Francis Joseph Spellman (May 4, 1889 – December 2, 1967) was an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
CardinalA cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually a bishop, of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and making themselves available...
of the
Roman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church. With more than a billion members, over half of all Christians and more than one-sixth of the world's population, the Catholic Church is a communion of the Western, or Latin Rite Church, and...
. He served as
Archbishop of New YorkThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York covers New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties in New York City , as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York state. There are 480 parishes...
from 1939 until his death, and was created a
CardinalA cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually a bishop, of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and making themselves available...
in 1946.
Early life and education
Francis Spellman was born in
Whitman, MassachusettsWhitman is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,882 at the 2000 census.The village of Auburnville is located at the southwest edge of Whitman.- History :...
, to William and Ellen (
néeNEE, Nee, Née may refer to:* Née or Nee, French for "born", indicates a person's birth surname* Nee , a band in Kannada* NEE, a political party in Flanders, Belgium* "Ne~e?", a 2003 single by Aya Matsuura- People with the family name :...
Conway) Spellman. His father (1858–1957), whose own parents had
immigratedAmerican immigration refers to the movement of non-residents to the United States...
to the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from
ClonmelClonmel in County Tipperary is the county seat of South Tipperary County Council. The town lies mainly on the northern bank of the River Suir with a smaller section south of the river. It lies in a valley, surrounded by mountains and hills. The Comeragh Mountains are to the south, while northeast...
and
LeighlinbridgeLeighlinbridge is a village on the River Barrow in County Carlow, Ireland. The N9 National primary route once passed through the village which was by-passed in the 1980s...
in
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
, worked in
shoemakingShoemaking is a traditional handicraft profession, which has now been largely superseded by industrial manufacture of footwear.Shoemakers or cordwainers may produce a range of footwear items, including shoes, boots, sandals, clogs and moccasins...
before becoming a
grocerBeginning as early as the 14th century, a grocer was a dealer in comestible dry goods such as spices, pepper, sugar, and cocoa, tea and coffee...
. The eldest of five children, Francis had two brothers, Martin and John, and two sisters, Marian and Helene. As a child, he served as an
altar boyAn altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a religious service. An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell, etc.-Altar Servers in the Roman Catholic Church:...
at
Holy Ghost Church. He had a difficult relationship with his strict father, but was very attached to his mother.
Spellman attended Whitman High School because there was no local
Catholic schoolCatholic schools are education ministries of the Catholic Church. Currently, the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
. He enjoyed
photographyPhotography is the process, activity and art of creating still or moving pictures by recording radiation on a sensitive medium, such as a photographic film, or an electronic sensor...
and
baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The goal is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot square, or diamond...
; he was a
first basemanFirst base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team. A first baseman is the player on the team playing defense who fields the area nearest first base, and is responsible for the...
during his first year of high school until a hand injury forced him to stop playing, and later
managedIn baseball, the head coach of a team is called the manager ; this individual controls matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
the team. Following his high school graduation, Spellman entered
Fordham UniversityFordham University is a private university in the United States, with three campuses located in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in
New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1907. He graduated in 1911 and decided to study for the
priesthoodThe ministerial orders of the Catholic Church includes the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
. He was then sent by Archbishop
William Henry O'ConnellWilliam Henry Cardinal O'Connell was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Boston from 1907 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1911.-Early life:...
to study at the
Pontifical North American CollegeThe Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX in a former Dominican and Visitation Convent, the Casa Santa Maria, located in the historic center of Rome near the Trevi Fountain...
in
RomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated municipality , with over 2.7 million residents in , while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat to be 3.46 million. The metropolitan area of Rome is estimated by OECD to have a population of 3.7 million...
. During his years in Rome, Spellman befriended such figures as
Gaetano BisletiGaetano Bisleti S.T.D. was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and was former Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education.Gaetano Bisleti was born in Veroli, Italy...
,
Francesco Borgongini DucaFrancesco Borgongini Duca was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Apostolic Nuncio to Italy from 1929 to 1953, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1953 by Pope Pius XII.-Biography:...
, and Domenico Tardini. He also suffered from
pneumoniaPneumonia is an inflammatory illness of the lung. Frequently, it is described as lung parenchyma/alveolar inflammation and abnormal alveolar filling with fluid ....
, leaving his state of health so poor that his
superiorsIn a hierarchy or tree structure of any kind, a superior is an individual or position at a higher level in the hierarchy than another , and thus closer to the apex. It is often used in business terminology to refer to people who are supervisors and in the military to people who are higher in the...
wanted him to leave the North American College. He nevertheless remained and managed to complete his
doctorateA doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries represents the highest level of formal study or research in a given field. In some countries it also refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to practice in a specific profession . The best-known example...
.
Priesthood
Spellman was
ordainedThe term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to a group of individuals who are set apart for a special role or ministry....
a priest by
Patriarch Giuseppe CeppetelliThe Latin Patriarch of Constantinople was an office established as a result of Crusader activity in the Near East. The title should not be confused with that of the "Patriarch of Constantinople", an office which existed before and after....
on May 14, 1916. Upon his return to the United States, he did
pastoralIn the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
work in the
Archdiocese of BostonThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. It comprises several counties of the state of Massachusetts...
