Tag Archives: Tom Cordaro

ON THE LINE: May edition features breaking news on Transformation Now Plowshares, new pope reflection, and more

Posted on May 9, 2013 | Comments Off

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.

JURY FINDS TRANSFORM NOW PLOWSHARES GUILTY: (from the AP story) “An 83-year-old nun and two fellow protesters were convicted Wednesday of interfering with national security when they broke into a nuclear weapons facility in Tennessee and defaced a uranium processing plant. It took a jury about 2 ½ hours to find the three protesters guilty of a charge of sabotaging the plant and second charge of damaging federal property in July the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge in July. Defense attorneys said in closing arguments that federal prosecutors had overreached in the charges because of the embarrassment caused by the break-in. ‘The shortcomings in security at one of the most dangerous places on the planet have embarrassed a lot of people,’ said Francis Lloyd, who represented Sister Megan Rice of Washington, D.C. ‘You’re looking at three scapegoats behind me.’… Read more here:
http://news.yahoo.com/jury-finds-3-guilty-weapons-plant-break-222543688.html

Sr. Megan Rice of the Transformation Now Plowshares.

Sr. Megan Rice of the Transform Now Plowshares.

PAX CHRISTI MASSACHUSETTS STATEMENT ON THE BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING: Chaos, destruction and death visited Boston on Marathon Monday, bearing witness to the perverse power of violence to shatter families, annihilate hope, end dreams, and engender great fear in our hearts. We members of Pax Christi Massachusetts, the Catholic peace organization built on the foundation of gospel nonviolence, and deeply committed to the Way of Peace of Jesus, wish to express our profound sorrow at what has come to pass in our beloved city of Boston. We mourn with the victims and families, and claim kinship with all who will carry their suffering far into the future. We pray for the healing of bodies and spirit and cling to the hope that in this city of great diversity, we remain united in a spirit of compassion and clear thinking… Read the entire statement here:
http://paxchristiusa.org/2013/04/22/statement-statement-from-pax-christi-massachusetts-on-the-marathon-bombings/

FORMER PCUSA BISHOP PRESIDENT WALTER SULLIVAN FEATURED IN HUFFINGTON POST ARTICLE: (From the Huffington Post, written by PCUSA Ambassador of Peace Fr. John Dear, S.J.) In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches that if our righteousness does not surpass that of the religious authorities, we will not enter the reign of God. It’s a shocking instruction. He seems to have learned early on that power corrupts, and not just politicians, but professional religious people, too. If professional religious authorities do not break out of the trappings of power, authority, money, and cultic privilege, if they do not embody the Beatitudes and struggle for justice and peace, they will not enter the reign of God. I think he means, not just in the next life, but here and now, in this life, where the reign of God is at hand. We see this play out everywhere today, where our religious leaders go along with the culture of violence and war, and remain silent in the face of warmaking, nuclear weapons, poverty, and violence. They fear rocking the boat, so they do nothing, protect their money, stay close to their benefactors, accept whatever the military tells them, and reject the way of the cross. Or if they speak, they only denounce abortion, claiming to be pro-life, even though they actively support U.S. warmaking and nuclear weapons. In doing so, they come across to the faithful as radically pro-death. They remain clueless to the prophetic vocation which Jesus calls us all to live in the Sermon on the Mount. The exceptions, of course, make the rule, and one great exception was my friend Walter Sullivan, bishop of Richmond, former president of Pax Christi USA, who died on December 11, 2012… Read more here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-dear/walter-sullivan-the-good_b_3186832.html

Pax Christi Houston members join Mothers Demand Action for gun safety.

Pax Christi Houston members join Mothers Demand Action for gun safety.

