Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
C A T H O L I C W O R K E R
So E lijah did according to the word of the L ord; he went and lived by the C herith Brookand the ravens brought him bread I Kings 17 by Josh Armfield
is not my biological bro. I have known Gary for about two and a half years. However, he claims that we have known each other for at least five to ten. Sometimes Gary claims that we have known each other even longer, saying that I, along with everyone else at Cherith Brook, were the ones who got him saved when he was a no-good adolescent rebel wandering the streets looking for trouble. I try to explain that it couldnt have been me, but he insists. Yes it was you, Joshand Jodi, and Micah,
Poster for The Forgotten Bomb, by Bud Ryan & Stuart Overbey
This film is a stark reminder of how we, as a people, have betrayed our trust in God, and, for 66 years, have instead placed our trust in a nuclear idol. We have, in fact, become a nation that worships the Bomb and glorifies war. As a consequence we find ourselves morally blind, psychically numb, and forgetful of the fact that nuclear weapons, deployed on land, air, and sea, still endanger
by Juanita Davenport
No, or No Way? Peace Planters and KC City Council Square Off on New Nuclear Weapons Plant
by James Hannah, Peaceworks KC Its a rapidly-unfolding, high-stakes drama. Thursday, the Kansas City city council said No to a citizens initiative to let November voters decide the fate of the citys new nuclear weapons parts plant. Friday, Kansas City Peace Planters petitioned the court, saying No way! can the council ignore the 4,300 voters signatures obtained to get the item on the ballot, by provision of the city charter. Monday morning, Judge Edith Messina will rule on whether to make permanent her preliminary writ granting placement of the Peace Planters initiative on the Nov. 8 ballot. Monday afternoon, both parties will have the opportunity of appeal. And Tuesday is the deadline for all items appearing on the November ballot. So its all come down to the wire. No one knows which side will ultimately prevail in the next step of a protracted struggle about Kansas Citys role in the national nuclear weapons complex. Kansas City is one of three key production sites for the United States nuclear weapons arsenal, producing about 85 percent of its non-nuclear components. The contested Peace Planters initiative would allow Kansas City voters to decide whether construction will continue on the city-controlled nuclear weapons parts plant at Botts Road and Highway 150 , or whether voters prefer to transition the facility to manufacture green energy technologies such as wind power. The city councils 12-to-1 vote Thursday (with councilman Ed Ford casting the only dissenting vote) came as no surprise to the Peace Planters, a coalition of some dozen peace activist groups in the Kansas City area. Their opposition to the plant has been ongoing for several years, including civil disobedience and arrests both at the 65-year-old Federal Bannister Plant, and at the new plant, where peace activists last year were arrested for blocking earthmovers on August 16 and for blocking traffic at groundbreaking ceremonies September 8. This year, during the Catholic Workers Faith & Resistance Retreat (April 29-May 2) still more peace activists were arrested. The growing resistance is evidenced by the number of arrestsfour at the old Bannister plant, and at the new plant: 14 blocking earthmovers, 8 during groundbreaking ceremonies, and 52 at the Faith & Resistance Retreat. Peace Planters member, Rachel MacNair, is
plaintiff in the current law suit, represented by Phil Willoughby of Gunn, Shank, & Stover law firm. Dr. MacNair questioned the last-minute timing of the legal proceedings, noting The Council has had two full months for the Charters requirement of passing an ordinance directing the Election Board to place the measure on the ballot. The deadline for certification is August 30. Waiting until the last possible time allows the court only five days, two of which are a weekend, to consider the case. While the letter of the law is fulfilled in the timing, the spirit of democracy and proper deliberation is not. We believe this timing is an unfair power play. MacNair also questioned one of the city council members assertion that the citizens initiative might be unconstitutional, saying instead, If a party to a dispute can decide the dispute in its own favor while ignoring its own Charter, then the very purpose of the initiative petition process in upholding democracy is being sabotaged. Whatever the intent or the timing, matters are coming to a head in the next few days. Whether No or No way, those who care about nuclear weapons abolition have a new drama unfolding in Kansas City that is worthy of their attention and support.
by Nick Pickrell
In Remembrance Of...
In company with Christ, who died and now lives, may they rejoice in Your kingdom, where all our tears are wiped away. Unite us together again in one family, to sing Your praise forever and ever.
