Feeding the Beast

by Carla Mae Streeter, OP, PEP Board Member

The recent documentary, “Pray the Devil Back to Hell,” from the Community Cinema series presents the story of how the Christian and Muslim women of Liberia ended the fighting in that country between rebels and Charles Taylor. The film commented on how nations continue to feed the beast of war. In his visit to the United Nations Paul VI was utterly clear about war: “No more!.” As people of intelligence we need to ask more questions. Are we to continue to offer the human sacrifice of our sons and daughters to this violence? Are we to feed the weapons of war while our families struggle to put bread on the table and to find work to make an honest living? Is war making an empire builder out of our nation? Is that what we are called to do among the nations of the world? Religious faith can comfort the afflicted. It can also afflict the comfortable. I want to feed the children…not the beast. this film is apart of the “Women and Girls Lead” series beginning on October 11 on PBS (9) at 10 pm. “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” will show on October 18 at 10 pm. For more information visit the website: http://praythedevilbacktohell.com.

Carla Mae Streeter, OP
Aquinas Institute of Theology
23 South Spring Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108-3323