The Catholic Nonviolence Initiative and our partners regularly introduce new tools and resources. These promote and advance understandings of active nonviolence and just peace. Many are designed for use in parishes and classrooms. This page is updated regularly, so please check back often. You may also be interested in visiting our Listen and watch page and our Library, and discovering more organisations committed to nonviolence here.
- Statements and messages
- Theological reflections, prayers and essays
- Research on nonviolence
- Examples of applied nonviolence
- Resources on just peace
- For educators and parents
- Primers and background information
- Tools and study guides
- Webinars/videos
- Additional languages
Statements and messages
- An appeal to Pope Francis: Nonviolence is the path to a Laudato Si future.
- Statement from the workshop “Path of nonviolence: Towards a culture of peace”: This statement is also available in French and Spanish.
- Call to the international community to support policies that promote nonviolent approaches to sustaining peace. Pax Christi International. May 2018. This statement is also available in French and Spanish.
- Nonviolence: A style of politics for peace, the 2017 World Day of Peace message. Our page includes actions and prayers, discussion guide, commentaries from the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative network, and other resources to help you dive deeper.
- The Appeal to the Catholic Church to recommit to Gospel nonviolence was released at the end of the Nonviolence and Just Peace conference in Rome, April 2016. We encourage you and your organisation to become a signatory. The appeal is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Polish.
- Message of His Holiness Pope Francis to Cardinal Peter K. A. Turkson on the Occasion of the Conference on “Nonviolence and Just Peace”. This message is also available in Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese.
Theological reflections, prayers and essays
Books are found here
- Eucharist for Gospel nonviolence, prepared by the Gospel Nonviolence working group of the Association of Catholic Priests of the United States
- Commit to the centrality of Gospel nonviolence. Prayer service by Sr. Cathy Arata, SSND, who attended the Nonviolence & Just Peace conference held in Rome in April 2016.
- Pax Christi England & Wales study guide to accompany Choosing Peace: The Catholic Church returns to Gospel Nonviolence, a compilation of essays on nonviolence and just peace and other documents in support of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative. The study guide is available for free download from the Pax Christi England & Wales website.
- Done with violence?, by Ken Butigan, a member of the CNI executive committee, and posted by Campaign Nonviolence (a project of Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service).
- From Violence to Wholeness: A 10-part process in the spirituality and practice of active nonviolence, Ken Butigan with Patricia Bruno (Pace e Bene Press, 1996)
- The Faithful Nonviolence of Jesus, Sr. Nancy Shreck, OSF, reprinted from From Violence to Wholeness: A Ten-Part Process in the Spirituality and Practice of Active Nonviolence, Ken Butigan with Patricia Bruno.
- Living a Nonviolent Life, a reflection booklet from the Marianites of the Holy Cross
- Lenten reflection guide 2018: Embracing Jesus’ practice of nonviolence, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
- The nonviolent resistance of Jesus/La résistance nonviolente de Jésus by Jean Marie Muller
- Observe a Year of Peace and Nonviolence, Sisters of St. Joseph
- Post Easter reflections, from Pax Christi England & Wales. To deepen our understanding of Gospel nonviolence, Pax Christi England & Wales invited seven of its members to explore the powerful readings for the Sundays after Easter. Their reflections are short and personal and each of them has something to offer on the vocation we all have to be people of nonviolence.
- Prayers and practices of nonviolence: Peace Sunday packet 2011, Mennonite Central Committee Canada
- Resources for Peace Sunday 2018, based on the World Day of Peace message, offered by Pax Christi England & Wales
- Special issue: The Future of Nonviolence in Catholic Social Teaching, the Expositions newsletter from Villanova University, Vol. 13, No. 2
- We must do no less. Contribution of Bishop Robert W. McElroy to the Conference on Perspectives for a world free from Nuclear Weapons and for Integral Disarmament. November 2017.
- Material from the “Path of nonviolence towards a culture of peace” workshop. April 2019. Includes background papers, theological reflections, photos and a statement from participants.
