Wednesday night was so exhilirating, I had to take over 24 hours, to process all of it.
I attended the May meeting for Pax Christi, (St. Jude's chapter).
We had our opening peace prayer
The prayers chosen are always very inclusive, and
(We have featured Native-American prayers, Jewish prayers, Interdenominational, etc.)
I was delighted to see this prayer featured the work of writer Dorothy Day, famed for founding the (socialist) Catholic Worker Movement, which our own fearless leader, Joe Goode asked me to read aloud.
We had our discussions about Peace Moments(we routinely share moments where we felt a presence of Peace); we discussed living non-violently.
We spoke of the new immigration law in Arizona. We are all, absolutely, against such obvious profiling and bigotry. As people of God, we want reform that will allow all(if they wish) to become citizens here.
We all agreed that the USA is quite fortunate to be blessed with such a great mix of people. :)
I offered to cast, and direct "A Line In The Sand", a play written by young people involved with CRS(Catholic Relief Services) and a play that I feel is especially timely, given the increasingly heated debate in the USA, over immigration.
I had first mentioned this play, back in 2007, and am glad we waited.
The play chronicles several scenarios involving undocumented workers from Mexico, the so-called "coyotes" that get them here, and the fear their families endure, seeing their loved ones try to squeeze across the border, just for a job that does not even pay a living-wage.
I hope to get this cast, and begin rehearsing, by late summer, or early fall.
We'll see!
We discussed books written that explore faith and spirituality, whether by metaphor(think:any novel by Flannery O'Connor)or in a biography or memoir(think: "A Persistent Peace", by Fr. John Dear)
The evening was one of connection(all of us offering support for each other's prayer intentions; all of us discussing ways to better live in peace, with one another), and communion(not the wafer-type, but the communion between humans that occurs when the connection is made real, whole, and wholly meaningful).
Every meeting I attend, I am again reminded of why I joined this group--and continued in this journey(I am a charter-member of PCSJ)--it is because it is here that I feel lifted-up, certain that the idealism we all hold in our hearts, and the living example of the peaceful, non-violent Christ we believe in(the only Jesus Christ who existed)and which we try to follow, can be achieved.
We can make a difference.
We will.
Peace, kids.
Showing posts with label Pax Christi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pax Christi. Show all posts
Friday, May 07, 2010
Monday, July 13, 2009
"PRACTICE WHAT YOU PEACE" IS MY OTHER BLOG.
"PRACTICE WHAT YOU PEACE", IS MY OTHER BLOG.
I posted over a month ago, about my belief in a group called Pax Christi, at my other blog, "Practice What You Peace.". I will reprint it here, with the following additions of recognition, for these members: Joe Goode, our fearless moderator, who along with Sr. Sally White, coordinates the agenda for each once-a-month meeting. His wife, Mary Jean is well-schooled in the art of peacemaking. Just last year, she & her loving husband made a trip to Austria to be present for the consideration of Franz Jaegerstetter to become a saint, via Beatification, in the Roman Catholic Church. The Church was so wrong when it did not support the painful choices Franz made, during WWII. Franz chose NOT to fight for Hitler, and was admonished by everyone--including the heirarchy of the Church. He was told to "..think of [his] family; fight for country..", etc.
But that despicable wrong(the Church demonizing him, for not fighting!!) may finally be corrected, with the recognition of Franz as a peacemaker who said he would "never kill" as it was against Catholic-Christian teaching.
Franz was beheaded by Nazis --at his home--as punishment for his refusal to join the war effort, and fight for Hitler.
Fr. Bob Cushing is no longer available in-person at St. Jude Pax Christi, but he was instrumental in garnering enthusiasm for our group. Fr. Bob's travels to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 2005--60 years after we bombed them--to offer apology and love for the Japanese people was documented, and we(PCSJ) were treated to a program he presented us with, in fall, 2005. Fr. Bob has since moved, where he is in charge of the parish of St. Theresa of Liseuix in south Georgia.
Maggie Winfrey, a teacher for young children, is an artist at inspiring others. Tim Spruill and David Richardson are both servants for social justice. Tim does so with pro-bono work as an attorney; David serves the homeless and other disenfranchised in his communities(he recently relocated to Florida).
I am fortunate--and very grateful-- to have all these folks in my life.
Here's the original post:
WHY I BELONG TO PAX CHRISTI.
Last night, I was thrilled to be surrounded by fellow-Catholic-Christians who do what I call "practicing what they peace." The aura of inclusiveness is astounding, from the opening prayer(We use prayers based on saints, we have done prayers from Jewish texts, etc.) to the song we ended the evening with(last night, a favorite song of mine:"And They'll Know We Are Christans By Our Love").
What occured in-between the prayer, and the song? First, we share "peace moments"--moments where we feel a renewal of spirit, of harmony, of peace--in our lives.
Sr. Sally White, the most progressive, authentic person you'll ever meet, and our sponsor/moderator, spoke(nearly in tears) of how excited she is, seeing President Obama elected, and hearing him speak. She recalled the days(daze) of riding on buses as a child(she is a white person), when she cried while witnessing "the way the bus drivers treated our brothers and sisters"(she was referring, of course, to the mid-1950's-1960's, when it was so common to see Black Americans forced to the "back of the bus", being degraded, called names, etc.). We were all moved by her memories.We discussed some upcoming events(check back in a few weeks; I'll have interesting news on a famous peace activist who may be visiting us, in March of next year(2010)!!).Then lovely Stephanie, one of our newer members, gave a book report(each month, we select a book which will support our spiritual growth).Fr. Ken, who has been with our group less than a year, is genuine and kind, and he possesses an acerbic wit. He often speaks of priests he's known who are, in his words, "brilliant"--many are well-known authors of philosophical works and spiritual doctrines-- and he recommends their books. Many of these same men have left the Roman Catholic Church "to marry, and have a family", which Fr. Ken seemed to understand(something many Catholics might want to work on--the concept of being "understanding").He also strongly urges inclusiveness for all gay people, and he advocates, always, for peace . I'm in awe of this man.We also welcomed a brand-new member to our group, Patrick D., who came from very faraway to meet with us. Given the traffic in Atlanta, that's really saying something. Welcome, Patrick, to a spiritual home known as Pax Christi, St. Jude(PCSJ). Pax Christi is the organization; St. Jude's(the Patron Saint of Hopeless Causes) is the chapter.It's easy to find fault with "organized religion", and maybe especially the Roman Catholic Church(with its' obvious misogyny(no women(yet!) officially allowed to be priests), "official" non-recognition of LGBTQ people, and the rule created about 820 years ago(long after the Church was established) that dictated priests no longer had a choice to marry(!), but instead had to remain single.But Pax Christi is in service to what I feel in my heart is the true meaning of being what Christ asked us to be:followers of Him.
