Correspondence
1960-1973
Scope and Content
The series includes correspondence pertaining to DuBay's progressive and controversial voice within the Roman Catholic church;
his outspoken criticism of his superior, Cardinal James Francis McIntyre, in 1964; the publication of his book,
The Human Church, in 1966; his suspension from the priesthood in 1966 and his subsqeuent request for an ecclesiastical trial; and his ongoing
efforts to establish a worker's union for priests. Included are telegrams, letters, cards, and postcards addressed to DuBay
from both his parishioners and members of the general public; letters exchanged between DuBay and the Vatican regarding his
suspension and his request for a trial; and press releases related to his case. Items in the series are arranged chronologically.
Box 1, Folder 1
Telegrams
1964
Scope and Content
DuBay first stepped into the public eye in 1964 after he publicly denounced his superior, Cardinal James Francis McIntyre,
and asked that Pope Paul VI strip McIntyre of his title. The issue at hand was civil rights: according to DuBay, McIntyre
was unfit to preside over the racially diverse Los Angeles Archdiocese because of his indifferent attitude toward racial injustice
and his refusal to oppose California Proposition 14, a ballot initiative that aimed to repeal fair housing legislation that
had been implemented in the state the previous year. The file includes 69 telegrams addressed to DuBay that commend his criticism
of McIntyre and his commitment to the civil rights movement.
Box 3, Folder 1, Box 1, Folder 2-4
Letters of Support: Cardinal McIntyre
1964 June-December
Scope and Content
DuBay's criticism of Cardinal McIntyre in 1964 drew praise from parishioners and human relations advocates, who believed that
the Roman Catholic church's silence on issues pertaining to race relations contradicted the church's core values. Included
in the files are several typed and handwritten letters addressed to DuBay that commend the priest for his actions against
the church establishment and thank him for his commitment to racial equality.
Box 3, Folder 2, Box 1, Folder 5
Letters of Condemnation: Racist
1964 June-December, 1965 February
Scope and Content
DuBay's public denouncement of Cardinal McIntyre was also criticized by Roman Catholics around the nation, many of whom believed
that the church should play no role in matters pertaining to race relations and civil rights. Included in the files are letters
and postcards addressed to DuBay that criticize the priest for opposing his superior; several items are accompanied by article
clippings that discuss racial tension in general and DuBay's actions specifically. Items in the folder assume a racist tone
and criticize the priest for advocating racial integration.
Box 1, Folder 6, Box 3, Folder 3
Letters of Condemnation: Catholic
1964 June, 1965 April-August, 1966 April-July
Scope and Content
After he publicly denounced Cardinal McIntyre, DuBay received an onslaught of letters and postcards from Roman Catholic parishioners,
many of whom criticized the priest for failing to respect the church hierarchy. The files include these letters and postcards,
as well as several article clippings that discuss the DuBay/McIntyre conflict.
Box 1, Folder 7, Box 3, Folder 4
Catholic Human Relations Council and Catholics United for Racial Equality
1964 February-1965 December, 1966 October-November, 1967 January-November
Scope and Content
DuBay did not stand alone in the struggle to engage the Catholic church in the civil rights movement; two organizations, the
Catholic Human Relations Council (CHRC) and Catholics United for Racial Equality (CURC), also called upon the Los Angeles
Archdiocese to take a more proactive stand in racial matters. Like DuBay, the organizations often clashed with Cardinal McIntyre,
who believed that their messages were too controversial and refused to grant them the official blessing of the church. The
filed consist of materials that document the CHRC and CURC's tenuous relationship with Cardinal McIntyre and the Catholic
establishment during the early and mid-1960s. Included are letters; press releases; meeting agendas; an eight-point petition
directed at Cardinal McIntyre; an issue of
Witness, the CHRC's official newsletter; and several article clippings about racial injustice in Southern California.
Box 1, Folder 8
Correspondence with a Prisoner at Leavenworth, Kansas
1964-1966
Scope and Content
In 1964, DuBay struck up a friendship with George J. Gessner, a United States soldier who was incarcerated at Leavenworth,
Kansas after being accused of disclosing nuclear weapons secrets to Soviet officials. Gessner, who had taken an interest in
DuBay's progressive outlook and struggle with the Catholic establishment, exchanged letters with the priest between 1964 and
1966 about the Bible and race, church reform, philosophy, literature, and current events. The file includes letters that were
mailed by Gessner to DuBay, as well as several article clippings pertinent to their discussions.
