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186)190
Ambassador Wire. Well, of course, that is true. The purpose of
the dissent channel is basically for one oficer, or a group of off
cers, to file, with their names attached, a paper which advocates
eithor a different policy or which attacks a current policy. It is
used with some frequency. .
"This clearly is not that, This is a paper which was anonymous.
‘Whoever the authors are did not sign their names. \
T think there is much that is valuable in that so-called dissent
paper. There are a great many insights that are important to take
into
tion. i
think it is important to note that the socalled Zimbabwe solu-
tions which they Wdontly in there, excludes the present Govern:
ment of El Salvador from the negotiations. This, of course, would
be unacceptable to the Government of EI Salvador and i think
should be unacceptable to us.
"Senator Zonveny. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Pei, Thank you very much, Senator. .
‘Ambassador White, thank you so much for being with us this
morning. I think you know how eagerly we have been awaiting
your testimony. We very much wanted you to come. We are very
i Fr arrany ay zs.
ere th pln in accordance with the chairman's wishes, the
committee will recess for 5 minutes.
[A
ing will come to order.
Our next witnesses will be Sister Melinda Roper, with whom I
leasure of talking the other day on ne—
Gia you ave hore, Sister’ and Michsel Donovan, the brother of
Sean Donovan.
‘very glad indeed that you both are here. We apologize for
the ine you Ive had to wale bub, ae you know, Goi sea very
important hearing. .
je are happy to hear your testimony.
MENT OF SISTER MELINDA HOFER, a, PENDENT
SONGHEGATION OF THE MARYKNOLL SISTERS OF ST DOM:
ae
Sister Rorer. Thank much.
Pe SREPAERs Wao oo conarerntn of he
Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic and I testify today in the name of
tio ‘ a
ot ante tha ‘you both for this opportunity to present informa
i “Maryknc jisters are, why we are in -
ioe ay ea gal lu Ge ti he hn aes
doing in El Salvador. spate in the mit
Se re al Cg me
rar ih Mepis rain ct
Shoe artsas fee cen OE iad
1 think it is important to emphasize thet I'am here to spealc to
yknoll Sister as such, my a
Boavictos ad vouaba lary are those of a Person, of faith T belong
Labia merit anien ati
See Pee na ai, teats
191
nor my mission to any ideology, economic or political system, but
to the life and message of Jesus Christ and the living tradition and
‘teaching of the Catholic Church.
Therefore we, as Maryknoll Sisters, are willing to collaborate
with all peoples of goodwill in order to bring about a more just and
peaceful life, especially for the poor, repressed, and alienated in
our world today.
We Maryknoll Sisters have chosen to understand and interpret
eur world in the spirit of the Gospel and from the point of view of
the poor. In that I think perhaps my testimony wotld be different
from that of other witnesses
There are several ways that we do this: Through prayer, reflec-
tion and study of the Bible and the teachings of the Church;
second—and I would like to emphasize this—by living with and
getting to know and love the poor as persons; and, third, by study-
ing and analyzing the realities of our world.
‘As a congregation, we strive to live by the Gospel values of
foregiveness, reconciliation and community.
In a most recent statement by John Paul Il in the Philippines,
hhe describes situations of oppression in our world today, both
within nations and internationally. In light of these, he says:
Being aware of such situations the Church will not hesitate to take up the cause
of the poor, and to become the voice of those who are not listened to'when they
speak up, no o demand charity, but to an for justice
‘These words of John Paul II describe to a greater or lesser
degree the conditions in many of the countries where we are in
‘mission. Specifically, they represent conditions in El Salvador.
El Salvador is one of our most recent missions in Latin America.
Our presence in any country is always at the invitation of the
bishop. We work closely with the local church and with other
igions of any country where we go.
Our personnel in El Salvador has always been limited to never
more than six at any one time. As the violence and persecution of
the Church increased, the call went out from Archbishop Romero
for help. The Maryknoll Sisters living in that area met to evaluate
and adjust their plans according to the greatest needs.
