PlowsharesTransform Activists Now C A T H O LSentencing I UpdateC See Page 3

SHE WAS A DEATH WRESTLER Graphic by Rufo Noriega DR. CORNEL WEST ON THE LEGACY OF DOROTHY DAY PATRIOTISM IS A FORM OF IDOLATRY

SHE WAS A DEATH WRESTLER

Dorothy Day was willing to pay the cost and bear the burden. ON THE LEGACY OF DOROTHY DAY DR. CORNEL WEST The following was transcribed from Yes indeed, she was in the East Bay a talk on the legacy of Dorothy Day in Oakland when that earthquake hit that Cornel West gave at the New and shook that section of the state York Catholic Worker on the occa- for two minutes and twenty seconds. sion of Dorothy Day’s 114th birth- And in so many ways it was one of day on November 8, 2013. Cornel the pivotal moments of her life, even West is a prominent intellectual, au- as a very young person. She never thor, educator, and activist. He has forgot the experience because early taught at Princeton, Yale, Harvard, on she had intimate relations with the University of Paris, and Union the catastrophic. The earthquake Theological Seminary. He appears was a natural catastrophe, but weekly with Tavis Smiley on the she was also able to see social radio program, “Smiley & West.” catastrophe, economic catastro- His most recent books include the phe, political catastrophe, eco- memoir, Brother West: Living and logical catastrophe. Loving Out Loud and The Rich and We have to draw a radical distinc- the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto, tion between the catastrophic and co-written with Tavis Smiley. the problematic. The problematic are those who are obsessed with the By CORNEL WEST mainstream and the straight-line, hat a blessing to be usually obsessed with trying to gain here, Catholic Workers, access to it, and ending up well ad- at Mary’s House; what justed to injustice and well adapted a blessing, the tradition to indifference. And she knew that W indifference to evil is more evil than goes on. I was very blessed when I was asked to say a word about Dorothy Day was a death- evil itself. It becomes a way of life, a Dorothy Day. It has been almost hardening of the heart and a coarsen- thirty years since I began to assidu- wrestler, wrestling with ing of the conscience, a chilling of ously study her corpus owing to my the soul and a turning away from wonderful friendship and partner- self-doubt, wrestling with the vulnerable, the despised, and the ship and comradeship with brother weak. Indifference is the one trait Michael Harrington (a former editor patriarchal structures. that makes the very angels weep. of The Catholic Worker and author And she understood that How do you shift from that chilli- of The Other America). ness and from that numbness to be- We traveled the country together if you are going to be a ing on fire? She understood, as did all through the early and mid-1980’s Martin King, as did John Coltrane, and we would often steal away. He death-wrestler, there is that in the end, it is about A Love Su- would drink a little beer and I would preme. I hope that you get a chance drink a little cognac. We would talk a very good chance you in the next week to read that section about the Dorothy Days, the Mar- are going to spend a lot in her classic, The Long Loneliness, tin Luther Kings, the Fannie Lou called “Love Overflows,” and listen Hamers, the Rabbi Abraham Joshua of time on the margins, to it against the backdrop of Coltrane’s Heschels, and the Norman Thomases. A Love Supreme. There is a whole We would just call the list and go in prisons, and on your lot of love there, and I want you to down person-by-person. Asking keep track of sister Dorothy’s text, what went into making them, while way to the cross. And on because when you think of Dorothy acknowledging that in so many ways your way to the cross, Day you think of love overflowing. they were made by the movement However, this love is not ephem- they were a part of; they did not drop you will be a cross- eral; it is not fleeting. This love is out of the sky. rooted and grounded in the cata- That is very much the case for our bearer much more strophic, which is why she takes so very dearly beloved sister, Dorothy seriously the words of Plato: “The Day. You cannot talk about Dorothy than a flag-waver. unexamined life is not worth living.” Day without talking about John and Patriotism, in its Yet she understood, as Malcolm X Grace Day. We are who we are be- always added, that the examined life cause somebody loved us, somebody dominant form as we is painful. It takes courage to be a cared for us, somebody targeted us. nonconformist, to be willing to be a And, yes, she was born November see with these drones, witness to something grander than 8, 1897, in Brooklyn, New York, one’s self. the greatest borough in the world. is a form of idolatry She always acted as if she were I love Manhattan, but Manhattan part of something bigger and she was belongs to the world while Brooklyn that too often leaves fundamentally tied into scores of is America. Right? You know what us calloused and conversion. She was first converted, I’m saying. Manhattan is sophisti- interestingly, by text. She was an in- cated, refined, and oh so cosmopoli- indifferent to the tellectual and she loved the life of the tan. But Dorothy Day comes out of mind. She was engaged in the world Brooklyn, and then she moved to my suffering of others. of ideas. It was Upton Sinclair’s state of California. Continued on page 2

