Editorial

From the General Council "Never Again War"

October 2001

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Immediately after the terrible events of September 11, we received an email message from one of our missioners working overseas among the poor. The message said, “I urge Scarboro Missions to put out the message of Jesus concerning love of neighbour. Like Jesus, our response to violence cannot be further violence; hatred can only be overcome by love.”

As Scarboro missionaries, we feel the need to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the victims of the horrific acts that took place in the United States on September 11. Ironically, this day had been set aside by the United Nations to mark the International Day of Peace.

Dedicated to witnessing the Good News of the Gospel, we deplore this senseless loss of human life. We believe that we will have peace and security only when all peoples of the world are able to live in peace and security.

We need to ask the question of why so many live in poverty... a cause of despair and hopelessness, frustration and anger. Peace and security will not be guaranteed by weapons, but by bread and all it symbolizes. Through the prophets, God tells us, “I have heard the cry of the poor.”

We remind the world of Pope Paul VI’s plea to the United Nations in 1964: “No more war... Never again war.” We add our voices to this plea and we join with our Muslim brothers and sisters who live in peace, following the teaching of the Prophet Muhammad.

Just as we deplore the actions of the terrorists, we deplore as well, the harm being done to our brothers and sisters of other faiths in the aftermath of September 11. We call upon all to help build a just world where all are secure and live in peace.

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