Realizing that they did not have necessary personnel, they sent
out an SOS to all Maryknoll Sisters in Latin America. Those who
Yolunteered and were assigned to El Salvador were eventually four:
Carol Piette, Ita Ford, Teresa Alexander and Maura Clarke.
Carol Piotte arrived in E] Salvador the day Archbishop Romero
‘was assassinated, and Ita Ford on the day he was buried.
The new work was not immediately clear, and it took time to
gain acceptance and trust from the people who were being terror.
ized by the political situation. But, in June 1980, Tta and Carol, at
the invitation of the Vicariate of Chalatenango, began their work
with an Emergency Refugee Committee. At that time, Ita wrote:
1 don't know i ti in site of because ofthe horror, teror, evil, confusion,
lawlesanem, but Ido know that is right to be here: to believe that we are gifted
and for Bl Salvador nom, that the ancwers to the questions will come when they are
‘asded, to walk in faith one day at time with the Salvadorans along road Tiled
with obtacles, detours, and sometimes warhouts192
‘These words were prophetic and Carol Pistte was killed in a
flash flood when they were taking a recently released prisoner
home, shortly after they had arrived in Chalatenango.
Sister Maura had arrived in El Salvador a few weeks before and
was working with other Maryknoll Sisters in Santa Ana. She im-
mediately volunteered to accompany Sister Ita in Chalatenango.
Tho following ig an excerpt from a letter received by Peg Dillon
from Maura on November 22, 1980:
‘Being here with Ita and working forthe refugees, getting them to refuges centers,
blaining and transporting food fer the hungry campesines, placed, Wing OF
{heteaatiand ero, ha reine, conasation, apecial Grae, ani certainly
1 git Things grow Conse and searier fnoeent people familie, children
Sse machete nd bene aepen of the Lord thrown ad et for the bursards Yo
{eed on them seems Unbelievable, but + happens every day.
‘Pray that I can be fathfl to what the Lord askn ‘The courage and suffering of
Sia GE powerful example, Dieming to be with hert Thanks for your loving
Eos Sete end Yea ee nn fou ‘am learning and hoping and have peace
It was in this spirit that she returned with Ita to El Salvador
late in the afternoon of December 2, 1980. As you know, they were
murdered that same night.
Since the time of the death of our Sisters on December 2, 1980,
we have had less than satisfactory dealings with the State Depart:
ment, and included in my written testimony are several examples
of these experiences.
In conclusion, then, in our relations with the State Department,
we have received no progress reports, no autopsy other
than the report of the President's Special Mission issued on Decem-
ber 23, 1980. In short, in dealing with those responsible for the
investigation of the deaths of Jean, Dorothy, Ita, and Maura, we
hhave noted Jack of communication, defensiveness, evasion,
even contradictions. Furthermore, there have been innuendos as to
the circumstances of the women’s deaths. Why have two high
officials in the present administration found it necessary, directly
or by implication, to plant seeds of distrust. and suspicion regarding
the personal integrity of the women and their mission? _
Is this all a result of fear? If, in fact, fear is operative, I could
understand it regarding those Salvadorans responsible Zor the in-
vestigation, since the climate of that country is one of uncontrolled
violence. What is more difficult to understand is the fear that
seems to underline the procedures of the U.S. administration re-
the investigation.
Thelieve that the deaths of the four women cannot be separated
from the general pattern of persecution of the church in El Salva~
dor end from the death of thousands of innocent Salvadorans. Nor
do T believe the deaths can be separated from U.S. policy toward
‘that government.
The ordinary people of El Salvador do not want war, but peace.
‘They realize, however, that true peace is based on justice. Mili
aid to El Saivador from anywhere will not bring about peace
wellbeing for the people,
‘Through whom can the voice and rights of the people of El
Salvador be heard and made known? I suggest, that neither the
Junta, the opposition, nor the right legitimately can claim the
allegiance of the people of El Salvador.
