Alfonso Damman Alfonso Damman is a Roman Catholic priest without a church. He and others were deposed because of their outspoken support of independence and their political involvement in the cause. As a founding member of PRISA (Program of Renewal and Social Investigation for Action) he saw the need of awakening the Church to fulfilling its Christian responsibility in daily life. Among his endeavors was passing out religious tracts to workers. This was done quietly, without the singing and shouting often witnessed in Puerto Rico. One of the tracts starts out with, "My friend Quiqui has a problem. He is a very religious man and a lay leader in his church. But he is also a conscientious worker and delegate to a union that represents the factory workers where he works." His Christian brothers want him to give up his union activities. His minister tells him he should not participate in strikes or picketing, that a Christian worships God and prays for his salvation. But believing that the Kingdom of God is here on earth, Quiqui sees an obligation to work towards its realization. He sees the Kingdom of God as one of peace and justice. Such is the spirit of PRISA. Since the founding of PRISA in 1968, Catholics, Episcopalians, Methodists, Disciples of Christ and Pentecostals have joined together to promote political action based on spiritual values. Not all are of the same political party, but all espouse the cause of a liberated Puerto Rico. Alfonso is still a citizen of his native land, Holland. Subject to the usual harassment accorded independentistas, he faces the threat of deportation. When he first came to Puerto Rico twenty-three years ago, he saw advantages in the relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States. But he became gradually aware that Puerto Rico was a nation separate from the United States, embracing a culture, language, and traditions of its own. Merging with the United States would wipe out the unique nationalism of Puerto Rico. He became convinced that only through independence could Puerto Rico survive. He sees the independence movement as originally one of nationalism, a romantic vision of "liberty or death." Such was the dynamic leadership of Pedro Albizu Campos. Independence was the sole issue, whatever direction it might take politically, achieving it by whatever means necessary to bring it about. But now Alfonso sees the necessity of moving away from what he calls bourgeoisie thinking to a new concept of independence. One must now ask in what ways independence will serve to better the life of the worker. So within past years, he has devoted his time to speaking directly to workers, joining them in union activities, and finding himself and his religious values gradually accepted. Whereas workers have been mainly in support of statehood, where they saw economic advantages, they are now turning more to independence. They see the value of making their own decisions in their work, in production, and in marketing. They see themselves more in relationship with Central America and South America than with the United States. The Hospital Workers Union, of which Coretta King is honorary president, for one, has taken a stand in favor of independence. PRISA's work is three-pronged: the place of religion in the workers' struggle, the unification of forces within the trade unions, and education in trade union matters to achieve more democratic participation. True Christianity, it maintains, proclaims "collective salvation of the people from slavery, envisions people as pilgrims on the road to the promised land, a new and just society of free people." PRISA's work, through other members of the staff, encompasses a wide range of publications. In addition to the brochure Religion and the Workers, are Notes for a Decolonizing Pastoral, Homage to José Herrera Oropeza (illustrious Venezuelan who championed independence for Puerto Rico in the United Nations), Base Christian Communities, and Vieques and Christians, among others. Alfonso admits that he is not a pacifist, that for a Latin American to be a pacifist is a luxury. Though his work is largely educational, he sees the possibility of a time when only by violence can people overcome the forces of enslavement. He is no longer with PRISA, but continues to concentrate on his work with unions.