Roger Allen LaPorte 1943-1965

Every year at this time, I find myself pondering and remembering Roger LaPorte, a young man and colleague at the Catholic Worker in NYC. It has been fifty five years since the death of Roger by self immolation in opposition to the war in Vietnam and the violence of all wars.  Others have speculated about Roger and his action, sometimes speaking for organizations. I just speak for myself as someone who knew Roger at the time.

Roger worked with me and others at the Worker, cooking meals, feeding the hungry and providing clothing and shelter to men and women on the Bowery, the skid row of the city at the time. Roger had become a part of the small community of mostly young people associated with the Catholic Worker, workers and the peacemakers. His interaction with Dorothy Day was casual like many who volunteered.

His death did create controversy within the Catholic Worker and among its followers. Dorothy Day was impacted by these events, thinking and writing about her duty as the leader of a movement opposed to war and her responsibility for young people demonstrating and going to jail. Thomas Merton took positions from afar. People began speaking for the Worker who had very little knowledge of Roger or his thoughts. Dan Berrigan knew the small community impacted by Roger's death and stepped in to comfort and console. As with so much more, it was a point in time. People evolve in thoughts and knowledge. It's part of our humanity.

Before his action, Roger was raising questions about the inadequacy of people's response to the war and the foolishness, perhaps selfishness, of some of the protests that were taking place. He questioned the draft card burning demonstration that had taken place just a few days before. He knew he opposed the war in Vietnam and had participated in demonstrations against it but was any of it enough? On the morning of Nov. 9th, 1965, Roger walked downtown, poured gasoline on himself and lit a match on the sidewalk in front of the United Nations. He died a slow and painful death the next day. 

Roger's life was clearly important as was his final act. War is real and painful for many. Peacemaking is also real and at times painful. Here are some pieces I've written in the past about Roger, his life and death. I hope he will always be remembered:

Previous Roger LaPorte Postings