. Cardinal O'Connell, who had earlier sent Spellman to Rome, took an apparent dislike to the young priest. O'Connell referred to him as a "little popinjay" and later said, "Francis epitomizes what happens to a bookkeeper when you teach him how to read." Spellman served as a
chaplainA chaplain is typically a priest, pastor, ordained deacon, rabbi, imam or other member of the clergy serving a group of people who are not organised as a mission or church, or who are unable to attend church for various reasons; such as health, confinement, or military or civil duties; lay...
at St. Clement's Home, an institution for elderly women, before becoming a
curateFrom the Latin curatus , a curate is a person who is invested with the care, or cure , of souls of a parish. In this sense it correctly means a parish priest. In Anglican churches, however, the term is usually used for an assistant priest or deacon...
at All Saints Church in
RoxburyRoxbury is a neighborhood within Boston, Massachusetts USA. It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, and became a city in 1846 until annexed to Boston on January 5, 1868. The original town of Roxbury once included the current Boston neighborhoods of Jamaica...
.
Following the United States' entry into
World War IWorld War I , also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Wars, was a global military conflict which involved most of the world's great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance...
in 1917, he sought to become a
military chaplainA military chaplain is a chaplain who ministers to soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and other members of the military.-Nomination:Chaplains are nominated in different ways in different countries. A military chaplain can be an army-trained soldier with additional theological training or a priest...
but was assigned by Cardinal O'Connell to promote subscriptions for the archdiocesan
newspaperA newspaper is a publication containing news, information, and advertising. General-interest newspapers often feature articles on political events, crime, business, art/entertainment, society and sports. Most traditional papers also feature an editorial page containing columns that express the...
,
The Pilot instead. He was named assistant
chancellorTwo quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
(1918) and later
archivistAn archivist is a professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to information determined to have long-term value. The information maintained by an archivist can be any form of media...
of the Archdiocese. After translating into
EnglishEnglish is a West Germanic language that developed in England during the Anglo-Saxon era. As a result of the military, economic, scientific, political, and cultural influence of the British Empire during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, and of the United States since the mid 20th century,...
two books written by his friend Borgongini Duca, Spellman was made the first American
attachéAttaché is a French term in diplomacy referring to a person who is assigned to the administrative staff of a higher placed person or another service or agency...
of the
Vatican Secretariat of StateThe Secretariat of State is the oldest dicastery in the Roman Curia, the government of the Roman Catholic Church. It is headed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, and performs all the political and diplomatic functions of Vatican City and the Holy See...
in 1925. He also worked with the
Knights of ColumbusThe Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
in running children's
playgroundA playground or play area is an area designed for children to play, indoors or outdoors.Modern playgrounds often have recreational equipment such as the see-saw, merry-go-round, swingset, slide, jungle gym, chin-up bars, sandbox, spring rider, monkey bars, overhead ladder, trapeze rings,...
s, and was raised to the rank of
Privy ChamberlainMonsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
on October 4, 1926 by
Pope Pius XIPope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
.
In 1927, Spellman established a lifelong friendship with
Archbishop Eugenio PacelliPope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as the 260th Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
during a trip to
GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
, where Pacelli was serving as
Apostolic NuncioThe Apostolic Nunciature to Germany is an ecclesiastical office of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany. It is a diplomatic post of the Holy See, whose representative is called the Apostolic Nuncio to Germany with the rank of an ambassador...
. He translated Pius XI's first broadcast over
Vatican RadioVatican Radio is the official broadcasting service of the Vatican.Set up in 1931 by Guglielmo Marconi, today its programs are offered in 47 languages, and are sent out on short wave , medium wave, FM, satellite and the Internet. The Jesuit Order has been charged with the management of Vatican...
in 1931. Later that year, Spellman was charged with smuggling
Non Abbiamo BisognoNon Abbiamo Bisogno is a Roman Catholic Church encyclical published on 29 June 1931 by pope Pius XI. This encyclical begins with the Pope's protest against the Mussolini's closing of Italian Catholic Action and Catholic Youth organizations. In that same year...
, the
papalThe pope is the Bishop of Rome and, as such, is leader of the worldwide Catholic Church...
encyclicalAn encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Christian church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop. The word comes from Latin encyclia meaning "general" or "encircling", which is also the origin...
condemning
Benito MussoliniBenito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini,
KSMOM GCTE was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism. He became the Prime Minister of Italy in 1922 and began using the title Il Duce by...
, out of Rome and to
ParisParis is the capital of France and the country's most populous city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he then delivered it to the press; he was subsequently attacked by Italian newspapers. He also served as
secretaryA secretary is an administrative assistant in business office administration.The executive secretary has a myriad of administrative duties. Traditionally, these duties were mostly related to correspondence, such as the typing out of letters...
to Lorenzo Cardinal Lauri at the 1932
International Eucharistic CongressIn the Roman Catholic church, a Eucharistic Congress is a gathering of clergy, religious, and laity to bear witness to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, which is an important Roman Catholic doctrine...
in
DublinDublin is the largest city and capital of Ireland. It is officially known in Irish as Baile Átha Cliath or Áth Cliath ; the English name comes from the Irish Dubh Linn meaning "black pool". It is located near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the...
, and helped reform the
VaticanThe Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, commonly known as the Pope, and is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and speaks for the whole Catholic...
's
press officeA press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
, introducing mimeograph machines and issuing
press releasesA news release, media release, press release or press statement is a written or recorded communication directed at members of the news media for the purpose of announcing something claimed as having news value. Typically, they are mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to assignment editors at newspapers,...
.
Auxiliary Bishop of Boston
On July 30, 1932, Spellman was appointed
Auxiliary BishopAn auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Boston and
Titular BishopA titular bishop is a bishop of the Catholic Church who is not in charge of a diocese . Examples of bishops belonging to this category are coadjutor bishops, auxiliary bishops, bishops emeriti, vicars apostolic, nuncios, superiors of departments in the Roman Curia, and Cardinal Bishops of...
of
Sila by Pius XI. He had originally been considered for the bishoprics of
PortlandThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States comprising of the entire state of Maine...
and
ManchesterThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the region of New England in the United States comprising the entire state of New Hampshire...
