by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
“…there is no such thing as ‘disharmony’; there is either harmony or we fall into chaos, where there is violence, argument, conflict, fear…” (Pope Francis, Vigil for Peace, September 7, 2013)
On Monday, September 21, the world will observe the International Day of Peace. The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has declared this as “a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples”.
The theme this year is Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All which, according to the UN, aims “to highlight the importance of all segments of society to work together to strive for peace… governments, civil society, the private sector, faith-based groups and other non-governmental organisations…The United Nations invites all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace”.
Peace-building is at the heart of the Catholic Church’s Social Doctrine. Remember the words of Pope Paul VI: “If you want peace, work for justice.” There can be no peace as long as our world is plagued by injustices. Peace will come when we all learn to respect the dignity of each person and work to build right relationships with God, neighbour, self and all of creation. Peace will come when everyone can share equitably in the resources that God has so generously given to us.
Peace will come when nations acknowledge that stockpiling nuclear weapons to protect their citizens is not the way to go. “We are experiencing a profound poverty of relationships as a result of the lack of solid family and community relationships…fraternity is the foundation and pathway of peace” (Pope Francis, 2014 Peace Message).
To be ambassadors of peace, we need to ensure that our consciences are well formed. You will recall that I wrote recently in this column about the Assisted Dying Bill that would have given people in Britain the right to be helped to die. On September 11, the Bill was debated for four hours in the House of Commons. Thank God the Bill was defeated by a 2 to 1 majority – 330 MPs opposed the Bill and only 118 voted in favour. MPs were allowed to vote free from any party whip, according to conscience. In May 2015, MPs in Scotland had rejected the Assisted Suicide Scotland Bill by 82 votes to 36.
This is why conscience formation is so important. Paul Tully, of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said: “This was an important victory for true compassion. It is a vote of affirmation for all those healthcare staff looking after terminally ill people. It will be a great relief to those with disabilities, chronic conditions and degenerative illnesses. The threat to them has been averted for now.
“The challenge we face as a society is to ensure that in future those affected by serious and limiting conditions are not left feeling desperate for lack of proper living support…Palliative care specialists can nearly always provide effective pain relief, even for very severe pain, and this is rarely cited as a reason for contemplating suicide.”
At a five-hour vigil for peace on September 7, 2013, Pope Francis reminded us that: “Peace expresses itself only in peace, a peace which is not separate from the demands of justice but which is fostered by personal sacrifice, clemency, mercy and love” (World Day of Peace Message, 1975). Forgiveness, dialogue, reconciliation – these are the words of peace, in beloved Syria, in the Middle East, in all the world!.. How many conflicts, how many wars have marked our history! We need only look at the suffering of so many brothers and sisters…
“We let ourselves be guided by idols, by selfishness, by our own interests, and this attitude persists. We have perfected our weapons, our conscience has fallen asleep, and we have sharpened our ideas to justify ourselves. As if it were normal, we continue to sow destruction, pain, death! Violence and war lead only to death, they speak of death! Violence and war are the language of death!”
We must heed the Holy Father’s plea to pray and work for reconciliation and to “walk the path of peace…Let us pray for reconciliation and peace, let us work for reconciliation and peace, and let us all become, in every place, men and women of reconciliation and peace!”
“Peace is an indivisible good” (St Pope John Paul II). Lord, make me an instrument of your peace!
