PAX CHRISTI
MAY THE PEACE OF CHRIST BE WITH YOU.
Welcome to the Pax Christi website of Immaculate Conception Church in Charenton, Louisiana.
Our members wish you peace and pray that you and your Pax Christi group are successful in
bringing peace to others.
We are a small group from a very small town (about 1000 persons) in South Louisiana. We hope
our site will reach more persons than we are able to reach in person
Our web site has several elements:
1. A short history of Pax Christi for anyone who wanders on to our site and knows nothing of
Pax Christi
2. This introduction to our web site
3. A "Peace Manual" put together by some of the members of our group. This manual has
several different elements: reflections from one of our members whose three children have all
joined the military much to her chagrin, a letter this same mother put out in her workplace in an
attempt to bring peace into that workplace. She also is in the process of visiting each member
of the staff to wish each of them peace.
The site also contains material which is the result of several years research by one of our
members. It deals with the economic impact of war and in general with the military industrial
complex.
4. The final part of the "Peace manual" is a few reflections on finding peace within oneself.
5. WE HAVE A SPECIAL SECTION FOR LENT. IT IS A WAY OF THE CROSS IN THE TIME OF WAR AND
DANGER.
You may want to look at it. It can be used for private reflection or for a communal Way of the
Cross. Feel free to copy it and use if it is useful.
To access it Way of the Cross
6. We are conducting educational sessions in area Catholic schools on Conscientious
Objection. We are creating a special website on conscientious objection.
7. We are also educating returned and returning vets on the dangers they have been exposed
to with depleted uranium. We are also creating a special website on depleted uranium..
Do you know the origins of the United Nations? Most persons believe it was established to
bring peace. Actually it was established for military and economic purposes as the short
description details. NATIONS
Our pastor, Father Bill, has published his book "Surrogate Wars: A Real Look At War". It is being
well received. He has several book readings scheduled and will begin a push to get the word
out to the media as soon as he gets the flyers, book marks, and post cards from the publisher.
Information on the book is available at SURROGATE WARS
If you are not familiar with the history of Pax Christi you might want to look at the brief history of
Pax Christi HISTORY
Peace also depends on being at peace with oneSELF SELF
This is often the hardest peace to achieve.
This site has reflections of attaining that peace.
We have prepared a "Peace Manual". For a short description of the manual MANUAL
You may be interested in specific parts of the manual. A mother who abhors war has
experienced all three of her children enlist in the military. You may want to read her thoughts.
MOTHER
That same mother is trying to bring peace into her work environment. Her method is described
in WORK
War has strong economic roots. Some of these are described by one of our members
ECONOMIC
President Eisenhower, a distinguished military leader warned us about the dangers of the
"Military Industrial Complex". Look at some of his words and those of other presidents around
his time. COMPLEX
Our Pax Christi group has managed to have a big impact in spite of the fact that Charenton is
such a small town. We have managed to draw a few members from other towns and are in touch
with a group in a much larger town (Lafayette, Louisiana).
HISTORY
SHORT HISTORY OF PAX CHRISTI
At the end of World War Two some Catholics in France began to wonder why so many Catholics
in France had killed so many Catholics in Germany.
This certainly was not what Jesus would want. It also is contrary to the teaching of the Catholic
Church. They were serious about wanting to know WHY???
One of the reasons that emerged from their discussion was that Catholics (both laity and
clergy) had not been very active in getting the word out about the teaching of Jesus and the
teaching of the church.
They came up with a simple plan. They would meet regularly. They would pray for guidance, pray
for peace. They would try to educate themselves and others, they would try to be at peace and
live at peace with themselves and with others. They would also work in their political, social,
and religious environments to bring peace into the world.
They took their idea to their bishop and received his enthusiastic backing and support. They
went back home and began their work. It was an idea whose time had come. Their movement
spread quickly through France and then Germany, then into the Netherlands and Italy and other
European countries.
For us in the USA unless a family had lost someone in the war, 1945 was an end to war. Things
quickly picked up. There were many new products, entire new subdivisions sprang up. No one
was even thinking about war. Even the "police action" in Koreas in the 1950's did not change
that.
No one saw a need for a movement like Pax Christi until the late 1960's and early 70's when we
were bombarded with war every evening on the evening news. Then some people began to
question: "WHY???" That aroused awareness led some people to seek solutions. Soon Pax
Christi emerged as a viable option.
Every time a new war springs up, new Pax Christi groups are formed and existing groups seem
to find new members. The present war in Iraq is no exception.
In Charenton, Louisiana we have recently formed a Pax Christi group. We have started out with
9 members but we expect to grow. Charenton has a population of about 1000 (one thousand)
persons. We will grow.
We hope to do several things:
1. Educate ourselves and others to the social teachings of the church.
2. One of our members has began an attempt to personally talk to every person where she
works and wish her/him peace and try to spread a little more peace in her worksite.
3. Another has created a peace calendar which helps to educate users to issues of peace. The
calendar will run from October 1, 2003 to December 31, 2004.
4. Another member committed himself to going to other churches and providing them with
information about Pax Christi.
5. Two of our members have TV programs on our regional public access channel. We will use
those programs to educate the broader community about Pax Christi.
6. We intend to invite area pastors and their parishoners to our meetings in the hope they will
start a Pax Christi group in their church.
7. We hope as our group develops to go to other churches and conduct peace vigils and peace
masses.
8. We intend to use this website to link to other Pax Christi groups and to get the word out.
OUR LOCAL GROUP
Our local group meets the last week of every month.