Many of us are fearful of the word "Christian", because unfortunately, there are an awful lot of scary folks throwing the word around, and they seem to have missed the most important message Jesus--the "Christ", carried: Love.
Pax Christi ignites love in my heart. I feel tears in my eyes, and my breath catches, even as I type this.Why, you say?Because I have seen Love--the Love that Christ spoke of--when I am around these people. These people who support me: Lisa Allender, the writer/actress, the out bisexual, the happily married woman, the dog-owner, the A-theist for some 17 years.
Late last year(in 2008)when I was terribly ill, and headed for the hospital, I received not only a beautiful card--filled with kind thoughts, and a reminder that they were all praying for me, and had a special Mass said for me--but also a check(no one is terribly "wealthy" in our group), to help out with my expenses. I had never asked for any help, and felt awkward accepting any(but I did). It's risky to even mention this, as all these people are too humble to want "credit" for helping. But they deserve credit.They support me, they love me, and I see that love radiate from each and every one of them.I'm very grateful to have them.If you're reading this, and you're touched by any thing I've said here, and you think, well, I don't want to be "labeled" a Catholic, or even a Christian, I say to you:Click on the links, below, to Pax Christi, anyway. In five minutes, you might have your heart opened to Peace & Social Justice in a huge way.You don't have to "be" anything, or anyone, except yourself.At Pax Christi, we have room for everyone who wants to be of service. Because when you spend Love, you never have a deficit, only a surplus.Invest your time in Pax Christi--unlike the current world economic situation, you'll reap huge returns on this!
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/
http://www.paxchristi.net/
Peace, kids.
I posted over a month ago, about my belief in a group called Pax Christi, at my other blog, "Practice What You Peace.". I will reprint it here, with the following additions of recognition, for these members: Joe Goode, our fearless moderator, who along with Sr. Sally White, coordinates the agenda for each once-a-month meeting. His wife, Mary Jean is well-schooled in the art of peacemaking. Just last year, she & her loving husband made a trip to Austria to be present for the consideration of Franz Jaegerstetter to become a saint, via Beatification, in the Roman Catholic Church. The Church was so wrong when it did not support the painful choices Franz made, during WWII. Franz chose NOT to fight for Hitler, and was admonished by everyone--including the heirarchy of the Church. He was told to "..think of [his] family; fight for country..", etc.
But that despicable wrong(the Church demonizing him, for not fighting!!) may finally be corrected, with the recognition of Franz as a peacemaker who said he would "never kill" as it was against Catholic-Christian teaching.
Franz was beheaded by Nazis --at his home--as punishment for his refusal to join the war effort, and fight for Hitler.
Fr. Bob Cushing is no longer available in-person at St. Jude Pax Christi, but he was instrumental in garnering enthusiasm for our group. Fr. Bob's travels to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 2005--60 years after we bombed them--to offer apology and love for the Japanese people was documented, and we(PCSJ) were treated to a program he presented us with, in fall, 2005. Fr. Bob has since moved, where he is in charge of the parish of St. Theresa of Liseuix in south Georgia.
Maggie Winfrey, a teacher for young children, is an artist at inspiring others. Tim Spruill and David Richardson are both servants for social justice. Tim does so with pro-bono work as an attorney; David serves the homeless and other disenfranchised in his communities(he recently relocated to Florida).
I am fortunate--and very grateful-- to have all these folks in my life.
Here's the original post:
WHY I BELONG TO PAX CHRISTI.
Last night, I was thrilled to be surrounded by fellow-Catholic-Christians who do what I call "practicing what they peace." The aura of inclusiveness is astounding, from the opening prayer(We use prayers based on saints, we have done prayers from Jewish texts, etc.) to the song we ended the evening with(last night, a favorite song of mine:"And They'll Know We Are Christans By Our Love").
What occured in-between the prayer, and the song? First, we share "peace moments"--moments where we feel a renewal of spirit, of harmony, of peace--in our lives.
Sr. Sally White, the most progressive, authentic person you'll ever meet, and our sponsor/moderator, spoke(nearly in tears) of how excited she is, seeing President Obama elected, and hearing him speak. She recalled the days(daze) of riding on buses as a child(she is a white person), when she cried while witnessing "the way the bus drivers treated our brothers and sisters"(she was referring, of course, to the mid-1950's-1960's, when it was so common to see Black Americans forced to the "back of the bus", being degraded, called names, etc.). We were all moved by her memories.We discussed some upcoming events(check back in a few weeks; I'll have interesting news on a famous peace activist who may be visiting us, in March of next year(2010)!!).Then lovely Stephanie, one of our newer members, gave a book report(each month, we select a book which will support our spiritual growth).Fr. Ken, who has been with our group less than a year, is genuine and kind, and he possesses an acerbic wit. He often speaks of priests he's known who are, in his words, "brilliant"--many are well-known authors of philosophical works and spiritual doctrines-- and he recommends their books. Many of these same men have left the Roman Catholic Church "to marry, and have a family", which Fr. Ken seemed to understand(something many Catholics might want to work on--the concept of being "understanding").He also strongly urges inclusiveness for all gay people, and he advocates, always, for peace . I'm in awe of this man.We also welcomed a brand-new member to our group, Patrick D., who came from very faraway to meet with us. Given the traffic in Atlanta, that's really saying something. Welcome, Patrick, to a spiritual home known as Pax Christi, St. Jude(PCSJ). Pax Christi is the organization; St. Jude's(the Patron Saint of Hopeless Causes) is the chapter.It's easy to find fault with "organized religion", and maybe especially the Roman Catholic Church(with its' obvious misogyny(no women(yet!) officially allowed to be priests), "official" non-recognition of LGBTQ people, and the rule created about 820 years ago(long after the Church was established) that dictated priests no longer had a choice to marry(!), but instead had to remain single.But Pax Christi is in service to what I feel in my heart is the true meaning of being what Christ asked us to be:followers of Him.
Many of us are fearful of the word "Christian", because unfortunately, there are an awful lot of scary folks throwing the word around, and they seem to have missed the most important message Jesus--the "Christ", carried: Love.
Pax Christi ignites love in my heart. I feel tears in my eyes, and my breath catches, even as I type this.Why, you say?Because I have seen Love--the Love that Christ spoke of--when I am around these people. These people who support me: Lisa Allender, the writer/actress, the out bisexual, the happily married woman, the dog-owner, the A-theist for some 17 years.
Late last year(in 2008)when I was terribly ill, and headed for the hospital, I received not only a beautiful card--filled with kind thoughts, and a reminder that they were all praying for me, and had a special Mass said for me--but also a check(no one is terribly "wealthy" in our group), to help out with my expenses. I had never asked for any help, and felt awkward accepting any(but I did). It's risky to even mention this, as all these people are too humble to want "credit" for helping. But they deserve credit.They support me, they love me, and I see that love radiate from each and every one of them.I'm very grateful to have them.If you're reading this, and you're touched by any thing I've said here, and you think, well, I don't want to be "labeled" a Catholic, or even a Christian, I say to you:Click on the links, below, to Pax Christi, anyway. In five minutes, you might have your heart opened to Peace & Social Justice in a huge way.You don't have to "be" anything, or anyone, except yourself.At Pax Christi, we have room for everyone who wants to be of service. Because when you spend Love, you never have a deficit, only a surplus.Invest your time in Pax Christi--unlike the current world economic situation, you'll reap huge returns on this!
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/
http://www.paxchristi.net/
Peace, kids.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
TAGGED BY THORNE, OF THE BLOG, THORNE'S WORLD.
TAGGED BY THORNE, OF THE BLOG, THORNE'S WORLD.
I am supposed to list seven things most people do not know about me.
I think I probably covered a lot of this, in my "25 Random Things About Me" post, at this blog, Lisa Allender Writes, back in Feburary of this year(2009).
But I'll do a stream-of-consciousness thing here, and just write whatever pops into my head:
1) I would still love to have a baby brother, or older brother. It may be why I've always had so many male friends become life-long friends. I'm very fortunate in that regard.
2) I had a brief fling with a very famous rock star.(Hint: he was hugely popular in the 1980's, and early 1990's.)
3) I was Non-Theist, or A-theist, for over 17 years, and by a series of things I could not explain(all good!) I found myself as of late 2003/early 2004, on a spiritual quest--which I'm still on. I call myself a Catholic-Christian by culture, and a spiritual seeker.
4) How I define my bisexuality:
In 1989, I said "I love vanilla ice cream, but sometimes, I want strawberry."
By 1992, I defined it as:
"I fall in love with the person, not the gender."
5) I would like to adopt a child, perhaps an older child who is labeled "unadoptable". I never had that burning desire to birth a child, but believe I may have some good to offer a child who has no home/parent.
6)I hate mayonnaise. It's okay mixed into a potato salad(sometimes) but I would NEVER eat it on a sandwich. Yuck!
7)I think actors who perform onstage are never given enough credit. It's exhilirating--and exhausting-- work, making every time you perform, "fresh", and seemingly "new".
Here's the link to Thorne, and "Thorne's World", and the entry that spawned this response from me.
http://thornesworld.com/2009/05/31/black-magick-white-witches-and-true-will/comment-page-1/#comment-2158
I tag:
Jayne Harnett-Hargrove, of the blog, "Harnett-Hargrove".
Marianna, of the blog, "A Momentary Cloudiness of a 'Dirty' Mind".
Betmo, of "Betmo's Corner".
Average American Patriot, of "An Average American Patriot".
Dustin Brookshire, of the blog, "I Was Born Doing Reference Work In Sin".
There are links to all of the above, just to the right of this post, in the column marked "Poets, Bloggers, and Others".
Look for a special post coming up this week, at Lisa Allender Writes, on why I love my Pax Christi(Peace Christ) chapter (reprinted, with a few additions, from my most recent post at my blog,"Practice What You Peace").
Peace, kids.
I am supposed to list seven things most people do not know about me.
I think I probably covered a lot of this, in my "25 Random Things About Me" post, at this blog, Lisa Allender Writes, back in Feburary of this year(2009).
But I'll do a stream-of-consciousness thing here, and just write whatever pops into my head:
1) I would still love to have a baby brother, or older brother. It may be why I've always had so many male friends become life-long friends. I'm very fortunate in that regard.
2) I had a brief fling with a very famous rock star.(Hint: he was hugely popular in the 1980's, and early 1990's.)
3) I was Non-Theist, or A-theist, for over 17 years, and by a series of things I could not explain(all good!) I found myself as of late 2003/early 2004, on a spiritual quest--which I'm still on. I call myself a Catholic-Christian by culture, and a spiritual seeker.
4) How I define my bisexuality:
In 1989, I said "I love vanilla ice cream, but sometimes, I want strawberry."
By 1992, I defined it as:
"I fall in love with the person, not the gender."
5) I would like to adopt a child, perhaps an older child who is labeled "unadoptable". I never had that burning desire to birth a child, but believe I may have some good to offer a child who has no home/parent.
6)I hate mayonnaise. It's okay mixed into a potato salad(sometimes) but I would NEVER eat it on a sandwich. Yuck!
7)I think actors who perform onstage are never given enough credit. It's exhilirating--and exhausting-- work, making every time you perform, "fresh", and seemingly "new".
Here's the link to Thorne, and "Thorne's World", and the entry that spawned this response from me.
http://thornesworld.com/2009/05/31/black-magick-white-witches-and-true-will/comment-page-1/#comment-2158
I tag:
Jayne Harnett-Hargrove, of the blog, "Harnett-Hargrove".
Marianna, of the blog, "A Momentary Cloudiness of a 'Dirty' Mind".
Betmo, of "Betmo's Corner".
Average American Patriot, of "An Average American Patriot".
Dustin Brookshire, of the blog, "I Was Born Doing Reference Work In Sin".
There are links to all of the above, just to the right of this post, in the column marked "Poets, Bloggers, and Others".
Look for a special post coming up this week, at Lisa Allender Writes, on why I love my Pax Christi(Peace Christ) chapter (reprinted, with a few additions, from my most recent post at my blog,"Practice What You Peace").
Peace, kids.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
HAPPY EASTER/HAPPY SPRING!!!
