Oregon parish revives Assisi pledge against violence, war

Published: 2007-09-04

PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- Discouraged by developments in Iraq, a committee at one Portland Catholic parish is about to launch a faith-based initiative toward peaceful resolutions. At St. Juan Diego Parish in September, parishioners will be able to take the Assisi pledge, a statement made by 200 religious leaders at a 2002 meeting in Italy convened by Pope John Paul II. The meeting took place in Assisi, Italy, the home of St. Francis, who is often evoked because of his life of nonviolence and efforts for peace. The pledge says, in part, "We commit ourselves to proclaiming that violence and terrorism are incompatible with the authentic spirit of religion." The organizer of the St. Juan Diego project says a desire for moving past warfare in Iraq is becoming more and more mainstream and a great many parishioners would be ready to take the pledge. He plans to have a Spanish translation and hopes the idea of the pledge will spread to other parishes.

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