Women of faith and peace

While the trail of racist ideology characterising the demonstration of the anti-Islamic movement Pegida grows from Germany to Austria, involving several cantons from Switzerland to Denmark, a group of religious and lay women in Vienna, successfully promoted a joint campaign against violence and discrimination. “Frauen für Vertrauen, Dialog und Gerechtigkeit” (Women for faith, dialogue and justice) is the motto of the campaign that brought together thousands of Catholic, evangelical, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu women as well as non-believers, who “hand in hand” marched “against fear and violence” past February 2 in response to the first demonstration of Pegida in Vienna, attended by only 200 people. Massimo Lavena, for SIR Europe, asked Sr Beatrix Mayrhofer, a promoter of the campaign, chairperson of the Vereinigung der Frauenorden Österreichs (Association of women religious orders in Austria), about the role of women and the importance of their contribution to dialogue and peace. The campaign “Frauen für Vertrauen, Dialog und Gerechtigkeit” gives renewed impetus to historical values in Austria, a crossroads of cultural and religious encounter in Europe. What degree of danger does the Pegida movement represent and what are your objections? “The action of the Austrian Catholic Women Movement, that I support in my capacities as president of the Association of Austrian women orders, aims to highlight what we have in common and not what divides. We believe that mutual trust, sincere dialogue and efforts for justice constitute a basis on which to build our society. The commitment to social justice is very important in this respect, because people who are in situations of social emergency, who are unemployed or afraid of losing their jobs, are more sensitive to radical slogans. I believe that we should not pay too much attention to the movement Pegida, but that we should, however, be more sensitive towards those who are marginalized by society and reflect on the causes that lead these people to poverty.” Marching to reiterate the strength of women’s unity, beyond cultural and religious difference. To what extent could women contribute to a response to intolerance and racism? “I am convinced that in every community there are religious men and women working for reconciliation and brotherhood. In this process of reconciliation, often the small steps bear special importance. Perhaps women are more likely to provide these small signs and go forward, one step at a time.”In the year that the Catholic Church has dedicated to Consecrated Life, Sister Beatrix decided to march with women from different faiths: what does this further opportunity for reflection in 2015 mean for you, consecrated, president of the Vereinigung der Frauenorden Österreichs?”One of the pleasant aspects of my activity is the possibility to always meet people belonging to different faith communities, or with a different cultural backgrounds from mine. My personal faith in God, our Creator, whose love has created every human being in His own image, is to me a strong, significant foundation. In these times, marked by a resurgence of prejudices and attacks, the Council document ‘Nostra Aetate’ is a clear frame of reference. In Vienna the precious heritage of the card. Franz König continues to thrive, there are many possibilities to build bridges. Every stone that is not thrown against others but is instead used to build bridges is a brick for building peace.”What could be the contribution of women religious orders to Austria’s Catholic Church? What can they do for the creation of a society that does not discriminate on religious, ethnic, or nationalistic grounds?”At the center of our lives consecrated to God there is dedication to God and to people. In the Adoration we find the orientation of our lives, in the Eucharistic celebration we find the strength and the duty to be available to others. In our service we ask first of all what they need which religious community they belong to. As women religious, with our decision not to get married, to live simply at the disposal of others, we have a great deal of freedom. The love of Christ leads to action and to strive in support of the weak and the voiceless.”