Deacon Steve Barringer, one of the founders of the group, has withdrawn until it can come up with a clear program and practical, concrete objectives.
New Pax Christi International secretary general José Henriquez visited the group April 16 to ask about the possibility of expanding to a more broadly based group that might eventually become a full member of the 68-year-old international network of more than 50,000 Catholic peace activists. The Toronto group has been an associate member since 2010. There is a similar group in Montreal.
“You can only do so much with the limited resources we have and it’s been very hard to control people with enthusiasms,” said Barringer. “Everything from Chechen rebels to Middle Eastern issues, which are really not something Canada can affect.”
With a full-time job, a family and a 40-hour-per-month service agreement with the archdiocese of Toronto, Barringer has decided to direct his energies elsewhere.
When the original group came together as Catholics for Peace — Toronto, it identified two campaign objectives. On the international front the group advocated for peaceful solutions to the conflict in Afghanistan, opposing further militarization. Locally, the group worked to advocate for American soldiers who had come to Toronto rather than be redeployed to Iraq.
“When we met with (previous international secretary general) Etienne de Jonghe he was always very clear on that concept of one local project, one international project and one at a time,” Barringer said.
Pax Christi International isn’t about tell the Toronto group what to do or how to build a national movement, said Henriquez.
“Pax Christi International is not a centralized organization,” he said. “What I expect from members is a true commitment to peace within the tradition of Catholic social teaching… Contexts are so different in every country.”
Henriquez said he would not be disappointed if the Toronto group has to remain local and modest for some time to come.
“Before the question about (a) national (organization) is the question about peace,” he said. “Is commitment to peace necessary in Canada or not? If there is a space for Christians, for Catholics, to commit to peace issues here then we can talk about a national organization.”