|
In Truth, Peace
Who and what, then, can prevent the coming of peace? Sacred Scripture, in its very first book, Genesis, points to the lie told at the very beginning of history by the animal with a forked tongue, whom the Evangelist John calls ''the father of lies'' (Jn 8:44)... Lying is linked to the tragedy of sin and its perverse consequences, which have had, and continue to have, devastating effects on the lives of individuals and nations. We need but think of the events of the past century, when aberrant ideological and political systems wilfully twisted the truth and brought about the exploitation and murder of an appalling number of men and women, wiping out entire families and communities. After experiences like these, how can we fail to be seriously concerned about lies in our own time, lies which are the framework for menacing scenarios of death in many parts of the world. Any authentic search for peace must begin with the realization that the problem of truth and untruth is the concern of every man and woman; it is decisive for the peaceful future of our planet.
Benedict XVI, 2006
Message on World Peace Day
The Blessed Sacrament Peace and Justice Committee was
formed in the Spring of 2003. We are committed to
promoting the Social Justice Teachings of the church,
and to the corporal works of mercy in our city and
world.
Click here for a list of our Accomplishments
If you are
interested in joining the Peace and Justice Committee,
please contact Nina Butorac, Chair.
The issues below were formed through conversations and emails from parishioners interested in the Peace and Justice ministry.
Affiliations:
Local:
University District Interfaith Alliance [UDIA]
Seattle Archdiocese Justice and Peace
Western Dominican Province Justice and Peace
Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center
Education:
Catholic Social Teachings
Office of Social Justice
Issues and Links:
War and Peace:
SNOW Coalition
An End to Nuclear Proliferation
Prison Ministry:
Prisoner Advocay
Spiritual Advisors Liturgies
Human Life:
An End to Abortion - St. Gianna Society
An End to the Death Penalty
An End to Euthanasia
An End to Torture
Poverty:
Mission to Mexico - Pan de Vida
Sunday Dinner - St. Vincent de Paul
Food Bank - St. Vincent de Paul
Health:
Advocates for the Mentally Ill
Advocates for the Elderly
Justice:
NW Justice Project
|
 |
Cost of the War in Iraq
(JavaScript Error)
Gas! GAS! Quick, boys! An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,
And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime . . .
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues -
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori.*
Wilfred Owen - 1917
*"It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country."
So Abram rose, and clave the wood, and went,
And took the fire with him, and a knife.
And as they sojourned both of them together,
Isaac the first-born spake and said, My Father,
Behold the preparations, fire and iron,
But where the lamb, for this burnt-offering?
Then Abram bound the youth with belts and straps,
And builded parapets and trenches there,
And stretched forth the knife to slay his son.
When lo! an Angel called him out of heaven;
Saying, Lay not thy hand upon the lad,
Neither do anything to him, thy son.
Behold! Caught in a thicket by its horns,
A Ram. Offer the Ram of Pride instead.
But the old man would not so, but slew his son,
And half the seed of Europe, one by one.
Wilfred Owen - 1917
|
