Harvest of Justice Fall 2012

7/30/2019 Harvest of Justice Fall 2012

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Trifecta Resista actions last April 15 resulted inarrests at the Kansas City Nuclear Weapons PartsPlant in Kansas City and at Whiteman Air ForceBase. Above left, Mark Kenney, Brian Terrell andRon Faust at the federal courthouse after Mark pledguilty to trespass for attempting to enter the base

to seek redress of the grievance suffered from USpolicy of unlawful use of drone attacks to commitextrajudicial executions on suspects and innocentcivilians. Brian and Ron went to trial in September,with Ruth ONeill representing Ron. At left, HenryStoever and Midgelle Potts, with counsel/Catholic

WorkerRuth ONeill, before their trial for their actionsat the nuclear weapons parts plant. In solidarity, Fr.Karl Kabot and Jane Stoever (above) witness outsidethe Jefferson City Courthouse prior to Brian andRons sentencing hearing. Midge and Henry are setfor trial de novo in December. For details, see page2.


2/8

Defending the Right to ProtestBy Ruth ONeill

An unconditional right to say what one pleases about publicaffairs is what I consider to be the minimum guarantee of theFirst Amendment. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black

On September 17, 2012, eight Afghani women were killedin a NATO attack. It was a drone strike, an event that, in theirpart of the planet, has become surprisingly, frighteningly,

routine. What are drones, you say?Drones (n, pl.): automated killing machines that oncepopulated B movies and comic books which are killing peoplearound the world. Without due process. In some cases, withoutconsideration of guilt or innocence.

Given that even successful strikes on intended targetsoften result in additional deaths of persons who were nottargeted, it becomes clearer with each news story that we aredealing with the nightmare machines that mid- 20 th centuryscience fiction movies warned us about.

We need some Hope. Not the political slogan kind of hope,but real hope. Hope that comes from witnessing thedetermination of individuals to raise the voices, and signpetitions, and refuse to stand down from what is right, whoseek an end to the unjust and illegal killing done by drones.

Last April 15, I witnessed this kind of hope, as I watchedseveral dozen committed people of peace brave wind and rainand generally miserable weather, to bring our objection tousing drones to one of the places where the damage is beingdone: Whiteman Air Force Base outside of Knob Noster, MO.

Amid banners proclaiming our peaceful intent and ourdesire for an end to this automated form or warfare, youngpeople tried to fly kites, and other released balloons of peaceand freedom. Some held banners, some spoke with the aid ofa bullhorn, and three approached the Spirit Gate at Whitemanwith a signed indictment condemning the use of drones to killspeople in violation of international law. These three, BrianTerrell, Mark Kinney and Ron Faust, were prevented fromentering onto the base, arrested and charged with a form oftrespass: entering onto an military installation for an unlawfulpurpose.

Mark pled guilty to this offense in June and received asentence of 4 months in federal custody. At the time of thiswriting he remains in the federal prison camp in Duluth,Minnesota.

Brian Terrell, a veteran of peaceful dissent against dronesand other methods and instruments of war, and Ron Faust, a

retired Disciples of Christ minister with deep roots in issues ofpeace and justice, went to trial. I got the privilege of serving asRons attorney.

We proposed defenses of denial (there was a question ofwhether any trespass had been completed), justification underinternational law, and justification under the First Amendmentright to peaceably assemble to petition the government for theredress of grievances.

The trial judge denied our request to present the experttestimony of former U.S. Attorney General turned human rights

activist Ramsey Clark, although Mr. Clark did come to the trialand participate as a spectator.

The judge initially denied our request to have Col. AnnWright, retired military officer and diplomat, testify, although attrial he did relent and allow her to briefly testify regardingtestimony of military base security procedures, use of forceand disproportionate use of force by military forces and themilitary requirement to protect civilians and civilianinfrastructure in armed conflict .

The judge allowed us to present the testimony of my goodfriend and mentor, Professor Bill Quigley, former legal directorof the Center for Constitutional Rights, long time law professorat Loyola University in New Orleans, and leading legaladvocate of rights of the poor, oppressed and vulnerable.

