The Life and Career of Bishop Francis Clement Kelley
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- Speaker[Audio cuts in and out]
- SpeakerThe speaker explains how the end of WWI was a turning point in history with many national boundaries in Europe being changed. The speaker also comments that after WWI there was a lot of cynicism..
- SpeakerThe speaker states that this cynicism allowed the 1917 removal of Russia’s Czar from power and so changed Russian from Christianity to communism’s philosophy of materialism. The speaker explains how the communists claimed that Christianity failed the test of coherence or unity.
- SpeakerThe speaker continues by quoting G K Chesterton who in 1937 said that Christianity had not failed as it had never been tried. Thus Chesterton’s claim was in opposition to what the speaker believes Lennin had said about Christianity. The speaker notes that for the last 90 years or so the disillusioned people of Europe and the US have been dominated by communism’s view of Christianity.
- SpeakerThe speaker comments that the Treaty of Versailles resulted in the national boundaries of European countries being redrawn. The speaker highlights that Austria was reduced to about one-fifth of its size and that the people of Vienna were starving.
- SpeakerThe speaker tells that Kelley provided relief to the Viennese and Austria later decorated Kelley for it. After the war there were attempts to eradicate all German influences including the German Christian missions. However, Kelley lobbied against this during the negotiations of the Treaty of Versailles and was successful in maintaining the German missions.
- SpeakerThe speaker reviews how various countries attempted to gain their independence from aristocracy and have the people involved in government. The speaker refers to both the American’s and the French’s fight for independence each accompanied by terrible violence.
- SpeakerThe speaker outlines how Italy's fight for independence resulted in the Papal States being taken away from the Pope in Rome. In protest, the Pope vowed in 1867 to stay within a particular area until the injustice was regulated. The speaker notes Islander Cornelius O’Brien was in Rome during this time. The Pope’s self exile still existed at the end of WW1.
- SpeakerWhen Kelley was in Rome he made a proposal to allow the Pope regain control of the Papal States. The speaker explains that Kelley’s proposal was part of the negotiated solution in 1929 between Mussolini and Cardinal Gasparri creating the Vatican as an independent state. In 1924 Kelley became the Bishop of Oklahoma. The speaker refers to a photo of Kelley’s consecration as bishop.
- SpeakerThe speaker outlines Kelley’s involvement with the Catholic community in Mexico and his support of the Mexican bishops during a communist phase and later when the Mexican Catholic hierarchy went into exile. Kelley was unsuccessful in convincing the US to intervene because the US government wanted to establish trading with Mexico.
- SpeakerThe speaker notes that Kelley became aware that he was being moved out of the power circle. Despite this the Extension Society continued to grow and Kelley continued to publish his writing. The speaker highlights that Kelley was still active as a lecturer and in 1936 he came to PEI to preach to the diocesian clergy. The speaker also notes Kelley’s sister the poet Lucy Gertude Clarkin.
- SpeakerThe speaker tells that Kelley then turned his efforts toward education. Because of Kelley’s presence a number of Island priests such as Father Monaghan worked in Oklahoma. The speaker reviews Kelley’s vision to have a “great university” as exemplified by the University of Toronto.
- SpeakerThe speaker using a photo of Kelley and the literary critic H. L. Menken explains that Menken was both a friend and a supporter of Kelley’s writing. Throughout his career, Kelley had an excellent relationship with other churches who used some of his books in their seminaries. After Kelley’s death in 1947 Cardinal Samuel Stritch wrote an article about him. The speaker ends by reading from Stritch’s article.
- SpeakerCloses, applause, questions, remarks
- SpeakerThe speaker is in the process of giving an overview of Kelley’s education and his career including parish work, service in the American Army, the Church Extension, rise to fame, visits to Rome, connections to Mexico and involvement with creating the Treaty of Versailles.
- SpeakerIn 1924 Kelley became Bishop of Oklahoma and the speaker believes that he was the best known bishop in the US. The speaker refers to a handout from a 1982 biography of Kelley by Monsignor Gaffey. In 1939 Kelley published his autobiography to high acclaim. Besides his books, Kelley had a lot of personal correspondence and was editor of a national monthly magazine for about 20 years.
- SpeakerThe speaker explains that he will first give background information on Kelley and then he will give an evaluation of Kelley’s work.
- SpeakerKelley was born in 1870 in Summerville to John Kelley and Mary Anne Murphy. Kelley’s father had a farm, but later he became a merchant when the family moved to Charlottetown. The speaker explains he is a cousin to Kelley. Kelley entered St Dunstan’s when he was 15. The speaker shows various photos.
- SpeakerThe speaker claims that Kelley had a flair for writing and was influenced by Alexander McAulay while at St Dunstan’s. When Kelley was about 18 he entered the seminary in Chicoutimi after which he lived with Bishop James Rogers in Chatham, New Brunswick. Kelley described in his autobiography “The Bishop Jots it Down” living with Bishop Rogers after which Kelley attended the seminary in Nicolet, Quebec.
- SpeakerThe speaker notes that at this time there were many Island priests and religious who left to serve off Island. Kelley was ordained just before he turned 23 years old reflecting his superior ability. Kelley's first assignment was to Detroit’s Lapeer Parish which was facing a number of challenges.
- SpeakerThe speaker explains that Kelley had a facility for language and could write well. Because the Lapeer Parish had much debt Kelley decided to earn money for the parish by joining the Spanish American War and giving public lectures during the winters. Kelley’s travels all over the US as a lecturer gave rise to Kelley’s first great achievement.
- SpeakerThe speaker tells about Kelley’s involvement in the Spanish American war including being part of the army delegation who met with Roosevelt. The speaker describes Kelley’s attitude as“carpe diem”. Due to Kelley’s distress that there was no mission among the Southern US’s poor people he met with Chicago’s church officials with a proposal to help the poor. He eventually received the necessary support.
- SpeakerThe speaker digresses to detail how the structure of the Catholic Church stemmed from the Roman Empire. The Christian religion came to the forefront as the Roman empire was weakening and they imitated the Roman’s style of government. The speaker notes that the Christian religion’s essence is proclaiming the gospel to the whole world and so missions are an important part of the Church’s government.
- SpeakerThe speaker explains that Kelley saw a problem in providing mission to the US’s poor people due to the Catholic Church’s governance model. Kelley’s response was the creation of The Catholic Church Extension Society of the United States of America in 1905. After many trips to Rome Papal approval was granted in 1910. In 1907 the University of Notre Dame awarded Kelley an honourary degree.
- SpeakerIntermission for the audience.
- SpeakerSIDE B ENDS