On Feb. 13, University President Paul Locatelli, S.J., encouraged an audience of students, faculty, and staff to pray for peace in Iraq and to press for the pursuit of truth, justice, love, and freedom.
Approximately 150 people attended the interfaith prayer vigil in Mission Santa Clara. The event was similar to vigils held at all 28 Jesuit colleges and universities as part of a national Day of Prayer for Peace.
“I hope that it is not too late for the truth of justice and the truth of love,” Locatelli said. In calling for the gathering, the SCU president had said, “We pray that, even at this late hour, a peaceful resolution may be found.”
“Even on the eve of war, many Americans and others·I included·are not convinced that war on Iraq is necessary,” he told the audience. “If we go down the road to war, it will not end the threat of Al Qaeda nor address the causes of Islamic rage.”
“This recourse to preemptive violence will not prevent violence,” he warned. “It could well have the opposite result: We could begin a death spiral that will pit nation against nation, religion against religion, culture against culture.”
“Democracy demands an internal logic and ethic that will not compromise freedom, respect for human dignity, or the common good, even when faced with a brutal tyrant like Saddam Hussein,” Locatelli said.