New Haven Independent

The Catholic Worker movement was recently revealed to be one of the social and political groups that’s come under FBI scrutiny in the government’s search for terrorists. Those who live at the Amistad (“Friendship”) Catholic Worker house on Rosette Street in New Haven say they’re not surprised, but they’re too busy doing what they always do —- feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and the imprisoned, resisting war and, at this time of year, wrapping hundreds of presents and planning a huge Christmas party —- to worry much about it. (They don’t know whether their particular house has come under surveillance.)

There are about 100 independent “houses of hospitality” around the country, run on the anarchistic model of Catholic Worker movement co-founder, Dorothy Day, who died in 1980 and is being considered for sainthood. The New Haven house was founded a decade ago by Mark and Luz Colville. They live there with their five children and assorted other members who move through at varying intervals.

The FBI describes the ideology of the Catholic Workers as “semi-communistic.” The New York Times reported this week that the FBI has been spying on Catholic Worker and other nonviolent groups (including a bunch of vegans). Recent revelations show that the Bush administration has been spying on Americans, including using illegal wiretaps, through the FBI, the Pentagon, and the National Security Agency, under the umbrella of the “War on Terror.”

“Guilty as charged,” Mark Colville responded, chuckling, to the FBI’s description of his group. “The Gospel is certainly ‘semi-communistic,’ if not perfectly communistic.” But he added, “If they are looking for terrorists, they’re certainly not going to find them in the Catholic Worker movement. One of our bedrock, bottom-line commitments is to non-violence. Certainly anyone who spied on us would know that.”

Several men down on their luck joined the family for breakfast one recent morning, sharing pots of coffee, toast and sweet rolls. Colville’s son, Justin, 9, endlessly stirred his cup of cocoa before being shooed off to school. Besides taking in people who need a place to stay and some TLC, the Colvilles offer many others free meals, clothing, masses and evenings of reflection.

Colville was part of the group of 25 Christian peace activists who just returned from an attempt to visit the prisoners held at Guantanamo Naval Base. (With certain exceptions, it’s illegal for U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba, so members of the group may experience repercussions.) He also served a year in prison in the late 1990s for pouring blood and hammering on a Navy destroyer that carried nuclear weapons. These activities no doubt give him an FBI record, but he said concern that the Catholic Worker movement harbors potential terrorists is ludicrous. He offered his theory of why the surveillance might be happening.

“It’s an indication of the level of fear that’s going on in our government today. Decision-making is so much based on fear these days, maybe more so than any other time in my life.”

A few years back, Mark took Keeley, then 11, to Colombia to stand in solidarity with a peasant peace community that had been harassed by government and rebel soldiers because people there insisted on the right to keep military forces of all persuasions out of their village. A year of so later, Luz made the same trip with Keeley’s younger sister, Soledad.

Three-year-old Isaiah (in photo with Keeley and Luz) greets every family member and visitor with infectious good cheer and non-stop patter. He’s also fond of dive-bombing unsuspecting adults who stop by to visit. It was Isaiah’s close call at the tender age of four days -— a bullet fired into the house by drug dealers missed his crib by a few feet — that propelled Colville, supported by his fellow members of ECCO (Elm City Congregations Organized), to call out the drug dealer staying in the house right next door. Colville told him to leave the neighborhood. This reporter was on the scene that night, and envisioned the dealer shooting Colville for his boldness. But that didn’t happen. Instead the drug dealer did leave the neighborhood, and ever since the street has been much safer.

A painting of Dorothy Day hangs in the Colvilles’ kitchen. In their living room is a poster, the letters in bold primary colors spelling out, “If you want peace, work for justice.”