Box 3, Folder 5, Box 1, Folder 9
Legal Matters
1965-1967
Scope and Content
DuBay, upset that he was denied an ecclesiastical trial by the Roman Catholic church after his suspension, explored the possibility
of filing a complaint against Cardinal McIntyre in civil court for denying him due process of the law. The files contain letters
exchanged between DuBay, clergymen Richard Hill and William Richardson, and attorney David Greene Lilly about the ramifications
of pursuing civil action. Also included are letters addressed to DuBay that offer legal advice, as well as handwritten notes
that outline the fact pattern surrounding DuBay's case.
Box 1, Folder 10
Letters to Rome
1965-1968
Scope and Content
On February 25, 1966, DuBay was suspended from the priesthood by Cardinal McIntyre after he published a highly controversial
book,
The Human Church, which criticized the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic church and called upon priests to unionize. Upset that he was tried
in absentia by a panel of anonymous judges, DuBay wrote to the Vatican and requested an ecclesiastical trial - a request that was ultimately
denied. The file includes these letters exchanged between DuBay and church administrators in Rome; a chronology of events
that led to DuBay's suspension, submitted to the Vatican by the Los Angeles Archdiocese; DuBay's rebuttal to the charges brought
against him; article clippings regarding the suspension; and handwritten notes.
Box 3, Folder 6, Box 1, Folder 11
Letters:
Saturday Evening Post Article
1965-1966
Scope and Content
After his suspension from the Los Angeles Archdiocese, DuBay wrote an article entitled
We Must Reform the Church, which sharply criticized the conservative tilt of Roman Catholicism and stressed the need for the church to modernize its
message and its practices. The article appeared in the June 4, 1966 edition of the
Saturday Evening Post and elicited numerous responses from readers. Included in the files are letters and cards addressed to DuBay regarding both
his article and his progressive vision for the Roman Catholic church.
Box 1, Folder 12
Correspondence Regarding Publicity
1966
Scope and Content
Following his suspension from the priesthood in 1966, DuBay went public with his case and delivered lectures and speeches,
spoke on several radio programs, and contributed to newspapers and periodicals around the nation, all of which sparked the
ire of church officials. Included in the file are letters and postcards addressed to DuBay in response to his public appearances,
all of which are commendatory.
Box 3, Folder 7, Box 1, Folder 13
Letters from Priests
1964-1968
Scope and Content
Among the most controversial subjects of DuBay's book
The Human Church involved the formation of unions for priests. According to DuBay, unionization would allow members of the clergy to achieve
four principal goals: (1) to secure better wages; (2) to secure better working conditions; (3) to end arbitrary transfers;
and (4) to institute a tenure policy which would guarantee the right to a hearing prior to suspension. Included in the files
are letters and postcards addressed to DuBay from other Catholic priests in 1966, most of which are commendatory and express
support for unionization.
Box 1, Folder 14
Letters:
The Human Church
1966
Scope and Content
In 1966, DuBay published a controversial book,
The Human Church, which sharply criticized the organization and structure of Roman Catholicism and stressed the need for Catholic leaders to
reform and reorient the church. The book, which was published without the approval of Cardinal McIntyre or the Los Angeles
Archdiocese, sparked controversy and debate within the Catholic church and generated a considerable amount of public discussion
regarding the church's practices. Included in the file are letters addressed to DuBay from readers regarding their opinions
of the book and its reform-oriented message.
Box 1, Folder 15, Box 3, Folder 8-9
Letters Regarding Priests Union
1966-1967
Scope and Content
In October, 1966, DuBay successfully organized a labor union for clergymen, the American Federation of Priests, and served
as the organization's first president. The files consist of correspondence exchanged between DuBay and his followers regarding
the union's formation, which was seen by church critics as a tremendous victory in the battle for reform. Included are letters
of commendation directed at DuBay as well as several letters that criticize his actions; letters requesting information about
the union and also requesting copies of its newsletter,
The Union Priest; and DuBay's responses to these inquiries.