From left to right, top row to bottom row: Jeanie Xolof Scott Morrison Jim Crahan Rachelle Wade Not pictured: Wes Hauer
Work load/pace: Longer daylight hours and lots of garden space determine the work of this season. Besides gardening, we have 30 chickens now and have added two beehives. The chickens seem like regulars around here but the bees come with a pretty steep learning curve. Hopefully, well have honey someday. Community: With Elisabeth going back to Sweden for the summer and Sarah and Izabelle moving away, the make-up of our community has changed. We anticipate Elisabeths return in September (just in time for her court date) and this summer we have the joy of sharing life and work with long time volunteer, Allison Rozga. Allison has been a faithful Thursday night volunteer for the last year and a half. We were more than excited when she felt the call to move in. She is a bright spot among us. We are also excited that all of our physical property (cars, house and building) has been purchased with non-interest loans and have been trans-
Xenophobia
by Tim Brown I was alone as I vacuumed the dining area late Thursday morning. We had served nearly 40 people and most of our guests had moved on for the day. One man was in the shower. His friend remained seated in the dining room, quietly catnapping while I cleaned. He was a slight man, dressed in a heavy denim coat over a black hoody with three white, human skulls across the chest. A full, untrimmed beard hid most of his face and a black stocking cap corralled most of his shaggy hair. As I placed the chairs, seats-down, on the tables in preparation for vacuuming, he opened his eyes and spoke. You want me to move, dont you? he asked politely. His question tested my volunteer mettle. I am not a timid or unfriendly person. Still, there are times when my caution meter seriously inhibits my ability to provide authentically welcoming responses to our guests. The mans exceedingly scruffy appearance, complete with the unfriendly trio of skulls on his sweatshirt, was enough to activate my xenophobic alarm. I took extra time to position the up-side-down chair on the table, carefully placed the vacuum against the wall, and walked to his table. Stay right where you are. I answered and sat down at the table beside him. I need a break. Im Tim. What is your name? Im Paul, he said. As we shook hands, I noticed his kind eyes and I relaxed a little. I am not sure just who I thought I would encounter when I joined Paul at that table, but my caution meter was glowing bright red until I saw his eyes. The unknown is always unnerving territory, I suppose, and it is always seductively negative. Perhaps its all part of Gods plan to demonstrate that learning we are wrong can be downright joyful. You have a nice place here. It is very comfortable, he volunteered. Well, thank you. I will pass that along. I am a Thursday-morning volunteer, but theres a team of full-time people responsible for this place. They will appreciate hearing your kind words. Is this your first time here? Yes, I am waiting for my friend to shower. Then well head back to the Kansas City Mission. I have a medical pass, but it expires tomorrow. Medical pass? I questioned. Yes, it lets me come and go as I please. Without it, I have to go in early each day to get my bed assignment and then leave the place until 5:30 in the evening. After tomorrow, thats what Ill have to do. Since the pass was expiring, I assumed that his health had improved. I was wrong again. He suffered from mild paralysis and numbness in his feet and legs. He could walk, but his steps were, in his words, uncertain and sometimes clumsy. His doctor was still running tests but speculated that Paul had damaged his central nervous system with over 25 years of hard drinking. He freely admitted his addiction to alcohol. Do you have a place where I could fill this? he asked, handing me an empty, plastic water bottle. I took the bottle and walked to the kitchen. He followed me part way but stopped and peered through the open door that led to the Cherith Brook clothing store. I returned with the full water bottle and handed it to him. He thanked me and asked, What goes on in there? People get new clothes? Thats right. Most people want to change into clean stuff after they shower. But you dont have to shower to get something you need. Would you like to go in and look around, I asked. We heard his friend heading toward the dining room. He had finished his shower and there would not be time for Paul to shop today. No. Not today. But I do need a new hoody, he said. My grand kids gave me this one and these skulls are too much for me. Maybe Ill trade it in next time Im here. Perfect. Someone else will love it. I said, as the two men left the caf. As I resumed vacuuming, I felt happy and grateful happy that Paul had grandchildren, happy that I was not the only one troubled by the trio of human skulls and grateful that Paul had helped desensitize my caution meter.
Unconditional Love
by Steve Sheridan & his dog, JC While walking through the neighborhood with my twelve year companion, JC we pause to stand and to look and walk by the beautiful trees. I start to think about Gods unconditional love and often wonder what thoughts consume JC while the winds of Gods love blows through the branches of Gods faithful trees. JC and I walk and pray together, so I thank God for my friend who is almost thirteen, As our walks continue may we keep in our purview Gods unconditional love in the earth, sky, and sea.
House Needs
Coffee, Sugar, Creamer Vinegar (gallon size for cleaning) Baking Soda Dish Soap Toilet Paper Milk, Eggs, Butter Black Beans Salt & Pepper Shakers Folding Tables (standard size) Energy Saving Light Bulbs Trailer (flat bed) Bike trailers Old candles Bicycles
Shower Needs
Tennis Shoes (mens & womens) Jeans & Belts (mens 30-34, womens 4-6, 16-18) Mens Underwear (size 32-38) Womens Panties (esp. 4-7) Bras Shampoo & Conditioner Deodorant & Razors Tube Socks Foot Powder Toothpaste & Brushes
Steve with his dog, JC
Tampons Ibuprofen & Tylenol Theraflu Laundry Soap (high efficiency) Stamps
Upcoming Events
September 16-18 Midwest Catholic Worker gathering September 28 Court for Faith & Resistance Retreat action October 16-17 Festival of Shelters, night on the streets October 26-30 Cherith Brook covenanting retreat November 18-20 School of the Americas Resistance Retreat