Saint Thomas Becket December 29
tvc . dsj . org | December 13 , 2016 commeNtAry 19
Seven Bishops , One Abbot & a psychiatrist Dialogue with peace Activists
By Tony Magliano
Internationally syndicated social justice and peace columnist
During the recent U . S . Catholic bishops ’ fall assembly in Baltimore , several bishops and one abbot , gathered with about 25 peace activists – myself included – to share a simple meal and consider the horrible emotional , psychological and spiritual wounds suffered by combatants of war .
In the old basement of historic Saint Vincent de Paul Church , on the evening of November 15 , Bishops John Michael Botean , Brendan Cahill , Yousif Habash , Richard Pates , Joseph Kopacz , Anthony Taylor , Michael Warfel and Abbot Nicholas Zachariadis broke bread together with members of Pax Christi , Catholic Worker , Catholic Peace Fellowship and the Community of Sant ’ Egidio .
After prayer and a simple supper , theologian and psychiatrist Warren Kinghorn , M . D ., shared with us his spiritual and medical observations regarding the deep wounds war veterans often bring home .
While practicing medicine at Durham VA Medical Center , Kinghorn said he met World War II veterans in their 80s and 90s who hadn ’ t slept more than four hours a night for 60 years ; Vietnam veterans who couldn ’ t keep a job , a marriage or stay sober ; and veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars displaying similar symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder ( PTSD ).
He said many veterans also displayed other symptoms of PTSD : nightmares , frightening thoughts , and fl a s h b a c k s .
He would tell his PTSD war veteran patients , “ You went through things that no human being should ever have to go through , and tried to push it away , and now it ’ s coming back in dreams , nightmares and intrusive thoughts .”
Kinghorn discovered in many of his patients deep psychological and spiritual wounds from things not only done to them , but things done by them in war .
Veterans experiencing PTSD , or any other problems , can receive quality care from the U . S . Department of Veterans Affairs . Just call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 or visit www . mentalhealth . va . gov .
He shared that he was seeing and hearing what Saint Augustine – ironically the father of the “ justwar ” theory – called “ heartfelt grief ” from hurts received during war and from harm done to others in war .
Kinghorn said today this is often framed as “ moral injury ” trauma . “ It turns out that the act of killing itself , even when consistent with one ’ s held values , is psychologically costly . Killing in combat , turns out to be associated with lots of adverse mental health outcomes .”
Dr . Kinghorn said there are four key principles that promote healing for veterans experiencing PTSD /“ heartfelt grief .”
The first principle is working to undo the dehumanization of past enemies by striving to connect with the humanity of others .
The second principle is confession . Kinghorn said , “ All killing of any sort participates in a broken world .” But confession of sins frees us and facilitates our reconciliation with others .
The third principle is community . Liturgies of healing and reconciliation are important ways faith communities can offer help .
Fourth principle is calling – giving veterans something meaningful to do . Kinghorn asked , “ What role does the church have for returning veterans ?”
Veterans experiencing PTSD , or any other problems , can receive quality care from the U . S . Department of Veterans Affairs . Just call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 or visit www . mentalhealth . va . gov .
Maryknoll Sister Elizabeth Salmon , daughter of World War I Catholic conscientious objector Ben Salmon , said her father refused to kill his German brothers . He said , “ There is no such thing as a just war .” And for his faithfulness in following the nonviolent Jesus , and honoring the commandment “ Thou shall not kill ,” he was imprisoned for over four years and committed to the criminally insane wing of Saint Elizabeth ’ s Hospital in Washington , D . C ., please visit www . bensalmon . org .
What a sick sinful society that honors the insanity of war , and imprisons those who refuse to kill .
Tune into Tony , a regular guest on Immaculate Heart Radio ’ s Bay Area Catholic . Hear him on KSFB 1260 AM on December 17 at 3 p . m ., December 19 at 9 p . m ., and ondemand at IHRadio . com / bayareacatholic .
Saint Thomas Becket December 29
A London-born clerk to Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury , Thomas studied canon law abroad and was ordained a deacon . His support of Henry II ’ s claim to England ’ s throne led to his appointment as royal chancellor . He was the king ’ s great friend until 1162 , when , as the new archbishop of Canterbury , he said he changed from being “ a patron of play-actors and a follower of hounds , to being a shepherd of souls .” He and the king clashed over many issues , notably the jurisdiction of ecclesiastical courts . Thomas fled to France for six years ; soon after his return , Henry ’ s wish to be rid of this troublesome prelate led to Thomas ’ murder by four knights . This medieval martyr starred in two modern plays : Eliot ’ s “ Murder in the Cathedral ” and Anouilh ’ s “ Becket .”
-Catholic News Service