I’m preparing a post on Christianity which touches on Christian left politics, and while looking for something else I came across this very recent interview with Father Daniel Berrigan. For those too young to remember, Berrigan and his brother Philip broke ranks with their Church on a number of issues including their direct action against the Vietnam War which earned them prison sentences and by some accounts promoted and preserved the vitality of Vatican Two, which redefined Catholicism in social terms as well as theological. Phillip, a Josephite priest (Daniel is a Jesuit) died recently. I wasn’t sure if Daniel was still alive, but he is and looks good.
I strongly recommend his autobiography Apologies Good Friends, probably out of print.
I’ve never seen either of them speak, although Philip Berrigan’s wife Elizabeth McAlister spoke at UC Santa Cruz one time. She had been a nun. Their relationship got Philip defrocked, not specifically his politics.
As you can see from their Wikipedia entries, they are progressive leftists, maybe even radical leftists. What the entries leave out is that they both oppos(ed) abortion. When Elizabeth McAlister spoke in Santa Cruz, the talk got bogged down in an argument about abortion. McAlister and her husband have spent years in jail each in defense of their convictions, yet a few young activists would view them as “reactionary” based on her opposition to choice, or in her terms, support for the “protection of the most vulnerable.” Quite frankly, there are those who oppose choice whom I can respect for their convictions. And in my opinion, the country owes this family in particular a great deal of lattitude, and gratitude.
More on that in the near future. In the meantime, I couldn’t make out much of what Father Berrigan was reading in the video clip. But it’s good to see him breathing and enjoying life.
7 comments
Comments feed for this article
December 30, 2008 at 8:03 am
Kym
I admire people whose philosophy is consistent even if I don’t agree with them. People whose stance opposing abortion is based on the value of life and they follow that through with anti death penalty etc. stances make sense to me. I have a hard time swallowing anti abortion (pro life) opinions which are coupled with pro capital punishment positions.
December 30, 2008 at 9:22 am
Eric Kirk
And they vehemently oppose capital punishment, as well as violent methods of resistance. Daniel Berrigan was in a movie about the Jesuit/Guanari slave revolts in Brazil in the 18th century (he was an historical consultant I believe, but I figure the director wanted at least one bonafide priest in the cast, and he refused to take part in the violent scenes.
December 30, 2008 at 9:44 am
Not A Native
Whatever became of your work-in-progress on the “culture war”?
Happened to hear the last bit of yesterday’s KMUD discussion with Bob McKee. The term was liberally referenced(by conservative Libertarian 8)
December 30, 2008 at 9:52 am
Eric Kirk
I’m still working on it, though I haven’t really been on it for a few weeks now. It just hasn’t gelled the way I want it to.
December 30, 2008 at 11:20 am
S.C.
Which show on KMUD? Was it archived?
December 30, 2008 at 11:32 am
Anonymous
Probably it was the Monday morning show with the Locoal Solutions guy Dennis what’s his name.
December 30, 2008 at 11:58 am
Moviedad
Daniel and Phillip Berrigan, and Fr. Thomas Keating, and all the Monks I know at Vina, CA (A Trappist Monastery near Corning) represent all that is good about the church. You might also be interested in the “Liberation Theology” movement that is spreading in Mexico and So. America. It is not spreading much though, after it was linked to communism, Pope John Paul made it his personal quest to kill it. There was film of Him yelling “Shut up!” at the young people in Brazil who were chanting: “Liberation!”
There is more than one side to the church. While it is true that there are Bishops wearing ermine and dinning with ruthless dictators. There are also lowly priests who live in mud huts and get jailed and killed for protecting the interests of the poor. The religious who have been assassinated were, according to the San Jose Mercury News a few years back. On an enemies list that goes back to the Regan administration. The murder of the four Nuns in Guatemala, and Bishop Romero looked like they were being tied to our CIA. but when Bush came in the investigation was suspended.
If you ever want to step back into the 10th century for a day. stop by the Abbey of New Clairvoux in Vina. 8mi East on South Ave from Corning, or 19mi North of Chico on Hwy 99
I have done retreats there for about 10years. The Trappists keep the liturgy of hours. which was instituted in, I think, the 8th century. the Chanting of the office is a powerful experience. Thomas Merton was one of the Monks from the Mother House in Kentucky.