In his 1981 visit to Hiroshima, Pope John Paul II called for world peace and proclaimed, "War is the work of man!" In response to this the Bishops of Japan set aside a ten-day period from August 6 to the 15 as the so-called "peace period." For the past 22 years, the Church of Japan has prayed and worked for peace. The Cold War ended and, as we entered the 21st century, mankind's hope for peace grew. But the September 11 terror attack brought about a tremendous change. And in Japan movement away from our pace constitution has accelerated. As citizens and as members of the church standing at the crossroads of momentous change we ask, "Do we want to continue to push on in this direction?" Are we following the road of "love and peace" which Jesus Christ pointed out to us at the cost of his life? As we approach this year's "peace period" we turn to the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ and ask again in our prayers: "Lord, show us the road to true peace."

Now, right now, we have to discern "the signs of our time."

The Japanese government is clearly making an abrupt change of policy.

Turning its back on peace, the government would like to change the Self-Defense Forces into a standing army which can be dispatched abroad. This is a policy directly opposed to what the postwar peace constitution called for and to the policy that has been followed until now. At this very moment we are being pressed to decide whether we will maintain our peace constitution or throw it away.

The Episcopal Commission for Social issues, at the time of the Pope's visit to Japan, published a message: "Peace and the Present Catholic Church of Japan" [hereafter the Message] declaring on page 12 that "Article 9 of the constitution is a sign of our times." We would like to be reassured that Article 9 is still the core principle of our peace constitution and that it remains a "sign of our times" despite the frequency of recent legislation which deviates from that core; for example, the Emergency Measures Law and Special Aid for the Rehabilitation of Iraq.

A sign of our times: "the way of compensation and reconciliation"

A most obvious sign of our times is "the way of compensation and reconciliation."

Looking back at the series of wars during the fifteen-year period between the Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific War, one realizes that Japan is responsible for a tremendous number of war victims in the Asia-Pacific Region. It was just and right that Japan made reparations after the war, but as compensation for its victims it must continue its pledge never to wage war again and to strive to bring peace. The Message puts it this way, "A careful reading of the preamble of the Japanese constitution convinces us that this constitution is a very precious treasure of the war and the only way to offer compensation to the countless victims deprived of lives abroad and at home during the recent World War; it is the only means whereby by assuming responsibility for the crime of war, we offer victims some compensation." (page 11) The cenotaph for the Hiroshima atomic bomb victims says, "Let all the souls here rest in peace, for we shall not repeat the evil." Although the U.S. is directly responsible for dropping the atomic bomb, which caused such horrible, indiscriminate and extensive slaughter, does not the declaration expressed by the phrase "… we shall not repeat the evil" apply to us because we also stand guilty of having promoted and waged war? The realization that Jesus Christ by the sacrifice of the cross brought mankind forgiveness and reconciliation convinces us that Japan by renouncing war and by continuing to work for peace in Asia and the world is making compensation for its past and at the same time opening a path to bring about sincere and mutual reconciliation with those it has injured.

Another sign: "the road that leads to true peace"

The second sign of our times is the road that leads to true peace.

The political scientist Douglas Lummis has stated that in the 20th Century, those killed in wars fought under the banner of "the right of belligerency" number over 150 million, more than half the victims being the belligerent state's own citizens. Thus we cannot say that, just because a state is armed and has the right to go to war, it will always be safe. Nor did Japan abandon protection of itself when it adopted Article 9 of the constitution. By not having military power (an army) and by the pledge it made to work for the solution of international disputes without arms, Japan was protecting itself. As the Message states (page 12), "For a country, even a small country, to renounce war, to give up arms, is a contribution to peace in the world, to constructing world peace, and this may be of incalculable value."

Now the major nations of the world hope to bring about peace by military power. And without realizing it, Japan is being drawn into this current. But does military strength really bring about peace among nations? The countries of Asia are wary of Japan's modern militarization; they harbor distrust. And this distrust breeds strife. Jesus said, "put away your sword. Those who live by the sword will be destroyed by the sword." (Mt. 26:52) We should cherish these words. The path to peace which the Gospel urgently urges us to follow is not the way of the sword but rather the path which leads to a way whereby an atmosphere of mutual trust evolves.

It has been reported that when a private-sector medical group of a foreign country went to Iraq, the citizens of Iraq went out of their way to protect them. But just before the U.S. attacked Iraq, Japan endorsed the attack. And now Japan plans to carry out its commitment to send arms-carrying uniformed Self-Defense forces there as well. Here we see two different approaches. The two groups both use the words "peace-international contribution." But each group's action symbolizes a different "way." Should not Japan be following the "way" of that private-sector medical group?

As we approach the year's peace period, let us turn to our lord and pray from the bottom of our hearts once again that our Lord will point out the path we are to follow and that we will be granted the conviction needed to carry out our mission of peace.

July 25, 2003