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Culture of Peace Initiative

At the beginning of the twenty-first century when a culture of violence seems to be continuing with the tragic events in New York, the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission has established a Culture of Peace Initiative.

The initiative coincides with the beginning of the Decade for Building a Culture of Peace.

The Commission has gathered together a small group of people committed to a culture of peace to begin an ongoing dialogue out of which it hopes will emerge actions which promote a commitment to peace personally, in families, communities, nationally and globally.

The Executive Officer of the Commission, Peter Arndt, said that peace and justice go hand in hand.

"We need a culture of peace which begins in ourselves and spreads through our families, our community and finally to the nations of the world," Mr Arndt said.

"People of faith must be at the heart of work to transform the way individuals and nations relate to each other," he said.

"There can be no peace in our world unless there is peace between the religions of the world," he said.

Mr Arndt pointed out that religion is a part of the conflict and violence which trouble the world.

"It is tragic that religious hatred infects people’s attitudes in what are essentially political disputes," Mr Arndt said.

"It is deplorable that some people in Australia are vilifying Muslims because of the New York terrorist attack," he said.

"It is even more deplorable that some people have responded with violence towards Muslims," he said.

"The fire-bombing of a Brisbane mosque is something which is totally at odds with the teachings Jesus and Mohammad," he said.

"So many Islamic people and groups in Australia and around the world have condemned the New York act of political terror as something totally contrary to the Islamic faith," he said.

Mr Arndt said that the Culture of Peace Initiative would give much attention to dialogue between people of different faiths.

14 September 2001

Last Updated August 12 2005

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