Priest Gets Peace Award For Activism
Dear’s activism in peace includes being arrested more than 75 times in nonviolent civil disobedience demonstrations. He also is a speaker, author of 25 books, pastor and Red Cross chaplain. The awardee, a New Mexico-based priest who has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, commented though: “Being in jail is terrible. It’s not easy at all.” His pathway toward activism began while making a pilgrimage to Israel in 1982. The young man was eager to view the land where Jesus lived. During the summer trek, he camped out by the Sea of Galilee and thought of Christ telling followers “blessed are the peacemakers.” However, peace proved elusive that summer as Israel and neighbor Lebanon engaged in battle. Dear warily watched jets flying overhead on bombing missions and resolved to do something constructive to promote peace. Dear adamantly refuses to halt his efforts toward helping humanity to establish peace on earth and peace within themselves. “War is not the will of God. War is never blessed by God … and frankly war doesn’t work,” he said. www.qctimes.com /
