Holy Innocents   Remembered   - Stratcom

The Des Moines Catholic Worker and Pax Christi USA hosted a two-day retreat and community building experience centered on the themes of St. Matthew's Christmas story and the Catholic Church's Feast of the Holy Innocents. The retreat ended with a peace witness and line crossing at the main gate of Offutt Air Force Base, home of the Strategic Command. Seven people crossed onto Offutt property, where they were detained and issued letters barring each from the base, then released.

Those who took part in the 23rd annual December 28 demonstration believe the mission and work of StratCom continues the same legacy of political domination that moved King Herod to kill the innocent children of Bethlehem.

Updating arrests last August at StratCom, Ed Bloomer was in federal court on January 3 to plead no contest to reentry trespass and Fr. Frank Cordaro will do likewise on March 6, when both men will then be sentenced. The last four times Cordaro was in the dock for crossing the line at StratCom, he was sent to prison for six months.

For more information, contact the Des Moines Catholic Worker, POB 4551, Des Moines, IA 50306, (515)243-0765, frankcordaro@earthlink.net