Edward Flannery: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American priest and author (1912–1998)}} |
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{{Infobox clergy |
{{Infobox clergy |
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| name = Edward H. Flannery |
| name = Edward H. Flannery |
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Fr. Flannery was the first director of Catholic-Jewish Relations for the [[U.S. Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs]], a position he held from 1967 to 1976.<ref name=washington>[http://old.usccb.org/comm/archives/1998/98-221.shtml "Leaders Mourn Passing of Father Edward Flannery, A Pioneer in Catholic-Jewish Relations"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111141603/http://old.usccb.org/comm/archives/1998/98-221.shtml |date=2014-01-11 }}, [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]], October 20, 1998.</ref> |
Fr. Flannery was the first director of Catholic-Jewish Relations for the [[U.S. Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs]], a position he held from 1967 to 1976.<ref name=washington>[http://old.usccb.org/comm/archives/1998/98-221.shtml "Leaders Mourn Passing of Father Edward Flannery, A Pioneer in Catholic-Jewish Relations"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111141603/http://old.usccb.org/comm/archives/1998/98-221.shtml |date=2014-01-11 }}, [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]], October 20, 1998.</ref> |
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Throughout his career, he fought against [[ |
Throughout his career, he fought against [[antisemitism]] and defended the [[State of Israel]] and the [[Jews|Jewish people]] against attacks on the local, national, and international levels. Through his work, he displayed great sensitivity to issues of the [[The Holocaust|Holocaust]] and strong promotion of education of the [[history of antisemitism]] for both the Jewish and Catholic communities.<ref name=fight-hatred-article/> |
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Flannery spoke in hundreds of churches, synagogues and other settings to promote an understanding of the work of the [[Second Vatican Council]] and the [[National Conference of Catholic Bishops]] concerning the Church’s bond with the |
Flannery spoke in hundreds of churches, synagogues, and other settings to promote an understanding of the work of the [[Second Vatican Council]] and the [[National Conference of Catholic Bishops]] concerning the [[Catholic Church|Church’s]] bond with the Jewish People. He was also the President of the National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel, and a consultant to Secretariat of Inter-religious Affairs. His other writings include translations of French religious works and essays and articles as well as a variety of publications.<ref name=nyt/> |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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===Early life and career=== |
===Early life and career=== |
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Flannery was born in [[Providence, Rhode Island]], |
Flannery was born in [[Providence, Rhode Island]], to John Flannery, a police officer, and Elizabeth (née Mulvey).<ref name=catholicresearch>{{cite web|author=Meredith Ahlgren|author2=Andrew H. Summey|name-list-style=amp|title=Father Edward H. Flannery papers|url=http://www.catholicresearch.net/data/ead/html/shu-mss0012_flannery.html#series3|publisher=Seton Hall University Libraries|accessdate=11 January 2014}}</ref> |
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He studied at [[St. Charles College, Maryland|St. Charles College]] in [[Catonsville]] |
He studied at [[St. Charles College, Maryland|St. Charles College]] in [[Catonsville]], and went on to earn a bachelor's degree at [[St. Sulpice Seminary]] near [[Paris]]. He then earned his master's degree at [[Catholic University of America|Catholic University]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref name=catholicresearch/> |
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In 1937 he was ordained |
In 1937, he was ordained; he spent most of the next 30 years in the [[Diocese of Providence]] working as a [[pastor]] and [[chaplain]] as well as writing for the diocesan newspaper. |
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In 1967, Flannery began nine years as the first director of Catholic-Jewish Relations at the [[National Conference of Catholic Bishops]]. He became Associate Director of the Institute of Judeo-Christian Studies at [[Seton Hall University]] |
In 1967, Flannery began nine years as the first director of Catholic-Jewish Relations at the [[National Conference of Catholic Bishops]]. He became Associate Director of the Institute of Judeo-Christian Studies at [[Seton Hall University]] and Director of the Continuing Education of the Clergy for the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island.<ref name=fight-hatred-article>{{cite news|title=Fr. Edward Flannery fought hatred against Jews until his death in 1998|url=http://fighthatred.com/historical-events/fighters-against-hate/940-fr-edward-flannery-fought-hatred-against-jews-until-his-death-in-1998|accessdate=11 January 2014|newspaper=Fight Hatred - The Jabotinsky International Center|date=6 December 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140111132435/http://fighthatred.com/historical-events/fighters-against-hate/940-fr-edward-flannery-fought-hatred-against-jews-until-his-death-in-1998|archive-date=11 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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In 1976 he returned to |
In 1976, he returned to Providence and was concerned with the continuing education of the diocesan clergy and with Catholic-Jewish relations. |
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On October 19, 1998, Flannery died of [[pancreatic cancer]]. |
On October 19, 1998, Flannery died of [[pancreatic cancer]]. |
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===Work and views=== |
===Work and views=== |
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Flannery devoted his life to the [[Relations between Catholicism and Judaism|reconciliation of Christians and Jews]] |
Flannery devoted his life to the [[Relations between Catholicism and Judaism|reconciliation of Christians and Jews]] and the study of antisemitism. |
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In his book, |