HAPPY EASTER/HAPPY SPRING!!!
If you call yourself a Christian, then today is one of the most important days of your life--the commemoration/celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Even before I embraced faith, even back when I lived and breathed only Atheist "doctrine"(if I could not SEE something in front of me, it did not exist), Spring still felt "special". I now know that what I responded to back then, was the sense of "renewal" one feels, every Spring.
With meditation and prayer, I made the link only a few years ago, to a belief in God, and in Christ.
I am one of those liberal Christians who believes in the tenants of "social Gospel"--that means we endeavor to address the needs of the marginalized--just as Christ did. Feeding the hungry, clothing and housing the poor, and providing education and medical and other assistance for the troubled. I also believe that those who call themselves "Christian" who attempt to exclude those of us who are LGBTQ, are deeply misguided(Blacks were once excluded from many early Christian groups). God exists for all of us. Period.
I will never tell you that my way is the only way to enlightenment, or fulfillment. But I can tell you, without reservation, that with God I am a larger, more fulfilled person, than I was for so many years before finding my way to faith.
I pray that all my readers will come to a sense of serving a larger purpose, however you may find it.
God Bless You All, and HAPPY EASTER!!
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/
Please note: I'll be out-of-town for nearly 8 days, and will resume blogging and responding to e-mails, next Tuesday, April 21st.
If you call yourself a Christian, then today is one of the most important days of your life--the commemoration/celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Even before I embraced faith, even back when I lived and breathed only Atheist "doctrine"(if I could not SEE something in front of me, it did not exist), Spring still felt "special". I now know that what I responded to back then, was the sense of "renewal" one feels, every Spring.
With meditation and prayer, I made the link only a few years ago, to a belief in God, and in Christ.
I am one of those liberal Christians who believes in the tenants of "social Gospel"--that means we endeavor to address the needs of the marginalized--just as Christ did. Feeding the hungry, clothing and housing the poor, and providing education and medical and other assistance for the troubled. I also believe that those who call themselves "Christian" who attempt to exclude those of us who are LGBTQ, are deeply misguided(Blacks were once excluded from many early Christian groups). God exists for all of us. Period.
I will never tell you that my way is the only way to enlightenment, or fulfillment. But I can tell you, without reservation, that with God I am a larger, more fulfilled person, than I was for so many years before finding my way to faith.
I pray that all my readers will come to a sense of serving a larger purpose, however you may find it.
God Bless You All, and HAPPY EASTER!!
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/
Please note: I'll be out-of-town for nearly 8 days, and will resume blogging and responding to e-mails, next Tuesday, April 21st.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
I'LL BE ABSENT FOR A FEW DAYS. BUT FIRST:
A reminder:
Fr. John Dear, Peace activist extraordinaire, will be at The Carter Center on Wednesday night, Nov.19th, and you may wish to arrive before 7:00 P.M., in order to obtain a seat! His newest book(he's authored, or edited over 25 books)is "A Persistent Peace", an autobiography. This Jesuit priest has been arrested numerous times for his acts of Civil Disobedience. He obeys his conscience, NOT mere laws. A true teacher for all of us!
check out my other blog,
Practice What You Peace, at:
www.practicewhatyoupeace.blogspot.com/
and also:
www.johndear.org
Next week, I'll be (finally!) posting a slew of photos here at Lisa Allender Writes, including some requested(silk-charmeuse wedding dress) by Lydia of the Blog, "Writerquake"; a chipmunk or two, for Selma of "Selma in the City" blog; and photos of The Atlanta Queer Lit Fest(from weeks ago!) and lastly, pics from the Prop 8 Protest at The Georgia State Capitol(last weekend).
Be sure to check out all the new links I've added to my "Poets, Bloggers, and Others" list, to the right of this column. I plan to add, once a week, at least two "new sites you MUST visit".
I'll be visiting with my family a bit, the next several days, and preparing(by resting!) for my (long overdue!) surgery, too! Surgery will be in early December.
Hope you all have a great week! I'll be back at this computer, on Monday.
Peace, kids.
A reminder:
Fr. John Dear, Peace activist extraordinaire, will be at The Carter Center on Wednesday night, Nov.19th, and you may wish to arrive before 7:00 P.M., in order to obtain a seat! His newest book(he's authored, or edited over 25 books)is "A Persistent Peace", an autobiography. This Jesuit priest has been arrested numerous times for his acts of Civil Disobedience. He obeys his conscience, NOT mere laws. A true teacher for all of us!
check out my other blog,
Practice What You Peace, at:
www.practicewhatyoupeace.blogspot.com/
and also:
www.johndear.org
Next week, I'll be (finally!) posting a slew of photos here at Lisa Allender Writes, including some requested(silk-charmeuse wedding dress) by Lydia of the Blog, "Writerquake"; a chipmunk or two, for Selma of "Selma in the City" blog; and photos of The Atlanta Queer Lit Fest(from weeks ago!) and lastly, pics from the Prop 8 Protest at The Georgia State Capitol(last weekend).
Be sure to check out all the new links I've added to my "Poets, Bloggers, and Others" list, to the right of this column. I plan to add, once a week, at least two "new sites you MUST visit".
I'll be visiting with my family a bit, the next several days, and preparing(by resting!) for my (long overdue!) surgery, too! Surgery will be in early December.
Hope you all have a great week! I'll be back at this computer, on Monday.
Peace, kids.
Friday, October 03, 2008
THE VP DEBATE...AND A THANK YOU FROM A CONDEMNED PRISONER, WHO VERY LIKELY, IS COMPLETELY INNOCENT.
First, props to Senator Joe Biden for his great debate last night. I thought you were actually too much of a gentleman, Senator Biden, but good-for-you for being kind. His opponent, Wolf-Killer (as I said in previous posts, I refuse to use her name) was able to manage a few complete sentences, and was "folksy". I saw one undecided female voter interviewed this morning, and she actually said "Oh, I could have a cup of coffee with her; she's like me. She's got my vote."
SAY WHAT? I guess Bill Maher is correct--never underestimate the stupidity of this country! Having said that, I still say we've also got some thoughtful, well-read people who are going to vote, and they will vote Obama/Biden. Let's hope the newly registered get out and vote, and let's see a "sweep" for Obama!
Below, deadly-serious news. And, an act of gratefulness that is mind-boggling. Read on.....
