Cindy Sheehan visits Assisi, reflects on Franciscan model of Christian nonviolence

CTA's 2006 leadership awardee, Cindy Sheehan, is best known in peace circles as founder of Gold Star Families for Peace — linking households who have lost loved ones in military service in Iraq, and are working to end the war. But CTA also appreciates Sheehan's Catholic roots in a spirituality of Gospel nonviolence typified by St. Francis of Assisi.

Addressing a Spiritual Activism Conference in Washington last May, she recalled her visit to Assisi in January at the invitation of an Italian peace coalition. At the tomb of St. Francis, she felt she was walking in the footsteps of her son Casey, killed in Iraq in April 2004. Casey went to Assisi as part of Papal World Youth Day in 2000 when Cindy was still a youth minister in their California parish. “Casey spoke reverently about his trip to Assisi. Many who knew him well said he reminded them of a young St. Francis who said: ‘Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words.’ That was how Casey lived his life.”

Sheehan delivered her own meditation on the Peace Prayer of St. Francis. “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Being an instrument is more than working for peace. We must be peace to have peace. Being anti-war is not enough. Nonviolence should always be our means to solve problems. Peace is not an absence of conflict, but resolving conflict nonviolently.

“Where there is injury, let me show pardon. I always wondered how I would handle forgiveness if one of my four children was murdered. I didn't know until I was forced to walk in those shoes by the murderous policies of the neo-cons. Am I angry that they lied us into this war and that Casey and countless others are dead for their lies? Yes! Do I want them held accountable? Yes. But executed for it? No. Capital punishment is as barbaric as war. Have I forgiven them? I am not fully there yet, but I will be there eventually because I don't hate his killers.”

Peace parley in Jordan

Franciscan Fr. Louis Vitale, co-founder of the Pace e Bene Franciscan Nonviolence Service where CTA's Ken Butigan is a key educator (story, page 3), helped lead a peace delegation to Amman, Jordan Aug. 5-7. Cindy Sheehan was also a participant. The group met with Iraqi parliamentarians to discuss their 28-point peace plan for Iraq.