Thomas Merton

Thomas Merton, O.C.S.O. (January 31, 1915 – December 10, 1968) was a 20th century Anglo-American Catholic writer and mystic. A Trappist monk of the Abbey of Gethsemani, Kentucky, he was a poet, social activist, and student of comparative religion. In 1949, he was ordained to the priesthood and given the name Father Louis.

Merton wrote more than 70 books, mostly on spirituality, social justice and a quiet pacifism, as well as scores of essays and reviews, including his best-selling autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain (1948). Merton was a keen proponent of interfaith understanding. He pioneered dialogue with prominent Asian spiritual figures, including the Dalai Lama, the Japanese writer D.T. Suzuki, and the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh.

Our Mission

TMC works to build a consciousness of values and to raise the moral questions involved in the issues of war, poverty, racism, classism, economic justice, oppression and environmental justice. TMC engages people of diverse philosophies and faiths who find common ground in the nonviolent struggle to bring about a more peaceful and just world.

Our Vision

Thomas Merton Center strives to be a coalition-building organization that follows the principles of Thomas Merton and the other great architects of non-violent resistant to encourage people to learn, grow and work in the pursuit of social justice and peace to ensure the dignity of all human beings. We strive to achieve this vision in a supportive, nurturing and facilitating manner.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES / VALUE STATEMENTS:

The Thomas Center:

  1. Supports the uniqueness, wholeness, dignity and freedoms of all people.
  2. Enthusiastically advocates for the rights of all people as they may fully participate and contribute to the pursuit of peace, social and environmental justice.
  3. Views all human beings as having equal and unconditional value.
  4. Supports the pursuit of peace and justice in a nonviolent manner.
  5. Engages in peaceful and nonviolent demonstrations.                  
  6. Emphasizes cooperation in getting things done through peaceful and nonviolent acts.
  7. Proactively supports and advocates that prisoners are entitled to basic human rights and humane treatment.
  8. Educate others about economic justice and labor solidarity
  9. Takes every opportunity to educate and advocate for the basic civil rights of all people.
  10. Proactive in addressing oppression in its many forms.
  11. Advocates for the right to educate others for the basic civil rights of people.

  
WE PLEDGE TO SUPPORT THESE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS:

·        The right to life, liberty and security of all persons
·        The right to recognize the work of human rights defenders who act in a nonviolent way to end inequality and discrimination and oppression
·        The right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion
·        The right to peacefully convene, organize and assemble together with the aim of addressing common concerns
·        The right to petition social institutions for just and humane treatment
·        The right of solidarity in pursuit of peace and justice
·        The right to educate and raise awareness in issues and trends that ensure a safe and just world
·        The right to a safe, healthy and economically balanced environment as a human right.