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From the Darkness of Antisemitism to the Prophetic Voice of Day
Gallagher, Charles
Growing up in Binghampton, New York during the late 1960’s to the 1980’s, Charles Gallagher was educated in the Catholic school system and went on to Marquette University in Milwaukee for a BA in history. Pursuing his natural interest in history and religion through Masters studies at State University of New York in Binghampton, he studied American religious history with Reconstructionist Rabbi Lance J. Sussman. Encouraged by Rabbi Sussman, Charles returned to Marquette for Doctoral studies in American Catholic history. Here he was advised by Dr. Steven Avella whose specialty was in Catholic and American Foreign Relations.
In his doctoral dissertation Charles focused on the biography of Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley, the first American attached to the Vatican Diplomatic Corps. As the American attaché in the Vatican during 1934-40, Archbishop Hurley handled many of the Vatican-USA communications relating to Father Charles Coughlin. Coughlin, the popular Detroit radio priest during the depression era of the late 1930’s, captivated more than 30 million people coast-to-coast - Catholic and Protestant alike. He became overtly antisemitic in 1938, particularly in his speech following Kristalnacht. While working with Archbishop Hurley’s biographical material, Charles came upon previously undiscovered personal correspondence between Archbishop Hurley and Archbishop Edward Mooney of Detroit. This correspondence provided significant insight into the Vatican’s cautionary approach to this troubling antisemitic situation in America.
Gallagher’s interest in Christian-Jewish relations was sparked by his early awareness of Christian anti-Jewish sentiment which had been heightened by the fact that members of his own family had been Coughlin fans. His work with Rabbi Sussman and personal relationships with several Jewish friends had forced him to ask: How could my own people have been so disparaging to a people who are often more ‘christian’ than many of my Christian acquaintances?
Charles’ doctoral work enabled him to address the 1997 Scholars’ Conference on the Holocaust and the Churches on the topic: Catholic Anti-Semitism and the Case of Father Charles E. Coughlin: A View from the Vatican. Following this presentation, members of the American Catholic Historical Conference encouraged him to research the life and work of the founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, Dorothy Day, whose cause had just been put forward for beatification.
His research quickly revealed that this American lay woman’s attitudes and efforts regarding Jews and antisemitism had served as an effective foil and a courageous challenge to Father Coughlin during this dark and troubled period. His survey showed that Day had been raising consciousness and actively addressing Catholic antisemitism as early as 1933. In a 1938 letter in New Republic, quoting Pope Pius XI, she condemned Father Coughlin’s post-Kristalnacht speech, and then wrote a three-page open letter to him in her own newspaper, The Catholic Worker.
As he pursues his research in the hope of publishing details about this aspect of Dorothy Day’s life, Charles is saddened by the depth of American antisemtism during that period. He is equally astounded and encouraged by his discovery that Dorothy Day was probably the leading voice against American Roman Catholic antisemitism at that time.
SIDIC recently had a brief conversation with Charles:
sidic: Why research Father Charles Coughlin and Dorothy Day? Many a gifted young man like yourself would be drawn to the life of a famous athlete, a prominent politician, or a successful businessman. Why did you make the two choices you did?
C.G.: The choices have more to do with the way my parents set the tone of our household while we were growing up. Ours was a “Catholic” home inasmuch as Catholicism was ample fare for daily conversation at the dinner table or in the living room. Family discussions could run the gamut from Dorothy Day to Doris Day, from Charles Coughlin to Charles DeGaulle. Growing up, these Catholic figures were as relevant as any athlete, politician, or captain of industry.
sidic: How has the experience of researching and writing about these two people spoken to you personally? Has it affected your life or changed you in any way?
C.G.: My research into Father Coughlin was undertaken and written with a lot of care and a little bit of fear. The Coughlin phenomenon was a dark chapter in American Catholic history, a chapter about which many Catholics do not like to be reminded. My research indicated that at least a mild form of antisemitism lurked in some very high levels of the American Catholic hierarchy. This was a very disturbing revelation for a former altar boy and a “child of Vatican II.” At the same time, Dorothy Day emerged as a prophetic voice against the antisemitism of Father Coughlin. A minority voice, indeed, but a happy indication and confirmation that the Holy Spirit is always at work in the Church.
sidic: In light of this research and writing, what are your hopes and concerns for the future of our church and society? Do you think that these two research/writing projects will affect in any way what you do with the rest of your life?
C.G.: My study of church history has led me to believe that the universal Church is currently witnessing one of the finest examples of spiritual leadership in many generations. I think that it is safe to say that the current Pope, John Paul II, has done more than any Pope in history to advance Catholic-Jewish relations. His example will serve as a starting point for the future. Personally, I believe that this line of research and writing may affect the rest of my life because it is continually bringing me into contact with so many wonderful and dedicated people. It is hard to say how these contacts will affect my life down the road, but I am sure that the influence can only be positive.
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* Dr. Charles Gallagher is currently Archivist and Historian of the Diocese of Saint Augustine in Jacksonville, Florida, and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of North Florida.
