Text Fwd: Mark Kenney sentence to six months for line crossing at STRTATCOM last Aug 9th

* Text & image fwd from Jerry Ebner and Frank Cordaro on Feb. 25, 2011

Mark Kenney sentence to six months for line crossing at STRTATCOM last Aug 9th

Don't forget that Fr Jack McCaslin returns to Fed Court in Omaha
for the same witness April 12th
http://groups.google.com/group/offitt-list-one/browse_thread/thread/1a67c3ea87cf5162


------

Mark Kenney was sentence to a six month prison term today in Omaha
Fed. Magistrate Judge Thomas D. Thalken. court room. Mark was
represented by "pro bono" attorney & Catholic Deacon Chuck Hannan.
Mark plead guilty.

Mark's prior record of line crossing at Offutt AFB in which Mark has
served a 30 day, 45 day and two six month sentences (the two six
months sentences being given by Judge Thalken) played heavy in the
Judge's sentence. The Judge said he respected Mark's personal
convictions for peace but said Mark has many other option to express
those convictions without 'breaking the law'. Judge Thalken readily
admitted that any prison time given to Mark would not be a deterrent
but only punishment. Yet the Judge sentence Mark to the full six
month maximum jail time because of Mark's prior sentences.

The Judge is allowing Mark to "Self Surrender", which means Mark got
to go home today and wait until the Federal Bureau of Prisons assigns
him a Fed Prison to do his six month sentence. This process takes
between a month to six weeks. Mark will be notify by mail and or phone
when a site has been assigned and he will have to 'self surrender' at
the assigned prison.

Mark can be contacted at:
402 598 2403
markfpeter@gmail.com

---------------------
Mark read the following statement before being sentence.

Since my time in the military, I have struggled with living out my
Christian witness in a world dominated by weapons of war and mass
destruction. I wish I could say my witness was more consistent.

Like many Americans, the 9/11 bombings in New York, city gave me great
pause. Pope John Paul II had certainly made his feelings known, as to
the lack of validity of our going to war in the light of the Just War
theory.. But the silence of the pulpits of the Catholic church on the
issue seemed deafening to me.

I searched other churches through bible studies and services, and
found the same thing. Most pulpits were treading very lightly around
the message of the Sermon on the Mount. After all, Don't we know
better?. Isn't our military the righteous one here? Isn't our cause
Just? The Old Testament, Davidical idea that we can practice living
out god's message and teachings while engaging our enemies in war, was
back on track. The New Testament, Constantinian idea of making the
world safe for the practice of Christianity, through war and conquest,
was making a great comeback.

Nothing of this reality seemed scriptural to me. After all, didn't
Isaiah and Hosea and Zachariah seem to be sensing their current system
was certainly in want of something? Weren't they dreaming and
prophesying of a new reality to come? Didn't Mathew and Paul and the
early apostles and evangelists seem to be saying that Jesus was the
culmination of this desired prophetic reality sought for so many
generations? Certainly John thought so.

In the end, I have no choice but to accept the revelations of the
early prophets, the early evangelists, and the teachings, and life,
and death, and resurrection of Jesus, whom I willingly proclaim as the
promised messiah. No other power or principality holds a candle to
this.

While I recognize that I am a flawed and sinful man, I can not stand
idly by and watch the powers and principalities that be, butcher the
Good News of Jesus the Christ, through slanted interpretations to
false and violent, church driven theologies of acceptable violence,
militarism, and war.

If I am guilty of anything, it's that I desire to hold onto my faith
in Jesus the Christ more than I wish to hold onto the the manufactured
myth of the American Dream. If I am guilty of anything, it's that I
fear God more than I fear the courts.

For these reasons, I do what I do. For these reasons I will try to
accept as faithfully as I can whatever the courts or society have in
store for me. I have nothing further to say on the matter.

For updates and support for both Mark Kenney and Fr Jack McCalsin contact:
The Omaha Catholic Worker
Jerry Ebner, Mike Brennan
1104 N. 24th St. Omaha, Nebraska USA 68102
www.no-nukes.org/cwomaha
Email:cwomaha@gmail.com
Phone 402- 502- 5887
-----------------------------

8 Minute Youtube clip of statements at the line and the line crossing.
"The four Catholic peace activist in their own words." A MOST SEE!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG8A_V8IeoQ

Flickr Slide Show of Aug 6-9, 2010 STRATCOM Vigil and Line Crossing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/frank_cordaro_and_the_dm_catholic_worker/sets/72157624580510523/

Text Fwd: 4 Catholic Peace Activist called to Omaha Fed Court for Aug 9th line crossing at STRATCOM

