Jagerstatter People for Breaking the Silence
P. O. Box 283, Corfu, NY14036
www.franzprayforus.org
May 23, 2010, On the Feast of the Pentecost
To United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Your Excellencies,
Jesus has called us to “Be merciful as our Heavenly Father is Merciful”, and that we should be “one with Him as He is one with the Father”. We believe that our Heavenly Father, rich in mercy, cannot possibly desire that we consider killing millions of His children with nuclear weapons, nor that unity with our Heavenly Father even allows us to imagine that possibility.
On Ash Wednesday, the Franz Jagerstatter People for Breaking the Silence wrote to you with 300 signatures, acknowledging your prophetic statements in 1983 and 1993, and pleading for your renewed determination, skill and moral leadership on nuclear disarmament. Since then, on March 10, 60 prominent Catholics, including Bishops Zavala, Gumbleton and Walter Sullivan, wrote to President Obama calling for a policy shift from nuclear deterrence to nuclear disarmament. Since then also, President Obama and Russian President Medvedev have signed a nuclear reduction treaty that would, if ratified, within seven years bar each from deploying more than 1,550 strategic warheads or 700 launchers. Also since then, in mid-April President Obama convened 47 nations and world leaders who endorsed the President’s call for securing all nuclear materials around the globe within four years to contain the threat of further dissemination of nuclear material. Days later, nuclear experts from 60 nations as well as many foreign ministers met in the First International Conference on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in Tehran, focusing on disarmament.
We believe that the prominently held American narrative is that our nation is a warm-hearted and kind, generous and loving people. In this context the possibility of killing millions of civilian non-combatants is beyond consideration for most Americans. But, research by Joseph Gerson of the American Friends Service of New England (“Deadly Connections: Empire and Nuclear Weapons”, Table 1.1) documents 30 threats since 1946 by the US to use nuclear weapons against other nations, i.e., against other children of God. For most Americans, including most Catholics, this is incomprehensible, but “All options on the table” means just that, and the 1962 Cuban missile crisis is but just one of these better known threats. This is a momentous opportunity to move toward a world free of nuclear weapons. Therefore,
From Compassion and Mercy for those who have already been sacrificed to atomic bombs, we again beseech you to implore all Catholics to refuse to participate in any way in manufacturing and maintaining nuclear weapon systems;
From Compassion and Mercy, for those who are employed in the manufacture and maintenance of nuclear weapon systems, we again implore you to engage all Catholics in a new demand that the scourge of nuclear weapons be immediately and totally removed from the face of this shrinking planet. As the USCCB web site recommends, promoting H. Res. 278, the Global Security Priorities Resolution, by James McGovern (D-M) and Dan Lungren (R-CA) would be helpful. The resolution recognizes “the paramount need to address the threat of international terrorism and protect the international security of the United States by reducing the number of and accessibility to nuclear weapons and preventing their proliferation;” calls for directing “a portion of the resulting savings toward child survival, hunger, and universal education.” Parishioners need to support H. Res. 278.
From Compassion and Mercy, for the love of children throughout the world, we further ask you to provide an education program for all Catholics on the nonviolent teachings and life example of Christ himself – helping Catholics to understand the immorality of these weapons, and all weapons of mass destruction; and helping them to join your call for eliminating this curse. We especially urge you to work with Catholic colleges and universities in your Dioceses to incorporate this into their curricula.
We thank Archbishop O’Brien for his remarks delivered at April 26, 2010 remarks at Catholic University, which “points with moral clarity to a destination that moves beyond deterrence to a world free of the nuclear threat”.
We pray for God’s grace and blessing on your leadership.
