Mary Dennis Lentsch

Overview

Mary Dennis Lentsch (née Elizabeth Ann) born January 30, 1937. Catholic nun, science teacher; arrested many times for protest against School of Americas (SOA) and nuclear weapons; 6 months in prison for SOA protest; imprisoned 2 months for protest at Oak Ridge atomic bomb factory 2002; jailed 20 days for Oak Ridge protest 2007.

Quotations

“I must proclaim my belief that the School of the Americas is an institution addicted to death and violence. My nonviolent acts of conscience at the SOA have deep roots in the public witness of my religious vows, as they have in my Christian baptismal promise to renounce and resist evil By my nonviolent acts of conscience I withdraw obedience to a system that supports violence and injustice and act in obedience to the God of love, peace and justice while accepting responsibility for my act of conscience. In a spirit of truth I believe I must honor and trespass boundaries as love and justice demand.” (SOA Watch, 1998; photo Dubuque News)