ABOUT US

HISTORY OF IFCLA

CORE COMMITTEE

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ABOUT US

The St. Louis Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America (IFCLA) is a non-profit organization that is committed to standing in solidarity with the poor of Latin America.

For more than twenty-five years IFCLA has collaborated with congregations, schools and organizations in the metropolitan area and across the US to work for a more just and equitable world community

IFCLA works to:

• foster a sense of community both locally and across international borders that bridges gaps between cultures and faith traditions,
  
  
• accompany the poor and marginalized of Latin America,
  
  
• educate people in the U. S. about Latin America, and about policies that are destructive to Latin American people, and
  
  
• advocate for change in the structures that create poverty and violence in Latin America and around the world.
  

IFCLA addresses immigrants' rights, comprehensive immigration reform legislation, closing the SOA/WHINSEC, fair trade and the problems with free trade agreements/sweatshop labor.

IFCLA works with national and international groups advocating peaceful and just resolutions to violent conflicts and supporting self-determination by the majorities in Latin American countries.

IFCLA has people-to-people relationships with the communities of Guarjila, El Salvador and the Limay Valley in Nicaragua. IFCLA organizes delegations, leads immersion experiences for students, and advocates with these communities for human rights and global justice.

IFCLA organizes the St. Louis community to become educated about issues impacting Latin American peoples and to advocate for systemic change through its quarterly publication, the Inter-Faith Witness (IFW), its webpage, email alerts, and through its various projects and committees.

History of IFCLA

1977-1982
1982-2007

The Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America began as the Greater St. Louis Latin America Solidarity Committee (LASC) in 1977 with pot luck suppers at Friedens UCC in Hyde Park (North St. Louis). The first members were Chilean refugees, Latin American students, and folks interested in the area based on personal experience or commitment. We responded to disappearances and human rights cases in Chile and in Argentina by sending letters and making phone calls, increased our knowledge and awareness of issues, and supported each other in our efforts to be in solidarity with our sisters and brothers to the south.

We held events alone and with others: LUCHA (a women's vocal group from Washington, DC), Isabel Morel Gumucio de Letelier, the widow of Orlando Letelier (assassinated with Ronni Moffit in DC in 1976), speakers from various countries on university campuses. We worked with a group of university professors formed LAGSLA (Latin Americanists of the Greater St. Louis Area).

By 1978, interest in the region was increasing as the struggles in Nicaragua and El Salvador accelerated and more people joined the group. We began to meet at the World Community Center and linked with AFSC (Steve Graham, Program Coordinator). Eden Seminary decided to call a conference to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Medellín Conference of Catholic Bishops which would be held in Puebla, México. Because of the death of Pope Paul VI, it was postponed until 1979. At that conference, Marilyn Lorenz led a workshop on responding to realities in Latin America from a faith perspective. The committee grew ecumenically after that time.

With the Sandinista victory in Managua on July 19, 1979, the LASC entered into a new phase of life. We produced a monthly newsletter, welcomed Nicaraguans to share their experiences, and raised funds for the literacy and health campaigns in Nicaragua. LASC co-sponsored a conference, "Peoples in Struggle," focusing on Nicaragua, Grenada, and other movements for liberation in Latin America. Central America was "on the map" for people in St. Louis.

The struggle in El Salvador exploded with the bloodless coup in October, 1979. However, the hopes of the new leadership for the end to the death squads and military oppression were not fulfilled and a civil war began. The deaths of Archbishop Oscar Romero, the leaders of the opposition from the FDR and the four US church women in 1980 shocked the world and the faith community in St. Louis responded by joining in the work of the LASC. Memorials were held and speakers came to teach us about what was happening.

By the end 1981, it became necessary to reorganize into two groups and in March, 1982, the St. Louis Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America (IFCOLA, later IFCLA) was incorporated. We decided to share leadership in a Core Committee with representatives of congregations and churches and those who would share the work in task forces. A staff person helped coordinate our efforts. An advisory group of religious leaders gave us access to both their denominations/congregations and their rich experience. [Human Rights Office of the Catholic Archdiocese; Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery; Episcopal Peace Fellowship; Mennonite Peace Fellowship; Friends Meeting; AFSC; New Jewish Agenda; American Baptists; United Methodists; Disciples of Christ; ELCA Lutherans; Unitarians; Ethical Society; Catholic religious orders of women and men CSJ, SL, RSCJ, SJ, ASC, SSND, RSM, FSM, CM, Redemptorists, etc.; SLU, WashU, WebsterU]

The rest of the 1980s were very full of education and action:

• Witness for Peace: Nicaragua and the "contra" war
  • Long term volunteers: Mary Dutcher, Virginia Druhe, Jean Abbott
  • Short term delegations
• Sanctuary for Central American refugees: El Salvador and Guatemala
  • Immanuel Lutheran Church: Ted and Linda Schroeder; Pat Warner, coordinator
  • Casa Arco Iris: Jean Abbott and Angie O'Gorman
  • Ruma, IL: Kathleen McGuire and community: Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC)
• Peace Brigades International: Guatemala
• Pledge of Resistance: oppose US invasion of Central America
• Children's Project: a child from El Salvador came for surgery and recovery
• Going Home Campaign for refugees from El Salvador in Mesa Grande, Honduras with the SHARE foundation
• Companion Community Project: Guarjila, El Salvador
  • January, 1988 covenant delegationo Various delegations to observe and protect human rights
  • On-going support for the Clinic which Dr. Ann Manganaro, SL opened with Jon Cortina, SJ
  • Student immersion experiences since 1998: scholarship fund for young women
• Demonstrations, vigils, rallies, visits to Congressional offices
• Press briefings, publications, educational programs
• Authors and National Leaders visited
• Support for the efforts to end US funding for the wars, to negotiate peace and to achieve the social and political changes need for justice to prevail.