PAX CHRISTI METRO NEW YORK’S EASTER REFLECTION: “Easter is a time for hope, for renewal, and new life.   Nature is at one with the Resurrection of Jesus, as the first buds on the trees appear, tiny creatures cling to their mothers, and the seas calm from the harsh winds of winter.  It is a time of celebration, a time of growth, and a time of change. The recent installation of Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis I has given us a very special reason to celebrate, to hope, to renew, to grow, and yes, even to change, as individuals, as a community, and as a Church…” Read the entire reflection here:
http://www.nypaxchristi.org/reflection.html

Images of Fr. Bill Bichsel, beloved figure of Pax Christi Pacific Northwest members, are showing up in unusual places!

Images of Fr. Bill Bichsel, beloved figure of Pax Christi Pacific Northwest members, are showing up in unusual places!

PCI CO-PRESIDENT ASKS NEW POPE – BE A SHEPHERD OF PEACE: (from US Catholic by Marie Dennis) “In his resignation statement, Benedict XVI, now the bishop emeritus of Rome, pointed to the great challenge these times present to the papal ministry, speaking in particular about ‘today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith.’ Few challenges will be greater for Pope Francis than the challenge of peace—to turn the hearts, minds, and energies of 1 billion Catholics around the world to fulfilling Jesus’ resurrection promise, ‘Peace I leave with you.’ Exactly 50 years ago, Pope John XXIII’s great encyclical Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) ended with a prayer that Christ would ‘inflame the desires of all … to break through the barriers which divide them, to strengthen the bonds of mutual love, to learn to understand one another, and to pardon those who have done them wrong.’” … Read the rest of the article here:
http://paxchristiusa.org/2013/04/18/reflection-be-a-shepherd-of-peace/

PAX CHRISTI TEXAS LEADER DELIVERS SPEECH ON PACEM IN TERRIS: (David Atwood of PC-Texas gave the following talk at the Catholic Library Association Conference.) “It is an honor to address you today on the important subject of Pacem in Terris, the encyclical written by Pope John XXIII that was published in 1963, 50 years ago. I think we would all agree that we need more peace on earth – both in our own nation and throughout the world.  The recent murder of 20 school children in Connecticut as well as the thousands of murders each year in the U.S. are indicative of the problems we have in this country.  The recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the current conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, are indicative of the need for peace in the world… Read the entire speech at:
http://paxchristiusa.org/2013/04/14/reflection-pacem-in-terris-its-importance-in-current-time/

Upcoming or Ongoing Events:

June 14-16 – Pax Christi USA National Conference in Atlanta, GA:
http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/national-conference-2013/

Quicklinks:

A special supplement by Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore member Scott Wright on “Pacem in Terris” is now included in the Just Peacemaking module from JustFaith Ministries … Tom Cornell delivered the homily at Pax Christi Hudson Valley’s Mass for Peace at St. Augustine Church in Highland, N.Y. on March 16 … Pax Christi members in Upstate New York helped to start a “groceries for guns” program at their parish … Jerry Bettice of PC-Memphis presented a PowerPoint reflection on “The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: The Dream Fulfilled” at the April meeting and at the Young Adults group at St. Patrick Church … Pax Christi members in Maryland were involved in the effort to repeal the death penalty … Pax Christi Illinois member Tom Cordaro wrote this prayer following the Boston Marathon bombing … The Washington Post ran an article on the Transform Now Plowshares prior to their May trial … The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, a PCUSA partner, has named Gerry Lee their new director … Pax Christi Tampa Bay member Mary Ann Holtz has published “Ten Action Steps for Individuals and Families Responding to the Current Global Crises of Energy, Environment and Economy” … Pax Christi Southwest Florida is participating in “Hands Across the Sand” to raise awareness of global climate change … Pax Christi UK has made a YouTube video called “Give Peace a Budget: 7 Ways to Spend $1.7 Trillion” … Pax Christi Metro New York’s latest edition of Kerux is now available on the website … Pax Christi Birmingham member Shelley Douglass asks if we will be open to the promptings of the Spirit this Pentecost? … Pax Christi Pacific Northwest member Nick Mele reports on his visit to Fukushima, Japan … Pax Christi International’s May 2013 newsletter is online … See more local and regional updates in the Spring 2013 edition of The Peace Current …

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PRAYER: No more hurting people

Posted on April 18, 2013 | 3 Comments

Tom Cordaroby Tom Cordaro
Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace

God of Our Healing,
we stare in bewilderment and pain
at the blood-stained sidewalk near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
We hear the panicked cries of those who cannot hear themselves scream
because the bomb blasts still ring in their ears.
We stand completely undone by the suffering that assaults our eyes, our ears and our hearts.

