Our Journey from Baltimore to Washington DC as part of the
Interfaith Witness To End the War in Iraq, March 7, 2008 photo album
Going to the Interfaith Peace Witness against the war in Iraq, people from Baltimore met at Penn Station, where prayers were offered, hats distributed (B'more Peaceful) and Lisa O'Reilly led us in song. Andrew Foster-Conners from Brown Memorial Presbysterian Church organized the Baltimore contingent.
There were religious services of many faiths: We went to St. Aloysius Church where Jean Stokan, Pax Christi USA, had spearheaded the organizing of a Christian Peace Witness for Iraq Mass. The music for the service was a gift!! Thanks to all the musicians. Most of the choir was from Our Lady Queen of Peace in Arlington, Virginia.
Because the Bishop gave a homily stating his acceptance of the just war theory and that brave US service people were fighting to defend US interests, Kathy Boylan felt called to offer a prayer, even though she was not scheduled to so. As Kathy approached the lecturn, Jim Hug, S.J., warned her several times: "Kathy, don't you dare go up those stairs." We in the peace and justice community are thankful to Kathy for giving voice to the prayers held deep in our hearts.
Scott Wright, Pax Christi Metro DC, offers a prayer for peace quoting John Paul II
who wrote after the (first) Gulf War:
No, never again war, which destroys the lives of innocent people, teaches how to kill, throws into upheaval even the lives of those who do the killing and leaves behind a trail of resentment and hatred, thus making it all the more difficult to find a just solution of the very problems which provoked the war.
Centesimus Annus, 1991
The Most Rev. Martin D. Holley, Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Washington in an attitude of prayer while Kathy Boylan, from the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, offered a petition that reminded the church that Jesus would never put on a uniform or pick up a gun and kill people. She prayed for repentance because the church continues to teach the just war theory, leading legions of young people into the machinery and death and war. Kathy continued, praying that all soldiers put their guns down, that no young person (especially those in this church today) will ever join the military, and that all people will refuse to pay for war. Others joined in prayer were Joe Nangle, OFM of the Assisi Community, and the Bishop
's Assistant.
Joshua Casteel was an interrogator at Abu Graib. He then applied for Conscientious Objector Status and converted to Catholicism. Joshua spent part of last March in Rome meeting with Vatican officials in regard to finding an end to the war.
Sr. Anne Curtis, RSM, is on the leadership team of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. In January Sr. Anne visited Iraqi refugees in Syria and Lebanon, and she spoke of those conversations, and of the pain and human suffering the US war against Iraq has caused.
Procession to Upper Senate Park: Along with 7 other groups, from different services, we left St. Aloysius Church and began to walk to Upper Senate Park. At the park there was an interfaith service, and then some went to lobby, and others went to the Hart Building to plead that the senators end the warmaking of our nation.
Loyola Univ. Chicago Campus Minister Curtis Klueg and Luke, a Jesuit Scholastic hold "No War Against Iraq" banner.
Students on an Alternative Spring Break from Loyola University, Chicago, carry a sign that says "Coexist" to emphasize that the root of all religions is love and respect...learning how to be human.
As we walked in the rain, Art Laffin reminded us that "the reign of God is at hand." Daniel Moss holds the sign: War is Not the Answer.
Judy Coode, Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns and National Chair, Pax Christi USA.