SCHEDULE OF LOCAL GROUP
May 1 6:30 PM Monthly meeting
May 22 7:00 PM Monthly meeting of Lafayette Pax Christi
May 30 6:30 PM Monthly Charenton meeting
Monthly peace mass time and place to be determined
Monthly schedule
Last Tuesday 6:30 PM Charenton Pax Christi
Fourth Monday 7:00 PM Lafayette Pax Christi
Charenton group meets at Immaculate Conception Church Charenton, Louisiana
337-923-4281
Lafayette group meets at Lourde Hospital
PEACE MANUAL
One of the projects our local Pax Christi group was putting together a peace manual. It is
something we can put into the hands of others to encourage peace. The manual is available by
contacting bcrumley1936@yahoo.com or whitneyvilcan@hotmail.com
When we think of war we think of human beings armed with various devices whose sole aim is
to direct these devices at other human beings, cities, institutions, and equipment and destroy
them. There is much more to war than that. In recent years I have come to realize that wars are
not fought by the obvious contending parties. Some other force(s) with far greater interest
lurk(s) behind the war using the hostilities of certain people to further their cause. These
forces are inevitably economic forces.
I recently read "Charlie Wilson's War". It is an incredible story of strong economic forces
unleashed to assist rebel Afghan forces in overcoming the Soviet Union. Much of this money
was unleashed by the United States Congress through the efforts of Representative Charlie
Wilson of Texas.
This war was not Afghans fighting Soviets. It was not even the USA fighting the Soviets. It was
one man (Charlie Wilson) whose war was a vendetta against the Soviet Union for their
involvement in overthrowing our military in Vietnam. Even behind Charlie Wilson were other
surrogate warriors, the large multinational corporations, who reaped immense profit from the
war.
UNITED NATIONS
Another truth struck home clearly. Today wars are not fought by individual nations. Today wars
are often waged under the aegis and oversight of the United Nations. These wars are waged by
"United Nations Peace Keeping Forces." The clear message to any rational person is: the only
road to peace is through military presence.
I suppose they are called "Peace Keeping Forces" because the United Nations was set up
ostensibly to be a beacon for peace in a world so clouded by war. To understand the real
motivation of the United Nations we need to look back to its origins. The United Nations was
founded on January 1, 1942 (less than a month after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor).
Twenty-six nations signed a pact to overthrow the Axis Powers. This was a military endeavor.
About a year later the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) was set
up. This was a group set up to help rehabilitate Europe economically devastated by war. The
United States was to put up more than 50% of the money used by the UNRRA. The thrust of the
United Nations was first military and later economic.
The economic thrust of the United Nations was illustrated more convincingly by the conference
held at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire almost a year before the United Nations charter was
signed at San Francisco. The Bretton Woods conference guided the development and the
charter of the United Nations. The Bretton Woods conference was made up of a group of
multi-national financiers who set up a large multi-national bank which would oversee (dictate)
economic policy for the world. One of the recommendations of the Bretton Woods conference
was to set up the structure which would oversee the workings of the economic structures
mandated at Bretton Woods.
Few persons realize that this is the underlying rationale behind the United Nations. Even fewer
seem to take enough time to reflect that wars are very profitable for those who manufacture
weapons, uniforms, flags as well as for those who negotiate peace, for medics, those who
supply medicines and other medical supplies and services.
Covert wars are even more costly, and at the same time profitable for other groups: lawyers,
bankers who set up and administer phony corporations, or Swiss bank accounts. War is also
profitable for some foreign and domestic politicians who are paid off secretly for their services
which do not come cheap.
In addition to war which shatters everyone's peace, many different situations can cause us to
lose our own peace of mind. We can be troubled simply by the thought of war. We can abhor
the waste of human life brought on by war. We can be upset by the misuse of human and
natural resources. We can be distressed by the huge cost of war and the horrendous debt it
places upon our nation and other nations. All of these are significant and valid objections to
war.
Sometimes war comes closer to us. Sometimes our own family members are asked or volunteer
to serve in the military and go to war. We can lose peace even if there is no war. Every day
human beings are murdered for little or no reason. Such violence also destroys peace. We can
be at war with our families or those with whom we work even if there is no war or no violence.
This "peace manual" will attempt to address some of the various ways we may not be at peace.
The manual has the following parts:
1. The thoughts of a mother who abhors war and yet has three children in the military
2. An action taken by that same mother to bring peace into her work environment
3. A look at some of the economic impact of war
4. A look at the military industrial complex
5. Thoughts on finding peace within ourself.
6. A history of Pax Christi
7. Some goals of our Charenton (La.) group
8. A way of the cross in time of war and danger
9. Thoughts on finding peace within ourself
10. Letter to parents and friends of young military personnel.
MOTHER
THOUGHTS OF A MILITARY MOTHER WHO ABHORS WAR
These are a few thoughts of a mother who abhors war and yet has struggled with the reality of
all three of her children choosing military life. Perhaps they may speak to you and your heart.
Military Mom Times 3
My Peace I give you, my peace I leave you. Those are the words of our Lord Jesus that
encourage us all to be peaceable people with our neighbors near and far. Our government has
promoted war as a means of bringing about peace and this is in direct opposition to what Jesus
taught. As a military mom I have found it difficult to support my children at the same being a
supporter of peace. Although I have expressed my feelings about war, they were never put
into writing. I truly hope you will benefit from the following pages.
In October, 1997 I was faced with the reality of compromising my stand for peace. My son Rick
announced that he did not intend to attend college. I had difficulty understanding why he would
refuse the scholarship offered to him. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offered him a
scholarship to run track (something he loved) and an academic scholarship. He asked me if I
was disappointed because of his decision and I responded "as long as you do something
constructive." I wanted him to do something positive in life and be productive in this society.
He eventually told me the military was his goal. Never in my wildest dreams did I think he would
choose the military. You see I detest what the military stands for. I only associate it with war
and killing. Of course this sort of death in my mind is closely related to killing, being killed, or in
layman's term, suicide.
My hope for my son was to earn a decent living, one day get married and have children of his
own. My hope for him became only a thought with his announcement of joining the ranks of
Uncle Sam. I pondered over the thought of him dying for this country wearing a token uniform
that represented killing with a gun strapped to his body. The attention became focused on me
as to whether I had encouraged him to join without knowing it. I began to feel that I had failed
somehow as a mother.