- Background papers and theological reflections from the Nonviolence and Just Peace conference held in 2016.
- Responding to structural violence exposed by Covid19, essays written by Marie Dennis for the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development’s Covid19 Commission
- Stations of the Cross for Myanmar 2021, PowerPoint prepared by the Faithful Companions of Jesus, a women’s religious order
Research on nonviolence
- Education and training in nonviolent resistance, by Nadine Bloch, U.S. Institute of Peace
- Nonviolent and Violent Campaigns and Outcomes (NAVCO) Data Project, Josef Korbel School of International Policy, University of Denver
- Peaceful societies: Alternatives to violence and war, hosted by the Department of Anthropology of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
- Swathmore Global Nonviolent Action database (can search by religious activity)
- Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping Database, Selkirk College
- Why civil resistance works: The strategic logic of nonviolent conflict, by Erica Chenoweth and Maria Stephan
- Wielding nonviolence in the midst of conflict, by Ellen Furnari (editor)
Examples of applied nonviolence
- Holy Trinity Peace Village (Kuron, South Sudan)
- Tent of Nations (Palestine)
- Civil resistance vs. ISIS, by Maria Stephan
- Nonviolent civilian-based defense (Metta Center)
- Restorative justice (Centre for Justice and Reconciliation)
- Conflict transformation, by John Paul Lederach
- Trauma healing, by Eric Brahm (For example: STAR marks 10 years of trauma healing)
Unarmed civilian protection:
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- Nonviolent Peaceforce
- Christian Peacemaker Teams
- Operation Dove
- In October 2016, the missions of Australia, Belgium, Costa Rica, the Netherlands and the Philippines to the United Nations hosted a briefing on unarmed civilian protection. This two-minute video introduced the session. To view, use this password: nojustwar
Resources and essays on just peace, violence and nonviolence
Just peace
- We need a public health approach to national security strategy (April 2020), by Eli McCarthy
- Just Peace Ethic panel: “A Manual for Escaping our Vicious Cycles” by Gerald Schlabach, “The Changing Vision of Just Peace in Catholic Social Teaching” by Lisa Cahill, and “A Virtue-Based Just Peace Ethic” by Eli McCarthy; in Journal of Moral Theology, p. 86-108.
- Choose just peace framework to respond to conflict with Iran, by CNI steering committee member Eli McCarthy.
- Just Peace Ethic. A short introduction and framework, prepared by Eli McCarthy.
- A Just Peace Ethic Primer, edited by Eli McCarthy
- Sample applications of a just peace approach to:
Violence and nonviolence
- Police violence: We need to name it and go deeper (June 2020), by Eli McCarthy
- The university’s responsibility for peace and nonviolence by Ken Butigan, a member of the CNI executive committee and faculty member at DePaul University.
- Rapinoe and Rackete: Two captains of civil disobedience to inhuman orders, by Pietro Ameglio (Mexico), posted in English on Rose Marie Berger’s blog, and in its original Spanish here.
- No longer legitimating war: Christians and just peace, by Rose Marie Berger
For educators and parents
- For the complete CNI collection of resources for educators and parents, please see our Peace education and parenting page.
- Visit the library and use the CATEGORY box to search for “educators and parents”
- Gandhi and nonviolence open resources, from the MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence
- Pax Christi England & Wales study guide to accompany Choosing Peace: The Catholic Church returns to Gospel Nonviolence, a compilation of essays on nonviolence and just peace and other documents in support of the CNI. The study guide is available for free download from the Pax Christi England & Wales website.
- Engage: Exploring nonviolent living, Laura Slattery, Ken Butigan, Veronica Pelicaric, Ken Preston (Pace e Bene Press, 2005)
- The Faithful Nonviolence of Jesus, Sr. Nancy Shreck, OSF, reprinted from From Violence to Wholeness: A Ten-Part Process in the Spirituality and Practice of Active Nonviolence, Ken Butigan with Patricia Bruno (Pace e Bene Press, 1999).
