Women’s groups and religious join forces in peace move

Sydney
27 April 2003

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Women’s groups and religious join forces in peace move

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Women’s groups and religious join forces in peace move

Catholic women’s groups and the Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes hope to encourage people to consider “creating a culture of peace within and across various groups”.

Their joint initiative Catholic Women - Creating a Culture of Peace had its ‘virtual launching’ on the internet on Easter Sunday.

It is based on the concept that “the quest for peace, within wider communities is the fertile ground for coming together across differences”.

Groups involved include the Commission for Australian Catholic Women, the Catholic Women’s League and Women and the Australian Catholic Church.

Theresa Vassarotti, executive officer of the commission, said: “The various organisations found that they could work together, and with others, to help foster action on faith, life and women’s contribution to living with dignity and eliminating violence.

“The Easter Sunday initiative will encourage groups and communities through dialogue, pastoral planning and theological reflection to consider creating a culture of peace within and across various groups.”

Mrs Vassarotti said the aim was to take the quest for peace down to the local level.

“The idea is for people to accept responsibility at their own level, in their own neighbourhood,” she said.

“Everyone must accept responsibility for building a culture of peace in their own sphere.

“The problem could be domestic violence, intergenerational trouble, bullying in the school grounds, difficulties in the neighbourhood or problems in the parish.

“Catholic Women - Creating a Culture of Peace will be trying to encourage ownership of these problems at the lowest level.

“It will be different everywhere ... but the idea is that we should respond by saying ‘let’s do something about it ourselves’.”

The website can be found at www.cacw.catholic.org.au

It will celebrate and share stories and insights as the project takes life.