Winter Letter 2012

By admin | Published: February 14, 2012

 Winter 2012

Dear Friends of the Murphy Initiative,

It is not as cold here in Baltimore as one would expect by February and we really have had no snow to speak of. This is okay with me and with the homeless community, as well as the gas and electric bill payers. But it is a little unsettling. The phenomenon of the weather is a reminder of the Liturgical expression of Ordinary Days.  This is just the distinction between days of holy seasons and the days in between.  So our days are ordinary according to our Church. But in reality they are anything but!

We are experiencing extraordinary times!  Faith based public witness is all around us. There have been amazing and meaningful events at the White House, Pentagon and Supreme Court Building – all nonviolent calls to come out of the culture of death and into the light of real social change.

I think our fundraiser on January 29th was also a witness. It was a witness to life and community coming together to celebrate the human spirit. For me, the most touching moment was hearing the choir sing the words of Bishop Murphy “to listen to God speaking in human words.”  It was a lovely afternoon made even more beautiful by the Handel Choir, the crepes from Sofi’s and the silent auction with gifts from Kerry Kennedy, Martin Sheen, Liz McAlister, Willa Bickham and other good friends. I am filled with hope.

With you, I am looking forward to the Convocation for Social Justice on March 3rd, 2012. Enclosed is your personal invitation. You can register on our new web site www.pfmjpi.org. Also on the web site you will find information about the ongoing campaign to stop state sanctioned executions in the State of Maryland and the Bishop Frank Murphy Peacemaking Award to be given in the Baltimore Catholic high schools.

Spring is right around the corner and so is more hard work for justice.

I often wonder what Bishop Murphy would think of the work and concerns of the organization that carries his name. I believe he would be pleased by the occupy movement. That he would recognize the Gospels coming alive as hope soars and lives change. Thank you for being a part of this experiment (as Gandhi would call it). The work we do is not possible without your support. Thank you for your help. As an extra convenience we have added a DONATE button to our home page. Your support goes toward salaries, improving our web site, bringing activist to inspire us and creating new programs.

With every prayer for Peace,

Rosemary M Thompson

Posted in Director Letter, Uncategorized | Comments closed

Letter to Fr. Brian Linnane, SJ

By admin | Published: January 20, 2012

January 17, 2011

 

The Reverend Brian F. Linnane, S.J.

President, Loyola University Maryland

4501 N. Charles St.

Baltimore, MD 21210

 

Dear Fr. Linnane,

We the undersigned are part of your community. We are students, teachers, advisors and peacemakers.  We are also parents, committed and vowed religious or simply responsive members of a thinking society. Many of us are part of the Loyola family of students, parents and alumni. We have come together to ask for a meeting with you to discuss the Army ROTC program at Loyola.

As a Catholic University committed to the teachings of Jesus and the Church, Loyola is responsible for helping its students come to recognize the sanctity of every human life and to become peacemakers. Quoting Blessed Pope John Paul II, the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church states:

With the conviction of her faith in Christ and with the awareness of her mission, the Church proclaims “that violence is evil, that violence is unacceptable as a solution to problems, that violence is unworthy of man. Violence is a lie, for it goes against the truth of our faith, the truth of our humanity. Violence destroys what it claims to defend: the dignity, the life, the freedom of human beings.” (496)

The unfortunate truth though is that violence is taught at Loyola. In Loyola’s classrooms students are trained in the craft of war, and in Loyola’s chapel every May students swear a solemn oath to be willing to do lethal violence in defense of the national interest of the United States. We are concerned that this represents a significant conflict in values for Loyola as a Catholic school.

The presence and role of military education at Loyola raises complex questions, and we believe that it is vital to Loyola’s ability to fulfill its mission that these questions be examined. Loyola and Jesuit institutions throughout the world have a proud tradition of addressing such complex but vital issues head-on. We know how committed you are to Loyola’s excellence and trust that you will give our concerns great attention.