. He received his
episcopal consecrationIn the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following September 8 from Cardinal Pacelli (whose old
vestmentVestments are liturgical garments and articles associated primarily with the Christian religion, especially among Latin Rite and other Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Methodists, and Lutherans...
s Spellman himself wore), with Archbishops
Giuseppe PizzardoGiuseppe Pizzardo was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Prefect of the Congregation for Seminaries and Universities from 1939 to 1968, and Secretary of the Holy Office from 1951 to 1959...
and Borgongini Duca serving as
co-consecratorsConsecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, at
St. Peter's BasilicaThe Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as the ' and commonly known as St. Peter's Basilica, is located within the Vatican City. St. Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, holding 60,000 people. It is the symbolic "Mother church" of...
. His was the first consecration of an American bishop ever to be held at St. Peter's. He was given as his episcopal
mottoA motto is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used...
:
Sequere Deum, meaning, "Follow God."
After his return to the United States, Spellman resided at
St. John's SeminarySaint John's Seminary, located in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, serves the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, and other dioceses of New England including, the Diocese of Springfield, the Diocese of Burlington, the Diocese of Manchester, the Diocese of...
in Brighton. He was later made pastor of
Sacred Heart Church in
Newton CenterNewton Centre is a village of Newton, Massachusetts. The main commercial center of Newton Centre is a triangular area surrounding the intersections of Beacon Street, Centre Street and Langley Road. It is the largest downtown area among all the villages of Newton, and serves as a large upscale...
; he erased the church's $43,000 debt through different fundraising activities and the help of his many rich connections. When his mother died in 1935, her funeral was attended by
GovernorThe Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
James CurleyJames Michael Curley was an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives, as the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, and as Governor of Massachusetts.-Early Life:...
,
Lieutenant GovernorThe Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts is the first in the line to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor following the incapacitation of the Governor of Massachusetts...
Joseph HurleyJoseph L. Hurley was an American Democratic politician who served as Lieutenant Governor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1935 to 1937. Hurley was from Fall River, Massachusetts. He was of Irish descent....
, and many clergy, except for Cardinal O'Connell.
Spellman arranged and organized Cardinal Pacelli's visit to the United States in 1936, including a meeting between the Cardinal and
PresidentThe President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition...
Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt , the only U.S. President elected to more than two terms, was a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, to whom Spellman later became a friend and advisor. He also celebrated the first
MassThe Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Catholic Church. The term is used also of similar celebrations in Old Catholic Churches, in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of Anglicanism, in many Lutheran Churches, and in a small amount of High Church Methodist parishes...
at the
White HouseThe White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian style and has been the residence of every...
in 1936.
Archbishop of New York
Following the death of Pius XI, Cardinal Pacelli was
electedThe Papal conclave of 1939 was convoked on the brink of World War II with the death of Pope Pius XI on February 10 of that same year in the Apostolic Palace. The conclave to elect Pius' successor began on March 1 and ended a day later, on March 2, after three ballots. The cardinals elected Eugenio...
as
Pope Pius XIIPope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as the 260th Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
, and one of his first acts was to appoint Spellman the sixth
Archbishop of New YorkThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York covers New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties in New York City , as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York state. There are 480 parishes...
on April 15, 1939. He succeeded the late Cardinal Patrick Joseph Hayes, and was formally
installedAn enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person--usually a monarch or a religious leader--formally sitting for the first time on a throne. The throne is seen as a symbol of authority, both secular and religious...
as Archbishop on the following May 23. In addition to his duties as
diocesan bishopIn those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws. The term comes from the Latin word ordinarius...
, he was named
Apostolic Vicar for the U.S. Armed ForcesThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, provides the Roman Catholic Church's pastoral and spiritual services to those serving in the United States armed forces or other federal services overseas...
on December 11, 1939. He spent many
ChristmasChristmas , also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days. The nativity of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini...
es with U.S. troops in
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
,
KoreaKorea is a civilization and formerly unified nation currently divided into two states. Located on the Korean Peninsula, it borders China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait....
, and
EuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains , and the Black Sea to the southeast...
in this capacity.
During his tenure in New York, Spellman's considerable national influence in religious and political matters earned his residence the nickname of "the Powerhouse". He hosted such prominent figures as
Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kennedy, Sr. was a prominent American businessman and political figure, and the father of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, United States Senator and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, United States Senator Edward Kennedy, Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, U.S...
,
Bernard BaruchBernard Mannes Baruch was an American financier, stock-market speculator, statesman, and political consultant. After his success in business, he devoted his time toward advising Democratic U.S. Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D...
,
David I. WalshDavid Ignatius Walsh was a United States politician from Massachusetts. He was a member of the Democratic Party.-Youth and education:...
,
John William McCormackJohn William McCormack was an American politician from Boston, Massachusetts.McCormack served as a member of United States House of Representatives from 1928 until he retired from political life in 1971...
, and numerous other
politicianA politician or political leader is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making. This includes people who hold decision-making positions in government, and people who seek those positions, whether by means of election, coup d'état, appointment, electoral fraud, conquest,...
s, entertainers, and clergymen. In 1945, he instituted the
Al Smith DinnerThe Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner is an annual white tie charity fundraiser, held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York on the third Thursday of October . It is organized by the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation in honor of former New York Governor Al Smith, the first Catholic...
