Unmasking Evil

Most of this paper was written during a recent set of trips that took me across four continents. Ironically, each place had its stories and reflections that pertained to the topic I wish to explore. In Nepal I met discretely with a member of the Maoist’s steering committee, no name given. In Davao, Mindanao in the Philippines we discussed at some length a case study of fighting, displaced communities, and interreligious peace initiatives with CRS peacebuilding staff. In Barcelona, shortly following the Madrid train bombings, I reviewed with a colleague a conciliation effort with ETA, pieces of which I have been engaged with since 1992. And with the same colleague we updated and explored next steps in an initiative to develop negotiations with the Colombian armed groups and the government. In Uganda, we listened to Archbishop Odama of the Ugandan Episcopal Conference and Bishop Ochola of the Anglican Church describe their encounters and conciliation efforts between the Uganda government and the leadership of the Lord’s Resistance Army…