An open letter regarding the use of military force in Syria

Dear friends,

In praying our Litany of Nonviolence, we beg God for the grace of non-violent hearts. As the crisis in Syria unfolds, we invite you to beg for that grace for world leaders and to join in the special day of fasting and prayer proclaimed by our Pope Francis for peace. He has designated Sept. 7, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace, as the day for people everyone to gather together in prayer and in a spirit of penitence, to pray for peace for the Syrian nation as well as for all situations of conflict and violence in our world.

In his own words, “Humanity needs to see gestures of peace and to hear words of hope and of peace.” [Read the letter from Pope Francis.]

The words of our Litany of Nonviolence also keep us mindful of “the silence that gives consent to abuse, war and evil.” We pray for “the desire, and the courage, to risk speaking and acting for the common good.”

In that spirit, we ask you to contact your two U.S. Senators and your Representative and urge them to vote against a resolution authorizing the use of military force in Syria. Instead, ask them to support U.S. leadership, in collaboration with the international community, for an immediate ceasefire in Syria and serious, inclusive negotiations for peace. (See below for contact information.)

We know that the Senate Foreign Relations committee has already voted 10 to 7 in favor of the resolution authorizing the use of military force in Syria in response to heinous chemical weapons attacks on innocent civilians. During the week of September 9, Congress is expected to take up the debate on the resolution.

You will find links below to help you contact your Senators and Representative as well as the suggested talking points. Finally, you will find the complete text of the Litany of Nonviolence. We urge you to pray this as our special gesture of peace so our world will hear words of hope and of peace.

Gratefully,

The General Council of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods:
Sister Denise Wilkinson, general superior
Sister Lisa Stallings
Sister Dawn Tomaszewski
Sister Jenny Howard
Sister Mary Beth Klingel

Contact Congress

Call or write your Representative and Senators!

Here are the suggested talking points:

As Congress debates a resolution authorizing military force in Syria, I urge the Senator/Representative instead to support U.S. leadership for peace. The Holy, See the Conference of Bishops and the Catholic community have condemned the chemical attack, but remain convinced that only dialogue can save lives and bring about peace in Syria. In a recent letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, Bishop Richard E. Pates, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, wrote: “‘[T]he path of dialogue and negotiation between all components of Syrian society, with the support of the international community, is the only option to put an end to the conflict….’ We ask the United States to work with other governments to obtain a ceasefire, initiate serious negotiations, provide impartial and neutral humanitarian assistance, and encourage building an inclusive society in Syria that protects the rights of all its citizens, including Christians and other minorities.”

Sisters of Providence Litany of Nonviolence

Tell your Representative and Senators:

As Congress debates a resolution authorizing military force in Syria, I urge the Senator/Representative instead to support U.S. leadership for peace. The Holy, See the Conference of Bishops and the Catholic community have condemned the chemical attack, but remain convinced that only dialogue can save lives and bring about peace in Syria. In a recent letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, Bishop Richard E. Pates, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, wrote: “‘[T]he path of dialogue and negotiation between all components of Syrian society, with the support of the international community, is the only option to put an end to the conflict….’ We ask the United States to work with other governments to obtain a ceasefire, initiate serious negotiations, provide impartial and neutral humanitarian assistance, and encourage building an inclusive society in Syria that protects the rights of all its citizens, including Christians and other minorities.”