Pax Christi welcomes 'Called to be Peacemakers'

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Pax Christi England and Wales has welcomed yesterday's publication of 'Called to be Peacemakers : A Catholic approach to arms control and disarmament' by the Catholic Bishops' Conference.

Speaking after the launch, Andrew Jackson, Chief Executive said: 'We welcome today's publication by the CBCEW. The calls for the UK Government to fulfil its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and to promote an end to the UK's role in the global arms trade are all very clear and will support our ongoing campaigns on these issues.

"The urging of the Government to take meaningful steps towards General and Complete Disarmament and, in particular, to support a new UN Special Session on Disarmament is very welcome and aligns with work we are involved in with Scrap Weapons to build an impact coalition to take this fundamental issue forward.

"The statement on diverting military spending towards spending on peace and integral human development supports one of the key calls we will be making in the upcoming General Election. We are obviously very pleased to see the call to promote the principles of Mensuram Bonam in relation to investment in the arms industry, not least in the context of the current campaign to end arms supplies to Israel and the pressure that must be applied on companies through divestment from any involved in the arms trade and further in the development and manufacture of nuclear weapons.

In their concluding reflection, the Bishops remind us that Jesus marked out the path of nonviolence. Pax Christi believes that it is along this path that we can find the fresh hope, energy and tools we need to eventually put an end to war. This truly is a 'radically counter-cultural approach' as the Bishops have said and we invite everyone who wants to explore it further and work for its realisation, to join us."

Note: Jacob Oakes from CBCEW who was involved in the work on the document is speaking at this online event this evening:
www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/event/rearmament-and-security-europe-where-are-you-sailing/