Three cheers for John Dear

Catholic New Times, Jan 16, 2005 by Gerald M. Grundy

After reading the article about John Dear in CNT (Dec. 5, 2004), I emailed him to let him know how much I respect him and what he has the courage to do. When John Dear challenges the government or army of his country, he opens himself up to many people who think just the opposite of his position. He even puts his life on the line for those beliefs. Most people are not willing to stand up for principles that will put them in prison.

He is one of those people whom governments have difficulty with or even fear because they find it so hard to intimidate them. He is in the same league as Gandhi, Romero, the Berrigan brothers, Martin Luther King and innumerable unnamed people who have died confronting unjust and oppressive governments.

I have written to Prime Minister Martin, telling him of my opposition to any treaties with the United States in which they want to make us part of their vision of a "safe" North America by using a ballistic missile defence shield which will probably lead to weaponizing space. I also wrote to Archbishop Sheehan of New Mexico concerning his views and his reaction to Father John Dear. I have not yet received an answer and I won't hold my breath waiting for one.

I do question our church when so much energy is put into deploring abortion and so little into confronting another major life-taking offensive on the part of the U.S government. It takes courage and every so often, an Archbishop Romero does appear and is heard.

That voice crying out in the wilderness, now in New Mexico, is John Dear. I applaud him, I pray for him and I ask God's blessing on him to continue the good fight for justice and peace.

Gerald M. Grundy

Kitchener, Ont.