World Watch: Peace Witness Prayer Service at the National Cathedral

March 2007 issue of Maryknoll US Catholic Church in mission overseas

Christian Peace Witness–The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns is one of many sponsors of the upcoming “Christian Peace Witness for Iraq.” We ask you to join us for an ecumenical public witness in Washington, DC, on March 16, the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq. As followers of Jesus Christ, our faith compels us to make our voice heard–to renew our commitment to peacemaking and to repent of our pre-emptive invasion and occupation of Iraq.

The focus of the witness will be ending the US occupation. Like Isaiah, we are called to raise our prophetic voice, saying that security cannot be achieved through military domination of one people over another. We call on one another to find genuine security in God, who insists that we build just relationships with all people. We call on the president and Congress to bring our troops home from Iraq, to remove our military bases and to stop threatening Iran and other nations.

We call on Congress to provide generous support for veterans and active-duty soldiers and their families as they seek to rebuild their lives. We advocate international reconstruction of Iraq and the provision of humanitarian aid for shattered Iraqi families.

We insist that our government treat all enemy combatants humanely and ensure that torture is banned by all agencies of the US government. We call on the president and Congress to create a federal budget that puts priority on basic human needs instead of on making war.

An evening ecumenical worship service will be held at the Washington National Cathedral, followed by a candlelight procession to the White House, and a late night peace vigil. Go to website http://www.christianpeacewitness.org for more information, including how to connect with others in your area, or contact the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns at ogc@maryknoll.org 202-832-1780.

To join the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns’ free action alert e-mail list, send an e-mail to maryknollalert-subscribe@npogroups.org To receive a complimentary copy of our bimonthly newsletter NewsNotes ($20 year, 26 pages), send your name and mailing address to ogc@maryknoll.org or to MOGC, P.O. Box 29132, Washington, DC 20017.

Editor’s note: we were there!

Witness the peace

There were so many demonstrations in Washington this week demanding an end to the war in Iraq that you could literally march all weekend. This is only the second time we felt compelled to take action, mostly out of frustration. My husband and I attended the Witness the Peace worship service, and we are immensely grateful that we did--it was incredibly powerful and moving.

Going to Washington is difficult for a well person coming from North Carolina but especially for me. The experience was fantastic and uplifting and unforgettable.

We left home around 11 a.m. Thursday, March 15, after I injected Copaxone for that day. We made the drive from North Carolina to Alexandria, Virginia, and braved the cold and rain intending to make our presence felt in a prayerful, positive way. We arrived in Alexandria around 6 p.m. We had reservations at the Comfort Inn on Van Dorn. We planned to join World Watch, a Christian Peace Witness (ecumenical) for Iraq, based on information my husband received in the Maryknoll magazine. Having made the six-hour trek only to be greeted with sleet and slippery pavement that Friday evening, we were prepared to forgo the service in the interests of our own safety.

But God smiled on us.

One we got settled at the hotel, my husband called a contact number and spoke to Dave Kane, a lay missionary. We were concerned about driving into Washington the next evening. Dave arranged for us to be picked up by Joe, who would ferry us to and from the service. Dave didn’t even bat an eyelash when I told him over the phone that I travel with wheelchair.

Joe came all the way from Arlington to pick us up, wheelchair and all, in front of our hotel. He arrived around 5 p.m. Friday, and we all headed out to the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, when Joe casually mentioned to us that he was going to be in the Procession. Joe is a delightful man the same age as my husband (that’s 10 years older than I am). On the way over to the prayer service, Joe said, “I hope we won’t be arrested tonight--it’s too cold!” I remarked that Cindy Sheehan used to take being arrested as a joke until she learned arrest etiquette. Joe commented that the police will warn you three times before they arrest you. It turned bitterly cold that evening, and sleet began to fall. Joe dropped us off at the ramp, and we made our way into the Cathedral, which was jammed with fellow worshippers. I wish I could describe the infinitely long moment that it took to get me out of the car, into the wheelchair, and into the Church. Actually, it’s probably a good thing that I can’t describe it--it was harrowing enough to curl your hair.

