JPIC promotes peace and global security.
Advocate for Peace with Your Legislators
Legislative Ask for the promotion of Peace and Security:
The North American Passionist JPIC Office supports legislation that promotes inclusive, region-wide diplomatic offensive and peacekeeping missions throughout the world but particularly in the Middle East and Africa. Although Congress is currently in transition we would like to take the opportunity to promote two legislative programs that will address crucial issues of violence.
Consider the Passionist Brief on Promoting Peace and Security
- Promote the 3D Security Strategy. (http://www.3dsecurity.org/act/petition) 3D Security is an impressive campaign to create a holistic defense strategy through the strategic use of Development, Diplomacy and Defense. Now that Congress is in transition this is a perfect time for you as constituents to educate your representative on this strategy and urge them to Invest in 3D Security.
- Join the Campaign to save Darfur. (http://www.savedarfur.org/pages/pending_legislation) The violence of genocide is of particular concern to the Passionist and the Catholic community. Be part of the Save Darfur community and receive emails that will keep you informed on this issue and how you can be an active force against the this extreme force of violence. If you visit their home site (http://www.savedarfur.org/content?splash=yes) you will have an opportunity to send President-elect Obama a postcard urging him to prioritize this issue.
In the meantime you can add your voice in promoting these two current legislative initiatives:
To find out who your legislators are, click here.
Passionist Brief on Peace and Global Security
By living together in a spirit of cooperation and peaceful harmony, we aim at overcoming in ourselves and in our world every form of self seeking and every abuse of power. In this way is clearly revealed the power of the Cross to set people free. ~Passionist Constitution: Article 22.
The virtue of peace is a dominant characteristic of our faith. The sign of peace is incorporated in the Catholic liturgy and it reminds us of the greeting that Christ used with his disciples; a core aspect of His teaching was to promote a lifestyle of peace.
In looking towards the Cross of Christ as the symbol that is at the heart of our Passionist charism, we are further reminded that in imitating God, Christ did not meet evil with more evil. Rather, He overcame the evil He experienced with the power of God’s love and forgiveness. Our commitment to peace is not an option we can consider, but a direct mandate that is at the very heart of what it means to be a Passionist.
We Passionists uphold this virtue. Peace, however, is not defined by us as the absence of war or conflict. It is the force that can reconcile the suffering world with the love of God. In embracing peace we are actively engaged with building up the human community by promoting the development of our suffering brothers and sisters and by actively reconciling those who are in the midst of conflict.
The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University works with Congress and the Military to promote a policy known as the 3D Security initiative. This policy offers the Government a balanced approach for addressing global issues of conflict through an effective use of Development, Diplomacy and Defense strategies. Recently the Passionist participated with a number of Catholic and Religious communities in advocating for this strategy.
To learn more about the 3D Security initiative, click here.
