President's Peace Commission

Professor Monica Schurtman, co-director of the Immigration & Human Rights Clinic of St. Mary's University Law School, presents Professor Emily Hartigan of the Law School, Mr. Michael Trigilio of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, and Mr. Hussein Sadruddin, of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights under Texas Law. Prof. Schurtman discusses how the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which includes a provision for freedom of religion, was a response to World War II, including the religious persecution of Jews. Prof. Hartigan briefly traces the evolution of Judaeo-Christian/Catholic thought from its origins in reason and natural law to its current, more flexible state; she suggests that its former lack of complexity reflected a lack of perspective. Mr. Trigilio states that, in the Buddhist view, doctrines, dogma, and theology create, rather than alleviate,suffering; he comments on parallels between current persecution of Buddhists in Vietnam and Catholic action in Central America. Mr. Sadruddin speaks about stereotype-influenced perceptions of Islam, discusses the historical and theological bases for Muslim states' approach to human rights, and draws the distinction between religious doctrine and the politicization of religion. (61 minutes)

Dr. Richard S. Pressman, professor of English and member of the President's Peace Commission, presents Rev. Antonius Girgis, pastor of St. Anthony the Great Coptic Orthodox Church, Rev. Charles Miller, dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences of St. Mary's University, and Dr. Alice Kersnowski, professor of English at St. Mary's University. Dr. Pressman suggest that many ongoing conflicts regarded as religious conflicts may, in fact, be economic, political, or cultural conflicts. He suggests that religion may be a factor, but may not be central to either the conflict or its resolution. Each speaker focuses on a current situation with which he or she is familiar -- Rev. Girgis on Muslims versus Copts in Egypt, Rev. Miller on Jews versus Arabs in Israel/Palestine, and Dr. Kersnowski on Protestants versus Catholics in Northern Ireland -- and discusses how religion plays a part. (67 minutes)

Sr. Ann Semel, S.S.N.D., chair of St. Mary's University's English/Communications Studies department, presents student rabbi Julie Hilton Danan, of Beth Am Congregation, Rev. Consuelo Donahue, graduate of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and chaplain of the Home Health Plus Hospice Program, and Rev. Elizabeth McGregor Simmons, pastor of University Presbyterian Church. Panelists discuss their experiences as leaders in traditionally patriarchal institutions, as women clergy in their respective faiths and denominations -- Jewish Reconstructionist, Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., and Presbyterian Church -- and the challenges of balancing the needs of their own families with those of their congregations. (67 minutes)

Dr. Thomas Bolin, St. Mary's professor of theology, presents Bishop H. G. Youssef, Coptic Bishop of the Southern United States, and Dr. William Penn, St. Edward's University professor of religion and Academic Dean of the Pastoral School of the Russian Orthodox monastery in Blanco. Bishop Youssef relates early church history and shows slides of the Wadi Natrun monastery in Egypt. Both Bishop Youssef and Dr. Penn emphasize the importance, in Eastern churches, of acknowledging the mystery of God and the importance of humility and obedience among worshipers, in contrast to Western emphases on reason and individuality. Dr. Penn explains the significance of the iconostasis, icons, and distinctions between churches as to the nature of Christ; he concludes that in the Eastern churches, unity of faith supersedes unity of structure. (43 minutes)

PPC member Phillip Vargas presents St. Mary's University Law School professors Raul Sanchez and Emily Hartigan. Prof. Sanchez discusses how international law and human rights, enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, developed in reaction to the atrocities of the Stalinist era and World War II. He notes that individual human rights curtail state sovereignty both internally, in terms of actions by a state toward its subjects, and externally, in forming directional pressure on foreign policy. Prof. Hartigan indicates the paradoxical tension between universal values and a context of increasing plurality -- a plurality growing both among and within religions. She relates experiences with Catholic clergy working for human rights in Guatemala and terms the struggle for human rights as progress toward the reign of God. After noting that any striving toward the universal necessarily involves the admission of outsiders, the presenters conclude the session by urging participants to choose a forum and advocate issues about which they care. (48 minutes)

Ms. Monica Gonzalez, member of the President's Peace Commission, presents Dr. Ronald Quillo, Oblate School of Theology professor, and Dr. Edward Shirley, St. Edward's University professor of religion. The speakers discuss changes in the Catholic Church resulting from Vatican II: a shift of focus from the mystery of the Mass to a community celebration of Christ's presence; increased emphasis on individual decision-making; and a requirement to honor and to dialogue with non-Christian religions. The latter change is expected to benefit all sides through mutual monologue, rediscovery of one's own traditions through others, and challenges to grow and gain new perspectives. The speakers acknowledge that, if one does not have a solid grounding in one's own tradition, such dialogues entail risk. However, it is concluded that there will be no world peace without peace among world religions. (50 minutes)

PPC member Sondra Sugerman presents Rev. Mary Earle, assistant at St. Mark's Episcopal Church and former assistant at the Church of Reconciliation, and Rabbi Barry Block, assistant rabbi at Temple Beth-El. Rabbi Block speaks of his experiences with interfaith dialogue as well as Jewish discomfort with the Christian expectation of conversion. Rabbi Block points out that diversity is God's will -- as demonstrated by the story of the Tower of Babel -- and that it is up to us to accept and work through our differences. Reverend Earle speaks of how scripture, faith, and reason should all contribute to decision making, and how much Jews and Christians need and can learn from each other. She states that, as God is beyond human comprehension, no set of doctrines can adequately contain God. In response to a question, Rabbi Block relates unease with "Messianic Jews" and ambivalence toward the attitudes of certain fundamentalists toward the Jewish people and toward Israel. Commenting on the preponderance of Buddhist literature available, and the existence of Jewish-Buddhist dialogues, he comments that what is really needed is a Jewish-Muslim dialogue. (50 minutes)