As I write this column, the Israeli army is beginning its incursion into Gaza after the murderous attacks on civilians in Israel that took the lives of many innocent people and included the taking of hostages. These actions by Hamas have now unleashed terrible suffering and death for many innocent Palestinian people in Gaza, as Israel moves to eradicate Hamas. The common denominator in all of this is the suffering and death of too many innocent civilians in both Israel and Gaza. More than 8,000 have been killed thus far, and thousands have been left wounded or homeless.
I have been in communication with leaders in the local Jewish and Muslim communities as we attempt to address the war and encourage our community to keep the peace and continue to work toward maintaining good relations with one another while emotions are tense and painful. Our Jewish Christian Muslim Dialogue of Southern New Jersey has been working toward a joint statement condemning the violent attack by Hamas while calling for a just and speedy end to the war and violence.
On Oct. 27, Pope Francis presided at a special prayer service for peace in the Middle East and other areas of conflict in the world. He called for the release of hostages held by Hamas and condemned the killing of Israelis by Hamas militants. He prayed to the Blessed Mother Mary to “inspire the leaders of nations to seek paths of peace.” He also lamented the plight of civilians in Gaza and called for humanitarian corridors and respect for human rights in the Gaza Strip.
Pope Francis expressed his concern over “the serious humanitarian situation in Gaza,” expressing that he is “saddened that the Anglican hospital and the Greek-Orthodox parish have also been hit in recent days.” He continued, saying, “War, any war that there is in the world – I also think of the tormented Ukraine – is a defeat. War is always a defeat; it is a destruction of human fraternity. Brothers, stop! Stop!”
In an Oct. 22 phone conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden, Pope Francis “condemned the barbarous attack by Hamas against Israeli civilians and affirmed the need to protect civilians in Gaza,” according to the press offices of both leaders. The president “discussed his recent visit to Israel and his efforts to ensure delivery of food, medicine and other humanitarian assistance to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.” The White House assured the pope of “the need to prevent escalation in the region and to work toward a durable peace in the Middle East.”
In the past few months before the hostilities, I had been working closely with my counterparts in the Jewish and Muslim communities to reinvigorate our Religious Leaders Coalition of Southern New Jersey. We used to meet regularly before the COVID-19 pandemic, and we have been working toward revitalizing our efforts. Considering the current war, we are working more diligently to keep these local lines of communication and dialogue peaceful and constructive. To this end, we are inviting local religious leaders, lay and ordained, to attend our first Religious Leaders Coalition meeting at 9 a.m. on Dec. 13 at the Legacy Club, 300 E. Evesham Road, Cherry Hill. This will be an opportunity to discuss issues of concern and programs to educate our communities, as well as establish programs that will unite us during these difficult times. We kindly request an R.S.V.P. by Nov. 30 to Conor Odell at codell@jfedsnj.org.
I leave you with Pope Francis’ prayers from St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican: “War is a defeat. All war is a defeat. Let us pray for peace in Israel and Palestine. I follow with apprehension and pain what is happening in Israel. … I express my solidarity with the families of the victims. I pray for all those who are living through hours of terror and anguish. May the attacks and the weapons cease, I beg you. Terrorism and war do not lead to a solution. But only to the death and suffering of many people.”
Father Joseph D. Wallace is diocesan director of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs and pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish, Atco.
If You Go
What: The New Jersey Coalition of Religious Leaders invites local religious leaders, lay and ordained, to attend an upcoming meeting
Where: The Legacy Club, 300 E. Evesham Road, Cherry Hill.
When: 9 a.m. on Dec. 13.
R.S.V.P.: Conor Odell at codell@jfedsnj.org
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