Franz Jagerstatter People for Breaking the Silence
Cc: Stephen Colecchi, Director, USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace
Rev. Bernard Survil, Pax Christi, Friends of Franz, Greensburg, PA, fr.survil@embracealloflife.us
Jack Gilroy, St. James Parish, Binghamton, NY, Friends of Franz, jgilroy1@stny.rr.com
Rev. Tim Taugher, St. Francis Parish, Binghamton, NY TaugherTim@hotmail.com
Richard Keough, Pax Christi CNY, Diocese of Syracuse, NY (rkeough@twcny.rr.com)
Rev. Fred Daly, All Saints Parish, Syracuse, NY parish@allsaintssyracuse.org
Rev,John P. Donovan, Pastor, St.James Parish, Johnson City, NY. Diocese of Syracuse, jpdonovan@syracusediocese.org
Ruth Giammichele, St James Parish, Johnson City,NY. Diocese of Syracuse, ruthgia@stny.rr.com
Sister Rose Margaret Noonan, CSJ, Pastoral Assistant, St.James Parish, Johnson City, NY, Diocese of Syracuse
Rev. Bill Pickard, Diocese of Scranton, PA (wpickard@stjosephscenter.org)
Mark Scibilia-Carver, Diocese of Rochester, NY (marksc112@yahoo.com)
William H. Privett, Regional Coordinator, Pax Christi WNY, Diocese of Buffalo, NY, wprivett.paxchristi@gmail.com
Deacon William Coffey, Friends of Franz, Diocese of Rochester, NY wcoffey2@rochester.rr.com
Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB, Benedictine Sister of Erie marylou@benetvision.org
Mary Claire Kennedy, SSJ, Social Justice Coordinator, Sisters of St. Joseph NW PA s.mckennedy@ssjerie.org
Edward Lally, Director of Liturgy and Music, St. Viator Church, Chicago edlallycc@gmail.com
Vic Hummert, vic@vichummert.org
Kathleen Heffern, Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, NY kheffern@buffalodiocese.org
Patricia Kelleher, npkell@gmail.com
Maureen Wesolowski, St. Mary Magdalen Dominican Parish, Berkeley, CA mwesolow@stmarys-ca.edu. James Donovan, Pax Christi, San Antonio sustainabilityaccountant@gmail.com
Joan Weber, Pax Christi Metrowest, j.weber@rcn.com
Larry Rose palrose1@comcast.net
Pat Rose palrose1@comcast.net
Dr. Roger C. Barnes, Professor of Sociology, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX 78209 barnes@uiwtx.edu
Mary Regula, St Joseph University Parish, Diocese of Buffalo, NY msregula@yahoo.com
Joseph Cunneen, founder & long-time editor of CROSS CURRENTS SCunn24219@aol.com
Richard Murak, Pax Christi St. Lawrence Parish, Buffalo, NY soulman1947@aol.com
Donald Bahlinger, S.J., Kino Border Initiative, Noigales AZ 85628 donald@jesuits.net
Jane F. Morrissey, SSJ, Sister of St. Joseph of Springfield jfmorrissey@hotmail.com
Deacon James Rauner, Diocese of Kalamazoo, Michigan, jrauner@hughes.net
Kathleen M. Shanahan, Ph.D. kathleenshanahan@yahoo.com
Deacon William A. Van Dril, Diocese of Kalamazoo, Michigan, wavandril@gmail.com
Nancy O'Byrne, Pax Christi Northeast Florida obyrnen@bellsouth.net
Rev. Rita Nakashima Brock, Ph.D., Director, Faith Voices for the Common Good and Visiting Professor Starr King School for the Ministry, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA 94610
www.sksm.edu
John Sniegocki, Associate Professor of Christian Ethics, Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH)
sniegocj@xavier.edu
Kimberly Redigan, Pax Christi Michigan State Council, Riverdale