198
‘Therefore, it is essential that dialog and negotiations among all
these groups begin as soon as possible. The minimum conditions for
the negotiation would be: Cessation of all military aid; cease-fire, a
cease-fire that is monitored by the U.N. or the O.A.S.; and that the
negotiations lead to free elections which would be monitored by the
UN. or the 0.4.8,
With regard to my first point, that all military aid cease, I
believe that the Government of the United States has a primai
responsibility. Tt is quite clear that the voice of the people of El
Salvador is not being heard. Of equal concern to me is the ques-
tion, Is the voice of the people of the United States being heard’
‘The normal channel for this to happen in the United Stetes is
through Congress. As Members of the U.S. Senate, I ask each of
you although there are only two of you here if your constituencies
by and large have indicated approval or disapproval of our sending
military aid to the present Junta in El Salvador?
believe that the ordinary people of our world desire peace. I
also believe that the promises of false peace, that is, peace without
justice for the poor, will be less and less possible in the future. 1
say this because I have lived and worked with the poor, and to
think that we can just hand out some sort of false peace no longer
is possible. That, the powerful nations of our planet may destroy
each other is a distinct possibility; but that the poor of our planet
will demand justice is inevitable.
So, situations like El Salvador will occur over and over again if
creative solutions to systematic oppression are not based on justice
and nonviolence.
Thank you.
[Sister Roper's prepared statement follows:]
Parraneo StarEMENT oF Sisren MeuxnA Ropes, MM.
Mr, Chairman and Members of the Committee: I am Sister Melinda Roper,
resident of the ton of the Maryknall Sisters of St. Dominic and te
{odny in the name of tas, ton. fish, frst of al, Me. Chairman, to
you and the Members af the Committee for tha opportunity to present information
4330 who we Maryknoll Sisters are, why we are it El Salvador And what, precisely,
Sioa Batra Clr anda Yor yore ding iB Svc. fhe Pike ve
‘may, perhaps come to some understanding of why Maura and Ta and Dorothy
Radltnd deen Donovan were murdered,
‘athe Congregation of the Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic is a Pontified Inst.
tute under the juradiction of the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of
Fogler wor ree by Pope Hoodie XV, Rome)
purpore “Maryknoll Sioters jon. to" participate in
sisson presence and sciviy of the Universal Goureh, so that God's Kingdom
Justice, peace and Jove may be proclaimed and witnessed to throughout the orld”
‘Gfaryiatoll Sisters’ Constitutions, p. 10)
“Thzoughout cur history, we have lived and worked with peoples throughout the
‘word in light of the above stated purpose
7 think ft important to emphasize that, 1 am here to speak to you today as a
Macykioll Sater nod ae such, my perspective, convictions end vorabtlary ar those
ot person of faith. 'bolong to an organiaation whose purpose ls univer ond
‘rhant mission Ss to and. with she ‘of the world T do not owe my faith,
Convictions, nor mission, to any ideology, economic or olitieal system, but tothe lis
ane meauage of Jesus Christ and the living tradition and teaching of the Catholic
Gharch. We, as Maryknall Sisters, are wiling to collaborate wth all people a good
wil in order to help bring abgut a more just nd peaceful life, esgeially for the
bom, oppressed, represed and alienated tn our world today: admit tat itis
Retiher easy nor simple to be Christian. We Maryknoll Sisiers have chosen to
Understand and interpret our world today in the spat ofthe Caspel snd fem he
point of view of the poor. There are soveral ways in which we do this) through194
reflection and study of the Bible and the teachings of the Church; 2 b
Beige wll petting to know fave the poor as peraca and) by studing nd
analyzing the realities of our wor
Gur eorts for a core jus social order are rooted in loye and guided by the
eae teu of engennay rein ad Camas rotting fe
a th ats *
7H Site teaser, og Jp Pau sai juice een when te
ene ae ra a
Scere aie ha Me cbandans le ae iin
Bey i a auf toe est dnd omer whe are toa
Fe oe a ee a nr te fis even
Fe ane eee i a tres oni ifn vege
‘heh ong hou of backers "ater paar pool dein te Maal
