June 23 – Pax Christi USA condemns the unethical use of US military force against Iran. This act of war, taken as we mark the feast of Corpus Christi – the body of Christ – has gravely damaged, if not eliminated, the opportunity for diplomacy and negotiations.
During this week’s Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV, when he learned of the US action in Iran, reminded us that “[t]here are no ‘distant’ conflicts when human dignity is at stake. War does not solve problems; on the contrary, it amplifies them and inflicts deep wounds on the history of peoples, which take generations to heal.” (See the full text here.)
In addition to causing catastrophic harm, this illegal operation ordered by President Trump ignores the established Congressional approval for aggressive military actions – another authoritarian act aimed at dismantling our democracy and adherence to our Constitution.
Pax Christi USA calls on Catholic public servants, especially in the federal and state levels, to hold the executive branch accountable to end further aggression toward Iran. We pray for all affected by this violence, for families and communities in harm’s way – especially civilians in Iran – and for a global shift toward disarmament and nonviolence.
Roots Action emergency teach in, Monday, June 23, 8 PM Eastern/5 PM Pacific time.
Sign up here.
Join the Teach-In Network, RootsAction and Defuse Nuclear War to learn about what’s going on in Iran, the deeper history of Israel-Iran relations, and what we might expect from the coming days, weeks, and months. In a moment when consent to a destructive and foolish war on Iran is being actively manufactured, it’s essential to come together as a movement, share information, and strategize.
Featured speakers:
- Khury Petersen-Smith – Institute for Policy Studies
- Sina Azodi – Assistant Professor of Middle East Politics, George Washington University
- Jeffrey Sterling – Former CIA officer in Iran Task Force; RootsAction whistleblower advocate
- Peter Kuznick – Director, Nuclear Studies Institute, American University
- Hanieh Jodat – RootsAction; Defuse Nuclear War; Co-Chair, No War With Iran Campaign