North America

Jailed for Seeking Justice
4 January 2008
Louie Vitale, OFM and Steve Kelly, SJ arrested while non-violently protesting U.S. interrogation techniques

Donations are all quick, easy and secure! Our programmes at FI bring grassroots Franciscans to the United Nations forums in New York and Geneva, influencing international human rights standards and bringing witness to human rights violations.

In late December 2007, Kenya held a ground-breaking democratic election, the results of which have plunged the country into chaos. The victory of incumbent President Mwai Kibaki was rejected by the opposition on charges of vote rigging.

Kenya has since erupted into tribal and political violence. Mobs carrying panga (machetes) and rungus (wooden clubs) hunt each other on the streets, report the Franciscans in Kenya. Near one thousand Kenyans have died in the post-election violence, while 300,000 have been displaced. Violations of human rights, including rape are occuring on a daily basis.

Amidst this carnage, the Franciscan Family is attempting to sow anew the seeds of peace, trust, and brotherhood.  

To read more about the crisis and the Franciscan Family’s actions in Kenya, visit:
Grave Human Rights Violations in Kenya
Franciscans Launch Justice & Peace Office in Nairobi
Bringing Calm to Kenya

For 3 weeks, Luiz Flávio Cappio, OFM the Bishop of Barra has been staging a hunger strike in opposition to the controversial government plan to divert the São Francisco river in Brazil.
To read more about Bishop Cappio's protest and his ongoing struggle, see also:
Bishop Cappio stops hunger strike, but not his protest

Subscribe / Unsubscribe
If this has been sent to you by a friend and you would like to be on our mailing list, or if you wish not to receive these mailings, please send us an e-mail at newsbriefs@fiop.org