Dorothy Day

In this episode of From the Vault we feature a rare recording of journalist, activist, and Catholic Worker Movement co-founder Dorothy Day. In 1927, thirty years after her birth, Day converted to Catholicism, and a few years later started The Catholic Worker, a popular newspaper promoting Catholic teachings. Leaning on the success of this publication, Day created the Catholic Worker Movement, which to this day addresses a wide range of social justice issues, guided by Catholic principles. Today, four decades after her passing in 1980, Day remains a revered figure in the modern Catholic Church, widely regarded as one of the most influential and important figures in the American Catholicism; indeed, Pope Francis himself highlighted the legacy of Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Movement in his 2015 address to the United States Congress.

In this interview, conducted for KPFA by Eugene Boyle on May 3rd, 1960 (and being rebroadcast for the first time now), Day discusses the Catholic Worker’s Movement’s campaign for world peace since its inception in the 1930’s. We’ll also speak with Blase Bonpane, host of the radio show World Focus (KPFK) and director of the Los Angeles-based Office of the Americas, which focuses on human rights issues and the identification of illegal and immoral aspects of United States government policy. Bonpane and Day worked side by side on many issues over the years.

Share This Episode