From time to time, we Catholics here are asked why we remain in the Church -

[hedgehog]

Here's one reason:

Many of us are especially concerned about Fr. Bill Bichsel. "Bix," as he is known, is an 83-year old Jesuit from the Tacoma Catholic Worker doing time for a plowshares disarmament action. He could be released at the end of June, but will then be sentenced for his part in last year's Oak Ridge protest (and probably get another 6-12 months). Two years ago, Bix's doctor gave him six months to live. He needs to take nitro glycerine every day for his heart condition. Bix had visited Hiroshima in 2009, and was so moved that he decided to undertake civil disobedience for nuclear disarmament, even at the risk of his life. Many of us are praying with him on his paschal journey for peace.

Since he went into prison on March 28, Bix has traveled the nation. He started in the SeaTac Federal Detention Center in Seattle, Wash.; then after a few weeks, without notice, he was shipped across the country in a two week trip that nearly killed him. They flew him in chains to Las Vegas, then bused him to Pahrump, Nevada, and then flew him to Oklahoma City. From there, he was flown to the infamous Atlanta Federal Penitentiary -- a notorious transfer center where cruel and inhuman punishment is the norm. Then, he was shipped to Knoxville County Jail and landed at the Knox County Sheriff's Detention Facility where he now sits.

http://ncronline.org/blogs/road-peace/fr-bill-bichsels-ordeal-cruel-and-inhuman-punishment

[xchrom]

1. bless you fr. bichsel. nt

[LiberalLoner]

2. This is a wonderful story! What a hero of a man and what a shining example of

what religious leaders should be! Thank you!

[Peacetrain]

3. an amazing story..hang in there..

[barbtries]

4. sounds like a great guy

and i'm pretty sure i don't need to be a catholic or even a believer to support his cause.

[customerserviceguy]

5. If I can find a good person doing good things in another faith tradition

Would you join that one?

Your decision to remain a Catholic is just a personal decision, it has nothing to do with what this man does. His good works don't make his religion "true".

While I admire the work of Bill Bichsel, it's not going to get me back into an organization that I'm happy to have escaped from.

[hedgehog]

8. Peace with you on your journey. Some are called to leave, some called

to stay. God does not will that any suffer. I have friends here who have left because the local priest made their lives miserable.

I really feel we are headed to schism. I'll give Rome to the bishops, but I hope we get the Jesuits!

[Brickbat]

6. He does good work, clearly.

But does he need a church or a God do be inspired to do so, and does membership in that church give it legitimacy?

[Octafish]

7. Peace and health be with you, Father Bischsel.

Thank you for the heads-up, hedgehog.

Eight Jesuits survived the bombing of Hiroshima, eight blocks from Ground Zero.

[hedgehog]

9. You can send a letter of support:

http://disarmnowplowshares.wordpress.com/contact/