justice

“You cannot claim to worship Jesus in the Tabernacle, if you do not pity Jesus in the slums... It is folly – it is madness – to suppose that you can worship Jesus in the Sacraments and Jesus on the throne of glory, when you are sweating him in the souls and bodies of his children.”
— Bishop Frank Weston at the 1923 Anglo-Catholic Congress

We dedicate this page to the Ordinary Women and Men
who Achieve the Extraordinary
Because they Believe Peace starts with themselves:

Creating a world of peace begins with each of us reaching out in love to broken people in a broken world. Let us be committed to beat our swords into plowshares; to share time, gifts, resources; to touch the leper with tenderness and treat the prisoner with dignity. Often times such quiet heroic acts of selflessness seem too difficult, yet we have numerous men and women who stand as examples to light our way. One such woman whose heart knew darkness, fear, and confusion, yet who turned her corner of the world into hope and love, was Dorothy Day. She was a socialist, author, and co-founder, with Peter Maurin, of the Catholic Worker Movement. “If I have achieved anything in my life,” she once said, “it is because I have not been embarrassed to talk about God.”

For an online biography of Dorothy Day,click here

Another worker for justice and peace is Cesar E. Chavez, a Latino farm worker and civil rights and labor leader; a religious and spiritual figure; a community servant and social entrepreneur; a crusader for nonviolent social change; and an environmentalist and consumer advocate. He led the first successful farm workers union in American history, achieving dignity, respect, fair wages, medical coverage, pension benefits, and humane living conditions for the workers of the field.

To learn more about Cesar Chavez, click here.

A small list of organizations dedicated to creating a world of peace:

Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center
1520 Euclid
Boulder, CO 80302
Tel: 303-444-6981
Mission: Created in the spirit of unconditional nonviolence, RMPJC is dedicated to research, education and action in nonviolence as a way of lifea nd as a means for personal and social change.

Pueblo Action for Peace and Justice
Office for Social Justice,
Diocese of Pueblo
1001 N. Grand Avenue Pueblo, CO 81003
Contact: Larry Howe-Kerr

Amnesty International

Bread for the World

Doctors Without Borders

End the War - Iraq

Environmental Defense

Catholics Against Capital Punishment

Make me the bearer of Your peace,
where my sisters and brothers despair, let me give hope,
where they fall into darkness, let me bring light,
when they lose their way, let me show them truth,
when they are turned away, let me show them welcome,
when they are shunned, let me show them friendship,
when they are beaten and tortured, let me bind their wounds,
when they cry for revenge, let me bring them forgiveness,
when they demand justice, let me teach them mercy,
when they are locked away in silence, let me be their voice.
Let me speak Your words without fear,
Let me bring Your love without prejudice,
Let me give of myself as You gave of Yourself,
that others may live.

The Body of Christ as a Political Pawn
by Diana Flahive

from LeavenDenver.com

reprinted with permission

Again we have not learned from the stories of our past. In Holy Week, with profound liturgical pageantry, we commemorated the story of the crucifixion of Jesus. This story was about how the political and "religious" powers of the time collaborated to destroy a man's life and oppress the rising voices of many common people. This destructive intertwining of the power and influence of the religious and political leaders was not an action of righteousness for the "common good" or the upholding of moral code. It was action for the sake of institutional, personal, and covert agendas. It was a decision to keep the power structures as they were and to keep the common people in line.

During the celebration of the Eucharist, we honor and receive the real presence of the body of Christ. Recently, we heard how certain clerics are proposing/threatening the use of the "body of Christ" as a pawn to be denied those few marked politicians, such as John Kerry, who are deemed by some religious leaders as not adhering to the teachings of the Church. It is offensive to again have Church leaders choose to use this precious gift as a "bargaining piece" to affect the political process of a country. What lack of respect for life - for the real presence of Christ.

When a number of priests were engaged in the disrespect for life and the destruction of the lives of many young people through sexual abuse, many bishops were engaged in the cover-up of such crimes, and most were interested in the need to "move on." At that time, I heard no calls from the ranks to disallow those men from receiving the Eucharist!

As thousands are being killed, maimed, and tortured by our government in Iraq, I have not heard the call for the denial of the Eucharist to those Catholic men and women who are responsible.

Those in political office, who support the death penalty, deny medical assistance to the poor, who do not fight for the rights of the impoverished and "invisible" in our society, in our world, are not being held up to the same bright lights of scrutiny by the Church. I see no consistency in the fight for the "respect for all life."

It is true that abortion is a profound moral issue. However, it should not become the sole standard by which some Church "leaders" evaluate others. Nor do I believe leaders in the Church should tell others how they should vote in an election. Instead of dictates by these leaders, it would be more appropriate to offer opportunities for respectful dialogue on important issues. Then minds and hearts might be changed.

This is reminiscent of the dangerous intertwining of political and religious power throughout history. Are there litmus tests that we Catholics are supposed to be passing in order to be considered faithful? If that is the case - have them clearly laid out. Hold inquisition sessions. In the end, tattoo a sign on the hearts of the people deemed "faithful." Let's stop the innuendos. Openly deny the Eucharist - the bread of life - to those who do not fulfill the personal opinion of Church leaders about what a faithful Catholic is supposed to be.

I defend the right and the need for clergy to be proponents and teachers of moral law. However, they must use that power with humility and deep respect for their awesome influence on the process of the people in a democratic society. We are not a theocracy! Be consistent with the entire gamut of issues for "the protection of human life." Be as consistent and as outspoken regarding the misuse of global wealth and influence that is depriving our world society of "life." And be open to sessions bringing people together who wish to learn, discuss and dialogue.

We, the people of the Church, should not stand by and allow some Church leaders to misrepresent moral teachings, misrepresent their role in a democracy, and misrepresent who we, as Catholics are.

Diana Flahive, Leven Issue June/July 2004, reprinted with permission

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