by Joseph Nangle, OFM
Pax Christi USA 2023 Teacher of Peace
“A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in Gaza before the eyes of the world… It is critical for us in the United States to support [Pope Francis’] call for an immediate ceasefire.”
Cardinal Robert McElroy and Archbishop John Wester, January 17, 2024
Cardinal McElroy and Archbishop Wester deserve an immense word of gratitude for their strong, unambiguous statement condemning Israeli’s murderous war on Gaza and the complicity of the United States in it. The statement is prophetic and, like all such declarations, will cause major opposition among Catholics and surely beyond. It will be termed “antisemitic” when in effect it is in effect simply a call for peace.
The statement speaks “truth to power,” referring implicitly to our Catholic president. Two highly respected Catholic pastors are aiming directly at the enabling role of the Biden administration in the Netanyahu genocide (without quite using that word).
The statement also elicits several considerations.
First, where are similar voices among the rest of the 290 active bishops in the United States? It is true that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has spoken on several occasions about the tragedy in Gaza. Shouldn’t people in dioceses all over the country also hear from their local shepherds on this humanitarian catastrophe and the part our country is playing in it?
Secondly, the point should be made that leaving this obligation up to the Catholic hierarchy once again makes the mistake of identifying them as “the” Catholic Church. This has been the impression related to such public declarations for much too long among Catholics and by extension non-Catholics, especially the media. Thus, on issues such as the Israeli/Hamas war, silence from our bishops connotes silence on the part of the Catholic Church. This is curious because the majority of U.S. Catholics accept the statement from Vatican II that all the baptized are the Church and we rightly speak as such.
Lastly, this conviction has enormous practical consequences. The Catholic Church has what can be called “parallel” spokespersons alongside our bishops, the People of God, who also speak with authority. Think for example of Catholic religious orders and congregations. They have an acknowledged and privileged place in the life of the Church. In our country, organized religious, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, are as much called to public and prophetic positions as the hierarchy. Specific religious orders and congregations, such as the Franciscans and Sisters of Mercy to name just two among hundreds, also have the right and obligation to speak the prophetic word in their Gospel-motivated lives and ministries.
Additionally, Intentional Eucharistic communities, loyal Catholics who practice their faith alongside official Catholic structures (such as parishes), are legitimate examples of the People of God – the Church. They, too, can and must speak prophetically.
Perhaps the best example of this Catholic reality of legitimate and parallel teaching bodies in the Catholic world is our own Pax Christi. We enjoy official recognition as the official Catholic peace movement from the hierarchal Church, without being subject to its organizational control. At moments like the present we do well to emphasize the “USA” side of our name. Pax Christi USA is part of an international Catholic movement with particular obligations vis a vis our country’s policies.
Recognizing this unique Catholic reality – elements of the body distinct from the hierarchical dimension of our Church – gives us immense freedom. We are not limited, as our bishops (erroneously) appear to be, by the fear being divisive. On the contrary, ours is a wonderful sense of freedom to speak clearly the prophetic word to the powerful as Jesus did: “Woe to you Pharisees.”
In the face of horrendous crimes being committed against the Palestinian people, the entire Catholic world must respond clearly and often.
If not us, who; if not now; when, if not here, where?
Cover photo of prayer vigil at the Ellipse, January 13, 2024, courtesy of sanatakesphotos.com
Joe Nangle OFM is a Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace and the 2023 Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace. As a member of the Assisi Community in Washington, D.C., he is dedicated to simple living and social change. Joe also serves as the Pastoral Associate for the Latino community at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Arlington, Virginia.
The above article by Fr. Nangle sums up admirably everything all of us who have been reading and commenting on the Pax Christi posts concerning the ongoing mass murder of the Palestinians in the Gaza by the United States and Israel for the past 100+ days. Indeed, our official church and, yes, many of us rank and file Catholic Christians, fear being labeled anti-Semites if we raise our voices against this modern holocaust. And, as I have stated before, our dioceses are beholden to corporate donors who love war and all the money it generates. Without going any farther, our own Catholic president knows that what is going on in the Gaza is mortally sinful, but “politics are politics” and “my Party über alles” as Hitler would say. For a handful of hypothetical votes, Biden allows the crushing of the skulls and the blowing off the faces and limbs of Palestinian children. And the “good” bishops, archbishops and cardinals look away and pray. A suggested secular antidote for all those Catholics who refuse to see what is going on in the Gaza for what it is in all its hideousness and obscenity: read the short novel “Johnny Got His Gun” by Dalton Trumbo and if after reading it you still think war is the answer, then we might as well agree with Nietzsche that “the last Christian died on the Cross.”
David-Ross Gerling, PhD
Thank you Fr. Nangle, Cardinal McElroy, and Archbishop Wester! If anyone challenges any of us as to the stance of the Catholic Church on the Israel/Hamas conflict, reference can be made to the constant and longstanding message of Pope Francis. Going back to October, Pope Francis has made it abundantly clear that neither the side of Hamas nor Israel is to be taken. He continually reinforces the necessity of taking the side of peace and has consistently called for a ceasefire, care for Palestinians and Israelis, and a just peace(which would recognize the history of the region, its difficulties and root causes for conflict, and would move forward with respect for all inhabitants of this region). This seems to be the Catholic/Christian stance with which to identify. Bishops worldwide(particularly in the U.S.) do have a variety of opinions on different topics. At times, this is good for discernment. But, Pope Francis speaks to the global family, Catholic and non-Catholic, on the situations in Gaza and also Ukraine/Russia. May each Catholic/Christian in the U.S. see all peoples throughout the world as our sisters/brothers and be involved in urging our representatives in government to uphold the dignity of each human life within our own country and in other lands. Peace.
Thank you. Thank you. For speaking in defense of our dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Moslem and Christian, starving, cold, exposed and vulnerable to illness and fiery deaths. The children, especially the children are terrified of the darkness and the death-dealing sounds of bomber jets and drones.
This shameful sponsorship of genocide must end. Ceasefire. Cease funding. Cease the fabricated rationales.
Thank you Fr Joe. There is a Catholic Spirit that rises above the formality and structure of Religion. That Spirit remains even in cultural Catholics. It cannot be shaken. It is the imitation of Christ and all who have lived and who now live his teachings which yield compassion, justice and peace.
We know some of what is happening across the world today. It is the enactment of an idea that Victory is Pease. It is wrong. Nation States must first lay down their weapons and meet each other in trust and good faith. Pursuit of present mindsets will yield WW111. This is now in process.
We must gather our courage and petition those in power who represent us and all including family, friends and neighbors to use their influence to stop the killing in Gaza and the West Bank. Other fuses that could ignite a World War lie in the Ukraine, North Korea and Taiwan. Our own country needs to forget world dominance and initiate cooperation for Peace among Nation States.
Thank you Fr Joe for offering us the opportunity to revisit the cause and effect of World conflicts.