John LaFarge and the limits of Catholic interracialism, 1911-1963

By David W. Southern

Book Description

This compelling biography examines the complex legacy of John LaFarge, a white Jesuit priest who challenged America's racial injustices decades before the civil rights movement gained national attention. David W. Southern presents a nuanced portrait of a religious leader who courageously spoke out against the mistreatment of African Americans, yet struggled within the institutional limitations of his own Catholic Church.

Drawing from extensive archival research, Southern reveals how LaFarge navigated the tension between his progressive convictions and the conservative religious establishment of his era. The book illuminates the priest's efforts to promote racial understanding while working within a church that maintained its own institutional biases against Black Americans.

This scholarly work offers valuable insights into the evolution of Catholic social consciousness and the early foundations of interfaith racial dialogue. Southern explores how LaFarge's advocacy laid groundwork for later reforms, while honestly examining where his efforts fell short of creating meaningful systemic change.

For readers interested in understanding how spiritual institutions grapple with social justice issues, this biography provides a thoughtful examination of one man's attempt to bridge the gap between religious ideals and social reality. The book sheds light on the historical roots of contemporary discussions about race within American Catholicism and offers lessons about the challenges of creating authentic change within established religious structures.