, an annual
white tieWhite tie is the most formal evening dress code. It is worn to events such as balls, the opera, and formal dinners...
fundraiser for
Catholic CharitiesCatholic Charities is a worldwide network of charities whose aim is to "reduce poverty, support families, and empower communities." It is one of the largest and most respected charities...
attended by prominent national figures, including
presidential nomineeIn United States politics and government, the term presidential nominee has two distinct meanings.The first is the person chosen by the primary voters and caucus-goers of a political party to be the party's nominee for President of the United States...
s.
Following his ascension to New York, Spellman also became a close confidante of President Roosevelt. During
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was chosen by Roosevelt to act as the latter's agent and visit Europe,
AfricaAfrica is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area. With a billion people in 61 territories, it accounts for about 14.8% of the...
, and the
Middle EastThe Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, southeastern Europe, and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East...
in 1943, visiting a total of 16 countries in four months. As archbishop and military vicar, he would have greater freedom than official diplomats. Spellman also acted as a liaison between Pius XII and Roosevelt in the Pope's attempts to have Rome declared an
open cityIn war, in the event of the imminent capture of a city, the government/military structure of the nation that controls the city will sometimes declare it an open city, thus announcing that they have abandoned all defensive efforts. The attacking armies of the opposing military will then be expected...
and save it from the relentless bombing other European capitals suffered and risk potentially destroying Rome's historical sites and ruins, including
Vatican CityVatican City , officially the State of the Vatican City , is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, the capital city of Italy...
. In 1946, he received
The Hundred Year Association of New YorkThe Hundred Year Association of New York, founded in 1927, is a non-profit organization in New York City aimed at recognizing and rewarding dedication and service to the City of New York by businesses and organizations that have been in operation in the city for a century or more and by individuals...
's Gold Medal Award "in recognition of outstanding contributions to the City of New York".
Cardinal
Pius XII created him
Cardinal PriestA cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually a bishop, of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and making themselves available...
of
Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Rome in the
consistory-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of February 18, 1946; his titular church was the same one held by Pius before he was elected to the papacy.
Vehemently
anti-CommunistAnti-communism is political and ideological opposition to communism, especially Marxism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the growing popularity of the communist movement, and took on many forms during the 20th century....
, Spellman once said that "a true American can neither be a
CommunistCommunism is a socioeconomic structure and political ideology that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless society based on common ownership and control of the means of production and property in general. Karl Marx posited that communism would be the final stage in human...
nor a Communist condoner" and that "the first loyalty of every American is vigilantly to weed out and counteract Communism and convert American Communists to
AmericanismAmericanism may refer to:* Americanization* A word or phrase considered typical of American English, English as spoken in the United States* An attitude or conviction which gives special importance to the nation or culture of the United States...
". He was firm supporter of
Joseph McCarthyJoseph Raymond McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
. In 1949, when
gravediggerA gravedigger is a cemetery worker responsible for digging graves used in the process of burial.-Fossors:Fossor or Fossarius , from the Latin verb fodere 'to dig', referred to grave diggers in the Roman catacombs in the first three or four centuries of the Christian Era...
s at
Calvary CemeteryCalvary Cemetery is located at 49-02 Laurel Hill Blvd. in Woodside in the New York City borough of Queens, New York. The cemetery is managed by the Trustees of St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York...
in
QueensQueens is the largest in area, the second-largest in population, and the easternmost of the Five Boroughs which form New York City. The Borough of Queens' boundaries are identical to those of the County of Queens , a subdivision of the State of New York in the Northeastern United States.Located on...
went on
strikeA general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
for a pay raise, the Cardinal accused them of being Communists and recruited
seminariansA seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of higher education for instructing students , sometimes at the postgraduate level, in philosophy, theology, spirituality and the religious life, to prepare students for ordination as clergy or other ministry...
from
St. Joseph's SeminarySt. Joseph's Seminary and College, sometimes referred to as Dunwoodie, after the Yonkers, New York neighborhood it is located in, is the major seminary of the Archdiocese of New York. Its primary mission is to form men for the priesthood in the Catholic Church...
as
strikebreakerA strikebreaker is a person who works despite an ongoing strike. Strikebreakers are usually individuals who are not employed by the company prior to the trade union dispute, but rather hired prior to or during the strike to keep production or services going...
s. He described the actions of the gravediggers, who belonged to the
Food, Tobacco, Agricultural, and Allied Workers Union of AmericaThe United Cannery, Agricultural, Packing, and Allied Workers of America was a CIO-affiliated trade union during the late 1930s and 1940s.UCAPAWA was founded as the agricultural arm of Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1937...
, as "an unjustified and immoral strike against the innocent dead and their bereaved families, against their religion and human decency". The strike was supported by such figures as
Dorothy DayDorothy Day was an American journalist, social activist, distributist, anarchist, and devout Catholic convert...
and
Ernest HemingwayErnest Miller Hemingway was an American writer and journalist. He was part of the 1920s expatriate community in Paris, and one of the veterans of World War I later known as "the Lost Generation." He received the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 for The Old Man and the Sea, and the Nobel Prize in Literature...
, who wrote a scathing letter to Spellman. Spellman defended Senator
Joseph McCarthyJoseph Raymond McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
's 1953 investigations of Communist subversives in the federal government, stating at an April 1954 breakfast attended by the Senator that McCarthy had "told us about the Communists and about Communist methods" and that he was "not only against communism—but ... against the methods of the Communists".
Spellman denounced the efforts of
Rep.The United States House of Representatives, commonly referred to as the "House," is the lower house of the bicameral United States Congress, the upper house being the United States Senate. The composition and powers of the House and the Senate are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Graham BardenGraham Arthur Barden was a Democratic U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1935 and 1961.Born in Sampson County, North Carolina in 1896, he moved to Burgaw, North Carolina at the age of 12, where he attended public schools...
to provide federal funding only to public schools as "a craven crusade of religious prejudice against Catholic children", even calling Barden himself an "apostle of bigotry". The Cardinal engaged later in a heated public dispute with former
First LadyFirst Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the President of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president...
Eleanor RooseveltAnna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and assumed a role as an advocate for civil rights...
in 1949 when she expressed her opposition to providing federal funding to
parochial schoolParochial school is one term used to describe a school that engages in religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrow sense, parochial schools are Christian grammar schools or high schools run by parishes, but this distinction is not universally made.-United Kingdom:In...
s in her column,
My DayMy Day was a newspaper column that was written by first lady Eleanor Roosevelt six days a week from 1935 to 1962. In her column, she discussed issues such as Race, Women, and other key events . This column allowed Mrs...
. In response, Spellman accusing her of
anti-CatholicismAnti-Catholicism is a generic term for discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed at the Catholic Church and/or its clergy or its members, often rooted in hatred or misunderstanding of their religion or culture...
and called her column a "[document] of discrimination unworthy of an American mother". He eventually met with her at her
Hyde ParkHyde Park, located on the South Side of the City of Chicago, in Cook County, Illinois, United States and seven miles south of the Chicago Loop, is a Chicago neighborhood and one of 77 Chicago community areas. It is home to the University of Chicago, the Hyde Park Art Center, the Museum of Science...
home to quell the dispute.
Spellman frequently criticized films he perceived to be immoral or indecent. He described
Two-Faced WomanTwo-Faced Woman is a romantic comedy film made by MGM. It was directed by George Cukor and produced by Gottfried Reinhardt from a screenplay by S. N. Behrman, Salka Viertel and George Oppenheimer, based on a play by Ludwig Fulda...
as "an occasion of sin ... dangerous to public morals",
The MiracleL'Amore is an anthology film directed by Roberto Rossellini starring Anna Magnani and Federico Fellini. The two segments are "Il Miracolo" and "Una Voce Umana", the latter based on the play The Human Voice by Jean Cocteau...
(which led to
Joseph Burstyn, Inc v. WilsonJoseph Burstyn, Inc. v. Wilson, 343 U.S. 495 , was a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court which largely marked the decline of motion picture censorship in the United States...
) as a "vile and harmful picture ... a despicable affront to every Christian", and
Baby DollBaby Doll is a 1956 film which tells the story of the childlike bride of a Mississippi cotton gin owner, who becomes the pawn in a battle between her husband and his enemy. It stars Karl Malden, Carroll Baker, Eli Wallach and Mildred Dunnock...
as "revolting" and "morally repellent". His condemnation of
Forever AmberForever Amber is a 1947 film directed by Otto Preminger and starring Linda Darnell and Cornel Wilde. " It was based on the book of the same name. It also starred Richard Greene, George Sanders, Glenn Langan, Richard Haydn, Dolores Hart, and Jessica Tandy...
caused producer
William PerlbergWilliam Perlberg was an American film producer. Before turning his hand to his own projects in the mid-1930s, he worked as a talent agent and personal assistant to Harry Cohn. During his 30-year career, Perlberg produced many box office hits for some of Hollywood's biggest studios...
to publicly refuse to "
bowdlerizeExpurgation is a form of censorship by way of purging anything deemed noxious or offensive, usually from an artistic work. It has also been called bowdlerization, after Thomas Bowdler, who in 1818 published an expurgated edition of William Shakespeare's work that he considered to be more...
the film to placate the Roman Catholic Church".
As archbishop he assigned
Ivan IllichIvan Illich was an Austrian philosopher, Roman Catholic priest and critic of the institutions of contemporary western culture and their effects of the provenance and practice of education, medicine, work, energy use, and economic development.-Personal life:Illich was born in Vienna to a Croatian...
as pastor to a Puerto Rican parish in
Washington Heights, ManhattanWashington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
, in 1951. He was instrumental in getting
William BrennanWilliam Joseph Brennan, Jr. was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. During his term on the Supreme Court, he was known for being a leader of the judicially liberal wing of the Court....
appointed to the
Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States, and leads the federal judiciary. It consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and eight Associate Justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed with the "advice and consent" of the Senate...
in 1956, but would later regret the decision.
JusticeAssociate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States are the members of the Supreme Court of the United States other than the Chief Justice of the United States...
William O. DouglasWilliam Orville Douglas was a United States Supreme Court Associate Justice. With a term lasting 36 years and 209 days, he is the longest-serving justice in the history of the Supreme Court...
once said, "I came to know several Americans who I felt had greatly dishonored our American ideal. One was Cardinal Spellman."
Spellman
participatedThe following were the cardinal electors in the 1958 papal conclave. Arranged by region , and within each alphabetically...
in the
1958 papal conclaveThe Papal conclave of 1958 occurred following the death of Pope Pius XII on October 9, 1958 in Castel Gandolfo, after a 19-year pontificate. The conclave to elect his successor commenced on October 25 and ended three days later, on October 28, after eleven ballots. The cardinal electors chose...
, which elected
Pope John XXIIIBlessed Pope John XXIII , born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli , known as Blessed John XXIII since his beatification, was elected as the 261st Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City on October 28, 1958.He called the Second Vatican Council but did not live to see it to completion,...
. He was considered dismissive of Pope John, and is reported to have said, "He's no
PopeThe pope is the Bishop of Rome and, as such, is leader of the worldwide Catholic Church...
. He should be selling
bananaBanana is the common name for a herbaceous plants of the genus Musa, and the commonly eaten fruit it produces. They are native to the tropical region of Southeast Asia, and are likely to have been first domesticated in Papua New Guinea. Today, they are cultivated throughout the tropics.Banana...
s." In 1959, he served as papal delegate to the Eucharistic Congress in
GuatemalaGuatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast. Its size is just under 110,000 km² with an estimated population...
; during his journey, he stopped in
NicaraguaNicaragua officially the Republic of Nicaragua , is a representative democratic republic. It is the largest country in Central America with an area of 130,373 km
2. The country is bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The Pacific Ocean lies to the west of...
and, contrary to the Pope's orders, publicly appeared with dictator
Anastasio Somoza DebayleAnastasio Somoza Debayle was officially the 73rd and 76th President of Nicaragua from 1 May 1967 to 1 May 1972 and from 1 December 1974 to 17 July 1979. As head of the National Guard, he was ruler of the country from 1967 to 1979...
.
Despite the fact that
John F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
was a Catholic, Spellman supported
Richard NixonRichard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States and is the only president to resign the office. He was also the 36th Vice President of the United States ....
in the
1960 presidential electionThe United States presidential election of 1960 marked the end of Dwight D. Eisenhower's two terms as President. Eisenhower's Vice President, Richard Nixon, who had transformed his office into a national political base, was the Republican candidate....
, due to Kennedy's opposition to federal aid for parochial schools and to appointing a
U.S. Ambassador to the Holy SeeA U.S. Ambassador serves as that country's official representative to the Holy See since formal diplomatic relations began in 1984. Before the establishment of official relations, Myron Taylor served during World War II as an emissary for President Roosevelt. In 1951, President Truman's pick of...
. His support for Nixon ended a long partnership with Kennedy's father,
Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kennedy, Sr. was a prominent American businessman and political figure, and the father of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, United States Senator and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, United States Senator Edward Kennedy, Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, U.S...
Spellman had previously presided over the weddings of
RobertRobert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician. He was a younger brother of President John F. Kennedy and acted as one of his advisers during his presidency. From 1961 to 1964, he was the U.S...
and
Ted KennedyEdward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected in November 1962, he was elected nine times and served for 46 years in the U.S. Senate. At the time of his death, he was the second most senior member of the Senate, and...
.
Growing revolution
Spellman attended the
Second Vatican CouncilThe Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October, 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI on 8 December, 1965...
from 1962 to 1965, and sat on its Board of Presidency. A
theological conservativeConservative Christianity is a term applied to a number of groups or movements seen as giving priority to traditional Christian beliefs and practices...
, he was cautious of
aggiornamentoAggiornamento, literally meaning "bringing up to date," was one of the key words used during the Second Vatican Council both by bishops and clergy attending the sessions, and by the media and Vaticanologists covering it. It was used to mean a spirit of change and open-mindedness...
and, before departing to Rome, declared, "No change will get past the
Statue of LibertyThe Statue of Liberty , officially titled Liberty Enlightening the World , dedicated on October 28, 1886, is a monument commemorating the centennial of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence, given to the United States by the people of France to represent the friendship...
." The Cardinal believed that predominantly
liberalLiberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onwards...
clergymen were being appointed to the Council's commissions, and opposed the introduction of
vernacularVernacular is the native language of a country or a locality. In general linguistics, it is used to describe local languages as opposed to lingua francas, official standards or global languages. It is sometimes applied to nonstandard dialects of a global language...
into the
MassThe Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Catholic Church. The term is used also of similar celebrations in Old Catholic Churches, in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of Anglicanism, in many Lutheran Churches, and in a small amount of High Church Methodist parishes...
, saying, "The
LatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Roman conquest, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe...
language, which is truly the Catholic language, is unchangeable, is not vulgar, and has for many centuries been the guardian of the unity of the
Western ChurchThe Latin Church or Rite is the majority Rite or particular church within the Catholic Church, comprising roughly 80% of its membership. The Latin Rite is one of the 23 sui iuris particular Churches within the Catholic Church...
."
Spellman, following the death of John XXIII,
participatedThe following were the cardinal electors in the 1963 papal conclave. Arranged by region , and within each alphabetically...
in the
conclave of 1963The Papal conclave of 1963 was convoked following the death of Pope John XXIII on June 3 of that same year in the Apostolic Palace. After the cardinal electors assembled in Rome, the conclave to elect John's successor began on June 19 and ended two days later, on June 21, after six ballots...
, which resulted in the election of
Pope Paul VIPope Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 1963 to 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
. When
The DeputyThe Deputy, a Christian tragedy , also known as The Representative, is a controversial 1963 drama by Rolf Hochhuth which indicts Pope Pius XII for his failure to take action or speak out against The Holocaust...
, a controversial play about Pius XII's actions during the
HolocaustThe Holocaust , also known as The Shoah is the term generally used to describe the genocide of approximately six million European Jews during World War II, a program of systematic state-sponsored extermination by Nazi Germany,...
, opened on
BroadwayBroadway Theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, is the theatre associated with the 40 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York in Manhattan, New York City...
in 1964, Spellman condemned the play as "an outrageous desecration of the honor of a great and good man". The play's producer,
Herman ShumlinHerman Shumlin was a Broadway theatrical director.He directed The Corn is Green....
, responded by calling the Cardinal's words a "calculated threat to really drive a wedge between Christians and Jews". He also worked with
Manhattan District AttorneyThe New York County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for New York County , New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws. .Robert M. Morgenthau has been the district attorney since 1975...
