Edward Flannery
Edward H. Flannery | |
---|---|
Born | Providence, Rhode Island | August 20, 1912
Died | October 19, 1998 | (aged 86)
Ordained | 1937 |
Edward H. Flannery (August 20, 1912 – October 19, 1998) was an American priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, and the author of The Anguish of the Jews: Twenty-Three Centuries of Antisemitism, first published in 1965.
Fr. Flannery was the first director of Catholic-Jewish Relations for the
Throughout his career, he fought against
Flannery spoke in hundreds of churches, synagogues, and other settings to promote an understanding of the work of the
Biography
Early life and career
Flannery was born in Providence, Rhode Island, to John Flannery, a police officer, and Elizabeth (née Mulvey).[4]
He studied at
In 1937, he was ordained; he spent most of the next 30 years in the
as well as writing for the diocesan newspaper.In 1967, Flannery began nine years as the first director of Catholic-Jewish Relations at the
In 1976, he returned to Providence and was concerned with the continuing education of the diocesan clergy and with Catholic-Jewish relations.
On October 19, 1998, Flannery died of pancreatic cancer.
Work and views
Flannery devoted his life to the
In his book, The Anguish of the Jews: Twenty-Three Centuries of Antisemitism, he provided a thorough account of the history of the world's
In relation to the Holocaust, Flannery illustrated the sympathies for the
In an interview in 1967, Flannery said: "The anti-Semite, not the Jew, is the real Christ-killer. He thinks he's religious, but that's a self-delusion. Actually he finds religion so heavy a burden, he develops 'Christophobia.' He's hostile to the faith and has an unconscious hatred of Christ, who is for him, Christ the Repressor. He uses anti-Semitism as a safety valve for this hostility and is really trying to strike out at Christ."[3]
Flannery was awarded
Flannery believed the vast majority of even well-educated Christians have been ignorant of what has happened to the Jews throughout history and the culpable involvement of the Church. Apart from a few recent publications, there is little about antisemitism in Christian history books or social studies. The author states that, by comparison, the Jews themselves are largely and acutely aware of their painful history and physical and verbal attacks in the press.
Flannery was one of the 53 authors to respond to
Legacy
After his death, tributes to his achievements came from Rabbi A. James Rudin, Father John Hotchkin, Director of the NCCB Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, and Eugene J. Fisher, who succeeded him as Director for Catholic-Jewish Relations for the Bishops' Conference.[5]
Speaking at a 1987 Mass of Thanksgiving in honor of the 50th year of Flannery's ordained ministry, Msgr. George G. Higgins of the Department of Theology of the Catholic University of America said Flannery had been called by God to break new ground; "to address the anguish of the Jews and this, of course, long before the overwhelming majority of his fellow Christians had given so much as a second thought to the Holocaust."[1]
At the 1997 celebration of Flannery's 60th ordination anniversary, the National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman, said: "His [Flannery's] magnificent spirit, his emphatic heart, his great mind walk with prophets and kings and all those who ennoble the world with their courage and character."
ADL Director of Interfaith Affairs, Rabbi
Rabbi A. James Rudin, National Interreligious Affairs Director of the American Jewish Committee (who termed Flannery "one of this century's spiritual giants"), said "during Father Flannery's long and distinguished career, he helped build human bridges of mutual respect and understanding between Roman Catholics and Jews.[2] His advice and guidance were always treasured and his articulate voice and writings stirred both Catholics and Jews. The AJC has lost a beloved colleague and friend. He shattered negative caricatures and stereotypes that had existed for centuries. Father Flannery was an unrelenting foe of all forms of anti-Semitism and was a strong supporter of the State of Israel."[1]
References
- ^ a b c "Leaders Mourn Passing of Father Edward Flannery, A Pioneer in Catholic-Jewish Relations" Archived 2014-01-11 at the Wayback Machine, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, October 20, 1998.
- ^ a b c d e f "Fr. Edward Flannery fought hatred against Jews until his death in 1998". Fight Hatred - The Jabotinsky International Center. 6 December 2011. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ a b Pace, Edward (October 22, 1998). "The Rev. Edward Flannery, 86, Priest Who Fought Anti-Semitism". New York Times. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ a b Meredith Ahlgren & Andrew H. Summey. "Father Edward H. Flannery papers". Seton Hall University Libraries. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ "Dr. Eugene J. Fisher - CJCR Hugo Gryn Fellow" (PDF). The Woolf Institute. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ "Father Edward H. Flannery". Retrieved 11 January 2014.
Further reading
- Flannery, Edward H. The Anguish of the Jews: Twenty-Three Centuries of Antisemitism, first published 1965; latest edition Paulist Press 2004.
- Fuhrer, Leslie (6 June 1981). "On Faith: One Man's Vocation". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
External links
- Father Edward H. Flannery papers - a collection of the professional papers and interests of Edward H. Flannery, Field Archives & Special Collections Center, Seton Hall University Libraries
- Rev. Edward Flannery: Jewish-Christian Dialogue, on Vimeo