Louis Vitale
| Friar Louis Vitale OFM | |
|---|---|
| Friar | |
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Vitale demonstrating against weaponized drones just before being arrested at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada c. 2010 to 2012
| |
| Diocese | Santa Barbara, San Francisco |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 1, 1932 San Gabriel, California, U.S. |
| Died | September 6, 2023 (aged 91) Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Occupation | Friar of the Franciscan order |
| Alma mater | Loyola, PhD UCLA |
Louis Vitale, OFM, (June 1, 1932 – September 6, 2023) was an American Franciscan friar, peace activist, and a co-founder of Nevada Desert Experience.[1] His religious beliefs led him to participate in civil disobedience actions at peace demonstrations and acts of religious witness over 40 years. In the name of peace, Vitale has been arrested more than 400 times.[2] Vitale stated that Francis of Assisi, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. provided him with inspiration.[3][4]
Early life and education
Louis Vitale was born on June 1, 1932, in San Gabriel, California.[5] His family operated a lucrative fish processing business.[6] After graduating in 1954 from Loyola University, now Loyola Marymount University,[4] Vitale enlisted in the US Air Force. Vitale's main role in the Air Force was that of an intercept officer, in charge of radio communications.[7] Vitale took his vows as a Franciscan friar in 1960 when he was 28 years old.[4] He was awarded a PhD for original research in sociology in September 1972, from University of California, Los Angeles.[3] From 1979 to 1988, Vitale served as the provincial superior of the Franciscan Friars of the province of St. Barbara. He served as the pastor at St. Boniface Catholic Church for 12 years in the Tenderloin of San Francisco, California.[8]
Pace e Bene
Louis Vitale was one of the founders of Pace e Bene, a nonviolence service, in 1989.[9] The name means Peace and all good. Other founders included: Sr. Rosemary Lynch, Alain Richard, Peter Ediger and Julia Occhiogrosso,[10] who were all experienced peace activists.[7][8] Pace e Bene developed educational programs for nonviolent living with an emphasis on spirituality.[11] In 2005, Pace e Bene published a book, Engage,[9] which described Pace e Bene's programs. The programs, as described in the book, were designed to encourage "the discovery, internalization and use of the power of nonviolence for personal and social change".[9][12] Hundreds of nonviolence study groups were organized by Pace e Bene between 1989 and 2010.[8][13]
Nevada Desert Experience
In 1981, Vitale received a letter from Rome asking Franciscans to do something creative in 1982 to honor the 800th anniversary of the birth of St. Francis. Vitale took this to heart.[14] The First Nevada Lenten Experience was held at the Nevada test site,[14] a series of witness and protest actions held at the atomic bomb test site near Las Vegas, Nevada.[15] This was the precursor to the Nevada Desert Experience.[14] Louis Vitale with Anne Bucher, Michael Affleck, Duncan MacMurdy, and two Franciscan friars, Ed Dunn and Terry Symens, founded the Nevada Desert Experience in 1984.[14][16] Over the years, Corbin Harney and the Shundahai Network[17] worked with NDE, holding many protests of the government's continued nuclear weapons work. NDE worked with Corbin Harney[14] in protests against establishing a repository for radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain, 100 mi (160 km) from Las Vegas.[18]
Arrests and protests
Vitale participated in numerous protests and was arrested hundreds of times. Examples include:
- April, 2005, Vitale was arrested at the Nevada National Security Site and sent to Beatty Jail to say farewell to the "Justice of the Peace" while simultaneously the Navajo Nation banned uranium mining and Pope Benedict XVI was elected. He and his accomplice were stopping NNSS busses from getting workers to their job sites.[19]
- On November 19, 2006, Vitale was arrested at Fort Huachuca in Arizona[20] with Jesuit Fr. Steve Kelly. They were protesting at the military compound responsible for training the US military in interrogation methods. The protest was against the US policy of using torture at Abu Gharib and the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp.[20]
- In 2007, Vitale was arrested at Vandenberg Air Force Base protesting Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Testing.[4] Vitale was arrested at the Nevada Test site along with actor Martin Sheen and many others.[4][21]
- On April 9, 2009, Vitale with John Dear,[8] Eve Tetaz arrested at Creech Air Force Base protesting UAV Drone attacks in Pakistan.[22][23]
- In October 2009, Vitale and a newlywed couple[24] from New Mexico distributed fliers in Sunnyvale's Lockheed-Martin traffic.
