Solidarity with peace activists in prison

News of a great action by Glenys and her small group up on the Central Coast… and inspired by PeBA:

“Many of our parishoners signed a petition to the US Government and Head of US Military Intelligence. It called for the cessation of teaching of torture techniques at a military intelligence base. It called also for the release of two priests, Louie Vitale OFM and Steve Kelly SJ. They were imprisoned for five months for trespass on military property when they tried to present a letter of protest about the teaching of ‘advanced intelligence techniques’ to both military and civilian personnel.

We let Father Louie and Father Steve know of our effort and wrote to them in the prison.

We thought a letter from Father Steve would be of interest.

He wrote the letter on the 18th day in The Hole which seems to be a form of solitary confinement (called administrative segregation) because he considers himself a political prisoner and asserts this in face of pressure from the prison officials.

He is “trying to love folks, neighbouring prisoners,and our keepers by role-modelling humanity”

“I was very warmed by the circulation of the petition”

“Appreciated so much the care and support from thousands of miles away”

“I am fine – making like a Carthusian monk ”

These are just a few of the quotes from the letter written with a stubby pencil on a tiny scrap of paper. I would be happy to share it with those who signed the petition and would like to read it. It is a very moving document.

Father Louie has written “Letters from Jail” posted on the Pace e Bene Website at http://paceebene.org/peb-update/letters-louie-third-series-reflections-prison

They make inspiring reading.

There is also a recording of Fr Louie on the phone from jail : http://paceebene.org/audio

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