Thomas Merton

“We are people from diverse philosophies and faiths who find common ground in the nonviolent struggle to bring about a more peaceful and just society by instilling a consciousness of values and raising the moral questions involved in the issues of war, poverty, racism, and oppression”

Dorothy Day

Molly Rush

In the photo above, I’m the tall guy in the back row, far left.   I look like the engineer on my DOE badge. I kept that concealed in my car.

Standing directly in front of me is Attorney Tim Vining, Executive Director of Thomas Merton Center. He and his partner-in-crimes, Stephen Donahue, eventually fled into Canada to escape harassment by Pittsburgh Police and surveillance by the FBI.

Beside Attorney Vining is Molly Rush. She co-founded the Thomas Merton Center with Larry Kessler in 1972.   Every year, two days before 911, Pittsburgh celebrates Molly Rush Day.   Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbet name Molly a “Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania.”

Click here to read an article about Molly by the Catholic InSisterhood .

 When I was involved with the TMC from 1998 to 2006, this was our Mission Statement:

The Thomas Merton Center for Peace & Justice was founded in 1972 to bring people from diverse philosophies and faiths together to work, through nonviolent efforts, for a more just and peaceful world. Through protests and ongoing projects, members of TMC aim to instill in our society a consciousness of values and to raise the moral questions involved in the issues of war, poverty, racism and oppression.

Through the Priest network, word about this reached a Catholic named Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He  was not happy.

During a May, 2006, hearing, Senator Leahy challenged FBI Director Robert Mueller about FBI surveillance of antiwar and peace groups. [ 1 , 2 ]

Senator Patrick Leahy questioned FBI Director Robert Mueller regarding FBI surveillance of the Thomas Merton Center , a Pittsburgh-based peace and social justice group. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]