We come before You O God; Source of All Life and Seat of All Wisdom
to help us to make a way where there is no way;
to help us practice resurrection.

And so our hearts cry out: no more hurting people!

Eight year-old Martin Richard was killed in the bombing at the Boston Marathon.

Eight year-old Martin Richard was killed in the bombing at the Boston Marathon.

Dear God we pray for the victims of this act of evil;
we pray for their frightened and grieving families and friends.
We pray for the strength to be their strength.
We pray for the courage to walk with them in their darkness
until they are able to walk toward the dawn of a new day.
We pray in gratitude for the first responders and Good Samaritans
who ran towards the chaos and into the danger in order to save others.
They represent the best of who we are.

In our grieving we remember that the horror visited upon us in Boston
is all too familiar to innocent people around the world;
from aerial bombings of rural villages to car bombings and suicide bombings
in markets, at schools, weddings and funerals, in religious pilgrimages
and even targeting those who just happen to be standing in line.
So many victims of senseless violence;
hardly noticed by many of us but now brought into clearer focus.

And this is why we must demand: no more hurting people!

We pray for those in government and in law enforcement
as they marshal our resources in response to these evil attacks.
May they be thorough and determined in their investigation;
may they be measured in their response;
and may they be guided by the search for truth, not the blood lust of revenge.

Free us O God from the rule of fear.
Protect us from the peddlers of hatred
and from all those who mistake ignorance for righteousness.
Give us the grace to listen to our better angels not our darkest demons.
Do not let these attacks harden our hearts or dull our capacity for compassion.
Make us wise enough to know the difference between justice and vengeance.

Send forth your Spirit
that we might be moved into solidarity with all who suffer violence.
Send forth your Spirit
to strengthen our resolve to establish a world of true justice
where the weak and vulnerable are protected
and the marginalized and disenfranchised have their dignity preserved.

Help us this day to resolve that this great cost of human life and suffering
will make us better people.
Let our response to this evil act become a clarion call
to double our efforts to build a more perfect union, to establish justice,
to provide for the common defense of everyone on our planet
and to promote the general welfare of all God’s Children.

And so we make as our own, the words of Martin Richard:
No more hurting people! Amen.

* The title of this prayer, “No more hurting people,” is taken from a handmade peace sign written by Martin Richard, an 8-year-old killed in the Boston Marathon bombings.

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Posted in Ambassadors of Peace, Bread for the Journey, Cordaro, Prayer, Sharing Wisdom

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ON THE LINE: April edition features Good Friday actions, regional retreats, and more!

Posted on April 10, 2013 | Comments Off

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.

PC GROUPS HOST, PARTICIPATE IN GOOD FRIDAY WAY OF THE CROSS ACTIONS: From Atlanta to New York City, Richmond to Denver, over 20 Pax Christi local and regional groups led or participated in Way of the Cross vigils and actions on Good Friday to connect the suffering in our world today with the suffering of Jesus on the cross 2,000 years ago. Pax Christi Metro New York’s service was featured in the Archdiocese of New York’s blog and the New York Daily News included a photo of Archbishop Dolan participating in the service. Pax Christi groups that participated in or led these prayer services and actions included groups (with links to news stories, etc.) in Harrisburg (PA), Richmond (VA), Washington DC, Denver, NYC, Atlanta, Utica (NY), Bradenton (FL), Naperville (IL), Chicago, Springfield (IL), St. Paul (MN), Hartford (CT), Milwaukee, Sioux Falls (SD), Muskegon (MI), Seattle, Sunnyvale (CA), Albany (NY), Melbourne (FL).

