Stephen Spiro
Encyclopedia
Stephen Spiro was a political activist known for his opposition against the Vietnam War
and his advocacy of a consistent life ethic
. Opposing the Vietnam war based on the theory of Just War
, he objected to being conscripted
, but as the law only allowed for conscientious objection to all wars, he was convicted of avoiding conscription given a suspended sentence
of five years. He was later pardoned by President Gerald Ford
.
, Spiro attended Xavier High School
in Manhattan
. He attended the University of Chicago
and later received bachelors and masters degrees in economics from Fairleigh Dickinson University
. While at the University of Chicago, his studies in economics and politics led him to become suspicious of government in all its forms. He joined the Student Peace Union
and studied Catholic peace traditions
, eventually becoming active in the Catholic Worker movement
. He later described himself as a "Biblical anarchist and a radical pacifist."
as not conforming to the Catholic theory of just war
. As the conscription
laws in the United States
allowed for conscientious objection only on the grounds of opposition to all war, Spiro was labeled a "selective conscientious objector" and was convicted of avoiding the draft. His case was championed by the newly-formed Catholic Peace Fellowship; Daniel Berrigan
, Tom Cornell, and Thomas Merton
all lobbied on his behalf. The sincerity of his beliefs were recognized, as he received a five year suspended sentence
for his actions, and he was later pardoned by President Gerald Ford. He was "more proud of the conviction than the pardon" and throughout his life he referred to himself as a "political criminal."
Spiro also opposed the Gulf War
and the Iraq War. In the last years of his life he was the President of the New Jersey Catholic Peace Fellowship and he often engaged in counter-recruitment
, setting up information tables in front of military recruiting offices in New Jersey.
movement. He regularly attended the March for Life
and met with legislators. He advocated a consistent life ethic
, also known as the seamless garment argument. This argument states that the right to life leads to opposition to abortion
, capital punishment
and war
as a single consistent moral position. He would often bring anti-war signs to pro-life rallies (and vice-versa), sparking arguments with his fellow protesters.
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and his advocacy of a consistent life ethic
Consistent Life Ethic
The consistent life ethic, or the consistent ethic of life, was a term coined in 1983 by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin to express an ethical, religious, and political ideology based on the premise that all human life was sacred and should be protected by law. The ideology opposes legal abortion,...
. Opposing the Vietnam war based on the theory of Just War
Just War
Just war theory is a doctrine of military ethics of Roman philosophical and Catholic origin, studied by moral theologians, ethicists and international policy makers, which holds that a conflict ought to meet philosophical, religious or political criteria.-Origins:The concept of justification for...
, he objected to being conscripted
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....
, but as the law only allowed for conscientious objection to all wars, he was convicted of avoiding conscription given a suspended sentence
Suspended sentence
A suspended sentence is a legal term for a judge's delaying of a defendant's serving of a sentence after they have been found guilty, in order to allow the defendant to perform a period of probation...
of five years. He was later pardoned by President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
.
Early life
Born in the BronxThe Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, Spiro attended Xavier High School
Xavier High School (New York City)
Xavier High School is a independent Jesuit university-preparatory high school for young men located at 30 West 16th Street, in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It was founded in 1847, as the College of St. Francis Xavier by Father John Larkin, S.J...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. He attended the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and later received bachelors and masters degrees in economics from Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university founded as a junior college in 1942. It now has several campuses located in New Jersey, Canada, and the United Kingdom.-Description:...
. While at the University of Chicago, his studies in economics and politics led him to become suspicious of government in all its forms. He joined the Student Peace Union
Student Peace Union
Student Peace Union was a nationwide student organization active on college campuses in the United States from 1959 to 1964. Its national headquarters were located near the campus of the University of Chicago....
and studied Catholic peace traditions
Catholic Peace Traditions
The following article will trace the ideas and practice of peace in the Catholic Church from its biblical and classical origins into the 21st century. This Catholic tradition, because of its long history and breadth of geographical and cultural diversity, encompasses many strains and influences of...
, eventually becoming active in 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...
. He later described himself as a "Biblical anarchist and a radical pacifist."
Opposition to War
Spiro opposed the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
as not conforming to the Catholic theory of just war
Just War
Just war theory is a doctrine of military ethics of Roman philosophical and Catholic origin, studied by moral theologians, ethicists and international policy makers, which holds that a conflict ought to meet philosophical, religious or political criteria.-Origins:The concept of justification for...
. As the conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
laws in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
allowed for conscientious objection only on the grounds of opposition to all war, Spiro was labeled a "selective conscientious objector" and was convicted of avoiding the draft. His case was championed by the newly-formed Catholic Peace Fellowship; Daniel Berrigan
Daniel Berrigan
Daniel Berrigan, SJ is an American Catholic priest, peace activist, and poet. Daniel and his brother Philip were for a time on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list for their involvement in antiwar protests during the Vietnam war....
, Tom Cornell, and Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton, O.C.S.O. was a 20th century Anglo-American Catholic writer and mystic. A Trappist monk of the Abbey of Gethsemani, Kentucky, he was a poet, social activist, and student of comparative religion...
all lobbied on his behalf. The sincerity of his beliefs were recognized, as he received a five year suspended sentence
Suspended sentence
A suspended sentence is a legal term for a judge's delaying of a defendant's serving of a sentence after they have been found guilty, in order to allow the defendant to perform a period of probation...
for his actions, and he was later pardoned by President Gerald Ford. He was "more proud of the conviction than the pardon" and throughout his life he referred to himself as a "political criminal."
Spiro also opposed the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
and the Iraq War. In the last years of his life he was the President of the New Jersey Catholic Peace Fellowship and he often engaged in counter-recruitment
Counter-recruitment
Counter-recruitment is a strategy often taken up to oppose war. Counter-recruitment is an attempt to prevent military recruiters from enlisting civilians into the military. There are several methods commonly utilized in a counter-recruitment campaign, ranging from the political speech to direct...
, setting up information tables in front of military recruiting offices in New Jersey.
Pro-Life Movement
Spiro was active in the Right to LifeRight to life
Right to life is a phrase that describes the belief that a human being has an essential right to live, particularly that a human being has the right not to be killed by another human being...
movement. He regularly attended the March for Life
March for Life
March for Life is an annual pro-life rally protesting abortion, held in Washington, D.C., on or around the anniversary of the United States Supreme Court's decision legalizing abortion in the case Roe v. Wade. The march is organized by the March for Life Education and Defense Fund. The overall goal...
and met with legislators. He advocated a consistent life ethic
Consistent Life Ethic
The consistent life ethic, or the consistent ethic of life, was a term coined in 1983 by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin to express an ethical, religious, and political ideology based on the premise that all human life was sacred and should be protected by law. The ideology opposes legal abortion,...
, also known as the seamless garment argument. This argument states that the right to life leads to opposition to abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
and war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
as a single consistent moral position. He would often bring anti-war signs to pro-life rallies (and vice-versa), sparking arguments with his fellow protesters.