Pax Christi Metro DC Baltimore

Saturday, November 5, 2021, at 7 p.m. EST

Via Zoom -- click HERE a little before 7 p.m.

A PDF version of this announcement is available for download by clicking here.

Join Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore for our 15th Annual Peacemaker of the Year celebration, honoring John Whitehead

John Whitehead is a writer and activist based in Baltimore. He has been involved for more than a decade with the Consistent Life Network (www.consistentlifenetwork.org), an international coalition dedicated to promoting a consistent ethic of reverence for life. John has served CLN variously as president, secretary, and Board member and is currently on the group’s Advisory Board.

John also serves as an editor and writer for Rehumanize International (https://www.rehumanizeintl.org), another consistent-life-ethic advocacy organization. He received his master’s degree from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University and maintains a website on peace, war, and international relations, Peacemaking for Life (https://peacemakingforlife.com).

John has a particular focus on nuclear disarmament. Before COVID-19, he organized quarterly protests against nuclear weapons at the White House in which Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore members participated. He also joined us from time to time for our monthly protests against drone killing, and for several years we teamed up with John and his group for the annual March for Life.

Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore is a region of Pax Christi USA, a national section of Pax Christi International. Rooted in the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching, we witness to Jesus’ teaching and example of nonviolence, rejecting war and affirming the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person.

Monthly Reflection

Prayer and Action for the Abolition of the Death Penalty

2022-09-15 03:28:49

The papal intention for the month of September is: “That the death penalty, which attacks the dignity of the human person, may be legally abolished in every country.” To see a two-minute video of the Pope’s prayer message about this, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpv3zCBJzSc. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states clearly

Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore

Priorities

Human Dignity

The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred. Our passion for peace is rooted in respect for life. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops summarizes the proud tradition of Catholic Social Teaching under seven themes. Life and Dignity of the Human Person is listed first, as the foundation of all succeeding principles and “the foundation of a moral vision for society.” Abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, and war are cited together as violations of our God-given dignity.

Nuclear Weapons

The time has come for new thinking on how to challenge complacency surrounding the belief in nuclear deterrence. Changed circumstances bring new responsibilities for decision-makers. The apparent benefits that nuclear deterrence once provided have been compromised, and proliferation results in grave new dangers. The time has come to embrace the abolition of nuclear weapons as an essential foundation of collective security. . . .

Just Peace

“No one has greater love,” Jesus said, than “to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13), not “to kill others for one’s friends.”