LIFE IS ABOUT LOVE OVERFLOWING

CATHOLIC AGITATOR / 1 THE LEGACY OF DOROTHY DAY

WEST, cont’d from p.1 REFUSING TO COOPERATE to the U.S. Constitution we see no reference to social death—slavery. The Jungle, it was Jack London’s The No reference to slavery whatsoever. Road that changed her and led her to TAX RESISTANCE In the U.S. one can grow rich, grow fall in love with those James Cleve- By DAVID HARTSOUGH At what point do we the people wealthy, yet never grow up. land called “ordinary people.” refuse to cooperate with these im- But Dorothy Day was a death- Now in her day, they were called s April 15 approaches, moral, illegal, and senseless wars? wrestler, wrestling with self-doubt, “the masses.” But she corrected make no mistake: The The government cannot fight these wrestling with patriarchal structures. our beloved leftist intellectuals and tax money that many of wars without our tax dollars and And she understood that if you are playwrights and artists and activ- us will be sending to the our moral support. And I dare say going to be a death-wrestler there ists, especially after her Christian A U.S. government pays for drones that that if the Pentagon sent people out is a very good chance that you are conversion, saying they are not the are killing innocent civilians, for door-to-door to ask us to contribute going to spend a lot of time on the masses; they are people, they are the building “better” nuclear weapons to its wars, aircraft carriers, drones, margins, in prisons, and on your temples of the Holy Spirit, they are that could put an end to all life on nuclear missiles, and new fighter way to the cross. And on your way made in the image and likeness of our planet, for building and operat- jets, most of us would not contribute. to the cross, you will be a cross- God, which means each and every ing more than 760 military bases in Some people argue that the Inter- bearer much more than a flag-waver. one of them, like you and like me, over 130 countries around the world. nal Revenue Service is so powerful Patriotism, in its dominant form as are unique, irreducible, irreproduc- We are asked by our government to that it will get the money anyway we see with these drones, is a form ible. There is no one like us and give moral and financial support to from our paychecks or bank ac- of idolatry that too often leaves us never will be any other individual cutting federal spending for our chil- counts, so what good does it do to re- calloused and indifferent to the like us. There is no homogenous and dren’s schools, Head Start programs, fuse to pay the 50% of our taxes that suffering of others. We refuse to monolithic mass to be viewed in a job training, environmental protec- go for war? My response is that if acknowledge the degree to which detached way as objects of manipu- tion and cleanup, programs for the the Pentagon has to take the money those precious babies in Yemen, lation rather than subjects that one elderly, and medical care for all so we were planning to contribute to Somalia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan has an I-thou relation with, in the that this same government can spend schools and organizations working have exactly the same value and sig- language of brother Martin Buber. 50% of all our tax dollars on wars for justice and peace, at least we are nificance as a precious white baby in How do we stay in contact with the and other military expenditures. not paying for the wars voluntarily. Newtown, Connecticut, a precious rich humanity of each and every per- My wife Jan and I have been war And if millions of us refuse to pay baby on the Southside of Chicago, a son? It begins with the Socratic no- tax resisters since the war in Vietnam. our war taxes, the government would precious yellow baby in Minneapolis tion that the unexamined life is not We cannot in good conscience pay for have a real crisis on its hands. It from our brothers and sisters from for the human. The word human de- killing people in other parts of the would be forced to listen. Laos, or a precious brown baby from rives from the Latin humando, which world. As President Nixon’s chief of a barrio in East Los Angeles. means burying. Humanity, humility, Does it make sense to work every staff Alexander Haig looked out the It sounds simple, but it is pro- tied to burying. We are on our way day for peace and justice and then White House window and saw more foundly subversive if you take it to death. Sister Dorothy never forgot contribute one day’s pay each week than 200,000 anti-war demonstra- seriously. Dorothy Day took it seri- the most terrifying question that we for war and war-making? In order to tors marching by, he said, “Let them ously and she was willing to pay the must raise to ourselves: What does wage wars, governments need young march all they want to as long as cost and bear the burden. Dorothy it mean to be human? What does it men and women willing to fight and they pay their taxes.” understood that Socratic question- mean to be a featherless, two-legged, kill and be killed, and they need the If our country put a mere 10% ing was necessary but not sufficient linguistically conscious being born rest of us to pay our taxes to cover of the money we presently spend in order to bear the kind of witness between urine and feces? That is the cost of soldiers, bombs, guns, on wars and military expenditures that she was called to. We know, of who we are, and that is what I love ammunition, planes, and aircraft car- into building a world where every course, that Socrates was known for about sister Dorothy—she always riers. The cost of wars being fought person has shelter, enough to eat, not shedding a tear; he never cries. kept it funky; she kept if real. now is in the trillions of dollars. and opportunity for good educa- What is it about Socrates that he is Our dear brother Tom Cornell, Increasingly, we are able to recog- tion, and access to medical care, we both paradigmatic in terms of his at the magnificent Mass I was so nize that most wars are based on could be the most loved country in questioning and his inability to cry? blessed to be a part of, talked about lies—weapons of mass destruction in the world—and the most secure. Yet Thomas More wrestled with this Dorothy Day’s authenticity. She was Iraq, the Gulf of Tonkin in Vietnam, perhaps even more pressing is the question in the tower of London— genuine; she was the real thing; what and now al-Qaeda behind every bush question of whether we can in good why is it that Socrates does not cry you see is what you got. She was in every country our government conscience continue to pay for the (and he added, why is it that Jesus able to bring together head and heart wants to attack. killing of other human beings and doesn’t laugh?)? However, Dorothy and soul and body and allow her As our government uses drones perpetuate the war system for all the Day understood that anybody who whole being and her whole voice to that kill thousands of innocent world’s children. has never cried has never deeply be heard. And, yes, she changed her people, we create ever more enemies, The choice is ours. Hopefully many loved one’s neighbor or any concrete mind because she was Socratic. She thus assuring that we will have more will join the increasing number human being, because life is not just believed in relentless self-criticism, wars to fight in perpetuity. The war of people who now refuse to pay the about self-mastery and self-control; it self-scrutiny, self-interrogation. Yet against communism used to be the portion of taxes that pay for war and is about love overflowing. When you she also knew that in the end you rationale for all our military expen- its preparation, and redirect their are at a funeral of a loved one, your are wrestling with what it is to be hu- ditures. Now it is the war on terror. refused taxes to funding human and mother in a coffin or your sister or man. You have to make some very However, what is problematic is that environmental needs. Ω brother about to be buried, then tears difficult, painful choices if you take all war is terrorism. It just depends flow unceasingly. You are express- seriously your quest to bear witness which end of the gun or bomb you A lifelong justice and peace advo- ing your humanity because tears are to something greater than yourself. are on. One person’s freedom fighter cate, David Hartsough is a founder signs of deep affection and compas- Dorothy, in her pre-Christian is another person’s terrorist. of Nonviolent Peace Force. sion and empathy and love, and you years, very much like Socrates, fell ought not be ashamed of it, but view it as an expression at the moment of in love with wisdom. However, armor became thicker, her spiritual to live well.” That is what she says Dorothy Day found wisdom in the something that is overflowing and armor, her political communal armor in The Long Loneliness, and it is a overwhelming for you. Some empa- greatest literary tradition in the became thicker in her move from powerful line that echoes Plato’s phi- modern world, the Russians. Oh yes, thy and compassion, no matter how John and Grace Day to November losophy that the love of wisdom is a mediated and attenuated, ought to Dostoevsky…Kirillov in The Pos- 1980, when she experienced what we meditation or a preparation for death. sessed. “I have always been haunted connect you to others, especially to all will—the culinary delight of ter- It echoes Montaigne who says that to those who are disproportionately suf- by God.” I can see her reading that restrial worms coming at our bodies, philosophize is to learn how to die. over and over again. Yes, sister fering and invisible, whose humanity the end of our death sentence in time From the very beginning, Dorothy is overlooked. Dorothy, we see your soul mirrored and space, looking forward to the Day says I refuse to be a death-dodg- in the soul of Fyodor Dostoevsky So Dorothy moved to the legacy who, like yourself, was on intimate next stage based on your theology. ing, death-ducking human being. of Jerusalem, wrestling with her terms with the prison cell. This issue of death is crucial. You And American culture is in so many beloved companion Forster, asking You can see it in Dostoevesky’s see it in her text over and over again. ways a death-dodging, death-denying herself what is my relation to the definition of hell in one of her favor- “I had to learn how to die in order culture. That is why when we turn legacy of Jerusalem specifically em- ite novels and one of the greatest bodied in the Catholic tradition. You novels of all time: The Brothers can imagine how heavy that question Karamazov. Dostoevsky says that CATHOLIC FEBRUARY 2014 Vol. 44/No.1 is. I am a Holy Ghost Free Baptist, hell is suffering from the incapacity and when I raise the question of the to love. Do I really have the capacity legacy of Jerusalem, it takes a while to love, especially to love my neigh- to get to the . How- bor? Not to love abstract principles Publisher: Catherine Morris ever, I know how rich that tradition or philosophical abstractions or wis- Editors: Jeff Dietrich, Martha Lewis, and Mike Wisniewski is. There is no such thing as Baptists dom in the broad sense. Do I love Managing Editor: Donald Nollar without the Catholic Church; we Staff: Faustino Cruz; Rev. Elizabeth Griswold; Rufo Noriega (Graphic Artist) needed somebody to rebel against. that fallible, finite creature next to The Catholic Agitator (ISSN-0045-5970) is published bi-monthly me, and do I love that poor unloved, February, April, June, August, October, and December for $1 per year by the There is not protest-tant without uncared for child living on the other Los Angeles Catholic Worker, 632 N. Brittania St., Los Angeles, CA 90033-1722 what you are protesting against: the side of town? • • • • • • Roman Catholic Church with all its For Dorothy Day art was in no Periodical Postage paid at Los Angeles, CA richness and depth and all its blind- way a form of artificial entertain- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: ness and limitations; all of its virtues ment, a narrow stimulation, rather it The Catholic Agitator, 632 N. Brittania St., Los Angeles, CA 90033-1722 and its vices; all of its generating had to do with nurturing her soul and The LACW is not a 501(c).(3) non-profit organization and donations to the LACW are not magnificent forms of resistance and tax-exempt. Editorial communications, new subscriptions, and address changes to: all of its complicities to structures of refining her sense of who she was. 632 N. Brittania St., Los Angeles, CA 90033-1722 It nurtured her soul and refined her 323-267-8789 • http://lacatholicworker.org • [email protected] domination. sense of who she was so that her Continued on page 3