Mark Kenney - Aug 9, 2011

_______________________________________


* Text and image informed by Frank Cordaro on Feb. 9, 2011

Previous posting: Four Catholic Peace Activist (91 yr, 83 yr, 81 yr and 53 yr) Cross the Line at STRATCOM Aug 9, 2010
http://groups.google.com/group/offitt-list-one/browse_thread/thread/79d2c2aff901ba82/dd48566dc14c3b32?lnk=gst&q=mark+kenney#dd48566dc14c3b32
-----------------------------------
“Our Faith is in the crucified Lord and no one else. No one who
believes in Jesus can ever justify the possession or use of any
nuclear weapons. Wars are never an option for a follower of Jesus in
solving human conflicts.” Mark Kenney - Aug 9, 2010 holding a
processional crucifix just before crossing the line at STRATCOM,
Offutt AFB (see attached photo)

The four Catholic Peace Activists who cross the line at Offutt AFB
last Aug 9th have been called to Fed Court in Omaha NE. Two of the
activist, Peg Gallaher (91yr) and Charlie Wolford (83 yr) have
contacted the Air Force Jag Officer assigned to this case and are
working on plea agreements that will not lead to jail. Fr Jack
McCaslin (81) has been in the hospital and is recovering from illness
and has yet to decide what he will do.

Mark Kenney is electing to go to court on Friday Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.
before Fed. Magistrate Judge Thomas D. Thalken. Mark has served a 30
day, 45 day and two six month sentences from prior Offutt line
crossings. Judge Thalken sentenced him to the two six month sentences.
Mark has no reason to expect the judge not to sentence him to six
months again. Mark is a long time volunteer and friend of the Omaha CW
community

Below are links to a Youtube clip & a Flickr photo slide show from the
Aug 9th line crossing. Plus a copy of a statement Mark wrote upon
finding out about being charged in this case.

I am sure Mark would appreciate hearing from folks and having folks in
the court room on Feb 25th. You can contact Mark Kenney at 402 598
2403 markfpeter@gmail.com

------
8 Minute Youtube clip of statements at the line and the line crossing.
The four Catholic peace activist in their own words. A MOST SEE!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG8A_V8IeoQ


Flickr Slide Show of Aug 6-9, 2010 STRATCOM Vigil and Line Crossing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/frank_cordaro_and_the_dm_catholic_worker/sets/72157624580510523/

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mark Kenney
Date: Tue, Feb 8, 2011 at 7:49 AM
Subject: Mark Kenney's statement of faith regarding August action at Offutt AFB

Since my time in the military, I have struggled with living out my
Christian witness in a world dominated by weapons of war and mass
destruction. I wish I could say my witness was more consistent.

Like many Americans, the 9/11 bombings in New York, city gave me great
pause. Pope John Paul II had certainly made his feelings known, as to
the lack of validity of our going to war in the light of the Just War
theory.. But the silence of the pulpits of the Catholic church on the
issue seemed deafening to me.

I searched other churches through bible studies and services, and
found the same thing. Most pulpits were treading very lightly around
the message of the Sermon on the Mount. After all, Don't we know
better?. Isn't our military the righteous one here? Isn't our cause
Just? The Old Testament, Davidical idea that we can practice living
out god's message and teachings while engaging our enemies in war, was
back on track. The New Testament, Constantinian idea of making the
world safe for the practice of Christianity, through war and conquest,
was making a great comeback.

Nothing of this reality seemed scriptural to me. After all, didn't
Isaiah and Hosea and Zachariah seem to be sensing their current system
was certainly in want of something? Weren't they dreaming and
prophesying of a new reality to come? Didn't Mathew and Paul and the
early apostles and evangelists seem to be saying that Jesus was the
culmination of this desired prophetic reality sought for so many
generations? Certainly John thought so.

In the end, I have no choice but to accept the revelations of the
early prophets, the early evangelists, and the teachings, and life,
and death, and resurrection of Jesus, whom I willingly proclaim as the
promised messiah. No other power or principality holds a candle to
this.

While I recognize that I am a flawed and sinful man, I can not stand
idly by and watch the powers and principalities that be, butcher the
Good News of Jesus the Christ, through slanted interpretations to
false and violent, church driven theologies of acceptable violence,
militarism, and war.

If I am guilty of anything, it's that I desire to hold onto my faith
in Jesus the Christ more than I wish to hold onto the the manufactured
myth of the American Dream. If I am guilty of anything, it's that I
fear God more than I fear the courts.

For these reasons, I do what I do. For these reasons I will try to
accept as faithfully as I can whatever the courts or society have in
store for me. I have nothing further to say on the matter.

In Peace,
Mark Kenney
402 598 2403
markfpeter@gmail.com

Google Groups "STRATCom / Offutt AFB List" group

Text Fwd: [ Reply to Cordaro] Invite to 32nd Annual Feast of the Holy Innocents Retreat and Witness at STRATCom 신성무고인을 위한 축연과 미전략사령부 앞 시위,12. 27~28

Invite to the 32st Annual Feast of the Holy Innocents Retreat and
Witness STRATCOM Headquarters & US MILITARY SPACE COMMAND, OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, - Monday, Dec. 27 to Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2010

Since last year's retreat and witness was call off because of the
snow, ice and blizzard conditions we are re-framing the invite from
last years retreat for this years effort. In that spirit DM and Omaha
Catholic Workers are inviting you to make your Christmas celebration
complete and join us as we explore the often ignored and deeper
meaning of the season. Using the Gospel of Mathew's infant narrative,
we will examine the links between King Herod, his killing of the
innocent children in Bethlehem and the murderous deeds of US backed
modern day Herods. Its a wonderful opportunity to get your head and
heart cleared of our USA Christmas spirit of glut and over consumption
by taking a 24 hour retreat to examine the deeper meaning and spirit
of the birth of Jesus and the reception his birth got from the
political powers of his day and how not a lot has changed in the last
2000 years....