Soe ae Er aed ake to have ony a work of ar
Fn ee esses tie Cares il pa exit take
aon et ae aes foe re, at ened
Shepard Saybia teat Sai eh,
Bai BE
“Eee arson Paul Tl dare to great o ee degree the con
nny eri ae a Serta ey ey open
ae eens wu are ce mn ate Anu, a8
ton Set is Blas Set he Sahl Paer i
Ce i tarot any couse always tbe
Fase Bitty We work eldey mth the een Charch and with other
SEE FRE Sate Me Se La iy he non Bl ye
Raley carey Hayastan evened tofn 8
tea arn ory Sry charge of rai parshinan nlaed ren
SRE goth a scne te deerme of lly
aes Es mad ch a mat shoo prover
Fang ere foreman nate uc Be encurageeet a onary among te
ae re re ion an prajer with the people were intogral to the life and
ree Pine ere ‘
ot SBE eador has always bee linited-never more than sx a
16 ena ake vplence and persertton of the Church ingrensed, the cll
Se ee eae de he the Manan Sete vag
Here eae Arn ee a a Cae nr plan cr
repr pari ae hola hereon vet nermy
loge renee en ete ae Rae la
seep ot a8 S08. a ny ial oe Coeny far Case Pin Fo
se haen etka hasta eyo ge fort fo ee
Garo
24,080) and Ta, the
*rhernew wot wos 20k immediately clear andi tank me to gain acceptance and
tran Fam The pe who were being trvorted by the pliealstuaton, But in
‘ons, 190, he Red Cav a the invitation ofthe Vicariate of Chlatenango, been
Jaae ork with an Euorgency Refugee Coontz. At that tne, ea write “l dont
sae Pik rin apie ofr beesuot ofthe horror, terror, ev confusion, lavlew
oem Sot te keow tate right tobe here "to believe that we re gifted in
[5qopr hi Salvador nvr that the anor othe qeatons wil come when Ey ae
‘de, to wal in alone day a ana with Svadorane along ara fled wih
‘Begs detours and sometime washout
"ont word pcoe aimont propo i ie Uh of gucedig evn, It wg
onlt'a few short weeks afer zy begun their workin Chalatonango that they et
Sas Ahemey roigiorm to take srecntly released prisoner home, They were
Sale tivough coe ver Et Zapote near Chilatenango when a aah food crashed
{hrough the ravine, Carel Petits last known act wae to push ber friend, te Ford
{trou aide window of the Joep. The two seminarians tecmpanyig
‘ocaped. Sister Ita was dragged along the river bottom but managed to
a ee cre otal bork, pled bora out
‘The next worming Carols body wae found 18 Kilometers downstream,
‘ter Maura ed ‘only arrived im El Salvador a, few weoks before and wat
working wih other Marykooll Sisters in Santa Ana. She immediately volunteored
eae Si ce rhanueivog Never den shee ly
in Nicaragua on the day before ing, Novem se el not
Facer at BY Selvador but convinced that Chalstenango wes the pact
195
there she could and would verve Chriat’s poor. With Ia, she would search out the
Thissing, pray with the families of prisoner, bury the’dead, and work with the
Beple in their stragae 19 break ut of the bands of oppresion, poverty, and
‘olence.'Theirdaye would be filled with difficulty and fearhal danger St mes but
Maura assured the Sisters of her coriain confidence in God's loving care of her, of
‘eg and ofall the people. The following is an excorpt from a letter received by Peg
Din from Matra on Noverber 22 190: Bing ere wiht and working fo
getting them to ‘enters, obtaining and transporting food for
‘Rangey campesinos, daplaced, hiding or Ia the ongafized groupe, has is sweetness,
‘onstltion, petal Grave and i certainly agit hinge gaow tense and ecaron The
\way innocent people, families children are machetied and blesoed temples of the
{Tard thrown and Tett for the buzzards to feed on thet, seems unbelievable, but it
Bator a
THES Th eat he rd a Te raga erg
ce RT be al
Se a eg tobe with bt Tania fr furlong
roast ele eng ith be hale roe ig
rue oat Fetus
Fae ato E Saar lat tn he
cnt eet
an Pett ly in minon met hom a he aor take thm
wel tafe Se one those he er. le te
beak Chasen fo He ab, pen an Se wae
ene el he ad ay ett Bago ad
ata Sto ae ee Dae
Fee ee a Le caer 2.60, we are had ew
aur Sig el Oe Sa bapa Tl OS
sees
he feces, 1 pag «phone cl tthe Sate Dearmert oa
we amt ate ela flo al ke Sie Dene fe
Geretit cet Tis we tet Te ete Peary Say
carer Tape my Me Be a Cues owe Se
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ra yak ere bene at ce cin te
sep ih See do eg re a ec A ar
SE Aah mea re ee aed betcha ae
estan cet ne PY lan oe, Bante
Se ae fe eae ae NN or Poy
sie natu ME oe opie ear et ot at
eps Garonne i formed i te Ma sce!
