Fr. Louie Vitale completes his Circle of Peace speaking tour in Chapel hill

Fr. Louie Vitale Completes his ’09 NC Circle of Peace Speaking Tour at the Church of Reconciliation, 110 N. Elliot Rd. Chapel Hill at 7:00p on Thursday, June 25.

“Love Your Enemies: Transforming Us versus Them Thinking”

Following his visit to Iran earlier this year, Fr. Louie brings his Pace e Bene speaking tour to Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh, Stoneville, Durham, and will complete the Circle of Peace in Chapel Hill.

How do we relate with individuals and countries that believe differently than we do? How do we deal with our so-called enemies? Is torture morally acceptable? How do we respond to terrorism?
Father Louie Vitale has been grappling with these and other related questions for nearly half a century since he began his journey as a young man when he had a conversion to nonviolence after he left the air force.
He served 3 and 6-month sentences for crossing the line twice at the School of Americas in Fort Benning, GA, where the US trains Latin American soldiers in torture techniques. Then Louie served 5 months for crossing the line and praying at Fort Huachuca (the military installation in Arizona where the U.S. trains American Intelligence Officers in “Enhanced Interrogation” tactics such as the much- publicized water boarding, among other torture methods).
Since his release from jail in spring 2008, Father Louie has given more than 50 talks at universities, community, and church groups across the United States and in Canada. In 2009 Louie will be touring the United States to talk about all of these issues. Just before the start of the spring 2009 tour, Fr. Louie will be journeying to Iran with the Fellowship of Reconciliation as part of an Iran Civilian Diplomacy Delegation to dialogue with the government and people of Iran, our supposed “enemy.”

Pace e Bene’s vision is Dignity, justice, and peace for all. Our mission is to foster a just and peaceful world through nonviolent education, community-building, and action.
Formed by a small group of Franciscans and others in 1989, Pace e Bene is a growing community representing a diversity of spiritual traditions and cultural backgrounds that networks with nonviolence practitioners in many parts of the world.
Through trainings, strategic consultation, or joint action, Pace e Bene collaborates with international, national, and local organizations, religious communities, and movements taking nonviolent action to: foster just and lasting peace; champion human rights; challenge the violence of poverty and multiple forms of oppression; and strengthen spiritually-based initiatives for justice and peace.

Contact: Wes Hare. 919-929-3316