2 / FEBRUARY 2014 THE LEGACY OF DOROTHY DAY WITH POPE FRANCIS THE TIMES ARE CHANGING By JEFF DIETRICH powerful feed upon the powerless.” While I do not agree with every have never expected to be af- papal utterance, especially those firmed for the work that I do. regarding women, sexuality, and So it was shocking and a little reproductive rights, and while this Idisorienting to receive affirma- may be a revolution in rhetoric only, tion for my often less than appreci- with no official policies to make ated efforts from the very last place structural changes within ossified I would expect: the highest authority church structures (for instance, I do of the worldwide Roman Catholic not expect the pope to sell off the Church. treasures of the Vatican and give I have been working at the Catho- it to the poor any time soon or to lic Worker soup kitchen on Skid Row fire all of the conservative prelates for over 42 years. I have published appointed by his predecessor) at the articles and books that have publicly moment, I don’t care. criticized prelates and politicians. This is a pope who cooks his own I have occupied Cardinal Roger food, and refuses to fly first class, Mahoney’s cathedral bell tower and live in a papal palace, ride in a lim- his ground-breaking bulldozer to ousine, or wear the royal trappings of protest the exorbitant $200 million his office. This is a pope who is the expense of a new cathedral. I have solitary world figure with institu- blockaded the Mayor’s bathroom, tional authority that has the temerity calling for porta-potties for the to speak out against the idolatry and homeless. I have laid my body under misanthropic nature of the global city dump trucks to protect the per- capitalist system. This is the only sonal property of the homeless from world figure to speak out boldly confiscation by city officials. I have against the systematic starvation of gone to jail twice with the Occupy the poor. folks, protesting the excesses of Wall This is a pope who occupies the Street. I have always taken the part bulliest of all bully pulpits in the of marginal people, suffered the ire world, and he has radically moved of the powerful, and felt the sting of the discussion of Catholic theology being on the margins myself. from what happens below the waist- So I was thrilled to read Pope line to what happens in the streets. Francis’ manifesto sharply criticiz- ing “the excesses of capitalism,” And if nothing else happens, he has calling for a “decentralized Roman removed theological justification Catholic Church that is bruised, UPDATE from every parish priest or bishop hurting, and dirty because it has who wants to build an extravagant been out on the streets.” Hmm…this unnecessary church or purchase is not the Church that I have known TRANSFORM NOW sumptuous satin vestments. He has since my days at St. Mary’s Gram- prevented Catholic legislators like mar School. It sort of sounded a bit PLOWSHARES SENTENCING John Boehner and Paul Ryan from like what I have been doing for the By MIKE WISNIEWSKI dismiss the sabotage conviction wrapping Ayn Rand capitalism in the last 42 years. I felt like the spy who against all three resisters. This rul- mantle of Catholic social teaching. came in from the cold, the voice in he three Transform Now ing opened the door for the govern- He has ripped the mask of rectitude the wilderness suddenly propelled Plowshares activists, Sr. ment to argue for the maximum from the leaders of the developed from the margins to the center of the Megan Rice, 84, Mike Walli, thirty-year sentence. However, Pre- world who can no longer preach very Church that I have spent my T63, and Greg Boertje-Obed, sentencing reports from the Proba- trickle-down capitalism as if it were entire adult life criticizing. 57, will face sentencing on February tion Office recommended sentencing the gospel of salvation. Now for the first time in my life, 18, in Knoxville, TN federal court by ranging from 6.5 years for Sr. Megan But most of all, he has given I could hear a voice within the Judge Amul Tharpar. Sentencing was and Greg to 10 years for Mike. hope to the poor as well as hope to institutional Church that echoes rescheduled from January 28 due to The judge, On January 28, also the lone voices in the wilderness, a snow storm that closed the court at ruled that the activists will not receive “bruised, hurting, and dirty” from my own. Pope Francis’ two funda- 2:30 that afternoon. mental issues are the same as mine: “downward departures” from those their thankless work for justice on However, during the morning ses- sentences for the nonviolent aspect of the streets, who can now speak, not “the inclusion of the poor in society sion, the judge overruled all defense and…peace and social change.” His their action and taking full responsi- only with the authority of Jesus and objections raised on testimony given bility. This means that the judge could the gospels, but with the authority of is a strident voice calling for priests by Y12 and B & W security of- to leave the comfortable confines of sentence them to the maximum within the Roman Catholic Church itself. ficials and ordered restitution set at the guidelines, which is 30 years. Finally, the message of the margin- cozy rectories and secure sanctuaries $52,953. However, that figure may and head out “to care for and defend To see what the judge decides visit ated has been heard in the halls of not hold up if the prosecuter can- the Transform Now Plowshares web- the victims of unmerciful financial not provide receipts for that amount power. Yes indeed, as one of my markets.” It is a voice that is not site at: http://transformnowplow- favorite poets once said: “The times, already paid by the government. If shares.wordpress.com Ω afraid to attack the only true “relig- there was no reimbursement, the they are a-changin’.” Ω ion” of our era: capitalism. He tells government cannot claim restitution. Mike Wisniewski is a Los Angeles us that “today everything comes In October, the court issued a state- Catholic Worker community member Jeff Dietrich is a Los Angeles Catho- under the laws of competition and ment denying the defense motion to and an editor of the Agitator. lic Worker community member and the survival of the fittest where the editor of the Agitator.

