Benedictine sister aims to bring more women to table of peace

Published: 2003-11-20

CLINTON, Iowa (CNS) -- As the Women's Partnership for Peace in the Middle East was meeting in Oslo, Norway, last summer, a suicide bombing took place in Israel. One of the delegates to the peace conference, who was unable to attend, lost a grandchild in the tragedy. The grandmother telephoned the conference's participants and urged, "Keep the dialogue going. Maybe you can save somebody else's granddaughter." Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister, also a delegate to the Oslo conference, shared that story with an audience of about 300 people Nov. 2 at The Franciscan University in Clinton. The Benedictine lecturer, author and peace promoter from Erie, Pa., was in town to receive the 2003 Clare Award from the Clinton-based Sisters of St. Francis. Recipients of the Clare Award -- which has been presented only four times since its establishment a decade ago -- are women who exemplify "the characteristics of St. Clare and the values of the Clinton Franciscans: to live active nonviolence, pursuing peace with justice in right relationship with all creation."

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