A LETTER OF THANKS FROM CONDEMNED PRISONER, TROY DAVIS.
I was made aware of this letter by my wonderful Pax Christi group(Pax Christi, St. Jude's, here in the Atlanta area). This was first published online at:www.bodyontheline.wordpress.com I am posting it here, and also at: www.practicewhatyoupeace.blogspot.com because it should be seen by as many people as possible. Thank you for reading this, and for acting on it, too.
___________________________________________________
___
Marcy Newman October 1, 2008
a letter from troy davis
from amnesty international’s urgent action center
read the letter. click the link above. take a moment to work to save this man’s life. make some time to eradicate the barbaric death penalty.
the words below are his. the bold below is mine:
To all,
I want to thank all of you for your efforts and dedication to Human Rights and Human Kindness, in the past year I have experienced such emotion, joy, sadness and never ending faith.
It is because of all of you that I am alive today, as I look at my sister Martina I am marveled by the love she has for me and of course I worry about her and her health, but as she tells me she is the eldest and she will not back down from this fight to save my life and prove to the world that I am innocent of this terrible crime.
As I look at my mail from across the globe, from places I have never ever dreamed I would know about and people speaking languages and expressing cultures and religions I could only hope to one day see first hand.
I am humbled by the emotion that fills my heart with overwhelming, overflowing Joy.
I can’t even explain the insurgence of emotion I feel when I try to express the strength I draw from you all, it compounds my faith and it shows me yet again that this is not a case about the death penalty, this is not a case about Troy Davis, this is a case about Justice and the Human Spirit to see Justice prevail.
I cannot answer all of your letters but I do read them all, I cannot see you all but I can imagine your faces, I cannot hear you speak but your letters take me to the far reaches of the world, I cannot touch you physically but I feel your warmth everyday I exist.
So Thank you and remember I am in a place where execution can only destroy your physical form but because of my faith in God, my family and all of you I have been spiritually free for some time and no matter what happens in the days, weeks to come, this Movement to end the death penalty, to seek true justice, to expose a system that fails to protect the innocent must be accelerated.
There are so many more Troy Davis’. This fight to end the death penalty is not won or lost through me but through our strength to move forward and save every innocent person in captivity around the globe. We need to dismantle this Unjust system city by city, state by state and country by country.
I can’t wait to Stand with you, no matter if that is in physical or spiritual form, I will one day be announcing, “I AM TROY DAVIS, and I AM FREE!”
Never Stop Fighting for Justice and We will Win!
– Troy Davis
________________________________________________
Please keep Troy Davis in your thoughts and prayers. And contact Amnesty International at that link, above. May God Bless You All.
Peace, kids.
First, props to Senator Joe Biden for his great debate last night. I thought you were actually too much of a gentleman, Senator Biden, but good-for-you for being kind. His opponent, Wolf-Killer (as I said in previous posts, I refuse to use her name) was able to manage a few complete sentences, and was "folksy". I saw one undecided female voter interviewed this morning, and she actually said "Oh, I could have a cup of coffee with her; she's like me. She's got my vote."
SAY WHAT? I guess Bill Maher is correct--never underestimate the stupidity of this country! Having said that, I still say we've also got some thoughtful, well-read people who are going to vote, and they will vote Obama/Biden. Let's hope the newly registered get out and vote, and let's see a "sweep" for Obama!
Below, deadly-serious news. And, an act of gratefulness that is mind-boggling. Read on.....
A LETTER OF THANKS FROM CONDEMNED PRISONER, TROY DAVIS.
I was made aware of this letter by my wonderful Pax Christi group(Pax Christi, St. Jude's, here in the Atlanta area). This was first published online at:www.bodyontheline.wordpress.com I am posting it here, and also at: www.practicewhatyoupeace.blogspot.com because it should be seen by as many people as possible. Thank you for reading this, and for acting on it, too.
___________________________________________________
___
Marcy Newman October 1, 2008
a letter from troy davis
from amnesty international’s urgent action center
read the letter. click the link above. take a moment to work to save this man’s life. make some time to eradicate the barbaric death penalty.
the words below are his. the bold below is mine:
To all,
I want to thank all of you for your efforts and dedication to Human Rights and Human Kindness, in the past year I have experienced such emotion, joy, sadness and never ending faith.
It is because of all of you that I am alive today, as I look at my sister Martina I am marveled by the love she has for me and of course I worry about her and her health, but as she tells me she is the eldest and she will not back down from this fight to save my life and prove to the world that I am innocent of this terrible crime.
As I look at my mail from across the globe, from places I have never ever dreamed I would know about and people speaking languages and expressing cultures and religions I could only hope to one day see first hand.
I am humbled by the emotion that fills my heart with overwhelming, overflowing Joy.
I can’t even explain the insurgence of emotion I feel when I try to express the strength I draw from you all, it compounds my faith and it shows me yet again that this is not a case about the death penalty, this is not a case about Troy Davis, this is a case about Justice and the Human Spirit to see Justice prevail.
I cannot answer all of your letters but I do read them all, I cannot see you all but I can imagine your faces, I cannot hear you speak but your letters take me to the far reaches of the world, I cannot touch you physically but I feel your warmth everyday I exist.
So Thank you and remember I am in a place where execution can only destroy your physical form but because of my faith in God, my family and all of you I have been spiritually free for some time and no matter what happens in the days, weeks to come, this Movement to end the death penalty, to seek true justice, to expose a system that fails to protect the innocent must be accelerated.
There are so many more Troy Davis’. This fight to end the death penalty is not won or lost through me but through our strength to move forward and save every innocent person in captivity around the globe. We need to dismantle this Unjust system city by city, state by state and country by country.
I can’t wait to Stand with you, no matter if that is in physical or spiritual form, I will one day be announcing, “I AM TROY DAVIS, and I AM FREE!”
Never Stop Fighting for Justice and We will Win!
– Troy Davis
________________________________________________
Please keep Troy Davis in your thoughts and prayers. And contact Amnesty International at that link, above. May God Bless You All.
Peace, kids.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
THREE TOPICS TODAY: CERN; TROY DAVIS AND THE MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE; AND HOW TO CATCH RAPISTS AND CHILD-MOLESTERS---ONLINE!
