Catholic Peace Ministry, Des Moines, IA seeks to help people answer God’s call to be instruments of peace. It is an independent organization that uses prayer, dialogue and action to work for justice and pursue peace. 

Updates from the Catholic Peace Ministry…. 

A crowd of 80 representing 20 sponsoring organizations assembled at the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Annual Obervance Monday, August 9^th, at 7:30 p.m. at the Japanese Bell on IA State Capitol grounds.

CPM took ‘the case for withdrawal from Afghanistan’ to audiences in Des Moines and Ames this summer. Contact Tom Harkin (284-4574) and Charles Grassley (284-4890) to zero-fund the war and to spend the money at home on health care and education for the poor.  Jeffrey will be speaking in Eldora on Sunday September 12th to a number of Christian congregations on the topic of Afghanistan.  

Remember the peace dividend? Of the 1.4 trillion dollars spent globally on military violence this year, the U.S. spends 700 billion, equal to the next 194 countries combined. China is second with 82 billion.  As for the old Soviet Union--now the Russian Federation--a steep decline from 200 billion in 1989 to 64 billion today.

For information on the status of the ‘Peace Park at Nollen Plaza,’ contact Rev. Chet Guinn at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - Sunday Sept 19 at 4 pm there will be a re-dedication of the Peace Park featuring a new plaque so please  come to this event -- Remember the Peace Park was inspired by Bishop Maurice J. Dingman

Iowans for Diplomacy with Iran met again August 25 at 12 noon, 42nd & Grand. We were joined by Dr. Lewis Pinch and his wife from Omaha, who are going to Iran in October.

To stay updated on diplomatic initiatives related to Iran, go to http://www.fcnl.org. If you have friends or organizations that can share the rich culture of Persia and the beauty of its people, contact CPM.

CPM offers lecture topics to educational institutions, churches and civic groups, including ‘Afghanistan:  The Case for Withdrawal’ ‘Iraq:  A Short History and the Current Crisis,’ ‘A History of Non-Violence,’ ‘What is Terrorism?’ and ‘Media Literacy 101.’ Interested in these or other topics for education and action? Contact Jeffrey J. Weiss This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 515-255-8114

Students Beyond War is back!!! The teenagers will be meeting Thursday evenings at 7 PM -- For more information contact Jeffrey at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 War represents a total failure of the human spirit -- Robert Fisk

Summer 2010

Volume 15, Issue 2