The biggest shock was that he had chosen the Marine Corps. I can still feel myself trembling
inside when he told me the recruiter was coming to talk with me. Why not the Army or Air
Force? Why the Marine Corps? They were associated with being a rough group of soldiers, on
the front line and hazing like the fraternities. I was told they had a pinning ceremony which
sticks the pin into the chest until the soldier would bleed. My fear raced because my son, my
only son, my baby had chosen something voluntarily that could bring him harm.
He asked that I not speak to his father about his decision; he would speak with him later. I had
failed to mention earlier that his father and I were living separately. We were in the process of
divorce at my request. The night he left was not peaceful. When he refused to leave the house,
I had him removed with a court order and the assistance of the police.
Sometimes I wonder if that Tuesday night, February 3, 1998 was the motivating force that
pushed my son to the edge and the military was a means of escape. I know he was hurt,
embarrassed and even angry at what I had done. Although I regret the pain he experienced
then, I knew it was the best thing to do. Our lives as husband and wife ended fourteen years
earlier; the effort to remain married seemed futile. I won't comment any further but the stock
market of our marriage had crashed.
The time had come for me and my son to talk. I shared my feelings about military life and he said
that he still wanted it. Although he was six months short of turning eighteen I knew the
decision he made was that of a man. We met with the Sergeant and he painted a picture of
success in the Marine Corps. Rick was excited and eager to travel, meet other people, and
gain his independence. He spoke of going to college on his GI bill, building a home, raising a
family with his wife and like many other young men getting a car.
I questioned the Sergeant about a lot of things. Every time he replied it was good in my son's
eyes. The picture he painted of advancement was inviting. All these benefits, traveling, and
making money were his responses. I must say now he must have learned a lot in recruiters'
school because he led to my older daughter's becoming interested in the military.
Against my gut instincts I signed on the dotted line, giving my permission for him to join the
ranks of the armed services. Today the episode haunts me and I regret compromising my faith
by supporting something that I totally disagreed with. As a mother I felt I needed to support my
son the best I could because I was not strong enough to refuse. There was a time when I have
flatly said "no" and stood by it, but not this time. I wanted to win my son back, to say I was sorry
for what I had to put him through with his father and this was the avenue I chose. I
compromised my faith and put a death mark on my son at the same time. Today I thank God for
forgiving me and allowing my son to serve his military term and complete his service. Although
he finished his military commitment, he has suffered a lot of mental anguish and experienced a
lot of negativity because of it.
On October 18, 1998 Rick left for three months of military training. Our separation was tensed
because a few months earlier after a family disagreement he chose to live with his father. We
shook hands that Saturday evening and I wished him well. I turned and walked back into the
house while tears flooded my eyes. In my heart I screamed: "Why did I compromise?" I wanted
my son to stay here. I didn't want him to travel away and be trained to kill. Why did I put a death
mark on my only son? I cried because if we didn't see one another again those questions may
never have been answered.
Recently I phoned Rick to chat. I asked; "Son, why did you join the military?" He answered "For
the honor, mama. You don't know what it feels like to put on that uniform and have people
admire you." He has never regretted joining the Marine Corps and it is five years later. As a
mother I still regret signing those papers, but at least I know he joined because he wanted to
and not to get away from me. My son has traveled serving a country that murders people,
innocent and guilty, for a cause that is detestable to God - selfishness.
While I was facing each day missing my son, wondering if he was safe, the military knocked on
the door of my heart again. Dealing with Rick serving in the armed forces was challenging but
now my oldest daughter announced that she was enlisting in the Air Force. "My Father, WHY?"
I questioned God. I couldn't handle this.
Kateesha is a wife and the mother of a four year old son and she wants to join the military. My
thoughts were "She has a child! Why leave him? He needs her. I stayed home with her when
she was a child. Why doesn't she do the same?" These were perplexing questions and I had no
clue to the answers. A mother is supposed to know her children and I couldn't understand her
reasoning for wanting to leave.
She boarded a plane in New Orleans and went off to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio,
Texas. After basic training she began an extensive training in military technical school. All
seemed well until she was assigned to a base in Minot, North Dakota. I had never heard of
Minot but found out it gets very cold there.
I visited her in Minot and she appeared to be very happy. She worked hard in her new
profession and still balanced it with being a mother and wife. There were things I noticed about
the military: everybody was somebody and the few in the elite class were easily recognized.
They had rank for the time served and were exalted by their peers and lower ranking soldiers.
They had special privileges in the dining hall and were saluted like they were gods. I had
difficulty with this because God looks at each one of us the same. Although I was
uncomfortable with the whole thing I compromised my beliefs, because I loved my daughter
and wanted her to be happy.
When I returned to Louisiana from Minot an earth shattering event took place, 911 or the
destruction of the World Trade Center. I returned home from Minot a week before the crisis.
When they suspected terrorism I felt like all the oxygen was cut off from me. I knew this meant
war, and my children would be affected by this intensely. Being a person that reads and studies
the Bible I was convinced that we were living in the last days that Jesus spoke about in the
twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew.
I immediately began to panic. I was at work when I got the news so everything I touched
seemed to crumble. People were asking me questions about my childrens' welfare and I
couldn't answer them without my heart racing, causing my speech to be impaired. I couldn't eat.
I couldn't sleep. The television stayed tuned to CNN and the local news channels. I cried all day
and during the night.
I feared for my son the most because he was in the Marine Corps and I knew they were front
line soldiers or the first to go to battle. Kateesha was on my mind constantly but I felt that she
would be safe because of her job title. I spoke with her so I knew she and her family were safe.