Safely in the Church, I was at liberty to examine and admire my surroundings. What a beautiful Church! It looked familiar; I seem to recall having visited with our girls when they were little. My husband snuggled into a seat on the aisle next to a large pillar. I had my own seat. I looked around at my fellow worshippers. All those people were there with one purpose: working for peace. The throng was composed of all kinds of Americans. We were later told from the pulpit that forty eight of the fifty states were represented there that evening. Isn’t that something?

We settled in, and the prayer service began.

It was amazing.

The service itself was wonderful beyond description. Encompassing four hours, it was a non- and multi-denominational event that recognized all of the spiritual paths that God’s children use to seek Him.

As the Procession made its way to the altar, there was “Joe,” all decked out in his Franciscan frock. Wow, we thought, Joe is a priest! Good thing we hadn’t used any foul language. We were within the first quarter of the congregation, allowing us to hear and see each speaker. All the speakers addressed topics of the day, pointing out the injustices perpetrated by America’s powerful upon America’s powerless. The lies that embroiled us in Iraq and the mishandling of the War. The torturing of our captives. The failures of this administration to heed the Army Corps of Engineers warnings that the New Orleans levees would break under the wrath of Katrina. The abandonment of the Katrina victims. The sending of troops into combat without training or equipment and the denial of proper medical care when they return home, shattered in mind and body. The administration’s siphoning of money--that could and should be used to help our military and the Katrina victims--into lucrative tax cuts for those who are already obscenely rich. The fostering of hatred, ignorance, and intolerance in a nation that claims to be Christian. Each speech was punctuated with thunderous applause. It was comforting to hear so many sharing the views and concerns that had brought us there.

Too often, my husband and I feel alone in our battle to restore our democracy as we work to restore justice to our beloved nation. After that service, I will never feel alone again. I will never forget the like-minded energy of my fellow audience members who applauded each sadly accurate observation that the speakers made. My husband and I both felt more energized than we could have imagined for having attended this powerful event.

After the ceremony, about half the audience--the hardy ones--donned slickers in preparation for the candlelight procession to the front of the White House, ending at Lafayette Park. By now, it was sleeting with enough accumulation to make all travel treacherous.

Father Joe hadn’t planned on participating in the candlelight procession, so the three of us headed back to Alexandria and the Comfort Inn. By now, it was 10:30 p.m. On the ride back, Father Joe spoke of his nearly twenty years’ service as a missionary in South America. He asked us if we do much activist work. Only by computer, generating e-mail, fax, and mass snail-mailings to our Senators, Congressman, and media. He asked if we participated in any demonstrations during the Viet Nam war protests.

He wondered if we were aware of the Camden 7, since he learned that we had lived in South Jersey for many years. The Camden 7 were Catholic anti-war protestors who broke into a government facility and burned draft cards. There was a priest among them who happened to be from our parish. No, we were young parents in those days, trying to set a good example for our two small children. My, how times have changed! Father Joe is assigned to a parish in DC where he works with the Spanish-speaking segment. This assignment allows him to pursue activist causes.

On Saturday, we thought of the scheduled march on the Pentagon as we enjoyed an uneventful trip home. I find it amazing how little of these protests is reported in our media. Do you know that folks around the world can’t believe how the American people are quite ignorant regarding events outside their little world? Sadly, we don’t seem to mind. Instead, the news is composed of weeks of the Anna Nicole Smith saga; hence, the dumbing down of America! Wake up, people! It is time to take back our country!

Like the march we participated in with my younger daughter, this prayer service is an experience I am devoutly grateful to have had. I will never forget it. As my younger daughter points out, her Daddy is her hero because, despite my MS, he sucked it up and made it happen--it was not an easy trip. Both my husband and Father Joe are heroes to both of us for making it happen. We couldn’t be more excited or more grateful.

And now, if I can just get myself warm after the chill of having been up north...