Augustus Tolton (d. July 9 1897) was the first black priest in America. Born into slavery in 1854, he escaped to freedom in Illinois with his mother, a devout Catholic, and 2 siblings. With the help of a priest he pursued seminary training in Rome and was ordained in 1886,
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In Chicago his arrival was enthusiastically welcomed by African American Catholics--in contrast to the cool reception (at best) from fellow clergy. As his bishop reported, his troubles resulted "because he wants to establish a kind of society that is not possible (integration)."
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I appreciate this memorial about my father by @ggrenwald above any I have read today--for his comprehensive review of his bio & history, for his attention to themes generally overlooked about his post-Vietnam life, but particularly for deep appreciation of his human qualities.🙏
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Here's my @RollingStone article on Daniel Ellsberg, the heroic Pentagon Papers leaker who died today at 92:
"We’re Told Never to Meet Our Childhood Heroes. Knowing Daniel Ellsberg Proved That Wrong"
rollingstone.com/politics/polit
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