I tried repeatedly to call Rick but didn't hear from him until Friday evening. A mother's
nightmare, waiting almost four days before I knew he was all right. Can you image how I felt? My
faith in Jesus was being tested and my anger with myself for signing on the dotted line was
ever increasing.
When we finally spoke Rick was so angry in his speech. He wanted to get his hands on Bin
Laden and have his way. He was repeatedly saying that his fellow Marines were going to go and
get him for attacking our country. They were not going to rest until they got to him. He kept
expressing that no matter what, they were going to get him. "O my God!" I remember thinking
what had the Marines done to my son to change his behavior to one of violence?
All of our attention was focused on Rick possibly being deployed. Kateesha was concerned
about him going to war especially when they started sending Marines out. All that kept playing
on my mind was that Marines are on the front line, the first to go into the battle zone. As a
mother I felt helpless.
To our surprise it wasn't Rick that was deployed but Kateesha to Kuwait. Now what is wrong
with this picture, I thought. We never know what these people have planned. In October, the
month after 911, my daughter left for a foreign land and remained there four months. She was
away from me and there was nothing I could do. Although I wrote her, sent email and prayed for
her daily, my heart would swell with grief because I couldn't protect her. My baby could not
crawl into my arms and be held. I was sad all the time but kept it within.
My strength came from accepting advice not to read the newspaper and to refrain from
watching the news. I would find comfort in prayer through fear flooded eyes as I read the Bible,
through going to church and looking at my childrens' pictures. I would talk to the Lord and beg
to be renewed and strengthened. Sometimes I would read the old letters they sent me while in
basic training (yes I have them all). Looking at pictures of them when they were little would
always bring tears to my eyes and joy to my heart because they are a blessing. I would do this
when I was lonely or sad and this process got me through a lot of sleepless nights.
In February 2002 while Kateesha was still in Kuwait, Rick left for a six month tour. In other
words he was on a ship somewhere going to distant lands. I had no idea where he was and he
never revealed his location. That was tough to handle. At least I knew where Kateesha was, but
for six months Rick's location was a mystery. Sad to say, he missed the birth of his first child,
his son.
Kateesha was reunited with her family in Minot and I felt relieved. I still had one child out there
somewhere serving this country but at least one had made it home.
Just when I was feeling at peace knowing my children were ok and Rick was home with his
family, here comes that familiar knock on my heart from the military. Kateesha returns from
Kuwait in February, 2002, Rick returns home from six months at sea and Shateeka, my second
daughter, announces that she is joining the military ranks in August of 2002. What is a mother
to do? She is a graduate of LSUBR and chose to join the ranks of the Army. I begged and
pleaded with her not to go. I can remember crying in my sleep and to my best friend Jennifer
about it. She would be leaving her husband and three little girls to fight in a war. It didn't make
sense to me.
While she was in training, I wrote to her often trying to be a source of encouragement. I told
her to be strong and to stay close to the Lord. I supported her decision like I did her brother
and sister. Here I go again, compromising my faith to make my daughter happy. Deep down
inside I wanted her to stay with her family and not go to the military, but I didn't have the final
word.
Presently she is serving somewhere in Iraq and I am having a real hard time dealing with that.
She called me from Iraq and told me not to worry. I try not to but a mother's love is deep when it
comes to her children. I cry so much that sometimes the tears don't even come out. I miss my
babies so much, but had to relinquish my strong hold on them. If I had the power and could turn
back the hands of time none of them would have joined the military. They would have gone to
college or learned some kind of trade and worked in this society as a productive citizen.
War is not the answer and the military is not the instrument that God is using to bring about
peace. I still pray. I have asked the Lord to forgive me for compromising my faith. I still cry a lot
and it helps. I try to dwell on positive thoughts and make plans for Shateeka when she returns
home. I know the Lord will strengthen me.
I know there are many mothers and fathers out there sharing the same feelings as me. My
encouragement is to not compromise but to stand firm for the only means of true peace.
Continue to be steadfast in your prayers and to call on God when you feel you can't go on. Stay
in touch with your military children and encourage them spiritually. Write to them regularly,
send them cards and gifts. Keep them up on what is happening in the family, with friends and
the community. Try not to talk about what you hear on the news or read in the newspaper about
the war. My children say they know more than we do about the war, so try to be positive. Ask
others to keep your children in prayer.
Most of all don't change your daily routine. Go to church and praise the Lord. Keep busy. Try
not to focus on what is being said in the news media. Remember it is their profession to sell
news. Look at old pictures and the ones they send to you. Remember happy times and treasure
the conversation when you speak with them on the phone. Talk to the Lord in prayer and talk to
other military families. Be of good cheer and know that when it is all done, we will all be ok.
WORK
PEACE IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT
Another way to find peace is to work for peace in your workplace and other environments. The
following is a letter posted in her workplace by the mother who wrote "Military Mom Times 3"
She has attempted to visit each of her co-workers and wish them peace.
encourage everyone to read and meditate on the following scripture of James 3:17-18.
"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be
entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit
of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
Please read it and take it to heart. After meditating on these scriptures I did some journalling
and this is what I felt.
Chasteness or purity forms in the heart and is essential to promote peace. Regardless of other
good qualities one may display, God reads the heart and determines whether our lifestyle is
truly acceptable to him. In every aspect of our life we should demonstrate that we are
acceptable to Him. We demonstrate peace by avoiding aggressive behavior and going out of
our way to establish peace between others. Peace first should be deeply rooted in our hearts.
Yes, we must be at peace with ourselves before we can be at peace with others. We should
take the first step to be at peace with others. Gossiping, spreading half truths, being a part of
the negative grapevine, anger, and most of all back biting destroys peace . Try to change
ourselves and not the next person. Prayer heals! We should never approve of anything that
will disrupt peace. We can't change others or circumstances, but teaching and living a
peaceable life will serve as an encouragement for a person or circumstance to improve. Our
good fruits will promote harmony, make us a better person and most of all bring us closer to
God.
