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International Participation:
Catholics for PEACE Toronto's
request to be associated with Pax Christi has been accepted and we are now "associated with the global Pax Christi network".
Pax Christi is an organization with over 90 member groups and almost 50,000 members worldwide dedicated to peace. We believe that by aligning ourselves with other active groups with a history of achievement in the cause of peace, that we can fulfill Canada’s role as a nation known in the past as a peacemaker, before our current policies destroy that previously deserved reputation forever.
For more information about Pax Christi International click on this link.
Upcoming and Previous Peace Events - Seminars - Conferences
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE VIGIL - 21 September 2008
Catholics for Peace - Toronto
invites you to please join us
on Sunday evening,
September 21 at 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM.
at The Peace Garden, Nathan Phillips Square,
in front of the Toronto City Hall, at Queen & Bay Streets, for an hour of prayer, singing and silent witness to honour the International Day of Peace.
This initiative originated with the United Nations in September, 2001. It is now a worldwide movement to effect ceasefire for this one day, and to allow the work of peace to take root in our world - one day at a time.
Check the attached letter from Pax Christi's Secretary General.
Few Canadians know that since 2001, the United Nations has designated September 21st as the International Day of Peace. Since Canada is a member of the UN, and since we are currently embroiled in the war in Afghanistan, surely we should lead the way and honour U.N. Resolution 55/282, which calls for a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.
If we are serious about our commitment to the peace process, as our government claims, then we are morally obliged to use this day as a chance to demonstrate that ceasefires can work, trust can be established, and negotiations can achieve more long term victories than weapons ever will. It takes courage to fight, but it takes more courage to lay down our arms and reach out in peace.
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Our Foundation:
Love
"The first is, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
Respect
Catholics for PEACE Toronto is founded on respect – we respect the right of each individual to hold their own opinions on how best to achieve peace, including those who serve in the military. We only ask for the chance to express our own beliefs in the hope of a peaceful future for all.
Justice
Which disposes people to respect the rights of each and to establish the harmony that promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good.
Prayer
We believe that Peace is something that God wants and something that our Savior has called us to strive for - and we believe that ultimately peace can only be achieved through the power of prayer. Each member is dedicating to praying for peace individually and as a group and we invite all concerned citizens to dedicate themselves to peace trusting in God’s promise That He will answer these prayers, rather than relying on our own power. We hope to transform the world – one peace-filled, prayerful person at a time!
Sample prayer we used for our meeting:
March 2007
March 2008
Our Focus:
Afghanistan
Catholics for PEACE Toronto believes that Canada should take a leadership role in the cause of world peace by immediately withdrawing all military presence from Afghanistan and encouraging other Nations with whom it may have some influence to do the same.
We are not advocating abandoning the Afghani people in their difficulties, but simply withdrawing our arms and returning to that country with the aid that is needed, without the demands and conditions that we are currently enforcing on them. Perhaps when we approach as friends, ready to help, a real dialogue can begin.
War Resisters
Catholics for peace believes that it is time that Canada’s government recognize the right of an individual to resist participating in armed conflict and to allow those seeking refuge in our country to be granted legal status as immigrants, rather than forcing them to leave and face prosecution for choosing to live up to their principles.
