Pace e Bene

Pace e Bene staff member Fr. Louis Vitale, 77, began serving a six-month prison sentence on Monday, January 25 for nonviolent, prayerful protest calling for closure of the School of the Americas at Ft. Benning, Georgia. On February 25 he was transferred from Crisp County Jail in Cordele, Georgia, where he has been held for the past month, to the US Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia.  You can write to at the following address:

Louis Vitale #25803-048 
USP Atlanta
U.S. Penitentiary
P.O. Box 150160
Atlanta, GA 30315

To see updates from and about Fr. Louie, please click here.

Franciscan Peacemaker Begins Jail Sentence

January 30, 2010

Dear Friends at Pace e Bene,

Well, here we are again. You are probably aware that I was arrested, with three others, at the School of the Americas Watch action at Fort Benning, Georgia last November, just before joining the “March to Gaza,” which took us to Israel (the Occupied Territories of Palestine) and Egypt. (We did not make it into Gaza.) I returned to face trespassing charges in Columbus, Georgia on January 25.

We each received sentences of six months in federal prison. The two others present chose “self-report” at a later date when an opening was available in a federal facility. I did not take that option (even when Judge Faircloth offered to waive the $250 additional bond). I felt it was better to begin the sentence immediately as I have done the last couple of times I have been sentenced. That is the fate of most who come to court and it seemed right for me. The adjustment is a bit rougher (even the judge recognized that there are less perks in county jail, but I have been through it before).

I like the privacy of my “monastic” sub-cell — I can pray rather well here

I spent the first night at the local Muscogee County Jail and then was quickly (abruptly) moved to Crisp County Jail in Cardele, Georgia. I spent three months here in 2006 before release. Since I have six months to go, the marshals suggest I will probably move on to a federal facility. We will see.

A very fortuitous coincidence is that the local pastor, Friar Bob Cushing, is pastor here at St. Teresa Church. He is a long time acquaintance and fellow activist. We were together in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August. This is great fortune. He already has my “possessions,” brought money for my needs (these writing materials, etc.), came yesterday for a face-to-face “contact” pastoral visit, and this morning brought thermal underwear and heavy socks (as allowed) to warm me up! He will be a great support in the weeks ahead.

My present cell is identical to my previous time here. There are four of us. I have one of the small cells, which open to a common room with TV, etc. The TV is noisy, but I like the privacy of my “monastic” sub-cell (with outside window/view). I can pray rather well here, get vegetarian meals, and good medical care. (The doctor remembered me and gets most of my needs from my V.A. list.) My two visitors yesterday brought a couple of books (soft backs only), including the Magnificat (for prayer), a rosary, bible, etc. so I am well set. (They found the rules for the Crisp County Jail on the internet.) We have a lot of Fox News and last night watched The Longest Yard—a re-make of the famous convicts vs. guards football game; it was a congenial time. So, I am well and adjusting.

So much to pray for—Haiti, nuclear tensions, jobs and home losses, Guantanamo prisoners, my fellow convicts, my family, and all of you. Please pray for all of us. Friar Bob reminded me he heard me speak and I kept saying we must always pursue peace and nonviolence—yes, here and everywhere.

pace e bene and love to all,

Louie