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 [[Persecution of Jews|persecution of the Jews]], without dwelling on the lurid details of the atrocities. He covers [[Pagan]] antisemitism in the [[classical antiquity|ancient world]]; the struggles between [[Anti-Judaism in early Christianity|Judaism and the early church]]; [[Antisemitism in Christianity|Christian antisemitism]] in the [[Middle Ages]] in the various countries of Europe; the age of the [[Jewish ghettos in Europe|ghetto]]; the rise of [[scapegoat]] antisemitism in the modern, [[Irreligion|post-religious]] world (particularly in Russia) associated with [[Occultism in Nazism|Nazi paganism]] and [[the Holocaust]]; as well as [[Antisemitism in the United States|antisemitism in America]]. In the end, Flannery reviews how things stand today (i.e., at the book's publication).<ref name=fight-hatred-article/> |
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In relation to the Holocaust, Flannery illustrated the sympathies for the Nazi regime and |
In relation to the Holocaust, Flannery illustrated the sympathies for the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi regime]] and [[Final Solution]] expressed by prominent [[Arabs|Arab]] figures at the time, such as the close confidant of [[Adolf Hitler]], [[Haj Amin al-Husseini]]. Flannery traced antisemitism back to the 3rd century BC and identified the following strains: political and [[economic antisemitism]], [[Religious antisemitism|theological or religious antisemitism]] (also known as [[anti-Judaism]]), nationalistic antisemitism, and [[racial antisemitism]] (e.g., the foundations of [[Nazism]]).<ref name=fight-hatred-article/> |
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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."<ref name=nyt>{{cite web|title=The Rev. Edward Flannery, 86, Priest Who Fought Anti-Semitism|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/22/us/the-rev-edward-flannery-86-priest-who-fought-anti-semitism.html|first=Edward|last=Pace| |
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."<ref name=nyt>{{cite web|title=The Rev. Edward Flannery, 86, Priest Who Fought Anti-Semitism|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/22/us/the-rev-edward-flannery-86-priest-who-fought-anti-semitism.html|first=Edward|last=Pace|work=New York Times|accessdate=11 January 2014|date=October 22, 1998}}</ref> |
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Flannery was awarded [[honorary doctorates]] from several institutions, including [[Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion|Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati]], and [[Seton Hall University]]. He received the prestigious Nicholas and Hedy Munk International Brotherhood Award of the [[Canadian Centre for Diversity|Canadian Council of Christians and Jews]] and many other signs of esteem from Christian and Jewish Organizations.<ref name=fight-hatred-article/> |
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Flannery |
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. |
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Flannery |
Flannery was one of the 53 authors to respond to [[Simon Wiesenthal|Simon Wiesenthal's]] book ''[[The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness|The Sunflower]].''{{citation needed|date=January 2014}} |
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==Legacy== |
==Legacy== |
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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 |
After his death, tributes to his achievements came from [[Rabbi]] [[A. James Rudin]], Father John Hotchkin, Director of the [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops|NCCB]] Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, and Eugene J. Fisher, who succeeded him as Director for Catholic-Jewish Relations for the Bishops' Conference.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dr. Eugene J. Fisher - CJCR Hugo Gryn Fellow|url=http://www.woolf.cam.ac.uk/uploads/Fisherprofile.pdf|work=[[The Woolf Institute]]|accessdate=11 January 2014}}</ref> |
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Speaking at a Mass of Thanksgiving |
Speaking at a 1987 [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] of Thanksgiving in honor of the 50th year of Flannery's ordained ministry, [[Monsignor|Msgr.]] [[George G. Higgins]] of the Department of Theology of the [[Catholic University of America]] said Flannery had been called by [[God in Christianity|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."<ref name=washington/> |
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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." |
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ADL Director of Interfaith Affairs, Rabbi [[Leon Klenicki]], said: |
ADL Director of Interfaith Affairs, Rabbi [[Leon Klenicki]], said: "I know Edward’s limitless energy for dialogue and friendship. He is a person of God, sharing his spirituality with all of us. God bless him."<ref>{{cite web|title=Father Edward H. Flannery|url=http://homepage.eircom.net/~oflannery/bio/bioEHF19121998.htm|accessdate=11 January 2014}}</ref> [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] [[William Henry Keeler]] said: "He was an early and effective pioneer in encouraging Catholics in the United States on how best to implement [[Nostra Aetate]], the Second Vatican Council's charter for fostering positive Catholic-Jewish relationships." |
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Rabbi [[A. James Rudin]], National Interreligious Affairs Director of the [[American Jewish Committee]] |
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.<ref name=fight-hatred-article/> 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."<ref name=washington/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==Further reading== |
==Further reading== |
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*Flannery, Edward H. ''[https://books.google.com/books |
*Flannery, Edward H. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=J40gNC7cxfYC The Anguish of the Jews: Twenty-Three Centuries of Antisemitism]'', first published 1965; latest edition Paulist Press 2004. |
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*{{cite news |last1=Fuhrer |first1=Leslie |title=On Faith: One Man's Vocation |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_boston-phoenix_1981-06-02_10_22/page/n1/mode/1up |access-date=29 March 2024 |work=The Boston Phoenix |date=6 June 1981}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://www.catholicresearch.net/data/ead/html/shu-mss0012_flannery.html#series3 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 |
