Fr. Louis Vitale Speaks in Albany May 15

Father Louis Vitale, the Franciscan friar who has engaged in civil disobedience for nearly four decades in pursuit of peace and justice, will speak in Albany at 7 p.m. May 15 in the Pastoral Center of the Albany Diocese, 40 N. Main Avenue. The topic of his talk is, "Love Your Enemies: Transforming 'Us vs. Them' Thinking."

His appearance is being co-sponsored by St. Bernardine of Siena Secular Franciscan Fraternity, reports Walt Chura, SFO, local formation director and Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha Region's representative to Franciscan Action Network (FAN).

A pot luck supper will begin at 5:30 p.m.

A $10 free will offering is requested.

Father Louie will discuss the importance of dialoguing with enemies instead of warring with them. Just back from Iran, he will discuss his experience there and the development around the forging of new relationships with the Iranian people and government. Suggested next steps include both continuing to build people-to-people ties with Iranians, as well as advocating with the U.S. government to talk with the Iranian government.

A former Air Force navigator with a PhD in sociology from UCLA, the 76-year-old friar believes his mission is to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and St. Francis, who comforted the poor and preached nonviolence. "I call it the evangelization of peace," he says.

He is co-founder of Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service.