Bill testified about the importance of protecting the rights ofthe people to peaceably assemble to petition the governmentfor the redress of grievances. He testified that the First

Amendment is set up to protect unpopular opinions whichinfuriate, contradict, challenge government policies. Hetestified that the defendants in this case were peaceful, thatthey were assembled because they had a grievance with the

government The assembled were there to challengegovernment policy of drone warfaredrones guided fromlaunch to strike to landing from computer terminals inside theWhiteman Air Force Base.

The expert testimony established that (1)Literal reading ofthe 1st Amendment supports vigorous protest. (2)The 1stamendment is supposed to protect the dissident, theunpopular, the contradictory, the pain in the rear, the personwhose speech and actions disturb the comfort and politicalsense of the majority. Majority views do not need 1stamendment. (3) Our history shows the Courts have oftenupheld violations of the First Amendment for reasons which

history later proved them wrong, and (4) the court should noterr on the side of military security or popularity of their cause,but should protect the First Amendment and rule this isprotected speech and expression.

It was great testimony. It was moving. It followed a video ofthe action that showed the disproportionate overreaction of themilitary conflict management team dressed in riot gear andthumping their nightsticks on their bulletproof shields in amenacing cadence of intimidation against Brian and Ronssupporters. And ultimately, it did not persuade the court to findthe defendants innocent.

A month later, Brian was sentenced to 6 months in federal

prison and Ron was placed on 5 years federal probation.The Book of Numbers tells of how the Spirit of prophesy

came upon the Elders of the Israelites during their wanderings,and even on two who did not go along with the crowd. Whensomeone objected to these two prophesying, the Lord replied,If only all the people of the LORD were prophets! If only theLORD would bestow his spirit on them!

It seems as if Ron and Brian, who refused to go along withthe crowd, who refused to remain silent in the face of the terrorcaused by the drones, faced these charges because of theirprophetic witness. If only we all could be prophets like them.


3/8

FrankyBy Robby Jones

Just two years ago, a graying, black lab mix was foundwondering alongside a dirt country road east of Columbialostand hungry and without a home. The minute I looked into hiseyes, cloudy and warm, I knew he needed us. I knew we

needed him. And when he came to stay with us from theanimal rescue shelter, I didnt think hed have two months left,much less two years.

Essentially, I brought Frank here to dieto die a good deathsurrounded by lots of people and lots of love. I think everyonedeserves that, every dog too. But these people, all of you, andthis love, from each one of usbrought Frank back to life in asense. Every day he seemed to get younger and youngerdancing for his food bowl or barking for someone to take himon a long walk and despite my many attempts to squash suchbehavior, begging for table scraps and generally getting them.

His vitality and charm were contagious, and maybe this is justmy own perception, but when Frank moved in with us, St.Francis came to feel like more of a familywith Frank as theglue holding us together.

That dog meant more, to more people, than any animal Iveever known. On walks around the neighborhood peoplepassing by would always yell out Hey Frank! or come up topet him, sometimes folks Id never even seen before. That asingle dog could ingratiate himself into our communitywelcoming people into our home with slobber and loveis nosmall feet, and I dont think its an exaggeration to say that, inmany ways, Franky brought out the best in us. He didnt careif you were homeless or black or gay or any of that othernonsense that humans get caught up in. You just had to pethim, and he was your friend for life.

But Wednesday night he wasnt really acting himself. Notgreeting people as they came in. Not wandering from personto person looking for a pat on the head or scratch on the belly.

And when he didnt even get up for dinner, I knew something

was wrong. His breathing was labored and his movementsuncoordinated. When I woke up Thursday morning, he couldnteven walkand we carried him to the truck and drove him tothe animal hospital. The vet there explained to me that Frankhad congestive heart failurethat over the past few months,maybe even years, in trying, unsuccessfully, to pump bloodthroughout his bodyhis heart had grown too big. I can thinkof no more poetic a death for a dog who loved without

condition.

Two years ago, I brought Frank to St. Francis to die, and nowhe finally has. And thats okay. Because I can say with almostabsolute certainty that its been the best two years of his longlifesurrounded by all of you that loved him and cared for himso much. Thank you for making his last years here so special.

Well miss you, Frank. You were a great dog.

