Philip Berrigan

Philip Berrigan
source
Name	Philip Berrigan
Birth date	October 5, 1923
Birth place	Two Harbors, Minnesota
Death date	December 6, 2002
Death place	Baltimore, Maryland
Occupation	Priest, activist

Philip Berrigan was a Roman Catholic priest and peace activist who was heavily influenced by the Catholic Worker Movement and its founders, Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin. He was also inspired by the Berrigan brothers' own experiences with social justice and their involvement with organizations such as the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the War Resisters League. Berrigan's activism was shaped by his interactions with notable figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Thomas Merton, and Daniel Berrigan, his brother. His commitment to nonviolent resistance was also influenced by the Civil Rights Movement and the Anti-Vietnam War Movement.

● Early Life and Education

Philip Berrigan was born in Two Harbors, Minnesota, to Frieda Berrigan and Thomas Berrigan. He grew up in a family that valued social justice and was encouraged by his parents to pursue a life of service. Berrigan attended St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he studied to become a Josephite priest. During his time at the seminary, he was exposed to the teachings of Pope Pius XI and the Catholic social teaching of the Catholic Church. Berrigan's education was also influenced by the writings of Gustavo Gutiérrez and the Liberation theology movement. He was ordained as a priest in 1955 and began his ministry in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he worked with the African American community and became involved with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

● Career and Activism

Berrigan's career as a priest and activist was marked by his commitment to nonviolent resistance and his opposition to the Vietnam War. He was influenced by the Quaker tradition of pacifism and the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.. In the 1960s, Berrigan became involved with the Catholic Peace Fellowship and the Fellowship of Reconciliation, where he worked alongside activists like Jim Forest and Tom Cornell. He also participated in protests and demonstrations organized by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Berrigan's activism was not limited to the United States; he also traveled to North Vietnam and South Vietnam to protest the war and meet with leaders like Ho Chi Minh and Ngo Dinh Diem.

● The Catonsville Nine and Later Activism

In 1968, Berrigan, along with his brother Daniel Berrigan and seven other activists, including David Darst and John Hogan, staged a protest against the Vietnam War by burning draft records in Catonsville, Maryland. This event became known as the Catonsville Nine and drew national attention to the anti-war movement. The protest was inspired by the Boston Tea Party and the Salt March led by Mahatma Gandhi. Berrigan's actions were also influenced by the Catholic Left and the Christian anarchism movement. After the Catonsville Nine protest, Berrigan continued to be involved in activism, working with organizations like the Plowshares Movement and the American Friends Service Committee. He also participated in protests against the nuclear arms race and the Iran-Contra affair, alongside activists like William Sloane Coffin and Corazon Aquino.

● Imprisonment and Later Years

Berrigan's activism led to his imprisonment on several occasions. He was arrested and jailed for his involvement in the Catonsville Nine protest and later for his participation in other anti-war demonstrations. During his time in prison, Berrigan continued to write and speak out against the war and social injustice. He was influenced by the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Confessing Church movement. Berrigan's experiences in prison also shaped his views on restorative justice and the prison abolition movement. In his later years, Berrigan continued to be involved in activism, although at a slower pace. He worked with organizations like the Maryland Citizens Against State Executions and the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Berrigan also remained committed to his faith and continued to serve as a priest, inspired by the example of Oscar Romero and the El Salvadoran Liberation theology movement.

● Personal Life and Legacy

Berrigan was married to Elizabeth McAlister, a nun and activist who was also involved in the Catonsville Nine protest. The couple had three children together and were known for their commitment to simple living and social justice. Berrigan's legacy as a peace activist and priest continues to inspire people around the world. He is remembered for his courage and conviction in the face of adversity, as well as his commitment to nonviolent resistance. Berrigan's life and work have been recognized by organizations like the War Resisters League and the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and he remains an important figure in the history of the American peace movement and the Catholic Left. His story has been told in books like Daniel Berrigan's The Trial of the Catonsville Nine and Murray Polner's Disarmed and Dangerous. Category:American peace activists