December 2002 Call to Action News

Mourning Phil Berrigan, CTA peacemakers oppose Iraq war in his spirit

CTA mourns the death of one of the foremost peacemakers of our time. Philip Berrigan died Dec. 6 of liver cancer at age 79. But for his illness, Phil and his wife, Liz McAlister, would have been major voices for peace at the November conference. Instead, throughout the weekend CTAers offered prayers for Phil and Liz, invoked their example, and carried on in their spirit as the Bush administration moved steadily closer to war with Iraq.

Tom Webb and Gabe Huck filled in for Phil and Liz leading the Friday pre-conference daylong seminar on the Bush administration's march toward war in Iraq and options for peaceful alternatives. Huck is a longtime activist with Voices in the Wilderness, an organization speaking out about the consequences of U.S. military action and sanctions in Iraq since the Gulf War. Webb, of the Pax Christi USA National Council, also works with Voices.

Huck asked participants to share what they are doing now to work for peace in Iraq. They mentioned mail and e-mail petitions; ongoing tax resistance; occupying Rep. Gephardt's office for three days; educating people to tell them what is really going on; connecting with the online organizing group MoveOn.org; phoning and writing the White House; and voting for more peace-oriented candidates. Diana Oleskevich of St. Louis said she had called the White House three times this fall. She was asked: are you for U.S. military action with or without U.N. authorization? They had no box for someone who said, "I'm totally against war." Ray McGovern of Washington, D.C., urged colleagues to "go into the chapel and really pray for President Bush." J.C. Orton of Berkeley, Calif., stressed not working solo but with small communities of support rooted in parishes, Catholic Worker houses, or religious orders.

Webb shared themes from Hebrew scripture that depict a "just, loving and even nonviolent God." He showed how New Testament stories of Samaritans can apply to our peace efforts of crossing taboo boundaries regarding Iraq. Huck showed a shocking video, "Hidden Wars of Desert Storm," revealing the dark side of U.S. relations with Iraq in the last 20-plus years.

Over 600 at outdoor peace rally
An hour after the daylong session about Iraq, over 600 CTA conference attendees and local activists held a rally against war in Iraq. Huck addressed the crowd. In 1996 Madeleine Albright was told a half million Iraqis, mainly children, had died because of our sanctions, and she replied, "I think it was worth the price." Huck asked, "What is the 'it' that she thinks was worth the price of a half million Iraqi deaths? What were we buying at that price? Is it oil? Is it airbases in Saudi Arabia? We've been massively distracted for years. Twelve years of sanctions just flew by for us."

Black folksingers Kim and Reggie Harris, part of the CTA conference program, led the rally in song: "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around." In between verses they shouted, "The pollsters don't think we exist; they don't think there are people who oppose the war." The rally marched down the street during rush hour with signs that read: No Blood for Oil, No War in My Name, No More Innocent Victims, and Free to Disagree.

Why had people come? Megan Kennedy from Loyola U. Chicago said, "Iraqi people are important. Our government has the power to destroy what is left of their nation and their families. I want to make sure that doesn't happen." Nicole Sotelo of CTA's Next Generation Advisory Board said, "Silence leads to complicity. People need to be visible and vocal in opposition to the war."

Other speakers address Iraq war
Other presenters at the conference spoke about peace and the threat of war. Jesuit Fr. John Dear, peace activist and close friend of Phil Berrigan, gave a talk about "Jesus' All-Inclusive Nonviolence from New York to Kabul to Baghdad." He said, "It is important for CTA members to speak out against war in Iraq because CTA members are followers of the nonviolent Jesus who is not only someone who speaks against injustice but is calling us to love our enemies. It is important not only that we love our neighbors, but that we love our enemies. The call to nonviolence has to belong to us as persons for the whole church to radiate the peace and love of Jesus."

Dennis: War is about oil
Marie Dennis, Director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, presented "A Faith Reflection on the Global Economy" and a pre-conference day of biblical reflection on economic justice. She commented on the movement toward war with Iraq: "Some of the most powerful driving forces behind the move to war are economic; in fact, I believe that oil is the basis for the direction." She commented further: "We will continue to have to go toward war as long as we fail to change our priorities. We define security as having everything we want. Until we understand security as the well-being of everyone - the well-being of all life - we will be headed towards war."

Taking the peace message home
Amy Sheber Howard of the CTA national board writes:
"Upon returning home to Denver, with John Dear's words in my ears and the memory of the rally etched in my mind, I joined an interfaith coalition of peace activists to plan a 24-hour vigil for peace at a park across the street from the state capitol from noon Friday, Nov. 29, to noon, Nov. 30. I gathered a group of Catholics to read 45 minutes of Catholic thought on peace from writers who included Phil Berrigan, and led a session of peacemaking activities and cooperative games for children. I am working now on a parish peace vigil for December."

Actions and resources
Dec. 8-21 - Iraq Peace Journey - Catholic peacemakers traveling in Iraq to be in solidarity with the Iraqi people. Dave Robinson, Pax Christi USA; Kathy Thornton, NETWORK; Roy Bourgeois, SOA Watch; Chuck Quilty, Voices in the Wilderness; Fr. John Grathwohl, Veterans for Peace; more. Info: 978 821-5733

Jan. 18-19 - NO WAR IN IRAQ Mass Demonstration and People's Peace Congress -Washington, D.C. Join the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition with Ramsey Clark, Tom Gumbleton, John Dear, Global Exchange, scores of organizations. Buses from 100+ cities. Join in, or endorse. www.InternationalANSWER.org www.VoteNoWar.org

Other key websites for action
www.MoveOn.org www.AFSC.org