Catholics rally for peace in Monroe
Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published March 24, 2006
Monroe Echoing the sentiment of popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, many Catholics were among the 75 or so protesters in Monroe last Sunday, praying and rallying for peace to mark the third anniversary of the Iraq war.
A woman proudly displays her peace sign at the March 19 rally in Monroe, with St. Mary Church in the background. | "Outrage is not enough," said Sr. Anne Wista, IHM, to the gathering of peace-minded people hoisting signs on the corner of Elm Avenue and Monroe Street. "We must pray and act for peace."
The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary organized the peaceful demonstration hoping to foster peace and to point out the tremendous cost of the war since March 2003.
More than 2,300 U.S. soldiers and an estimated 28,000 Iraqis have been killed, and $248 billion has been spent by the United States on the war effort.
Many of the motorists passing by honked at the rally to show support as the demonstrators brandished their signs, read prayers and reflections, and sung "God Bless America."
Leading up to the war which when it began was backed by a majority of U.S. citizens and overwhelmingly in Congress the late Pope John Paul II repeatedly urged President George W. Bush to avoid armed conflict, calling it a "defeat for humanity." Pope Benedict XVI, before he was elected pope, said the U.S.-led war did not fit the concept of a "just war" as defined by the Church.
Sarah Nash, assistant to coordinator of the IHM justice, peace and sustainability office, said the sisters were pleased with the turnout at the rally.
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A cheerful child flashes the peace sign out of a car windowdriving past the peace rally. | When the war was about to begin, 50 people came to a rally three years ago. Now, the issue looks different, as Iraq is struggling to build a new government, but the objective is the same peace.
"The message today really was, how many more?" Nash said. "How many more years? How many more lives? Mow many more dollars? And how many more wars?"
Especially troubling, Nash said, was that President Bush supports the idea of preemptive war attacking a country before it attacks the United States to prevent loss of U.S. lives.
The concept runs contrary to Catholic social teaching.
"We want a commitment from our government that they're not going to wage preemptive war, which is very frightening now considering the president made a recent statement saying he stands behind the policy of attacking a country even when they haven't attacked us," Nash said. "That looks very alarming when you have what's going on in Iran right now."
Iran's government, despite being urged by the United Nations, has refused to give up a nuclear program that could result in nuclear weapons. Iran's president has said Israel should be wiped off the face of the earth.
Demonstrators at the rally said they hoped to urge those who see them to take some action for peace.
"I'm joining all the other people who are like-minded, trying to get the message across to people that they need to speak up and help change things in the world," said Frank Mantei, a parishioner at St. John Parish in Monroe.
 By the numbers 2 popes who have spoken against the Iraq war
3 years since a coalition led by the United States invaded Iraq
34 countries, including the United States, have invaded Iraq
2,318 U.S. soldiers have been killed in the conflict
30,000 or more Iraqis have died in the war
$248 billion has been spent by the United States on the war effort
Source: News reports | Kathy Vaisch, a parishioner at St. Joseph in Maybee, said she was glad to find the Monroe protest; she was looking for one to join on the war's third anniversary.
"I'm surprised there aren't more people who are vocal," said Vaisch. "There's a lot of people who are on the edge, and I think if they see there's support against the war
maybe they'll change their stance and be more vocal."
Those at the rally also encouraged support for politicians who would be against the war. A handful spoke strongly against President Bush, whose handling of the war has been increasingly disapproved of by the public.
"I'd like to see (President Bush) impeached," said Marcia Bracciano, who attends St. Patrick Parish in Carleton.
Others, however, focused on the devastating impact the war has had on soldiers and their families, and society as a whole.
Sr. Wista said she is personally touched by the war because of all the money that's been spent in Iraq money, she says, that could be used to help the needy.
"The humanity part of it touches me because I work with the elderly," Sr. Wista said. "And I can't get medication to help the poor elderly because there's never any money.
Already we've spent funding (for the war) that could fund some of our programs for the world for the next three years."
Christians, Sr. Wista added, are challenged to look at the war through the lens of the Lord.
"They have to say to themselves, 'What would Christ do?'" she said. "Christ was a victim, too, in His own time, and sometimes we take a good kick in the teeth for the stands that we take.
"It's up to each one to become informed, and when they become informed, decide for themselves to take whatever action they need to bring about peace and justice in our world.
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