Please don't let Satan take your peace from you and stop you from being God's friend.
Promote peace in our workplace and you will see showers of blessings in your life.
God bless,
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF WAR
One of the primary effects of war is the economic impact. Wars are made possible in part by the
presence of central banks. These central banks take over the economic life of a nation. They
print the money, decide how much money will be printed, place the governments in huge debt.
The following conclusions are from Chapter 2 of a book by Rev. William Crumley C.S.C. entitled
"Surrogate Wars."
1. The widespread duplication of central bank is one of the tools that came out of the Bretton
Woods Conference in 1944. More than 75% of central banks have been created since that time.
At least 25% have been created since 1990.
2. The history of the older central banks (those that pre-date 1900) in large part center around
war and the effects of war. Wars have been extremely profitable for some banks.
3. Very many central banks were socialistic between the years of 1945-1990, even if their
nations had more "democratic" governments.
4. The concept of the central was developed in England. Many of the early central banks are
patterned on the British model.
5. Most central banks have several common characteristics: they alone issue the currency,
they are bankers to the Government, they control other banks, they administer foreign
reserves in the nation.
6. Central banks have applied many different models over the years. None have been
successful unless you consider increasing national debt a "success".
7.The British have exercised influence and control over many other central banks.
8 The few central banks which have managed to maintain control over their currency have
been those over whom the Government has managed to exercise the most control (e,g.
Sweden, Colombia). These have also seemed to be among the countries least involved in war.
9. In Poland and Colombia the Government attempted to control the central bank. Poland when
faced with a wavering currency actually cut back on the amount of notes in circulation.
Colombia actually shut down two central banks because they were issuing excess currency.
We will see in a later chapter that President John Kennedy attempted to shut down our central
bank, the Federal Reserve, a few months before his assassination. His plan already started,
was shut down after his death.
10. In 1931 England abandoned the gold standard which required her to have sufficient gold to
back any "notes" which were offered. Many nations followed the lead of England. This seemed
to release one of the last controls over central banks.
11. In the last fifteen years we have seen the creation of central banks of central bankers, e.g.
The Bank of Central African states, the European Union, Islamic Central bank.
12. The Islamic world is taking great steps to counter the action of modern central banks. For
example, the Constitution of Egypt takes a very new approach to constitutions. Instead of
emphasizing the Government and its socio-economic role, the first one third of the
Constitution emphasizes the rights of Egyptian citizens and anyone who comes to Egypt.
The second major focus of the first one third of the Egyptian Constitution is the freedoms
granted to its citizens and the responsibility of the State to protect and foster these freedoms.
13. A second major effort of the Islamic World is a decision of the Supreme court of Pakistan.
This decision renders it illegal to charge any interest in Pakistan.
14. Only Great Britain and the United States of America seem totally committed to maintaining
an economy based on interest and exploitation.
A MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
President Eisenhower coined the phrase "Military Industrial Complex". He used it as a warning
to Americans of the danger they presented to Us. John Kennedy, his successor seemed to take
that message to heart. After Kennedy's assassination the "Complex" assumed full control of
this nation.
COMPLEX
Our military organization today bears little relation to that known by any of my predecessors in
peacetime, or indeed by the fighting men of World War II or Korea. Until the latest of our world
conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could,
with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency
improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments
industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly
engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the
net income of all United States corporations.
This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the
American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every
city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative
need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil,
resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.
In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted
influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the
disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.
We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic
processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can
compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our
peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.
Farewelll Address President Dwight D. Eisenhower January 17, 1961
This was not something Eisenhower saw only in his last days as president. It was a policy he
pursued as a military leader. In his State of the Union message in 1959 he said this:
"But we could make no more tragic mistake than merely to concentrate on military strength. For
if we did only this, the future would hold nothing for the world but an Age of Terror. And so our
second task is to do the constructive work of building a genuine peace. We must never
become so preoccupied with our desire for military strength that we neglect those areas of
economic development, trade, diplomacy, education, ideas and principles where the
foundations of real peace must be laid."
State of the Union Message President Dwight Eisenhower January 1958
Eisenhower was succeeded by John Kennedy who made a strong bid to cut back on military
spending. After Kennedy's death there was a sharp escalation in the war in Vietnam and
consequently a sharp escalation in the military budget. As a result of the Kennedy cuts annual
military spending fell to a low of $268.3 million. Under Johnson it began to rise sharply so that
within three years it had risen to a high of $388.9 million. This was a rise of almost 45% in three
years. With an end of the Viet Nam War annual military spending began to decline falling to just
over $230 million during the Carter era (a 15% drop from the low of the Kennedy era). In the
1980's under Reagan's "Star Wars" military spending rose to a level just under the spending for
the Vietnam War.
The current military budget is greater ($399.1 million) than the military budget at the peak of
spending for the Vietnam War. It is over 70% higher than the military budget at its lowest point
during the time of the Carter Administration. A website entitled "Bureau of Public Debt Online"
gives a good explanation of the national debt. There are two parts to that debt. There is the
debt owed by the government to private citizens, corporations, and other entities that buy
Government Bonds, Securities and other forms of loans to the government. This is 60% to 70%
of the total U.S. debt. An increasing amount of that debt is owed to foreign entities. The other
debts are owed to "intragovernmental" entities. This is money borrowed from government
trust funds, revolving funds, special funds. This would be, for example, money borrowed from
the Social Security System.
Browsing the website gives us a good picture of the relationship between large military
budgets and huge government deficits. Although military spending does not reflect the entire
amount of deficit spending those Presidents who spent the most on military also created the
greatest deficit and federal debt.
We have seen at the beginning of this chapter that President Eisenhower was committed to
cutting back on military spending and attempting to balance the budget. In the eight years he
was president the national debt increased about 20 billion dollars. In chapter 4 we examined
the effort of President Kennedy to balance the budget, cut military spending, and restore the
gold balance to the United States. He was not completely successful but still managed to hold
to about 20 billion dollars the increase in the federal deficit.
With President Johnson and the escalation of the Vietnam War the federal deficit increased 48
billion dollars. That is a 20% increase over the combined increase under both Eisenhower and
Kennedy. In five years Johnson increased our federal debt 20% more than both Eisenhower
and Kennedy combined did in eleven years.
Nixon again more than doubled the size of the debt in five and a half years. Ford doubled the
debt in the two and half years he was President. Carter added 192 billion dollars to the debt. He
was about the same level as Ford. But as the debt goes up it requires more to double the debt.
The real change came in the Reagan years with his "Star Wars". With Reagan the federal deficit
increased over a trillion dollars ($1.67 trillion). All his successors have added over a trillion
dollars to the deficit. Bush I added $1.44 trillion. Clinton added $1.61 trillion. Bush 2 has added
$1.41 billion in under three years.
Since Eisenhower and Kennedy no United States President has talked about the need to be
fiscally sound. We are following the same pattern followed by the Native American two hundred
years ago. We are buying weapons and in the process destroying our currency, placing
ourselves in deeper and deeper debt and being forced to sell off and give away our land.
Changes in the level of taxation follow the same pattern. The greater the military expenditures
the more the taxation. Statistics on revenues realized through taxation are not as readily
available as other statistics. However, in one of the Treasury Department websites I was able to
gain some statistics on the revenues the Federal Government has realized through taxation.
The only statistics I could find were from 1968 to 1997. The figure included several types of
taxation: personal income tax, corporate income tax, excise, and several other taxes. Personal
income and corporate income tax represented a very large portion of the taxes collected.
Revenues from a combination of personal income and corporate income rose from $78 billion
in 1968 to $825 billion in 1997.What that means is that the Federal Government took in ten and
one half times as much money in income tax in 1997 as it had in 1968. Despite taking in over
eight trillion dollars in personal and corporate tax revenues between 1981 and 1997 the
Government overspent more than three trillion dollars in that time. We have lost sense of a
what a trillion dollars is. If we paid 4 MILLION persons an annual salary of $25,000 it would take
us 10 years to spend a trillion dollars. The money overspent by our government between 1981
and 1997 would pay 4 million salaries at $25,000 for over 110 years. Another fact brought out by
the government statistics shows that between 1968 and 1979 the individual taxpayer pays
between 72% and 76% of the total amount of tax paid by the individual and the corporate
taxpayer. With the Reagan "Star Wars" program the individual taxpayer begins to pick up
between 82% and 85% of the total tax bill. War is not only costly it is especially costly for the
individual tax payer. Individual businesses now have their own "central bank". Virtually every
major corporation has a separate "corporation" that is known to only a few persons. It is
answerable only to the few persons who know about it. This "corporation" is able to create
money, launder money, move money about within the main corporation all with no oversight
from the directors or government agencies.
The last ten years have seen a huge rise in the number of casinos. Most of the money which
enters the casino does so as cash. Much of the money which exits the casino does so as cash.
With such a large cash business it is not too difficult to launder drug money, CIA money,
terrorist money. All at a handsome profit.
There is even room in their legitimate dealings to hide huge profits. Casinos give "comps" to
persons who are regular customers or who have lost a good deal of money. These "comps"
come in the form of food, drinks, lodging, clothing, and other goods. The "comps" can be
written off at a "reasonable" price but a price far above the actual cost to the casino. This can
result in a handsome profit each year.
Way of the Cross
A WAY OF THE CROSS IN TIME OF WAR AND IN TIME OF DANGER
First Station JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH
C Now Jesus stood before the governor who questioned Jesus:
S "Are you the king of the Jews?"
J "IT IS YOU WHO SAY I AM."
C When he was accused by the priests and the elders Jesus made no answer. Then Pilate said
to him:
S "Do you not know how many things they are testifying against you?"
C But Jesus did not answer him one word so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now on the
occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner
whom they wished. At the time they had a notorious prisoner called Jesus Barabbas. So when
they had assembled Pilate said to them:
S Which one do you want me to release to you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus called Messiah?
C For he knew it was our of envy they had handed him over. While he was still seated on the
bench, his wife sent him a message:
S Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of
him.
C The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy
Jesus. The governor said to them in reply
S Which of the two do you want me to release to you?
SS BARABBAS!!!
S Then what do want me to do with Jesus called Messiah?
SS Let him be crucified!!
S Why what evil has he done?
SS (louder) LET HIM BE CRUCIFIED!!!
C When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all , but that a riot was breaking out instead,
he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd saying:
S I am innocent of this of this man s blood. Look to it yourselves. The whole people said in
reply:
SS His blood be upon us and upon our children
C Then Pilate released to them Barabbas, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him
over to be crucified. Matthew 27:15-26
REFLECTION
It is so easy to rationalize war and evil. We can always find a just reason for any action. The wife
of Pilate pleaded with Pilate not to kill Jesus. Pope John Paul II and many others pleaded for us
not to go to war. In both cases the forces bent on destruction prevailed.
TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
CLOSING PRAYER
Second Station JESUS IS MADE TO BEAR HIS CROSS
C The soldiers led Jesus away inside the palace and assembled the whole cohort. They clothed
Jesus in purple and weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on him. They began to salute him
SS Hail King of the Jews.
C They kept striking his head with a reed and spitting upon him. They knelt before him in
homage. When they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, dressed him in his
own clothes and led him out to crucify him. Mark 15: 16-20
REFLECTION
You stand before your accusers in ignominy and shame. You are mocked and ridiculed. Those
responsible for your death remain secure and in power. In our day all the vile crimes are
plastered on the evening news. Most are one on one crimes. Those who do the most harm to
and kill your people remain unknown, safe and continue in power.
TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
CLOSING PRAYER
Third Station JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME
Those who fall in war could say with Isaiah: My loins are filled with anguish, pangs have
seized me like those of a woman in labor. I am too bewildered to hear, too dismayed to look. My
mind reels, shuddering assails me. My yearning for twilight has turned into dread. Isaiah 21: 3-4
REFLECTION
Even the infinite Son of God cannot withstand the hatred and violence inflicted upon him. You
know what it is to be the victim of such violence. Have mercy on us for the times we have
inflicted such violence on others or for the times we have seen such violence inflicted and
have remained silent.
TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
CLOSING PRAYER
Fourth Station JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER
Mary could say as the psalmist once did: "Look upon me. Have pity on me for I am alone and
afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart, bring me out of my distress. Put an end to my
affliction and suffering, take away all my sins. See how many are my enemies. See how fiercely
they hate me. Preserve my life and rescue me. Do not let me be disgraced for I trust in you. Let
honesty and virtue preserve me. I wait for you, Oh Lord. Redeem Israel, God, from all its
distress." Psalm 25: 16-21
REFLECTION
Jesus' pain increases as he meets his mother. Her pain and agony are written in her face. and
her shrunken body. Why does she have to suffer because they dislike you? Many of your
people suffer today because political leaders dislike each other.
TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
CLOSING PRAYER
Fifth Station SIMON OF CYRENE HELPS JESUS CARRY THE CROSS
As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the
country, and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. Luke 23:25
REFLECTION
Even the infinite Son of God cannot bear the heavy burden inflicted on him. Today we need
many Simons to help carry the heavy cross of war and the countless expressions of insanity
that it brings about.
TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
CLOSING PRAYER
Sixth Station VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS
I have become a mockery to them. When they see me they shake their heads. Help me.Lord, my
God. Save me in your kindness. Make them know this is your hand that you, Lord, have acted.
Though they curse, may you bless. Shame my foes that your servant may rejoice. Clothe my
accusers with disgrace, make them wear shame like a mantle. I will give fervent thanks to the
Lord. Before all I will praise my God. For God stands at the right hand of the poor to defend
them against unjust accusers Psalm 109 25-31
REFLECTION
Who is there today to wipe your face with their clothing as Veronica did? Even if we are brave
enough, as she was, we cannot help but be scarred by our contact with war and human
insanity. Give us the strength to do whatever we can to wipe the bodies of your people today.
TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
CLOSING PRAYER
Seventh Station JESUS FALLS A SECOND TIME
My enemies say of me: Find a lying witness, an accuser to stand by his right hand, that he
may be judged and found guilty, that his plea may be in vain. May his days be few, may another
take his office. May his children be fatherless, his wife a widow. Psalm 109: 6-9
REFLECTION
Even with the Simons and the Veronicas war is intolerable. Just as you fell many fall in war. It is
never just an individual. There are mothers and fathers, perhaps wives and children, close
friends who fall as a result of war. How can people know your love when we preach war and
revenge?
TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
CLOSING PRAYER
Eighth Station JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN
C A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented
him. Jesus turned to them and said:
J Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, weep instead for yourselves and for your
children. Indeed the days are coming when people will say: blessed are the barren, the wombs
that never bore and the breasts that never nursed. At that time people will say to the
mountains: fall upon us and to the hills: cover us. Now if these things are done when the wood
is green, what will happen when it is dry? Luke 23:27-31
REFLECTION
Jesus example is a great lesson. His misery brings tears to the eyes of the sensitive women.
But Jesus reminds them not to weep for him but for themselves and their children. We can
weep for the people of Iraq but Jesus would have the same message for us today. Weep for
yourselves and your children. The war will end. Iraq will be rebuilt but our acts will live on in
our minds and hearts.
TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
CLOSING PRAYER
Ninth station JESUS FALL A THIRD TIME
He had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, sold as a slave. They shackled his feet with chains,
collared his neck in iron till his prediction came to pass and the word of the Lord proved him
true. Psalm 105: 17-19
REFLECTION
Like you we don t just fall once. Again and again we fall. We never seem to learn. War and
violence and poverty and misery seem to recur again and again.
TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
CLOSING PRAYER
Tenth station JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS CLOTHING
C When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four
shares, a share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless from the
top down. So they said to one another.
SS Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be.
C In order that the passage of scripture might be fulfilled which says:
S They divided my garments among them and for my vesture they cast lots. John 19: 23-24
REFLECTION
You would think that once stripped of all signs of humanity someone would have recognized
who you were. But we never seem to learn. Time and again we strip ourselves and others of
self worth. We have to prove ourselves by being stronger. Your lesson is we prove ourselves
by forgiving and not repaying injury with injury.
TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
CLOSING PRAYER
Eleventh station JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS
C When they came to the place called the skull, they crucified him and the criminals with him,
one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said:
J Father, forgive them, they know not what they do. Luke 23: 33-34
REFLECTION
You are nailed to the cross. So often we nail ourselves and others to the pain and the ignominy
of this world. In accepting the pain and forgiving those who inflict it, you freed yourself and
anyone who is willing to forgive. What does anyone gain by the suffering we inflict?
TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
CLOSING PRAYER
Twelfth station JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS
C It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon
because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn in the middle. Jesus
cried out in a loud voice
J Father into your hands I commend my spirit.
C. When he had said this he breathed his last. The centurion who witnessed what had
happened glorified God and said.
S This man was innocent beyond doubt.
C When all the people who had gathered for the spectacle saw what had happened, they
returned home beating their breasts. All his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the
women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events Luke 24:41-49
REFLECTION
You die. We mourn. Many today die just as you did and we don t seem to notice or to care. How
many have to die before we learn?
TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
CLOSING PRAYER
Thirteenth station JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS
When it was evening there came a rich man from Arimethea named Joseph who was a disciple
of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus then Pilate ordered it to be handed
over. Taking the body Joseph wrapped it in clean linen. Matthew 27: 57-59
REFLECTION
As soon as possible you are taken down from the cross. There was a festival coming up. They
could not allow the feast which celebrated their liberation to be hindered by their own actions
which enslaved them. All sign of their act must be buried and swept out of sight. We allow our
joy at "liberating" a people to blind us to the pain and ignominy we inflict in the process.
TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
CLOSING PRAYER
Fourteenth station JESUS IS PLACED IN THE TOMB
Joseph laid the body in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried. It was the day
of preparation and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come from Galilee
with him followed behind, and when they had seen the tomb and the way in which his body had
been laid in it they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. Then they rested on the
Sabbath according to the commandment. Luke 23:53-56
REFLECTION
Those who killed you must have been happy that Joseph of Arimethea came to claim your body.
They could now completely separate themselves from their vile act. They believed that within a
few days you will be forgotten. No one will remember what they have done . Like them we try to
separate ourselves from the misery we inflict on others. We bury you and try to pretend it did
not happen.
TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
CLOSING PRAYER
JESUS RISES
C On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the
disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them
J Peace be with you
C When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when
they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again
J Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.
C And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them
J Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven and whose sins you retain are
retained. John 20: 19-23
REFLECTION
Whose sins need to be forgiven? More than any other sins they needed to forgive themselves
for abandoning Jesus in his hour of need. You will overcome. You will give us the power to
rise above all evil -even our own. All we need do is forgive.
FINDING PEACE IN YOURSELF EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go to confession to Jesus himself? What
would he say? What would he do? We do have an example of Jesus hearing confessions (at
least a confession). We find it in the story of the woman at the well. She did not intend to go to
confession. She simply came looking for a bucket of water for her family.
It's a marvelous story. Jesus is sitting there resting. He is in Samaria and one of the local
women comes to draw water from the well. We can imagine her surprise at seeing a man there.
It was the woman's job to draw the water for the family. What was a man doing here? Then he
was a Jew. What was a Jewish man doing in Samaria?
The woman does not dare break the silence. Jesus says very softly; "Would you give me a drink
of water, please?" The woman is startled. Why would this man speak to her? Men did not speak
to women in public. Why would this Jew speak to her a Samaritan. Jews did not speak to
Samaritans at all.
She expresses her surprise. "How come you are even talking to me. And then you are asking
me to help you, to give you water?"
I imagine somewhat tongue in cheek Jesus says "Well if you knew who I was, you would ask me
and I would give you living water." Again, the woman is amazed and says: "You don't even have
a bucket. How are you going to draw this living water.?"
He then offers her living water that will flow unto eternal life. She takes that to mean "flowing"
water as in a river. She likes that and says excitedly: "Sir, if you have flowing water give it to me
then I will not have to come here each day to draw water!"
Jesus then asks her to bring her husband. "I have no husband!" Jesus tells her she is correct
in saying she has no husband. She has been married to five different men and the man she is
living with now is not her husband.
She first proclaims that Jesus is a prophet. Then acclaims him as the Messiah. Then she walks
off and leaves her bucket at the well. She forgot even why she had come to the well.
She went home, told the people of her town about Jesus and many were converted. They
invited Jesus to stay two more days in the town to preach.
The story gives us a marvelous insight into just how Jesus might hear confessions. He does
not start out by confronting the sinner with her sin.
He asks her for a cup of water. So, she does not come to him on hands and knees begging. She
has something to offer him. She is overwhelmed by his offer and feels unworthy. But Jesus
offers her something even greater. He is not going to be turned off by our unworthiness.
Only after establishing this relationship does Jesus confront her with her sin. By this time her
sin does not matter. She realizes that her sin does not matter to Jesus either. He has
something far better to offer her than sin.
She leaves her bucket and goes back into town to tell people about this wonderful person who
told her all her sins. She didn't have to tell them. He already knew them and still offered her
living water. So she went out and told everyone about this marvelous man who forgave her
sins. She became one of the first Christian missionaries.
This examination of conscience is based on the dialogue between the confessor Jesus and the
penitent woman.
THE LORD'S GIFTS
What are the gifts I have to offer Jesus and don't even know of?
What barriers have I put in the way of recognizing these gifts?
What gifts AM I aware of? How have I used those gifts?
What gifts does Jesus offer me? How have I used them?
Do I use them for the good of others as well as myself?
THE WOMAN'S DOUBT
How often have I doubted that the Lord could work wonders in my life?
How often have I allowed myself to become overwhelmed by my problems?
LISTENING TO JESUS
Do I make an effort to understand the teaching of Jesus?
How faithful am I to prayer?
Do I listen as well as speak when I pray?
Am I really aware how much effort Jesus makes to reach me?
Do I pay attention to my dreams? My distractions in prayer?
OUR SINS
Do I worship false Gods (even religious ones)?
Do I use God's name in vain (even in my prayer)?
Am I faithful to Sunday mass?
Do I really keep the Lord's Day or is Sunday just another work day?
How do I honor my parents?
RESPONSE TO GOD'S LOVE
In spite of the efforts of God do I feel overwhelmed by my own sin?
Have I forgotten (or never known) that the mercy of God is more powerful than any or all my
sins?
After reflecting on this story and this examination of conscience am I still worried about my sin?
How aware am I of God's forgiveness?
Am I excited about that forgiveness?
Am I excited enough to want to share it with others?
WE WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU. CONTACT US AT:
bill crumley
Pax Christi is an International organization. It's home base is in Europe. To contact the
International Pax Christi press Pax Christi International
There is also a national (USA) Pax Christi website. To contact the national website press
paxchristiusa
TO CONTINUE Grieving Calendar
TO RETURN TO HOME PAGE OF index
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH
3041 CHITIMACHA TRAIL
CHARENTON LOUISIANA 70523
337-923-4281
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