Dearborn Heights, MI University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy Theology Teacher kim.redigan@gmail.com
Tim Musser, Pax Christi – Cleveland, Ohio timbevmusser@hotmail.com
Sr. Therese Elias, OSB, Kansas City, MO 64111 tmelias@gmail.com
Rev. Neil Pezzulo, St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, Waldron, Ar 72958 npezzulo@centurytel.net
Kathleen Villaire Grand Rapids Pax Christi Grand Rapids, Mi 49506.--- Katevillaire@aol.com
Pat Ferrone, St Susanna Parish Peace and Justice Committee (Dedham, MA). PatFerrone@rcn.com
Pax Christi of Genesee County, NY, Diocese of Buffalo, wprivett.paxchristi@gmail.com
Anne and Frank Ryan, Pax Christi Scranton/Clarks Summit, PA annejr@echoes.net
Frank Ryan, Pax Christi Scranton/Clarks Summit, PA frankjr@echoes.net
Sr. Jeana Visel, OSB, Sisters of St. Benedict, Monastery Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand, IN
jeanav@thedome.org
Frank Woolever, Pax Christi Syracuse, Diocese of Syracuse, NY fhwooly@aol.com
Claire Broome MD, St Mary Magdalen Parish, Berkeley CA cvbroome@gmail.com
Sister Brbara Juszkiewicz, DSSF, sbmj@catholic.org
Sister Gladys Marhefka, SGM, Sisters of Charity of Montreal, Greay Nuns srgladys@sgmlex.org
Suzanne Hedrick, suzanne6@tidewater.net
Bob Podzikowski, Plowshares Pax Chrsiti Pax Christi Michigan, bobp@peoplestrustcu.org
Mary Lyn Villaume St. Andrew Parish, Portland OR 97212 mlrvillaume@yahoo.com
Rev. Dr. Joseph Oechsle, East Norriton, PA jjoechsle@msn.com
Sister Martha Ann Kirk, Th.D. Incarnate Word Sister skirk@uiwtx.edu
Mary Patricia Beatty, O.P. Pax Christi Grand Rapids, Michigan mpbeatty@grdominicans.org
Kelly Epstein, Pax Chrsiti, Houston, TX, Kepstein1@earthlink.net
Frank Skeith, Pax Christi Texas fskeith@sbcglobal.net
Mary Ellen Gondeck, CSJ, Congregation of St. Joseph, Office of Peace and Justice, Madison Heights, MI 48071 mgondeck@csjoseph.org
Kathleen M. DunwoodieAman St Joseph University Parish, Diocese of Buffalo, NY kda431@aol.com
Sister Marietta Miller, OSF, Sisters of St. Francis, Pax Christi St. Lawrence Parish, Diocese of Buffalo, NY mmillerosf@gmail.com
Rev. Maurice Restivo, C.S.B., S.T.D., Pastor elect, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church,
Angleton, TX 77515 mauricsb@gmail.com
Dr. Connie D. McClanahan, Commissioned Lay Ecclesial Minister, Diocese of Lansing, Cdcmc2@yahoo.com
David Jackson davidjj_98@yahoo.com
Michael McCarthy PA-C Faith Perspective on War & Peace, Blue Water Pax Christi, Port Huron, MI mccpax@comcast.net
Andrea McCarthy, Blue Water Pax Christi, Port Huron, MI mccpax@comcast.net
Jeanne Christensen, RSM, Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest Justice Team, jchristensen@mercywmw.org
Karen Donahue, RSM, Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest Justice Team, kdodnahue@mercywmw.org
Kathleen Erickson, RSM, Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest Justice Team, kerickson@mercywmw.org
Michelle Gorman, RSM, Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest Leadership Team, mgorman@mercywmw.org
April L. Gagne, Director, Augustinian Volunteers, Villanova, PA 19085 www.osavol.org
Kathryn Wood, Pax Christi, Diocese of Buffalo, NY, ka1wood@yahoo.com
Vincent Wood, Diocese of Buffalo, NY ka1wood@yahoo.com
Mary Ann Bentz, Roman Catholic maben730@aol.com.
