Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice (MVPJ) objects to the presumption of guilt implicit in Congressional hearings under the title "The Radicalization of Muslim communities in America" being convened by Rep. Peter King (R, NY).  Since no religious community can claim exemption from the human tendency to resort to radical violence, it is unfair and very likely unconstitutional for a Congressman to single out Muslims for investigation.  MVPJ stands with those who protest the biased McCarthy-like opinions expressed by Sen. King.  We are sure that a truthful investigation would reveal that American Muslims are as dismayed and frightened by religion-based violence as American Christians, if not more so. 

Working, praying, serving and marching with our Muslim sisters and brothers for the past 8 years, in MVPJ there is no longer an "us" or "them", but only one people, one race, one human family.  Together we must show the rest of our nation and world that the friendship and trust we share cannot be divided.

Nuclear War and Weapons Profit No One is the title for the public lecture to be delivered by Frida Berrigan on Sunday, March 6, at 2pm.  Berrigan, now with the War Resistors' League, was a Senior Program Associate of the Arms and Security Initiative at the New America Foundation.  Previously she served for eight years as Deputy Director and Senior Research Associate at the Arms Trade Resource Center at the World Policy Institute at the New School in New York City.

The lecture, to be held at the Vallombrosa Center in Menlo Park, is in conjunction with a weekend retreat of the Pacific Life Community.  The weekend will culminate in a peaceful witness on the morning of Monday, March 7, at the main gate of Lockheed-Martin in Sunnyvale.

This award winning documentary follows the efforts of Palestinian shepherds and several Israelis that ultimately provide electricity for the tent and cave homes in the Palestinian village of Susia, in the Hebron hills.  Their ever deepening and transformative relationships form the basis for their work together.

Photography by
Marie Josee Mont-Reynaud & Randy Mont-Reynaud

December 2010 - January 2010
St. Marks Episcopal Church
600 Colorado Ave., Palo Alto

ON DISPLAY in the Parish Hall: Tuesdays-Fridays 12noon-4pm
VIDEO & DISCUSSION: Sunday, January 16th, 12:15pm
CLOSING RECEPTION:  Friday, January 28th, 6-8pm

Sponsored by:
If Pigs Could Fly - Helping Hillside Haiti
Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice

Download flyers in pdf format:
Click here to download full size flyer for posting.
Click here to download half size flyer with details.

Whose Children Are These?

On November 28, December 5, 12 and 19, 2010, we listened to Afghan youth and U.S. veterans share experiences of war.  Participants were connected by conference call as Afghan youth from the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers talked with U.S. veterans from Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, will speak this Saturday, October 23, at 10am at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 670 East Meadow Drive (near Middlefield) in Palo Alto. 

Building Bridges for Peace is to be the theme of his presentation.  Dedicated to working for peace between cultures and religions, Dr. Gandhi is the president of the international organization Initiatives for Change. In the first half of 2010, he and his wife, Usha, led a team on a Voyage of Dialogue and Discovery, visiting 15 countries on four continents.  On September 3, 2010, he addressed the United Nations together with the ambassador to the UN from Pakistan on the urgent need for international help for flood victims in Pakistan.  Rajmohan Gandhi is a Research Professor for the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Illinois.  He is the author of several books, including Mohandas: A True Story of a Man, His People and an Empire, a biography of his grandfather.

The event is free and open to the community.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 30th - You are invited to a screening of Nuclear Tipping Point followed by a discussion led by Dick Duda. The film will be shown at The Dove and Olive Works, 178 South Blvd -- San Mateo (at the south end of B Street in San Mateo between 16th and Palm). The film will be shown at 7pm with a discussion to follow. The discussion will be based on the study guide which you can download by clicking here (more information is also provided below).

There is no charge to attend this film showing and discussion. All are welcome but please RSVP so we know how many to expect. Click here to contact the event organizer (craig@reachandteach.com).

Building Bridges for Peace, in honor of the Rev. Don Mason, is an interfaith study series at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Palo Alto to which people of all faiths are invited.  It is organized by Covenant's Faithworks with support from Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice.  Beginning Sunday, September 26, 12:30-1:30pm, the series will continue weekly through October 31, exploring peace from the perspective of Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Hinduism.  The highlight will be a presentation on Saturday, October 23 at 10am by Professor Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and colleague of Rev. Mason. All events will take place at Covenant Church, located at 670 East Meadow Drive (near Middlefield and Mitchell Park) in Palo Alto.

While open to the community and free of charge, we do ask that people expecting to attend any of the sessions register to help in planning food for a simple lunch (at 12:15pm) and reading material. Click here to let us know you will be join us. Participants are encouraged to read portions of the book No Enemy to Conquer: Forgiveness in an Unforgiving World, by Michael Henderson.  Click here to download a Reader's Guide for the series.

Rev. Don Mason was pastor at Covenant from 1975-1990 and a leader in the faith community here.  While later serving a church in Illinois, he met and worked for multifaith cooperation with Professor Gandhi. Rev. Mason died in a hiking accident in 2009.