James F. Colaianni
Encyclopedia
James F. Colaianni is an American
Catholic
lay theologian
, author, publisher, lawyer and activist.
In 1939, Colaianni graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in Paterson, NJ and attended Seton Hall University
. Colaianni served in the US Army
during World War II
in North Africa
, Italy
, France
and Germany
, attaining the rank of Technical Sergeant. Following his Honorable Discharge, his subsequent anti-war convictions began to emerge.
In 1950, Colaianni married Patricia Kelly Colaianni, who serves as a senior editor of his publishing company, Sunday Sermons. They are the parents of Karen (Colaianni) Johnson, founder/director, KJPR Publicity & Artist Relations, Janice Sosebee, former radio newscaster/ now federal disaster relief worker, Pamela Colaianni (deceased), James F. Colaianni, Jr., publisher/author, Louis Colaianni
, author/voice coach, and John Colianni
, jazz pianist.
Colaianni was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1948, after attending John Marshall School of Law. While in law school, he coached high school basketball and won a State Championship. In the same period, he produced a series of widely-publicized debates between William F. Buckley Jr. of National Review
, and William Clancy of the liberal Catholic magazine, Commonweal
.
He earned his Master’s Degree in Theology from the Institute of Lay Theology (ILT), based at the University of San Francisco, in 1963. As a member of the ILT, he served as Adult Religious Education Director from 1963 to 1965 at our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic parish in Redwood City, California.
He was Managing Editor, Assistant Publisher and Religion Editor of Ramparts Magazine from 1965 to 1967. In the August 1966 issue of Ramparts
, Colaianni’s article, "Napalm: Small Town Diary," documented resistance to the establishment of a napalm plant in Redwood City, California. This was the first article in the national press to condemn the manufacture and use of napalm in the Vietnam War
. Colaianni led a protest of thousands against the use of napalm
as a military weapon in Vietnam. He made national news as a spokesperson for the anti-napalm and anti-war movements, appearing on such programs as the NBC Nightly News
with Walter Cronkite
and the "Huntley-Brinkley Report
."
Colaianni advocated the abolition of celibacy in the priesthood of the Catholic Church in his book Married Priests & Married Nuns (McGraw Hill). Another book, The Catholic Left: The Crisis of Radicalism in the Church (Chilton Publishing), is a study of the phenomenon of liberalism in the Catholic Church in America. Colaianni served as Executive Director of the National Liturgical Conference, Washington D.C., 1967–1970. In that capacity, he produced one of the first “rock masses,” on the national scene, featuring Minnie Ripperton and the Rotary Connection
, at the Liturgical Conference National Convention, Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, WI, 1969, with thousands attending.
Beginning in 1970, Colaianni was publisher and principal author of SUNDAY SERMONS, specializing in resource material for the preaching clergy, with worldwide distribution. To date, Colaianni has written more than 2,000 sermons on a wide range of topics, many of which have been anthologized. He was also publisher of the Manual of Clinical Nutrition, 1985, and the journal Clinical Nutrition, edited by Dr. David M. Paige of Johns Hopkins University
Medical School. These were distributed internationally to physicians and other health-care providers. He also published the Public Domain Report "Music Bibles and Public Domain Report newsletter 1993-1998, the first publication to catalog literary works, musical compositions, films, and works of visual arts as they entered the US public domain. The publication was edited by Scott A. Johnson, Colaianni's grandson. Sunday Sermons is currently published by James F. Colaianni, Jr.
With New York City-Village Gate's Art D’Lugoff, Colaianni was a co-producer of the musical One Mo’ Time at the Village Gate North, in Toronto
, Canada
. He was sole producer of Jazz America at the historic Warner Theatre
, Washington, D.C.
He presently resides in southern New Jersey.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
lay theologian
Lay theologian
A lay theologian is a theologian who is not an ordained clergyman.Among lay theologians are the following:* George Abbot * Thomas J. J. Altizer* Joseph T. Bayly* Edward Musgrave Blaiklock* Nicholas Cabasilas* Chung Hyun Kyung...
, author, publisher, lawyer and activist.
In 1939, Colaianni graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in Paterson, NJ and attended Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
. Colaianni served in the US Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, attaining the rank of Technical Sergeant. Following his Honorable Discharge, his subsequent anti-war convictions began to emerge.
In 1950, Colaianni married Patricia Kelly Colaianni, who serves as a senior editor of his publishing company, Sunday Sermons. They are the parents of Karen (Colaianni) Johnson, founder/director, KJPR Publicity & Artist Relations, Janice Sosebee, former radio newscaster/ now federal disaster relief worker, Pamela Colaianni (deceased), James F. Colaianni, Jr., publisher/author, Louis Colaianni
Louis Colaianni
Louis Colaianni is a prominent voice, speech, dialect and text director in the professional theatre, and teacher of voice, speech, phonetics, acting and Shakespeare performance. He was dialect coach for Bill Murray in the film Hyde Park On Hudson and vocal coach for Will Ferrell in the Broadway...
