A PRIEST who has been arrested 85 times for actions concerning peace is to speak at an online event organised by Christian Climate Action (CCA) on Wednesday 18 October. Fr John Dear is an internationally recognised voice for peace and nonviolence who has inspired many members of CCA to take action on the climate crisis.
CCA is inviting people to join the Zoom call to hear the US-based priest speak about the rich tradition of civil disobedience within the Christian faith, and consider the call to nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience. Anyone is welcome, whether they are new to activism or an old hand.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu described Fr John Dear as “the embodiment of a peacemaker, leading by example through his actions and writings and in numerous sermons, speeches and demonstrations. He believes that peace is not something static, but rather to make peace is to be engaged, mind, body and spirit. His teaching is to love yourself, to love your neighbour, your enemy, and to love the world and to understand the profound responsibility in doing all of these.”
In 2022, CCA member the Rev Sue Parfitt worked with Chris Donald to update Dear’s 1994 book The Sacrament of Civil Disobedience, to reflect all that has happened in the environmental protest movement in recent years. The book is a civil resister’s field guide to nonviolent civil disobedience that is rooted in faith. It covers both the biblical roots of nonviolent civil disobedience and the practicalities of how to prepare for, do and deal with the consequences of, nonviolent civil disobedience. Shane Claiborne has described it as a: “firm footing for a life of holy trouble.”
Christian Climate Action is a community of Christians supporting each other to take meaningful action in the face of imminent and catastrophic anthropogenic climate breakdown.
* More information on the event and free registration here.
* More information on John Dear’s book The Sacrament of Civil Disobedience here.
* Source: Christian Climate Action