January 2021

“Through our contemplation, transform us to listen deeply to one another and to the brokenness of the world." – A Prayer for the Life of the World

Transitioning from Just War to Just Peace Using a series of criteria to evaluate whether use of violence could be morally justifiable, the Just Our WJTM Newsletter of November 2020 made War framework did not intend to justify wars but to us aware of the urgency for transforming our prevent them. The notion was to consider war as vision to counter violence in our world. The a last resort. Nevertheless, war is always evil, present issue goes deeper into the even when it is considered a Just War. comprehension of Just Peace as a framework that can expand our living, being, and peacemaking. The framework This implies letting go of the Just War notion. looks at when to go to war (Jus ad SEE: Allow yourself to take some time to pray bellum) and with current victims of war, racism, death penalty, conduct while in deforestation, climate change, political conflicts war (Jus in bello). and other forms of violence. While often looked Many rostros concretos of our world today remind at separately, they us that the Just War theory has gone beyond its are closely related. original intent of limiting war to being used to Criteria for going justify and rationalize brutal conflicts. The damage to war inflicted on peoples, other than humans, and Earth is disproportionate to any good achieved. With Criteria for modern weaponry and war practices, protecting conduct when in civilians has become impossible. ’ war include that most recent , (October the violence used: 2020) reminds us: • cannot cause harm disproportionate to the In the words of Saint John XXIII, “It no amount of good it is expected to achieve longer makes sense to maintain that • must discriminate between combatants and war is a fit instrument with which to noncombatants; the latter should never be repair the violation of justice”. made the target of attacks. (Pacem in Terris, cited in FT, #260) Pope Francis places a transformative vision of JUDGE: Just War Theory, an Obsolete Just Peace at the heart of our relationships on the Tradition personal, interpersonal, national and international levels. In the past, Catholic tradition focused more on a “Just War Theory” than a concept of “Just Peace.” “We can no longer think of war as a The Just War theory, outlined by fourth-century solution, because its risks will probably bishop St. Augustine as a means of Christian always be greater than its supposed defense, was intended to limit violence. St. benefits. In view of this, it is very difficult codified Augustine's reflections nowadays to invoke the rational criteria into the distinct criteria that remain the basis of elaborated in earlier centuries to speak Just War Theory as it is used by nation states of the possibility of a “just war”. Never today. again war!” (FT, #258) Transforming our Vision: What does corporations oppressing the poor, violent Just Peace look like? government opposition, and even hostile forces within your own church, who is your Just Peace is a framework that calls us to most difficult opponent?” transformation. It encompasses a way of living/being with a set of practices for building Without saying a word, Dom Helder pointed peace at all stages of acute conflict—before, his hand into the air, then slowly arched it during, and after. around, until it turned on himself, his index finger pointing to his heart. “I am my own Watch a 2-minute video: Glen Harold worst enemy,” he said, “my most difficult Stassen On Just Peacemaking adversary. Here I have the greatest struggle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T for peace.” John Dear, Living Peace: qU70eiYyUo&feature=emb_logo A spirituality of Contemplation and Action

Just Peace is not merely the absence of violence The following words of wisdom will assist you in your own process: but the presence of social, economic, and political conditions that sustain peace and human Instead of loving what you think is peace, flourishing and prevent conflicts from turning love other [people] and love God above violent or returning to violence. It includes well- all. And instead of hating the people you being and plenitude for all. think are war makers, hate the appetites

Just peace theory is developed under the and the disorder in your own soul, which umbrella of the Christian traditions. However, it is are the causes of war. If you love peace, born out of the Golden Rule shared by all faith then hate injustice, hate tyranny, hate traditions. In his recent encyclical Pope Francis greed – but hate these things in yourself, reminds us again: not in another. Thomas Merton, Seeds of Contemplation “In many parts of the world, there is a need for Thus, aware that transformation starts paths of peace to heal within, we invite you:

open wounds. There is 1. Pause and pray: Prayer for Peace also a need for https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUhz- peacemakers, men and ehOVa8 women prepared to work boldly and creatively to initiate processes of healing 2. Further a collective comprehension and and renewed encounter.” (FT, #225) commitment to Just Peace by sharing in your local community and/or family: See what recent Popes said about Peacemaking: Glimpses of Just Peace • What did you learn from the articles in our last edition of Just Words, Peacemakers in Spanish are called “artisans of WJTM November and the present peace”. An artisan uses his or her own body to newsletter?. work. An artisan works in harmony with creation and originally, he or she works in guilds, with • What local steps towards others. An artisan uses both sides of his/her transformation do you find most brain. Skills and imagination are important in the urgent at this point? How can we transformation of a vision. participate collectively in those efforts? ACT: How do we transform our understanding— and our living? Just peace offers a framework not only for international global relationships but also Coming Next for interpersonal relationships and our Watch for our next issues where we will relationships with Earth and all creation. The develop Just Peace principles and moral following story can lead us to our starting point: criteria which guide actions that can assist us Brazil’s Archbishop Dom Helder Camera, in systemic change. was speaking at a crowded church in Berkeley, California. He was asked: “After facing death squads, would-be assassins,