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Welcome to Wednesday. One NCR commentator says that Pope Francis has already put aside the passive stance of just war theory, but an encyclical would lend credibility to the movement. Students at the University of Dallas are advocating for a racial solidarity club, despite receiving pushback from some faculty and peers.
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** The pope has already taught nonviolence: Let's put it in an encyclical ([link removed])
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In Pope Francis' recent encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, he seems to put aside the passive stance of the just war theory, but when will he lay out the way of Christian nonviolence for the world to learn and practice?

In a commentary for NCR, Terrence J. Rynne, who teaches peace studies at Marquette University, lines out just how close Francis is to removing the just war theory from its long-term, prominent position and how he could do so by just writing a nonviolence encyclical.

"In an encyclical, Francis could elaborate even further how Jesus' life exemplifies from beginning to end the praxis of a nonviolent resister," Rynne writes.

Francis has already put forward some of the earth-shattering, surprising political victories achieved through nonviolent action, Rynne says, but bringing these stories forward in a major teaching document will bring some credibility and enlightenment.

Read more of Rynne's commentary here ([link removed]) .

More background:
* The leaders of Pax Christi International ([link removed]) , the peace movement that is seeking to have the Catholic Church formally set aside its long-held teachings on just war theory, praised Fratelli Tutti.

* In Fratelli Tutti, Francis says it is "very difficult nowadays to invoke the rational criteria elaborated in earlier centuries to speak of the possibility of a 'just war.' " But NCR's editorial board questions what comes next ([link removed]) .

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** University of Dallas students advocate for racial solidarity club despite pushback ([link removed])
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University of Dallas students faced pushback from some faculty and peers when they proposed a club to encourage dialogue around race this fall, with the approval process for the group suspended by the school's administration until next semester.

A vote by the student government at the Catholic school on whether to approve the club's charter scheduled for Nov. 16 was called off on Nov. 14, according to a statement by provost Jonathan Sanford, obtained by NCR, amid "unprecedented" controversy over the group's proposed name (Student Leaders for Racial Justice), as well as its constitution and aims.

Despite the obstacles, several of the group's organizers said they plan to continue advocating for their club after winter break. Joshua Nunn, one of the student organizers, said the goal of the group is to promote respectful conversation about race and culture.

"At the core of our mission is the cultivation of authentic, fruitful discussion that promotes civility and compassion," the students wrote in a presentation they gave before the student government.

You can read more of the story here ([link removed]) .
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** More headlines
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* ICYMI: Fr. George Rutler of Manhattan's Church of St. Michael has been accused of sexually assaulting a female security guard ([link removed]) after she allegedly filmed him watching gay pornography. Rutler maintains his innocence.

* At last week's general audience, Francis expressed his concern about Catholic groups that chart their own path. His words are a challenge to those on both the left and the right who discount the importance of thinking with the church, says NCR political columnist Michael Sean Winters ([link removed]) .

* At Global Sisters Report ([link removed]) , sisters are adapting to being a virtual community during the pandemic. For example, with 3,000 sisters in 72 countries, the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd has been able to expand sisters' participation in assemblies since the pandemic canceled live gatherings.

* St. Joseph Sr. Elena Jaramillo had been in El Salvador for 30 years when St. Joseph Sr. Joanne Gallagher met her ([link removed]) . Her manner of accompaniment caused Gallagher to imagine what the North American churchwomen martyrs would be doing today had they not been assassinated.

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** Final thoughts
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It's not too late to join the mailing list for EarthBeat's daily Advent reflections — Simple Advent, Abundant Life ([link removed]) . Today's reflection says ([link removed]) that when we are conscious of what in our lives we value most, we reconnect with those things that are most meaningful. Sign up to get these daily reflections in your inbox here ([link removed]) .

Until Thursday,

Stephanie Yeagle
NCR Production/Online Editor
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Twitter: @ncrSLY ([link removed])

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