Good Friday witness outside the White House. (Photo by Ted Majdosz)

Good Friday witness outside the White House. (Photo by Ted Majdosz)

PC WESTERN NEW YORK CHOOSES NEW COORDINATOR: PC-Western New York recently chose Tom Casey to serve as their new regional coordinator. Tom is a former candidate for both Congress and the NY State Legislator. A recent retiree, Tom has been active in the Witness for Torture group and has been an active supporter for friends who have been arrested for protesting drones at the Hancock base in Syracuse. Tom is a faithful peace advocate and will bring new energy and leadership to PC Western NY’s search for a more peaceful community and world.

PC Illinois members at immigrant rights rally. (from left: Joyce Ruhaak, Tom Cordaro, Bill Ruhaak and Pat Riley)

PC Illinois members participate in an immigrant rights rally against a for-profit immigrant prison. (from left: Joyce Ruhaak, Tom Cordaro, Bill Ruhaak and Pat Riley)

PAX CHRISTI MASSACHUSETTS HOLDS SPRING RETREAT WITH FR. SIMON HARAK, SJ: (From the website of the Catholic Communications Office of the Diocese of Springfield, MA) – “About 60 people gathered for a Pax Christi spring retreat at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, here, on April 6, to focus on ‘Jesus: Non-Violent Spirituality Made Flesh.’ The day was led by Jesuit Father Simon Harak, a professor of theology and director of the Center for Peacemaking at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. Father Harak holds a doctorate in ethics from Notre Dame University and provided the scriptural background for non-violence and peace. Using scripture, Father Harak explained how the Beaitudes are always mistranslated and the importance of being peaceful people. ‘Once you are so sure of your position to do violence, God slips away,’ he said in his morning talk. Read more of this article here:
http://www.iobserve.org/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=2429&cntnt01origid=57&cntnt01returnid=58

PC MEMPHIS CELEBRATES CITY’S DIVERSITY: Pax Christi Memphis was present at the city’s “Heart of Memphis” event on March 30th. The day-long happening celebrated the city’s diversity with workshops, music, dance and entertainment. The event gave Memphians an alternative to gathering downtown to watch the Ku Klux Klan, who demonstrated in opposition to the re-naming of three Confederate-themed memorial city parks. Heart of Memphis drew a much larger crowd and gave residents the opportunity to come together in a showing of peace, justice and unity. Members Ed Wallin, Pax Christi Ambassador of Peace Janice Vanderhaar and Paul Crum were among the volunteers who greeted visitors to their table throughout the day.

PC-Memphis members Ed Wallin, Janice Vanderhaar and Paul Crum at the Heart of Memphis celebration.

Pax Christi Memphis members Ed Wallin, Janice Vanderhaar and Paul Crum at the Heart of Memphis celebration.

PC TEACHER OF PEACE SR. MARY LOU KOWNACKI RECEIVES AWARD: (From NCR) – Benedictine Sr. Mary Lou Kownacki received the Archbishop Oscar Romero Award from the Mercyhurst University Religious Studies Department. The award is given out each year to an organization or individual who meets the criteria of ‘living the call of faith and justice in an extraordinary manner,’ according to The Merciad, Mercyhurst’s newspaper. Among other ministries, Kownacki has been involved with Pax Christi USA since its founding in 1973 and served as national coordinator from 1985 to 1991. The award is named after San Salvador Archbishop Oscar Romero, an advocate for the poor in El Salvador who was assassinated in 1980 while celebrating Mass. Read more of this article by clicking here:
http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/benedictine-sister-receives-award-faith-and-justice-work

Upcoming or Ongoing Events:

April 15 – Global Day of Action Against Military Spending:
http://www.paxchristi.net/international/eng/news.php?id=2233&wat=show

April 20 – Pax Christi Michigan State Conference, “Prophetic Leadership of Women: Justice from the Margins,” with Elizabeth Walters, IHM, and Barbara Reid, OP:
http://www.paxchristimi.org/2013_state_conference.htm

