- Click here for a Bread Not Stones prayer service to use between Epiphany and Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 15). [If you prefer a version in MSWord to edit as-needed, use this link to download it.]
- Click here for the most recent version of the bishops’ sign on statement. [Use this link to see a complete list of bishops who were contacted.]
“Always pray and never give up” (Luke 18:1)
by Tom Cordaro, Pax Christi Ambassador of Peace
Our 2023 Bread Not Stones campaign invited U.S. Catholic bishops to add their name to our bishops’ sign-on statement. Eighty Ninety-nine bishops in 63 65 dioceses were contacted, and almost 20 have signed.
But the story of this campaign is not only about these bishops. It is also about the efforts of ordinary Catholics across the country who urged their bishop to add their name to this moral document reflecting the well-established teachings of the Catholic Church. Like the persistent widow in the Gospel (Luke 18:1-8) who continued to seek justice from an uncaring judge, these committed Catholics persisted in the hope that they could convince their bishop to affirm Catholic Social Teaching.
The call to redirect military spending to fund human need is not a past concern of the Church. At the 2023 UN Climate Summit in Dubai, Pope Francis pleaded with world leaders to redirect military spending to increase investments in helping the poor and combating climate change.
“This is true in the case of care for creation, but also that of peace. These are the most urgent issues, and they are closely linked. … How many resources are being squandered on weaponry that destroys lives and devastates our common home! Once more I present this proposal: ‘With the money spent on weapons and other military expenditures, let us establish a global fund that can finally put an end to hunger’ (Fratelli Tutti, 262; cf. Saint Paul VI, Populorum Progressio, 51) and carry out works for the sustainable development of the poorer countries and for combating climate change.”
Who are these Catholics who urged their bishop to sign the Bread Not Stones bishops’ statement?
“I am a member of St. Columba Parish and a volunteer coordinator for JustFaith in the East Bay. I am also a member of Pax Christi Northern California. … My volunteer work at St. Mary’s Center and St. Vincent de Paul and Next Step Learning Center informs me of the overwhelming basic needs of our dear neighbors.”
From Meg Bowerman to Bishop Michael Barber, Diocese of Oakland (not yet signed)
“I am a member of Pax Christi Will County and a lifetime Catholic and member of Sacred Heart Parish in Joliet. I have served as a pastoral care minister, liturgist, church musician, choir member and religious educator. I also served 14 years as a staff associate of our Diocesan Peace & Justice Ministry.”
From Joyce Ruhaak to Bishop Ronald Hicks, Diocese of Joliet (not yet signed)
“I am the motherhouse coordinator of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station. As you know, [our sisters] have ministered in the parts of New Jersey that became the Paterson Diocese since 1859. I write, with the undersigned sisters and associates, to ask you to sign the bishops’ sign-on statement of Pax Christi USA Bread Not Stones campaign.”
From Sr. Roberta Feil and 35 members of the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth to Bishop Kevin Sweeney, Diocese of Paterson (not yet signed)
“I am a cradle Catholic, the product of 16 years of Catholic education, a daily Mass attendee, former Catholic school teacher, and longtime leader catechist for SPRED (Special Religious Education) at St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Berkeley.”
From Mary Vivian Zelaya to Bishop Michael Barber, Diocese of Oakland (not yet signed)
“I am a relatively new parishioner at St. Benedict the Moor parish in Dayton … My background is in Catholic campus ministry, religious education at the high school level, and spiritual direction; I also teach in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Dayton. I am a member of a Marianist Lay Community, Spiritual Directors of Color Network, Spiritual Directors International, and Pax Christi USA. I have been cared for and nurtured by Catholic charities, religious communities, and educational institutions my entire life and my identity as a Catholic is one of my most central aspects of my being and navigating in the world.”
From Michelle Sherman to Archbishop Dennis Schnurr, Archdiocese of Cincinnati (not yet signed)
“I am a member of Holy Name Parish in Sheridan, and for 23 years was the DRE there. Since then, I have continued to chair our parish Bereavement Ministry and organize our annual Remembrance Mass. I am a lector and Eucharistic Minister. I am a Benedictine Oblate and, when the monastery in Dayton closed, was named to lead our local group of Oblates, which still meets monthly. I am also the leader of our Welcome Circle, which has brought over one Ukrainian family and is applying to receive another.”
From Cel Hope to Bishop Steven Biegler, Diocese of Cheyenne (signed)
What do these Catholics say about the unmet human needs in their communities?
“I know that you are aware of the growing gap between the better-off segment of our society and those in growing need of having their needs met in the areas of health care, nutrition, immigration status, mental health, education, aging, single-parent households, marginalized children, etc. … So often I find myself interacting with young people, senior citizens, immigrants, and marginalized poor who could benefit from increased support.”
From Terence Lover to Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archdiocese of New York (declined to sign)
“Even in the relatively affluent area of Central Bucks County, the poor are among us. We support several local food banks and volunteer with an organization that provides shelter for the homeless during the cold nights of the winter months. The need of the people we serve is perhaps even more urgent because the homeless and the hungry are largely invisible to us.”
