Over 40 people from the Faith and Resistance retreat went to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA on 10th Street and Michigan Ave, N.E . Washington , DC. We went in a spirit of repentance for the times that our church blesses war and weapons.

You can't serve God and Empire. Priests should not be embedded in the military. Who do we give allegience to: God, or Empire? Love, or War? The teachings of Jesus, or the orders of the state?

Rhonda from New Jerusalem Community and Joe Gump from Michigan hold sign in front of the Military Archdiocese: "Violence is not solution!"

WW II resister Ben Salmon said, "Either Jesus was a liar, or war is never necessary."

Inside the office, we gave the men our leaflet, and tried to have a conversation about the role of chaplains and priests in the military. Of course, men and women in the military need to be able to see priests, but the priests have to be able to preach the words of the nonviolent Jesus, who would never serve in the military and kill others.

Mark Colville, from the Amistad Catholic Worker, and Sr. Margaret MeKenna from the New Jerusalem community in Philly give leaflets to the receptionist. We had previously written to archbishop O'Brien, asking for a meeting, but he wrote to us declining our suggestion for a meeting. October 1 he begins his new job as Archbishop of Baltimore.

The brown shirted man said, "The military is the greatest institution in this country."

James McGinley, Kathy Boylan (Dorothy Day Catholic Worker), Sr. Anne Montgomery, (CPT), Art Laffin and Mike Walli(Dorothy Day Catholic Worker) and Eda Uca (Jonah House) inside the military archdiocese.

In contrast to killing and war, Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and commands us to love one another.

"You are cowards! Why don't you go to the Pentagon? I'll tell you why you won't go to the Pentagon, you would get arrested. You are cowards. Why don't you go to abortion clinics. I'll tell you why you won't go, you are cowards." We had hoped for a better level of conversation.

Mike Walli next to Pope Benedict XVI, who condemned the Iraq war.

Monsignor Dixon, seemingly PR man for the archdiocese, talks with us. Kathy Boylan is giving the Monsignor a copy of our statement.

Mary Grace: War is theft from the poor.

Sr. Anne Montgomery(speaking into mice): "I've been Iraq with Christian Peacemakers Team, and we believe that peacemakers have to be willing to take risks for peace." Art Laffin holds the mic, Scott and Eric (SOA Watch) hold banner: "Love Your Enemies."

Kenneth, Tom Siemer, Christine

Scott Wright continues to talk with Monsignor Dixon.

You can't serve God and Empire! Love your Enemies! Jesus would never join the military!

Sr. Alice Zachman , from TASSC addresses those present at the Military Archdiocese.
Josh Cohen punctuates her talk with the drum.

This icon, Our Lady of the New Advent, painted by Fr. William Hart McNichols, hangs on wall of the Archdiocese for the Military. It seems contradictory that an icon of the Queen of Peace and the nonviolent Jesus, the Prince of Peace, would be in a military office. But perhaps it is hanging in the place that it is most needed. Fr. McNichols wrote AN ADVENT NOVENA WITH OUR LADY OF THE NEW ADVENT.

Pope John Paul II has called this last decade of our century the "New Advent," and he prays the coming third millennium of Christianity will be a new era of faith.

This may be the icon of Our Lady of the New Advent that was presented to Pope John Paul II by Archbishop Francis Stafford of Denver, as a remembrance of World Youth Day, August 11-15, 1993, in Denver,
Colorado.

Prayer for Peace

Great merciful God, Lord of peace and life, You have plans for peace, and not affliction. You condem wars and defeat the pride of the violent.

You sent you Son Jesus to preach to those near and far, to gather people of every race and antion into a single family. Hear the single-hearted cry of all humanity: no more war, a spiral of death and violence, a threat against all your creatures in heaven, on the earth and in the sea.

In communion with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, once again we implore you: speak to the hearts of those responsible for the fate of peoples, stop the 'logic' of revenge and retaliation, with your Spirit suggest new solutions, generous and honorable gestures, room for dialogue and patient waiting which are more fruitful than the hurried deadlines of war."

Pope John Paul II