The following is an excerpt from an article, written by Heidi Schlumpf, published on April 25, 2023 in the National Catholic Reporter. Use this link to read the piece in its entirety.
Despite the violence that plagues the world today, an openness to gospel nonviolence is gaining ground, thanks in part to Pope Francis’ example, said speakers on a webinar panel marking the 60th anniversary of Pacem in Terris, Pope John XXIII’s encyclical on “Peace on Earth.”
“We may be on the verge of an even deeper possibility of Jesus’ nonviolence moving more from the margins of the church to its center,” said Ken Butigan, a senior professional lecturer in the Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies Program at DePaul University in Chicago.
The webinar “Pacem in Terris at 60: Is the Catholic Church Heeding the Call to Gospel Nonviolence?” was sponsored by Pax Christi International and the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, and was recorded April 19 at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
The panelists included Butigan; Loreto Sr. Teresia Wamuyu Wachira, co-president of Pax Christi International; and moderator Marie Dennis, senior program director of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative. …
Wachira, who teaches peace and conflict studies at St. Paul’s University in Nairobi, Kenya, stressed the urgent need for nonviolence on the continent. “In Africa there are babies who are born in war, live in war and die in war,” she said. “They never experience peace.”
But she shared stories of how nonviolence training, especially when paired with economic initiatives, can be successful. One student in her peace studies course admitted he was part of a militia group, but he eventually started an organization to help others leave lives of violence in such groups, she said.
“Young people are easy targets for militia groups in Africa,” she said. “They often feel they have no other options but violence.”
The panelists praised Francis for “relentlessly” calling for peace and nonviolence, including in his prayer intention for April. “We have learned so much from Pope Francis about nonviolence — both in word and deed — over this decade,” said Butigan, specifically citing the powerful example of the pope kissing the feet of South Sudanese political leaders at a Vatican meeting in 2019, to urge them to maintain peace in their country. …
Use this link to read the article in its entirety.
Use this link to watch a recording of the April 19 webinar on YouTube.
Yes I believe part of the church, that is, the people, are working for nonviolence either in a group/organization or individually. Parishes are split, of.course, just like the country, on promoting nonviolence or even recognizing the problem for awareness purposes during mass. I work with the Friends (Quakers)Committee on National Legislation on the Lansing,MI Advocacy Team. I also work locally with the Church of The Brethren to plant seeds of justice and grow peace. I have been part of the Lansing Pax Christi community for several years.
Ukraine is a good test case.
If the Ukrainians were willing to practice nonviolence, they would probably have to tolerate a form of slavery, at least for a time, until they could organize themselves for nonviolent methods.