Giving
Statement of the Franciscan Federation on the Outbreak of Violence in the Middle East
The Franciscan Federation, a national organization of Franciscan women and men from the United States, Canada and the West Indies, at their annual gathering, July 28-31, 2006 in Rochester, New York, decry the recent outbreak of violence in the Middle East
We call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire by the Israeli army and Hezbollah militia. We call on President George W. Bush and his administration to work with the United Nations and the international community to bring an end to the attacks and the terrible suffering of the Lebanese and Israeli peoples. We call upon our members of Congress to join with the international community to end the violence now.
As followers of Francis and Clare of Assisi, we promote the use of diplomacy to restore conflictive situations; we believe that violence is never justified. We believe we are all sisters and brothers under one God who loves and cherishes all. We join our prayer with religious peoples of all faiths who long for peace, who believe in a God of peace and who are working to make God's dream for a world at peace in reality.
Franciscan Sisters of Mary
Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Franciscan Sisters of Jesus