BS: Berrigan in Dublin

Subject: Berrigan in Dublin
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 05:53 AM

Went to hear Daniel Berrigan, John Deere and a dreadlocky Aussie whose name I missed last night in Dublin. 700 people crammed into a Jesuit hall to hear them; about 200 more were turned away at the door.

Very impressive. He spoke about the American 'war on terror', said war was a pointless and murderous exercises under any circumstances whatever, and talked a bit about his years of activism and his time in jail.

I was disappointed that he didn't answer a clearly disturbed heckler who screamed at him about church child abuse; after all, what is more warlike than a powerful institution allowing its members to harm children in their care? I didn't think he should get into an argument, but I did think he should have said something at the conclusion of the meeting.

One of the most moving things in his presentation was his reading of letters from people whose family had been killed at the World Trade Center. He said that one group had gone to talk to rescue workers, to get some comfort, and the military had come storming in promising 'Vengeance'. Ah.

Subject: RE: BS: Berrigan in Dublin
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 10:52 PM

I'm not surprised he chose not to respond to a person with mental illness, it just isn't his style. A little known fact about Berrigan. He works with the terminally ill, and has been a palliative care advocate among the NY clergy for many years. Gives a bit more depth and breadth to the usual caricatures of him as a priestly flake.

I've met him a few times. He is a person with a lot of compassion, and seems very gracious and open with everyone he meets. The three times I met him, he was easy to talk to, even after big events like the one you mention, where he sometimes stays talking with people for hours after the event has finished.