- Just Peace Ethic. A short introduction and framework, including study or discussion questions. Prepared by Eli McCarthy.
- Two synopses: 1) Peace communications course for Salesians in formation and 2) peace education course for use in Salesian schools
- Nonviolence Works! 60 nonviolent victories of the past century, a 12-page PDF published in 2010 by the British sections of Pax Christi, Baptist Peace Fellowship and Fellowship of Reconciliation
- Violence and Nonviolence in Scripture: Helping Children Understand Challenging Stories, by Catherine Maresca
- From Violence to Wholeness: A 10-part process in the spirituality and practice of active nonviolence, Ken Butigan with Patricia Bruno (Pace e Bene Press, 1996)
- Walking the Way: Following Jesus on the Lenten Journey of Gospel Nonviolence to the Cross and Resurrection, by Fr. John Dear (Twenty-Third Publications, 2015)
Primers and background information
We have developed a number of primers to help you understand active nonviolence and just peace is all about.
- What is active nonviolence?
- What is trauma healing?
- What is restorative justice?
- What is unarmed civilian protection?
- What is nonviolent resistance?
- What is a just peace approach? (updated)
- Nonviolence and civil resistance, by Pietro Ameglio, SERPAJ Mexico (Also available in Spanish)
Tools and study guides
- An action guide for individuals and groups to implement the goals of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative
- Making active nonviolence our way of life in the Church and the world, a preparatory guide and questionnaire: This resource has been produced primarily as a tool and secondly as means of gathering information. // en español // en français
- Cultivating a life of respect and nonviolence within creation, our common home, from the JPIC Commission of USG and UISG Rome (3-page resource for reflection and action)
- Pax Christi England & Wales study guide to accompany Choosing Peace: The Catholic Church returns to Gospel Nonviolence, a compilation of essays on nonviolence and just peace and other documents in support of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative. The study guide is available for free download from the Pax Christi England & Wales website.
- Community Tool Box – Chapter 28. Spirituality and community building, Section 5: Promoting peace, written by Terry Greene, a member of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
- Cultivating nonviolence, harvesting peace, an 8-week JustFaith Ministries program focusing on nonviolence from a Christian perspective
- Engaging nonviolence: Activating nonviolent change in our lives and our world, a 15-part workbook for learning, practicing, and experimenting with the power of creative nonviolence for personal and social transformation. It is available from Pace e Bene.
- Just Peace Ethic. A short introduction and framework, prepared by Eli McCarthy.
- Nonviolence and Just Peace: Template for small group reflection. PDF (English, US sized paper), PDF (English, A4 paper). This resource is also available in French, Spanish, and Italian.
- Nonviolence: Power for justice and peace, 90-minute webinar, offered by Laurie Gagne, Ph.D. and John Reuwer, MD (updated 2020)
- Nonviolence: A style of politics for peace, the 2017 World Day of Peace message. Our page includes actions and prayers, discussion guide, commentaries from the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative network, and other resources to help you dive deeper.
- A parish guide to Gospel nonviolence by the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative
- Reflections gathered during the workshop on Path of Nonviolence: Towards a Culture of Peace. April 2019, Rome. This statement is also available in French and Spanish.
- SNAP: Synergizing nonviolent action and peacemaking, a guide for trainers, facilitators, and other practitioners serving the organizers, activists, mediators, negotiators, and peacebuilders who want to learn more about how to integrate nonviolent action and peacebuilding strategies in their work. From the U.S. Institute of Peace.