In Memoriam

Please pray for our friends and benefactors whohave passed away since our last issue, including:

John ShuderMary Ray

Bernadine FordCarlo Ignolfo

Linda Spollens dad

House Needs

Lois Bryant House needs a new roof. We areexploring some options but if you can spare some funds forthis purpose we would be very grateful.

On a daily level, we need in-kind donations for thatwe can operate on our small budget. The following are always

in demand:Sugar, Coffee, Tea, milk, fresh or canned fruits and

vegetables, dry pasta, rice, spoons, forks, new front steps andwheelchair ramp, mens socks and underwear, pillows, avehicle, bus passes, duffel bags, back packs, financialdonations, volunteers and as always, your thoughts andprayers.
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=paw+print+clip+art&num=10&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=570&tbm=isch&tbnid=iiTFiSZvlj3-_M:&imgrefurl=http://www.clipartguide.com/_pages/0808-0710-1117-1754.html&docid=2d5x9AYE1A97IM&imgurl=http://www.clipartguide.com/_small/0808-0710-1117-1754.jpg&w=300&h=300&ei=7-aXUMqyAsaYygGUvoF4&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=92&vpy=22&dur=517&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=120&ty=119&sig=115581415068061416616&page=1&tbnh=134&tbnw=133&start=0&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:137


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6/8

An Excerpt from House of Hospitality,By Dorothy Day

(1939, Chapter Seven)

The Critical Inquirer Wants to Know

Photo from the MilwaukeeJournal, 1968

[The following is an imaginedinterview between Dorothy andsome of her critics.]

Here is a conversation withone of our critics:

Critical Inquirer--Areyounot participating in theclass war when you go out onpicket lines and on the street

corners? Are you not siding with the workers, one classagainst another class, thus taking part in class war?

Catholic Worker--No,we are trying to bring theGospel to the man in the street, and if we find ourselvescaught between two opposing forces, God help us, the policewon't.

C.I.--Are you not inefficient and lax in that you are notan organization with rules and regulations?

C.W.--We are trying to work out the doctrine of gentlepersonalism, to live a life in which people do not do things bycompulsion, but of their own free will. Karl Marx said:"From each according to his ability and to each according tohis need." And St. Paul said "Let your abundance supply theirwant." Abundance we take to mean an abundance of physical,

mental and spiritual energies. We try not to make rules, butlook for individual initiative.

C.I.--While supping at the Catholic Worker office, Iheard an argument as to who should do dishes, who had donedishes, who would do dishes and who ought to do dishes.Some of this was in fun but there also seemed to be animosity.

C.W.--Undoubtedly with the teasing there is also afeeling of criticism. In trying to put over this idea of the workersbecoming scholars and the scholars workers, there is bound tobe conflict in the transition stages. The worker willcomplacently watch the scholar empty the garbage cans, washthe dishes, scrub the floor, and will prefer to take the nice

clean work of filing or typing cards and envelopes. Somescholars will work, and others lacking in physical co-ordinationand ashamed to show their lack of ability along those lines donot co-operate in the manual labor. And the worker, showingno recognition of the work of some of the scholars, will jeer atthe idle scholars. And some of the scholars will be complainingof the noise and heckling of the workers.

The same difficulties take place in regard to the lackof rules save those set forth in the Gospel, (See the rule of St.Francis). Because there is no compulsion, some will refuse co-operation. Those who co-operate scorn those who do not, aswell as those responsible for not making rules to force the non-

cooperators to cooperate. It is a good-natured scorn, perhaps,but it is a critical attitude just the same.

C.I.--But would it not be better, then, to have rules inorder to facilitate the work? Wouldn't it be better to kick outthose who do not help?

C.W.--Things might run a little more smoothly on thesurface--the office might be cleaner, for instance, and thekitchen floor washed more often, but the criticism and the lackof co-operation would go on. Let your abundance supply their

want. There are always those who can do more work or whocan do one thing better than they can do other things. Andafter all we are working with the lame, the halt, and the blind.In the Catholic Worker Community, things do get done. Peopleare housed and fed. More people are housed and fed becausethere is no red tape or so-called efficiency.

