Thanks to Steve Chase at the International Center for Nonviolent Conflict for hosting an excellent 1-hour resource-rich webinar on “Promoting Civil Resistance as Part of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative.” Key presenters include Marie Dennis from Pax Christi International’s Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, Eli S. McCarthy from Georgetown University’s Peace and Justice studies program, and Sharon Erickson Nepstad, a sociologist of Catholic social movements at the University of New Mexico.
In this webinar, we hear from a scholar and two members of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative as they described CNI’s efforts to deepen the Catholic Church’s understanding of and commitment to “active nonviolence” with a particular focus on civil resistance as a key tool in promoting social justice. Marie Dennis introduces the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative and its engagement through two major conferences with the Vatican. Sharon Nepstad gives more context on the historical role of Catholics in civil resistance movements. Eli McCarthy shares what the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative is doing now to increase the understandings and skills of nonviolent resistance among Catholics.
For those interested in teaching about Pax Christi International’s Catholic Nonviolence Initiative in churches, schools, or community gatherings, this is a compact, 1-hour webinar to start the conversation.
Relevant Readings:
Appeal to Catholic Church to Re-Commit to the Centrality of Gospel Nonviolence
Advancing Just Peace through Strategic Nonviolent Action by Dr. Maria J. Stephan
2017 World Day of Peace message by Pope Francis
Peace Movements and Religion in the U.S. by Sharon Erickson Nepstad
Just Peace Ethic Handout
See all resources at: https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/promoting-civil-resistance-as-part-of-the-catholic-nonviolence-initiative/