Webinars/videos
- Nonviolence: Power for justice and peace, 90-minute webinar, offered by Laurie Gagne, Ph.D. and John Reuwer, MD (updated 2020)
- Nonviolence: Key to a Laudato Si’ future, May 2021
- Retreat on nonviolence, December 2020, with videos from Dr. Bernice King, Fr. Emmanuel Katongole, Michael Nagler, Mairead Maguire and others
- Defining nonviolence interviews with Myla Leguro (Philippines), Archbishop Peter Chong (Fiji), Rania Murra (Palestine), Fr. Emmanuel Katongole (Uganda), Jasmin Nario Galace (Philippines), Fr. Dave Kelly (USA), Sarah Thompson (USA), Jean Baptiste Talla (Cameroon), Christina Leaño (USA), and Pietro Ameglio (Mexico)
- Understanding nonviolence interviews with Christina Leaño (USA), Pietro Ameglio (Mexico), Jasmin Nario Galace (Philippines), and Jean Baptiste Talla (Cameroon)
- Planning for nonviolence interviews with Christina Leaño (USA), Fr. Emmanuel Katongole (Uganda), Myla Leguro (Philippines), Jean Baptiste Talla (Cameroon), and Rania Murra (Palestine)
- Nonviolence in action interviews with Fr. Dave Kelly (USA), Jasmin Nario Galace (Philippines), Archbishop Peter Chong (Fiji), Fr. Emmanuel Katongole (Uganda), Pietro Ameglio (Mexico), and Christina Leaño (USA)
- Promoting civil resistance as part of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative hosted by the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC)
- CNI accomplishments, November 2017
- Pietro Ameglio on just peace and nonviolence
Throughout the fall of 2016 the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative organised a series of webinars introducing the work and mission of the CNI and the groundbreaking Nonviolence and Just Peace Conference. Each webinar has a post, with background information, slides, and a recording of the webinar itself.
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- Webinar #1: Introduction to Nonviolence & Just Peace conference
- Webinar #2: Experiences of nonviolence and Jesus’ way of nonviolence
- Webinar #3, Nonviolence and Just Peace: Moving beyond war
- Webinar #4: Outcomes, implementation from Nonviolence & Just Peace conference (includes a special message from Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, SJ)
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Additional languages
Français (French)
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- Un appel à l’Eglise catholique à se réengager à la centralité de la non-violence évangélique, Catholic Nonviolence Initiative
- Cultiver une Vie de Respect et de Nonviolence au sein de la Création, notre Maison commune (ressource de 3 pages pour la réflexion et l’action)
- Appel à la communauté internationale pour soutenir les politiques qui promeuvent des approches non-violentes pour maintenir la paix. Position de Pax Christi International, 28 Mai 2018.
- Appelle à faire « de la non-violence active notre style de vie ». Le pape appelle à la non-violence en 2017 : message pour la Journée Mondiale de la Paix.
- La Journée Mondiale de la Paix 2017 ressource, deux pages
- Le pape François fait l’éloge de la non-violence à l’occasion de la 50ème journée mondiale de la paix, par Alain Refalo
- Message Du Pape François Au Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson a L’occasion De La Conférence “Nonviolence And Just Peace : Contributing To The Catholic Understanding Of And Commitment To Nonviolence. Rome, avril 2016.
- Nonviolence et paix juste: Guide à destination d’un petit groupe de réflexion par Catholic Nonviolence Initiative
- Presentation de Françoise Keller. Path of nonviolence towards a culture of peace. Workshop, April 2019.
- Promouvoir la non-violence, par Jean-Marie Muller
- Quand Jésus libère les animaux du Temple par Jean-Marie Muller. Ces essais – le premier sur la conduite des changeurs d’argent du Temple, le deuxième sur le refus de Jésus de condamner la femme prise en adultère – ont été écrits par Jean-Marie Muller, un philosophe et écrivain français qui était l’un des participants à la conférence de nonviolence et paix de avril 2016 à Rome.
- Qu’est-ce qu’une éthique de la paix juste? A short introduction and framework, prepared by Eli S. McCarthy, Ph.D. Georgetown University, USA.
- Réflexions recueillies au cours de la rencontre : « Chemin de la nonviolence : vers une culture de paix ». Pax Christi International / Catholic Nonviolence Initiative. 4-5 avril 2019 à Rome.
