By Michael Motes

In response to and in support of the United States bishops’ statement last October on conscientious objection and amnesty, an Atlanta chapter of the Catholic Peace Fellowship (CPF) is being formed. The announcement came from Sr. Janet Valente of the Office of Urban Affairs.

The bishops’ statement, which was released by the U.S. Catholic Conference on Oct. 21, read in part, “In the light of the Gospel and from an analysis of the Church’s teaching on conscience, it is clear that a Catholic can be a conscientious objector to war in general or to a particular war ‘because of religious training and belief.’”

Committee members of the CPF movement in Atlanta are Fr. Bob Kinast, Hazel R. Purdy, Ewing Carruthers, Nan Pendergrast, Janet Rogan, Matthew J. Robbins, Mike Hardin, Sr. Mary Ann Luby and Janice Pleasants.

The national CPF works with 13 other religious organizations serving Protestant, Jewish, Eastern Orthodox and humanist communities. They are all members of a parent body, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, an ecumenical, international organization.

Principles of the fellowship are:

1. To identify with those of every nation, race and religion who are the victims of injustice and exploitation and seek to develop resources of active nonviolent intervention with which to help rescue them from such circumstances.
2. To work to abolish war and to create a community of concern transcending all national boundaries and selfish interests; as an integral part of the commitment members refuse to participate personally in any war, or to give any sanction they can withhold from physical, psychological or moral preparation for war.
3. To strive to build a social order that will utilize the resources of human ingenuity and wisdom for the benefit of all men, and in which no individual group will be exploited or oppressed for the profit or pleasure of others.
4. To advocate methods of dealing with offenders against society that will be founded on understanding and forgiveness, and that will seek to redeem and rehabilitate the offender rather than impose punishment on him
5. To endeavor to show reverence for personality in the home, in vocational relationships, in school and the processes of education, in association with personas of other racial, creedal or national backgrounds.
6. To seek to avoid bitterness and contention in dealing with controversy and to maintain the spirit of self-giving love while engaged in effort to achieve these purposes.
7. An organizational, planning session of the CPF is scheduled for Feb. 22 at Quaker House, 1384 Fairview Rd., N.E. at 8 p.m. Further information is available from Mrs. Purdy, telephone 938-6471.