WEST, cont’d from p.2 within each and every person, espe- from the same tradition as Martin way of love overflowing. Any time How could Dorothy best embody cially the least of these, especially Luther King Jr., who was hugging you give up a set of assumptions or the gospel and be true to herself as the poor and the marginal. This her all the time, just as she was hug- presuppositions, that is a form of a critic of the very institution that double conversion had to do with the ging him all the time. If you get a death, and there is no re-birth with- enabled her to be a witness? There turning of her soul from frivolous chance, read what she wrote when out death; there is not maturation is always a paradox; there is always fleeting things to the most substantial brother Martin was shot down like without death; there is no growth, no a kind of contradiction that is true things of life and death and joy and a dog in Memphis, Tennessee. The development without death. I tell my for each and every one of us who are sorrow for those 83 years that she first line of her powerful statement in students in every class at Princeton tied to any community, tied to any was here in space and time with us. the 1968 April issue of The Catholic or at Union, you come in this class institution. Dorothy Day brought I never got a chance to meet my Worker was that Martin Luther King to learn how to die, and they kind of together the rich spirituality of ques- sister Dorothy, but if I had, I prob- died daily as St. Paul said, that he look nervous…. like I thought I’d just tioning. ably would be so humbled and para- learned how to die in order to learn read some texts, get a diploma, get It began with her falling in love lyzed that I could not say a word; how to live well. a degree, get a job, move into some with poor people and with working I would just give her a hug and she You learn to die Socratically by vanilla suburb…no, no, no, no. You people, then her falling in love with would say ok, ok, that’s long enough. killing prejudice, killing pre-judgment, are here to learn how to die because Jesus, trying to find the Christ hidden Yet she would understand it coming killing presuppositions that get in the Continued on page 6

CATHOLIC AGITATOR / 3 THE LEGACY OF DOROTHY DAY A CATHOLIC WORKER FAMILY AT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT The following article is reprinted connection to our rapidly deteriorat- WILLIAM STRINGFELLOW from Beatitude House, December ing ability to be human in our inter- 2013, the Guadalupe Catholic actions and relationships with our Worker newsletter. Dennis Apel neighbors. I don’t know. However, is co-founder, along with his wife having long ago set out on the path BIBLICAL LITERACY Tensie Hernandez, of the Guadalupe discussions of technology, Stringfel- of service and resistance, it seems low’s special interest was in his theo- Catholic Worker, and a longtime friend late in the game to turn around now. of the Los Angeles Catholic Worker. logical work, which was an essential We had our “day in court” at the aspect of Ellul’s career. He published U.S. Supreme Court. What an eye- By DENNIS APEL theological discussions early, with opener! In retrospect I want to cut such books as The Presence of the don’t get it. What is myself some slack for not guessing Kingdom (1948). the connection between in advance that it would go the way it Ellul could not or did not respond protesting ICBM launches went. I mean, I have been immersed Dennis Apel - Guadalupe CW to Bill’s request. However, our small at Vandenberg AFB in this culture now for 63 years. Of library at Jonah House became filled “I course I would imagine that the and doing service for the poor in with the works of Ellul and both my Guadalupe?” I was speaking with highest court in the land would be late husband, Philip Berrigan, and I a 61-year-old, Italian-born profes- interested, above all, in preserving struggled through these texts, with sor from Georgetown University. the Constitution. Given my years of a dictionary always to the ready and She seemed genuinely interested indoctrination in the myth of blind never a regret. in understanding. We were at a justice, I could be excused for not So it has been a source of profound dinner party in Washington, DC, realizing that things are not what we Elizabeth McAlister joy to know Bill Wylie Kellermann hosted by friends of my cousin and like to believe they are. and to be proximate to him and his Yet I came away believing I had WILLIAM STRINGFELLOW his wife who had graciously given Essential Writings efforts to publish and promulgate the us hospitality while there. The been duped. Who would have riches of Bill Stringfellow. In 1994, imagined that, in the Supreme Court Selected with an Introduction by Bill group gathered for dinner was very Wylie-Kellermann Eerdmanns published A Keeper of international because, well, it was of all places, Erwin Chemerinsky, a Orbis Modern Spiritual Masters Series the Word: Selected Writings of Wil- Washington, DC. Everyone was certified icon in the field of Constitu- liam Stringfellow edited by Wylie- excited and interested because in tional Law, after numerous attempts By ELIZABETH McALISTER Kellermann. a couple of days I would be sitting at raising the First Amendment issue The gift that Bill Wylie-Keller- before the nine Justices of the U.S. and being shut down, could state that hrough a period of my adult mann gives us is not only that of Supreme Court. My lawyer, Erwin he had the right to bring it up and life, Bill Stringfellow was keeping alive and available the price- Chemerinsky, would argue the case would receive the following response more than an author, theo- less writings of Bill Stringfellow, but for why my First Amendment rights (quoting Justice Antonin Scalia Tlogian, and attorney whose of unpacking the insights of String- had been violated when the Security verbatim): “You can bring it, but that Dennis and supporters outside U.S. Supreme Court building books I chose to read; he also was a fellow in ways that gift all of us, but Forces at Vandenberg Air Force does not mean we have to listen to mentor and a treasured friend—the especially young people today. it!” yet, in the simple attempt, are wit- kind of friend who never stopped Where else might they hear that we Base arrested me for vigiling on the nessed to the good of the reader. public highway outside the main gate Because of the generosity of our directing me (and I assume others as are, each of us, parables—parables supporters, our whole community Through the telling of these sto- well) to authors and tracts that would of the word of God? Or that the gos- of the base. ries—by clerics, Catholic Work- I attempted to explain to her how (myself, Tensie, Rozella, Thomas, Dennis and family: encourage my growth in what he pel is the good news of Jesus’ open and Jorge) were able to attend the Tensie, Thomas, Rozella ers, hospice chaplains, loved ones, called biblical literacy. confrontation with the rulers and au- our country spends more on “de- and community activists—patterns thorities, which constituted a frontal fense” than all of our allies com- hearing. I have to admit to some It is even hard for me to remember emerge that make the paths for car- how strange that concept seemed for assault on their rule? And it is not bined (over $600 billion per year). sadness that the children had to wit- ing for the dying and participating ness the atmosphere of the proceed- someone raised, as I was, Roman just for young people; each of us can That does not include our Nuclear in grief clearer, more negotiable, Catholic. Catholics were neither profit from Kellermann’s commit- Program, whose budget falls under ings. I suppose I would want them both practically and within the heart. not to lose their innocence so early taught the Bible nor encouraged ment to find ways to make Stringfel- the Department of Energy. What really becomes important to read it. The gospel was read at low available to folks searching for Meanwhile, Rozella and Thomas in life, although I also have to admit about each day and the sense of both it was no picnic losing it this late in mass, by the priest, in Latin. The ways to live humanly and decently have more children in their classes “guts and grace” emerge from the attitude of the Catholic Church was in times that militate against both every year as money for teachers life. intimate portraits of nurturing the To watch Justices Scalia and Tho- that the Bible was not the standard of humanity and decency. diminishes while our defense budget dying found in “Learning It