“For everyone is our neighbor.”
– Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska, Foundress of the Felician Sisters
As followers of the nonviolent Jesus and St. Francis of Assisi, and as women who strive to be prophetic witnesses to a world in need of healing, the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Felix of Cantalice (Felician Sisters), stand in solidarity with the millions of people globally who are alarmed and appalled by the escalation of war and violence in our world.
We urge those perpetuating the cycles of violence in the Middle East, especially the Holy Land, Haiti, Ukraine, India and Pakistan, and those executing the many civil wars in countries among innocent civilians, forming gangs, intensifying mutual hatred between people of different tribes or groups – to cease their actions of war and violence. With support from the international community, we call for a peaceful means to address the root causes of the conflicts and to employ nonviolent conflict resolution programs, and diplomatic efforts to support lasting, regional peacebuilding in order to protect the right to life from conception to natural death and the dignity of all persons.
During his arrest, Jesus told his apostles to “put down the sword.” Pope Francis recently shared that “the human heart is weak and impulsive; if we find instruments of death in our hands, sooner or later we will use them.” In alignment with these teachings, we recognize the immorality of the use of any weapon, but especially those which are indiscriminate in their targeting and cause widespread loss of innocent life and lasting destruction of property and environment. There is a specific moral imperative to renounce the increasing nuclear arsenal worldwide.
The intentional targeting of civilians in war is always wrong. Settling disputes with violence is always wrong. We mourn the loss of thousands of innocent men, women and children who died because of war and violence.
Through prayer, unwavering faith and trust in God, we implore our global leaders to take immediate measures to ensure the protection of each human being, made in the image of God and endowed with the inalienable right to pursue life in peace and freedom.
