On the Brink of War

By Michael F. Flach
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 3/20/03)

President George Bush’s March 17 ultimatum to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein placed the world on the brink of war. If Saddam and his sons do not meet the 48-hour deadline to leave the country, then 300,000 U.S. and British troops were expected to invade Iraq as early as Wednesday night.

"It is too late for Saddam Hussein to remain in power," Bush said. "The tyrant will soon be gone. The day of your liberation is near."

A day after Bush’s address, the Vatican warned that whoever gives up on peaceful solutions would have to answer to God and history. "Whoever decides that all the peaceful means made available under international law are exhausted assumes a grave responsibility before God, his conscience and history," said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.

Pope John Paul II said March 16 that war would have "tremendous consequences" for Iraqi civilians and for the equilibrium of the entire Middle East and could foment new forms of extremism.

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde called on local Catholics to pray and sacrifice for three days (March 18-20) for the cause of true and lasting peace in the world and for the welfare of the U.S. armed forces and their families.

"In response to President Bush’s address, I ask the members of the Diocese of Arlington to join me in storming heaven with prayer and sacrifice for the next three days (March 18-20) to obtain a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Iraq," the bishop said in a letter sent to diocesan parishes the evening of March 17.

"It is still not too late for Saddam Hussein to choose exile rather than face an armed conflict. I encourage our Catholics to participate in daily Mass and pray the rosary to obtain a conversion of mind, heart and will on the part of Saddam Hussein, the grace of true and lasting peace, divine protection for our armed forces and comfort for their families."

Bishop Loverde, anticipating the beginning of military action, also scheduled a series of six "Masses in Time of War" at different locations across the diocese.

The bishop offered the first Mass at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington on Thursday, March 20. Subsequent Masses will be offered at St. William of York Church in Stafford on Friday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m.; Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria on March 28 at 7 p.m.; St. Mary of Sorrows Church in Fairfax Station; St. Catherine of Siena Church in Great Falls; and St. John the Baptist Church in Front Royal.

Check the HERALD's Web site at www.catholicherald.com to confirm the date, time and location of all the Masses.

The churches were selected so that Catholics in all six diocesan deaneries would be able to join the bishop in this ongoing prayer for peace and for a safe return of all U.S. troops.

In addition, diocesan parishes and interfaith groups throughout Northern Virginia are continuing to pray for peace. St. Thomas a Becket Church in Reston hosted an interfaith prayer service March 19. It included a presentation of the "Just War Principles" as applied to Iraq. Jesuit Father John Langan, professor of Christian Ethics at Georgetown, was the main speaker. 

An Arlington interfaith group has scheduled a similar event on March 29 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Arlington.

St. Catherine of Siena Church has extended indefinitely its days of prayer and adoration, which include 24-hour adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and recitation of the rosary. Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Vienna is offering a weekly Mass for Peace on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

The Diocesan Peace and Justice Commission — in conjunction with the Offices of Sacred Liturgy, Family Life, Schools and Catholic Charities — has put together a resource packet to help facilitate discussions on the Church’s Just War Theory. The packet includes papal texts, a rosary for peace, general intercessions, devotional prayers, sample Masses and the "ABCs of Non-Violence."

Packets were distributed to diocesan pastors during their March 19 meeting at St. Ambrose Church in Annandale with Bishop Loverde.

The bishop earlier echoed the Holy Father’s invitation to fast and pray for peace during Lent. He also urged diocesan Catholics to pray the rosary throughout the Year of the Rosary.

Parishes or groups interested in obtaining copies of the peace packet should contact Anne Murphy, Catholic Charities’ parish social ministry program coordinator, at 703/841-3831.

Copyright ©2003 Arlington Catholic Herald.  All rights reserved.