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Louisa man goes from Catholic priest to activist anarchist. Date published: 4/29/2004
Bill Frankel–Streit calls himself a married priest felon.
He's also an anarchist. "I think the Bible is a handbook for anarchy," he said. "Jesus was an anarchist." While the word conjures images of violence and destruction, to Frankel-Streit anarchy means communal living, harmony and peace. Frankel-Streit was speaking outside the Louisa County commune he shares with his wife, their three children and other community members who bring the same vision. In fact, a Little Flower community member, Bryan Buckley, is in Iraq now protesting the war. (related story) A series of unplanned turns has brought him to this 17-acre slab of land that lies not only on the outskirts of Charlottesville, but also on the edge of cultural norms. It’s a comfortable place for Frankel-Streit, now 49. Each morning starts with a Bible reading, a discussion of its meaning and a casual outline of the day’s goals. One recent to-do list included gardening, changing a tire, scooping horse manure and preparing puppets for an upcoming protest. "It takes a lot of work to live simply," he joked. It’s a place he can live out his idea of anarchy. "I will not dominate anyone and will not let anyone dominate me," he said. "No rulers. If you have love, you don't need the law." Unfortunately for him, the law doesn't always agree. He's been arrested about 20 times over the past 15 years for protesting war, foreign policy and military weapons. "The United States signifies tremendous injustice and we're speaking to love and justice and compassion," he said. "And that's gonna create conflict."
SEMINARY OR MILITARY
As a young child, Bill Frankel-Streit tore through so many World War II books that a relative told him he'd become either a military officer or the world's biggest pacifist. It was 1960-something, with Vietnam on the horizon, and Frankel-Streit was trying to find himself in Hazleton, Pa., a conservative coal-mining town in the northeast part of the state. His dad rang up customers at the local grocery and his mom kept things together at home. He graduated from high school in 1972, with the country at war and a decision to make. "It was either seminary or the military," he said. In each case, the prospective uniform appealed to him more than the line of work.
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