Bishop Asks Area Catholics to Pray for Peace

By Michael Flach
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 2/6/03)

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde has called upon diocesan clergy "to lead the religious and laity in opportunities for prayer and reflection on Catholic moral principles that relate to war and peace."

The bishop also urged "ongoing prayer both for our national leaders, that they be given divine wisdom and insight in resolving these complex situations, and for our military personnel throughout the world, that they will be kept safe in their work to safeguard the peace."

Bishop Loverde made his request in response to the urgent crises in the Middle East, Africa, North Korea and Iraq, and in light of the recent calls for peace and alternatives to war by Pope John Paul II and the U.S. Catholic bishops.

Members of the Priests’ Council of the Diocese of Arlington — including Fathers Bob Cilinski, Tom Ferguson and Tuck Grinnell — supported the bishop’s request and committed themselves to encouraging their brother priests to implement among the clergy, religious and laity Bishop Loverde’s call for prayer and reflection on Catholic moral principles related to war and peace.

Their commitment took place during the council’s quarterly meeting with the bishop on Jan. 29. Council members pledged to implement various forms of prayer — including the Rosary, Forty Hours Eucharistic devotion and specific intentions within the Prayer of the Faithful — within their own ministerial capacities.

Council members also encouraged leadership and support of these efforts at the diocesan level by the Peace and Justice Commission and at the local level by deanery leaders.

One of the concerns in recommending this call for peace is that the Holy Father’s World Peace Day Message did not receive adequate coverage in the secular media, said Father Gerry Creedon, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Arlington and head of the diocesan Peace and Justice Commission.

"We’re doing our best to bring the papal call for peace to our people," he said. "The bishop has added his voice to the pope’s call."

At the local level, St. Charles Borromeo Parish conducted a Feb. 2 "Dialogue on Iraq" in which people with different points of view on the subject shared their concerns. Some expressed support for military action against Iraq, while others shared the Church’s "just war" teaching.

"This needs to be a dialogue," said Father Creedon. "There’s room for different judgments. We need to be respectful of the Magisterium of the Church and our history."

Forty people attended the session at St. Charles Borromeo Parish. "They all left the room with renewed respect for one another’s positions," Father Creedon said. "Church teaching allows for two traditions — just war and pacifist. Both are acceptable."

Father Creedon distributed copies of the U.S. bishops’ "War and Peace Pastoral Letter," as well as the pope’s recent World Day of Peace statement during his parish discussion.

He said it’s important to note that the call for peace is not coming from radical, fringe elements in our society. "Mainline religious bodies have questioned this action," he said.

Quoting the Holy Father, Father Creedon said, "War is always a defeat for humanity. The battle for peace is always the battle for life."

Another question, Father Creedon said, is the need for society to reassess the Iraqi situation with regard for its nuclear war potential. The elimination of nuclear weapons is part of the Church’s teaching, he said.

"The call for peace is broader than simply the potential war in Iraq," said Father Grinnell, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Falls Church. "It has deeply to do with the conflict between Israel and Palestine and also with the culture of violence in Africa."

A group at St. Anthony Parish called Faith in Action for Africa "is praying for worldwide change in the way we resolve conflict," Father Grinnell said.

In addition, Father Grinnell celebrated Mass at the church Feb. 3 for Judith Kelly, a local non-violence activist who is preparing to go on trial next week in Georgia for "crossing the line" at the former School of the Americas.

"We want to make sure that papal statements (calling for peace) are made public to our parishioners," said Father Cilinski, pastor of All Saints Parish in Manassas and dean of Deanery V. He said prayers for peace will be included in his parish's weekly rosary, prayers of the faithful and Eucharistic adoration. He also suggested that parishes can use their weekly bulletins topromote the peace message.

Father Cilinski said EWTN has been airing a series of interviews this week with Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, head of the Military Archdiocese, in which the archbishop said war with Iraq can only be justified as a "last resort."

The Peace and Justice Commission will provide responsible voices in this discussion, Father Crredon said. He added that he would be willing to moderate a discussion or offer suggestions to a parish or group interested in the subject.

He reiterated Bishop Loverde’s suggestion that parishes and individuals use the Year of the Rosary, recently designated by the pope, as the basis for their prayer campaign. Also, the upcoming Lenten season, with its Operation Rice Bowl campaign, provides additional opportunities for prayer, fasting and justice, Father Creedon said.

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