The Ukraine crisis

>> Read Pax Christi International’s statement on the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine

>> Read our official organizational statement from February 24, 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine at this link.

Please consider registering for two upcoming events as we near the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine:

The war in Ukraine: Impacts of nonviolent resistance and U.S. policy implications

An online briefing for Congressional offices. All are invited to register; please urge your Congressional representatives to participate.

Thursday, February 23, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM Eastern
Use this link to register

In this online briefing offered by the Peace and Security Working Group of the Washington Interfaith Staff Community, practitioners and researchers will share about the impact that strategic nonviolent resistance efforts are having in Ukraine and Russia to bring the war to a just and peaceful end; panelists also will speak to the implications for U.S. policy and Congressional action.

Online faith vigil for peace in Ukraine

Friday, February 24, 2:30-3:30 PM Eastern

Organized by the Friends Committee on National Legislation and the Episcopal Church, this online prayer vigil will be an opportunity to pray together and to lament the human harm caused by violence and conflict. Prayers will be offered for the people of Ukraine, Russia, and across the region, and for those displaced, and for a peaceful resolution to the crisis that prevents further human suffering. Pax Christi USA’s Executive Director Johnny Zokovitch will be one of the speakers.

Use this link to watch via the Episcopal Public Policy Facebook page

As the national Catholic peace and justice movement, we must once again rise as Catholic peacemakers to advocate boldly for the present magisterial teaching on peace and seek a nonviolent resolution to the Ukraine crisis. War is never the answer, and our hearts break for the suffering and devastation the war in Ukraine has already unleashed.

In support of ongoing efforts toward a ceasefire and for the hard work of peacemaking and diplomacy, you can find additional resources below addressing the build-up to and subsequent invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Our prayer, study and action is rooted in the nonviolence that is foundational to our identity as followers of the God of Peace.

>> Note: Even as we work for peace in Ukraine, Pax Christi USA invites our membership and partners not to lose sight of the need for prayer, study and action in support of peace in Yemen, Palestine, Myanmar, Syria, Ethiopia, and everywhere that suffers the violence of war.

PRAYER

February 24, 2023: Faith vigil for peace in Ukraine, organized by FCNL and the Episcopal Public Policy Network, 2:30-3:30 pm Eastern, via Facebook Live
A prayer for peace in Ukraine by Sr. Pegge Boehm, PBVM (in MSWord and as a PDF)
Prayer for peace in Ukraine (in MSWord and as a PDF)
Use the prayer for peace in Ukraine adapted from Pope Francis featured in the PSA e-alert of February 8, 2022 Pray-Study-Act: The Escalating Situation in Ukraine
Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Fr. Joe Nangle, OFM, reflects that “Lent reminds us that war – in Ukraine or anywhere else – is not the answer”
Promote prayers for peace: Host a liturgy to pray for peace using this service from the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative. Encourage your parish’s leaders to include Catholic teachings on nonviolence in homilies, prayers of the faithful, and communications when discussing Ukraine.
Watch the video recording of this prayer service from the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative and UISG/USG, held on April 11, 2022

STUDY

Reports: Supporting nonviolence and peace-building efforts

Nonviolent resistance to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, October 2022
Ukrainian nonviolent civil resistance in the face of war: Analysis of trends, impacts and challenges of nonviolent action in Ukraine between February and June 2022
Quick assessment report, 2022

Other study pieces

Pax Christi International’s statement on the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, February 2023
Read the letter to President Biden issued April 19, 2022 by faith-based organizations calling for support for courageous, creative actions of nonviolence in the Ukraine conflict.
Read “Ukraine shows we must reject the possibility that war can be just” by Marie Dennis, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
Archbishop Wester on the war in Ukraine: Nuclear weapons must be eliminated, not reinforced
Read “12 ways to work for a nonviolent end to the war in Ukraine” from Pax Christi Michigan
Read “The added dangers of being Black while bombed,” by the Pax Christi Anti-Racism Team
How would nonviolence work at the international level? Read “A Policymaker’s Tool for Effective, Nonviolent Strategies for Sustainable Peace”
This article, “What Putin Really Wants in Ukraine”, offers a good examination of the root causes of the crisis
Learn about active nonviolence, and how this framework can “resist war and build peace” in Ukraine and around the world, with this resource from the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative.
Learn more about how a just peace framework can promote “political cooperation for the common good,” and the norms that are at the heart of this framework, with this CNI document.
Additional resources on the Ukraine crisis.

ACTION

Donate to support activism and civil resistance in Ukraine
Lift up stories of nonviolent resistance and frame existing activity of nonviolence
Resource (and train when possible) nonviolent civil society leaders in Ukraine
Make contacts with people in Ukraine and Russia
Pray for our Ukrainians and our adversaries/enemies and encourage Catholic parishes, etc. to do the same
Encourage Russians in civil society to go on a day (or more) strike
Advocate U.S. government officials to support peace-building and nonviolent action (see some specific examples in this Alliance for Peacebuilding statement)
12 ways to work for a nonviolent end to the war in Ukraine from Pax Christi Michigan
We asked Pax Christi USA members to take Pope Francis’s original call for a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Ukraine on March 2, 2022 Ash Wednesday, one step further and to publicly vigil for peace in Ukraine, Yemen, Palestine and elsewhere around the world EVERY WEDNESDAY throughout Lent 2022 and beyond.
Promote peace in the press: Write to Catholic media (America, National Catholic Reporter, etc.) and exhort them not to publish pro-war pieces, but to instead focus on promoting Catholic teaching on nonviolence. See Catholic Relief Service’s website for tips on writing a letter to the editor at this link.