Dan Berrigan celebrates 93 years

    Today is Dan Berrigan’s 93rd birthday. He is a magnificent human being in

A photo taken later in his life -- he was arrested many times.

every respect and, for many, a model of engaged faith. A Jesuit, a poet, an activist, he represented for many the opposition to US wars and violence. 

     During the 1970s I lived in a poor neighbourhood in Toronto where we tried to live out that kind of faith both by encouraging a living community on a very local level as well as engagement in larger social issues. At one point I decided to visit some of these kinds of communities in the United States. There were two groups in the Washington area that drew my attention in particular: the Community for Non-Violent Resistance (CNVR) and Jonas House in Baltimore where Phil Berrigan lived with his wife. The CNVR ran an impressive soup kitchen just blocks from the white house. 

     At one point I was informed that there would be a demonstration demanding amnesty for defectors from the army during the war in Vietnam. That war had just ended and there were a very large number of such war resisters who had found refuge in Canada. It was not hard to want to be at the event. When I arrived at the sight it was explained that some people would be lining up for the White House tour in order to get inside the gate. They would then sit down on the grass. Those who did not want to be arrested were advised to say outside the gate in support of those who went in. Naturally, and impulsively, I decided to join those going inside. (I am extraordinarily impulsive, even today. It is one aspect of my personality I have not learned to deal with. In a crisis, I act on impulse and sometimes that gets me in trouble.)  

      Anyway, I joined the line, went inside, sat down with the 50 or so others and waited for the police to arrive. They were very polite; dragged us away to vans and took us to a jail somewhere. We were photographed, fingerprinted, and charged with trespassing. Then we were put in cells to await processing. I found myself in a cell with two other persons: non less than Daniel Berrigan (my hero!!!) and Dick Gregory (my other hero!!!). We had a great afternoon talking together about faith and commitment and the connection between the two. After a few hours we were set free after signing a promise to appear in court at some specific point. I went back to Jonah House and to Dan’s brother, Phil. 

     Again, I repeat, I am impulsive. I found the whole arrest business a complete farce. So, impulsively, I wrote a letter to the judge and entrusted it to one of the other people at the house who would be in court in a day or so. I told the judge I had come to Washington to see the President on behalf of the draft dodgers and deserters and that I was outraged that I should be arrested for wanting to speak with him. I told him I had better things to do than to go to court. Then I got on a bus and went back to Toronto. 

     I did get some feedback later. The letter was presented to the judge and read in court. The judge was, quite naturally, infuriated and, apparently, threatened to extradite me. I can see the headline: Roman Catholic priest extradited to the US for sitting on the grass.  Anyway, it must surely have created a situation that was not favourable to the rest of the group and I heartily regret it now.

     When I think of it now, I realize how childish my reaction was, how it put other people at risk and how it could have created a very serious situation for myself had I been stopped along the way back to Toronto.

      But, what I remember most of all is the time with Dan and Dick and how I found myself with giants who were very simple, caring people. That’s how it often is the real heros.

      May Dan (and Dick Gregory as well) continue to probe the mysteries of life, including his own, and to be an inspiration to others to put their faith to work in our broken world.