Immediate Cease-Fire Needed in Gaza - Bishop Richard E. Pates

Sep 21, 2026

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Immediate Cease-Fire Needed in Gaza presents a letter from Bishop Richard E. Pates to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urging an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and humanitarian support for Palestinians. The text details the reported casualties during the Gaza standoff between Israel and Hamas, emphasizes protection of civilians from rocket attacks and air/ground strikes, and calls for conditions leading to a viable independent Palestinian state. It also notes Catholic Relief Services suspending operations, with readiness to resume once violence ends.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Immediate Cease-Fire Needed in Gaza

Collective Punishment of Palestinians Should Be Halted

Senate Testimony on Unaccompanied Minors Coming to U.S. From Central America

Helping Students Face Challenges of Today's Culture

Homily Opening Fortnight for Freedom

Homily Closing Fortnight for Freedom

Datebook

On File

origins CNS documentary serVIce "It is my hope and prayer that oneday we might look back and findthat this latest cycle ofviolencewas the last—a cycle broken by ajust and lasting peace agreement.” Immediate Cease-Fire Needed in Gaza Bishop Pates The chairman of the U.S.bishops'Committeeon International Justice and Peace wrote toSecretary of State John Kerry July 21 askingfor the U.S.to do all it can to bring about animmediate cease-fire in Gaza and providehumanitarian assistance to Palestinians.As Origins went to print,more than 650Palestinians,most of them civilians,hadbeen killed in the standoffbetween IsraelandHamas,which runs the Gaza Strip and isconsidered a terrorist organization by Israeland the U.S.Thirty-one Israelis,includingtwo civilians,had been killed.Bishop Richard E.Pates of Des Moines,Iowa,said in his let-ter to Kerry that "Israelis should not have tolive in fear of Hamas'indiscrininate rocketattacks on civilian areas.At the same time, Palestinians should not have to live in fearfor their lives fron air and ground attacksor to suffer the humiliations of occupation."Bishop Pates said that ifa cease-fire is accom-plished,the U.S.should work to being all par-ties together to attempt a permanent peaceplan."Only the emergence of a viable andindependent Palestinian state living along-side a recognized and secure Israel will bringthe peace for which majorities ofboth Israelisand Palestinians yearn,"the bishop said.Henoted that Catholic Relief Services had tocease operations in Gaza due to the conflictbut would be ready to resume assistance oncethe violence stops.The bishop's letter follows. contents 185 Immediate Cease-FireNeeded in Gazaby Bishop Richard E.Pates186Collective Punishment ofPalestinians Should BeHaltedby the Assembly ofCatholic Ordinaries of theHoly Land Commission forJustice and Peace188 Senate Testimony onUnaccompanied MinorsComing to U.S.FromCentral Americaby Richard Jones194 Helping Students FaceChallenges of Today'sCulture ast Sunday,Pope Francis spoke to theterrible cycle of violence in the HolyLand.The pope pleaded with politi-cal leaders“not to spare prayer or by Archbishop CarloMaria Vigano197Homily Opening Fortnightfor Freedomby Archbishop William any effort to end every hostility and seek thedesired peace for the good of all.”Despitethis plea,the hostilities between Israel andHamas have only intensified,bringing deathand destruction,especially to the civilianpopulation of Gaza. E.Lori 198 Homily Closing Fortnightfor Freedomby Archbishop Joseph E.Kurtz200Datebook200On File Catholic Relief Services has had to sus-pend operations in Gaza due to the violencebut with U.S.support is prepared to resumehumanitarian and development assistanceto Gaza's vulnerable population when acease-fire is achieved. July 31,2014 Israelis should not have to live in fearof Hamas'indiscriminate rocket attacks oncivilian areas.At the same time,Pshould not have to live in fear fc Volume 44 Amhor11 Marygrove College Libtary 8425 West McNicho RaadDetroit,MI 4822 continuea Expressing liis serious con-cerns over the escalating vio-lence in the Holy Land,PopeFrancis teleplioned IsraeliPresidentShimon Peresand Palestinian PresidentMahmoud Abbas,urging allsides to end hostilities andbuild peace. The morning after Israellaunclred a gromd invasionof the Gaza Strip,the popepersonally telephoned thetwo leaders July 18 to express"Iris very serious concernsabout the cnrrent situation ofconflict." Phoning Peres at 10 in themorning and Abbas at 11:30Rome time,the pope told tlreleaders that thte conflict wascreating"numerous victimsand was giving way to a stateof serious lumanitarianemergency,"tlre Vatican saidin a written communiquéJuly 18. The pope told the two presi-dents,whom the pope “con-siders to be men of peace andwho want peace,"that con-stant prayer was needed. He also urged them to “workhard at making sure allinterested parties and thosewho have political respon-sibilitie

FAQs

Who is calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and to whom?

Bishop Richard E. Pates wrote to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urging the U.S. to do all it can to bring about an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and provide humanitarian assistance.

What does the document say about civilian harm during the Gaza conflict?

It states that both Palestinians and Israelis are suffering fear and danger from attacks, including rocket attacks on civilian areas and air and ground attacks, and it stresses protection for civilian populations.

What does the text say about Catholic Relief Services during the conflict?

Catholic Relief Services is described as having to suspend operations in Gaza due to the conflict, but prepared to resume humanitarian and development assistance once a cease-fire is achieved.

Sep 21, 2026

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