in My In addition to making Stringfel- mas leaning back in their high-top authority, did not contain all truth, is increases. This, while the people Bones” by Lydia Wylie-Kellermann not understandable to the faithful, is low’s writings and spirit available, we live and work with in Guadalupe leather chairs, whispering to each and “Dying in Community” by Bill Bill has been responsible for a num- other and laughing while oral argu- not a safe way to learn of God, is a live below the Federal poverty level, Wylie-Kellermann (two separate dead letter, and does more harm than ber of conferences, one at Kirkridge working 10-12 hours each day, six ments were going on, or to see the U.S, Supreme Court building accounts of the last days of Jeannie good. It was close to being a forbid- Retreat Center in Bangor, Pennsyl- days each week in the fields. genuine disinterest for the issues in Wylie). vania in about 1994 and another the case that were hammered out den book. And the indigenous people of the That caring for the dignity of the It was a lot to overcome. It was a at Washington and Lee University in hours of research and discus- Marshall Islands have had their lives U.S. Supreme Court Justices dying can be a harrowing naviga- lot to learn that the Bible is within School of Law in 1996, each of and lands changed forever by our sion, was an almost classic picture tion between Scylla and Charybdis the reach of every inquirer after truth which explored Stringfellow’s impact continued irradiation of their islands of power and its disdain for the BY LAUREL DYKSTRA is found in “My Near Death Expe- and is intelligible to all. It was not on our lives and world. and lagoons by our above-ground “rabble.” There were times when I rience” by Joyce Hollyday and in until I was in the religious life that Now Orbis Books has published nuclear testing followed by decades thought that the only thing missing “Caretaking the Gift” by Elaine I was encouraged to pick it up daily The Essential Writings of William of missile testing using depleted ura- from the scene was a roast leg of BURY THE DEAD Enns and Ched Myers. and ponder it. Stringfellow as part of the Orbis’ nium warheads. Every time Vanden- lamb in their hands. That it can be the uncovering of Modern Spiritual Masters Series. In Bury the Dead resistance and discipleship become I recall that for a stretch of time, berg fires off an ICBM, the windows However, perhaps it was just our society’s “deeper pathology” Bill Stringfellow spoke of his long- his preface to the new book, Keller- in our house rattle and another $50 another in a long line of losses of By Laurel Dykstra most valuable to those who seek to that denies us “the object of our mann admits to being personal as Wipf & Stock Pub. 184 Pages $18.90 fully participate in being human. ing to bring French philosopher, law million is spent in the 20 minutes it innocence for the children (and grief” is Jeff Dietrich’s experience in professor, sociologist, lay theologian, well as practical. He shares, so as myself). After all, we live a Catholic Bury the Dead, edited by Anglican takes for that missile to deliver its By KARAN BENTON “Thoughts on Burying My Mother, and Christian anarchist, Jacques El- to underscore the fact and draw the warhead to the lagoon in Kwajalein Worker life. You cannot do this very priest and community activist Laurel Brother and, Of Course, John.” reader right into it, that he has ap- Dykstra, is a convergence of multiple lul to the States to encourage biblical Atoll, while we feed people who long before realizing that the world Erwin Chemerinsky and Dennis he seventeenth-century poet Frida Berrigan gives us a simple study and biblical literacy among ac- pended a “Lexicon” of Stringfellow’s need food even though they spend being fed us by corporate America is experiences of dying, burial, and yet profound account of her father’s terminology to the book. Moreover, activist holding a poster board on a George Herbert, while writ- grief, running through terrain that tivists here. A prolific writer, Ellul their lives working to feed us. as contrived as the world in the Tru- highway. The Supreme Court build- ing a surprisingly intimate (well-known activist Phil Berrigan) authored 58 books and more than a I believe that Bill is correct in his as- man Show. The kids will survive. I varies from the intimate to the com- acceptance of his new task, the “hard sumption that the Lexicon works as “Well, if we spent less money on ing almost looks like a temple now hosanna to his Creator, munal to the recognition of unjust thousand articles in his lifetime. defense, it does not automatically pray that I will. T work of dying with dignity” through a snapshot of Stringfellow’s theology suddenly burst out the following poi- Many of his writings discussed It seems like I have been to that I think of it. death as an underlying “ideal” sup- and a way into any of his writings. follow that that money would then gnant comparison between himself ported by society as a whole. There “A Peaceful Warrior Lives On in Us.” propaganda, the impact of technol- be spent on infrastructure or Jerusalem and back. The seat of Once again we celebrated Christ- Lessons for the living are the Introducing his own longtime mas and contemplated the mystery and God: are recognizable experiences to com- ogy on society, and the interaction schools.” I have to admit, she had power is as real today as it was 2,000 O rack me not to such a vast extent; strong legacy of companioning the between religion and politics. The guide in the faith and in scripture, of throwing in with a prophet who fort anyone who has helped to ease Kellermann longs for young (and me there. Maybe she was right. years ago. Power will have its way Those distances belong to three: a death, has witnessed a death, has dying and attending to their hon- dominant theme of his work might Maybe I have been looking at it all because it can, whether it be to order preaches powerlessness as a response The world’s too little for thy tent, esty: witness Kieran Prather’s 1993 be termed the threat to human free- older) people to know the paths to power. The Way, the Truth, and given burial, or who faces their own wrong. Maybe there was no con- the slaughter of the innocents in order A grave too big for me. passing within a known timeframe. Catholic Agitator article on his own dom and religions created by modern Stringfellow walked, and he would nection between our insane military to head off any competition or to the Life are laid out for us in the Indeed, for such a finite point in There are, too, voices for the voice- impending demise, “To Die At the technology. His most influential go so far as to encourage us to walk budget and the increasing economic squash the voices of dissent in order birth of Jesus. Love is the Way, the continuance of the world, death less, to comfort those who have seen Catholic Worker”; Andrea Ferich’s books are The Technological Society those paths ourselves. This book is a disparity in our society—the “war” to continue its drive toward world Love is the Truth, and Love is the seems an overwhelmingly vast per- unjust death or who recognize the “Digging”; and Murphy Davis’ and Propaganda: The Formation of joy and a gift—a walk with a friend economy and the “poor” economy. domination. And the paranoia is so Life. Power is not in the mix. And plexity: a grief explored with gropes subtle injustices, bringing the little “Back From the Brink.” Men’s Attitudes. His constant concern full of good conversation. Yet it also Maybe our paranoid, obsessive-com- great in the minds of the powerful any attempt to overcome power with and stumbles; a journey with no deaths that each day swirl around us. Concrete acts of remembrance was the emergence of a technological is a challenge. It can turn our lives pulsive and idolatrous dependence that a serious threat can be imagined power is death. Our God is Love. discernable horizon. Thus it is that Through this work, utterances are should not fail as a continual inti- tyranny over humanity. upside-down all over again. And it on bigger and better weapons and in the form of an infant lying in the And only in that Love will we find collections of witness such as Bury the bravely attempted of experiences for mate or communal practice: Tom While Ellul is most noted for his could not happen at a better time in longer and messier wars has no feeding trough of a stable or an aging eternal life. Ω Dead: Stories of Death and Dying, which there are no real words, Continued on page 6 sociological work, especially his Continued on page 6

