John Francis Cronin
Encyclopedia
Father John Francis Cronin, S.S. was a Catholic priest and a vocal opponent of Communism
during the McCarthy era
.
Cronin was born in Glens Falls, New York
. He attended college at College of the Holy Cross
and seminary at the Sulpician seminary of The Catholic University of America
.
He taught economics at St. Mary's Seminary and University
in Baltimore, Maryland. He was also Assistant Director of the Department of Social Action for the National Catholic Welfare Conference
. Toward the end of the Second World War, Cronin wrote a report for the bishops on the Communist Party in the United States. He had the assistance of FBI officials, who unofficially provided some of the background material for him. When Richard Nixon
was elected to Congress in 1946, he sought out information on Communism, and he was introduced to Cronin by Rep. Charles J. Kersten
(R.-WI.). Although Nixon did not mention it, Cronin doubtless told him that Alger Hiss
had been a member of the Communist Party. When Whittaker Chambers
testified before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in August 1948 and said that Hiss was a Communist, Nixon already knew about the charge from his conversations with Cronin. After Nixon was elected vice president, he asked Cronin for help in writing speeches, and Cronin became an unpaid assistant to the vice president.
In the 1950s-1960s, he advocated increased civil rights for all Americans. He wrote two of the bishops' statements on race relations and lobbied them to see that they accepted the drafts.
He authored the book Communism: A World Menace. In addition to Communism, Cronin criticized Joseph McCarthy
and other anticommunist extremists in the United States, whom he accused of fostering national disunity.
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
during the McCarthy era
McCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
.
Cronin was born in Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census...
. He attended college at College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
and seminary at the Sulpician seminary of 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...
.
He taught economics at St. Mary's Seminary and University
St. Mary's Seminary and University
St. Mary's Seminary and University is a Roman Catholic seminary in Baltimore, Maryland; it was the first seminary founded in the United States of America.-History:...
in Baltimore, Maryland. He was also Assistant Director of the Department of Social Action for the National Catholic Welfare Conference
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
. Toward the end of the Second World War, Cronin wrote a report for the bishops on the Communist Party in the United States. He had the assistance of FBI officials, who unofficially provided some of the background material for him. When Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
was elected to Congress in 1946, he sought out information on Communism, and he was introduced to Cronin by Rep. Charles J. Kersten
Charles J. Kersten
Charles Joseph Kersten was a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin .Born in Chicago, Illinois, Kersten graduated from Marquette University College of Law, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1925 and was admitted to the bar the same year.He commenced the practice of law in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1928, serving...
(R.-WI.). Although Nixon did not mention it, Cronin doubtless told him that Alger Hiss
Alger Hiss
Alger Hiss was an American lawyer, government official, author, and lecturer. He was involved in the establishment of the United Nations both as a U.S. State Department and U.N. official...
had been a member of the Communist Party. When Whittaker Chambers
Whittaker Chambers
Whittaker Chambers was born Jay Vivian Chambers and also known as David Whittaker Chambers , was an American writer and editor. After being a Communist Party USA member and Soviet spy, he later renounced communism and became an outspoken opponent later testifying in the perjury and espionage trial...
testified before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in August 1948 and said that Hiss was a Communist, Nixon already knew about the charge from his conversations with Cronin. After Nixon was elected vice president, he asked Cronin for help in writing speeches, and Cronin became an unpaid assistant to the vice president.
In the 1950s-1960s, he advocated increased civil rights for all Americans. He wrote two of the bishops' statements on race relations and lobbied them to see that they accepted the drafts.
He authored the book Communism: A World Menace. In addition to Communism, Cronin criticized Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
and other anticommunist extremists in the United States, whom he accused of fostering national disunity.