Box 1, Folder 16
Rejections of Paper
1966
Scope and Content
After the American Federation of Priests was established in 1966, copies of the union's official newsletter,
The Union Priest, was distributed to Roman Catholic parishes around the nation. However, many Catholic priests, especially those deeply rooted
in tradition, rejected the newsletter because of its progressive and controversial rhetoric. The file includes letters from
these priests expressing their disdain toward the union and directing DuBay to remove their parishes from the union's mailing
list.
Box 1, Folder 17, Box 3, Folder 10
Letters (Favorable)
1964-1968
Scope and Content
After his suspension from the priesthood in 1966, which gained national attention, DuBay received correspondence from both
parishioners and the general public that offered words of encouragement. The files include letters and postcards addressed
to DuBay in support of his actions and his progressive vision for the Roman Catholic church.
Box 3, Folder 11, Box 1, Folder 18
Correspondence: Personal
1963-1969
Scope and Content
The files contain correspondence exchanged between DuBay and his personal acquaintances, both before and after his suspension
from the clergy by Cardinal McIntyre. Included are letters and postcards addressed to DuBay about a variety of topics, including
his priesthood, his perception of the church, his discipline by the Cardinal, and his personal life.
Box 3, Folder 12-18, Box 2, Folder 1-2
Miscellaneous Correspondence
1960-1970
Scope and Content
The files include letters, greeting cards, postcards, and telegrams addressed to DuBay, as well as the transcript of an interview
conducted with DuBay about his suspension from the priesthood. Correspondence in the file relates to a variety of topics,
including requests for DuBay to conduct prayers and services; invitations for DuBay to speak at events and public forums;
individual opinions about DuBay's suspension and the practices of the Roman Catholic church; people's own struggles within
the church; and requests for more information about DuBay, his background, and his ideas. Also included are several letters
that included a donation to the American Federation of Priests, the labor union that DuBay established.
Box 3, Folder 19
Adelphos ("brother")
1967-1971
Scope and Content
Adelphos, which is Greek for brother, was formed in 1967 by Father William H. DuBay for the welfare of former priests. The
purpose of the organization was to help former priests find jobs that would be "consisten with their background and social
stranding," according to Father DuBay. The group was associated with the American Federation of Priests, also created by DuBay.
In addition to a press release, the file contains correspondence associated with the group.
Box 3, Folder 20
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
1965-1967
Scope and Content
The file contains some material critical of the CIA.
Box 3, Folder 21
Correspondence with Madalyn Murray O'Hair
1965-1966
Scope and Content
This file consists of some correspondence between Father DuBay and Madalyn Murray O'Hair, a leading atheist, who was the founder
of American Atheists and its president from 1963 to 1986. The letterhead on onf of O'Hair's letters states The International
Freethought Society, Inc., with an Austin, TX, mailing address; and the letterhead on another of her letters states Society
of Separationists, with a separate Austin, TX, mailing address.
Box 3, Folder 22
DuBay, William H., Vitae
1967
Scope and Content
William H. DuBay provides an extensive vitae in this letter to Professor W.A. Lessa at the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA).
Box 3, Folder 23
Erickson Educational Foundation
1973
Scope and Content
This file contains a request for a grant from the Erickson Educational Foundation to support the work of the Whitman Center,
a short-term program focusing on job development and training for the LGBT community. Father DuBay was the president of the
center.
Box 3, Folder 24
The Human Church Letters
1966-1968
Scope and Content
The file contains correspondence pertaining to Father DuBay's book,
The Human Church.
Box 3, Folder 25
Invitations
1965-1966
Scope and Content
The file contains invitations to Father DuBay for speaking engagements to various groups.
Box 3, Folder 26
Letters Answered
1965-1967
Scope and Content
This file contains original letters that Father DuBay identified as annwering but it does not contain copies of his letters
back to the correspondents.
Box 3, Folder 27
Letters Regarding Proposed Articles
1963-1967
Scope and Content
File contains letters requesting articles or other contributions to publications sent to Father DuBay.
Box 3, Folder 28
Letters: Requests for Articles
1965-1967
Scope and Content
The file contains letters requesting that Father DuBay write articles for various publications.
