SJA Wins Peace Award

Frank Kroncke, a central figure in the play, presided over presentation of Resist Illegitimate Authority awards to   peacemakers including Peace and Justice coordinator Julie Madden representing St. Joan   of Arc and parishioners Mary Morris (whom Julie cited); former FBI agent Colleen   Rowley, who earned a Time Magazine cover as one of three whistleblowers and the   current director of WAMM (Women Against Military Madness), the organization co-   founded by Polly Mann and so energized over the years by Marie Braun and other   parishioners.

In 1970, the Minnesota Eight followed the example of other Catholic groups: the   Catonsville Nine including Fathers Dan and Phil Berrigan and the Milwaukee 14 led by   Al Janicke-- in protesting the Vietnam War. They entered draft boards around Minnesota   and destroyed files. Their action then prevented many young Minnesota men from   being called to duty and possibly death, a tactic that wouldn’t work in today’s   computerized world.

Pat Ryan Greene a mother of six, retired writer/editor and a member of St. Joan's almost since she and her family moved to Minneapolis in 1968. Pat can be reached at patgreene01@msn.com.

Seven of the eight served prison terms for what might appear to have been a failed   attempt to end the war. However, Daniel Ellsberg, former advisor to then Secretary of   Defense Robert McNamara, has credited the example of the Minnesota Eight in his   release of the Pentagon Papers, which did lead to the war’s end and President Richard Nixon’s resignation.