- In November 2009, Vitale crossed the line[25] at Ft Benning to protest the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. He served six months in a federal prison as a result.[4][26]
- August 2009, Megan Rice and Louis Vitale were arrested at Vandenberg Air Force Base protesting a test of a Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic missile (ICBM) launched approximately 4,000 miles to the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.[27]
- On December 31, 2009, Vitale planned to join the Gaza Freedom March, but after being stopped by the Egyptian government from making the trek, Vitale joined 22 others in a fast and protest.[23][28]
- In November 2010, Vitale crossed the line (deliberately trespassing) at Ft Benning to protest the U.S. Army's Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. He served six months at Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc for that action.[4][29]
- On January 27, 2011, Rice, with Kathy Kelly, John Dear, and Louis Vitale, were convicted of trespassing following a protest against weaponized drones at Creech Air Force Base.[30]
- At the 2012 August Drone convention in Las Vegas, Vitale registered and paid to attend and was threatened with arrest.[31]
Death
Louis Vitale died in Oakland, California, on September 6, 2023, at the age of 91.[32]
Awards and recognition
- 1999 Doctor of humane letters honorary degree: Quincy University in Illinois
- 2001 Pope Paul VI Teacher of Peace award given by PAX Christi USA[7]
- 2003 Human Rights Award from Global Exchange[33]
- 2003 The Voice of Peace Award awarded by School of the Americas Watch (March 9)
- 2004 Dignity: Pax e Bonum Award: given by St. Boniface Church San Francisco (March 23)
- 2004 Peter J Sammon Award: given by Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights.[34](October 14)
- 2006 Jefferson Award for Community Service from KTVU Channel 5 San Francisco [35]
- 2012 Honorary Doctorate from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago [36]
- 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award To Pace e Bene Co-founder Louie Vitale [37]
See also
Books
Wittner, Lawrence S, Confronting the Bomb 2009 Stanford University Press[1]
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 Wittner, Lawrence S. (May 12, 2009). Confronting the bomb: a short history of the world nuclear disarmament movement. Stanford, Calif. ISBN 9780804771245. OCLC 469186910.
- Back to citation "Protesting priest's path leads repeatedly to jail". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2009; McGee, Max (May 14, 2019). "Evangelization of Peace: The Radical Life of Father Louis Vitale". Nations. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019; Riegle, Rosalie G. (2013). Crossing the line: nonviolent resisters speak out for peace. Eugene, Or.: Cascade Books. ISBN 9781610976831. OCLC 825735867.
- Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 "Protesting priest's path leads repeatedly to jail". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
- Back to citation occurrence 4.0 Back to citation occurrence 4.1 Back to citation occurrence 4.2 Back to citation occurrence 4.3 Back to citation occurrence 4.4 Back to citation occurrence 4.5 Back to citation occurrence 4.6 Paddock, Richard C. (April 9, 2009). "His spirit won't be confined Pursuing evangelization of peace". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- Back to citation "Parish Newsletter, June 5, 2022" (PDF). St. Joachim and St. John the Evangelist's Church, Beacon, New York. June 5, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023. “Social Justice Corner - Father Louis Vitale OFM, was born 90 years ago this week (June 1, 1932) in San Gabriel, California. He is a Franciscan priest, activist, and a co-founder of Nevada Desert Experience....”
- Back to citation Smith, John L. (April 13, 2009). "Life of crime standing up for peace has landed 'Father Louie' in many jails". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- Back to citation occurrence 7.0 Back to citation occurrence 7.1 Back to citation occurrence 7.2 McGee, Max (May 14, 2019). "Evangelization of Peace: The Radical Life of Father Louis Vitale". Nations. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- Back to citation occurrence 8.0 Back to citation occurrence 8.1 Back to citation occurrence 8.2 Back to citation occurrence 8.3 Dear, John (September 15, 2013). The nonviolent life. Pace e Bene Franciscan Nonviolence Center (Las Vegas, Nev.). Long Beach, CA. ISBN 978-0966978322. OCLC 868026801.
- Back to citation occurrence 9.0 Back to citation occurrence 9.1 Back to citation occurrence 9.2 Slattery, Laura (2005). Engage: exploring nonviolent living. Oakland: Pace e Bene Press. ISBN 0966978315. OCLC 64179247.
- Back to citation "Pace e Bene - Our Team".
