Sister Jeanette shares this letter from Pax Christi:
What if Catholics were best-known for leading on nonviolence and peacemaking?
What if in times of conflict or crisis, Catholics around the world put into practice their expertise in mediation, conflict resolution, or nonviolent resistance?
And what if, in parishes and schools everywhere, the practice of Gospel nonviolence was central to Catholic teaching?
That vision – of a Church preaching, teaching and practicing Gospel nonviolence – is Pope Francis’ challenge to the world’s Catholics. It’s also the inspiration behind Pax Christi International’s Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, a growing movement of religious and lay people working together to return Gospel nonviolence to the center of Catholic life and teaching.
In the newly released book Choosing Peace, longtime activist and Catholic laywoman Marie Dennis (and co-president of Pax Christi International since 2007) explains how this movement started and where it may be headed.
“The poor, the planet, and peacemaking”
Along with global poverty and the crisis of climate change, peacemaking is one of Pope Francis’ three priority areas for his papacy.
Listening to Catholics living amid violence
Some of the most compelling stories in Choosing Peace are those from church leaders and activists from violent conflict zones.