The tragic events that occurred in the United States on September 11, 2001 issue a strong challenge to us and call for resolute action on behalf of peace, a peace that is seriously in jeopardy...

For centuries, widespread violence among the peoples of this earth has wreaked havoc on millions of innocent victims in all corners of the globe.  As a result, we are compelled to reflect more profoundly that ever on the root causes of this cycle of violence, anger, and revenge that continues to perpetuate itself among us.

We cannot remain indifferent in the face of mounting racism or prejudice that expresses itself in our world, in our country, in our civic community, and perhaps even in our own ranks. Violence did not originate in the Arab culture nor is extremism unique to Islam. All religions have their extremists. All peoples have their fanatics. And we...?

In as much as all human beings share the same planet, we are becoming more and more aware that true freedom lies in a consistent striving for peace and in concerted action on behalf of human life, personal dignity, and the preservation of the environment for the benefit of everyone.

Since the tragedy of September 11th, I am certain we have all been praying for those whose lives have been affected. Let us also carry in our thoughts and prayers, not only the leaders of all nations concerned but also the perpetrators of these acts.

In recent days, we have all heard the expression, "The world will never be the same!" Only in silence, only in prayer can we hope to find meaning in the midst of such atrocities. Only in solitude, only in prayer can our hope be re-kindled. Is this not also the right time to dialogue and share among ourselves, to reflect, to raise our awareness of reality, to examine those of our behaviors that reflect an attitude of violence, of domination, or anger, etc...?

Many of us have already organized community meetings or dialogues in our respective missions. I suggest that all of us who can do so avail ourselves of these opportunities. This is a troubled time in our history, a time filled with questions, insecurities and doubts in the face of the unknown...We ask ourselves, "What could possibly happen worse than this?"  Yet, despite the catastrophic events of September 11, it is also a time of grace, a time when God is ever present. Life will never be the same...but nothing can destroy the gospel values of love, compassion, forgiveness, dialogue, and trust.

Now, then, is the time to "change our hearts" and to focus more intently on becoming persons of tenderness and mercy in the midst of our wounded world.

It is a time for living out our mission more radically than ever, a time for making a concrete commitment to the cause of justice and peace! In light of this, I invite you now to write to President Bush, Federal Legislators, or Senators, Congressmen and women. You may send one copy and simply change the titles.

I urge you to send out your message, with proper signature, as soon as possible prior to October 11, 2001.

In the United States

SISTERS OF HOLY CROSS
Regional Office
377 Island Pond Road
Manchester, NH 03109-4811

October 4, 2001

Dear President Bush:

We the undersigned, write to express our profound sadness following the tragic events of Tuesday, September 11, that occurred in our country. We also wish to express our sympathies to the families and friends of the victims.  We have great admiration for the policemen and women, firefighters, rescue and relief workers, and volunteers. We truly admire them for their remarkable courage and valor.

We are in solidarity with you, Mr. President, in viewing these terrorist acts as outrageous and deserving of punishment. At the same time, we remain perplexed and concerned about the cries for vengeance expressed by certain Heads of State. We fear that such posturing, in favor of armed intervention, will serve only to fuel an escalation of violence and will only add to the ravages that have gone on in all corners of our globe for centuries. Once again, innocent civilians will become the victims of our reprisals. For this reason, we are insistent in the conviction that our country should not associate itself with any movement that seeks justice through violence.

We urge you to collaborate with the United Nations so that those who encourage and perpetuate these inhuman acts may be brought to justice.  We emphasize the importance of a firm and vigorous intervention, one that pre-empts the "taking up of arms," which would only result in a rash of terrorist activities that would be ever more incomprehensible and more cruel than before.

We believe that it is vitally important, before it is too late, to awaken our sense of collective responsibility at every level in addressing the root causes of what has engendered this malice, this anger, and this hatred. More than ever, we need to seek, in a very deliberate and intentional way, lasting solutions to the great evils that afflict humanity: poverty, injustice, inequality, and the incessant need to be dominant, one over the other.

May a spirit of justice, of peace, and of reconciliation inspire your common efforts, as leaders, to adopt a non-violent solution capable of overcoming terrorism and of creating a culture of Peace based on egalitarian relations and on the equitable distribution of the goods of the earth. It is a question of the survival of our human dignity! 

We do not want our leaders to counter violence with violence. We want a world without violence, a world of justice, a world of peace.

Name                 Address             Signature

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