C. I.--But don't people take advantage?C.W.--Of course. And don't we take advantage of

God? Cannot we put up with others? Does not God put up withus?

C.I.--But wouldn't even more get done if each onewere allotted his separate task and expected to do it?

C.W.--Some more efficiency! Some more compulsionAnd after all don't we get a good deal done? Considering thatwe are on a voluntary basis--that no one is paid salaries--itseems that a great deal is done. Of course we do not stop tocount the pieces of clothes that are distributed, the number ofpeople fed, the quarts of milk consumed by the children.Though we may try to make a rough estimate, since peoplelove figures and we might encourage ourselves by so doing.

And after all, we do get out a newspaper, 100,000 copies,mailed to all parts of the world, which is no mean job. Mostpapers employ a mailing house to do the work. Volunteers do iin the office and from amongst those volunteers who come to

do something simple like addressing envelopes we havegained many a friend. And after all we do have a division oflabor, tasks divided up and voluntarily accepted.

C.I.--But to go back to the criticism at the supper tableas to who does what, I thought you Christians all loved oneanother.

C.W.--As we indeed do. All Christians do in time ofpersecution. When things are going along smoothly there isbound to be friction of one personality against another. Theapostles wrangled a bit in regard to who was going to sit on theright side of the Lord, and St. Paulwas not accepted at first bythe disciples (and who would blame them), and there was

argument about bringing the light to the Gentiles, etc. And isn'tthere friction in religious communities? And in families? Afterall, there is always a war between nature and grace. I amafraid we are not always as edifying as we should be. But wedon't believe that rules and regulations would help much.

After the critical inquirer had left, I began to feel guiltyfor justifying myself and others. After all I am a bad leader--weare all at fault--everything could be done much better. If thingsgo wrong it is the fault of the leader.


7/8

ListeningBy Bill Briner

It seems that with the end of summer, noise hasreturned to Rangeline Street with a vengeance. As I turn southa construction project with its cacophony of earth movingtrucks roars along throughout the day and as I face the east,the amply amplified music of the nearby parks tenants forces

them to a higher volume as they attempt to overcome the dinof their entertainment with what we like to call their outdoorvoices.

Now, contrast this with the gentle caring, one mighteven say dulcet tones of our student volunteers as theyestablish a rapport inside our living room or dining room, acalmly cheerful complement to the crudities and shortcomingsof life outside on the streetor the sidewalk.

Is there any better way to respect each other than tohelp our guests relax in an atmosphere that cultivates a lesscritical, yet sincere, desire to listen to what people share withus, as they tell us how they feel about what the day hasbrought them? I dont know of any better way to express myrespect for our friends than to listen carefully to what they saywith an open mind and open heart.

Peace beginswhen thehungryare fed

St. Francis House hosts evening prayer, liturgy,

round table discussions, music and movie nights on Thursdaysat 8 pm. We are thankful for our friend and communitymember Maureen Doyle for scheduling these weeklygatherings at which all are welcome. We also thank our visitingclergy and others, including: Fr. Mike Quinn, John Prenger,Meg Heggeman, Maureen Dickmann, Larry Brown, Fr. FranDoyle, Sr. Karen Freund, Sr. Mary ClareFitchner , Fr.Thomas Saucier, Bill Dellinger, Tim Carson, Linda Spollenand her harp, and more. Please join us when you can.

Thank you to all who help us dothe things we do

We are a little later than usual with our fall issue this year,because, as you know, life often presents new, interesting andunexpected challenges that take time away from our carefullylaid plans. However, in this season of thankfulness andcelebration, we would like to acknowledge our completeinability to do what we do without your help.

We are St. Francis House, Z. Lois Bryant House andLoaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen, but we are none of that withouyour support. Other groups may spring up in town; we haveour hands full with these three ministries and dont plan toexpand anytime soon, but wish others well who want to serve.

Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen is feeding more people thanever before. When we moved, most of our regulars moved withus, and we now feed many more people who experiencehunger in Columbia, here in our own neighborhood. Somepeople visit the soup kitchen only a few days a month, somealmost every day. We serve 80 to 100+ meals a night on aregular basis. We could only do that with the help of ourvolunteer groups.

