Iran and North Korea: Testing the Moral Fiber of the United States
Recent threats by President Trump to “totally destroy” North Korea and to repudiate the Iran deal have brought the world to the brink of a nuclear catastrophe and have intensified global insecurity. Responsible, moral leadership would recognize the Iran deal as an important example of successful diplomacy and conflict transformation that engaged many nations in an arduous, nonviolent process to build trust and avoid military confrontation. Similar honest and respectful, if difficult, diplomatic engagement should mark our approach to North Korea.
To threaten the existence of a nation of 25 million people goes against all the values of our Catholic faith as well as the principles of universal human rights on which the United Nations was founded. To ‘totally destroy’ North Korea would be an unspeakable crime against humanity; to threaten such an action is outrageous, reprehensible and beneath the dignity of a leader of one of the world’s great democracies.
Moreover, the Iran deal has successfully reduced the nuclear danger and has opened the door to other diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, including de-escalating the wars in Syria and Iraq. It is an extremely important example of effective nonviolent action that has the potential in the long term of leading to just peace. As such, the Iran deal should shore up the commitment of the international community to dialogue and negotiation rather than war as a means of transforming conflict.
Pope Francis has called for dialogue with North Korea and a rejection of “the narrative of fear…and the rhetoric of hatred.” At the UN, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign minister, said, ”The international community must respond by seeking to revive negotiations ... Peace and international stability cannot be founded on mutually assured destruction or on the threat of annihilation.”
Congress and the Administration should carefully protect the Iran Deal and apply similar diplomatic skills in our relationship with North Korea.
National Catholic Leaders
Adorers of the Blood of Christ/U.S. Region, Sara Dwyer, ASC, JPIC Coordinator
ARCWP-Asociaciìòn Presbiteras Catolicas Romanas, Olga Lucia Alvarez Benjumea, Obispa
Augustinians, Paul F. Morrissey, OSA, Director of Adeodatus Prison Ministry
Augustinians, Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, John Deegan, OSA, Director, Peace and Justice
Benedictine Sisters of Baltimore, Sister Patricia Kirk, OSB, Prioress of Emmanuel Monastery
Benedictine Sisters, Mt. Angel, OR, Donna Chartraw, Leadership Team
Beyond Borders, David Diggs, Executive Director
Campaign: Children NEED Parents, Terence J .Taffe, OFM Cap., Executive Director
Catholics for Peace and Justice, Leadership Council,
Clerics of St. Viator (Viatorians), Brother Michael Gosch, CSV, JPIC Coordinator
Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach, Scott Wright, Director
Conference of Major Superiors of Men, Eli S. McCarthy, PhD, Director of Justice and Peace
Congregation of Divine Providence, Sister Bernadette Bezner, Minister
Congregation of Sisters of IHM, Scranton, Sister Ellen Maroney, IHM, President
Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Anne Marie Hansen, Director of Lay Spiritan Formation
Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence, Sister Maria Fest, Congregational Leader (General Superior)
Conventual Franciscan Friars - OLC Province, Father Vincent Petersen OFM Conv., Chair - Commission on Justice, Peace and the Safeguarding of Creation
Daughters of Charity, Sister Michelle Loisel, DC, Coordinator Office Migration and Modern Slavery
Daughters of Mary and Joseph, Sister Linda Webb, DMJ, Member of Leadership Team
Divine Word Missionaries, Brother Brian McLaughlin, SVD, Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Coordinator
Dominican Sisters of Peace,
Gemma Doll, OP, Leadership Team
Francine Schwarzenberger, OP, Southeast Regional Coordinator
Kelly Litt, Justice Promoter
Dominican Sisters of Racine, Maryann McMahon, President
Dominicans of Sinsinawa
Angelo Collins, OP, Leadership Council
Betsy Pawlicki, OP, Leadership Council
Pamela Mitchell, OP, Vicaress
Regina McKillip, OP, Promoter of Peace and Justice
Patricia Beckman, OP, Leadership Team
Felician Sisters of North America
Leadership Team of the Felician Sisters of North America
Sister Antonelle Chunka , Director, The Promise Outreach
Sister Maryann Agnes Mueller, Justice and Peace Coordinator
Franciscan Sisters of Mary, Sister, Rose M Dowling, FSM, Past President
Glenmary Home Missioners, Father Neil Pezzulo, First Vice President
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, USA-JPIC, Sister Rose Therese Nolta, SSpS, Justice and Peace Coordinator
Holy Union Sisters
Sister Bernadette Sullivan, SUSC, Coordinator for Religious Sisters
Sister Patricia Heath, Member of Province Leadership Team
IHM Sisters, Sarah Nash, Coordinator of the Justice Peace and Sustainability Office
Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center, Patty Bowman, Executive Director
Iona College, Brother Kevin Cawley, Executive Director of the Thomas Berry Forum for Ecological Dialogue at Iona College
Leadership Conference of Women Religious,
Joan Marie Steadman, CSC, Executive Director
Ann Scholz, SSND, Associate Director for Social Mission
Christine Beckett, SCN, Associate Director
Marie McCarthy, SP, Director of Programs
