A Vincentian Reflection on Peace - Robert Maloney
Father Robert Maloney’s ‘A Vincentian Reflection on Peace’ is available online.It is reprinted from VINCENTIANA 2004:2 and can currently be found at cmglobal.org
Two brief excerpts…
… Mediation as ministry
To borrow a phrase from Karl Rahner, there are many “forgotten truths” in our Christian heritage; something that is very important in one era can slip to the back of Christian consciousness in another historical epoch. The same is true within the Vincentian Family. It is easy to forget that, for St. Vincent, mediation was one of the most important ministries of missionaries. It is a delicate ministry. Mediators seek to create a triangular relationship in which communication is reestablished between two conflicting parties, with the aid of the mediator’s presence. Of course, for successful reconciliation, both parties must trust the mediator.
The mediator must be careful to
– be an active listener
– be impartial, attentive, and not overly influenced by one party or the other
– respect the rhythm of both parties, accompanying them patiently
– create an atmosphere of confidence, continually encouraging the two parties to find a solution
– pay attention not only to words but also to feelings and non-verbal language
– know how to find the common values and points of interest of both parties
– be creative in formulating and reformulating possible solutions.
…Without dialogue, genuine peace cannot exist. When conflicting parties enter into dialogue, several prerequisites are essential:
– Each must seek to discover the truth of the other: Why has the conflict arisen? What were the remote and proximate causes? What injustices are being redressed? What are the legitimate demands on both sides?
– Each side must recognize its own responsibility in the conflict.
– Each must speak of the problems as objectively and calmly as possible, recognizing the destructive acts which make people suffer, especially the poor.
– Each side must offer concrete proposals. One cannot come to the peace table empty-handed. The proposals made must be realistic and must proceed step-by-step.
Can we as a Vincentian Family learn to dialogue well? Can we teach others the art?