Bishop Luis
Bambarén, who was the official observer on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
in Peru, spoke to a UIW Study Tour that included Incarnate Word Sisters in
2002.
The Peruvian and US Anniversaries
on August 28, 2020, were invitations to reflection and conversion. Peruvians
observed the 17th anniversary of the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission which had been accepted by the government on August 28,
2003. https://www.cverdad.org.pe/ingles/pagina01.php The
nine-volume report on human rights abuses estimated that over 69,000 people had
been killed in the last two decades of 20th century.
In
the 1980’s as injustices in Peruvian society were publicly pointed out, groups
began to turn to violence. Then the
government responded with more violence rather than efforts to listen and
respond to the roots of the problems. With
groups, like Sendero Luminoso and with government forces, violence was used
more and more.
While the government may not have
killed quite as many people, their approaches fueled ever more violence. Seventeen
years ago, the Peruvian government accepted the report of the “Truth and Reconciliation
Commission,” not denying guilt.
Monsignor Luis Bambarén Gastelumendi, Bishop of
Chimbote and President of the Episcopal Conference of Peru, was the
official observer on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He is
a friend of the Incarnate Word Sisters. Sisters continued ministering during
the challenging years of violence. See articles that include some on the
Sisters and ministry in Peru "Danger Did Not Drive Us Out of
Peru" https://www.globalsistersreport.org/column/ministry/el-peligro-no-nos-hizo-salir-de-per%C3%BA-42391
and in English https://www.globalsistersreport.org/column/ministry/danger-did-not-drive-us-out-peru-37021
"The World Will Be Saved By Beauty" https://www.globalsistersreport.org/column/environment/world-will-be-saved-beauty-52076
"Washerwoman God" https://www.globalsistersreport.org/news/spirituality/column/washerwomen-god-invites-us
August 28, 2020, was the 57th anniversary of the
“March on Washington” in which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a speech “I
have a dream.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IB0i6bJIjw&feature=youtu.be He
had said if there was not a movement towards justice, unrest would continue in
the U.S. That has proved true and thousands marched on Washington
for the 57th anniversary. They lamented the murder of another Black
person and the patterns of racism.
In
San Antonio, Texas, considering the killing of George Floyd, on June 7, 2020, people
of many faiths gathered in a Prayer Vigil for #BlackLivesMatter
which
was livestreamed by NOWCastSA.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_Aj-l9mp9c from in front of San Fernando Cathedral and
many people participated virtually.
The
mayor and religious leaders spoke and faculty and students of the University of
the Incarnate Word contributed a litany of people of color who had been killed.
Dr. Danielle Alsandor, Ms. Brandi Coleman, Ms.
Casey Ogechi Iwuagwu, Sr. Martha Ann Kirk, Michael Mercer, Darcy E. Renfro, Dr.
Ronald Washington can be seen sharing the Litany for Racial Justice https://www.screencast.com/t/KJqtRWvu
To
see the text of the litany go to https://saccvi.blogspot.com/2020/06/compassionate-action-builds-our.html
While great challenges
continue in Peru in the face of poverty and in the face of corruption, yet
people of the US could learn something from Peruvians, as from South Africans
and Rwandans. A society cannot find “easy
reconciliation.” Deep efforts are needed to unveil truths of
violence and oppression.
As
more truth is discovered, all sides, all groups need ongoing formation in
restorative justice. Retributive justice, looking back and trying
to “even out violence” cannot create a positive future. For people
to go into a brighter future, to forge respect and bonds, restorative justice
is needed. Transformative education is needed for the children of
victims and the children of the perpetrator to learn to live together and
co-create a flourishing society.
Educational
movements are growing. The Charter for Compassion https://charterforcompassion.org/ encourages
education https://charterforcompassion.org/partners/education at
all levels. Compassionate Integrity Training https://www.compassionateintegrity.org/ is
spreading globally and their manual in Spanish, in English, and in German can
be downloaded https://www.compassionateintegrity.org/downloads/. Pace
e Bene, https://paceebene.org/ founded
by Franciscans offers extensive resources, classes, and invites all to Campaign
Nonviolence. https://paceebene.org/action-week These
can further transformative education and reconciliation rather than ongoing
circles of violence.
Thirty
some Incarnate Word Sisters, friends, and co-ministers from Mexico, Peru, and
the US participated in the 2020 Campaign Nonviolence educational events
remembering the 75 anniversary of the nuclear bombs. They attended the August 6
Vigil, the August 7 Nonviolence Training, and/or the August 8, 2020 large
conference. Recordings of all of these events can be seen https://paceebene.org/cnvconference2020 in
English. Pace e Bene has had classes and resources in Spanish and is
working to get more and more available.
In
the face of systemic racism, ongoing efforts for “truth and reconciliation” are
urgently needed. Each person is encouraged to disarm her or his heart. All are encouraged to listen to each other.