On September 7th and 8th, I posted about CERN. The Sept. 7th entry features a hilarious video which explains CERN. Update on this, in article, below!______________________________________________________ __________________________________
CERN: Damage to new collider forces 2-month halt
By ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS, Associated Press Writer
The world's largest atom smasher — which was launched with great fanfare earlier this month — has been damaged worse than previously thought and will be out of commission for at least two months, its operators said Saturday.
Experts have gone into 17-mile (27-kilometer) circular tunnel housing the Large Hadron Collider under the Swiss-French border to examine the damage that halted operations about 36 hours after its Sept. 10 startup, said James Gillies, spokesman for CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research.
"It's too early to say precisely what happened, but it seems to be a faulty electrical connection between two magnets that stopped superconducting, melted and led to a mechanical failure and let the helium out," Gillies told The Associated Press.
Gillies said the sector that was damaged will have to be warmed up well above the absolute zero temperature used for operations so that repairs can be made — a time-consuming process.
"A number of magnets raised their temperature by around 100 degrees," Gillies said. "We have now to warm up the whole sector in a controlled manner before we can actually go in and repair it."
The $10 billion particle collider, in the design and construction stages for more than two decades, is the world's largest atom smasher. It fires beams of protons from the nuclei of atoms around the tunnels at nearly the speed of light.
It then causes the protons to collide, revealing how the tiniest particles were first created after the "big bang," which many theorize was the massive explosion that formed the stars, planets and everything.
Gillies said such failures occur frequently in particle accelerators, but it was made more complicated in this case because the Large Hadron Collider operates at near absolute zero, colder than outer space, for maximum efficiency.
"When they happen in our other accelerators, it's a matter of a couple of days to fix them," Gillies said. "But because this is a superconducting machine and you've got long warmup and cool-down periods, it means we're going to be off for a couple of months."
He said it would take "several weeks minimum" to warm up the sector.
"Then we can fix it," Gillies said. "Then we cool it down again."
CERN announced Thursday that it had shut down the collider a week ago after a successful startup that had beams of protons circling in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions in the collider.
It was at first thought the failure of an electrical transformer that handles part of the cooling was the problem, CERN said. That transformer was replaced last weekend and the machine was lowered back to operating temperature to prepare for a resumption of operations.
But then more inspections were needed and it was determined that the problem was worse than initially thought, said Gillies.
The CERN experiments with the particle collider hope to reveal more about "dark matter," antimatter and possibly hidden dimensions of space and time. They could also find evidence of a hypothetical particle — the Higgs boson — which is sometimes called the "God particle" because it is believed to give mass to all other particles, and thus to matter that makes up the universe.
Smaller colliders have been used for decades to study the makeup of the atom. Scientists once thought protons and neutrons were the smallest components of an atom's nucleus, but experiments have shown that protons and neutrons are made of quarks and gluons and that there are other forces and particles.
The LHC provides much greater power than earlier colliders.
Its start came over the objections of some who feared the collision of protons could eventually imperil the Earth by creating micro black holes — subatomic versions of collapsed stars whose gravity is so strong they can suck in planets and other stars.
___________________________________________________
__________________
So we'll have to wait awhile before we can unlock the secrets of the Universe, including our understanding of the "God particle" referenced above. What can we do in the meantime? Even when science disappoints us, we can use our core beliefs, to make a difference. I'm begging you to make a difference, right now, in two areas:
First, a man's life is at stake.
Troy Davis has never been proven guilty of the crime for which he was (erroneously) convicted. I have included a brilliant letter written by fellow-Pax Christi-member, Mary Jean Goode, below, which details the many recantings of testimony, and the huge amount of proof of his innocence.....
The following letter was recently published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and I am begging you to take to heart what dear friend Mary Jean has said, and please, please contact your senators, and write the Georgia State Board of Corrections immediately.
_________________________________________________
Executions kill any chance to correct possible injustice
By MARY JEAN GOODE
On Sept. 23, our great state of Georgia is poised to deliver a miscarriage of justice in the name of its citizenry. A man, on death row for the 1989 murder of an off-duty policeman in Savannah, is scheduled to die on that date.
A heinous crime was committed — one that defies understanding. The familial pain inflicted can only be imagined. The loss will never subside and their burden will never be diminished by any judicial ruling.
As a society, we kill to teach that killing is wrong. Can anyone say that Troy Anthony Davis, the accused, is the murderer in this tragedy beyond doubt? The burden of proof was circumstantial by all admission: no physical evidence of any description, no weapon, no fingerprints, no DNA. The conviction was made from the least reliable source: eyewitness accounts. Nine claimed to have seen Davis commit the crime. Seven recanted their testimony; two have not. One of those two is a suspect, and the other is a person who claimed to have seen no one do the shooting, but changed his testimony through interrogation. Troy Davis may not have proven his innocence at trial, but no one, with absolute certainty, has proven his guilt.
At a conference sponsored by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life in 2002, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia responded to a question on whether he thought the death penalty would inevitably lead to the condemnation of someone who is innocent. In the transcript, he replied: “Well, of course it will. I mean you cannot have any system of human justice that is going to be perfect. And if the death penalty is immoral for that reason, so is life in prison. You think you’re not going to have innocent people put in prison for life? It’s one of the risks of living in an organized human society.” Later he ventured to say that he felt the innocent rarely received the death penalty.
Unfortunately, time has proved him to be dead wrong. Larry Griffin in Missouri, Carlos DeLuna, Reuben Cantu and Cameron Todd Willingham — all from Texas — have one thing in common besides being executed. Each died with lingering questions as to his guilt, and evidence that gave a strong preponderance toward innocence. Who wins in the end, when the end does not justify the means?
Unlike Scalia’s assessment that imperfections in our justice system are to be taken for granted, I would hope that as Americans we can finally muster the courage to say enough is enough to a barbaric system with such obvious flaws. As a nation we have the means to assure the safety of the public trust without the need for retaliation and vengeance under the guise of retributive justice. Our judicial and legislative systems can favor morality in judgment when fair-minded people recognize there is no margin for error regarding the permanence of the death penalty as opposed to a sentence of life in prison without parole.
