PAX CHRISTI INTERNATIONAL
In 1942 when Europe was
suffering under the weight of one of the most terrrible wars in its history,
Bishop Pierre-Marie Théas, Bishop of Montauban in the South of France, wrote
these words in a pastoral letter to be read throughout his diocese: "I give
voice to the outraged protest of Christian conscience, and I proclaim...that all
men, whatever their race or religion, have the right to be respected by
individuals and by states..."
He was protesting the deportation of Jews from France. In 1944, incarcerated for
a few weeks in a camp for speaking out once again against deportation, he
preached on "Love Your Enemies" and asked his fellow prisoners to pray for their
jailers.
"Nobody should be
excluded from one's prayer."
The moving and detailed history and changing mission of Pax Christi International, growing from the seed of a single individual's
courageous act of
conviction, a Catholic with the authority and position to influence and awaken
the Catholic conscience, can
be found on its
website:
http:www.paxchristi.net
PAX CHRISTI USA
Bishop Thomas
Gumbleton
Founding president of Pax Christi USA (1972-1991)
Pax Christi USA rejects
war, preparations for war, and every form of violence and domination. It
advocates primacy of conscience, economic and social justice, and respect for
creation. Pax Christi USA commits itself to peace, education and with the help
of its bishop members, promotes the Gospel imperative of peace making as a
priority in the Catholic Church in the United States. Through the efforts of all
its members and in cooperation with other groups, Pax Christi works toward a
more peaceful, just and sustainable world.
Pax Christi strongly advocates against the consumerism of North American
society. It is seeking at this time to protect the civil rights of U.S. and non
- U.S. citizens.
http://www.paxchristiusa.org
PAX CHRISTI
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Meditation at Bangor Gate
Interfaith Peace Walk to Hope 2005
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Pax Christi in the
Northwest was first organized in 1980 by Fr. Jack Morris SJ. He was a
Jesuit priest who worked to get Pax Christi chapters going in Seattle, Spokane
and Olympia. Fr. Jack went on to organize the Bethlehem Peace Pilgrimage in
which mostly Catholic Peace activists marched from Bangor Trident Sub Base to
Bethlehem in a march for peace. After completing this trek of almost 2 years,
Fr. Jack organized the Catholic Worker Farm - Bethlehem Farm - near Chehalis in
Lewis County.
Pax Christi was further organized in the the early 1980s with Ellen Stapleton as
the first coordinator. Much of the work centered on the arms race and focused on
protesting against theTrident Sub Base. In 1988 Kathleen Pruitt was involved in
international Pax Christi efforts and Margie Gaffney worked with her to Plan the
National Pax Christi annual meeting at Seattle University and Swinomish
Reservation. After the conference Margie Gaffney worked on coordinating the
Northwest Region and continued in that role until 2004. Her place was taken by
Elizabeth Winder. In 1991 National Pax Christi put out a Study Guide on the
upcoming Quincenteniary - 500 years of European control on the continent. It
was a scripture reflection on the history of what had been done to Native
peoples during and since the settling of the Northwest by pioneers, and includes
statements from Native people for readers to reflect on. Pax Christi connected
with Ray and Dorraine Booth Williams, Swinomish spiritual leaders, who were
traveling and meeting with Native peoples in North, Central and South America to
lay the groundwork and planning for the next 500 years. Ray Williams
invited Pax Christi Northwest to journey with Native peoples. In 1994 Ray and
Dorraine were selected as International Pax Christi's Peacemakers of the Year.
Pax Christi members have participated in several spiritual encampments at the
Swinomish Reservation and continue to do so.
We continually witnessed for Peace and Justice in much the same way as
Fellowship of Reconciliation. We were involved with SNOW on Iraq War (protest)
and with"United for Peace" in Thurston County and with groups in Yakima, Spokane
and Portland; with the Church Council of Greater Seattle and Washington
Association of Churches and FOR's efforts on stopping the first Gulf War. We
worked with the Seventh Generation Fund and Indigenous Environmental Network on
their response and on an alternative WTO meeting in Seattle. We have
participated in protests on WTO, the School of Americas (supporting the School
of Americas Watch), advocating for ending Third World Debt. We have been
involved in Romero Day and Sanctuary efforts for refugees from El Salvador and
Guatemala, in solidarity efforts with Haiti, El Salvador especially.
Pax Christi Pacific Northwest protests the death penalty, works for justice for
migrant workers, works on environmental and ecological issues such as water
conservation, and wildlife and wilderness protection. It is supporting Chaldean
Rite Christian refugees in Jordan.
There are currently 1400 members and friends of Pax Christi in the Northwest. As
groups or individuals they choose their focus for action through prayer and
study.
Bob Zeigler
MISSION
The Northwest Region describes itself in these words: "We are a region of Pax
Christi USA, a section of Pax Christi International, the Catholic peace
movement. Pax Christi strives to create a world that reflects the Peace of
Christ by exploring, articulating, and witnessing to the call of Christian
nonviolence. This world begins in personal life and extends to communities of
reflection and action to transform structures of society.
© 2003 Pax Christi Pacific Northwest