Antiwar nuns use days before prison

DENVER - Three Roman Catholic nuns facing possible eight-year prison terms for pounding on a missile silo with hammers and smearing it with their own blood are spending their final days of freedom thanking supporters before a court decides their sentences.

Released from jail for the first time in six months, the peace activist nuns are on a whirlwind tour of potluck suppers, doctors' appointments and visits to family and friends.

"Eight years would be a long time to wait to give that gratitude," said Sister Jackie Hudson.

Sister Hudson, 68, Sister Ardeth Platte, 66, and Sister Carol Gilbert, 55, were charged in federal court with a felony for defacing a Minuteman III missile silo on Oct. 6 and are scheduled to be sentenced July 25.

The three, dressed in white chemical weapons suits, trespassed on federal land in northeast Colorado, swinging hammers and painting a cross on the silo with their own blood. They argued it was a symbolic disarmament that did not jeopardize national security.

The nuns said they were compelled to act as war with Iraq moved closer and because the United States has never promised not to use nuclear weapons.

They say they have no regrets.

As they talked about their approaching sentencing, they expressed frustration over being charged with a felony rather than misdemeanor trespassing, as they have been in previous protests.

Prosecutors said the nuns, all closely aligned with the late peace activist Philip Berrigan, showed a blatant disregard for the law and that previous arrests had not deterred them. A federal jury convicted them of interfering with the nation's defense and causing property damage of more than $1,000.

The maximum term is 30 years, but prosecutors have recommended five- to eight-year terms. The nuns are not sure if they will appeal because they are concerned an unfavorable ruling might hurt other activists.

Some peace activists believe the felony conviction was harsh.

In 2001, a priest who broke into a Colorado missile silo dressed as a clown and leaving bread, wine and a hammer was sentenced to 83 days on a federal trespassing conviction.

A dozen years earlier, Berrigan was convicted of criminal trespassing and sentenced to six months in prison for hammering and pouring blood on a naval battleship in Virginia. He was arrested at least 100 times for his protests and served a total of 11 years in prison. He died last year, but his brother, Dan, continues protest activity.

The nuns served nearly seven months in jail as they awaited trial in the silo case, saying they couldn't promise to remain out of trouble if freed on bond. After their conviction, they were released until sentencing.

Sister Platte and Sister Gilbert returned to Baltimore's Jonah House, an activist community founded by Berrigan. Sister Hudson went to a similar community in Polusbo, Wash. She planned to distribute leaflets against the nuclear submarines at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton.

All three planned to meet at their mother house, the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Dominicans, before they return to Denver for sentencing.

Before leaving Colorado, the nuns returned to the jail where they had been housed to encourage their former fellow inmates, who they taught to knit blankets for babies in foster care. They also stopped by the U.S. Post Office in Georgetown to thank workers for taking care of the dozens of letters they received from supporters around the world.

"It's given us a new energy. It's a spiritual strengthening to know we're not alone," Sister Platte said.

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