cor eee Me tala era Fatty hate
ESAs Det Mion gemini rite oe nw ey
ea ete ee ar omnes amg te Gee
sree cm the Hg oe See Mito Mr uae ot
SU: Rete a ot pl ri, ene ie
Fie Sarat ned eens tenet rape eee
sory oa lone Eee eee ote el Com
See iia oh tte conn rope te Meroe
Seedy oni ha nah Seo
Bee Fy, env cl gm Dale Scheel Dee
cae pen it uel a aD Seba, Meg! a
eons Ar, Og pn is, Sa ewe, My Sal
ace ag a nie Me ano ster
St
Se ee
FSi ia ania aah we en Rad
oes
Scrat Slats Mens Wl Bove Wl ei and rennin
pliant Haugen onrenns We asked hen rape oe vc
i rer a nL | ae
is peered
ation ofthe botin of Ta and Matra, in the cour ofthe cinveraation, ead
‘That daly reporta on the Investigation were being test to Mr. Biacken in
Devartment: Mr. Hallman exorested that he was not satisfied with the invest196
fand said he had spoken with the Colonel on the Investigating Team who assured
2 wo 20 ‘whole thing would move more ra
Hip ie would puah to thatthe whole shing would ae 1
Seen the Seay in El Sal py aad i: Dopurtnes
‘the deat of the four American citizens.
[ME Bowler stated that he would pond itt us, We have received nothing.
a perhy ha laure, hye noted lnck of commtiction, defnsienee
{faon und olen contadicons Furthermore, there have bees tanuendoes as fo te
Eeumslances of the women's deaths. Why have two high officials in the present
‘t ly or by implication —to plant. seeds of
‘Bersooal integrity of the women and thelr
operative, [could understand
of that eourtry
Sean aot atert the omar tte
{hese egret, baer he dati of he fr wpe cnet
Song psu par of prin the Chr Baa
{and rom the deaths of thousands of innocent Salvadorans. Nor
‘Genta can be separated from US. policy toward that Government,
"The ordinary peopl of El Selvaor do not want war, but.
however that ra peace, is based om fain, Miltary Ad to
[Enywhere will not bring about peace and well being for the people, Thr
ithe ye andra of the peop of Ht Sal or be heard aod made
staggest chat neither the Junta, tion, nor the Right ean let
tntllegace of toe poonle of Bi Salvage es therefore een hat
snd negotiations ars ese groupe begin
fandltions for negotiation would be (1) Ceesstion of all Milfary
Gy that the cease fire be monitored by the U.N, or OLAS; and ()
tga ed fo fee elestons which would be moniored bythe UN o O-AS.
