Jesuit John Dear is a busy man. As a pastor, peace activist, chaplain, lecturer, and retreat leader his schedule takes him across North America. But over the past two decades he's also found time to publish 20 books. His latest book, You will be My Witnesses: Saints, Prophets, and Martyrs was recently published by Orbis.
When I reach Fr. Dear in Madrid, New Mexico, I ask him about St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who is among the 30 witnesses he selected for the book. "She probably would be dismissed by many peace and justice people," he says. "Because we assume she is the epitome of just being nice and that's all you have to do. I disagree with that, and I've studied her extensively for 25 years."
Fr. Dear says Thérèse of Lisieux has much to teach us today. "First of all she is a teacher of personal and inter-personal non-violence," he says. "I included her in the book, because I think Jesus wants us to be non-violent in every area of life. Not only when it comes to waging war or building bombs to blow up the planet, but to be non-violent to the people around us and toward ourselves."
Fr. Dear is particularly concerned about the widespread self-hatred and inner-violence in North America. "That's why suicide is high in the United States," he explains. "There is just so much destructive personal behaviour."
He says Thérèse of Lisieux "clearly and consciously" worked against that self-destructive behaviour by using the basic teachings of the Gospel. "She is trying to go deep into inner non-violence and to practice it perfectly toward herself and the other women in the convent," he adds.
He also says Thérèse of Lisieux wrote some beautiful things about accepting her own weaknesses. "That's a profound insight for our personal lives, but also politically." he says. "That's what Gandhi did. He said we're going to accept our weakness as the people of India, and use weakness and powerlessness as a power to bring down the British Empire."
But Fr. Dear admits practicing non-violence in our daily lives is challenging. "I've been a Jesuit for 25 years," he says. "When you start rubbing elbows with people around you --then you want to get violent. Just like in any ordinary family."
But he adds: "In the end you have to be non-violent with yourself, family, friends, and neighbours if you want to contribute to the non-violent transformation of the world --everything is connected."
Ordained a Catholic priest in 1993, Fr. Dear has taught theology at Fordham University in New York City, and worked in numerous parishes across the U.S. After September 11, he began to volunteer as a Red Cross chaplain for family members who lost loved ones in the World Trade Center.
But Fr. Dear is particularly well known as an activist. In 1984 he was first arrested for civil disobedience at the Pentagon. Since then he's been arrested more than 75 times for acts of civil disobedience against war, nuclear weapons, and the death penalty.
During our conversation, I ask him what it means to be non-violent. "For me being non-violent means seeing every human being on the planet as my sister and brother. That we're all one and already reconciled," he says. "If you go into that spiritual vision of reality you can never hurt anyone again, much less be silent while 35 wars are raging in the world, hundreds of millions are starving, and twenty thousand nuclear weapons are threatening the entire planet."
As he discusses non-violence, Fr. Dear is particularly critical of the Bush administration's war on terror. "One of its lies is that we are in a war on terror," he says. "But war is the ultimate form of terror. You cannot fight terrorism through terror --that's just going to breed further terror."
He adds that: "The U.S. has thousands upon thousands of nuclear weapons and it's holding the entire world hostage. But these weapons don't make us safer. They actually can't physically protect us, and anyone that was in New York City the morning of September 11 will tell you that. I was there. The nuclear arsenal wasn't protecting us. It's a lie."
I want to ask Fr. Dear about some signs of hope today, but I can't help but mention Jesuit priest and peacemaker Daniel Berrigan who once said: "You find hope when you do hopeful things."
This prompts Fr. Dear to speak about Berrigan as his teacher and mentor. "Dan remains a light of peace and a voice of truth like none other in the United States," he says. "He's a saint and holy prophet. He changed my life. It's why I entered the Jesuits and remain a Jesuit--and why in the past I've ended up in prison."
He says the 85-year-old Berrigan is ignored by the culture and media. "But his focus is on the God of peace," he says. "He's practicing the Gospel and doing hopeful things. Dan has more faith, hope, and love than anybody I know in this country. He's still my teacher and I'm trying to do hopeful things too as he taught."
During our conversation, Fr. Dear takes a moment to speak about the prevailing culture of wealth, celebrity, and status. "In the U.S. culture you're only somebody if you have a lot of money and possessions," he says. "This is what's at the heart of violence."
He continues saying: "In the West and certainly in the peace movement in the West we're all about results, making a difference, and making it happen. That's exactly what's wrong. That goes against the entire spiritual life. Because that's the way the Pentagon thinks." He continues saying: "The Gospel doesn't talk about results. It does talk over and over again --especially in the Gospel of John-- about having a fruitful life. That if you go deep into love your life will bear good fruit."
As he speaks about this culture of status, Fr. Dear recalls what Thomas Merton once said. "You live a quiet, prayerful life. Speak the truth. Say your prayers, and do what you can to help end the wars in the world --and God will do the rest. Your life will bear good fruit and touch many people." He adds: "That's very different from trying to be effective, results- oriented, or successful. Now you're really on the path to holiness, spirituality, and faith."
In his writings on non-violence, Fr. Dear frequently speaks about the "the loss of imagination" as one of the casualties of violence. "We have to become people of active, creative non-violence, every one of us, everywhere, to become teachers and champions and heralds and apostles of creative non-violence," he writes.
But he says that's not happening where it should. "I blame a lot of Christian people in the U.S. for supporting war and a war-making state. We're just not faithful to the non-violent Jesus," he says. "Each of us has a responsibility to stand up and say no to all of this --and to take action and to demand a new future of non-violence."
When it comes to non-violence, Fr. Dear says you can't just talk about it. "You have to practice it," he explains. "You have to stand up publicly and get involved in grassroots peace and justice movements and do something."
But he adds a cautionary note. "You don't have to do everything. That's another mistake. But you've got to do something, and do it well, with love, a good heart, and lots of faith."
As our conversation comes to a close, I ask him about the essence of practicing non-violence. "My friend Henri Nouwen talked a lot about being the beloved sons and daughters of God," he says. "He said that was the breakthrough for Jesus in the Jordan River. During his baptism Jesus hears the voice saying 'You are my beloved.' From then on he hit the road running. Until his last second when he died on the cross Jesus is turning to God: 'Here I come, I'm your beloved.' He lived his whole life with that relationship."
Fr. Dear adds that: "In terms of the spirituality of peace and non-violence, a positive sign is claiming that as our true identity. The culture is always trying to tell you that you're a nobody. Or you're somebody if you vote this way, or buy this car. It's ridiculous. But Jesus is saying your primary identity is you are the beloved of God and God is the God of peace."
Gerry McCarthy is Editor of The Social Edge.
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