2016 -- H 8157

========

LC005900

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF FATHER DANIEL JOSEPH

BERRIGAN, S.J.

     Introduced By: Representatives Filippi, Ajello, Handy, Price, and Regunberg

     Date Introduced: May 04, 2016

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Father Daniel Joseph Berrigan, S.J., a Catholic Jesuit Priest noted for his

early opposition to the Vietnam War, his opposition to nuclear weapons, and his deep and abiding

support for justice, civil rights, and equality, passed away on April 30, 2016, surrounded by his

loving family; and

     WHEREAS, Daniel Joseph Berrigan was born on May 9, 1921, in Virginia, Minnesota,

the fifth of six sons born into a devout Catholic family. He later earned a Bachelor's degree from

St. Andrew-on-Hudson, a Jesuit Seminary in Hyde Park, New York, and a Master's degree from

Woodstock College in Baltimore, Maryland. Father Berrigan felt a calling to the priesthood at a

young age and joined the Jesuits directly out of high school, and was ordained into the Priesthood

in 1952; and

     WHEREAS, Early on, Father Berrigan earned a reputation as an activist priest, one who

worked tirelessly to fight poverty, social injustice and militarism. After returning from a trip to

Paris in 1963, where he was enlightened by French Jesuits about the deplorable conditions and

actions taking place in Vietnam, Father Berrigan became one of the first opponents of American

involvement in the Vietnam War. He actively preached against the war, wrote many letters to

newspapers opposing the war, and was very active in the anti-war movement; and

     WHEREAS, Father Berrigan later turned his attention to the nuclear weapons issue, and

in 1980, founded the Plowshares Movement, a group opposed to nuclear weapons. Father

Berrigan was a consistent opponent throughout his life of America's policy of projecting military

force across the Globe. In addition to Vietnam, he opposed American military involvement in the

1980's in Central America, the Gulf War, the Kosovo War, United States military action in

Afghanistan, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq; and

     WHEREAS, Father Berrigan was also a passionate defender of the weak, the sick and the

poor and campaigned tirelessly on behalf of social change. He supported the occupy movement,

ministered to AIDS patients in New York City, and opposed capital punishment. In honor of his

lifetime of service to others, Father Berrigan received numerous prestigious awards in his life

including the War Resisters League Peace Award, the Gandhi Peace Award, the Thomas Merton

Award, the Pax Christi USA Pope Paul VI Teacher of Peace Award, the Peace Abbey Courage of

Conscience Award, and the Pacem in Terris Award; and

     WHEREAS, In his spare time, Father Berrigan loved writing, especially poetry. He wrote

sixteen books of poetry and essays. He was loved and adored by his family and his many friends

and supporters. Soon after he passed, his family officially stated, "Dan taught us that every person

is a miracle, every person has a story, every person is worthy of respect… and we are so aware of

all he did and all he was and all he created in almost 95 years of life lived with enthusiasm,

commitment, seriousness and almost holy humor"; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives hereby expresses its condolences on the

passing of Father Daniel Joseph Berrigan, S.J.; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Berrigan Family.

========

LC005900

========

LC005900 - Page 2 of 2