I have never met Troy Davis and have nothing to gain from requesting clemency in his name. Yet I have everything to gain because I am pro-life, and I fail my conscience and my faith when I continue to maintain silence. I fail my children and grandchildren in their promise for a better world. I fail to respect life in all its sacredness by succumbing to a “culture of death,” as Pope John Paul II succinctly put it. Pope Benedict XVI, his successor, requested that Troy Davis be re-sentenced to life in prison without parole. I hope others will join him. There should be — and I hope there will be — an outcry on the death penalty from all those who profess to be pro-life. This is not a made-for-TV prime-time spectacle. It is real life. Some might say that as a Catholic I am imposing my belief system on others. On the contrary. As an ordinary citizen, I am simply telling my state of Georgia: Do not kill in my name.
Mary Jean Goode, a retired nurse, lives in Dunwoody.
__________________________________________________
________________________________
Kids, I am against the Death Penalty in all cases, as I believe the State (and that includes us, kids) does NOT have the right to take a life. On a common-sense level, we are the only Western government that still holds executions. Ironic, isn't it? All the countries' leaders we deplore, all the governments we say are barbaric--including the Middle East's archaic, cruel laws--all include the Death Penalty as part of their "justice" system. And this punishment has never been proven to be a deterrent, either. In fact, in the areas where it is used, violent crime goes UP! It is symptomatic of what the RC Church often calls "a Culture of Death".
So, here's the scoop on Troy Davis---if nothing changes, he has less than a week to live!
Here is more info, on how you may help(this will take only about 2 minutes out of your life. And it may save Troy Davis' life...
The following is from Joe Goode, our moderator at Pax Christi:
____________________________________________________________________________H
Here's a good site regarding the status of the execution.
Click here: More Action For Troy Davis : The Curvature
Click on the "send your email and letter today" near bottom if you want to email or call the Pardons board. Amnesty says the board can reassemble at any time before the execution. Seems to me that is our best hope to stop this travesty.
Also, I gather the U.S. Supreme Court can stop the execution. Here is an interesting article I found at: Click here: DC Indymedia: GEORGIA SIGNS NEW DEATH WARRANT FOR EXECUTION OF TROY ANTHONY DAVIS .
(written on Sep. 4)
"At present, Troy Davis has a petition for review before the U.S. Supreme Court. He filed that petition before the U.S. Supreme Court in July 2008. However, the Supreme Court will be on vacation until the first week in October and, at least for the time being, will not consider that petition. In the meantime, no government official can stop the September 2008 execution of Troy Anthony Davis except Justice Clarence Thomas (who serves for the time being as the U.S. Supreme Court justice who hears emergency petitions while the U.S. Supreme Court remains on vacation) and the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Parole. Troy Davis' appellate lawyers plan to file an emergency petition asking Clarence Thomas to stay the execution until the entire U.S. Supreme Court returns from vacation in October. If Justice Thomas grants a temporary stay as shall be requested, then the U.S. Supreme Court would be able to decide whether to grant or to deny Troy Davis' main petition which he filed in July 2008. In the meantime, the grassroots effort to save Troy Davis plans to hold a national rally in Atlanta, Georgia to save Troy's life. That national grassroots rally will take place on September 18, 2008 and will likely be staged at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in Atlanta. Also, the movement to save Troy will also work with Troy's lawyers to file a petition asking the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Parole to grant Troy Davis a full pardon in this case. That petition would be based on Troy Davis' claim of actual innocence."
This was written Sep. 4. Since that time the Pardons and Parole Board has met (Sep. 12) and rejected the appeal to stay the execution. Unless the Pardons Board decides to review the case again, it seems that only one person can stop the execution, Clarence Thomas. Clarence, an African-American Catholic, was born in Pin Point, Georgia, a small Gullah-speaking community outside Savannah. Since the pope has requested that Troy Davis not be executed and the Roman Catholic Church absolutely forbids use of the death penalty (except where the public can be protected in no other way - which is clearly not the case in the United States), one would have great hope that Justice Thomas would stop this madness. However, I believe only God can cause Clarence Thomas to save Troy's life.
_______________________________________________________
____________________________
Thank you, Joe Goode, for the info, above.
And now, kids, my second request for your help. This has to do with stopping the internet child pornography traffickers who molest toddlers and young children and infants(often "on-demand" crimes which are broadcast, and/or shared, and spread this crime across the globe). Oprah Winfrey has teamed up with a police officer in Wyoming who has created software which can "flag" a repeat offender. This only affects those who have a history on their computer, of searching for, and/or deciminating child pornography (over 40% of those same folks are molesting and raping children. The child pornography "fuels" this crime). The US Bill 1738 would help ensure funding for more officers, and more resources(computers, etc.) to accomplish this herculean feat. Please click on the link below. When you arrive at Oprah Dot Com (you can also read about her show that addressed this subject, which aired this past Monday), just click on the Protect Our Children Act, and get the names of the Senators in your area. Then call, e-mail and/or write them and URGE THEM TO VOTE YES! ON BILL 1738, or use the prepared letter at Oprah's site.
I've already done this, and it took me less than three minutes. I have also received a quick response from Senator Saxby Chambliss who has promised to vote for US Bill 1738.
(He's Republican, and generally far more conservative than me, but this goes to show you, this is a NON-PARTISAN issue--this is about protecting our most defenseless victims of crime).
When one man who admitted molesting infants was asked why he chose to offend a three-month-old, he said he knew a child that young could not articulate what had happened to them.
It's time to DO something about this despicable crime, instead of merely getting angry about it. Click on:
http://www.oprah.com/
and take three minutes out of your lovely Saturday, to help catch the people who--this minute--are molesting and raping, "on-demand"--our children. Our voiceless children.
Thank you for your patience in reading all I posted today. I'm still very ill, so it's back to bed for me.
Peace, kids.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION.
From Oprah's website, here's the answer given by a famed author and Holocaust survivor when asked:What Does Spirituality Mean to You?
Elie Wiesel, President of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity and author of Night (Hill and Wang)
"Is it at all possible to live without a spiritual quest? Of course it is—theoretically. Under the two totalitarian dictatorships that plagued the 20th century, Fascism and Communism, politics replaced spirituality. But lest we forget: Both collapsed. Can one be spiritual without religious faith? One can. All one needs is to be open to someone else's concerns, fears, and hopes, and to make him or her feel less alone, less abandoned. God alone is alone. Human beings are not, must not be. It is my caring for the otherness of the other that determines my humanity. And my spirituality."
How's that for something to ponder on a quiet Saturday afternoon? This Memorial Weekend, kids, amidst parades and barbeques, please remember that our duty, obligation, moral imperative, is to:
* remember those who've suffered,
*lessen or prevent any future suffering, and
*promote peace.
