Bishop Gumbleton is against all wars and has been a long-time advocate for nonviolence, for an end to nuclear weapons, increased aid to countries such as Haiti, dignity in treatment of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, equality for women, and the closing of the School of the America (SOA). He has traveled frequently to Iraq and other conflict areas of the world. He is one of the founders of Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement.
Gumbleton's public activities and civil disobedience in favor of peace have drawn much attention. In 1999 he was arrested outside The White House along with eleven other anti war protesters for disturbing the peace. Bishop Gumbleton has more recently been a very vocal opponent of the war in Iraq, being arrested once again outside The White House for engaging in civil disobedience, he was arrested along with United Methodist Bishop C. Joseph Sprague, Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Nobel Peace Prize laureates Mairead Corrigan Maguire and Jody Williams and members of pacifist organisations.[4] Gumbleton is the only Roman Catholic bishop in America to have taken such action in protest of the war. Gumbleton has also in the past been arrested due to protests against nuclear weapons.
Co-sponsors:
BENEDICTINE SISTERS OF ERIE
CALL TO ACTION ERIE
ERIE PEACE INITIATIVE
ERIE REGIONAL PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER
GANNON CENTER FOR SOCIAL CONCERNS
IN MEMORY OF CHARLENE M. TANNER
LAKE ERIE ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY (LEAD)
MARY THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC WORKER HOUSE
MERCYHURST COLLEGE CAMPUS MINISTRY
PAX CHRISTI USA
SISTERS OF MERCY: ERIE, BUFFALO,
ROCHESTER, PITTSBURGH
SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF NW PA
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY COMMUNITY,
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF ERIE
Info: benedectine@igc.org
Parking: The most direct entrance is from W. 12th Street. There is a parking lot right beside the free-standing lecture hall. Parking at Villa Maria Academy is also possible. Walk across the back lawn to the lecture hall.
Bio about Bishop Gumbleton from Wikipedia (part of the background in this announcement was taken from this bio): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Gumbleton
