Origins of Pax Christi Memphis
We must lock away the Just War Theory in the same drawer as the Flat Earth Theory. -- Bishop Carroll Dozier in his keynote address Pax Christi National Assembly Rochester, MN 1982
In 1973, as Pax Christi was beginning in the United States, Memphis's Bishop Carroll Dozier was asked to join with Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of Detroit as Episcopal Moderators of the organization. When he had been a theology student in Rome in the 1930s, Bishop Dozier had seen the rise of fascism under Mussolini and Hitler. He became aware of the need for an active Catholic peace movement. None had existed in the Church since perhaps the Middle Ages. Now, as a bishop, he was able to help bring about such a movement in the United States. Bishop Dozier remained active in Pax Christi until his death. Although he was unable to attend Pax Christi's founding assembly in Washington in 1973, he sent two professors at Christian Brothers College in his place --Dave Thomasma and Gerry Vanderhaar. Because of Bishop Dozier's national involvement in Pax Christi, that organization became the vehicle for the peace movement in Memphis. Early members in Memphis included people of all faiths, not just Catholics. Their efforts for peace came from a sound spiritual basis. To call attention to the need for nuclear disarmament, Memphis Pax Christi members began a yearly Hiroshima Day vigil. We have sponsored Memorial Day services to commemorate those who have died in war and to pray that such deaths will not happen again. Each year we try to have a Peace Retreat, a special day of prayer and reflection led by someone of national reputation. --Gerry Vanderhaar The Memphis chapter meets the first Tuesday of the month (check June newsletter for July and August) at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 2300 Hickory Crest Drive. Community Sharing 7pm Opening prayer 7:30pm
Contact or Jerry Bettice 901-323-0344
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