1. CHAPTER EIGHT
Justice and Peace

2. the tranquility of order; a gift from Jesus Christ
Christians and Peace
the tranquility of order; a gift from Jesus Christ
What is peace?
. Why should we care about peace?
. Christians must be peacemakers
To engage in the work of peace means we must work for justice, and justice requires forgiveness
Peacemaking is enhanced by our practice of the virtues
Prayer is essential for developing a spirituality of peacemaking
freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility.

3. Christians and Peace
The Church teaches us about peace in several important documents:
1. The Church in the Modern World: written during Vatican II and says “Peace is an enterprise of justice”
2. The Challenge of Peace: a document written by the bishops that outlines their ideas about peace and says Peacemaking begins in a person’s heart
3. The Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace: a letter commemorating the tenth anniversary of The Challenge of Peace, says that We must be humble, gentle, and patient with people. We must also be strong, active, and bold to spread the gospel of peace

4. Christians and Peace

5. Christians and Peace Causes of War Political Cultural/religious
Economic

6. The Meaning of Peace in the Bible
Did you know…
Peace is a central theme in the Bible and has a variety of meanings in the scriptures.
Peace can mean:
Individual sense of security
Cessation of armed hostility among the nations
A right relationship with God
The end of time

7. The Meaning of Peace in the Bible
Peace in the Old Testament
Peace develops into a rich image that is understood in light of Israel’s relationship to God
Peace is stressed as a unity and harmony of the whole community with other peoples and with creation itself
Peace is one of the fruits of keeping the covenant with God
Peace in the New Testament
Jesus commands us to forgive and love even in the face of threat or opposition
Jesus left us the gift of peace and the Holy Spirit to help us to be missionaries of peace

8. Responding to conflict
Ways to respond to armed conflict
nonviolence
just war

9. Q. What does the Church tells us about nonviolence?
A. Church teaching always begins with a presumption against war, advocating peaceful settlement of disputes
A. the Church also recognizes the right and duty of legitimate political authorities to employ limited force as a last resort to save innocent people and to establish peace when nonviolent action has failed

10. Nonviolence
Three levels of violence:

11. Conscientious objector
Nonviolence
Not passivity: the “sit back and do nothing” approach
Nonviolence requires courage, patience, action, creativity, and a passionate commitment to seek justice and truth no matter what the price
Refuses to engage in armed conflict or wars considered unjust or because of religious convictions
Conscientious objector

12. The Just-War Tradition

13. The just war theory is a largely Christian philosophy that attempts to reconcile three things:
states have a duty to defend their citizens, and defend justice
taking human life is seriously wrong
protecting innocent human life and defending important moral values sometimes requires willingness to use force and violence
Just War theory

14. The Just-War Tradition

15. The Just-War Tradition
Someone who objects to and refuses to participate in wars and rejects any recourse to violence regardless of the circumstances
pacifist
The damage inflicted and the costs incurred to be commensurate with the good expected
Principle of proportionality

16. The Just-War Tradition
- What may never be permitted in a war:
War aimed at entire cities or extensive areas
Any act that has great potential for widespread destruction
Arms race does not ensure peace

17. The Just-War Tradition
Did you know…
The Church supports laws that would make provisions for conscientious objectors who refuse to bear arms provided they accept some other form of community service.
The most effective way to stop terrorism is to remove its causes of poverty, and the powerlessness of people around the world because of oppression and the lack of respect for their basic human rights

18. Peacemaking Strategies
- A task for both individuals and societies

19. Peacemaking Strategies
Global option for the poor

20. Peacemaking Strategies
Global solidarity
Requires us to commit ourselves to the common good of all people
World’s rich nations will promote development of poorer nations

21. Peacemaking Strategies
Q. What are the steps to building a more peaceful international community?
A. Strengthen international institutions like the United Nations
A. Work to secure human rights
A. Promote true development of the poorer nations
What are the steps to righting the inequities of the world?
Improve foreign aid
Rectify trade relationships
Relieve international debt
End arms race, halt arms trade and ban landmines

22. Vocabulary peace levels of violence Just war tradition
principle of proportionality
pacifist
conscientious objector