Letter from Fr. John Dear

Fr. John Dear was arrested in September 2006 in New Mexico participating in a nonviolent witness for peace in Iraq as part of the Declaration of Peace nationwide actions.  He was sentenced today (January 24, 2008).  Below is an email he has sent to his friends and supporters.  To see Sr. Joan Chittister’s reflection on Fr. John’s sentence, click here.

Peace!

I’m back home and not in jail, after my sentencing this morning. I gave my speech, denounced the Iraq war, asked the judge to speak out against the war, and offered a prayer for the end of war, then the judge thoroughly denounced and insulted me, and then sentenced me to six months of supervised probation, 40 hours of community service and a $500 fine due today.

I had said I would not pay anything, not do community service and not cooperate. I was then ordered to report immediately to the U.S. Probation Office, which explained that I was not allowed to leave New Mexico for the next six months, that I would have regular visits with the probation officer, that they would make surprise visits to the place where I live, and that I must have regularly drug testing.

I told him I would not cooperate with any of that. So I expect I will eventually receive a summons to report back to the judge, perhaps in a month; or a warrant will be issued for my arrest. My lawyer told me that I will eventually be going to jail for this, but she’s not sure for how long. I just don’t want to pay money or do service when so many out here support the war and build nuclear weapons.

This just seems where my next step is. Thank you all so much for your support, prayers, kindness and love, I so appreciate it! What a blessing to speak out for peace!

More later, peace,

John