Mark Gorman, Pax Christi gormanme1@gmail.com
signed by 150 others
P. O. Box 283, Corfu, NY14036
www.franzprayforus.org
May 23, 2010, On the Feast of the Pentecost
To United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Your Excellencies,
Jesus has called us to “Be merciful as our Heavenly Father is Merciful”, and that we should be “one with Him as He is one with the Father”. We believe that our Heavenly Father, rich in mercy, cannot possibly desire that we consider killing millions of His children with nuclear weapons, nor that unity with our Heavenly Father even allows us to imagine that possibility.
On Ash Wednesday, the Franz Jagerstatter People for Breaking the Silence wrote to you with 300 signatures, acknowledging your prophetic statements in 1983 and 1993, and pleading for your renewed determination, skill and moral leadership on nuclear disarmament. Since then, on March 10, 60 prominent Catholics, including Bishops Zavala, Gumbleton and Walter Sullivan, wrote to President Obama calling for a policy shift from nuclear deterrence to nuclear disarmament. Since then also, President Obama and Russian President Medvedev have signed a nuclear reduction treaty that would, if ratified, within seven years bar each from deploying more than 1,550 strategic warheads or 700 launchers. Also since then, in mid-April President Obama convened 47 nations and world leaders who endorsed the President’s call for securing all nuclear materials around the globe within four years to contain the threat of further dissemination of nuclear material. Days later, nuclear experts from 60 nations as well as many foreign ministers met in the First International Conference on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in Tehran, focusing on disarmament.
We believe that the prominently held American narrative is that our nation is a warm-hearted and kind, generous and loving people. In this context the possibility of killing millions of civilian non-combatants is beyond consideration for most Americans. But, research by Joseph Gerson of the American Friends Service of New England (“Deadly Connections: Empire and Nuclear Weapons”, Table 1.1) documents 30 threats since 1946 by the US to use nuclear weapons against other nations, i.e., against other children of God. For most Americans, including most Catholics, this is incomprehensible, but “All options on the table” means just that, and the 1962 Cuban missile crisis is but just one of these better known threats. This is a momentous opportunity to move toward a world free of nuclear weapons. Therefore,
From Compassion and Mercy for those who have already been sacrificed to atomic bombs, we again beseech you to implore all Catholics to refuse to participate in any way in manufacturing and maintaining nuclear weapon systems;
From Compassion and Mercy, for those who are employed in the manufacture and maintenance of nuclear weapon systems, we again implore you to engage all Catholics in a new demand that the scourge of nuclear weapons be immediately and totally removed from the face of this shrinking planet. As the USCCB web site recommends, promoting H. Res. 278, the Global Security Priorities Resolution, by James McGovern (D-M) and Dan Lungren (R-CA) would be helpful. The resolution recognizes “the paramount need to address the threat of international terrorism and protect the international security of the United States by reducing the number of and accessibility to nuclear weapons and preventing their proliferation;” calls for directing “a portion of the resulting savings toward child survival, hunger, and universal education.” Parishioners need to support H. Res. 278.
From Compassion and Mercy, for the love of children throughout the world, we further ask you to provide an education program for all Catholics on the nonviolent teachings and life example of Christ himself – helping Catholics to understand the immorality of these weapons, and all weapons of mass destruction; and helping them to join your call for eliminating this curse. We especially urge you to work with Catholic colleges and universities in your Dioceses to incorporate this into their curricula.
We thank Archbishop O’Brien for his remarks delivered at April 26, 2010 remarks at Catholic University, which “points with moral clarity to a destination that moves beyond deterrence to a world free of the nuclear threat”.
We pray for God’s grace and blessing on your leadership.