4 / FEBRUARY 2014 CATHOLIC AGITATOR / 5 THE LEGACY OF DOROTHY DAY

WEST, cont’d from p.3 connected to something—the keep track of how sister Latisha tagious, shatter their sleepwalking, beloved community, the Kingdom and brother Jamal are doing on wake them up, and let them straight- we want to get you some critical of God, that can lure us out of our the block, rather than focusing on en their backs and stand up for self-examination. Let’s see what fallenness and into something that brother Barack in the White House. justice. Dorothy, we thank you. Ω history has deposited in us; let’s constitutes a force for good, as long If Dorothy Day was still going come to terms with our preju- as we are courageous enough to today 33 years later, she would dices; let’s come to terms with our choose to stay on that tightrope and be telling the truth and trying to BENTON, cont’d from p.4 dogmatic sensibility; let’s come to fall on our faces over and over again. stop frisking, she would be telling Karlin’s “Why I Build Coffins;” Laurel terms with our insecurity, the fear, Yet we do not trump each other’s the truth about big money. She the greed, the envy, the jealousy Dykstra’s “Letters to the Dead Not possibilities, which means we can would be asking why is it we have Worth Saving;” Mary Bradford’s “Day that is shot through every human love our enemies. It does not mat- a criminal justice system that can- soul no matter what color, culture, of the Dead and Death Well Lived.” ter what our enemies are doing at not manage to put one Wall Street Not all the patterns bespeak an civilization, or sexual orientation. the moment. Their deeds do not executive in jail after massive And in the short time you are here, acceptance of death as a by-product fully define their humanity; they criminality, insider trading, market of life, however it is lived. This we are going to see how far you go. can change in the same way you manipulation, fraudulent accounting In the language of that wonderful collection ripples out to touch places have changed in your own lives. across the board, and why is it when where humans must work against lapsed Christian Samuel Beckett, You do not want to be frozen in they are caught they are asked, you are going to try again, fail such power over human life. There any particular moment that defi- hey JP Morgan, what do you want? is the warning of subtle death of again, fail better. And when you nitely defines you. I know I was a Thirteen billion? They get huge tax reach your death, the question is go- personal worth in Elizabeth Nichol’s gangster before I met Jesus, and the write offs and no one taking per- “Breaking Silence” and the challenge ing to be, how good is your failure? best I will ever be is a redeemed sonal responsibility. And yet, this Because you are going to fail on to admit riskier perspectives upon sinner with gangster proclivities and is the same ruling class, with major the given theo-political overtones your faith, as sister Dorothy says, gangster memories, hence the need ideologues representing its interests, over and over again. of death that is Edam Rhea Cue’s for grace to fall back on something saying to poor people, when you “Hornets at the Roundtable.” How do we learn, like Martin, that can sustain me. make bad choices you must have and like Dorothy Day enacted in her Here, too, are declared triumphs— Dorothy Day had the kind of faith personal responsibility; pull yourself personal, defiant, and spiritual— life, to die inside of ourselves? Now that would allow her to straighten up by your own boot-straps. They here is the major challenge, because that are inherent in remembrance: her back up and go to jail and do not believe in bailouts for the “Deadly Betrayal…and a Return to she understood rightly that love is a wrestle with that solitary confine- poor, yet when they get in trouble form of death. If you are death-de- Childhood Faith” by Nelson John- ment for ten days. Read that jail its 767 billion with 85 billion every son; “May the Angels Guide You nying you are never able to cultivate section in The Long Loneliness. It month for over two and a half years... that capacity to love. If you are Into Heaven” by Jeff Dietrich; “Cry is not just about melancholy or the and we wonder why it is that we are Presente Now and Forever” by Pablo living in a market culture, a culture futility of life. Rather, it is about wrestling with such cultural decay, of superficial spectacle, you do not Ruiz; and “Who Will Roll Away the the sheer absurdity of life. especially for our young people. Stone?” by Ched Myers. In Jordan get down to the deep funky stuff of How then do we critically ap- Dorothy Day chose to cut against love. That is one of the problems of Flaherty’s “Secondlines,” memorials propriate today Dorothy Day in the the grain. Sister Dorothy, what else become a universalizing power as our young people these days. spirit of Dorothy Day? The first could we learn from you? Well, Dorothy Day lived a life of the poor and marginalized take back thing we must do is accent to a you have to connect the spiritual their urban streets through music, integrity, honesty, decency, a quest rare virtue these days, which is the to the social, the existential to the for virtue. Think about Dubois’ dance, and remembrance. courage to tell the truth. The condi- economic, and the personal to the While the collection is strong and question, how does integrity face tion of truth is to allow suffering to political because if you are go- oppression, and then look at her life. the stories are essential reading, speak, but telling the truth does not ing to be a long-distance runner ideas emerge that draw the reader to See how honesty faces deception, pay in a market-driven society. You against U.S. imperial forces, you especially from the powers that be desire more development, a closer have to pay a cost and that cost can- have to be so well-equipped with explorative experience. There are given the wickedness in high places. not be measured. spiritual resources that you do not Look at her life in the movement ordinary acts that can have both I hear this all the time, especially end up selling-out or caving-in or great significance for the uninitiated today. How does decency respond from my younger sisters and broth- giving-up. And Dorothy Day, like to insult? You could write a whole and catharsis for the experienced if ers of all colors: “I just want to be Malcolm X and Fanny Lou Hamer, brought into sharp relief. One desires history of the trashing of the smart, I just want to be smart!” never sold-out. She held on to her Catholic Worker movement. There No, let the phonies be smart. You integrity until the very end. That’s a full writing dedicated to single is a powerful moment in her diary, must be wise. You think Kafka a very rare thing. She never gave acts: washing or anointing the body; recorded in The Duty of Delight was smart? Chekhof? You believe up. She wrestled with nihilism; journeying to burial; building a cof- (and we thank brother Robert his play Three Sisters, is a smart she wrestled with melancholy; she fin; giving a bedside vigil; creating a Ellsberg for editing that magnificent play? Please! Smart has to do with wrestled with despair and darkness homily for someone you love. text) where she says everything access and manipulation of infor- and bleakness, but she allowed love There are perspectives on the pow- around her was full of hate. I don’t mation and data. It has to do with to have the last word. ers of life and death that could bear know what to do. I am in despair. being smart-alecky to get a certain The challenge is how do we talk expansion to enrich the reader. If I am wrestling with darkness. I attention. It has to do, usually, with publicly about that kind of love death is like a birth, how is this so? feel like Jacob in Genesis chapter connecting smartness to big dollars, and that sense of community in a What is it about community, the con- 32. I am wrestling with the angel so that the hedge fund folk are so radical analysis that goes far beyond stant flow of people in a home, that of death against the backdrop of the smart. Well, what does that make the political spectrum. We have actually eases the passing of the catastrophic, the midnight hour. I Dorothy Day then, who lived broke corporate media now, Fox cold- dying and the grief of their family? am wounded. I emerged with a new as the ten commandments finan- hearted, right-wing Republican What is truly the environment in name, from Jacob to Israel, which cially, but spiritually as rich as one Party policies and MSNBC with which it is acceptable to die? How means what? God wrestler. And I could ever imagine. She was wise milquetoast, spineless neo-liberal does the tragic experience of death will be a wrestler until the day I die. and courageous. Democratic Party policies, and that by betrayal color and expand the However, in the end, love will How do we live like that today? is the choice. We have the far right human meaning of both terms: be- have the last word for Dorothy Day, By example, the same way she and the right. And that is all. We trayal and death? because she was, in fact, a woman did. By telling the truth about the have yet to get to the center, that It may be that these voices, speak- not just of faith, but a sister of what new Jim Crow. We have a black is how far things have moved in a ing out from and for the community, we in the black Baptist tradition call president, and that is a beautiful conservative way from the times of of those who have passed from this “thick faith.” We have many folk thing. It just shows that our white Dorothy Day. life, sometimes find they cannot yet in the pew that have faith, but I am sisters and brothers are less racist That is why her spirit is so step fully back from grief to touch talking about the ones that have that than their parents or grandparents. radically needed. And that is why upon such detail. Kieran Prather, thick faith, the ones that go all the That is something beautiful, but it’s we are here today, to let the world who stood on the borders of his own way down. not worth break dancing over. As know that we love you sister Doro- passing, wrote simply but poignantly, Dorothy reminds me in so many brother Malcolm used to say, you do thy; we will never, ever forget you “I don’t know how this will be played ways of . You know not stab someone in the back nine sister Dorothy. Your conception of out and the community doesn’t know Toni Morrison is Catholic. Many inches, step back and pull it out six piety, which is tied to remembrance either.” It is natural that we are left people do not realize that she is inches and celebrate your progress. of the beloved warriors of the past with more questions than answers one of the great Catholic writers. No, no, no. You may have black who revered something bigger when reading this collection. Like Flannery O’Connor, she has faces in the White House, but my than themselves, in her case God Yet the reading must be done, for an incarnational conception of God in the basement of the Ameri- and Church and the Kingdom of all who wish to venture fully into human existence. We Protestants can empire…start with the reser- God and the beloved community, the depths of the human condition, are too individualistic. I think we vations, then visit the poor white generates a resistance that makes and Prather also writes something need to learn from Catholics who sisters and brothers in Appalachia, very little sense in the eyes of the that becomes a promised discovery are always centered on community. then go to the working class with world, but it makes all the sense in in this collection, “Grace is every- When Dorothy Day talks about the stagnating wages, then go to the the world because, like that Russian where.” Ω long loneliness, when Dorothy Day brown folks struggling with mas- literary tradition in which she was Karan Benton is a Los Angeles talks about wrestling in darkness, sive unemployment, then get to the so deeply grounded and where the Catholic Worker community member. like Jacob, she knows that the only black hood. Black folk tend to be heroes are usually holy fools, the thing that can break that is a love the litmus test, not because we have question is, can we be holy fools that overflows into community. It any kind of monopoly on truth, against worldly indifference and McAlister, cont’d from p.4 must be incarnational. And yes, the goodness, or beauty, but because callousness? To be a holy fool is to our lives and our world. Ω Eucharist is transubstantiation in the legacy of white supremacy is be on fire with a love committed to the sense that it reflects the degree such that it constitutes a major form justice. In any historical moment, Elizabeth McAlister, co-founder with to which a miracle can take place, of social death in the shaping of the when there are enough holy fools on Philip Berrigan of the resistance a mystery can be enacted in which culture, the imagination, and the fire, that fire can spread like a prairie community Jonah House, is a long- our egos and our narcissism can be economy of the United States. So fire and affect others, become con- time friend of the LACW.

