Meet me at Fort Benning

I'm going to the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice this year, to protest that piece-of-shit School of the Americas, which takes my federal tax money and turns it into human rights abuses and instability in Latin America.

Sometimes being Catholic is gross. The promise of eternal salvation is about as exciting to me as doing dishes.

But an event like the IFT and the challenge to cross the line at Fort Benning makes me glad that there are people of faith who stand up to injustice. In fact, if it wasn't for the theology of peace and social justice, I would have given up on being Catholic long ago. It's time to proclaim the good news to the poor and broken-hearted; proclaim that the blind shall have sight, that the bound shall be set free; proclaim relief to those oppressed and afflicted.

Some Christians need to stop fixating on eternal damnation and start realizing that we make hell for each other here on earth, and we do it with our ignorance, our complacency, and with our putangina' federal tax money.

So next November we're going to try to take some students to tag along with Seattle University's delegation. We take a red-eye to Atlanta, eat at a waffle house, visit the Dr. King center, and then drive a couple hours to Columbus to participate in the teach in for the rest of the weekend.

My biggest problem will be schedule. I'm sure I'll be slammed in October and November, and I have a minor ambition of spending Thanksgiving Break in Montreal or Mexico. So we'll see.

It's been less then a generation since the Civil Rights movement, but I don't think high school students are learning about Non Violent Direct Action. I think that people remember that Dr. King was a great leader and that the movement desegregated the South, but they don't remember how. They're not studying Ghandi, and the only thing they learn about Jesus is that the conservatives use him to keep themselves rich and in charge.

Note to self: try to teach the kids some elementary civics, so they can elect someone to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States," hopefully someone who doesn't think that the Constitution is just a "goddamn piece of paper."

You'll Have To Arrest Me.

Props to Chuck Currie


If HR 4437 is to become law, and it becomes illegal to serve at a soup kitchen, give someone a ride to the bus stop, or hold their baby... if we have to stop showing compassion to people because they're not in this country legally, then you'll have to arrest me.

You'll also have to arrest Cardinal Mahoney.

When it becomes illegal to love and serve the poor, then I will become an outlaw.

This economy is supported by a class of people with no legal rights. You know what we call that? Well?

So maybe someday the suits in DC will figure out a way to have an economy that's not resting on the backs of the undocumented.

Until they do, I intend to serve some soup.

There is still a chance that this legislation can be stopped in the Senate. Do what you can.

But JP, aren't you flip flopping on the Separation of Church and State?

First of all, calling someone a hypocrite is not an argument, it's a distraction. And if I'm pro-choice AND with Mahoney for compassionate treatment of undocumented aliens, it's only because you're anti-choice and anti-immigrant, so I guess that puts you on two sides of the Church and State argument as well.

The constitutionally protected freedom of religion allows you and me to live out our beliefs without interference from the government. That's why you will not get an abortion or have a gay marriage; it's why I won't stop serving soup.

Here's an idea, why don't you propose some legislation that actually solves the problems of unplanned pregnancies, discrimination against homosexuals, and undocumented immigration, without taking away anybody's rights.

If you absolutely have to govern us, govern us in a way that preserves the rights that make us American.

But what about the unborn? Don't they have rights?

Yes. They do. So now hurry up and find ways to prevent unborn pregnancies, without taking away the rights of women. You can do it. (Here's a hint: ask women.)