CNS PHOTO/NANCY PHELAN WIECHEC Srs. Carol Gilbert and Ardeth Platte have been arrested dozens of times due to their demonstrations against war and nuclear weapons.

They call themselves peacemakers, following in the footsteps of the nonviolent Jesus.

Dominican Sisters Carol Gilbert and Ardeth Platte, members of the Jonah House community in Baltimore, have spent decades crisscrossing the United States opposing war and acting to bring to life the biblical call to "beat swords into ploughshares" in symbolically disarming nuclear weapons and other tools of war.

Their actions have led to countless years in prison.

They say there is no better calling.

"I think being a good Catholic calls us to do these things," Gilbert said.

"We talk about being faithful, living lives of faithfulness, being faithful to the Gospel. I think what the nonviolent Jesus was all about was faithfulness."

She added: "It's not like we say, 'I think I'll go out today and do this. No, it's 'I think I'll go out and speak this truth.' I may be arrested, I may not be arrested. I may go to prison, I may not go to prison."

The nuns describe themselves as resisters of war and violence.

They said their actions are meant to call attention to what they believe are the immoral war policies of the government.