- Back to citation Slattery, Laura (2005). Engage: exploring nonviolent living. Oakland: Pace e Bene Press. ISBN 0966978315. OCLC 64179247; Butigan, Ken (1999). From violence to wholeness. Bruno, Patricia. Las Vegas, Nev. ISBN 0966978307. OCLC 43326283; Preston-Pile, Cindy (2006). Traveling with the turtle: a small group process in women's spirituality and peacemaking. Woodward, Irene. Oakland, CA: Pace e Bene Press. ISBN 9780966978377. OCLC 84622237.
- Back to citation Butigan, Ken (1999). From violence to wholeness. Bruno, Patricia. Las Vegas, Nev. ISBN 0966978307. OCLC 43326283.
- Back to citation "Notre Dame de Namur University's Catholic Scholar Series with Father Louie Vitale, O.F.M." Notre Dame de Namur University. March 17, 2009. Archived from the original on October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- Back to citation occurrence 14.0 Back to citation occurrence 14.1 Back to citation occurrence 14.2 Back to citation occurrence 14.3 Back to citation occurrence 14.4 Butigan, Ken (2003). Pilgrimage through a burning world: spiritual practice and nonviolent protest at the Nevada Test Site. Nevada Desert Experience (Organization). Albany: State University of New York Press. ISBN 1417506695. OCLC 55205572.
- Back to citation Sargent, Carole (2022). Transform Now Plowshares: Megan Rice, Gregory Boertje-Obed, and Michael Walli. People of God Series. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-8146-3722-7.
- Back to citation Epstein, Barbara (1991). Political protest and cultural revolution: nonviolent direct action in the 1970s and 1980s. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 9780520914469. OCLC 44965693.
- Back to citation "Our Founder, Corbin Harney Dies July 2007". Shundahai Network. July 2007. Archived from the original on April 20, 2010.
- Back to citation Harney, Corbin (2009). The nature way. Purbrick, Alex (1st ed.). Reno: University of Nevada Press. ISBN 9780874178043. OCLC 489213600.
- Back to citation "Trinity House Catholic Worker Newsletter". Archived from the original on August 5, 2013.
- Back to citation occurrence 20.0 Back to citation occurrence 20.1 "The Nevada Desert Experience:: Ft. Huachuca Torture Protest Update". nevadadesertexperience.org. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- Back to citation Effron, Lauren (March 17, 2012). "US celebrities arrested crusading for causes". ABC News. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
- Back to citation Leys, Jeff (April 10, 2009). "Resisting the Afghanistan - Pakistan War". Voices for Creative Nonviolence (VCNV.org). Archived from the original on April 7, 2011.
- Back to citation occurrence 23.0 Back to citation occurrence 23.1 Hartsough, David. Waging peace: global adventures of a lifelong activist. Hollyday, Joyce. Oakland, CA. p. 187. ISBN 1322063133. OCLC 888349175.
- Back to citation "Trinity Nuclear Abolition News Release" (PDF).
- Back to citation Riegle, Rosalie G. (2013). Crossing the line: nonviolent resisters speak out for peace. Eugene, Or.: Cascade Books. ISBN 9781610976831. OCLC 825735867.
- Back to citation Joyce, Bill (February 26, 2016). "Love is what matters". Oakland Voices. Archived from the original on October 19, 2019.
- Back to citation Walter, Nicolas (August 25, 2009). "Two arrested at base protest arrests mark another successful missile launch at Vandenberg". Santa Maria Sun. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
- Back to citation "Gaza protest planned on Cast Lead anniversary". Egypt Independent.
- Back to citation HNP Communications (February 23, 2011). "St. Barbara Province to Honor Activist Louis Vitale". Franciscan Friars of the Holy Name. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- Back to citation Toplikar, Dave (January 27, 2011). "'Creech 14' found guilty of trespassing, judge says 'go in peace'". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- Back to citation Benjamin, Medea (August 13, 2012). "At Drone Convention Zero tolerance for peace". Global Exchange. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018.
- Back to citation "Louis Vitale, Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace, presente! 1932-2023". Pax Christi USA. September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- Back to citation "Louis Vitale". Social Justice Resource Center. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
- Back to citation Lanuza, Magda (Fall 2010). "Faith communities stand with immigrants" (PDF). Network Connection. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 26, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- Back to citation Moody, Shelah (May 21, 2006). "Jefferson Award: Presented to the Rev. Louis Vitale / A priest for peace and justice". SF Gate. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
- Back to citation Butigan, Ken (September 6, 2023). "Fr Louis Vitale - presente!". Nuke Resister. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
- Back to citation "Lifetime Achievement Award To Pace e Bene Co-Founder Louie Vitale". Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service. October 18, 2019. Archived from the original on October 19, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.