Franz Jagerstatter People for Breaking the Silence
Cc: Stephen Colecchi, Director, USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace
Rev. Bernard Survil, Pax Christi, Friends of Franz, Greensburg, PA, fr.survil@embracealloflife.us
Jack Gilroy, St. James Parish, Binghamton, NY, Friends of Franz, jgilroy1@stny.rr.com
Rev. Tim Taugher, St. Francis Parish, Binghamton, NY TaugherTim@hotmail.com
Richard Keough, Pax Christi CNY, Diocese of Syracuse, NY (rkeough@twcny.rr.com)
Rev. Fred Daly, All Saints Parish, Syracuse, NY parish@allsaintssyracuse.org
Rev,John P. Donovan, Pastor, St.James Parish, Johnson City, NY. Diocese of Syracuse, jpdonovan@syracusediocese.org
Ruth Giammichele, St James Parish, Johnson City,NY. Diocese of Syracuse, ruthgia@stny.rr.com
Sister Rose Margaret Noonan, CSJ, Pastoral Assistant, St.James Parish, Johnson City, NY, Diocese of Syracuse
Rev. Bill Pickard, Diocese of Scranton, PA (wpickard@stjosephscenter.org)
Mark Scibilia-Carver, Diocese of Rochester, NY (marksc112@yahoo.com)
William H. Privett, Regional Coordinator, Pax Christi WNY, Diocese of Buffalo, NY, wprivett.paxchristi@gmail.com
Deacon William Coffey, Friends of Franz, Diocese of Rochester, NY wcoffey2@rochester.rr.com
Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB, Benedictine Sister of Erie marylou@benetvision.org
Mary Claire Kennedy, SSJ, Social Justice Coordinator, Sisters of St. Joseph NW PA s.mckennedy@ssjerie.org
Edward Lally, Director of Liturgy and Music, St. Viator Church, Chicago edlallycc@gmail.com
Vic Hummert, vic@vichummert.org
Kathleen Heffern, Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, NY kheffern@buffalodiocese.org
Patricia Kelleher, npkell@gmail.com
Maureen Wesolowski, St. Mary Magdalen Dominican Parish, Berkeley, CA mwesolow@stmarys-ca.edu. James Donovan, Pax Christi, San Antonio sustainabilityaccountant@gmail.com
Joan Weber, Pax Christi Metrowest, j.weber@rcn.com
Larry Rose palrose1@comcast.net
Pat Rose palrose1@comcast.net
Dr. Roger C. Barnes, Professor of Sociology, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX 78209 barnes@uiwtx.edu
Mary Regula, St Joseph University Parish, Diocese of Buffalo, NY msregula@yahoo.com
Joseph Cunneen, founder & long-time editor of CROSS CURRENTS SCunn24219@aol.com
Richard Murak, Pax Christi St. Lawrence Parish, Buffalo, NY soulman1947@aol.com
Donald Bahlinger, S.J., Kino Border Initiative, Noigales AZ 85628 donald@jesuits.net
Jane F. Morrissey, SSJ, Sister of St. Joseph of Springfield jfmorrissey@hotmail.com
Deacon James Rauner, Diocese of Kalamazoo, Michigan, jrauner@hughes.net
Kathleen M. Shanahan, Ph.D. kathleenshanahan@yahoo.com
Deacon William A. Van Dril, Diocese of Kalamazoo, Michigan, wavandril@gmail.com
Nancy O'Byrne, Pax Christi Northeast Florida obyrnen@bellsouth.net
Rev. Rita Nakashima Brock, Ph.D., Director, Faith Voices for the Common Good and Visiting Professor Starr King School for the Ministry, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA 94610
www.sksm.edu
John Sniegocki, Associate Professor of Christian Ethics, Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH)
sniegocj@xavier.edu
Kimberly Redigan, Pax Christi Michigan State Council, Riverdale
Dearborn Heights, MI University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy Theology Teacher kim.redigan@gmail.com
