Gaza and peace

Bishop Richard E. Pates, Chair of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Dr. Carolyn Y. Woo, President of Catholic Relief Services, have written to members of Congress, urging support of an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian relief for Gaza as well as for support of a just and lasting peace.

. . . the Justice and Peace Commission of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries in the Holy Land has declared that all of these killings “are products of the injustice and of the hatred that the occupation fosters in the hearts of those prone to such deeds. These deaths are in no way justifiable and we mourn with those who mourn the waste of these young lives.” The status quo leads to deep desperation in Gaza and the West Bank, and to poverty where there should be economic opportunity. Furthermore, are excessive actions of hostility and indiscriminate punishment not breeding a whole new generation of terrorists? 

Catholic Relief Services has had to suspend operations in Gaza due to the violence, but with U.S. support, is prepared to resume humanitarian and development assistance to Gaza’s vulnerable population when a ceasefire is achieved. Such assistance reduces desperation and is good for both Palestinians and Israelis alike. 

We urge Congress to support an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian relief for Gaza. In addition, Congress should support the difficult, but essential, work of building a just and lasting peace. Only the establishment of a viable and independent Palestinian state in the near term living alongside a recognized and secure Israel will bring the peace for which majorities of both Israelis and Palestinians yearn. 

It is our hope and prayer that one day we might look back and find that this recent cycle of violence was the last — a cycle broken by a just and lasting peace agreement. Together with Pope Francis, let us agree “not to spare prayer or any effort to end every hostility and seek the desired peace for the good of all.” Let our refrain be that of Pope Francis: “Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue.”

You can read the entire letter here.

Resources for peace in Gaza

Earlier this week, I wrote in my blog about how the American bishops have called for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Today, by way of Pax Christi USA, I offer the following resources for prayer, study and action to stop the violence in Gaza. They include:

    - Pax Christi USA official statement on the violence in the Middle East;
    - A catalog of resources from across the Pax Christi International network;
    - Middle East Notes on Israel-Palestine from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns;
    - Third Thursday for Israel-Palestine actions from the Faith Forum on Middle East Policy;
    - A Prayer for Peace and an End to Violence, by Jim Hug, S.J;.
    - A Muslim-Jewish-Christian Prayer for Peace Prayer Card;
    - The Holy Land Principles – A powerful tool for justice and peace, by Tony Magliano;
    - Other articles, resources on Israel-Palestine.

Bishops call for ceasefire

America’s bishops have reiterated Pope Francis’ call for a ceasefire and peace between Israel and Hamas.

In a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, said that the United States should seek an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, provide humanitarian relief to the vulnerable people of Gaza, and return to the challenge of pursuing a just and lasting peace.

Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, wrote, “Israelis should not have to live in fear of Hamas’ indiscriminate rocket attacks on civilian areas. At the same time, Palestinians should not have to live in fear for their lives from air and ground attacks or to suffer the humiliations of occupation.”

He noted that Catholic Relief Services has had to suspend it relief efforts in Gaza because of the fighting.

The full text of the letter is here

More information on the U.S. bishops’ advocacy on Israeli-Palestinian peace is available here..