Pastor threatens to bar Catholic Worker from church
Kathy Boylan prays that soldiers put down their weapons

UPDATE: Thanks for all your letters. Not only was Kathy not barred
from going to church, but read the church bulletin!

Kathy Boylan says a prayer on Sunday when she goes to Mass at St. Al's church in DC. During the prayers of the faithful, when parishioners can speak, she prays that all soldiers put their guns down, refuse to kill, and leave the military. Sources say that there are members of the parish who are in the military and have complained to the Pastor. The Pastor of the church is threatening to bar Kathy from the church services.

Please read the letters (listed with links below), and write
Rev. Tim Brown, S.J., Provincial
Maryland Province Offices
5704 Roland Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21210-1399

email: provincial@mdsj.org

and send a copy to

Rev Thomas Clifford, S.J.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parish
19 "Eye" St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001-1425

email: tfclifford@yahoo.com
fax: 202 898 1449

if you want to get a copy to Kathy, her address is on the letters and if you send us an email, we'll get a copy to her.

The Letters:

March 26, 2007 Thomas Clifford, S.J., Pastor of St. Aloysius Parish writes to Kathy Boylan

August 28, 2007 Thomas Clifford, S.J., Pastor of St. Al's, writes to Kathy Boylan

September 1, 2007 Kathy Boylan writes to Fr. Tim Brown, S.J., Maryland Jesuit Provincial

September 3, 2007 Kathy Boylan writes to Fr. Brown, S.J., reviewing a meeting she had with Pastor Clifford and the process and agreements the church community had around prayers of the faithful.

What does the leadership of the Catholic Church
have to say about War?

A Sampling of Some of the Letters in Response:

Kara Speltz writes to Rev. Tim Brown, S.J. concerning prayers to lay down our arms.

Scott Mathern-Jacobson writes Rev. Tim Brown, S.J. in defense of Gospel nonviolence

William H. Slavick Writes Fr. Tim Brown, S.J. "Jesus's unmistakable pacifism"

Frances Crowe: pray that all soldiers put down their guns, refuse to kill and leave the military

Francis A. Boyle: "For the Italian Nun in Somalia who was murdered because of the Pope's desecration of Islam, let us pray to the Lord."

Jerimarie Liesegang writes to Tim Brown, S.J.

Tom Hastings writes to Fr. Tim Brown, S.J.

Ron Zamora, Chair of Cathedral Basilica of St Augustine, FL Social Justice Ministry defends prayers for peace.

Michelle Grise writes to Fr. Tim Brown, S.J.

Richa: a sincere prayer in the best tradition of religious seeking for God's will

Leonor Esguerra: May the Spirit of peace enlighten you