We would like the opportunity to come speak with you about these issues and ways that together we could further strengthen Loyola’s commitment to the “gospel of peace” (Eph 6:15). Our intention is that this dialogue would be open, cooperative and supportive.

We look forward to the chance to meet with you at your convenience. I, Ms. Rosemary Thompson, will be in contact with your office regarding the scheduling of our meeting. Know that many of us have been blessed by our associations with Loyola. We are grateful for the work you do and pray for God’s blessing upon it.

 

In the peace of Christ,

 

 

Rosemary Thompson, Executive Director

Murphy Initiative for Peace and Justice

410-823-858

 

David Tenney, former ROTC Cadet (BA-’00)

Mary Kate Ryner (‘85 )

Father Bernie Survil (M.ED, ‘67)

Catherine Kelly, Loyola College Board Member, 1988-1990

Amanda (Walker) Daloisio (’97)

Paul Cooke (BBA-’06) (MSF-’09)

Erin (Fisher) Tenney (BA-‘00)

Marcelle I. Grano, The Catholic University of America BA in Theology and Religious Studies ’08, Loyola University Maryland MA in Spiritual and Pastoral Care’10

Matthew Daloisio (’99)

Robert Cooke, parent of MD Loyola alumnus

Eli S. McCarthy, Georgetown University, Professor – Justice and Peace Studies

Robert S. More, Esq., Boston College ’74, Harvard Law School ’77, Chairperson, Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore

Richard J. DeBona, Boston College, ’85; Le Moyne College Campus Minister (’92-’98)

Marie Dennis, co-President, Pax Christi International

Jerome C. Park, RN, Alumnus of Marquette University High School and Saint Francis Seminary, Milwaukee;  returned Peace Corps India Volunteer, and co-director of Little Friends for Peace which trains children and their caregivers in the skills of Nonviolence.

Sister Kathie Uhler, OSF, Assistant to the Executive Director, Catholics Mobilizing Network to end the use of the Death Penalty

Martha Larsen, RSM

Mary E. Wendeln C.PP.S., Immigrant advocate, Cincinnati, Ohio

Chuck Michaels, Esq., Volunteer Coordinator, Pax Christi Baltimore, Celebrating Over 25 Years of Peace & Justice Activities in the Baltimore Metro Area

Chuck Frascati, Chair, Steering Committee, Pax Christi Baltimore

Mary Joan Park, teacher, parent of 6 children, Co-founder and Co -Director of Little Friends For Peace, member of Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore, member of St. Aloysius Parish , DC  

Mary Liston Liepold, Ph.D., SFO

Lucille Mostello, M.D.

Gary Gillespie, Member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Baltimore, MD

Jack McHale, Pax Christi USA National Council, Treasurer

Robert E. Graf Jr., Marquette University 61-65, 67-68;St. Louis University, 67-68 B.A. P & L; Loyola University, Chicago MPS, 96-98


Joan Tirak, Coordinator, Pax Christi Michigan

 

Fr. Fred Thelen, Cristo Rey Church, Pax Christi Lansing

 

David Ryner, St. Francis of Assisi Pax Christi, Derwood, MD

 

Sigrid Dale, Pax Christi Michigan

 

Ginger Fitzpatrick, Pax Christi Burtonsville

 

Ron Dale, Pax Christi Michigan

 

Judith Kelly, Arlington, VA, Pax Christi Pentagon Area

 

Mary Beth Seymour, Pax Christi, Redford MI

 

Susan Kerin, St. Francis of Assisi Pax Christi, Derwood, MD

 

Kimberly Redigan, Pax Christi Michigan State Council

 

Joan McCoy, coordinator, home for peace and justice

 

Aetna Thompson, Esq.

 

Posted in Director Letter | Tagged , , | Comments closed

Letter to Catholic High Schools

By admin | Published: January 20, 2012

 

January 5, 2012

 

Dear Mr. Louis E. Heidrick,

Yesterday a friend shared with me a sweet conversation he had with his small child. Mille, age 8 had had an epiphany, but what she told her Dad is that this new understanding “has entered into my dreams.” I have found myself quite taken by her remark. I am writing to you today to thank you for entering into the dreams of the young people to whom you are so dedicated.