Box 3, Folder 29
Letters: Rosemary Ruether
1965
Scope and Content
The file contains a series of letters from Rosemary Ruether to Father DuBay.
Box 3, Folder 30
Letters: Unfavorable
1966
Scope and Content
The file contains a number of letters criticizing Father DuBay on his stance pertaining to Cardinal McIntyre and the Catholic
Church.
Box 3, Folder 31
Synanon House
1962-1966
Scope and Content
The file contains information about the Synanon House in Santa Monica, CA, and the Synanon program. The Synanon House was
a private project devoted to the communal rehabilitation of narcotic addicts.
Box 3, Folder 32
The Catholic Peace Fellowship
1966-1968
Scope and Content
This file contains correspondence and other material pertaining to the Catholic Peace Fellowship, which supports Catholic
conscientious objectors through education, counseling, and advocacy.
Box 3, Folder 33
War in Vietnam
1966-1967
Scope and Content
The material in this file focus on opposition to the war.
Box 2, Folder 3-5
Article Clippings
1960-1967
Scope and Content
The series includes article clippings from several local, national, and international newspapers, as well as Roman Catholic
newspapers and periodicals, pertaining to the schism that developed between progressive-minded priests and their superiors
in the early 1960s. In addition to documenting the plight of outspoken priests in nations aside from the United States, the
clippings discuss the church's role in the civil rights movement and its tendency to censor priests with progressive viewpoints
- issues that acted as flashpoints in the conflict between DuBay and his superior, Cardinal McIntyre. Items in the series
are arranged thematically.
Box 2, Folder 3
Clippings: Foreign
1967
Scope and Content
DuBay was not the only priest to encounter problems with the Roman Catholic hierarchy in the 1960s; around the world, the
church experienced what was described as
an unprecedented wave of misgivings and question-asking after several priests with progressive ideas were reprimanded for expressing their ideas without the consent of the church.
The file includes article clippings from Canada, England, Holland, Columbia, Italy, and Mexico pertaining to the conflicts
between progressive-minded priests and their superiors. Special attention is drawn to the case of British priest Charles Davis,
who left the church in 1966 after becoming disallusioned by its strict adherence to tradition.
Box 2, Folder 4
Clippings: Racism
1960-1964
Scope and Content
Race relations and school integration proved to be among the most contentious issues facing the Roman Catholic church in the
1960s; whereas church leaders avoided the topics to prevent involving the church in political issues, many parishioners and
clergymen felt that the church should be more proactive in the fight against prejudice and racial injustice. Ultimately, this
issue led to the conflict that arose between DuBay and his superior, Cardinal McIntyre. Included in the file are newspaper
articles and editorials that document this conflict and discuss race relations as they pertain to the Roman Catholic church.
Box 2, Folder 5
Miscellaneous Clippings
1964 June-1969 March
Scope and Content
The file includes article clippings pertaining to a variety of issues involving DuBay and his work, including the Roman Catholic
church's position on race relations, the unionization of priests, and the censorship of clergymen by high-ranking church officials.
Articles in the file come from a variety of sources, including the
Los Angeles Times, several Catholic-based publications, including the
Long Island Catholic, the
Pierce College Roundup, and
The Tidings; and
The Union Priest, the official newsletter of the American Federation of Priests.
Box 4, Folder 13
Autobiographical Material
1960-1974
Scope and Content
This file contains clippings, correspondence, and other autobiographical material collected by Father DuBay.
Box 3, Folder 34-36
Miscellaneous Material
1957-1969
Scope and Content
Files contain a variety of material and information pertaining to the Catholic Church.
Box 3, Folder 37-38
Press Releases and Press-Ready Copy
1966-1967
Scope and Content
The files contain press releases from the American Federation of Priests (AFP) and various other material.
Box 2, Folder 6-8
Publications
1955-1974
Scope and Content
The series includes informational pamphlets, articles from several journals and periodicals, petitions, and press releases
related to the Roman Catholic church's position on race relations, social justice, and civil rights - issues that became the
focal point of DuBay's struggle within the church establishment. Also included are several copies of a manuscript that DuBay
submitted to McCall's magazine in 1970 about his marriage and the struggles he encoutered while transitioning from priest
to husband. Items in the series are arranged thematically.
