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Catholics and Politics

Anonymous Letter to Charles Coughlin

Title: Anonymous Letter to Charles Coughlin

Contributor: American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives

Date: November 15, 1936

This anonymous letter was sent to Father Coughlin following the election as a statement of continuing support for the radio priest. The writer mentioned how he withheld a donation to Catholic University because of the Father's Ryan's (Father Ryan was also a Catholic University professor) "Safeguard" speech, which he believed promoted unsound economic theory and unjustly attacked Coughlin. The anonymous writer also forwarded a copy of the letter to Father Ryan as a display of solidarity with Father Coughlin.

 

Questions:

As you read the document, reflect on the following questions:

  • How would you compare the tone of this letter to that written by Mary Roth to John Ryan?
  • How does this anonymous author support his/her view that Coughlin's positions are more correct than Ryan's?