Catholic Worker 5 Meet Up With ArchBishop Tutu

by Pitstop Ploughshares - Dublin Catholic Worker Mon Feb 23, 2004 18:18 pitstopploughshares at hotmail dot com 087 918 4552

PRESS RELEASE

A day after Shannon Airport welcomed a fresh batch of US troops and their cheerleader Donald Rumsfeld, five Dublin Catholic Worker peace activists welcomed South African Archbishop Tutu at Dublin Airport.

The Catholic Worker group are awaiting trial in Dublin on charges arising out of their February 2003 disarmament of a US Navy War plane at Shannon last February (www.ploughsharesireland.org). Ten thousand U.S troops continue to pass through Shannon on a monthly basis.

Bishop Tutu met with the peace activists at the airport. He compared them to the Dunne's Stores workers who refused to handle apartheid goods. Initially, these workers were isolated and ridiculed, only to be vindicated in their contribution to the liberation of his people. Tutu stated to the Catholic Worker five: "I'm proud to be a human being, alive at a time when people want to stop a war in a country several miles away. There's no real reason why they should be caring about Iraqis I'm sure, but they did. I support your opposition to the war very warmly."

The Bishop was in Ireland to attend a conference on HIV/AIDS. Damien Moran from the Catholic Worker stated: "Like the Bishop, we have all been called as Christians to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable!"

Bishop Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his non-violent struggle against the South African apartheid regime. In a speech in London recently, Tutu stated: "An immoral war was...waged and the world is a great deal less safe place than before. There are many more who resent the powerful who can throw their weight about so callously and with so much impunity."

More information: 087 918 4552
www.ploughsharesireland.org

by Eoin Dubsky Mon Feb 23, 2004 18:49

Thanks to JD and the CW5 for posting their photos and press release here.
There's a great song about Karen Guerin and the other workers at Dunnes Stores who boycotted apartheid products: http://www.crixa.com/muse/unionsong/u094.html

by Fintan Lane - Cork Anti-War Campaign Mon Feb 23, 2004 19:44 087 1258325

Archbishop Tutu joins a growing number (Martin Sheen, Joan Baez, etc.) of internationally known personalities to stand publicly with the Pitstop Ploughshares. Wouldn't it be nice if more Irish public figures did likewise?

The anti-war movement must make this trial a priority over the coming months. Remember that these brave people are facing the real possibility of lengthy jail sentences, and our solidarity must be tangible and practical, not just verbal.

by Anonymous Mon Feb 23, 2004 19:58

I second what Fintan says and hope that the IAWM will weigh in heavily behind them over the coming months. And I hope also that they and others before the courts will receive financial aid from all those opposed to war.

Heard Tutu on the radio this morning with Marion Finnucane. Great interview - Wonderful man with a wonderful sense of humour. He corrected Marion by saying he is not a pacifist but rather a peace lover (i.e. he believes in the possibility of a just war, e.g. against Hitler etc.)

Hope the Aids conference is a success and wish the CW5 well.

by Deirdre Clancy - Pitstop Ploughshares Mon Feb 23, 2004 20:00

Thanks to Indymedia for its support in getting the photos of this - redjade specifically.

Our hearing has been put back until this coming Thursday, at 10am in Green Street, when the failure of the DPP to produce the disclosure information ordered by Judge Matthews will be discussed. Please join us at the Spire at 9am!

CW-watch is welcome too. It might dispel some of his/her delusional fantasies about the nature and goals of the Catholic Worker.

by cw-watcher Mon Feb 23, 2004 20:14

Deirdre do you support a womans right to have an abortion in Ireland?

Do you believe abortion is a sin?

Do you support the right to divorce?

Do you believe in papal infallibility?

Simple qustions, can I have some simple answers.

by redjade Mon Feb 23, 2004 20:22

I believe that the Black Pope is infallible, does that count - even if I'm not Catholic?

by Anonymous Mon Feb 23, 2004 20:25

Cw-watcher,

Whatever their answers to the above ,do you not think if you are anti-war then you should support them in their brave stance and energetic stance against the war?

If you are for the war then thats another matter.

Regards,

by Hypocrite Watcher - Fuck off Mon Feb 23, 2004 20:32

Should anyone have to engage with a troll who obviously has their facts so badly wrong? I know the cw5 well and he is a liar.

if the troll was willling to give their identity that'd be one thing, but expecting people to enter into a discussion with a person who is trying to smear them, and doesn't even have the guts to say who they are, is mad.

Don't dignify the idiot with the response.....please. It's obvious they've done no research on any of you, or watching of any of you. Only cowards run smear campaigns anonymously.

Say who you are and maybe you'll be granted some credence, idiot.

by Anonymous Mon Feb 23, 2004 20:40

The infallibility of the Black Pope is surely beyond doubt to even the most ardent of sceptics

by cw-watcher-watcher Mon Feb 23, 2004 20:51

CW Watcher sounds afflicted is s/he waiting on the CW's to comfort him/her or was s/he in a comfort zone before they turned up and nows/he's afflicted????
Wawawawawawawawawawa
Good going CW5

by yeah team Mon Feb 23, 2004 23:19

Hi court injuncted and made it to the VIP lounge - class act!

by amateur theologian - (i did a nightcourse through a free talent exchange network) Mon Feb 23, 2004 23:31

now has the black pope made any ex.cathedra statements? Because only they would be subject to the infalibility thingy.
it seems that whole thingy is really about mary and what happened to her, no?
Did she get a pension?

by Tutu on War Tue Feb 24, 2004 13:41

http://news.independent.co.uk/low_res/story.jsp?story=491761&host=3&dir=62

by redjade Tue Feb 24, 2004 14:04

http://resist.ca/story/2004/2/17/134611/114

by Justin Morahan - Peace People Wed Feb 25, 2004 11:54

I don't know whether or not you believe in a "just" war - I don't - but you are a brave, caring, humane individual whose presence here lights up the world.
A good reply from the Catholic Workers to "CW-Watch" might begin "I will answer your question if you answer me this question. . ." - a quote from Jesus to the Pharisees or Saducees who were trying to entrap him in his speech.
The Pitstop Ploughshares/Catholic Workers can reflect that there is an excellent role model there before them and that even the greatest - especially the greatest - make the slickest and most devious enemies for themselves.
I say to these Catholic Workers: You too are brave, caring, humane individuals whose presence here lights up our darkening world.
We need you around.

by hs - sp Fri Feb 27, 2004 14:08

how about banning anyone with the name "watcher" from indymejia? : )

by Ciaron - Pit Stop Ploughsares Sat Feb 28, 2004 19:08

We continue a Monday to Friday 11.30 am -12.30 pmvigil outside theIrishAviation Authority. Call 087 918 4552 to confirm

We return to court FridayMarch 19th. where Prosecution are supposed to produce discovery ordered bytrial Judge