Tim Musser, Pax Christi – Cleveland, Ohio timbevmusser@hotmail.com
Sr. Therese Elias, OSB, Kansas City, MO 64111 tmelias@gmail.com
Rev. Neil Pezzulo, St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, Waldron, Ar 72958 npezzulo@centurytel.net
Kathleen Villaire Grand Rapids Pax Christi Grand Rapids, Mi 49506.--- Katevillaire@aol.com
Pat Ferrone, St Susanna Parish Peace and Justice Committee (Dedham, MA). PatFerrone@rcn.com
Pax Christi of Genesee County, NY, Diocese of Buffalo, wprivett.paxchristi@gmail.com
Anne and Frank Ryan, Pax Christi Scranton/Clarks Summit, PA annejr@echoes.net
Frank Ryan, Pax Christi Scranton/Clarks Summit, PA frankjr@echoes.net
Sr. Jeana Visel, OSB, Sisters of St. Benedict, Monastery Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand, IN
jeanav@thedome.org
Frank Woolever, Pax Christi Syracuse, Diocese of Syracuse, NY fhwooly@aol.com
Claire Broome MD, St Mary Magdalen Parish, Berkeley CA cvbroome@gmail.com
Sister Brbara Juszkiewicz, DSSF, sbmj@catholic.org
Sister Gladys Marhefka, SGM, Sisters of Charity of Montreal, Greay Nuns srgladys@sgmlex.org
Suzanne Hedrick, suzanne6@tidewater.net
Bob Podzikowski, Plowshares Pax Chrsiti Pax Christi Michigan, bobp@peoplestrustcu.org
Mary Lyn Villaume St. Andrew Parish, Portland OR 97212 mlrvillaume@yahoo.com
Rev. Dr. Joseph Oechsle, East Norriton, PA jjoechsle@msn.com
Sister Martha Ann Kirk, Th.D. Incarnate Word Sister skirk@uiwtx.edu
Mary Patricia Beatty, O.P. Pax Christi Grand Rapids, Michigan mpbeatty@grdominicans.org
Kelly Epstein, Pax Chrsiti, Houston, TX, Kepstein1@earthlink.net
Frank Skeith, Pax Christi Texas fskeith@sbcglobal.net
Mary Ellen Gondeck, CSJ, Congregation of St. Joseph, Office of Peace and Justice, Madison Heights, MI 48071 mgondeck@csjoseph.org
Kathleen M. DunwoodieAman St Joseph University Parish, Diocese of Buffalo, NY kda431@aol.com
Sister Marietta Miller, OSF, Sisters of St. Francis, Pax Christi St. Lawrence Parish, Diocese of Buffalo, NY mmillerosf@gmail.com
Rev. Maurice Restivo, C.S.B., S.T.D., Pastor elect, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church,
Angleton, TX 77515 mauricsb@gmail.com
Dr. Connie D. McClanahan, Commissioned Lay Ecclesial Minister, Diocese of Lansing, Cdcmc2@yahoo.com
David Jackson davidjj_98@yahoo.com
Michael McCarthy PA-C Faith Perspective on War & Peace, Blue Water Pax Christi, Port Huron, MI mccpax@comcast.net
Andrea McCarthy, Blue Water Pax Christi, Port Huron, MI mccpax@comcast.net
Jeanne Christensen, RSM, Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest Justice Team, jchristensen@mercywmw.org
Karen Donahue, RSM, Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest Justice Team, kdodnahue@mercywmw.org
Kathleen Erickson, RSM, Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest Justice Team, kerickson@mercywmw.org
Michelle Gorman, RSM, Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest Leadership Team, mgorman@mercywmw.org
April L. Gagne, Director, Augustinian Volunteers, Villanova, PA 19085 www.osavol.org
Kathryn Wood, Pax Christi, Diocese of Buffalo, NY, ka1wood@yahoo.com
Vincent Wood, Diocese of Buffalo, NY ka1wood@yahoo.com
Mary Ann Bentz, Roman Catholic maben730@aol.com.
Mark Gorman, Pax Christi gormanme1@gmail.com
signed by 150 others
