Before national security, people should prioritize the survival of the planet. The secret of global responsibility lies precisely in our acceptance of Christ – and in our acceptance of all people… The fact that people from Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Russia, Afghanistan, and Ethiopia are our brothers and sisters is not obvious. People kill each other by the thousands and do not regard one another as brothers and sisters. If we want to become true makers of peace, national security cannot be our primary concern. Our foremost interest should be the survival of humanity, the survival of the planet, and the health of all people. We should dare to share our wealth with others and invite refugees into our country; we should dare to offer them shelter – for we are God's people.
(Henri Nouwen /1932–1996/, newspaper interview, The Saturday Windsor Star, October 14, 1988)
