One of NDE’s most beloved spiritual and action-taking motiva- tors, Fr. Louis Vitale, OFM, was sentenced to 6 months in prison for his third action of conscience at Ft. Benning, Georgia’s Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), formerly known as the School of the Americas, or (un)popularly as the School of Assassins. For more about the atrocities conducted by the foreign graduates of this US Army terrorist (or euphemistically, counter-insurgency) training camp, visit the School of the Americas Watch website. Read more about Fr. Louis' arrest in the: SOA Watch Press Release. Louis was released July 23, 2010. Read Fr. Louis at Pace e Bene's Louie's Letters from Prison page. Fr. Louis Vitale in L.A. Times Fr. Louis Vitale - LVRJ Fr. Louis, Kathy Kelly & Jim Haber on NV Public Radio

March 12 letter from Fr. Louis:
Greetings from the US Penitentiary where this penitent is spending Lent 2010.

Dear Friends and readers of Desert Voices,
There are many deserts and many voices in our society. I have learned from Corbin Harney to hear the call of the Nevada desert to resist the destruction of the Earth and its inhabitants (people and other creatures) by nuclear weapons. I spent my first federal prison tour at the federal camp at Nellis AFB (in 2001-2002) adjacent to the NTS as planes left to bomb Afghanistan. Now the desert sounds guide drones on more deadly massacres (mostly civilians, including children). Within these prison walls in Georgia, I’ll hear the other side, the effect of a horribly misguided economy that has spent $1 trillion on this war and also on prisons while the poor schools, jobs and social services fill prisons and armies with those who fall through the cracks with no money or resources to overcome the obstacles. Thank God for what we learn from our NDE Desert Voices. It guides us to resist war, torture, injustice and to create a better world. Thank you for joining us. Peace and good.
-Friar Louis

Update from Fr. Bob Cushing (Feb. 27):
Dean Rojek has been following up on details like a bloodhound. He found out that Louie is in Atlanta but can't be visited because of the transitional cell that he is in.
...
To send him money for stamps etc. Send money to Louie via

The Federal Bureau of Prisons
Louis Vitale # 25803-048
P. O Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001

They only accept US postal money orders. Louie is listed as being released on July 24th (I think that is right). The Federal system does not grant parole so he will most likely serve his full time.

Please pass this along. Cheers, Bob

Note to Jim Haber from Fr. Louie on Feb. 13:
"It goes well here. They changed one of our cell mates yesterday. Ours is an all right cell. We get along okay. Exceptionally, the 4 of us are white. The one who left was black (70% of the population here). We are in a segregation cell; I'm not usre why. It is supposed to be for protection. One was a policeman. Two have brothers who work here. I am an old man."

Letter from Fr. Bob Cushing (Feb. 20):
Dear Friends of Louie:

Yesterday, Friday, I went as usual to visit with Fr. Louie at the Crisp County Detention Center. I was running a little late because of a hospital appointment, but they let me in right away. Cheryll, the gatekeeper, doesn’t even call Chief Partain any more to see if I can have Lawyer-client privilege for the meeting room, she just checks my driver’s license number and pops me into the system and calls for Louie to be brought up so that we can meet. This beats the heck out of the usual glass wall with the telephone as the place for visiting! I am grateful for this grace where we can give each other hugs and share Eucharist together in the flesh.

Both if us expected that they would throw us out at 11:30 AM when visiting hours close, but we stayed together a full hour undisturbed and I left on my own initiative just before noon. Louie had me carry out the book on Roy [The Warrior Priest] and a hardback [most unusual! They don’t allow them!] “The Saint and the Sultan” on Francis’ Mission of Peace, which Louie enjoyed immensely. Louie seemed very upbeat and energetic.

We spoke about arrangements for his possible visitors on upcoming Friday mornings from 8 - 11:30 AM. He asked if John Dear could make arrangements because he would be in the area giving a retreat to Pax Christ GA on March 5-6. I checked on this and there was no way, in as much as, his plane was arriving at noon on Friday. Dean Rojek is interested but it is not clear when he can come – possibly March 5th or 12th. I will copy his to him to see what works for him and Louie will put his name on the list for next month. Actually I was hoping that Dean [or someone] could come on March 19 because I will be in Los Angeles at a conference.
Louie wanted me to find out if David Buer might come down for a visit. He needs to know asap so he can put him on the new list at the jail.

There’s considerable speculation about Louie’s possibilities for being moved, mainly because they have him listed as being “in transit” which means just about any time they want they can move him. But we take it day by day.

Actually the guy to work through on various issues and Louie’s needs seems to be Sgt. Aken because he is the Federal contact person. Just after I got back to the rectory, Megan Rice called to say that the trial for the Vandenburg tests last August has been set for the third Thursday in September 2010. I am guessing that’s good news for Louie.

He likes his accommodations in the smaller segregated cell. The company is fascinating he said. … …. …
So that’s all to report this week!

Thanks to all who are praying and supporting Louie around the country.
Let us continue this circle of care for our beloved brother.
In Christ and in his peace,
Bob Cushing

Fr. Bob Cushing, Pastor
St Theresa's Catholic Church
807 S 3rd St
Cordele, GA 31015- 1722
229- 273-3446