Divine Disobedience: Profiles in Catholic Radicalism

Divine Disobedience: Profiles in Catholic Radicalism examines the lives and work of Catholic activists during the Vietnam War era. Through interviews and research, author Francine du Plessix Gray documents the actions of priests, nuns and laypeople who engaged in civil disobedience against the war and other social issues. The book focuses on key figures in the Catholic Left movement, including Daniel and Philip Berrigan, Elizabeth McAlister, and Thomas Merton. Gray explores their motivations, theological foundations, and the personal costs of their activism through detailed biographical portraits and firsthand accounts. Gray's narrative traces how these Catholics moved from traditional religious roles to radical social action, often facing imprisonment and exile. The Catholic Left's influence on the larger antiwar movement and their conflicts with church hierarchy form central elements of the account. The work raises enduring questions about the relationship between religious faith and political action, and the moral obligations of religious people in times of social crisis. Through these profiles, Gray illuminates tensions between institutional authority and individual conscience that continue to resonate.

Limited reader reviews exist online for this 1970 nonfiction book profiling Catholic activists and protestors of the Vietnam era. Readers noted the book provides context on the Catholic Left and anti-war movement through interviews with figures like Daniel and Philip Berrigan. Some found it helpful for understanding religious civil disobedience during this period. A few readers mentioned the author's balanced portrayal, neither fully condemning nor celebrating the radical actions. One reader appreciated the documentation of Catholic attitudes toward protest and peace activism. Critical reviews noted the book's dated feel and said some profiled figures became less radical later. Some felt it focused too much on a small subset of Catholic activists. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (5 ratings, 0 written reviews) Amazon: No ratings or reviews available WorldCat: No ratings or reviews available The book appears to be out of print with limited circulation, which may explain the scarcity of online reader feedback.

Breaking Bread: The Catholic Worker and the Origin of Catholic Radicalism in America by Mel Piehl Chronicles the Catholic Worker movement's fusion of religious tradition with social activism through the stories of Dorothy Day and her contemporaries.

The Life You Save May Be Your Own by Paul Elie Traces the intersecting paths of four American Catholic writers who shaped modern religious thought through their literature and activism.

The Catholic Peace Tradition by Ronald G. Musto Documents the evolution of Catholic peace movements and civil disobedience from early Christianity through modern anti-war protests.

Faith and Violence: Christian Teaching and Christian Practice by Thomas Merton Examines the relationship between religious conviction and social justice through the lens of 1960s civil rights and peace movements.

The Catonsville Nine: A Story of Faith and Resistance in the Vietnam Era by Shawn Francis Peters Tells the story of nine Catholic activists who burned draft files in 1968 to protest the Vietnam War and sparked a wave of similar actions.

✦ Author Francine du Plessix Gray was herself a Catholic activist and participated in anti-Vietnam War protests alongside some of the radical priests she profiled in the book ✦ The book chronicles the emergence of the "Catholic Left" movement in the 1960s, including the famous Catonsville Nine who burned draft files with homemade napalm in 1968 ✦ Several of the radical priests featured in the book were later excommunicated by the Catholic Church for their acts of civil disobedience and challenges to church hierarchy ✦ The work won the National Catholic Book Award in 1970 and helped bring national attention to the growing Catholic social justice movement ✦ The author conducted over 100 hours of interviews with radical Catholic activists while researching the book, including extensive conversations with Daniel and Philip Berrigan, two of the most prominent priest-activists of the era