FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2024
Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement, acknowledges that Donald Trump and JD Vance have been elected as the next President and Vice President of the United States. We offer our prayers that their leadership might be guided by a commitment to pursue the “things that make for peace” (Luke 19:42) and the justice which must be the foundation of efforts toward reconciliation and healing.
In this moment of transition, Pax Christi USA pledges to continue our work in challenging our nation’s leaders to serve with wisdom, tolerance, and empathy. We will continue to advocate for the positions laid out in our 2020 Statement of Principles, meant to guide our work moving forward. To reiterate our message from 2020: Our witness is to the Gospel message of Jesus, that our responsibility is to love God through loving our neighbor, both near and far, with a preferential option for those who are impoverished and suffering.
The urgency of this particular moment continues to highlight – as we did in 2020 – a permanent ceasefire and end to settler colonization in Palestine, the cessation of military support to Israel, demilitarization of the US-Mexico border, the rejection of nuclear weapons, and an end to US policies and actions of US corporations that continue to create conditions that millions around the world are forced to escape.
We hold our newly elected political leaders, our nation, the Church, and the entire world in prayer as we advocate and work for that justice which affirms the dignity of all human beings, individually and collectively, and assures peace for all creation.
MEDIA STATEMENT
“As we move on from this contentious election, we must stay strong to prepare for the challenging weeks and months ahead. I anticipate that we’ll need patience and a willingness to continue in this struggle. The problems and issues our nation must address – the deep mistrust and gross misunderstandings that have fueled terrible divisions across the country – didn’t occur overnight. We are ready to work together for the common good, to build coalitions within our movement as well as with other groups as we seek new allies in this work for peace with justice.”
Sherry Simon, National Council Chair of Pax Christi USA
For media inquiries, contact Judy Coode, communications director, jcoode@paxchristiusa.org
Thank you for your continued call and leadership for peace and justice in our world and for this message of hope and recommitment. Our faithful and loving God walks with us every step of the way.
Thanks to Sherry Simon for her important and wisdom-filled message after our nation has traversed one of the most disgusting presidential campaigns in history. One side invites a so-called comedian who verbally desecrates the lovely isle of Puerto Rico and the other side spends the obscene amount of one billion dollars on telling us how they stand for women while 70% of the people they smash and grind in Palestine with our bombs are children and women. Please, Pax Christi, don’t ever become partisan like virtually every other Catholic publication in the U.S.
David-Ross Gerling, PhD
Thank you for the calming and heartfelt words. They express peace and goodwill which is much needed. May we grow, by the grace of God, to remain in the peace of Christ even as our environment tempts us to view “others” as enemies. The hard work of creating a community of peace and a sense of brother/sisterhood continues.
Deacon Terry Barber, ofs
We are mired in hopes than are transitory and try to make sense of this presidential election to no avail. We who work for compassion and justice find the task growing exponentially. We hear constant references to war and weapons but there is only silence in the theatre of the common good and cooperation. Our national wealth is being squandered on the battlefields abroad and suspicion at home.
Where is the light? I submit; The light shines in individual acts of kindness to our neighbors, a casserole, a loaf or bread, a cake, help with bandages, medications, a ride to the doctor or just for fun. We don’t need laws to provide these things. They are at our fingertips. We are the hand of God, we are vessels of peace, we are the Salt of the Earth.
What a beautiful and meaningful reflection…indeed we are called to be Light! Thank you.
Thank you, Pax Christi and Sherry Simon, for the Pax Christi statement and your description of your group coming together. I needed those hopeful notes. Thanks for all you do on behalf of those who hold the values you do.