Statement from Pax Christi USA in support
of the Iraq Photo Project

[Jean Stokan, Policy Director of Pax Christi USA, attended FOR's October 20 News Conference in Washington, D.C.  and made this statement in support of the Iraq Photo Project]

Washington , D.C. - There is a proverb that captures the essence behind the Fellowship of Reconciliation's (FOR) Iraq Photo Project: "What the eyes see, the heart cannot forget." "What the eyes see" is two-fold. Many of us in the U.S. have seen pictures of victims of the war in Iraq. In the early weeks and months of the war, we scoured the internet to look for those pictures, to hold them up and say to our government leaders and the American people "this is what war looks like." We found pictures of charred bodies, infants with shrapnel slicing open their skulls, and many more which broke our hearts. And we will not forget. While the U.S. mainstream media rarely show such photos—were even forbidden to show such photos—the international media carried them. When the pictures of the abuse of Iraqis in prisons were released, finally, more of the U.S. public woke up.  

I am here representing Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement, which together with FOR—and many, many groups—worked desperately to prevent another U.S. war on Iraq. And once it started, we literally put our bodies on the line to resist and disassociate from the U.S. government's pursuit of the war. Our members have traveled to Iraq, before and during the war. Our eyes have seen the broken victims of war—both Iraqi and our own people as we listen to family members today. The sorrow and shame we feel is deep.  

One of our Pax Christi tenets is that "Violence begets violence." This has clearly unfolded in Iraq. Many of our Pax Christi members have sent in their pictures and messages to the Iraqi people to say: "We are so sorry for the actions of our government. Your wounds we carry deep. We come before you, humbly, as our sisters and brothers, and ask for your forgiveness."  

We recommit ourselves to struggle against war and violence. Our hope in sending these photos and messages of sorrow and compassion is that the Iraqi people might see them and in the spirit of the proverb, not forget in their hearts that others stand with them.  

In the words of United States Catholic Conference of Bishops President Wilton T. Gregory, "In time of war, our first obligation is prayer and solidarity. We pray for all those most directly affected by this war...and those who labor to provide for their humanitarian needs. All of us should do what we can to reach out in solidarity to all those who will suffer as a result of this war." May this photo exhibit offer to the Iraqi people a measure of hope, strength, and great love.    

For more information or media interviews, please contact Michael Jones at 814-453-4955, ext. 228, or email mike@paxchristiusa.org.

Pax Christi USA is the national Catholic peace movement, reaching more than half a million Catholics in the United States each year. Our membership includes more than 120 U.S. Bishops, 800 parish sponsors, 650 religious communities and 300 local groups. Pax Christi USA is a section of Pax Christi International, the international Catholic peace movement, with consultative status at the United Nations.

Jean Stokan, Policy Director

Pax Christi USA

October 20, 2004

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National Catholic Peace Movement 415 Michigan Ave. NE Washington. DC 20017 Ph: 202-319-5543 Fax:202-319-5541 info@paxchristiusa.org www.paxchristiusa.org