Gordon Zahn
Encyclopedia
Gordon Zahn was an American
sociologist
, pacifist, professor
, and author
.
, he was a conscientious objector
, and served in a Civilian Public Service
camp established by the Catholic Worker Movement
. Zahn later transferred to Rosewood State Training School
in Maryland
, a school for the developmentally disabled. He worked there as a conscientious objector until April, 1946. His experiences at Rosewood were published in the Catholic Worker
in the July and October 1946 issues, as a continuation of his attempt to reform Rosewood.
, who hired them when he became a U.S. Senator
. Zahn got a PhD from The Catholic University of America
and then a job at Loyola University Chicago
. According to Gallagher, Cardinal Bea
pressured Loyola and a German publisher to stop Zahn's book German Catholics and Hitler's Wars, but it did not work. Zahn was later hired away by the University of Massachusetts
.
, specifically Schema 13. Through Richard Carbray, and archbishop Thomas Roberts, Zahn was introduced to Abbot Cuthbert Butler
. Zahn gave talks and wrote a speech for Butler. Gallagher implies this all led to Schema 13 supporting conscientious objector
s and denouncing 'weapons of mass destruction'.
, about the Austrian conscientious objector who refused to fight in Hitler's army. He was also the co-founder of Pax Christi
USA.
In 1968, he signed the “Writers and Editors War Tax Protest” pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War.
In 1982 he received the Pax Christi award from St John's.
9780268010171
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sociologist
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, pacifist, professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
, and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Early life and World War II
Born out of wedlock, Zahn took his stepfather's last name. During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, and served in a Civilian Public Service
Civilian Public Service
The Civilian Public Service provided conscientious objectors in the United States an alternative to military service during World War II...
camp established by the Catholic Worker Movement
Catholic Worker Movement
The Catholic Worker Movement is a collection of autonomous communities of Catholics and their associates founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933. Its aim is to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ." One of its guiding principles is hospitality towards those on...
. Zahn later transferred to Rosewood State Training School
Rosewood Center
The Rosewood Center was an institution for people with developmental disabilities located on Rosewood Lane in Owings Mills, Maryland.It was established in 1888 as the Asylum and Training School for the Feeble Minded. From 1912 to 1961, it was known as the Rosewood State Training School. In 1961,...
in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, a school for the developmentally disabled. He worked there as a conscientious objector until April, 1946. His experiences at Rosewood were published in the Catholic Worker
Catholic Worker
The Catholic Worker is a newspaper published seven times a year by the Catholic Worker Movement community in New York City. The newspaper was started by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin to make people aware of church teaching on social justice...
in the July and October 1946 issues, as a continuation of his attempt to reform Rosewood.
Education and career
Gallagher describes Zahn's career in detail. In 1946 Zahn and a friend went to Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. There they met Eugene McCarthyEugene McCarthy
Eugene Joseph "Gene" McCarthy was an American politician, poet, and a long-time member of the United States Congress from Minnesota. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1949 to 1959 and the U.S. Senate from 1959 to 1971.In the 1968 presidential election, McCarthy was the first...
, who hired them when he became a U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. Zahn got a PhD from The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
and then a job at Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
. According to Gallagher, Cardinal Bea
Augustin Bea
Augustin Bea, SJ was a German scholar at the Gregorian University specializing in biblical studies and biblical archeology. He was confessor of Pope Pius XII. In 1959, Pope John XXIII made him cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first President of the Secretariat for Promoting...
pressured Loyola and a German publisher to stop Zahn's book German Catholics and Hitler's Wars, but it did not work. Zahn was later hired away by the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
.
Second Vatican Council
According to an article by Michael Gallagher, Zahn was important in the debate over warfare in the Second Vatican CouncilSecond Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
, specifically Schema 13. Through Richard Carbray, and archbishop Thomas Roberts, Zahn was introduced to Abbot Cuthbert Butler
Cuthbert Butler
Edward Cuthbert Butler was an English Benedictine historian, and Abbot of Downside Abbey. He is known for his history of Vatican I, and his writing on mysticism.-Works:* The Lausiac History of Palladius...
. Zahn gave talks and wrote a speech for Butler. Gallagher implies this all led to Schema 13 supporting conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
s and denouncing 'weapons of mass destruction'.
Authored works
Zahn was the author of several books and articles, often focusing on the topics of conscience and war. He wrote Military Chaplains, based on interviews he did with RAF Chaplains who had served in the war. He then wrote German Catholics and Hitler's Wars, in which he argued priests had aided Hitler by telling Germans it was their religious duty to fight. He later wrote In Solitary Witness: The Life and Death of Franz JägerstätterIn Solitary Witness: The Life and Death of Franz Jägerstätter
In Solitary Witness: The Life and Death of Franz Jägerstätter is a book written by Gordon Zahn originally published in 1964.Its subject is the conscientious objector Saint Franz Jägerstätter.- Contents :* Franz Jägerstätter: An Introduction* St...
, about the Austrian conscientious objector who refused to fight in Hitler's army. He was also the co-founder of Pax Christi
Pax Christi
-History:Pax Christi was established in France in 1945 as a reconciliation work between the French and the Germans after the Second World War. In 2007, it existed in more than 60 countries...
USA.
In 1968, he signed the “Writers and Editors War Tax Protest” pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War.
In 1982 he received the Pax Christi award from St John's.
Sources
- Center on Conscience and War Records at the University of Notre Dame
- Catholic Peace Fellowship Obit
- Times Online Obit
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Obit
Books
- Zahn, Gordon. German Catholics and Hitler's Wars: A Study in Social Control 1964 ISBN
9780268010171
- Zahn, Gordon. In Solitary Witness: The Life and Death of Franz JägerstätterIn Solitary Witness: The Life and Death of Franz JägerstätterIn Solitary Witness: The Life and Death of Franz Jägerstätter is a book written by Gordon Zahn originally published in 1964.Its subject is the conscientious objector Saint Franz Jägerstätter.- Contents :* Franz Jägerstätter: An Introduction* St...
1964 ISBN 087243141X