Three Actions Needed: Advocacy, Prayer and Fasting!
Congress will reconvene in Washington on September 9th. As they prepare to vote on military intervention in Syria, we suggest three actions for your consideration:
Contact your two U.S. Senators and your Representativeand urge them to vote against a resolution authorizing the use of military force in Syria. Instead, ask them to support U.S. leadership, in collaboration with the international community, for an immediate ceasefire in Syria and serious, inclusive negotiations for peace.
There are alternatives to a military strike being considered that the president and Congress should pursue, including Russia’s proposal that Syria place its weapons under international control. While we do not know what the president will propose tonight, there is speculation about an “alternative” use of military force resolution– setting an automatic trigger for force after a given amount of days. This is of concern, because an automatic trigger hands over congressional war-making authority to the president.
Please take a few minutes and contact your senators and representative through the number provided by the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL). Capitol Switchboard at 1-855-686-6927(FCNL).
Even if you have called Congress before, please do so again. Legislators need to know that their constituents are following new developments on possible non-military resolutions to the crisis in Syria and that we remain firm in our total opposition to a U.S. military strike.
Last Saturday, September 7th, Pope Francis called for a day of fasting and prayer invoking God’s great gift of peace upon the nation of Syria and upon each situation of conflict and violence around the world. the fasting
Join others in praying for peace:
Prayer and Intercession for Peace in Syria
God of Compassion,
Hear the cries of the people of Syria
Comfort those who suffer violence
Console those who mourn the dead
Give strength to Syria’s neighboring countries to welcome the refugees
Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms
And protect those who are committed to peace.
We pray for all those who suffer because of this violence. We pray that after such suffering and so many horrors, they will not lose their hope in a peaceful and just solution. We pray that many “Simons of Cyrene” might appear, ready to carry the cross and lighten the load of this people.
God of hope,
Inspire leaders to choose peace over violence and to seek reconciliation with their enemies
Inflame the Universal Church with compassion for the people of Syria
And give us hope for a future built on justice for all
We ask this through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace and Light of the world. Amen (Zenit International News Service – Rome)
For more information:
USCCB Policy Letters on Syria: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/global-issues/middle-east/syria/index.cfm
Pope Francis’ Declaration of a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Syria: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/angelus/2013/documents/papa-francesco_angelus_20130901_en.html
Position of the Holy See on Syria: http://www.news.va/en/news/in-syria-dialogue-is-the-only-option
Excerpts from Recent Statemens by the Catholic Community available on Maryknoll webpage