6 / FEBRUARY 2014 ON THE LINE poor get pushed down even further on to borrow to deal with unforeseen supplies. This is according to the in- DAVID OMONDI UPDATE the economic ladder. The food stamp financial emergencies. These loans famous Pentagon’s accounting system. program now covers 1 in 7 people. nearly always are high-cost—often Just who is the supplier of all this Former LACW David Omondi made —commondreams.org predatory—loans, which creates a toilet paper? Georgia Pacific, which is an excellent six-minute video about his cycle of debt and worsens financial in- owned by Koch Industries—Charles water project in Kenya. You can view security. —commondreams.org and David Koch, two of the richest POVERTY WAGES men in the world who contribute tens of millions of dollars to ultra right- A recent report by the Economic CIA “BLACK SITE” wing and anti-labor causes, including Roundtable revealed that 46% of the the Tea Party. workforce in Los Angeles, nearly According to a piece in the Washing- —Mother Jones Magazine 811,000 workers, live with “poverty” ton Post, the CIA paid $15 million in cash, stuffed in two large cardboard wages of less than $15 per hour. Ac- OTHER MILITARY DATA cording to Maria Elena Durazo, of boxes, to Polish intelligence agency officials in exchange for use of a the Los Angeles County Federation of The Pentagon employs 3 million Labor, “L.A. is fast becoming a city of remote military-run small two-story “villa” as a secret detention, torture, people, 800,000 more than WalMart. the have and have-nots. We are, unfor- The Pentagon’s 2012 budget was 47% tunately, one of the leading low-wage and interrogation facility for a small David Omondi with village tribal elders amount of captured suspected terror- bigger than WalMart’s. capitals in the country.” The study Serving 9.6 million people, the Pen- it on our website by scrolling down to suggests a $15 minimum wage would ists. The piece calls this “arguably the most important of all black sites” cre- tagon and VA together constitute the the Kenya project post and clicking on increase payrolls in Los Angeles by nation’s largest health care provider. the link. approximately 10% or $7.6 billion ated by the CIA after September 11, 2001. Polish officials asked the CIA 70% of the value of the federal annually. Increased spending by those government’s $1.8 trillion in property, workers would stimulate the economy to make improvements to the facility FOOD STAMP PROGRAM before using it. The CIA obliged by land, and equiptment belongs to the enough to add over 64,000 new jobs, pentagon. —Mother Jones Magazine the report says. —latimes.com installing security cameras and moni- The U.S. House of Representatives tors at the cost of nearly $300,000. passed a new compromised Farm —washingtonpost.com EDWARD SNOWDEN Bill that would again make deep cuts FINANCIAL INSECURITY to the nation’s food stamp program MILITARY TOILET PAPER Two Norwegian politicians say known as “SNAP.” Despite rheto- Another recent report by the Corpo- they have jointly nominated former ric to the contrary, the bill received ration for Enterprise Development National Security Agency contractor backing from both Senate Democrats suggests that 44% of the people in According to contract data, the Penta- Edward Snowden for the 2014 Nobel and Republicans. The bill would cut the United States face “persistent gon bought an average of $2 million Peace Prize. At the same time, the $8 billion from the program over ten financial insecurity” and are forced worth of “toiletry paper products” Obama Administration wants to see years. Today the food stamp program to live paycheck by paycheck without annually between 2000 and 2010. Edward Snowden arrested and extra- is mostly utilized by the working class the savings necessary to weather them However, in 2012 that figure escalated dited to the U.S. and tried as a felon, who are stuck in low-wage jobs, over- through unavoidable life problems— to $130 million. When looking closely while other politicians and right-wing burdened in debt, and unable to get by like a medical emergency or major at the numbers one learns that about pundits want to see him assassinated. in an economy in which the top two- auto repairs. $58 million of paper products could be —toledoblade.com percent of the population are lavished People with low incomes are dispro- used to wipe with, plus a ton of pad- with subsidies and tax breaks while portionately liquid asset poor (making ding—including $2.7 million of light On The Line is compiled and workers, students, the elderly, and the less than $18,193), which forces them bulbs and $9.6 million of canning edited by Mike Wisniewski.

