William H. Slavick Writes Fr. Tim Brown, S.J.
"Jesus's unmistakable pacifism"

Dear Father Brown:
I may write you again to argue for acknowledgment that Kathy Boylan's petition is quite consistent with the Bishops" Challenge of Peace, John XXIII's remarks about war, John Paul II's admonitions against war, not to mention Jesus's unmistakable pacifism.

For the moment, I would only recount my experience three years ago, at the parish near our lake house where we sometimes worshipped in the summer. After the Iraq war began, the lector began asking that we pray for our troops. Afterwards, I quietly suggested to the pastor that the people of Iraq be included in the petition. He appeared to agree. The next time I was there, not only was the same one-sided war prayer used but another prayer was introduced into the Eucharist, I think after the homily, which was, as I remember, jingoist in tone. I spoke to him again. He replied, "Yes, you spoke to me before," implying that he was uninfluenced. I replied that I would write him. He shot back, "it won't do any good." In my view the bishop should direct him to end this discriminatory petitioning-- which I did not bother to request, since Bishop Malone has not uttered a peep about the Iraq war of any kind.

Now which is the greater offense, if Kathy Boylan's is actually an offense at all? She is echoing St. Stephen, the first martyr, and apparently all Christians before Constantine coopted the Church in seeing the military and Christianity as incompatible. If suggesting as much irritates some soldier, is it because he has not considered the difficulty of reconciling the military and following Jesus? If he must consider it every Sunday, if only momentarily, is that a bad thing? And what is to stop him from praying that those in the military will be faithful to the Gospel in serving their country?

I pray almost every Sunday for justice and peace in Palestine. I used to pray for justice and peace in Israel and Palestine, but realized that that might be construed as implying that Israelis were being denied justice and peace when it is Israel that has ethnically cleansed Palestinians from their homes and land and is continuing to do so and Israel that has all of the power and is abusing it absolutely. Should my prayer be censored?

May I also suggest that you examine closely exactly what Fr. Clifford means in defining her prayer as political? Isn't it any statement with which he disagrees?

Sincerely,

William H. Slavick