[Peace-discuss] Catholic Worker statement on the war

[C. G. Estabrook]

>
> On this 10th anniversary of the U.S. bombing and invasion of
> Afghanistan, we, Catholic Workers who gather in Las Vegas, renounce
> this and all warmaking as a sin. We call on our church and our nation
> to join us in repenting for the violence the U.S. has inflicted, and
> make reparations to all of its victims in Afghanistan as well as in
> Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere. At this critical point in
> history, when we face unending war and economic collapse, when human
> life has become so devalued and killing has become the norm; when
> greed, exploitation, racism and discrimination are at the heart of so
> much social injustice; when our earth and environment is endangered as
> never before; we recommit ourselves to revering all life and upholding
> God's sacred creation, and resisting the way of violence, oppression
> and empire. As we hear the cry of the suffering and the poor of our
> country and world, we demand that all resources which are being
> squandered for weapons and war be instead spent to meet urgent human
> needs.
>
>
> As the U.S. government continues its immoral and illegal occupation of
> Afghanistan and Iraq, its unrelenting war against al-Qaeda, and its
> murderous drone attacks, especially in Pakistan, we recall the words
> of Dorothy Day regarding U.S. warmaking during World War II. We need
> only substitute al-Qaeda for Japan, Germany and Italy.
>
>
>   "We are at war, a declared war, with Japan, Germany, and Italy. But
> still we can repeat Christ's words, each day, holding them close in
> our hearts, each month printing them in the paper. In times past,
> Europe has been a battlefield. But let us remember St. Francis, who
> spoke of peace and we will remind our readers of him, too, so they
> will not forget...We will print the words of Christ who is with us
> always, even to the end of the world. "Love your enemies, do good to
> those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute and calumniate
> you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, who makes
> His sun to rise on the good and the evil, and sends rain on the just
> and unjust...In The Catholic Worker we will quote our Pope, our
> saints, our priests. We will go on printing the articles which remind
> us today that we are all called to be saints, that we are other
> Christs, reminding us of the priesthood of the laity...We are still
> pacifists. Our manifesto is the Sermon on the Mount, which means that
> we will try to be peacemakers."
>
>
> Yes, we are still pacifists. In the name of Jesus who calls us to love
> unconditionally and  be peacemakers, we call on all followers of Jesus
> to embrace and practice Gospel of Nonviolence. We urge our church
> leadership to break their silence and prohetically proclaim Christ's
> gospel by calling the entire nation to repent for the war crimes we
> have committed in the so-called War on Terror. We invite them join
> with us in making the following appeal to the political, military and
> economic power structure
> of our nation:
>
>
> --end all U.S. warmaking and and military intervention throughout our
> world, especially in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan.
>
>
> --stop all drone attacks in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen.
>
>
> --stop demonizing Arab and Muslims.
>
>
> --disarm and abolish all conventional, biological, chemical and  
> nuclear weapons.
>
>
> --close and/or convert all nuclear and conventional weapons
> facilities, military bases, and military training centers like the
> SOA/WHINSEC.
>
>
> --stop the U.S. militarization of space.
>
>
> --convert our war-based economy to one centered on serving the common
> good, alleviating poverty and protecting the environment.
>
>
> --initiate an equitable redistribution of the earth's resources.
>
>
> --work to reverse global warming and bring about climate justice.
>
>
> --end the practice of torture.
>
>
> --close the Guantanamo U.S. military prison, the Bagram prison in
> Afghanistan, all secret black sites and detention centers, and end
> indefinite detention.
>
>
> --end all ROTC training programs at all levels in Catholic and  
> public schools.
>
>
>
> Mindful of all political prisoners, including those Catholic Workers
> and other resisters imprisoned for acts of peacemaking, we commit
> ourselves, and call on all people of faith and goodwill, to
> nonviolently resist all forms of state-sanctioned violence and
> oppression. In solidarity with sisters and brothers around the world
> calling for an end to political repression, corporate domination and
> militarism, we seek to build a new society in the shell of the old. We
> commit ourselves to help create the Beloved Community where all God's
> people can live together in peace and justice.
>
> ###