Jump to content

Richard McSorley

From Catholicism Wiki

Richard McSorley (October 2, 1914[1] – October 17, 2002) was a Jesuit priest[2] and peace studies Professor at Georgetown University.[3]

In 1964 he was unofficially assigned by Robert F. Kennedy to give counsel to his sister-in-law, Jacqueline Kennedy at Georgetown University.[4] Five years later Bill Clinton asked him to say a prayer for peace at St. Mark's Church.[5] McSorley founded the Center for Peace Studies at Georgetown.[6]

He had a PhD in Philosophy from Ottawa University[7] and he taught philosophy at Scranton University attracting crowds to his courses.[8] He is the author of the following books:

  • It's a Sin to Build a Nuclear Weapon[9][10]
  • New Testament Basis of Peacemaking[11]
  • Peace Prospects for Three Worlds
  • Kill? For Peace?[12]
  • The More the Merrier.[13]

McSorley received the Distinguished Teacher Award in 1985 from Georgetown's alumni.[14] The McSorley Award was established by Georgetown University's Program of Justice and Peace.[15] He marched with Martin Luther King Jr. He was awarded the title Ambassador of Peace by Pax Christi.[16] Bill Clinton sent a condolence letter on his death[17] describing him as a “man of great character who always stood by his abiding commitment to promoting and expanding his belief in the cause of peace, fearless in the face of harshest criticism, unwavering in his search for moral reason while inspiring many to do the same."[18]

He founded The Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House in Washington, DC.[19]

According to Philip Berrigan, McSorley gave him the homemade napalm recipe that the Catonsville 9 used to burn draft records. McSorley found in a Special Forces handbook in the Georgetown University Law Center library.[20]

On and off for years he stood in the middle of the Georgetown University campus, protesting its ROTC program, by holding a sign saying "Should we teach life + love or death + hate?" [21]

References

  1. Back to citation "Fr. Richard T. McSorley, S.J. Director, Georgetown University Center for Peace Studies" (PDF). Fidelio. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  2. Back to citation Zak, Dan (August 3, 2016). "Nervous about nukes again? Here's what you need to know about The Button. (There is no button.)". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  3. Back to citation Berger, Rose Marie (January 1, 2003). "Touched by Peace". Sojourners. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  4. Back to citation "The Kennedys' Jesuit". The Georgetown Voice. January 15, 2004. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  5. Back to citation "Richard McSorley, 88; Jesuit Priest Committed to Pacifism". Los Angeles Times. October 22, 2002. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  6. Back to citation Ogden, Nina. "I realized I was responsible not only for myself, but for the people" (PDF). Schiller Institute.
  7. Back to citation Dear, John. "Remembering Richard McSorley, S.J." (PDF). Amazing Discoveries.
  8. Back to citation "Francis Xavier: celebrating mission 450 years later" (PDF). National Jesuit News.
  9. Back to citation Sharon (January 14, 2018). "It's a Sin to Build a Nuclear Weapon". Sharon Delgado. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  10. Back to citation McSorley, Richard T. (May 1, 2010). It's a Sin to Build a Nuclear Weapon: The Collected Works on War and Christian Peacemaking of Richard Sorley. Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN 978-1-60899-058-0.
  11. Back to citation "New Testament basis of peacemaking – Richard T. McSorley – Free E-Book Download". terment.ru. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  12. Back to citation Post, Caryle Murphy, The Washington (November 28, 2003). "Georgetown's top Jesuit apologizes to Kennedy family". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  13. Back to citation Litschgi, Kathleen. "McSorley: The Life and Times" (PDF). Georgetown Repository Library.
  14. Back to citation McCarthy, Colman (October 18, 2002). "Father Richard McSorley". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  15. Back to citation "Honors and Awards". bulletin.georgetown.edu. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  16. Back to citation Anonymous (1971). "Richard T. McSorley, S.J., demonstrates for nonviolence on the steps of Healy Hall at Georgetown University". repository.library.georgetown.edu. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  17. Back to citation McCarthy, Colman (October 16, 1992). "THE MCSORLEY CONNECTION". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  18. Back to citation "Appreciation: Peacemaker priest 'made the kingdom of God believable'". natcath.org. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  19. Back to citation "Celebrating the Life of DDCW Founder Fr. Richard McSorley on his 100th Birthday". dccatholicworker.wordpress.com. September 22, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  20. Back to citation Berrigan, Philip and Fred Wilcox, Fighting the Lamb’s War: Skirmishes with the American Empire, Common Courage Press, 1996, p. 20.
  21. Back to citation "Battalion History". rotc.georgetown.edu. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
Retrieved from "https://catholicism.wiki/index.php?title=Richard_McSorley&oldid=195231"