The Catholic Nonviolence Initiative
Fall Series 2022-2023*
Advancing Nonviolence and Just Peace
This series is a collaboration between Casa Esther Catholic Worker House, Omro WI
and the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative,a project of Pax Christi International
"Thank you for putting this series together. It was wonderful. It was a tremendous resource for my Challenge of Justice and Challenge of Peace courses. I'll be using some of the (recordings) for my Spring Course entitled, Peaceful and Ethical Leadership."
-Joshua R. Snyder Ph.D., Director of the Faith, Peace, and Justice Minor and Assistant Professor of the Practice at Boston College - January 2023
"The Catholic Nonviolence Initiative series was an engaging resource for students. I am grateful for that series and looking forward to learning more about the "nonviolence and care for creation" series as you and your colleagues put it together."
-Nicholas Rademacher, Ph.D.,Professor in the Religious Studies Department at the University of Dayton - January 2023
-Joshua R. Snyder Ph.D., Director of the Faith, Peace, and Justice Minor and Assistant Professor of the Practice at Boston College - January 2023
"The Catholic Nonviolence Initiative series was an engaging resource for students. I am grateful for that series and looking forward to learning more about the "nonviolence and care for creation" series as you and your colleagues put it together."
-Nicholas Rademacher, Ph.D.,Professor in the Religious Studies Department at the University of Dayton - January 2023
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A Downloadable Study Guide for each Lecture is below the presentation summaries. If you want to view all five study guides in order to choose which lectures to use, you can download all of them together, by clicking on the file icon to the right.
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Session One - Why Nonviolence ?
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Summary: This discussion explores the spirituality and role of nonviolence. Presenters elaborate on how and why nonviolence is such an effective tool in bringing about sustainable political, social, and economic change. Featuring Dr. Ken Butigan, DePaul University; Eliane Lakam, DC Peace Team and Rosie Davilla, Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service. Click lecture video link HERE |
First Presentation by Ken Butigan: In his presentation, Ken begins by announcing that the greatest social movement in the history of the world is coming.
(Runtime: 18 minutes)
(Runtime: 18 minutes)
Second Presentation by Eliane Lakam: In her presentation, Eliane discusses the nature of nonviolence, emphasizing that it isn’t pacifism but an active response to violence.
(Runtime: 14 minutes including 6 slides)
(Runtime: 14 minutes including 6 slides)
Third Presentation by Rosie Davila: In her work, being an artist, she illustrated the many dimensions of nonviolence in a series of ten posters which she shows us in her presentation.
(Runtime; 11 minutes including 10 slides)
(Runtime; 11 minutes including 10 slides)
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Click on the file icon to the right for a downloadable study guide for this Lecture to use in class.
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Session Two - Returning to & Exploring the Power of Nonviolence
Summary: This discussion places emphasis on the centrality of Gospel nonviolence in the context of today’s world and highlights contemporary examples of Catholic nonviolent responses to violence, including the pilgrimage of inter-religious leaders to Kyiv, following an appeal by its Mayor. Featuring Marie Dennis, Pax Christi International and Rose Marie Berger, Sojourner's Magazine.
Click lecture video link HERE.
First Presentation by Marie Dennis: In her presentation, Marie expands our notion of nonviolence, providing a deep understanding of all its dimensions, of its power and potential to transform the world. (Runtime: 17 minutes)
Second Presentation by Rose Marie Berger: In her presentation Rose shares the story of her trip to Ukraine last May with a group of inter-religious leaders.
(Runtime: 22 minutes including 23 slides)
(Runtime: 22 minutes including 23 slides)
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Click on the file icon to the right for a downloadable study guide for this Lecture to use in class.
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Session Three - The Christian Foundations of Nonviolence
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Summary: This discussion explores the Christologically-grounded nature of nonviolence. Among other important fundamental materials, presenters draw on Biblical texts— including scriptures highlighting the nonviolent ethos of Jesus and papal statements relating to Catholic teaching on nonviolence. Featuring Dr. KC Choi, Princeton Theological Seminary and Dr. Lisa Sowle Cahill, Boston College.
Click lecture video link HERE |
First Presentation by KC Choi: In his presentation, Dr. Choi examines nonviolence through the Scriptures.
(Runtime: 21 minutes)
(Runtime: 21 minutes)
Second Presentation by LIsa Sowle Cahill: Dr. Cahill explores the action of the Holy Spirit in forming a community in service to a mission, supporting and empowering one another, existing for the sake of God’s nonviolent reign.
(Runtime: 28 minutes)
(Runtime: 28 minutes)
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Click on the file icon to the right for a downloadable study guide for this Lecture to use in class.
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Session Four - Embracing Nonviolence: A New Moral Framework
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Summary: This discussion provides an overview of a nonviolent Just Peace Framework. Through case studies, presenters delve into its practical applications on some of the most pressing issues of our time, including the war in Ukraine and conflicts within the context of Kenya. Featuring Dr. Eli McCarthy, Georgetown University and Dr. Wamuyu Wachira Click lecture video link HERE. |
First Presentation by Eli McCarthy: Eli articulates the three basic categories defining a Just Peace Framework.
