TASSC | PAX CHRISTI USA

by Scott Wright
Pax Christi USA National Council member

Gathering for the 15th year in a row, TASSC International convened survivors of torture from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas for its annual Survivors Week in Washington DC commemorating the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on June 26.

As in years past, the week culminated in an inspiring 12-hour vigil in front of the White House, led by TASSC members Dilkhwaz Ahmed and Anthonly Ibeagha.

“This year’s Survivor Week was one of the most moving and inspiring weeks we have done,” said Demissie Abebe, director of the Torture Abolition and Survivor Support Coalition (TASSC International).

“When you see so many new survivors and old working together to prepare the vigil, constructing the stage and the program, it really gives me hope that survivors together can do so much to end torture and empower one another. At the same time, we get discouraged when we see so many survivors from the Horn of Africa who continue to flee torture and seek asylum in the U.S.”

For several years now, many human rights and faith-based organizations have joined together to commemorate June as “Torture Awareness Month.” The National Consortium of Torture Treatment Centers estimates there are more than 500,000 survivors of torture living in the U.S., and as many as 50,000 living in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area…

Click here to read the entire article.

Compiled by Johnny Zokovitch

Each month, “On The Line” features news items and announcements from around the nation featuring Pax Christi members, local groups, regions and partners. These are gleaned from articles in local newspapers, websites, magazines, and elsewhere.

PAX CHRISTI BURLINGTON CO-FOUNDER – PRESENTE! Marguerite Corliss Hayes, better known as Marmete, one of the founding members of Pax Christi Burlington in Vermont, passed away on June 17 after a courageous 3-year battle with cancer. Sr. Miriam Ward, her close friend and care-giver was at her side. Marmete taught religious education and spoke at parishes across Vermont about religious customs in the home. She was inspired by Dorothy Day, the Catholic Worker and the Berrigan brothers, and had a lifelong journey working for peace and justice. In 1981, she cofounded a new chapter of Pax Christi in Burlington, promoting peace and justice and addressing issues such as violence, nuclear weapons, oppression in Central America, the U.S.-led wars in Iraq, and the School of the Americas. You can read more about Marmete from her obituary and the eulogy given at her funeral: http://paxchristiusa.org/2012/07/10/obituary-marmete-hayes-co-founder-of-pax-christi-burlington-vermont/

Marmete Hayes, co-founder of Pax Christi Burlington (VT)

PAX CHRISTI METRO DC-BALTIMORE CHAIR’S REFLECTION FOR TORTURE SURVIVORS WEEK: “Hello, my name is Bob More, and I’m the Chairperson of Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore, which is the regional affiliate of Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement. (‘Pax Christi’ is Latin for ‘the peace of Christ.’) We are honored to be partners with TASSC in the vital work of abolishing torture and holding accountable those who authorize it. We bring greetings of peace and solidarity to TASSC members and supporters as you conclude your annual Torture Survivors Week with this vigil in Lafayette Park. Two weeks ago, Catholic Christians around the world celebrated the feast of Corpus Christi, which is Latin for ‘the body of Christ.’ Corpus Christi holds great significance for us as Christians, on three main levels…” To read the entire reflection, click here: http://www.paxchristimetrodc.org/2012/06/27/reflection-for-tassc-survivor-week-vigil/

Justice for Janitors campaign in Houston

Pax Christi Houston has been very supportive of the Justice for Janitors campaign for a livable wage in Houston.

PAX CHRISTI MEMPHIS LOSES LONG-TIME MEMBER FR. JOHN VALENTINE ATKINSON: “We are sad to report the death of longtime Pax Christi Memphis member Fr. John Atkinson, on the morning of June 7, 2012. Fr. John passed peacefully after an extended illness. He has been visited by many of his loving friends in the past few days. He will be fondly remembered by his Pax Christi friends and by all those whom he served as priest,” stated the PC-Memphis website.