We recommend a reading of Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan's
"The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus'
Birth" as a primer for the retreat. The Herods of Jesus' day were
backed up by the Legions of the Roman armies. Our modern day Herods
are backed up by the USA Global Strike Force under STRATCom at Offutt
AFB base-
see: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8810

This year's retreat is shorten from previous year. Most of the retreat
will take place in the basement of St John's Church on Creighton
University campus at 2500 California Plaza, Omaha NE. Floor space is
available. If you need a bed or special arraignment contact the Omaha
CW before hand.

The Retreat will begin at Noon Monday, Dec. 27th with a reading of the
Infant Narrative of Matthew's Gospel and prayer circle at the Kinney
gate at Offutt AFB in Bellevue. After this people will regather in the
basement of St John's Church on Creighton University campus for
prayer, sharing and reflections. The retreat will end on Tuesday Dec.
28 with a 10 a.m. Mass at St John's followed by our annual witness and
prayer circle at the Kinney gate at Offutt AFB in Bellevue to the main
entrance into STRATCom

*This year we are leaving open the possibility of doing a direct
action other than crossing the line. Anyone interested in exploring
this option will need to contact the Omaha or Des Moines Catholic
Workers a head of time so scheduling can be re-arraigned.

** You can buy "The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach
About Jesus' Birth" at a big discount off the Internet at:


For more information contact:

Frank Cordaro, The Phil Berrigan Catholic Worker House
713 Indiana St., Des Moines IA 50314
Ph (515) 282-4781 Cell (515) 490 2490
E-mail frank.cordaro@(at).com

Or

Jerry Ebner, Omaha Catholic Worker
1104 N 24th St, Omaha NE 68102
Ph (402) 502- 5887
E-mail cwomaha@(at).com

Text Fwd: UNA-USA cover letter (WFUNA)

* Text informed by Tim Rinne, Nebraska Division, UNA-USA, on March 18, 2009

Dear WFUNA Colleagues,

We live an hour from one of the most dangerous places on the face of the earth.

Offutt Air Force Base, outside Omaha, Nebraska, has for decades been the legendary command center for the US’s nuclear deterrent—for America’s stockpiled Weapons of Mass Destruction.
In the wake of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, however, US Strategic Command (or ‘StratCom’) underwent a transformation that, incredible as it sounds, has made it even more dangerous. Now offensive rather than defensive in intent, StratCom today is charged with waging the U.S. government’s preemptive ‘War on Terror’ and endeavoring to militarily dominate outer space.

All of these missions—nuclear weapons, preemptive war and space superiority—contravene the peacemaking goals of the United Nations and threaten global security. And yet, this transformation of StratCom’s role and mission has happened so fast hardly anyone outside Nebraska even knows of it.

The Nebraska Division of the UNA-USA is submitting the enclosed resolution for consideration at the 2009 UNA-USA National Convention in New York City June 13-15 specifically to start alerting the world community about enhanced threat StratCom now constitutes. The resolution is being co-sponsored by the Montana, Monterey Bay CA, Albuquerque NM, Pike’s Peak CO, Northern Colorado and Seattle WA Chapters.

We hope you will share this information with the chapters and affiliates in your country. We would, of course, be pleased to answer any questions or concerns you might have.

Best Wishes,


Anita Fussell, President
UNA-USA Nebraska Division
402-486-2330, afussell@eastmonttowers.com

John Krejci, Advocacy Chair
UNA-USA Nebraska Division
402-466-8460, jkrejci@windstream.net


P.S. Even though the Obama Administration will be more supportive of the United Nations,
the roots of U.S. militarism run deep. StratCom is certain to retain its offensive mission
regardless of who is president. UNA Chapters can help deter this threat by alerting their
members of the danger StratCom poses to the UN’s peacemaking goals.


* Related blogs*

http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/03/text-fed-nebraska-division-una-usa.html
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Text Fed: Nebraska Division UNA-USA Resolution Get Response


http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/03/una-usa-national-conference-resolution.html
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Text Fwd: UNA-USA NATIONAL CONFERENCE RESOLUTION


http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/03/text-fwd-una-resolution-on-stratcom.html
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Text Fwd: UNA Resolution on StratCom (Appeal letter)



*For more info. on the StratCom, go to *
http://www.nebraskansforpeace.org/nepeace/stratcom/index.php