Our groups come from throughout the community,including these faith communities in the past year:Olivet Christian Church, Alive in Christ, St. Thomas MoreNewman Center, Karis, Woodlandville, 7th Day Adventists,Midway Baptist, New Horizons Methodist, Calvary Episcopal,Rockbridge Christian, Trinity Presbyterian, First Presbyterian,The Crossing, Missouri United Methodist, Wilkes BlvdMethodist, Community United Church of Christ, Forum BlvdChristian, St. Lukes Methodist, Fist Assembly of God, FirstChristian, Restoration Branch, St. Andrews Lutheran, St.Vincent de Paul Society, First Christian of Centralia, FairviewUnited Methodist, Columbia Hope Group, & Temple Beth

Shalom. In addition, we have groups organized by our palsRocket Kirchner and Jennifer Reed.

We also want to say a special thank you to those whoprovide food, clothing, supplies and other support to our guestsat St. Francis House and Lois Bryant House. In addition togroups from the above list, we want to thank our friends fromCommunity United Methodist, the Hindu Temple ShanthiMandir, the Islamic Center, Professor Bob and George, Bob,Kim, Walle and Lisa and their friends, and so many more.

We want to thank the faith communities and individuals whoprovide us with financial support on a regular basis, includingthe Concannon family and especially those of you who send us

$25 or $50 or $100 every month or so to help us keep thewater running and the lights on.

We are grateful to Columbia CROP Walk, the NewmanVolunteer Corps and other groups who help us do the work wedo. We remember the wonderful Bernadine Ford who soregularly brought us coffee and good things to eat, and alwayshad a special gift and a special smile for William. Pleaseremember her in your prayers.

Perhaps most importantly, we thank God, and all of youwho remember us in your prayers, because we need them.


8/8

Things Visible and InvisibleBy Ruth ONeill

At times, it appears that we see way too much of thelives of way too many people, between reality television andthe chatter that passes for network news. The end of theelection cycle has managed to drop the omnipresent politicosto the second and third story of the hour most days, but theystill strut for the cameras. Paparazzi ensure that we get ourdaily dose of the latest high voltage celebs, and talking headstell us what they want us to know about the latest conflict in thelatest country to erupt on this island earth. Some folks, itseems are all too visible: they are wealthy or they wantsomeone to make them so; they are powerful or lust afterpower.

Meanwhile, a researcher testing responses tophotographs in college students has determined that theemotional response a test subject gives to a photograph of ahomeless person registers the same as a photograph of apiece of furniture.

Meanwhile, the talking heads put the onus on Gazain the latest Gaza-Israeli eruption, but fail to report on thechildren killed in the crossfire in this latest sequel to theslaughter of the Holy Innocents. The president defends hispredator drone program while poor Afghani and Pakistanifamilies live in fear that in the next drone strike they or theirloved ones will become collateral damage.

St Francis Catholic Worker1001 RangelineColumbia, MO 65201

Meanwhile, the news about people deemed importantand events the important people want to talk about rarely givesway to something truly newsworthy. Natural disasters and theimpact of hurricanes, tornados and floods on the lives ofordinary people get covered, but soon devolve into punditryabout who is using which tragedy for political advantage.

Meanwhile.God created the heavens and the planets, including

Earth, so the creation story goes. And truly over the millennia,Gods processes have brought us to this place, on this planet,at this juncture. The narrow, glittering, visible world our mediaportrays is not the only world. But the invisible world is aboutmore than atoms and angels.

The invisible are the people we pass every day on thestreet, without making eye contact, without learning their facesand their stories. The invisible are the poor, the powerless andthe inconvenient, whose opinions are not sought out by thepundits, and whose lives are not deemed valuable enough topreserve by those in power.

In this season, wouldnt it be wonderful is we started

to see the invisible people around us. If we recognized thesacred in the faces of the campers in the woods, thepanhandlers on the entry ramps and in the traumatizedchildren who occasionally appear in the periphery of thecoverage of rocket attacks and drone strikes. Wouldnt it bewonderful if instead of dirty migrant travelers on the road, wesaw the sacred faces of the parents of a savior in thehomeless who seek shelter?

Documents

Harvest of Justice Fall 2012