Peace!? Not just for Catholics anymore?!

I have been reading Gaudium et Spes from Vatican II for the class I am teaching at the Seminary. In our last class we had read Pacem in Terris by John XXIII. What has struck me most is the Church's position on War - more specifically on peace. The Church is clear that disarmament is man's only recourse for a true and lasting peace. Yet if this is going to happen man must address the injustices that so many people endure.

In fact here is the quote from Gaudium et Spes #83:

83. In order to build up peace above all the causes of discord among men, especially injustice, which foment wars must be rooted out. Not a few of these causes come from excessive economic inequalities and from putting off the steps needed to remedy them. Other causes of discord, however, have their source in the desire to dominate and in a contempt for persons. And, if we look for deeper causes, we find them in human envy, distrust, pride, and other egotistical passions. Man cannot bear so many ruptures in the harmony of things. Consequently, the world is constantly beset by strife and violence between men, even when no war is being waged. Besides, since these same evils are present in the relations between various nations as well, in order to overcome or forestall them and to keep violence once unleashed within limits it is absolutely necessary for countries to cooperate more advantageously and more closely together and to organize together international bodies and to work tirelessly for the creation of organizations which will foster peace.

This afternoon, while taking a quick break, I came across this little ditty on Youtube, and I thought about the Church's teaching.



Then, a few minutes later I found this tidbit of information by a talk show host in the south:



It makes one wonder what has been the policy of our nation of which perhaps we have not truly seen the effects. To be clear, as I have said, I am sympathetic to Ron Paul. Nevertheless, in a recent speech given at the Arab American conference in Michigan, Dr. Paul has stated he is against the UN, something which John XXIII had supported in his 1963 Encyclical Pacem in Terris (especially #130-145).

However, one wonders with the increasing policy of international intervention of the UN organization, whether John XXIII would still support them, as his basic premise is that nations must retain their sovereignty and not be coerced into fraterntiy with other nations. Rather, all nations should have been encouraged to cooperate and to willfully enter into negotiations and peace agreements. They should never feel bullied by sanctions, but should be engaged in diplomacy. Oddly enough, that is precisely what Ron Paul has called for! Vote for who your conscience tells you, but be aware of their positions. Here is #141 of Pacem in Terris, which makes the point:

141. But it is no part of the duty of universal authority to limit the sphere of action of the public authority of individual States, or to arrogate any of their functions to itself. On the contrary, its essential purpose is to create world conditions in which the public authorities of each nation, its citizens and intermediate groups, can carry out their tasks, fullfill their duties and claim their rights with greater security. [emphasis added]

This is basically what the Church refers to in her Social Teaching as the Principle of Subsidiarity. Essentially, this is the same idea as not having the government come in and tell us how to raise our kids. The principle is: "a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to co-ordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good (CCC #1883)."

At the end of the day, my post today is about what? It is about the need for peace in the world. A peace which, may it please God, is still not that far away. It just takes men to be just and civil to one another, whether Christian, Muslim or President of any country! For this is the call of Christ to each of us: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. Not as the world gives it do I give it to you(Jn 14:27)." Nevertheless, Jesus desired and prayed to the father concerning all mankind to whom the Apostles were sent: "I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they may also be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me (Jn 17:21)."