, author/voice coach, and John Colianni
John Colianni
John Colianni is an American Jazz pianist, soloist, band leader, recording artist and accompanist. Recorded John Colianni Blues-O-Matic and Live at the Maybeck for Concord Records. Two Three other records followed, the latest being "Johnny Chops," recorded with his quintet...
, jazz pianist.
Colaianni was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1948, after attending John Marshall School of Law. While in law school, he coached high school basketball and won a State Championship. In the same period, he produced a series of widely-publicized debates between William F. Buckley Jr. of National Review
National Review
National Review is a biweekly magazine founded by the late author William F. Buckley, Jr., in 1955 and based in New York City. It describes itself as "America's most widely read and influential magazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion."Although the print version of the...
, and William Clancy of the liberal Catholic magazine, Commonweal
Commonweal
Commonweal is a American journal of opinion edited and managed by lay Catholics. It is headquartered in The Interchurch Center in New York City.-History:...
.
He earned his Master’s Degree in Theology from the Institute of Lay Theology (ILT), based at the University of San Francisco, in 1963. As a member of the ILT, he served as Adult Religious Education Director from 1963 to 1965 at our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic parish in Redwood City, California.
He was Managing Editor, Assistant Publisher and Religion Editor of Ramparts Magazine from 1965 to 1967. In the August 1966 issue of Ramparts
Ramparts (magazine)
Ramparts was an American political and literary magazine, published from 1962 through 1975.-History:Founded by Edward M. Keating as a Catholic literary quarterly, the magazine became closely associated with the New Left after executive editor Warren Hinckle hired Robert Scheer as managing editor...
, Colaianni’s article, "Napalm: Small Town Diary," documented resistance to the establishment of a napalm plant in Redwood City, California. This was the first article in the national press to condemn the manufacture and use of napalm in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Colaianni led a protest of thousands against the use of napalm
Napalm
Napalm is a thickening/gelling agent generally mixed with gasoline or a similar fuel for use in an incendiary device, primarily as an anti-personnel weapon...
as a military weapon in Vietnam. He made national news as a spokesperson for the anti-napalm and anti-war movements, appearing on such programs as the NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News is the flagship daily evening television news program for NBC News and broadcasts. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is located in the center...
with Walter Cronkite
Walter Cronkite
Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years . During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after being so named in an opinion poll...
and the "Huntley-Brinkley Report
Huntley-Brinkley Report
The Huntley-Brinkley Report was the NBC television network's flagship evening news program from October 29, 1956 until July 31, 1970. It was anchored by Chet Huntley in New York City, and David Brinkley in Washington, D.C...
."
Colaianni advocated the abolition of celibacy in the priesthood of the Catholic Church in his book Married Priests & Married Nuns (McGraw Hill). Another book, The Catholic Left: The Crisis of Radicalism in the Church (Chilton Publishing), is a study of the phenomenon of liberalism in the Catholic Church in America. Colaianni served as Executive Director of the National Liturgical Conference, Washington D.C., 1967–1970. In that capacity, he produced one of the first “rock masses,” on the national scene, featuring Minnie Ripperton and the Rotary Connection
Rotary Connection
Rotary Connection was an American psychedelic soul band, formed in Chicago in 1966. The highly experimental band was the idea of Marshall Chess, son of Chess Records founder Leonard Chess. Marshall was the director behind a start-up label, Cadet Concept Records, and wanted to focus on music outside...
, at the Liturgical Conference National Convention, Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, WI, 1969, with thousands attending.
Beginning in 1970, Colaianni was publisher and principal author of SUNDAY SERMONS, specializing in resource material for the preaching clergy, with worldwide distribution. To date, Colaianni has written more than 2,000 sermons on a wide range of topics, many of which have been anthologized. He was also publisher of the Manual of Clinical Nutrition, 1985, and the journal Clinical Nutrition, edited by Dr. David M. Paige of Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
Medical School. These were distributed internationally to physicians and other health-care providers. He also published the Public Domain Report "Music Bibles and Public Domain Report newsletter 1993-1998, the first publication to catalog literary works, musical compositions, films, and works of visual arts as they entered the US public domain. The publication was edited by Scott A. Johnson, Colaianni's grandson. Sunday Sermons is currently published by James F. Colaianni, Jr.
With New York City-Village Gate's Art D’Lugoff, Colaianni was a co-producer of the musical One Mo’ Time at the Village Gate North, in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was sole producer of Jazz America at the historic Warner Theatre
Warner Theatre (Washington, D.C.)
The Warner Theatre is a theater located at 513 13th Street, N.W. in Downtown Washington, D.C.. The basement level is at 1299 Pennsylvania Avenue.-History:...
, Washington, D.C.
He presently resides in southern New Jersey.