Pax Christi USA member Joe Colgan wrote this op-ed piece for the Seattle Times, published on November 21, 2007. Joe is an Army veteran whose son, Lt. Benjamin J. Colgan, was killed in action in Baghdad, on November 1, 2003. An eloquent speaker as well as writer, Joe participated in a panel at the Pax Christi USA forum at the annual School of the Americas vigil on November 16, 2007. The subject of the forum was The Human Cost of War in Iraq.
By Joe Colgan
The Most Rev. Alexander J. Brunett, archbishop of Seattle, was recently recognized for a decade of good works in a special anniversary edition of the Catholic Northwest Progress. I was disappointed to see not one word addressing the misbegotten war in Iraq.
In light of what we Americans are doing to the Iraqi people (for nearly half of the archbishop’s decade of service), is it not the archbishop’s responsibility to stand up and speak out against this unjust war? His silence on this issue has been most deafening to me. In the face of this injustice, silence becomes consent.
If there is anything worse than the silence of the lambs, it must be the silence of the shepherds.
I wrote a letter to the archbishop on Nov. 1 — All Saints’ Day — which is also the fourth anniversary of my son’s death in this truly immoral war on Iraq. I remain sad for the loss of my son Benjamin and also for all those in our armed forces who have been killed or have been seriously wounded. And for their families. And, for all those still serving our nation, returning to tour after tour after tour. I love and respect all of them. I also believe they have been terribly misused and abused.
I still thank God daily for the grace I received when the soldiers came to my door to inform our family of Ben’s death. Since that day, I have a tremendous love and empathy for all the people of Iraq who do not deserve the death, destruction and suffering we Americans have inflicted upon them. I find myself both confused and disappointed by the continued lack of moral leadership and Christian example by the majority of the religious leaders of the American Catholic Church.
What in God’s name are we afraid of? I hope the archbishop comes to understand why his lack of prophetic leadership — and inability to educate “the flock” on the issue(s) of this war — gripes my soul to this day.
On the 13th of this month, the American bishops meeting in Baltimore wrote a statement on war in Iraq. I could not see a whole lot of difference between it and speeches made by our Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and many other politicians. Statements and speeches will not lead us out of Iraq — only moral leadership and bold action will.
As a Catholic, am I wrong in my understanding that nonviolence, for Christians and all people of goodwill, is not merely tactical behavior but a person’s way of being? It is the attitude and stance of one who is convinced of God’s love and power and who is not afraid to confront evil with the weapons of love and truth alone.
Those weapons of love and truth must be more than just words. That is why, for more than 70 weeks, I have maintained a vigil every Tuesday in front of the Seattle Federal Building, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., beseeching our senators to stop funding this war, to stop the killing, and to work toward becoming the people we were created to be.
Will the archbishop join me?
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
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