(Runtime: 28 minutes including 12 slides)
(Runtime: 28 minutes including 12 slides)
Second Presentation by Sr. Teresia Wamuyu Washira: Sr. Wamuyu examines non-violence as a way of being and doing from an African perspective,
(Runtime: 29 minutes including 14 slides)
(Runtime: 29 minutes including 14 slides)
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Click on the file icon to the right for a downloadable study guide for this Lecture to use in class.
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Session Five - Embracing Nonviolence: Transforming the Church
Summary: This discussion focuses on pastoral implications and opportunities to advance the practice of nonviolence as a way of life within the Church and beyond. It also discusses the efforts of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative to impact the mission of the Church.
Featuring Judy Coode, Pax Christi International and Fr. John Heagle, Association of US Catholic Priests
Click lecture video link HERE.
First Presentation by Judy Coode: Judy talks about the formative influences of family, Church, education and work in leading her to embrace nonviolence.
(Runtime: 15 minutes)
(Runtime: 15 minutes)
Second Presentation by Fr. John Heagle: John describes the pastoral/doctrinal challenge facing the Church as a community today: how to move from a historical Just War doctrine toward reclaiming the biblical understanding of justice and the life and teaching of Jesus on nonviolence.
(Runtime: 28 minutes)
(Runtime: 28 minutes)
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Click on the file icon to the right for a downloadable study guide for this Lecture to use in class.
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* Casa Esther Catholic Worker would like to acknowledge the assistance of those who helped to prepare this series for Spring Semester use:
Links to ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Catholic Nonviolence Initiative
The Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, a project of Pax Christi International, the Catholic peace movement, affirms that active nonviolence is at the heart of the vision and message of Jesus, the life of the Catholic Church, and the long-term vocation of healing and reconciling both people and the planet.
Ken Butigan, The university’s responsibility for peace and nonviolence, Educatio Catholica, Congregation for Catholic Education, May 2020
Pope Francis, Nonviolence: A Style of Politics for Peace, World Day of Peace Message, 2017
Erica Chenoweth, “The Success of Nonviolent Civil Resistance,” TEDx Boulder, November 4, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJSehRlU34w
Erica Chenoweth and Maria Stephan, Why civil resistance works: The strategic logic of nonviolent conflict, Columbia University Press, 2012
A Force More Powerful: A Century of Nonviolent Conflict may be viewed online at https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/force-powerful-english/.
Gene Sharp, 198 methods of nonviolent action, Albert Einstein Institution
Pace e Bene: What Nonviolence Means, Artwork by Rosie Davila
Lisa Sowle Cahill, Just War, Pacifism, Just Peace, and Peacebuilding, Theological Studies, 2019, Vol. 80, No. 1, pages 169–185
Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, sections 255-270
Eli McCarthy, Just Peace Ethic Primer: Building sustainable peace and breaking cycles of violence, Georgetown University Press, 2020
Archbishop John Wester, Living in the Light of Christ's Peace: A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament. A summary can be found Here
Casa Esther Catholic Worker, Omro WI
Casa Esther is a Catholic Worker House bringing "Christ to the Poor" in the Omro, Wisconsin area.
- Eliane Lakam for composing the study guides and the discussion questions for the lectures.
- John Abalan for editing the recorded events, including the insertion of speaker into slides and discussion question slides. Thus making the YouTube videos user friendly for use in classrooms and also for parish adult education programs.
Links to ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Catholic Nonviolence Initiative
The Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, a project of Pax Christi International, the Catholic peace movement, affirms that active nonviolence is at the heart of the vision and message of Jesus, the life of the Catholic Church, and the long-term vocation of healing and reconciling both people and the planet.
Ken Butigan, The university’s responsibility for peace and nonviolence, Educatio Catholica, Congregation for Catholic Education, May 2020
Pope Francis, Nonviolence: A Style of Politics for Peace, World Day of Peace Message, 2017
Erica Chenoweth, “The Success of Nonviolent Civil Resistance,” TEDx Boulder, November 4, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJSehRlU34w
Erica Chenoweth and Maria Stephan, Why civil resistance works: The strategic logic of nonviolent conflict, Columbia University Press, 2012
A Force More Powerful: A Century of Nonviolent Conflict may be viewed online at https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/force-powerful-english/.
Gene Sharp, 198 methods of nonviolent action, Albert Einstein Institution
Pace e Bene: What Nonviolence Means, Artwork by Rosie Davila
Lisa Sowle Cahill, Just War, Pacifism, Just Peace, and Peacebuilding, Theological Studies, 2019, Vol. 80, No. 1, pages 169–185
Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, sections 255-270
Eli McCarthy, Just Peace Ethic Primer: Building sustainable peace and breaking cycles of violence, Georgetown University Press, 2020
Archbishop John Wester, Living in the Light of Christ's Peace: A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament. A summary can be found Here
Casa Esther Catholic Worker, Omro WI
Casa Esther is a Catholic Worker House bringing "Christ to the Poor" in the Omro, Wisconsin area.