My uncle, a great Democrat from the greatest generation, died yesterday. He was 80.

[proud2BlibKansan]

He was a Catholic priest. And the most liberal person I have ever known. He helped write Head Start law and was active in implementing early Head Start programs here in Kansas back in the 60s.

There was never a Thanksgiving dinner during my childhood when he didn’t come walking in with a guest. Sometimes it was another priest and sometimes one of his parishioners with nowhere to go on Thanksgiving. He said the holiday was meant to be shared. And he never called my grandmother to tell her he was bringing a guest. She just always set an extra place, knowing he would invite someone.

He was the first member of that generation I knew who admitted the Vietnam War was wrong. My dad was the second, after a Thanksgiving afternoon spent discussing The Pentagon Papers with my uncle. When my sister and I joined the local anti-war movement, my uncle congratulated us at a family mass.

In the 1960s, he grew his hair long - a radical move for a priest in the midwest. He began referring to God as “She” when he said mass. He was assigned to a rural parish where he set up a community garden and gave away everything he grew. He also raised chickens and kept honey bees.

In the 1970s, his bishop transferred him to a new parish and my uncle’s parishioners went nuts. They demanded he be allowed to stay. When the bishop refused, my uncle quit the diocese and moved to the Maryland shore, where he lived in a house with no electricity or running water. He got together with other exiled priests and formed an organization called Priests for Equality. Their goal was to convince the Catholic Church to ordain women. They also promoted the ERA, equal rights for homosexuals and the removal of the US from Central America. I believe PFE still regularly attends School of America protests every November in Georgia.

PFE also rewrote the New Testament using inclusive language. http://www.amazon.com/Inclusive-New-Testament-Priests-Equality/dp/0964427915

About 5 years ago, my cousins went to visit my uncle and found him in such poor health they brought him home. He was diagnosed with Alzheimers and has been in a nursing home since. One of the last conversations I had with him was about the war on Iraq and how wrong it was.

We’ve lost a great American.

[Omaha Steve]

1. K&R!

[w8liftinglady]

2. your uncle can only be described as a "True Christian"

I can see where you've gotten your kindness and committment.
blessings to you.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. That's a great description.

He really was.

[madmax]

3. A man before his time..

RIP

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Very much so.

Way ahead of his time.

[Phentex]

5. Sorry for your loss...

sounds like an interesting person!

Referring to God as "she" ! :)

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. It was pretty radical

and caused a lot of serious discussions at our dinner table.

[abq e streeter]

8. thanks for sharing this

I am not a Christian, but have enormous respect for those who live by what I understand to be the true teachings of Jesus. Your wonderful uncle obviously was one of those people and I'm guessing from the words you posted here, that your sadness is balanced by a great pride and gratitude for having been blessed by being his niece.

[Not Me]

9. I mourn your loss

The Catholic Church needs many more like him to guide them back to the path that they have strayed away from.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. My uncle was very upset by the changes in the Catholic Church

It was painful for him.

[leftstreet]

10. Condolences

[applegrove]

11. Awe. So sorry for your loss.

[MissDeeds]

12. My sincere sympathy in the loss of your uncle

What a remarkable man. You were blessed to have him in your family.

You're in my thoughts. :hug:

[xchrom]

13. a saint...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMMtdVQLTpE&feature=related

louis armstrong -- when the saints go marching in.

perhaps a thing he could appreciate.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. That's wonderful. Thank you.

[monmouth]

14. A good man ... condolences on your loss and bless those memories...n/t

[EFerrari]

15. I'm sorry for your loss, proud. He sounds like a wonderful man.

:hug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. You, my friend, would have loved him

:hi:

[Horse with no Name]

17. I'm sorry for your loss

and the loss to the world as well. :hug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. Thanks for the kind words

[Raine]

18. I'm so sorry

he sounds like a very special person. Big Hug for you. :hug:

[Initech]

22. My uncle was a great democrat from that era too.

He was 84 (a WWII vet) and he and I used to talk politics all the time, and it was crazy how much we agreed on everything.

[barbtries]

23. condolences on your loss

and for who we have all lost.

[Starry Messenger]

24. I'm sorry for your loss, proud.

What a great man to have in your life and to know. :hug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. He was so awesome.

He was also pro-choice. A priest who believed a woman had the right to make her own choice. Imagine that! He said abortion was a private decision between a woman and her god and the church had no business in the middle of that.

When I left the church, he was the only one who understood. He said the right turn it had taken politically would push out a lot of social justice Catholics And he was right.

He believed in divorce and helped his own mother (my grandmother) divorce her abusive alcoholic husband. In 1950. The more I think of that the more amazing it seems. Divorce was a HUGE sin in the Catholic church of my youth.

When people call me liberal or say I'm too far left, I tell them they never met my uncle. If I could be a tenth of the person he was I would feel satisfied.

He truly left the world a better place. :)

[Enthusiast]

28. Imagine where the church would be

now if it were liberalized along the lines of your uncle's world view. The Catholic church could have become a real force for progress.

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. No doubt

I mourn for the loss of the church of my youth.

[Enthusiast]

26. He really was a great American!

Sorry for your/our loss.

[Octafish]

27. Please accept my condolences and sympathies, proud2BlibKansan .

Your uncle was an extraordinary individual, priest and human being.
He made this world a better place through his deeds, words and example.
Thank you for sharing some of his work and life with us.

[Ohio Joe]

29. RIP - nt

[tweeternik]

31. Sorry for your loss. nt

[Bluenorthwest]

32. So sorry for your loss, a loss to us all.

I have known some priests and nuns who are among the finest people I have known. Your uncle sounds like one of those we are fortunate to have with us.
I actually know of PFE and of the inclusive NT. Peace to you and your family in your time of loss.You were so lucky to have such a man as your Uncle.

[Sienna86]

33. So sorry for your loss - and our loss

He sounds like a fabulous person who did a lot of good in his time her on earth.

[mdmc]

34. ..