DRONES: Prayers for an end to drone warfare, for the violence in our hearts and in our world

from Pax Christi Metro D.C.-Baltimore

We pray for all victims of U.S. drone strikes and call for an immediate end to the use of lethal drones in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and elsewhere.  We ask all those who give orders, operate the drones, and manufacture and profit from the drones for military and CIA purposes to search their hearts and consciences, to hear the cries of the victims, to withdraw their consent from this immoral lethal weapon of terror and policy of assassination, to repent and to beg forgiveness from, and make reparations to, the victims’ families.  We give thanks for groups of peacemakers like the Creech 14, the Hancock 38, Johns Hopkins 9, and many other peacemakers who have been arrested, tried, and jailed for their acts of nonviolent resistance to these murderous weapons, these killer drones, our American death squads of the skies. Amen.

Litany of Repentance and Conversion

We ask God’s forgiveness for our complicity in the violence now unleashed in our world and we repent of the violence in our own hearts.

Response:  Deliver us, O God.

From the arrogance of power, deliver us, O God.
From the tyranny of greed . . . .
From the politics of hypocrisy . . . .
From the addiction of control . . . .
From the idolatry of national security . . . .
From the cancer of hatred . . . .
From the hysteria of nationalism . . . .
From the sin of racism . . . .
From the sin of sexism . . . .
From the sin of torture . . . .
From the sin of war . . . .
From the waste and preparation of war . . . .
From the madness of war . . . . .
In humility we ask, O God, hear our prayer.

(Adapted from CPT Litany of Resistance, by Jim Looney)

Response:  Forgive us, O God.

For our hardness of heart, forgive us, O God.
For wasting our gifts . . . .
For wanting too much . . . .
For wounding the earth . . . .
For ignoring the poor . . . .
For trusting in weapons . . . .
For refusing to listen . . . .
For exporting arms . . . .
For desiring dominance . . . .
For lacking humility . . . .
For failing to risk . . . .
For failing to trust . . . .
For failing to act . . . .
For failing to hope . . . .
For failing to love . . . .
For failing to negotiate . . . .
For our arrogance . . . .
For our impatience . . . .
For our pride . . . .
For our silence . . . .

Response:  Change our hearts, O God.

That we learn compassion, change our hearts, O God.
That we embrace nonviolence . . . .
That we act in justice . . . .
That we live in hope . . . .
That we do your will . . . .
That we love our enemies . . . .
That we strive to be peacemakers . . . .
That we live simply . . . .
That we practice sharing . . . .
That we protect the earth . . . .
That we cherish all life . . . .
Amen.

Suggested Scripture Readings:

Isaiah 2:1-5
Luke 6:27-36