From his deep experience in both Mennonite and Catholic circles, Gerald Schlabach explores well the transforming initiative of the Church s evolving `turn to active nonviolence and offers a challenging reflection on the messy complexity of the just war framework s `traditional righteousness. This book should be required reading for all of us involved in the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative.Marie Dennis, Co-President of Pax Christi International (2007-2019), Executive Committee of Pax Christi s Catholic Nonviolence Initiative
More than any book on active nonviolence and peace-making, Gerald Schlabach s A Pilgrim People offers a profound and solid theological foundation for this essential Christian mission. It shows that active nonviolence is demanded not only by the process of globalization but also, and more urgently, by Christ s command to his disciples to cross borders of all types to bring about God s reign of justice, peace, and love. It is a must-read for social activists as well as scholars. A timelier book for our Age of Migration can hardly be found.Peter C. Phan, Ellacuria Chair of Catholic Social Thought, Georgetown University
General secretaries of Global Christian Communions often discuss the ongoing need for a theological framework for the existence, form, ethics, and structure of a global church. In this book, Gerald W. Schlabach offers an important contribution to that need: a global (catholic) ecclesiology. Based on the church fathers, the councils, theologians, and popes of the Roman Catholic church, Schlabach invites us to respond to the magisterial call by living as pilgrim people-being a transnational and cross-cultural diaspora in constant exile-and becoming a catholic peace church. An excellent project and a fascinating call!Cesar Garcia, Mennonite World Conference General Secretary
Schlabach s whole life has been a study and work for peace. Because of this, his active nonviolence, and his clear explanations, this is a powerful book.
Emmanuel
A Pilgrim People is a book rich in experience and practical advice organized around the urgency of the Catholic church s committing itself to non-violence.
Conrad Grebel Review
This work, which delves deeply into aspects of historical theological figures and also provides pastoral wisdom, offers a wonderful and wise invitation to the long work of peacebuilding in a fractured world.
Modern Believing
A fruitful contribution on the long road to our becoming a Catholic peace church.
Modern Theology
Unfolding the vision of the Roman Catholic Church as a peace church, the book displays the resourcefulness of both church traditions with regard to peacemaking. Moreover, it points to how the willingness to learn from another church tradition can infuse energy into processes of renewal as concerns established positions on peace. Not least, the book contributes with significant insights on how the commitment to peace can bring a deeper understanding of what it means to be church in today's world.
Christian Ethics
