Daniel Berrigan

Daniel Berrigan
source
Name	Daniel Berrigan
Birth date	May 9, 1921
Birth place	Virginia, Minnesota, United States
Death date	April 30, 2016
Death place	New York City, New York
Occupation	Jesuit priest, poet, peace activist

Daniel Berrigan was a prominent Jesuit priest, poet, and peace activist who was deeply involved in the American Catholic Church and the anti-war movement of the 1960s and 1970s. He was a key figure in the Catholic Worker Movement, which was founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin. Berrigan's activism was influenced by his Christian anarchism and his commitment to nonviolent resistance, as exemplified by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.. He was also associated with the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the War Resisters League.

● Early Life and Education

Daniel Berrigan was born in Virginia, Minnesota, to a family of Irish-American descent. He grew up in a devout Catholic household and was educated at St. Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City, New Jersey. Berrigan then attended St. Andrew-on-Hudson in Poughkeepsie, New York, and later studied at Woodstock College in Maryland. He was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1952 and went on to earn a degree in classics from Woodstock College. Berrigan's early life and education were shaped by his relationships with prominent Catholic figures, including John Courtney Murray and Thomas Merton.

● Career

Berrigan began his career as a Jesuit priest, teaching at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, and later at Fordham University in New York City. He was also a chaplain at Yale University and Cornell University, where he became involved in the anti-war movement and the civil rights movement. Berrigan's career was marked by his association with prominent peace activists, including A.J. Muste and Bayard Rustin. He was also influenced by the Berrigan's brother, Philip Berrigan, who was also a Jesuit priest and a peace activist.

● Activism and Protest

Berrigan's activism was focused on the Vietnam War and the nuclear arms race. He was a key figure in the Catholic Peace Fellowship and the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy. Berrigan participated in numerous protests and demonstrations, including the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam. He was also involved in the Catonsville Nine, a group of peace activists who burned draft records in Catonsville, Maryland, in protest of the Vietnam War. Berrigan's activism was influenced by his relationships with prominent peace activists, including Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin.

● Arrest and Imprisonment

Berrigan was arrested numerous times for his protests and demonstrations, including the Catonsville Nine action. He was sentenced to prison and served time at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut. Berrigan's arrest and imprisonment were widely publicized, and he became a prominent figure in the anti-war movement. He was also supported by prominent peace activists, including Benjamin Spock and William Sloane Coffin. Berrigan's experience in prison was marked by his relationships with fellow inmates, including Eldridge Cleaver and Huey P. Newton.

● Literary Work

Berrigan was a prolific poet and writer, and his literary work was deeply influenced by his Catholicism and his commitment to social justice. He published numerous books of poetry and essays, including No Bars to Manhood and The Trial of the Catonsville Nine. Berrigan's literary work was praised by prominent writers, including Thomas Merton and William Stringfellow. He was also associated with the Catholic literary revival of the 1960s and 1970s, which included writers such as Flannery O'Connor and Walker Percy.

● Legacy

Berrigan's legacy is marked by his commitment to peace activism and social justice. He was a prominent figure in the American Catholic Church and the anti-war movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Berrigan's activism and literary work continue to inspire peace activists and social justice advocates around the world, including organizations such as the American Friends Service Committee and the War Resisters League. He was also recognized for his contributions to peace activism and social justice, including the Pacem in Terris Award and the Thomas Merton Award. Berrigan's legacy is a testament to the power of nonviolent resistance and the importance of social justice activism in the United States and around the world, as exemplified by figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. Category:American peace activists