This is a re-broadcast from November 11, 2011.

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Renegade, revolutionary, activist, these are all words that describe Blase Bonpane. In his new autobiography, “Imagine No Religion” Bonpane shows himself as a man who defies all stereotypes. His incredible strength of purpose has guided him from a young age. Born into an upper middle class Italian American family, he was passionate about entering the priesthood despite his parents’ vehement protests. Bonpane eventually entered the Maryknoll Seminary where he began his life as a priest. From his first assignment in 1966 in Guatemala working with the poor and indigenous people, Bonpane realized the hypocrisy of a Church which wanted to ignore the underlying political causes which perpetuated poverty. The Maryknoll Fathers put a gag order on Bonpane for speaking out about the political situation in Guatemala and eventually, he was forced to separate himself from the seminary.

But Bonpane was unfazed and he continued his work for social justice. Continually removed from his teaching posts at various universities for his political organizing, he was often under surveillance by the CIA and FBI. After his marriage in 1970, to former Maryknoll Sister Theresa Killeen, the Bonpanes’ combined mission encompassed all aspects of their life. Their house became a meeting place for peace activists and their children went with them to marches. By 1983, they founded the Office of the Americas to focus on peace and justice issues throughout the world. It was the Office of the Americas which helped organize and lead the 1985 International March for Peace through Central America. This march brought together people from 30 different countries to protest military conflicts throughout the region. Bonpane discusses the struggles of organizing a 400 person march with a decentralized leadership structure, which often times faced dangerous confrontations with the military.

Working at the grass roots level, whether it be standing with the people of Central Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict or supporting the Sandanistas in Nicaragua as they faced down the brutality of the Contras, or working with Cesar Chavez in the early 70s, Bonpane takes us through some of the defining moments of his life. He questions the mainstream media’s acceptance of capitalism, militarism and patriotism. And, he points out the divisive nature of religious sectarianism within Christianity. Noam Chomsky writes, “I am often asked by young people, deeply disturbed by the state of the world, ‘What can I do to make this sad world a better place?’ An eloquent answer now is, “Read Blase Bonpane’s autobiography. If you can aspire to a fraction of what he has achieved, you will look back on a life well lived.”

Blase Bonpane’s show World Focus airs on KPFK on Sundays at 10 am PST.