PAX CHRISTI’S FIRST PEACE AMBASSADOR, REV. JIM GOWER: “Jim Gower—the Rev. James Manley Gower—should be remembered by Pax Christi USA before he is altogether gone from us. Jim, 90, now resides in a nursing home, suffering dementia. Jim, a direct descendant of the ‘noble Gower,’ the medieval poet celebrated by Shakespeare, World War II Navy veteran, and long-time Portland, ME, diocesan priest, should be remembered as an exemplary witness, in Maine and nationwide, to the nonviolent Jesus and to the priest in service to his community. Remembered throughout the country because his recognition of the centrality of peace in the Gospel and alarm at the madness of mutually assured nuclear destruction occasioned him becoming, after Dorothy Day–the perpetual peace journeyer, the first PCUSA peace ambassador. Shortly after his discovery of Pax in England and Pax Christi’s foundation here, in the early 80s, Jim met a need of the fledgling PCUSA movement. He took a two-year leave of absence and visited any parish, school, or seminary anywhere that would give him a hearing about Pax Christi as an instrument of peacemaking. He made two coast to coast to coast circuits, clocking 25,000 miles, living hand to mouth, asking only gas money to the next stop. Years after, early Pax Christi members would ask anyone from Maine if they knew Jim…” Read the entire article at http://paxchristiusa.org/2012/06/27/news-rev-jim-gower-the-first-ambassador-of-peace-for-pax-christi-usa/

PAX CHRISTI STATEN ISLAND (NY) LEADS DOROTHY DAY PILGRIMAGE: “The 20th Annual Pax Christi Dorothy Day Pilgrimage was held June 16 in Pleasant Plains. Participants started at the office of Resurrection Cemetery in Pleasant Plains, where Ms. Day is buried, and proceeded to the former Spanish Camp, where Ms. Day’s cottage once stood, walking on the beach as she did. The final stop was at Our Lady Help of Christians R.C. Church in Tottenville, where Ms. Day and her daughter were baptized…” Read the article announcing the pilgrimage here: http://www.silive.com/worship/2012/06/remembering_dorothy_day.html

PC Palm Beach members participated in a solidarity prayer vigil & procession outside the Cathedral of the Diocese of Palm Beach in Palm Beach Gardens in May.

PAX CHRISTI USA HIRES NEW DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS: Pax Christi USA announced that Sr. Anne-Louise Nadeau, SNDdeN has joined the national staff as the Director of Programs. Sr. Nadeau’s responsibilities will include developing, implementing and overseeing the programs of Pax Christi USA related to its primary initiative areas of the spirituality of non-violence and peacemaking; disarmament, demilitarization and reconciliation with justice; economic and interracial justice in the United States; and human rights and global restoration.“Pax Christi USA is delighted to welcome Sr. Anne-Louise Nadeau, SNDdeN, to our national staff. As Director of Programs, Sister brings her talents and skills to assist PCUSA in the implementation of national programs based on its priority initiatives,” stated Sr. Patricia Chappell, SNDdeN, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA. Read the entire announcement here: http://paxchristiusa.org/2012/07/05/news-sister-of-notre-dame-de-namur-joins-pax-christi-usa-as-director-of-programs/

Upcoming Events:

July 1-August 9 – Forty Day Fast for the Truth of Gospel Nonviolence, http://lifeofanunorsister.blogspot.com/2012/07/forty-day-fast-for-truth-of-gospel.html
July 18-21 – National Black Catholic Congress in Indianapolis, visit http://www.nbccongress.org/congress-xi/default.asp
July 28 – Regional dialogue with PCUSA national leadership, local groups and members in St. Louis: http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/
August 4-6 – Pax Christi New Mexico with other groups invites you to participate in Nuke Free Now, a weekend event Aug. 4-6^th in Santa Fe and Los Alamos , N.M. Please see www.nukefreenow.org for complete information.
August 5-9 – Faith and Resistance Retreat in Washington, D.C., commemorating the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; contact Art Laffin at artlaffin@hotmail.com for more information

Quicklinks:

Pax Christi Central Seattle will be starting the Just Peacemaking module from PCUSA and JustFaith Ministries in August. Contact pc.centralseattle@gmail.com for more information … Pax Christi Indianapolis member Fran Quigley will be speaking on “What is a Peaceful Society?” on August 4 at Veterans for Peace meeting. Contact VFPindianapolis@gmail.com for more info … Pax Christi New Orleans member Kevin Cahalan spoke on July 14 at the Gillespie Memorial Community Breakfast … Beth Begley of Pax Christi Metro New York and the Pax Christi rep to the UN sent us this video on the Arms Trade Treaty … Pax Christi Long Island started this petition in support of the LCWR … Welcome to the new Pax Christi local group started in Prescott, AZ … Art Laffin of the Dorothy Day CW in DC did an excellent prayer service on ending the use of drones … Pax Christi Reno (NV) hosted a Labyrinth Walk and Candlelight Vigil on June 24^th to commemorate the 15th Annual United Nations International Day in Support of Torture Victims and Survivors … See more local and regional updates in the summer edition of The Peace Current …