Mary Hughes, OP, Director of Transitional Services, LCWR
Marianist Social Justice Collaborative, Jim Vogt, Director
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Gerry G. Lee, Director
Maryknoll Sisters
Antoinette Gutzler, MM, President
Anastasia Lott, MM, Leadership Team
Numeriana Mojado, Leadership Team
Medical Mission Sisters, Sister Patricia A. Lowery, MMS, MD, Coordinator for Health and IntraSociety Collaboration
Missionary Society of St. Columban, Father Tim Mulroy, US Regional Director
Monastery of St. Gertrude, Carol Ann Wassmuth, OSB, Social Justice Office Coordinator
Mount St. Scholastica, Sister Anne Shepard, Former Prioress
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director
Order of St. Augustine, Tom Whelan, OSA, Religious Superior
Our Lady of Victory MIssionary Sisters
Mary Jo Nelson, OLVM, President
Lucille G. Martinez, OLVM, Vice President
Sister Ginger Downey, Leadership Team/General Secretrary
Pax Christi International, Marie Dennis, Co-President
Pax Christi USA
Sister Patty Chappell, Executive Director, Pax Christi USA
Sister Anne-Louise Nadeau, Director of Programs, Pax Christi USA
Cathleen A. Crayton, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
Janice Vanderhaar, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
Art Laffin, Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace
Nancy Small, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace
Veronica Fellerath-Lowell, Member of the Pax Christi USA National Council
Cathy Woodson, Immediate Past Chair of the Pax Christi USA National Council
Rachel Schmidt, Pax Christi USA Communications Coordinator
Presentation Sisters, Sister Pat Prunty, Justice Coordinator
Racine Dominicans
Chris Broslavick, Sponsored Ministries Coordinator
Jean Verber, OP, Justice Coordinator
Religious of the Sacred Heart, Sheila Hammond, RSCJ, Provincial of the United States - Canada Province
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Western American Province, Catherine Minhoto, RSHM, Justice Coordinator
Religious Sacred Heart of Mary
Joan Treacy, RSHM, Provincial Superior
Mary Genino, RSHM, General Councillor
School Sisters of Notre Dame, Sister Jeanne Wingenter, Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation
Sisters of Bon Secours, Mary L. Shimo, Secretary/Archivist
Sisters of Charity, Sister Mary Caroline Marchal, SC, Leadership
Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Sister Therese Bangert, Social Justice Coordinator
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth,
Brenda Gonzales, SCN, Vice President
Mary Elizabeth Miller, SCN, Provincial
Sisters of Charity of New York, Office of Peace, Justice and Integrity of Creation, Sister Carol De Angelo, SC, Director
Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, Marian Durkin, CSA, Administrative Team
Sisters of I H M, Sister Rosemary Goulet, IHM, Leadership Councilor
Sisters of Mercy, Sister Mary Pendergast, RSM, Ecology Director
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Institute Leadership Team
Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community, Karen M. Donahue, RSM, Justice Coordinator
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Lois A Meyer, SNDdeN, Director of Associates
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Sister Judith Clemens, SNDdeN, Director Office of Peace, Justice and Care of Creation, Ohio Province
Sisters of Saint Francis of Colorado Springs, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission,
Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Sister Colleen Dauerbach SSJ, Social Justice Coordinator
Sisters of Service, Sister Mary-Ellen Francoeur SOS, Animator, Sisters of Service of Canada
Sisters of St. Dominic, Karen Fredrickson, OP, Coordinator
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, Nora M, Nash, OSF, Director Corporate Social Responsibility
Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa, Janice I. Cebula, OSF, President
Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania OH, Sister Sharon Havelak, JPIC Coordinator
Sisters of St. Joseph, Grace M. Eidt, CSJ, Executive Assistant
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Sister Diane Smith, Justice Coordinator
Sisters of St Joseph of Peace
Sister Susan Francois, CSJP, Assistant Congregation Leader
Sister Mindy McDonald, Council Member
Margaret Shannon, CSJP, Leadership Team
Frank McCann, Peace Through Justice Facilitator
Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood, NY, Jeanne McGorry, CSJ, Director of Spirituality
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, Sister Patricia Downs, SBS, Director is National Shrine is Saint Katharine Drexel
Sisters of the Good Shepherd
Maureen McGowan, Province Leader
Vivian Menard, Member of Province Leadership Team
Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, O'Fallon, MO, Sister Rosemary Russell, CPPS, Chairperson, Gospel Justice Committee
Sisters of the Presentation, SF CA, Sister Michele Anne Murphy, President
Sisters, Servants of IHM, Donna Marie Korba, IHM, Director of the Office of JPIC
Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Jean Louise Bachetti, IHM, Councilor
Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary , Kathryn Clauss, IHM, Councilor for Missioning and Community Life
Third Order Regular of St. Francis, Father Bernard Tickerhoof, TOR, Director of Ongoing Formation
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