From Barbara and William Ford to Archbishop Nelson Pérez, Archdiocese of Philadelphia (not yet signed)
“We have many people in this area and in the Diocese of Joliet who lack adequate housing and food. We know some children go hungry every day. I have seen this first-hand through volunteer work at the West Suburban Community Food Pantry. … The three foodbanks in our area have seen a 40 percent increase within the last two years in the number of families asking for help in feeding their families.”
From Steve and Karen Jackson to Bishop Ronald Hicks, Diocese of Joliet (not yet signed)
“I live in Washington DC, where, as you know, only a few blocks from the White House thousands of people lack adequate housing. A shocking level of poverty and unmet human needs, including among teens and young adults, are evident in this city. Across our country too many children are hungry, too many people are without adequate health care, too many mental health needs are unmet. Yet, military expenditures take priority in our U.S. national budget.”
From Marie Dennis to Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archdiocese of Washington (not yet signed)
“At St. Benedict the Moor in Dayton, and at Catholic parishes throughout the archdiocese, our community welcomes recent immigrants and people displaced by war, violence, and climate catastrophes. There are unmet human needs – resources, housing, food security. Changing even a fraction of our $186,000 billion (and growing!) military budget and directing our national priorities from war and preparations for war to addressing the needs of the poor in our diocese and around the world would mean tapping into unlimited potential for meeting these needs.”
From Michelle Sherman to Archbishop Dennis Schnurr, Archdiocese of Cincinnati (not yet signed)
“Our Paterson Diocese is an area of drastic contrasts; we are home to some of the most affluent communities in New Jersey and to two of the poorest cities, Paterson, and Passaic. Many of our parishes and other diocesan agencies, notably Catholic Charities, do heroic work in welcoming immigrants and meeting the economic and social needs of people who are the victims of what Pope Francis calls a ‘throw away culture.’ We recognize however that works of charity will not address the systemic sources of injustice, one of which is the incredible sums of money our government dedicates to war and preparations for war.”
From Sr. Roberta Feil and 35 members of the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth to Bishop Kevin Sweeney, Diocese of Paterson (not yet signed)
Why did these Catholics think it was important for their bishops to sign this statement?
“Changing our national priorities from war and preparations for war to addressing the needs of the poor in our diocese and around the world would offer HOPE to the people you serve. I strongly encourage you to add your name to the Pax Christi USA Bread Not Stones bishops’ sign-on statement. This is not a partisan political statement, but a moral teaching document.”
From Meg Bowerman to Bishop Michael Barber, Diocese of Oakland (not yet signed)
“We need to change our national priorities from war/funding wars in other places to helping those in need in the diocese and around the world with humanitarian assistance –not money for weapons. We need to focus on assisting seniors, children, migrants’ needs, people who are homeless and hungry, people who are in the prison industrial complex have access to spiritual ministries, to focus on causes for Laudato Si, to focus on love and peace and to helping those most vulnerable.”
From Natasha Ruiz to Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archdiocese of Chicago (declined to sign)
“The U.S. spends an ever-increasing amount on weapons of war and never has enough to meet the needs of the poor and unhoused in our country. This occurs in every administration but now we have two Catholic senators in Washington State and a Catholic president. … If ever there was a time for a Catholic prophetic voice on this, the time is now.”
From Bob Zeigler to Archbishop Paul Étienne, Archdiocese of Seattle (declined to sign)
“With all the current violence locally and around the world we need to hear the voices for peace, love, compassion, forgiveness. Please speak out to our Catholic parishioners. Be a Good Shepherd who proclaims lasting ways of peace. Please sign the Bread Not Stones bishops sign-on statement. … It is a moral teaching document, not a partisan political statement.”
From Joyce Ruhaak to Bishop Ronald Hicks, Diocese of Joliet (not yet signed)
“As one of the United States prominent cardinals, will you lend your voice towards redirecting funds that are currently spent on purchasing weapons of destruction? Funds for affordable housing, green energy infrastructure, and healthcare for the marginalized are in dire need of funding. We believe your voice will make a tremendous difference in securing programs for the marginalized of New York City and the rest of the United States.”
From the War & Peace Committee at St. Ignatius Parish to Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archdiocese of New York (declined to sign)
“Religious leaders can provide a clear moral vision about those things that make for genuine peace and security for our nation and the world. … Hopefully, your voice joined with other bishops could work toward a greater understanding of these teachings. Working toward changing our national priorities from war and preparations for war to addressing the needs of the poor and underserved in our diocese and around the world could lead to significant changes in the lives of members of our communities.”
From Barbara and William Ford to Archbishop Nelson Perez, Archdiocese of Philadelphia (not yet signed)
“The Archdiocese of Miami faces its share of unmet human needs, which your support could significantly alleviate. … By endorsing this campaign, you would offer hope and assistance to those most in need within our diocese and beyond. Your support would make a remarkable impact on our mission for peace and justice. We eagerly await your response and the opportunity to discuss this campaign further.”
From Michael Martin to Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Archdiocese of Miami (not yet signed)
“I know that you deem it a very important area of your ministry as our bishop to serve and comfort the poor of the diocese. In these past months it has become most clear to me both as a Catholic and as a citizen that our country is spending its treasure on military weaponry while pulling back on funding human needs here. I feel it is vitally important that religious leaders provide a clear moral vision about those things that make for genuine peace and security for our country and the world.”
From Jeanne Kiley, OFS to Bishop Peter Jugis, Diocese of Charlotte (not yet signed)
“I have frequently admired and been inspired by your statements on different issues, especially concerning marginalized people, and am hoping that you will lend your support to Pax Christi’s moral teaching document. I am saddened that many Catholics are unfamiliar or ignore our Church’s teaching about peace and war. … I am writing to ask you to sign the bishops’ statement for [the] Bread Not Stones campaign to redirect military spending to fund human needs.”
From Cel Hope to Bishop Steven Biegler, Diocese of Cheyenne (signed)
“I am writing to remind you of Pope Francis’ address to Congress in 2015 when he called us all out about militarism: ‘Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society?’ [He] … continued with this truth: ‘Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money: money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood. In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and to stop the arms trade.’ As an individual, as a member of our southern Appalachian peace community and as the coordinator of the small Tennessee Chapter of the Catholic Committee of Appalachia, I have broken my own ‘shameful and culpable silence’ and am asking that you, and our Church in America (represented as it is by the USCCB), to do the same.”
From Linda Modica to Archbishop Shelton Fabre, Archdiocese of Louisville (not yet signed)
“Our Lord, Jesus, gave us the vision, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’ We who aspire to be peacemakers, need the guidance of our Catholic Church leaders in clarifying the issue. A budget that prioritizes human need is the way of peacemakers, the way of our Christ, who fed the hungry, and healed the sick. I know that you are deeply aware of this duty from those who join J.C. Orton and the Catholic Worker at Newman in feeding the hungry. Weapons of war have become the idol of so many misled souls in our conflicted world. Please raise your voice, join the bishops who are offering moral guidance and sign the … Bread Not Stones statement.”
From Mary Vivian Zelaya to Bishop Michael Barber, Diocese of Oakland (not yet signed)
“Certainly, your excellency and the priests, religious, and lay faithful of this diocese do a wonderful job performing the works of mercy. But I imagine that you understand the depth of need in our community, and feel keenly that the Church cannot possibly fill these gaps on her own. Nor should she be expected to. I implore you faithfully to lend your special, apostolic authority to call our society towards greater conformity with God’s love.”
From Jeromiah Taylor to Bishop Carl Kemme, Diocese of Wichita (not yet signed)
When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:7-8)
At the end of Jesus’ parable about the persistent widow Jesus warns, “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7-8)
It is hard to know for certain how many letters were written and how many people attempted to visit with their bishops during this campaign; we know at least 80 bishops in 63 dioceses were contacted, but others might have sent letters that we are not aware of. What we know from those who informed us of their efforts, most bishops prefer the anonymity of silence rather than address the urgent pleadings of these members of their flock.
The Church teaches that bishops have three main responsibilities. The first and most important is their role as teachers. A bishop is the principal teacher in his diocese and has a responsibility to preach the Word of God to his people. The second responsibility is to govern. This refers to meeting the needs of the local community (material, social, personal, and spiritual) as well as ensuring that church laws are observed. The third responsibility is to sanctify by ensuring that the sacraments are administered.
When bishops dismiss or brush-off without adequate explanation attempts by their flock to urge them to address important issues that impact all those living in their diocese, it is a dereliction of their primary role as teacher and preacher of the Word of God. If a bishop disagrees with the statement, as teachers, they should point out the errors in the statement. If they think they could do a better job articulating the Church’s teaching about what makes for peace and how to morally assess our nation’s military spending, then let them speak directly to the members of their flock. What these bishops need to understand is that by their silence, they speak.
When the Son of Man comes, what sort of faith will he find?
Could we all be unafraid for just once and speak the truth without the fear of being labeled anti-semites or pro-terrorists? Alright, here goes: two reasons why our bishops haven’t the moral fortitude to condemn our enthusiastic collaboration in the beyond wicked extermination of Gaza and the Palestinians. One (1): our American Catholic Church, represented by our bishops, is terrified that even the slightest criticism of Israel might recall Catholic anti-semitism during the Middle Ages and in more recent times; two (2): many industrialists who profit from military sales, not to mention arms sales, are generous donors in all the dioceses -money talks. Sounds obscene? It is.
David-Ross Gerling, PhD
My correspondence with our local bishop was fruitful in that I learned the importance of having USCCB make supportive statements on these issues too. He said in his reply that he follows their lead. I wonder how many other bishops do the same? Hopefully USCCB has, or will, make a public endorsement of this campaign. Certainly, with Pope Francis’ words to fortify them, it would be a most reasonable request.