Monday 16 February 2009

A call for a commitment to Pope John XXIII’s “four pillars of peace” was made last night at an inter-faith memorial for those killed in the current conflict in Gaza.

The call was made by the Executive Officer of Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, Peter Arndt.

Mr Arndt joined representatives of other religions in expressing sorrow for the loss of life in Gaza and calling for an end to the violence.

He told those assembled that Pope John XXIII had established some clear principles and values for the promotion of peace in his important encyclical, Pacem in Terris.

“Pope John said that the four pillars on which peace is founded are truth, justice, freedom and love,” Mr Arndt said.

“It is only through a commitment to these four ‘pillars of peace’ that the conflict in Gaza can be resolved,” he said.

“There must be an end to political spin and lies and a commitment to finding out the truth about what has happened in Gaza and what has caused this horrifying situation,” he said.

“There must be justice for those civilians who have been killed and who have suffered so much,” he said.

“Those who have defied international law in the current military action and in the illegal occupation of Palestinian land must be held to account for their actions,” he said.

“There must also be a commitment to human freedom which ensures the political, civil, economic, social, cultural and religious rights of Palestinians and Israelis alike,” he said.

“And love must rule all things if there is to be an end to the violence,” he said.

“It is the love of one human being for another which fosters mutual respect and creates the possibility for forgiveness and compromise,” he said.

“I pray that all of us who love God and our neighbour will urge all involved in the Gaza conflict to seek and promote truth, justice, freedom and love in the name of peace,” he said.

For further information, please contact Peter Arndt on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476.

NB This release is issued with the approval of the Commission or its Executive under the provision of its Charter which enables it to speak in its own right. The views expressed in it do not necessarily represent the views of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.