“With regard to my firer pointibet all Military Aid cease,
Goverment ofthe United Sate ba a rinary reoponssty. 1 8 ch
*°6F equal concern io me ix the questions the voice of the people of the United
states being heard? The normal chase for this to happen in the United States.
through Congress. As Members of the United Staize Senate, I ask each of
your constitueney by and large has indicated approval or disapproval of ou
Znlitary aid to the present Jumta in El Salvador? 1 believe that the ordinary peop
Gf our world desire peace. 1 al believe that the promises of false peace, that it
‘peace without justice for the poor will be less and Teas possible in the future. That
the powerful nations of our planet zpay destroy each other is a distinct
‘Thal the poor of our planet will demand justice is inevitable. Situations Uke
Salvador wl ecour ove and over again if saltions to systematic oppression are not
based on justice and non-volence.
"Thank you,
Senator Pt. Thank you, Sister Roper, for a very moving state-
ment. :
‘Mr, Donovan, I would ask you to proceed. Then we will ask
questions of both of you.
STATEMENT OF MICHAEL DONOVAN, BROTHER OF LAY
‘CHURCH WORKER JEAN DONOVAN
‘Mr. Donovan. Thank you, Senator.
‘As you know, my name is Michael Donovan, and I am the
brother of Jean Donovan, an American missionary who was slain
in El Salvador last December. I want to thank you very much for
191
Jean was a person who had a great need to help other people.
Like me, Jean was a professional accountant. She held a high
Paying Job with Arthur Anderson & Co. in Cleveland, Ohio, But
need to help people was not being satisfied by her professional
work. So, she gave up a very promising career to join the Cleveland
Mission ‘Team, which is sponsored by the Diocese of Cleveland.
They, in turn, sent her to work in El Salvador.
Her work in Salvador was just what she was looking for. Much of
her time was spent taking care of orphans whose parents had been
killed in the violence. Jean and Dorothy, Kazel loved these chil-
dren. On her last trip home, Jean took back with her her Louisville
Slugger, an old taped-up bascbal, a glove, a bat, and a ¢-nch stack
of bubbiegum cards.
When it became obvious that the situation in El Salvador was
becoming too dangerous, all of her ‘and friends begged her to
return home. She responded on one such plea on the day that the
US. Government withdrew the Peace Corps. She wrote:
‘And 90, the Peace Corps people left today, and my heart sank low. Of cours, the
fs right in ordering them out There iy no question that the danger is
fextrome. But-an thsee poopie, beset with tragedy Increase, the help available de-
ira
Te fe and I ove living, While I feel compassion and eae forthe people here,
am not up for sulld, and oY mst ameos my own situation frankly; Roweral nen
{ave dete tone Ei Savador Isat colds exept forthe ehicron, the poor
brutned vit ofthis adult lunacy. Who oul care for them "Whowe fart cod
be so maunch aa to favor tho reaonable thing in aso of thar ters and loneliness.
Not mine, Dear Fiend, ot mine
‘This woman loved a group of homeless children who were caught
in a war that they did not understand. She loved them enough to
tisk, and finally give up, her life for their sake.
Her reward for this supreme has been such comments
as, from U.N. Ambassador Jeanne Kirkpatrick:
ing wate elt ecivuts so behalf o the Penta, sal sols ang
‘olonce fo oppowe the Frente killed thow nasa T dot have any Gout shot that
Assistant Secretary for Human Rights designate, Ernest Lefever,
also has commented unfavorably on the activities of the Church in
El Salvador, noting, “There is a difference between religious lead-
ers being involved in theological thought and nuns and clergy
engaging. in activities against the Government. Some religious
groups have overstepped their bounds.” Lefever almost an
inflammatory reference later in that same interview to “nuns
hiding machine guns for the insurgents.”
Finally, from Secretary Haig, we hear:
‘The vehicle in which the nuns were riding may have tried to ran a yond block or
may accidentally oem perctved fo doo, ahd there hed been an exchange of fire
I have protested every one of these statements to the State
Department and to the individuals involved, as well as to the press
and to my Representatives in the Congress. The only reactions I so
far have elicited have been various attempts by the State Depart-
ment to shut me up. These have ranged from quiet persuasion to
outright harassment, and they have included specific warnings to
me not to appear before hearings such as this one today.
‘The investigation has been virtually halted and completely un-
dermined by the attitude reflected in these comments. ‘The Salva-