April 20 – PC-Maine Regional Dialogue; contact Denny Dreher at laffmom@yahoo.com

April 26-28 – Resisting Drones, Global War and Empire, in Upstate New York:
http://upstatedroneaction.org/Conference-2013.html

April 26-29 – Midwest Catholic Worker Faith and Resistance Retreat in Winona, MN:
https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!searchin/national-cw-e-mail-list/april$2026%7Csort:date/national-cw-e-mail-list/JlxevjlWaoc/6x9YFwqa0J0J

May 4 – PC-Pacific Northwest Regional Dialogue; contact Scott Cooper at scooper@ccspokane.org

June 14-16 – Pax Christi USA National Conference in Atlanta, GA:
http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/national-conference-2013/

Quicklinks:

Pax Christi Illinois participated in a rally against a for-profit immigrant prison in Joliet … PC International Co-President Marie Dennis is the keynote speaker at the Franciscan Spirituality Center in LaCrosse, WI on May 3-4. She will be speaking on “Intentional Living: A Pathway to Peace” … Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore member Scott Wright helped to craft the apology delivered by SOA Watch in El Salvador for the U.S.’s role in Salvadoran deaths during the war … Pax Christi Hudson Valley (NY) hosted a Peace Mass at St. Augustine’s Church on March 16. It was a beautiful mass with a warm welcome from Fr. Tom Lutz and an inspiring homily by our friend and deacon Tom Cornell … Pax Christi USA Teachers of Peace MJ and Jerry Park started a new peace academy through Little Friends for Peace in Washington, DC … PC MetroWest (MA) will be helping to organize the Natick Earth Day festival on April 21 … Tiffin Area Pax Christi members led a vigil calling for the release of detainees at Guantanamo … Read these reports from the Pax Christi Michigan regional dialogue and the Pax Christi Minnesota/South Dakota regional dialogue … Pax Christi of the Pomona Valley (CA) co-hosted “An Evening of Conversation with Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J.”. on February 16. Before a standing-room-only crowd, Fr. Greg shared stories of his decades of restorative justice work with youth … One former PCUSA National Coordinator, Sr. Mary Lou Kownacki, osb, interviews another, Sr. Anne McCarthy, on St. Brigid of Kildare … New group Pax Christi Southwest Florida has started a blog … Pax Christi International’s April 2013 newsletter is online … See more local and regional updates in the Spring 2013 edition of The Peace Current …

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REGIONAL NEWS: PC Illinois joins immigrant rights advocates against for-profit immigrant prison!

Posted on April 10, 2013 | Comments Off
PC Illinois members at immigrant rights rally. (from left: Joyce Ruhaak, Tom Cordaro, Bill Ruhaak and Pat Riley)

PC Illinois members at immigrant rights rally. (from left: Joyce Ruhaak, Tom Cordaro, Bill Ruhaak and Pat Riley)

Over twelve-hundred residents and friends of Joliet, including members of Pax Christi Illinois, gathered Saturday, April 6th to march in opposition to any and all possibilities of building a for-profit immigrant prison in the city of Joliet.

As Keith Michael Estrada of the Diocese of Joliet Office for Human Dignity described the event, “[We were] marching in the name of family unity and human dignity, Americans, including those of African, Caucasian, and Hispanic descent, heard the testimonies of people who have already been directly affected by the violence to human dignity caused by these Corrections Corporation of America facilities.”

Participants were urged to “march today, vote tomorrow” as citizens across the state prepare for local elections on April 9th. A number of local politicians and religious leaders spoke at the event, as organizers urged participants to hold elected leaders accountable for positions they take that effect the immigrant community.

Pax Christi Ambassador of Peace Tom Cordaro pointed out, “This is what it means to stand in solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters.  It is a good example of being anti-racist peacemakers; following the lead of Latina/o communities and learning to be accountable to people of color.”

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Posted in Immigration, News, Regional News

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ON THE LINE: March edition features climate change rally report, immigration reform support, calendar items and more!

Posted on March 13, 2013 | Comments Off

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.

FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S FATHER PASSES AWAY: Pax Christi USA learned that the father of Dave Robinson, former Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, passed away last week. Jean Stokan, former PCUSA staff member, wrote: “Dave had come back home after being with his father for a week in New Jersey, when he got the word from his sister, who was with him at the time of his death… It all happened so fast. I think it was only two weeks ago that they got a diagnosis of cancer.” Sr. Patricia Chappell, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, asked that we “keep Dave and his family in our prayers and may the soul of his father rest in peace.” Messages of sympathy can be sent to: David Robinson & Family, 10175 Dietzel Road, Union City, PA 16438.

Pax Christi Michigan State Coordinator embraces PCUSA Executive Director Sr. Patty Chappell, SNDdeN, at the Michigan regional dialogue in February. (Photo courtesy of PC-Michigan).

PC-Michigan Coordinator embraces PCUSA Executive Director Sr. Patty Chappell, SNDdeN, at the MI regional dialogue in February. (Photo courtesy of PC-Michigan).

VANDERHAAR SYMPOSIUM HAPPENS THIS WEEK IN MEMPHIS: The Vanderhaar Symposium was founded in memory of Dr. Gerard A. Vanderhaar, a professor of religion and peace studies at Christian Brothers University and a Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace. Vanderhaar spent his lifetime promoting peace through active nonviolence, writing six books, as well as speaking the message worldwide. The symposium seeks to continue Vanderhaar’s legacy by bringing a noted scholar or peace activist to Memphis each year to address social and moral issues related to peace and justice and/or Catholic social teaching. This year’s symposium features several young dynamic speakers on the theme, “Communities Engaged in Resolving Urban Social Conflict.” The symposium will take place on Thursday, March 14. For more information:
http://www.gvanderhaar.org/

Pax Christi Metro-DC-Baltimore members vigil outside the White House in support of Article 9. (Photo by Ted Majdosz)

Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore members vigil outside the White House in support of Article 9. (Photo by Ted Majdosz)

PC ILLINOIS MEMBERS MEET WITH CONGRESSMAN FOSTER ON IMMIGRATION REFORM: (From PC-Illinois member Tom Cordaro) “On February 20th members of Pax Christi Illinois organized a religious leaders delegation to urge Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) to support Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The delegation included minsters and representatives from the Jewish, Muslim, Christian (Catholic and Protestant) and Unitarian faith communities in the 11th Congressional District. The group urged Congressman Foster to embrace key principles that should be included in any immigration reform legislation; family unification, a pathway to citizenship, worker protections and an immediate moratorium on all deportations. The group was well received and will continue to work with local immigrant communities to advocate and organize in support for these principles.”

A Pax Christi Illinois organized delegation to visit Congressman Bill Foster (front row, 3rd from the left) to urge support for comprehensive immigration reform. Pax Christi members include Tom Garlitz (front row, 2nd from the left), Steve Jackson (front row, third from the right), Eleanor Wegman (front row, far right) and Tom Cordaro (second row, 3rd from the right).

A PC Illinois-organized delegation visited Congressman Bill Foster (front row, 3rd from the left) to urge support for comprehensive immigration reform. PC-IL members include Tom Garlitz (front row, 2nd from the left), Steve Jackson (front row, third from the right), Eleanor Wegman (front row, far right) and Tom Cordaro (second row, 3rd from the right). (Photo courtesy of Tom Cordaro)

