Advent sermon calls for abandoning 'language of just war'

In a Dec. 2 Advent homily, Los Angeles Bishop Gabino Zavala called on national leaders to abandon "the language of just war," and to "instead speak of peace."

Zavala, made his comments in the Caldwell Hall Chapel at The Catholic University of America at a Mass commemorating the 1980 martyrdom of the four U.S. churchwomen in El Salvador.

Zavala, who is the bishop president of Pax Christi USA, received enthusiastic applause when he said: "We believe that war--the war in Iraq, all wars--are contrary to the will of God for peace. Let us put behind us the language of war, the language of just war, the language of violence. Let us instead speak of peace, of just peace, of nonviolence."

Zavala said Advent was a time to remember four "modern-day martyrs," Maryknoll Srs. Ita Ford and Maura Clarke, Ursuline Sr. Dorothy Kazel and lay missioner Jean Donovan, "killed in El Salvador 26 years ago tonight. This is a lesson of what solidarity with the poor and oppressed is about."

Zavala called on Catholics to remember the plight of the poor and of soldiers stationed in Iraq. His strongest comments, reiterated throughout the homily, were directed against war and violence.

He said, "The scourge of war has brought sadness and separation, death and destruction, in its wake....

"[In] the heart of our nation's capital, let us call to mind tonight a people who live in darkness, the darkest of darknesses, which is the darkness of war. Let us imagine ourselves among their families, wondering what will happen tonight to their loved ones, and whether they will ever hear the joyful news of the dawning of peace."

Zavala said the recent statement of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, "A Call for Dialogue and Action on Responsible Transition in Iraq," did not go far enough when it said, "Our nation's military forces should remain in Iraq only as long as their presence contributes to a responsible transition."

Said Zavala, "This last point is really my starting point. I would offer that our presence in Iraq has long passed a capacity to contribute anything positive. Our 140,000 troops in Iraq are unable to stop the deepening spiral of violence.... It is time to bring our occupation of Iraq to an end."

Zavala also called for unity among Christians, Jews and Muslims.

"There is a beautiful expression that binds all of our peoples together," he said. "We are Abrahamic peoples, who share a common root and a common dream of peace, salaam, shalom. That is the message we yearn to hear this first night of Advent, in a world so torn by war.

"I also come to you as a Mexican migrant, who came to this land in search of peace and promise with my mother, brother and sisters 50 years ago.... Let us be mindful of all those who are crossing borders, crossing mountains and deserts, many fleeing from the ravages of war, many in search of bread and work to feed their families. May we receive them into our hearts and into our nation as Christ would receive them, the stranger in our midst, for they, too, are Christ."

[Patrick O'Neill is a freelance writer living in Raleigh, N.C.]

COPYRIGHT 2006 National Catholic Reporter
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning