Pax Christi AGM: "The world is looking for prophets of peace"

Sr Katrina Alton and Oliver McTernan

"The old rules of war have gone, and this is something to which we should give full attention." Oliver McTernan, the Co-Founder and Director of Forward Thinking, was guest speaker on Saturday at the Annual General Meeting of Pax Christi England and Wales in London. The experienced mediator in conflict situations called for Pax Christi and other peace groups to highlight the moral and ethical issues in modern warfare. "We are not impotent," he said, "we have the power to challenge."

The theme of his talk was 'Prophets for Peace in a Changing World'. The Chair of Pax Christi England and Wales, from Pax Christi Merseyside, Kathryn Lydon, told around 60 in-person participants and 20 online, that "the world is looking for prophets of peace."

Dioceses represented included Birmingham, Hallam, Leeds, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Southwark and Westminster. Groups represented included the Archbishop Romero Trust, Columbans and the National Justice and Peace Network of England and Wales.

Devoting much of his talk to the Gaza conflict, McTernan deplored Israel's use of powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to identify targets in Gaza. "This has had a devastating impact on the population of Gaza, which are subject to machine selection whether they live or die," he said. He suggested that advances in technology have made a new arms race and war more likely, commenting, "what we are witnessing in Gaza has global consequences."

Under International Law, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza are occupied territory. McTernan pointed out that, "as an occupying force, the Israeli government has a legal responsibility to care for people in these territories." He highlighted the fear of getting on the wrong side of the US government, which has supported Israel, and asked: "Do we put our values or our interests first?" Also, there is the fear of being accused of being antisemitic. He suggested the term has been weaponised, saying, "if you question Israel's actions you will be targeted as antisemitic, but Israel should not be treated differently to any other country." He lamented that some politicians have feared for their careers if they are targeted and this prevents them from speaking out. However, in his view, "anyone who cares for Israel and Israelis should be blunt."

McTernan felt Pax Christi International, which has UN accreditation, could be a group to influence the opening of new dialogue. "Inclusiveness is the key," he suggested, "and we must engage with everyone." The only 'solution' would be to create a political process which includes everyone - even those who believe in violence - as happened in Northern Ireland. An area for dialogue would be changes in the United Nations, particularly looking at the composition and power of the Security Council.

At the AGM, Pax Christi staff reported on Peace Sunday, the magazine 'Justpeace' and other outreach. Education work over the past year included 19 days in schools in 11 dioceses and running stalls at three gatherings of teachers and educators. Events over coming months include the National Justice and Peace Network annual conference in July with the theme, 'Towards a Just Peace: Challenging the Inevitability of Violence.'

There was a call for messages of solidarity to be sent from the gathering to Pax Christi International, Gaza's Catholic parish and the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem, whose hospital in Gaza was attacked for the third time, on 5 June. And calls to advertise and support the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative.

Participants also expressed a desire for more Pax Christi members, whose donations boost key incomes from the annual Peace Sunday in January and legacy money. "Why don't all Catholic parishes have a Pax Christi Group?" asked several participants. Referring to the Pentecost weekend, Fr Joe Ryan, a Westminster priest newly elected onto the Pax Christi England and Wales Executive, called for, "more wind in our sails and fire in our bellies."

The meeting concluded with the sharing of cake, celebrating Pax Christi's 80th anniversary, after being founded in France in 1945 at the end of World War ll. National Chaplain Sr Katrina Alton led a prayer for the Jubilee Year 2025, which suggested we, 'follow in the footsteps of the nonviolent Jesus.' The concluding liturgy remembered renowned peacemakers connected with Pax Christi, particularly Bruce Kent, whose third anniversary was the following day and whom Oliver McTernan credited with getting him involved with Pax Christi five decades ago. There were also prayers for the Church to be "a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges."

LINK

Pax Christi UK: https://paxchristi.org.uk/