Philip Berrigan (1923–2002, age 75). A Catholic priest, activist, and anti-war advocate, who, alongside his brother Daniel Berrigan, became one of the most prominent figures in the Catholic Left and anti-Vietnam War movements of the 1960s and 1970s.
- Full Name: Philip Francis Berrigan
- Born: October 5, 1923, in Two Harbors, Minnesota
- Died: December 6, 2002, in Baltimore, Maryland
- Background: Philip Berrigan was a Jesuit priest who later left the Society of Jesus and became a Maryknoll Father. Like his brother Daniel, he was committed to social justice, nonviolence, and peace.
Activism and Key Events
The Catonsville Nine (1968):
- One of the most famous moments in Philip Berrigan’s life was his involvement in the Catonsville Nine protest. Along with his brother Daniel and seven others, he burned draft files at a government office in Catonsville, Maryland, in protest against the Vietnam War.
- The act of civil disobedience was aimed at resisting the U.S. military draft, which was sending young men to fight in Vietnam. The protest was part of a broader movement of activist resistance to the war, and it led to their arrest and conviction.
- Philip’s and Daniel’s acts of civil disobedience were powerful symbols of faith-based resistance to unjust wars and government policies. They made the Berrigan brothers well-known figures in both activist and religious circles.
Prison Time and Continued Activism:
- After the Catonsville Nine, Philip Berrigan served time in prison for his role in burning the draft files. His imprisonment only fueled his commitment to nonviolent resistance and his deepening involvement in social justice movements.
- Philip’s later activism was also focused on anti-nuclear issues, poverty, and racial justice.
The Plowshares Movement:
- Along with his wife Elizabeth McAlister, Philip Berrigan was involved in founding the Plowshares Movement in the 1980s. The movement was inspired by the biblical passage from Isaiah: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares.”
- In this movement, activists symbolically disarmed nuclear weapons by physically damaging warheads and other military equipment. This act of protest was both spiritual and political, motivated by a belief that the nuclear arms race posed a direct threat to humanity and that people of faith had an obligation to resist it.
Writing and Thought:
- Philip Berrigan was also an author who wrote about his beliefs, his activism, and the intersection of faith and social justice. Some of his notable books include:
- “The Time of the Toad” (1977) — a reflection on the times and a call to action for political resistance.
- “The Berrigan Letters: Personal Correspondence 1959–1979” — a collection of letters between Philip and his brother Daniel, offering insights into their thoughts and activism.
- His writings, much like his activism, reflected his belief that the Gospel message demanded action in the world, particularly regarding peace and justice.
Faith and Spirituality:
- Like his brother Daniel, Philip saw his activism as deeply intertwined with his Catholic faith. He was committed to nonviolence and believed that following Christ’s example of love and resistance to oppression required standing against war, violence, and injustice.
- Nonviolence was at the heart of his beliefs, and he regularly cited his religious convictions as the motivation for his direct action protests. He believed that faith in God meant resisting violence and war and supporting the downtrodden and marginalized in society.
Legacy:
- Philip Berrigan’s legacy is marked by his unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance and his belief that faith and activism should go hand in hand. His work, especially with the Plowshares Movement, inspired a generation of peace activists and made a lasting impact on the anti-war movement and the broader Catholic peace movement.
- His activism, often leading to imprisonment, emphasized his commitment to sacrifice for the cause of peace and social justice, and his work remains influential in the world of faith-based activism.