Frank HoganFrank Smithwick Hogan was an American lawyer and politician from New York. Dubbed "Mr. Integrity" due to his perceived honesty and incorruptibility, he was D.A...
in targeting comedian
Lenny BruceLenny Bruce , born Leonard Alfred Schneider, was an American stand-up comedian, writer, social critic and satirist of the 1950s and 1960s. His 1964 conviction in an obscenity trial led to the first posthumous pardon in New York history.-Early life:Bruce was born in Mineola, New York, grew up in...
, who often satirized Spellman and was convicted of
obscenityObscenity , is a term that is most often used in a legal context to describe expressions that offend the prevalent sexual morality of the time...
after a widely-publicized six-month trial in 1964.
Although he once expressed his personal opposition to civil rights demonstrations, Spellman declined
J. Edgar HooverJohn Edgar Hoover was the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States. Appointed director of the Bureau of Investigation — predecessor to the FBI — in 1924, he was instrumental in founding the FBI in 1935, where he remained director until his death in 1972...
's requests to condemn
Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the African-American civil rights movement. His main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States and he is frequently referenced as a human rights icon today. King is recognized as a martyr...
, and funded the trip of a group of New York priests and
nunA Nun, or also known as a Sister in some cases, is a woman who has taken special vows committing her to a religious life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s to the
Selma to Montgomery marchesThe Selma to Montgomery marches were three marches in 1965 that marked the political and emotional peak of the American civil rights movement. They were the culmination of the voting rights movement in Selma, Alabama, launched by Amelia Boynton and her husband...
. He opposed
racial discriminationRacism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. In the case of institutional racism, certain racial groups may be denied rights or benefits, or get preferential treatment...
in
public housingPublic housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by not-for-profit organizations, or by a combination of...
but also the social activism of such priests as
David KirkFather David Kirk was a civil rights and anti-poverty activist. He was reared a Baptist but converted to the Melkite Catholic Church , where he remained for most of his life. However, in 2004, Father Kirk joined the Eastern Orthodox Church.-Emmaus House:He established Emmaus House in the mid-1960s...
, and
DanielDaniel Berrigan, SJ is a poet, American peace activist, and Roman Catholic priest. Daniel and his brother Philip were for a time on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list for committing acts of vandalism including destroying government property.-History:Daniel Berrigan was born in Virginia,...
and
Philip BerriganPhilip Francis Berrigan was an internationally renowned American peace activist, Christian anarchist and former Roman Catholic priest...
.
LBJ and Vietnam
During the
1964 presidential electionThe United States presidential election of 1964 was the sixth-most lopsided presidential election in the history of the United States behind the elections of 1936, 1984, 1972, 1864, and 1980 . President Lyndon B...
, Spellman supported
Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon Baines Johnson , served as the 36th President of the United States from 1963 to 1969 after his service as the Vice President of the United States from 1961 to 1963...
, whose Higher Education Facilities Act and
Economic Opportunity ActSigned by Lyndon B. Johnson and Michael Herbert on August 20 1964, the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 was central to Johnson's Great Society campaign and its War on Poverty. Implemented by the since disbanded Office of Economic Opportunity, the Act included several social programs to promote the...
had greatly benefited the Church. The Cardinal later agreed to Johnson's requests to send priests to the
Dominican RepublicThe Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are occupied by two countries...
to defuse
anti-AmericanAnti-Americanism, often anti-American sentiment, is opposition or hostility to the people or the government policies of the United States. In practice, a broad range of attitudes and actions critical of or opposed to the United States have been labeled anti-Americanism...
sentiments following the invasion of 1965.
Spellman was an outspoken supporter of the
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War or the Second Indochina War was a Cold War military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1959 to 30 April 1975...
, to the extent that the conflict became known as "Spelly's War" and the Cardinal as the "
Bob HopeBob Hope, KBE, KCSG was an American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO tours entertaining American military personnel...
of the clergy". He met
Ngo Dinh DiemNgô Đình Diệm , was the first President of South Vietnam .-Family and childhood:...
in 1950 and, favorably impressed by his strongly Catholic and anti-Communist views, promoted his career; however, he disassociated from Diem before the latter's
assassination in 1963The arrest and assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem, then president of South Vietnam, marked the culmination of a successful CIA-backed coup d'état led by General Duong Van Minh in November 1963...
. Fearful of
Communist gains in VietnamThe Battle of Dien Bien Phu was the climactic confrontation of the First Indochina War between the French Union's French Far East Expeditionary Corps and Viet Minh communist revolutionaries. The battle occurred between March and May 1954 and culminated in a comprehensive French defeat that...
, Spellman had urged American intervention since late 1954, but by the 1960s his views were strongly criticized by antiwar activists and even his fellow religious leaders.
When Paul VI visited the United States in October 1965, he indirectly rebuked Spellman's hawkish stance by pleading for peace before the
United NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and the achieving of world peace...
. A group of college students protested outside his residence in December 1965 for suppressing antiwar priests, and he later spent that year's
ChristmasChristmas , also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days. The nativity of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini...
with troops in
South VietnamSouth Vietnam refers to a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the State of Vietnam and later as the “Republic of Vietnam” . Its capital was Saigon...
. While in Vietnam, Spellman quoted
Stephen DecaturCommodore Stephen Decatur, Jr was an American naval officer notable for his heroism in the Barbary Wars and in the War of 1812...
in declaring, "My country, may it always be right, but right or wrong, my country". He also described Vietnam as a "war for civilization" and "
ChristJesus of Nazareth —also known as Jesus Christ or occasionally Jesus the Christ—is the central figure of Christianity. Within most Christian denominations...