Box 3, Folder 39
Article: Alpha Conditioning
1971-1974
Scope and Content
This file contains correspondence about an article on Alpha conditioning and an unidentified manuscript for chapters 3 and
4, perhaps associated with the Nationa Institute for Occult Studies.
Box 3, Folder 40
Articles (current)
1966-1967
Scope and Content
The file contains a copy of an article by Father DuBay titled
The Organizational Church, as well as newspaper articles and other items about the Catholic Church and issues pertaining to Catholic Priests.
Box 3, Folder 41, Box 4, Folder 1
Articles (new)
1966-1970
Scope and Content
These files contain manuscripts for some of Father DuBay's writings:
New Direction in Rehabilitation;
The Rape of Romonaland;
The Secular Church;
A Theory of Reform; and
The Church as Institution.
Box 4, Folder 2
Charles Bloch & Associates
1964-1970
Scope and Content
The file contains correspondence and other material pertaining to Father DuBay's writing projects.
Box 4, Folder 3
Los Angeles Times Book Reviews
1967-1968
Scope and Content
This file contains manuscripts of book reviews that Father DuBay wrote for the
Los Angeles Times.
Box 2, Folder 6
Publications: Racism
1955-1963
Scope and Content
The file includes published materials related to the issue of racial discrimination in the United States, especially as it
pertained to the Roman Catholic church. Included are pamphets discussing interracial justice and human rights; articles that
criticize Southern ministers for failing to promote racial integration, describe how the church can help break racial barriers,
and debunk myths about racial minorities and property values; a list of demands released by Catholics United for Racial Equality,
a Los Angeles-based organization that advocated for civil rights within the church; a statement issued by George Higgins,
Director of the National Catholic Welfare Conference's Social Action Department; and the mission statement of the Catholic
Interracial Council of New York.
Box 2, Folder 7
McCall's Article
1970
Scope and Content
After he was suspended from the priesthood, DuBay revoked his vow of celibacy and married his wife, Mary Ellen, a divorcee
with four children. In 1970, he submitted a manuscript to
McCall's magazine that describes in detail his struggle in making the transition from a priest to a husband; in turn,
McCall's offered him $2,000 to publish his account in the magazine. The file includes several revised editions of DuBay's manuscript,
many of which feature handwritten comments from the magazine's editors. Also included are letters exchanged between DuBay
and the editorial staff describing the revisions that were made to the original manuscript, as well as DuBay's handwritten
notes.
Box 2, Folder 8
Miscellaneous Publications
1964 June-1965 December
Scope and Content
The file contains miscellaneous publications related to race relations within the Catholic church and DuBay's suspension from
the clergy. Included is a statement issued by the Reverend William B. Abbot explaining why he opposed California Proposition
14, the 1964 ballot initiative that sought to repeal the state's fair housing laws; and an article entitled
The DuBay case, which appeared in the July 10, 1964 edition of
The Commonweal and describes DuBay's suspension from the clergy.
Box 4, Folder 4-6
The Secular Church
undated
Scope and Content
These three files contain manuscript material for
The Secular Church, written by Father DuBay.
Box 4, Folder 7
The Organizational Church
1968
Scope and Content
This folder contains a copy of the journal
Continuum, with an article by Father DuBay titled
The Organizational Church included in the journal (Vol. 6, No. 1, Spring 1968, 53-59.
Box 4, Folder 8
The DuBay Case, by John Leo
1964
Scope and Content
The file contains a copy of
The Commonweal, which includes the article
The DuBay Case, written by John Leo (Vol. 53, No. 16, July 10, 1964, 477-482.
Box 4, Folder 9-12, Box 2, Folder 9
Speaking Engagements
1966-1971
Scope and Content
Interested in expressing his controversial views to as wide an audience as possible, and especially to college students, DuBay
arranged to give a series of lectures at several California college campuses in the late 1960s. His speaking engagements were
coordinated by the College Association for Public Events and Services (CAPES), a non-profit programming agency affiliated
with eighty colleges and universities around the state. Included in the series are contracts between CAPES and DuBay, which
list the venue, date, time, and topic for each of his speeches and specifies the conditions governing each arrangement; a
brief autobiography of DuBay; and correspondence exchanged between DuBay and members of the CAPES staff.