PC MADISON (WI) MEMBER REPORTS BACK FROM CLIMATE CHANGE RALLY: (Trudi Jenny of PC Madison attended the Feb. 17th climate change rally in Washington, D.C. This is her report.) “It was a long bus ride and a long rally in frigid wind chills, but the short of it is—the climate action grassroots movement is alive and very well! Three busloads (150 people) from Wisconsin arrived in D.C. around 11:00 am on February 17th, just in time to join everyone gathering near the Washington Monument. Between 35,000 and 50,000 souls from across the country braved the cold to express the urgent need to lower our carbon emissions if we are to save God’s gift of Earth. Young and old carried signs, chanted and sang, and shared their own stories, inspired by the words of rally speakers including Bill McKibben (350.org), Michael Brune (Sierra Club), two leaders of First Nation tribes in Canada, and Tom Steyer, a California investment fund manager and major Obama fundraiser.The event brought back memories of being in D.C. to participate in civil rights marches and protests against the Vietnam War. While those events were much larger, it was inspiring and energizing to be among so many of my fellow citizens who are working on the front lines of what I consider to be the most important issue of our time. If we don’t save the Earth, all our peace-building efforts will be thwarted.” Read the entire article here:
http://paxchristiusa.org/2013/02/26/care-for-creation-report-back-from-february-17th-climate-rally-in-dc/

Upcoming or Ongoing Events:

Mar. 23 – Regional Dialogue for Pax Christi Metro New York and Long Island:
http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/

Mar. 23 – Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore’s annual Spring Assembly, “Drone Killings—Not in Our Name!” with Medea Benjamin, Ray McGovern and Phyllis Bennis:
http://www.paxchristimetrodc.org/

April 5-7 – PCUSA Ambassador of Peace Fr. John Dear, S.J. hosts a retreat on “Jesus the Peacemaker” at Kirkridge Retreat Center in PA:
http://paxchristiusa.org/2013/03/11/regional-event-retreat-with-fr-john-dear-s-j-on-jesus-the-peacemaker/

April 6 – “Jesus, Model for Our Nonviolence,” Pax Christi Massachusetts’ retreat with Fr. Simon Harak, S.J.:
http://paxchristima.org/

April 6-7 – Pax Christi Florida Spring Retreat, “The Spirituality of Intentional Communities: An Evolving Vision”, with Christine Vladimiroff, osb:
http://paxchristiflorida.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/2013-pcf-retreat-brochure.pdf

April 7 – Regional Dialogue for Pax Christi Texas:
http://paxchristiusa.org/programs/regional-dialogues-2012-13/

April 15 – Global Day of Action Against Military Spending:
http://www.paxchristi.net/international/eng/news.php?id=2233&wat=show

April 20 – Pax Christi Michigan State Conference, “Prophetic Leadership of Women: Justice from the Margins,” with Elizabeth Walters, IHM, and Barbara Reid, OP:
http://www.paxchristimi.org/2013_state_conference.htm

April 26-29 – Midwest Catholic Worker Faith and Resistance Retreat in Winona, MN:
https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!searchin/national-cw-e-mail-list/april$2026%7Csort:date/national-cw-e-mail-list/JlxevjlWaoc/6x9YFwqa0J0J

Quicklinks:

Pax Christi Metro D.C.-Baltimore members protested outside the White House during the visit of the Prime Minister of Japan last month … Pax Christi Long Island member Bob Keeler spoke on the American War Economy in February … Pax Christi at Corpus Christi University Parish in Toledo offered workshops on nonviolence education at their parish in February … As part of Pax Christi Memphis’s “Conversation About Predator Drones,” the group presented The Predator, a two act play by PCUSA member Jack Gilroy that highlights America’s fascination with drones … Pax Christi Haiti Program Director Daniel Tillias was featured in a video for his work in Cite Soleil … Pax Christi International has launched the Bread is Life campaign, a fast for a just peace in Syria … Pax Christi Western New York regional coordinator William Privett is stepping down from the position this Spring. Thanks for your years of service Bill! … Pax Christi International’s March 2013 newsletter is online … See more local and regional updates in the Spring 2013 edition of The Peace Current …

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LENT 2013: Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Mar. 10

Posted on March 9, 2013 | 2 Comments

Tom Cordaroby Tom Cordaro
Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace

Joshua 5:9-12 | 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 | Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

“This brother of yours was lost but now is found.” Reflecting on immigration reform and reconciliation…

prodigal sonThe readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent remind us that reconciliation is at the core of our call to discipleship. St. Paul calls us to be ambassadors of Christ in the ministry of reconciliation and the story of the Prodigal Son reminds us that the desire for reconciliation is at the very heart of God.