's war against the Vietcong and the people of
North VietnamNorth Vietnam, also called the Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976....
". One priest accused Spellman of "[blessing] the guns which the pope is begging us to put down". In January 1967, antiwar protestors disrupted a Mass at
St. Patrick's CathedralSaint Patrick's Cathedral is adecorated Neo-Gothic-style Catholic cathedral church in the United States. It is the seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, and a parish church, located on the east side of Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets in midtown Manhattan,...
. His support for Vietnam, along with his opposition to Church reform, greatly undermined Spellman's clout within the Church and country.
Spellman was awarded the prestigious
Sylvanus Thayer AwardThe Sylvanus Thayer Award is an award that is given each year by the United States Military Academy at West Point. Sylvanus Thayer was the fifth superintendent of that academy and in honor of his achievements, the award was created...
by the
United States Military AcademyThe United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. Established in 1802, USMA is the oldest of the United States's five service academies. The military garrison at West Point was occupied in 1778 and played a key...
at West Point in 1967. Illustrator
Edward SorelEdward Sorel is an illustrator, cartoonist and graphic designer. He was a co-founder of Push Pin Studios with Milton Glaser and Seymour Chwast in 1953....
even designed a poster in 1967 titled
Pass the Lord and Praise the Ammunition, showing the Cardinal carrying a
rifleA rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
with
bayonetA bayonet is a knife-, dagger-, sword-, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle barrel or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear. It is a close quarter battle combat or last-resort weapon.-History: The origins of the bayonet are...
, but the poster was never distributed because Spellman died right after it was printed.
Later life
In 1966, Spellman offered his resignation to Pope Paul after the latter requested that bishops over 75 retire, but Paul asked him to remain in his post. He led his archdiocese through an extensive period of building the Catholic infrastructure, particularly the construction of numerous churches, schools, and hospitals. He consolidated all parish building programs into his own hands, thereby getting better interest rates from bankers, and convinced Pius XII of the need to internationalize the Vatican's Italy-centered investments after World War II; for his financial skill, he was sometimes called "Cardinal Moneybags".
Spellman died in New York at age 78, and was buried in the crypt under the altar at
St. Patrick's CathedralSaint Patrick's Cathedral is adecorated Neo-Gothic-style Catholic cathedral church in the United States. It is the seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, and a parish church, located on the east side of Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets in midtown Manhattan,...
. His
funeral MassThe Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as the Missa pro defunctis or Missa defunctorum , is a liturgical service of the Roman Catholic Church celebrated by the priest presider for the repose of the soul of a particular deceased person or persons...
was attended by the likes of
President JohnsonLyndon Baines Johnson , served as the 36th President of the United States from 1963 to 1969 after his service as the Vice President of the United States from 1961 to 1963...
,
Vice PresidentThe Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people through the Electoral College to a four-year term...
Hubert HumphreyHubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
, Robert Kennedy, Jacob Javits,
Nelson RockefellerNelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States, the 49th governor of New York, a philanthropist, and a businessman....
,
John LindsayJohn Vliet Lindsay was an American politician,lawyer and broadcaster who was a U.S. Congressman, Mayor of New York City, candidate for U.S...
,
Arthur GoldbergArthur Joseph Goldberg was an American statesman and jurist who served as the U.S. Secretary of Labor, Supreme Court Justice and Ambassador to the United Nations.-Early life:...
, and Archbishop Iakovos. To date, Spellman's twenty-eight year tenure as Archbishop is the longest one in the history of the Archdiocese of New York.
Alleged homosexuality
John Cooney, one of Spellman's biographers, cited four interviewees which stated that Spellman was homosexual. While Cooney's book offered no direct proof, Cooney was convinced of the veracity of the claims. "I talked to many priests who worked for Spellman and they were incensed, dismayed and angered by his conduct."
Spellman was refered to as "Fanny" by his gay friends.
Journalist
Michelangelo SignorileMichelangelo Signorile is a gay American writer and a national talk radio host whose program is aired each weekday across the United States and Canada...
, who describes Spellman as "one of the most notorious, powerful and sexually voracious homosexuals in the American Catholic Church's history", reported that Cooney's manuscript,
The American Pope, initially contained interviews with several people with personal knowledge of Spellman's homosexuality, including researcher and historian
C. A. TrippC. A. Tripp, Ph. D. was a psychologist, writer, gay activist, and researcher for Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey.Born Clarence Arthur Tripp on October 4, 1919 in Denton, Texas, USA, Tripp studied at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and was a Naval Veteran.Tripp worked with Alfred Kinsey at the Kinsey...
.
According to Signorile, the church pressured Cooney's publisher,
Times BooksTimes Books is a publishing imprint owned by the New York Times Company and licensed to Henry Holt and Company....
, to reduce the four pages discussing Spellman's sexuality to a single paragraph.
Author John Loughery reports that during
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Spellman was carrying on a relationship with a male member of the chorus in the
BroadwayBroadway Theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, is the theatre associated with the 40 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York in Manhattan, New York City...
revue
One Touch of VenusOne Touch of Venus is a musical with music written by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ogden Nash, and book by S. J. Perelman and Nash, based on the novella The Tinted Venus by Thomas Anstey Guthrie, and very loosely spoofing the Pygmalion myth. The show satirizes contemporary American suburban values,...
. Monsignor
Eugene V. ClarkEugene V. Clark is a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of New York and appointed Monsignor.He resigned on August 11, 2005 as rector of St. Patrick's Cathedral in response to allegations of adultery with his secretary Laura DiFillpo. He denied the allegations...
, Spellman's personal secretary of 15 years, asserted that the allegations were "utterly ridiculous and preposterous."