It's not at all contradictory to promote the concept of Peace when so many people who died serving in the military are being remembered. It is, in fact, only when we achieve a Peaceful, Peace-filled world, that we may ensure we lose no one else to war.
For ways on how to begin your own Peace process, check out:
http://www.paxchristi.org/
From Oprah's website, here's the answer given by a famed author and Holocaust survivor when asked:What Does Spirituality Mean to You?
Elie Wiesel, President of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity and author of Night (Hill and Wang)
"Is it at all possible to live without a spiritual quest? Of course it is—theoretically. Under the two totalitarian dictatorships that plagued the 20th century, Fascism and Communism, politics replaced spirituality. But lest we forget: Both collapsed. Can one be spiritual without religious faith? One can. All one needs is to be open to someone else's concerns, fears, and hopes, and to make him or her feel less alone, less abandoned. God alone is alone. Human beings are not, must not be. It is my caring for the otherness of the other that determines my humanity. And my spirituality."
How's that for something to ponder on a quiet Saturday afternoon? This Memorial Weekend, kids, amidst parades and barbeques, please remember that our duty, obligation, moral imperative, is to:
* remember those who've suffered,
*lessen or prevent any future suffering, and
*promote peace.
It's not at all contradictory to promote the concept of Peace when so many people who died serving in the military are being remembered. It is, in fact, only when we achieve a Peaceful, Peace-filled world, that we may ensure we lose no one else to war.
For ways on how to begin your own Peace process, check out:
http://www.paxchristi.org/
Monday, January 08, 2007
On January 1st, I took a vow. NOT the one I'm readying myself to take on Feburary 10th(my Wedding date).The Vow I pledged to keep on January 1st was The Vow of Non-Violence.
It took place at my Mom's church-- St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church, in the Atlanta area. It's a church that has become a sort of "home away from home", in terms of where I have found the ability to serve others, and to feel more connected to God. Although I am certainly not able to be a spokesperson for the Catholic Church, I can tell you that joining Pax Christi(literal translation is: Peace Christ)has been transformative for me, particularly in terms of WALKING with Peace, rather than merely discussing it.
This organization honors World Peace Day(Jan. 1st) EVERY year, and every years, millions take the Vow-- or Pledge--of Non-Violence.
The vow is a promise to keep Peace in your heart, for one year....
Here is the COMPLETE VOW, and information on how to take the Pledge, below.
May God Bless All Of You For Reading and Meditating on this!!!
VOW OF NONVIOLENCE
RECOGNIZING THE VIOLENCE IN MY OWN HEART, yet trusting in the goodness and mercy of God, I vow for one year to practice the nonviolence of Jesus who taught us in the Sermon on the Mount:
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons and daughters of God...You have learned how it was said, "You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy"; but I say to you, "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. In this way, you will be daughters and sons of your Creator in heaven."
Before God the Creator and the Sanctifying Spirit, I vow to carry out in my life the love and example of Jesus
by striving for peace within myself and seeking to be a peacemaker in my daily life;
by accepting suffering rather than inflicting it;
by refusing to retaliate in the face of provocation and violence;
by persevering in nonviolence of tongue and heart;
by living conscientiously and simply so that I do not deprive others of the means to live;
by actively resisting evil and working nonviolently to abolish war and the causes of war from my own heart and from the face of the earth.
God, I trust in Your sustaining love and believe that just as You gave me the grace and desire to offer this, so You will also bestow abundant grace to fulfill it.
After reading and reflecting on the Vow of Nonviolence, people often commit themselves to trying to follow it daily for a year. If a group of people is committing to the vow, a ceremony can be planned. We invite all who take the vow to sign the following commitment statement and return it to us at Pax Christi USA, 532 West 8th Street, Erie, PA 16502 or at info@paxchristiusa.org
I commit myself to living according to the Vow of Nonviolence for a one year period.
Signature ___________________________________________________________
Name (Print) ________________________________________________________
Street ______________________________________________________________
City __________________________________ State ___________ Zip _________
Date _______________________________________________________________
It took place at my Mom's church-- St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church, in the Atlanta area. It's a church that has become a sort of "home away from home", in terms of where I have found the ability to serve others, and to feel more connected to God. Although I am certainly not able to be a spokesperson for the Catholic Church, I can tell you that joining Pax Christi(literal translation is: Peace Christ)has been transformative for me, particularly in terms of WALKING with Peace, rather than merely discussing it.
This organization honors World Peace Day(Jan. 1st) EVERY year, and every years, millions take the Vow-- or Pledge--of Non-Violence.
The vow is a promise to keep Peace in your heart, for one year....
Here is the COMPLETE VOW, and information on how to take the Pledge, below.
May God Bless All Of You For Reading and Meditating on this!!!
VOW OF NONVIOLENCE
RECOGNIZING THE VIOLENCE IN MY OWN HEART, yet trusting in the goodness and mercy of God, I vow for one year to practice the nonviolence of Jesus who taught us in the Sermon on the Mount:
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons and daughters of God...You have learned how it was said, "You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy"; but I say to you, "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. In this way, you will be daughters and sons of your Creator in heaven."
Before God the Creator and the Sanctifying Spirit, I vow to carry out in my life the love and example of Jesus
by striving for peace within myself and seeking to be a peacemaker in my daily life;
by accepting suffering rather than inflicting it;
by refusing to retaliate in the face of provocation and violence;
by persevering in nonviolence of tongue and heart;
by living conscientiously and simply so that I do not deprive others of the means to live;
by actively resisting evil and working nonviolently to abolish war and the causes of war from my own heart and from the face of the earth.
God, I trust in Your sustaining love and believe that just as You gave me the grace and desire to offer this, so You will also bestow abundant grace to fulfill it.
After reading and reflecting on the Vow of Nonviolence, people often commit themselves to trying to follow it daily for a year. If a group of people is committing to the vow, a ceremony can be planned. We invite all who take the vow to sign the following commitment statement and return it to us at Pax Christi USA, 532 West 8th Street, Erie, PA 16502 or at info@paxchristiusa.org
I commit myself to living according to the Vow of Nonviolence for a one year period.
Signature ___________________________________________________________
Name (Print) ________________________________________________________
Street ______________________________________________________________
City __________________________________ State ___________ Zip _________
Date _______________________________________________________________
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