Benedictines for Peace core committee member Juan Llarena (standing) assisted BFP Coordinator and Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Sister Anne McCarthy in leading a day-long workshop on nonviolence training from a Benedictine perspective for about fifteen people at the monastery the end of September.
"Across the country and the world, tensions are escalating. What can you do in a moment of crisis, at a local demonstration, or in an ordinary conversation, to lower the volume, remain calm, and create peace?" was the question posed to participants. The answer was offered in presentations of background information, practical tactics for de-escalation, and practices grounded in Gospel nonviolence all interspersed with role-playing activities.
Sister Anne began the day by introducing the "two hands of nonviolence." "We have one hand to top the violence, react to suffering, free the captive. And with the other hand, we reach out to the enemy, treating them with dignity and respect but also with admonishment," she explained.
One of the most difficult challenges is that of not labeling the other. We must call them out on actions and beliefs, but without demeaning them as a person. We now that we are connected--we are not "us-them," Which means that curiosity about the other is also key to nonviolence.
Sister Anne introduced the group to a useful and free resource, Freedom Trainers, "Collective Noncooperation Training for these times." We encourage any group interested to make use of the materials found in their Noncooperation Library that includes five modules of excellent, clear slides. Sister Anne selected from Module 2: Noncooperation and Pillars of Support for this workshop.
This workshop was offered as part of this year's Benedictine Peacemakers curriculum.