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Español (Spanish)
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- Noviolencia evangélica para un futuro inspirado en Laudato Si
- Hacer de la no violencia activa nuestra forma de vida en la Iglesia y en el mundo
- Cultivar una vida de respeto y de no violencia dentro de la Creación, nuestra casa común (recurso de 3 páginas para la reflexión y la acción)
- Reflexiones compiladas durante el seminario sobre: El Camino de la Noviolencia: Hacia una Cultura de la Paz. Pax Christi International/Iniciativa Católicia de la Noviolencia. 4-5 de abril, 2019, Roma.
- Rapinoe y Rackete: dos capitanas de la desobediencia debida a órdenes inhumanas por Pietro Ameglio (México)
- ¿Qué es una ética de paz justa? A short introduction and framework, including study or discussion questions. Prepared by Eli S. McCarthy, Ph.D. Georgetown University, USA.
- La no violencia y la paz justa: Modelo para las reflexiones en pequeños grupos por Catholic Nonviolence Initiative
- La noviolencia y la resistencia civil, por Pietro Ameglio, SERPAJ Mexico
- Un llamado a la Iglesia Católica a comprometerse de nuevo con la noviolencia que es central en el Evangelio
- Llamamiento a la Comunidad Internacional para Respaldar Políticas Que Promuevan Enfoques No-violentos para la Paz Sostenible. Documento de Posición de Pax Christi International, 28 Mayo 2018.
- Mensaje del santo Padre Francisco al cardenal Peter K.A. Turkson con ocasión de la conferencia sobre el tema “la no violencia y la paz justa: contribuir a la comprensión católica y el compromiso con la no violencia”. Roma, 11-13 de abril de 2016.
- Nos invita a “hacer de la noviolencia activa nuestro camino de vida”. El Papa llama a la noviolencia en el mensaje de la Jornada Mundial de la Paz 2017.
- El Día Mundial de la Paz 2017 recurso, dos páginas
- La no violencia y la paz justa: Modelo para las reflexiones en pequeños grupos, Catholic Nonviolence Initiative.
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Deutsch (German)
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- Gottesdienstvorschlag Friede zum Welttag des Friedens (21 September), Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Palaver, Vorsitzender Pax Christi Österreich
- Aufruf an die katholische Kirche zur Neuverpflichtung auf die zentrale Botschaft des Evangeliums über Gewaltfreiheit
- Gewaltlosigkeit: Stil einer Politik für den Frieden: Aufruf zum Weltfriedenstag 2017 (Herunterladen und verbreiten)
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Italiano (Italian)
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- Appello alla Chiesa Cattolica al fine di promuovere la centralità della nonviolenza evangelica
- Messaggio del Santo Padre Francesco al Cardinale Peter K.A. Turkson in occasione della conferenza “Nonviolence and Just Peace: Contributing to the Catholic understanding of and commitment to nonviolence”. Roma, 11-13 aprile 2016.
- Nonviolenza e pace giusta: Modello per la riflessione in gruppi piccoli, Catholic Nonviolence Initiative.
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Português (Portuguese)
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- Um apelo à Igreja Católica a comprometer-se de novo com a centralidade da não-violência evangélica, Catholic Nonviolence Initiative.
- Mensagem do Papa Francisco ao Cardeal Peter K. A. Turkson por ocasião da conferência: “Nonviolence and Just Peace: Contributing to the Catholic understanding of and commitment to nonviolence”. Roma, 11-13 de abril de 2016.
- Não violência ativa e criativa caminho para construir a paz. Pax Christi Portugal.
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Nederlands (Dutch)
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- Oproep van de internationale vredesbeweging aan de kerk: Zet de evangelische geweldloosheid centraal
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Polski (Polish)
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- Niestosowanie przemocy (nonviolence) i sprawiedliwy pokój: wkład do katolickiego rozumienia i zaangażowania w nonviolence. Rzym, 11-13 kwietnia 2016.
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