As you know, the P. Francis Murphy Initiative and Pax Christi Baltimore are offering an award for peacemaking to one student in each Catholic High School in the Baltimore Archdiocese. We are very excited about this new venture for us as well as the opportunity to talk to students about the life of nonviolence based on the instructions of Jesus and the Social Teaching of our faith.

It has been my honor to speak to many of you personally. I have enjoyed speaking to your students and am looking forward to more conversations.

Enclosed please find more details of the award.  I would also like to invite you to take a look at our new web site www.pfmjpi.org. We are living in exciting times! Thank you for all you do for justice and peace.

Chuck Michaels from Pax Christi and I will be back in touch with you in the next few weeks. In the meantime, if you have questions or are looking for clarification please do not hesitate to give me a call.

Wishing you peace in the New Year!

 

Rosemary M. Thompson

Posted in Director Letter | Tagged , | Comments closed

By admin | Published: November 3, 2011

Blessings of Peace!  In a recent article in the National Catholic Reporter, Fr. Tom Cassidy stated “the best kept secret of the church is its social teachings. The really sad fact is that we’ve kept the secret from our own people. Imagine what a force for change it would be if all the people in the pews really understood and were brought into the rich tradition of the church’s social teachings.”

Indeed, the teachings are more than available to us – they are the core of our lives and actions.  We are made for these times! This is what I love about my new position as Director here at the Murphy Initiative. I believe we, as a community, are taking those directives seriously and hoping against hope for peace in our poor, war-ravaged and starving world.

I think our Jewish brothers and sisters have it right – autumn is the time of new beginnings. What a blessed time!  The air is changing with the leaves and everything has a different hue about it. With that fresh wind – change is in the air. Occupy is the rallying cry and we are on the verge of something new.

We are excited to announce our Advent retreat. It will be on Saturday December 10 at Jonah House. Our guest presenters are Martha Hennessy, granddaughter of Dorothy Day and an international peace activist; and Rev. Heber Brown, pastor of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church and local human rights advocate.

We will be focusing on the promises both in the Gospel of John and the 61st chapter of Isaiah (the liturgical reading for the 3rd Sunday of Advent). More specifically, we will be working on what it means to be offering “good news to the oppressed.”

Other retreats and conferences include Children Uniting Nations (human trafficking) www.childrenunitingnations.org, Faith and Resistance actions www.jonahhouse.org, and a weekly vigil against the death penalty as well as an upcoming meeting with Coca Cola about their water distribution www.stopcorporateabuse.org. We have made a commitment to work with Pax Christi USA on a campaign to stop the Keystone XL Pipeline and encourage President Obama to keep his promise for a clean energy economy.

 Together with Pax Christi Baltimore we are co-sponsoring a prize to honor seniors who are working for peace in their school and our world. The P. Francis Murphy Award will be given in each of the participating Catholic high schools and  is a great opportunity to invite younger people into a life of nonviolence and peacemaking.

Looking forward, we are excited about next year’s Circles of Contemplation (the questions of Jesus), cosponsored with Emmanuel Monastery. In January, the Handel Choir will perform at St. Mary’s of the Assumption parish as a major fundraiser. In March, the Archdiocesan Convocation for Social Justice will bring the seven principals of Social Teachings home for us.  The Murphy Initiative will also sponsor retreats both for Advent and Lent. 

Thank you, thank you, for all you do for justice in the world,

 Rosemary

 The work we do is only made possible because of your support. We need your prayers, but we need your financial help as well. If you believe in the hard work of changing the world, please give. I promise that every dollar will go towards initiating dialogue, improving our website, creating conferences and retreats, as well as bringing distinguished activists to the area to share their stories with us.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment