Priest in Lansing receives international peace award
Father Peter Dougherty who founded the Michigan Peace Team in Lansing, has been awarded the “International “Ghandi” award for a lifetime of peace work.
If Dougherty looks familiar, it is because he is the priest who tells Michael Moore in his movie, “Capitalism: A Love Story”, that he believes capitalism to be “radically evil.”
The award officially called the International Award for Promoting Gandhian Values Outside India, has also awarded Dougherty a trip to India, a trophy and a check for approximately $10,000.
While Dougherty says the award is an “honor,” he said, “I wish everybody could get their peace award.”
Dougherty will receive the award in India on Nov. 6 from the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation.
The award is given every year to a non-Indian citizen for their contribution in promoting Gandhian values outside India by:
• Promoting peace and harmony among people and friendliness among nations through application of Gandhian philosophy of truth and non-violence.
• Ending exploitation in any form and seeking solution of social, cultural, economic and political problems through Gandhian principles and constructive programs.
• Demonstrating innovative work in social organizations with a view to promoting Gandhian values of purity of means and ends by awakening moral conscience, fostering community, self-reliance and bringing about harmony of human life with nature.
Previous recipients include Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and Dr. Daisaku Ikeda of Japan.
Dougherty will depart for India at the end of the month and, after receiving the award, plans to meet with Gandhian and other peace activists in Mumbai, Delhi, Wardha, Calcutta, and villages in Bengal, sharing information about peacemaking efforts in the United States and India, and doing nonviolent skills sharing (including demonstrations of the skills taught in Michigan Peace Team’s curriculum).
He will also spend time at the ashrams of Mahatma Gandhi and his disciple Vinoba Bave – - ashrams that played an integral part in the development of Gandhi’s life and mission.
For More Information, contact:
Telephone (517) 484-3178
Postal Address: 1516 Jerome Street, Lansing, MI 48912