* [http://www.catholicresearch.net/data/ead/html/shu-mss0012_flannery.html#series3 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 |
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* [http://vimeo.com/68955108 Rev. Edward Flannery: Jewish-Christian Dialogue], on [[Vimeo]] |
* [http://vimeo.com/68955108 Rev. Edward Flannery: Jewish-Christian Dialogue], on [[Vimeo]] |
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* [http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Edward-Flannery/197094799 Father Edward H. Flannery's Full Biography] on [[ZoomInfo]] |
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{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Flannery, Edward}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flannery, Edward}} |
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[[Category:1912 births]] |
[[Category:1912 births]] |
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[[Category:St. Charles College alumni]] |
[[Category:St. Charles College (Maryland) alumni]] |
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[[Category:Scholars of antisemitism]] |
[[Category:Scholars of antisemitism]] |
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[[Category:American Roman Catholic priests]] |
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[[Category:Clergy from Providence, Rhode Island]] |
[[Category:Clergy from Providence, Rhode Island]] |
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[[Category:Recipients of the Benemerenti medal]] |
[[Category:Recipients of the Benemerenti medal]] |
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[[Category:1998 deaths]] |
[[Category:1998 deaths]] |
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[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic priests]] |
[[Category:20th-century American Roman Catholic priests]] |
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[[Category:Catholic opposition to antisemitism]] |
Latest revision as of 15:18, 29 March 2024
Edward H. Flannery | |
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![]() | |
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 U.S. Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, a position he held from 1967 to 1976.[1]
Throughout his career, he fought against antisemitism and defended the State of Israel and the Jewish people against attacks on the local, national, and international levels. Through his work, he displayed great sensitivity to issues of the Holocaust and strong promotion of education of the history of antisemitism for both the Jewish and Catholic communities.[2]
Flannery spoke in hundreds of churches, synagogues, and other settings to promote an understanding of the work of the Second Vatican Council and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops concerning the Church’s bond with the Jewish People. He was also the President of the National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel, and a consultant to Secretariat of Inter-religious Affairs. His other writings include translations of French religious works and essays and articles as well as a variety of publications.[3]
Biography
[edit]Early life and career
[edit]Flannery was born in Providence, Rhode Island, to John Flannery, a police officer, and Elizabeth (née Mulvey).[4]
He studied at St. Charles College in Catonsville, and went on to earn a bachelor's degree at St. Sulpice Seminary near Paris. He then earned his master's degree at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.[4]
In 1937, he was ordained; he spent most of the next 30 years in the Diocese of Providence working as a pastor and chaplain as well as writing for the diocesan newspaper.
In 1967, Flannery began nine years as the first director of Catholic-Jewish Relations at the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. He became Associate Director of the Institute of Judeo-Christian Studies at Seton Hall University and Director of the Continuing Education of the Clergy for the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island.[2]
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
[edit]Flannery devoted his life to the reconciliation of Christians and Jews and the study of antisemitism.
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 persecution of the Jews, without dwelling on the lurid details of the atrocities. He covers Pagan antisemitism in the ancient world; the struggles between Judaism and the early church; Christian antisemitism in the Middle Ages in the various countries of Europe; the age of the ghetto; the rise of scapegoat antisemitism in the modern, post-religious world (particularly in Russia) associated with Nazi paganism and the Holocaust; as well as antisemitism in America. In the end, Flannery reviews how things stand today (i.e., at the book's publication).[2]
In relation to the Holocaust, Flannery illustrated the sympathies for the Nazi regime and Final Solution expressed by prominent Arab figures at the time, such as the close confidant of Adolf Hitler, Haj Amin al-Husseini. Flannery traced antisemitism back to the 3rd century BC and identified the following strains: political and economic antisemitism, theological or religious antisemitism (also known as anti-Judaism), nationalistic antisemitism, and racial antisemitism (e.g., the foundations of Nazism).[2]
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 honorary doctorates from several institutions, including Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, and Seton Hall University. He received the prestigious Nicholas and Hedy Munk International Brotherhood Award of the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews and many other signs of esteem from Christian and Jewish Organizations.[2]
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 Simon Wiesenthal's book The Sunflower.[citation needed]
Legacy
[edit]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 Leon Klenicki, said: "I know Edward’s limitless energy for dialogue and friendship. He is a person of God, sharing his spirituality with all of us. God bless him."[6] Cardinal William Henry Keeler said: "He was an early and effective pioneer in encouraging Catholics in the United States on how best to implement Nostra Aetate, the Second Vatican Council's charter for fostering positive Catholic-Jewish relationships."
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
[edit]- ^ 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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 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