Twomey: Social Justice Warrior New biography unveils Loyola Icon Fr. Louis J. Twomey's long-time correspondence with Martin Luther King, Jr. By Mark Michel and Kloe Witt mamichel@my.loyno.edu kgwitt@my.loyno.edu
While researching a pillar of Loyola’s social justice past, a writer stumbled on a previously unknown connection between Father Louis J. Twomey and Martin Luther King, Jr. While that is a breathtaking find, it is just the tip of the social justice work this Jesuit priest dedicated his life to. Writer Dawn Eden spent over a month researching Twomey’s life and work in social justice for her new biography on the Jesuit priest who called Loyola home for over a decade. In doing so, she uncovered previously unreported letters and correspondence between Twomey and King spanning more than a decade. Eden combed through Loyola’s Special Collections – an archive in Monroe library – finding records of Twomey’s work, with special focus on his commitment to combating racism in the South during the mid-20th century, which was considered a highly controversial and dangerous line of work at the time. Faith and Social Justice Eden was drawn to researching Twomey since she noticed he broke certain stereotypes commonly attributed to devout Catholic priests at the time, specifically the ideals that one could not be devout to their faith and work for equality. “There are many people that think that if you’re good, holy, orthodox, and faithful, then you’re not one of those peace and love social justice people,” Eden said. According to Eden, it was this combination of faith and social justice work which he lived by. Eden said Twomey believed faith should be the ultimate motivation in people's lives, especially in regards to social issues including fighting racism and classism. “He believed that faith should be in everything that we do,” she said. “He [used] all the power of his voice and rhetoric to tell people if you didn’t hear about [racial and social
issues] in the church growing up, then the church was wrong not to tell you about this.” Although he wouldn’t place blame on the church, Eden said Twomey did criticize those who didn’t teach of these issues. “He would criticize those people who were cast with conveying that teaching and who failed to convey it,” Eden said. These teachings and this work were something Eden notes Twomey always felt compelled towards. “His first love – and always his love in terms of evangelism – was evangelizing what does the church teach about working people, what does the church teach about the poor,” Eden said. Eden spoke to the Rev. James Carter S.J., the longest serving president in Loyola’s history, about how Twomey differed from other Jesuit priests in the community who worked in social reform, specifically the
Rev. Joseph H. Fichter, S.J. Fitcher focused on social justice theory while Twomey worked in social justice practice. Carter explained this by saying you would expect to see Twomey in a poor African-American neighborhood, unlike those who would only speak out and study social issues. Twomey proved this commitment through his action against white supremacist organizations during this time, specifically the thensegregated Knights of Columbus in the 1950s. He would preach to them over the ideals of social justice and why they
should shift their ideals. Eden noted these actions were rooted in his criticism that the United States couldn’t preach equality if they continued to segregate and mistreat minorities and the lower class. “He’s saying that the whole world is going to think that we’re hypocrites if we keep saying we stand for equality and justice when we’re not practicing it at home,” Eden said. Service to Loyola Twomey joined the Loyola community in 1947 with the idea of starting a labor school, which he successfully accomplished and named The Institute of Industrial Relations. Since this time, the labor school has closed, although close relations still exist in the Jesuit Social Research Institute, according to Eden. After about a year at Loyola, Twomey created “Blueprint for Christian Reshaping of Society,” a newsletter Eden said was to teach “how we can be better” as Jesuits. Twomey wrote that this newsletter was intended “to create a society in which the dignity of the human person, in whomsoever found, shall be acknowledged, respected, and protected.”
See TWOMEY, page 3
100 Years of
Lines for JSRI and a Jesuit-Educated Man, from a Prison Infirmary By Craig, Loyola student at Rayburn Correctional center They say one day Someone will ask of you -Did you visit them while sick? Did you go to them in prison? Did you help them eat did you give them drink when their hearts were famished and their souls withered for thirst? Did you share with them clothes to wear in the heat and cold? Did you take them into your home when they were sick and estranged? Let me tell you what to say: You visited me in my heart and mind and you took me in to a place where chains become choices and rainfall brings rainbows You fed me with truth and took me to the well of wisdom where I drank and learned to have faith in faith You came to me and clothed me with kindness and virtue Raiment against the neverending day and never-coming tomorrow Let me tell you what I'll say: With my heroes I've always said, "I want to be like you," but with you I say,
Archived photograph of Louis J. Twomey from The Wolf Yearbook, 1965. Colorized by Sophia Maxim/The Maroon
"I want to be like us."