The peace accords were finally signed ending the wars in Central America (Nicaragua, 1987; El Salvador, 1992; Guatemala, 1996). International focus shifted to economics and free trade agreements. IFCLA worked hard to block the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), realizing that it would not benefit either Mexican or US small farmers and workers. The 50 Years is Enough campaign (BAP the Bank march) raised consciousness about the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Debt forgiveness became a key issue. The witness of visitors from the various countries helped IFCLA reach out to people in the region.

• "The Peso and the Peasant" about Chiapas and the Zapatistas
• Annual remembrances of Oscar Romero, the four US church women and Padre Guadalupe Carney (Honduras).
• Pastors for Peace caravans

Hurricane Mitch in 1998 called forth a generous response from many who had lived, worked, or visited Nicaragua and a sister relationship was formed with a community in the Limay valley called Rio Abajo. For eight years, delegations brought funds raised to rebuild homes, provide water and electricity, and help develop cottage industries (sewing, pottery and corn grinding). Reyna Moreno was hired as organizer for the communities. This project ended in 2006.

The coming new millennium has brought many new challenges to deep-rooted problems. Low intensity warfare continues under different names. The war on "communism" is now the "war" on drugs and terrorism. The globalization of the economy forces people from their land causing a migration crisis. The School of the Americas has become the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.

IFCLA has responded with:

• Anti-fumigation campaign and consciousness raising about Plan Colombia
• Delegations to Colombia (Puerto Asis & ONIC groups)
• Organization of buses to go to Ft. Benning, GA for the annual vigil and protest
• Task Forces on FairTrade and Immigration
• Participation in MIRA (Missouri Immigrant and Refugee Advocates)
• Legislative updates, office visits and call-in campaigns
• Promotion of Fair Trade products and companies
• Building people to people relationships with and among Latin Americans through speakers, campaigns, and Pastors for Peace caravans.
• Outreach to students in high schools and universities
• Internships for university students
• An active webpage and email list serve

Staff/Program Coordinators

1981 Cindy Marston
1982 Angie O'Gorman
1983 Heidi Fillmore-Patrick
1985 Frances Padberg
1987 Maggie Fisher
1995 Mira Tanna
1996 Mary Dutcher
1997 Christie Huck
2001 Margaret Hill
2002 Elizabeth Madden
2004 Marie Andrews
2006 Marilyn Lorenz

We remember:

1980 Oscar Romero, Ita Ford, Maura Clark,
Jean Donovan, Dorothy Kazel, FDR Leaders
1981 Stan Rother
1983 Guadalupe Carney
1987 Ben Linder
1988 Chico Mendes
1989 Ignacio Ellacuría, Segundo Montes, Ignacio Martín-Baró, Amando López, Juan Ramón, Moreno, Juaquín López y López, Julia Elba Ramos, and Marisette (Celina)
1992 Kathleen McGuire, Shirley Kolmer and their sisters
1998 Juan Gerardi
2005 Dorothy Stang
2007 Rufina Amaya, Maria Julia Hernández

Tens of thousands of sisters and brothers throughout the hemisphere who were tortured, disappeared, murdered.

Some of our many companions who have passed on:

Louis Miller, Peg Rugger, Bobbie Silverblatt, John Rosen, Eldora Spiegelberg, Margie Tuitt, Jim Mayer, Paul Reinert, John Shocklee, Hershel Walker, Sr. Tomasa O'Reilly, Penny Lerneux, Ann Manganaro, Jon Cortina, Greg Reinhart, Betty Wynn, Hy Blumenthal, Tedford Lewis, Art Wirth, Marian Wirth

Our history is a work in progress. You are invited to send your memories to the Program Coordinator for inclusion.

CORE COMMITTEE  (organizations for identification only)

Virginia Druhe, convener - National Farm Worker Ministry
Ed Heininger, co-convener - retired UCC pastor
Jim Goeke, SJ, secretary - chaplain, St. Louis U Hospitals
David Weinkauff, treasurer - chemist, Nerinx Hall High School
Rita Mauchenheimer - Episcopal Peace Fellowship
Bill Ramsey - Human Rights Action Service
Kathy Peterson- organizer, educator, worked in Nicaragua
Dan Mosby - school counselor, worked in Nicaragua
Erica Irwin - former Jesuit Volunteer, summer with No More Deaths
   campaign in Arizona
Holly Fuller - former International Jesuit Volunteer in Nicaragua,
   volunteer in Guarjila, MSW/MBA student at Washington University
Marilyn Lorenz, Program Coordinator

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