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• Marquette to host discussion on faith and war
• CNN's Soledad O'Brien to moderate the event
• Panelist calls on university to close ROTC
• "Faith doing justice" theme of this year's mission week

A discussion of war and peace through a Catholic perspective is set to anchor this year's Mission Week, an annual Marquette event focused on examining faith.

"War, Peace and People of Faith," scheduled for Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. in the Varsity Theatre, will feature four panelists discussing how faith affects decisions about violence and conflict. Soledad O'Brien of CNN will moderate the discussion.

Stephanie Russell, executive director of the Office of Mission and Identity, said the event is an opportunity for students to grow in their own faith.

"It's a chance for students and others to hear the breadth of Catholic opinion on war and opposition to violence, and to form their own faith convictions," Russell said.

The panel will feature the Rev. Drew Christiansen, editor-in-chief of America Magazine, James Turner Johnson, professor of religion at Rutgers University, the Rev. John Dear, author and peace activist, and Nicholas Coddington, former senior U.S. intelligence officer.

As an intelligence officer Coddington worked with the United Nations and non-government organizations on peacekeeping endeavors. He said Catholics have a "faith mandate to protect others from danger" and that his military experience gives him unique perspective in the discussion.

"I'll be the only guy talking who's been shot at while trying to feed people," he said.

Coddington also said, in conflict, people should always keep in mind the sanctity of all life.

"You hear a lot about American casualties on the news, but its not just Americans dying," he said. "All life is sacred, including people who are different from us."

Dear, a staunch opponent of the war in Iraq and author of several books on non-violence, plans to make his position on conflict clear.

"You cannot be a Christian and support war at the same time," he said. "My contention is that if you want to follow Jesus, (you) love your enemies and don't support killing them."

Dear said non-violence is "the primary social issue facing Marquette" and the university should ban Reserve Officers Training Corps and sever all ties to the military. However, he does recognize that politics are a part of peace discussions, noting Christ dealt with political issues.

"Christianity is political," he said. "Jesus non-violently disturbed the peace. If people are upset or offended by the discussion, that's that."

The panel discussion correlates with this year's Mission Week theme of "Faith Doing Justice." Mission Week is run by a central steering committee, made up of faculty, staff and students, Russell said.

Panel discussion tickets for students, faculty and staff are available starting today at the Brooks Lounge in the Alumni Memorial Union.

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