August 2, 2016 – The Nonviolence and Just Peace initiative is deeply grateful to the Catholic bishops of Japan for their support of this effort and their endorsement of the Appeal to the Catholic Church to re-commit to the centrality of Gospel nonviolence.

Below is a letter sent to Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace; included is a link to the letter that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan sent as endorsement of the Appeal.

His Eminence
Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson
President
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

Your Eminence,

We are pleased to inform Your Eminence that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan agree with the final document: “An Appeal to the Catholic Church―To Re-Commit to the Centrality of Gospel Nonviolence” announced during the Nonviolence and Just Peace Conference sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Pax Christi International from April 11 to 13, 2016 in Rome.

In response to Pax Christi International’s request, we hereby send you the attached consent letter sent on July 25, 2016 to the Office of the Nonviolence and Just Peace Conference.

Most grateful to Your Eminence for all that you have done and are doing for the universal Church and also in favor of our local church in Japan, and with prayers for your continued good health, I remain

Devotedly yours in Our Lord,

+Bernard Taiji Katsuya
Chairman
Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace

Photo of peace cranes from public domain