It is hard to think of many other areas of social policy that are more in need of the practice of reconciliation than the debate on fixing our broken immigration system. The hateful language often used to describe undocumented immigrants, the attempts to sow fear and suspicion towards them and the scapegoating of immigrants for everything from terrorism to high unemployment has created divisions in the Body of Christ.

Reconciliation is needed to heal the divide between citizen and undocumented immigrant members of our Church. As the joint statement from our U.S. and Mexican bishops point out, “Part of the process of conversion of mind and heart deals with confronting attitudes of cultural superiority, indifference, and racism; accepting migrants not as foreboding aliens, terrorists, or economic threats, but rather as persons with dignity and rights, revealing the presence of Christ; and recognizing migrants as bearers of deep cultural values and rich faith traditions.”

In this regard the story of the Prodigal Son is instructive. Most of the time we focus on the return of the outlaw younger son and the welcome he receives from his father in spite of his open defiance of the purity laws and his contempt for family jurisprudence.

But to better understand the connection between the ministry of reconciliation and immigration reform we need to focus on the older son’s debate with his father. Like a prosecuting attorney the older son makes an air-tight case against his father’s imprudent welcome of “this son of yours” back into the family. (Notice that throughout this debate with his father the older son refuses to recognize his familial relationship with his brother.)

In spite of the protestations of the older son and his justified anger at his brother’s brazen violation of the law, the father chooses mercy and invites his older son to do the same. But the older son just cannot move beyond the letter of the law: What part of illegal do you not understand? How can you give this law-breaker benefits rightfully reserved for law-abiding members of the family?

True reconciliation involves two simultaneous dynamics. One is the recognition of wrong-doing and a willingness to make restitution by the offender: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you … Treat me as one of your hired workers” (Luke 15: 18-19). The other dynamic is the willingness of the aggrieved to forgive and re-affirm the bonds of kinship: “This son of mine was dead, and has come to life again” (Luke 15:24).

Included in the principles for comprehensive immigration reform, our bishops call for some form of restitution to be made by the undocumented. The payment of reasonable fines is an appropriate act of restitution; but ideas like self-deportation are rejected by the Church because of the unreasonable burden it would place on immigrant families and communities in our country.

Most undocumented immigrants are ready and willing to make restitution and admit wrong-doing. The challenge posed by the story of the Prodigal Son to those of us who are citizens is whether we are willing to forgive and re-affirm our bonds of kinship with our undocumented brothers and sisters. What they seek from us is a willingness to reconcile with them; but too often our response has been more and tougher enforcement-only policies.  These polices are not a solution to our broken system and have only caused the wound that divides us to fester, causing the whole Body of Christ to weaken. We need healing and wholeness; we need to bring our community together.

In our second reading St. Paul urges us to be ambassadors of Christ in the ministry of reconciliation. Paul uses explicit political language to describe this ministry; we are called to be “ambassadors for Christ” (II Cor. 5: 20).  An ambassador speaks on behalf of the ruler who sent them. In essence ambassadors serve as the image of the ruler in the foreign land where they are stationed. When someone encounters an ambassador acting in their official capacity they are encountering the ruler.

As ambassadors for Christ in the service of reconciliation, we do not represent our own opinions or ideologies. We serve as the image of the God for whom we speak. And this is possible because, as Paul points out, “Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold new things have come” (II Cor. 5: 17)

The risks of reconciling with our undocumented brothers and sisters pale in comparison to the human, spiritual and economic costs of punishing people who stand before us seeking friendship and a way to make things right. Are we willing to extend our hands to them? Can we allow Christ to do something new in us? Are we prepared to be ambassadors of Christ in the ministry of reconciliation?

This reflection was written by Tom Cordaro, author and Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace. It is a new reflection written specifically for the Bread for the Journey blog this year. 

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Posted in Ambassadors of Peace, Bread for the Journey, Cordaro, Lent 2013, Reflection, Scripture, Sharing Wisdom

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