Tell Catholic bishopsDon't sanitize Dorothy Day's work for economic justice

Posted: Feb. 7, 2022

At least two top Catholic bishops are actively downplaying Dorothy Day's radical political work for economic justice.

When New York's Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan preached about Day's case for sainthood last month, the New York Times reported that he "skimmed over her push to change policies that affected the poor," focusing only on her early sins and conversion story.

Day's granddaughter, Martha Hennessey, asked the Times, "What worse enemy could we have, saying those things about her? ... We have got to focus on her policies, we have got to focus on her practices."

Cardinal Dolan's sermon was only the latest example of a top bishop promoting a twisted view of Day's progressive legacy. Late last year, Archbishop Jose Gomez -- president of the bishops' conference -- gave a speech that misleadingly quoted Day to smear current social-justice movements as secular "pseudo-religions."

We can't let the right-wing get away with twisting the story of Dorothy Day's life and witness. The bishops need to hear from grassroots Catholics and other Christians who are appalled by their ongoing misrepresentation.

Sign the petition:

To Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop Gomez, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Dorothy Day is best known for embodying Jesus Christ's radical message of peace and economic justice. Yet recent speeches by prominent members of the USCCB, including Cardinal Dolan and Archbishop Gomez, have focused almost exclusively on her early sins, her conversion story, and a sanitized version of her ministry.

As Catholics, fellow Christians, and others who support the poor and oppressed, we are concerned that the U.S. hierarchy is not only presenting an inaccurate depiction of Dorothy Day's social, theological, and political work, but that some may even be attempting to intentionally deradicalize her legacy. These efforts mirror the concerning trend of many leaders to likewise tone down and defang the radical, Gospel-centered message of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We ask that reflections on the life and teachings of Dorothy Day emphasize the ways that her faith led her to take specific social actions, and stress her commitment to nonviolence, economic justice, and radical progressive political thought.

Thank you.

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