Archbishop presses case for Vieques islanders

The archbishop, a graduate of Siena College in Loudonville, spoke June 4 on the political ramifications of practice bombing by the U.S. Navy on the 21-mile-long island.

At St. Patrick's Church in Albany, he specifically addressed the moral and ethical issues raised by the bombing that has continued for 60 years.

Messages

His message to the people of the state was to contact their representatives and urge them to vote to support this cessation.

His message to Catholics was to be aware of the moral and ethical ramifications of the continued bombing. To a group at St. Patrick's of about 200 people from the Puerto Rican community and from various diocesan and neighborhood interests, the archbishop spoke in Spanish and English for approximately a half-hour.

Background

In recent years, the Navy has dropped napalm and depleted uranium, and dumped ammunition there. In 1999, a bomb that exploded near the Navy base killed a resident. According to the archbishop, that incident led the nearly 9,300 citizens of Vieques and the larger islands of Puerto Rico to actively protest the bombing, although the citizens of Vieques have been doing so since it began in 1941.

The Navy insists that Vieques is perfect for practice bombing and that the activity does not interfere with normal living conditions of the residents.

"On the island, people actually live only eight miles from where the bombs are being dropped. On the U.S. mainland, people cannot live closer than 50 miles from practice bombing sites," said the archbishop.

Effects

"The bombing constitutes a direct violation of basic human rights," he explained. "The moral rationale of the Church's involvement [in the Vieques situation] lies in the bedrock of its social teaching on the dignity and sanctity of the human person. Basic human rights demand that these people be allowed the opportunity to live in peace with their environment.

"There is scientific proof that secondary exposure to bombing can cause cancer. When the Navy detonates bombs over the island, clouds form several miles above, and it has been proven that the residue from these clouds filters back down on the island itself, affecting the environment and the biological systems of all living things, including human beings."

Damage

He also said that exposure to the loud noise of bombs exploding over long periods of time affects the normal rhythm of the human heartbeat.

Describing one instance where he walked through the practice bombing area, he described seeing un-detonated bombs protruding from the sandy beaches of Vieques. "They litter the sea-floor around the coastline as well, inhibiting the residents from fishing, their main industry," he said.

Archbishop Gonzalez urged Catholics to pray, become educated and actively protest by writing to their congresspersons to stop the bombing in Vieques.

"Prayer is the most powerful resource we have for peaceful resolution of this issue," he said.

Positions

* "Education must take place. Pope John Paul II has spoken often on the culture of life. Within our Catholic communities, we must all become aware of how critical this issue is, particularly on situations such as the one in Vieques. Gatherings such as this can go a long way to create understanding of the spiritual as well as the political points of view."

* "If the bombing is stopped, I think that the U.S. Navy has a moral obligation to clear the areas where practice bombing has taken place, before the environment can be returned to its natural condition. This would include the removal of all un-detonated bombs, bomb residue and all pollution in the sea surrounding the area."

* "The commitment of the Catholic Church is to stand with the people of Vieques throughout the entire ordeal."

* The archbishop has publicly stated that, although he supports civil disobedience as a choice, he tends to consider it a "last resort." He takes a definite stand on civil disobedience, however, believing that this activity must be non-violent, respectful and non-resistant. "I do not want to find myself in a position where I cannot govern the Archdiocese of San Juan because I am in jail," he said. "However, I support those who choose this means of protest. Even though I cannot be with them physically, I accompany them spiritually."

* "It is difficult to determine whether the citizens of Puerto Rico would consider independence or U.S. state-status as a result of the outcome of this ordeal. I must say that the issue has gone past the political status. The future is difficult to state."

* "Amnesty International and Pax Christi of Puerto Rico are among the many world groups that have voiced their support for cessation of the bombing on Vieques."

* In answer to the question, what is the next step for Vieques?, he said: "A referendum is scheduled to be held on Vieques in November to determine if residents would rather 1) have the U.S. Navy remain there for three years using inert bombs for practice with an economic package to the people in the amount of $40 million or, 2) have the Navy remain indefinitely, conducting its business as usual with an economic package of $40 million to the residents and another $50 million in the future. Since the effects of inert bombing are the same as the effects from real bombing, and since this referendum will be controlled and conducted solely by the Navy, the people's choices are limited to two options. I have suggested a third option to the U.S. government: the immediate and permanent cessation of all bombing on Vieques!"

(06-07-01) [[In-content Ad]]