A community of faith whose members strive to live according to the teachings of the nonviolent Jesus. Our movement is rooted in Gospel Nonviolence and Catholic Social Teaching. We are aligned with Pax Christi International and Pax Christi USA. Membership is open to anyone who shares our commitment to nonviolence and the creation of a just society.
Youth activists and organizers from Bangor HS, John Bapst HS, Hampden Academy & University of Maine were joined by 150+ community members and several organizations working for climate justice! Inspired by 16 yr old Swedish student, Greta Thunberg’s call to action, the Bangor event included eloquent student speakers, a legislator card writing activity and a march downtown. Pax Christi Maine and other faith communities participated. Ahead of the United Nations Climate Action Summit to be held on Sept. 23rd in NYC, Pope Francis urged “governments to show the political will to take drastic measures” to address the climate crisis.
We are currently witnessing the escalation of threats and the misuse of power between the United States and Iran that has the potential to lead to war. The U.S. backed out of the Iran nuclear deal, against the advice of allies; inflicted and continues to inflict harmful sanctions on Iran’s economy; orchestrated a cyberattack; and sent air craft carriers, bomber planes, and troops to the Middle East. Iran shot down a U.S. military drone and continues to increase its stockpile of low-enriched uranium, a component of the nuclear industry. It was reported that last Thursday, President Trump had initiated and then subsequently called off an air strike on Iran in retaliation.
As tensions rise, Pax Christi USA has two major concerns. Most immediately, we strongly advocate for the U.S. to de-escalate this situation through non-militaristic measures. Deterrence measures through military escalation are violent, risky, wasteful, and impractical methods for avoiding war. Secondly, the threat of nuclear weaponry being built and used by Iran is still of concern. The world’s collective arsenal of nuclear bombs are already enough to destroy the planet; the U.S. needs to do its part in diplomatically decreasing this threat as well as dismantling its own nuclear stockpile.
The U.S. has the power to put a stop to the mounting tensions and threat of war. However, it appears the current administration has no diplomatic aspirations or intentions as hawkish measures and war rhetoric continue to be leveled at Iran. Any steps towards the destruction of humanity and the earth are obviously not situations of justice. If we want peace, Pax Christi USA and all others need to inundate the switchboards of Congress, (202) 224-3121 and the White House, 202-456-1111 to share their deep desire for lasting peace in the Middle East.
