Benedictines are the oldest religious order in the Roman Catholic Church. Born in late antiquity when marauding armies made all civilization vulnerable to violence, Benedictines adopted as their motto the Latin word "pax" (peace). The central teaching in the 1,500 year-old Rule of Benedict is that everyone, including every stranger, is to be welcomed as a blessing and treated as Christ.

Benedictines for Peace (BFP) carries the ancient quest for peace into contemporary times. As the peace and justice outreach of the Erie Benedictine community, BFP members advocate for nonviolence, social change and justice by direct action, prayer and bearing witness.

Benedictines for Peace was organized nationally in 1980 to bring Benedictines to a fresh recognition of their charism of peace. Initially, Benedictines and Cistercian communities formed local groups to address the issues of nuclear disarmament. Today, Benedictines for Peace groups address social justice and peace issues that are of local, state, national and international concern.

Erie Benedictines for Peace works collaboratively with local peace and justice groups, religious communities and universities to address many social justice concerns. Benedictines for Peace also maintains membership in like-minded national organizations.