High School students, faculty, and serving counter where our guests Clippers,” made their seventh annual alumni who crowded the streets of receive their meals. The gorgeous two-week pilgrimage to our downtown our gritty and beautiful city as they mural has been met with many open garden to soak, trim, heal, smooth traversed Los Angeles in the 41st mouthed astonished looks from our over, and massage many a tender annual March for Hunger. We were grateful friends. If you have a chance, tootsie. The outpouring of gratitude so much impressed by their enthusi- drop by and have a look for yourself or and love from our friends was both asm and dedication, that Josephine, wait for the soon-to-be-posted photos touching and well deserved. Jed, Rebecca, Karan, and myself, on our website. Karan, and Rebecca joined in to along with kitchen volunteers Rufo The month of December continued hone their skills as they continue the Noriega, Miguel Trejo, and Forrest with a joyous Christmas tree decorat- foot clinic throughout the year. Many joined them. Volunteer Ben Sullivan ing party attended by family, volun- thanks and blessings to Kathleen, helped cheer everyone on and Kaleb teers, and friends from downtown, Saima, Nancy, Judy, and Maggie, and Haven chipped in by helping escort complete with hot apple cider, treats, Mary Lou in spirit. We cannot repay our charges across the wicked 405 and carols. Baby Hazel happily spent you for your stunning kindness, but interchange in Santa Monica. To all the evening passing from one pair of most assuredly God will. those who walked, a most gracious As the new healthcare programs THE loving arms to another, as her mom thank-you, and a second thank-you to Alecia helped lead the music, and as take effect, it is worth noting that Coach Cap and the championship St. the celebration drew to a close, Hazel many still fall through the cracks for Paul’s baseball team who have made it was rewarded with the treasured first a variety of reasons. As a result, we HOUSE a point to travel to the kitchen and help would like to recognize and laud our with the serving these past few years. dedicated dental team who tirelessly Once again the Angel City Chorale work in our dental clinic. For your JOURNAL graced our downtown garden, and faithfulness and for all you do, we gladdened the hearts of our guests, thank you Dr. Armando Lopez, Dr. with their beautiful blend of old and Setiady, Dr. Campbell, Dr. Gayle Liturgically as well as conceptually, new Christmas songs. Our Latin Woods, and Dr. Rich Meehan, emeri- the final month of the year is well Chant group Schola Cadaverum Pu- tus extraordinaire, who continues to mapped out for us at Hennacy House. trescentium was also quite busy sing- lend wise counsel and needed help. Like clockwork, on the heels of the ing on the feast days of St. Martin de Finally, on the music front, we SOA protest comes the memorial for Tours, the Virgin de Guadalupe, and continue to be delighted and amazed the four churchwomen martyred in Epiphany. Our Dom, Rufo Noriega, by Martha’s amazing musical prow- 33 years ago. This year’s fresh off a year of designing linoleum ess. Her choir, the Colburn Commu- celebration of their brief but well-lived cuts for the Agitator, also accepted a Josephine gives Hazel first gift. nity Chorale, performed a wonderful lives was particularly poignant due to commission to paint a spectacular Vir- Christmas gift. She, of course, seemed selection of Mendelssohn and Brahms heartfelt participation of both religious gin de Guadalupe on the front window works, including He Watching over Is- of San Pedro Catholic Worker’s new much more interested in the colorful and laity, young and old to wonderfully crinkly wrapping paper to the delight rael. Also, a big thank-you to long time dining room. We had occasion to visit volunteer John Owen, who treated us represent the difficult choices Jean with Helen Grove and her faithful of all. We were also overjoyed and Donovan, , , blessed with a surprise New Year’s to a sublime presentation of Bach’s volunteers on the anniversary of fel- Mass in B Minor by the Los Angeles and Dorothy Kazel made in remain- low founder of Peter Maurin House, Day visit from baby Lilah and her ing faithful to the gospel in serving parents, former community member Master Chorale. We hope the inspira- Curt Grove. The service was spirited tion provided by these master works God’s poor, despite the awful danger. and a tribute to the dedication of a Reverend Elizabeth Griswold and We remember and honor them and Rabbi Seth Castleman. All who spent will carry on into our small Wednes- small determined group working on day evening liturgy choir. Perhaps we we take renewed strength from their behalf of the poor. an enjoyable morning getting to know example as we continue to work for her agreed that her beaming smile and will soon see you there. Peace and In other art news, amazing muralist continued blessings. peace with justice. and artist Dimitri has begun painting winning personality were irresistible. Next came the infectious exuber- a fantastic piece on the upper wall of During January the fabulous foot House Journal is written by ance of many hundreds of St. Paul our downtown kitchen overlooking the crew, known as the “Washington Faustino Cruz.

CATHOLIC AGITATOR / 7 UPCOMING CATHOLIC WORKER EVENTS CATHOLIC SAVE THE DATES Good Friday Stations of the Cross Seder of Liberation April 18, 2014 April 27, 2014 FEBRUARY 2014 Vol. 44/No. 1 More info in the next issue of the Catholic Agitator. SISTER HOUSE NETWORK:

“HE WAS MADE KNOWN TO THEM IN THE BREAKING OF BREAD” LOS ANGELES CATHOLIC WORKER: http://lacatholicworker.org Dorothy Day said: “There was always bread.” However, we again lost our Thursday 1. Ammon Hennacy House of Hospitality 632 N. Brittania St., Los Angeles, CA 90033-1722 bread connection. Do you know of a source for free bread? If you do, please talk (323) 267-8789 with them about donating any or all of the 80 loaves we use at the LACW Hospitality 2. Hospitality Kitchen 821 E. 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90021 Kitchen (aka Hippie Kitchen). If you do not know, please ask around. We can, if (213) 614-9615 necessary, provide you with a letter of introduction. 323-267-8789 Thank you. ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST HOUSE OF HOSPITALITY 500 W. VanBuren Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89106 (702) 647-0728 ISAIAH HOUSE OF HOSPITALITY POSTAGE STAMPS 316 S. Cypress Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92701 (714) 835-6304 Regarding the new increase in first class and postcard postage, if you have an abundance SADAKO SASAKI HOUSE OF HOSPITALITY 1321 W. 38th St., Norfolk, VA 23508 of old 46-cent and 33-cent stamps and do not know what to do with them, we certainly (757) 423-5420 can use them. We always have a need for postage stamps of any denomination, specifically HOUSE OF GRACE CATHOLIC WORKER 1826 E. Lehigh Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19125 first class and postcard. Thank you. (215) 426-0364 PETER MAURIN CATHOLIC WORKER 1149 Crestwood St., San Pedro, CA 90732 (310) 831-3480 KIERAN PRATHER HOUSE OF HOSPITALITY SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM 672 2nd Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066 Each year for six weeks during the summer we provide an opportunity for adults 18 and over (650) 827-0706 BEATITUDE HOUSE to live and work with us on an intern basis. If you or someone you know has an interest in 4575 9th St., Guadalupe, CA 93434 serving society’s poorest and most marginalized, and either making or deepening a (805) 343-6322 ST. BENEDICT HOUSE OF HOSPITALITY commitment to social justice within a faith-centered community, please send an e-mail to: 4022 N. Cheryl Ave., Fresno, CA 93705 (559) 229-6410 — [email protected] [email protected] to request an application, or visit our website: HIGH DESERT CATHOLIC WORKER (http://lacatholicworker.org) and click on “Internship Opportunities” for more information. P.O. Box 3157, Apple Valley, CA 92307 (760) 247-5732 - [email protected] CASA COLIBRÌ CATHOLIC WORKER http://casacolibrimx.blogspot.com 2014 SACRED PEACE WALK — APRIL 12 - 18 011-52 - 386-744-5063 - [email protected] HALF MOON BAY CATHOLIC WORKER You are invited to walk in the footsteps of a long legacy of peace walkers and spiritual 160 Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 (650) 726-6621 - [email protected] leaders to draw attention to the nuclear dangers that continue to threaten our sacred BURDOCK HOUSE planet and the community of life. Please join us in transforming fears into compassion and 2444 Chase St., Anderson, IN 46016 apathy into action in Nevada Desert Experience’s 2014 Sacred Peace Walk from Las Vegas (765) 274-1776 - http://burdockhouse.org to Nevada Test Site. For info and registration forms see: nevadadesertexperience.org