Finding Aid of the William H. DuBay papers 0391

Finding aid prepared by Katie Richardson and Andrew Goodrich
The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the Council on Library and Information Resources.
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2011 August


Title: William H. DuBay papers
Collection number: 0391
Contributing Institution: USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 3.42 Linear feet 4 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1955-1974
Abstract: In 1966, William H. DuBay was suspended from the Los Angeles Archdiocese for opining his criticism of the Roman Catholic church. The collection includes materials related to DuBay's controversial tenure as a Roman Catholic priest and his suspension.
creator: DuBay, William H., 1934-

Conditions Governing Access

Advance notice required for access.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Related Archival Materials

Inventory of the Catholic Human Relations Council Collection, 1958-1992, Loyola Marymount University Department of Archives and Special Collections, CSLA-27.
Merton's Correspondence with: DuBay, William H., FR., 1934- , The Merton Collection at Bellarmine University.

Organization

The collection has been organized into the following series: 1. Correspondence 2. Article Clippings 3. Publications 4. Speaking Engagements

Biographical note

William H. DuBay was born in Long Beach, California in 1934. From an early age he expressed interest in joining the Roman Catholic clergy; in 1956, after eight years of seminary training, he graduated with a B.A. from St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, California and went on to complete post-graduate work in theology. He was ordained in 1960, at the age of 26, and stood out as one of the youngest priests to serve in the Los Angeles Archdiocese.
In addition to serving as a priest, DuBay was also a social activist and a tireless advocate for civil rights. As such, he published articles and delivered sermons on the topic of racial integration, most often without the permission of the chancery office. Because the Roman Catholic church had not taken an official position on race relations at the time, DuBay's provocative opinions drew the ire of his superior, Cardinal James Francis McIntyre, who likened DuBay's proactive approach to insubordination. DuBay, on the other hand, likened the church's desire to review his articles and sermons to censorship.
McIntyre reprimanded DuBay for his outspokenness on the subject of civil rights on several occasions. In 1962, after DuBay published an article advocating racial integration in his parish's weekly bulletin, he was forbidden from publishing materials without the prior consent of the church and was transferred to another congregation. Shortly thereafter, DuBay was reprimanded again for delivering a sermon stressing the importance of racial integration. In 1963, DuBay requested a leave of absence from the Los Angeles Archdiocese to pursue missionary duties in Kenya; his request was denied by McIntyre, who instead transferred him to a parish in Compton, California, a predominantly African American suburb of Los Angeles.
The tension between DuBay and McIntyre came to a head in 1964. Frustrated that McIntyre neglected to publicly support civil rights, DuBay sent a telegram to Pope Paul VI and asked him to remove the Cardinal from office. According to DuBay, McIntyre was unfit to preside over the racially diverse Los Angeles Archdiocese because of his failure to exercise moral leadership among the white Catholics of this diocese on racial discrimination. DuBay went public with his message at a press conference the following day--a move that garnered national publicity and drew attention to a schism that had developed between the Roman Catholic establishment and a new generation of priests.
In response to his actions, DuBay was suspended from the priesthood by McIntyre but was soon reinstated after he agreed, albeit reluctantly, to renew his vow of obedience. Upon his reinstatement, DuBay was transferred to a parish in Anaheim, California, and was transferred once again to St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, where he served as chaplain.
However, race relations continued to remain a sticking point between DuBay and McIntyre. In the wake of the 1965 Watts Riots, which were largely rooted in racial tensions, DuBay proceeded to write a book criticizing the Roman Catholic church, its antiquated practices, and its tendency to stymy freedom of expression. The book, entitled The Human Church, emphasizes the need to establish a balance between discipline and freedom within the church and offers a comprehensive program for church reform. Among the most provocative reform measures proposed by DuBay included the formation of a priest's union, which was intended to prohibit arbitrary transfers, enact a tenure policy, and guarantee professional salaries for priests. In his book, DuBay also suggests that bishops be elected to limited terms and calls upon the church to abandon its tax exemptions.
Immediately after The Human Church was published in 1966, Cardinal McIntyre suspended DuBay once again from the priesthood and also removed him from his chaplain post. The Vatican also demanded that DuBay end the sale and distribution of his book, as it was published without the church's imprimatur--a demand that DuBay declined to entertain. In response, DuBay remained on suspension indefinitely; he left the priesthood altogether soon thereafter.
DuBay continued to pursue his passion for social activism after he stepped down from the priesthood. For a year following his suspension, he lived and worked at Synanon House, a drug and alcohol treatment center in Santa Monica, and later worked for the anti-poverty organization Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). He also continued to share his progressive ideas on church reform by delivering speeches at college campuses and contributing to newspapers, journals, and periodicals. In 1967, he successfully launched a workers union for clergymen, the American Federation of Priests, and served as its first president.
In 1968, DuBay again made headlines when he married Mary Ellen Wall, a divorcee with four children. The couple later had one son.
DuBay pursued a career in technical writing after leaving the priesthood. Between 1975 and 1987, he lived in Alaska and edited The Arctic Policy Review, a periodical about economic and political developments in the Arctic region. In 1988 he returned to Southern California and worked as a technical writer and writing teacher.
Aside from The Human Church (1966), major publications attributed to DuBay include Gay Identity: The Self Under Ban (1987), The Principles of Readability (2004), and Unlocking Language: The Classic Readability Studies (2007).

Scope and Content

The collection is comprised of correspondence, clippings, publications, and speeches pertaining to the controversy surrounding William H. DuBay, a priest who was disciplined by and suspended from the Los Angeles Archdiocese in the 1960s for publicly criticizing the Roman Catholic church. Included in the collection are letters, telegrams, cards, and postcards exchanged between DuBay and his parishioners, church officials, and members of the general public; article clippings about conflict and controversy within the Roman Catholic church during the 1960s; articles, pamphlets, petitions, and press releases related to the conflict that arose between DuBay and his superior, Cardinal James Francis McIntyre; and contracts that DuBay entered into with the College Association of Public Events and Services for speaking engagements.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

American Federation of Priests. -- Archives
Catholic Church--California--Los Angeles--History--20th century--Archival resources.
Catholic Church--United States--History--20th century--Archival resources.
Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Los Angeles (Calif.). -- Archives
Catholic Human Relations Council (Los Angeles, Calif.). -- Archives
Catholics United for Racial Equality. -- Archives
DuBay, William H., 1934- -- Archives
Gessner, George J., (George John) -- Archives
Hill, Richard A. -- Archives
McIntyre, J. Francis A. (James Francis Aloysius), 1886-1979 -- Archives
National Catholic Reporter Publishing Co. -- Archives
Paul, VI, Pope, 1897-1978 -- Archives
California, Southern--History--Archival resources
Catholic ex-priests--United States--Archival resources
Catholic labor unions--United States--History--20th century--Archival resources
Catholic press--United States--History--20th century--Archival resources
Catholics--United States--History--20th century--Archival resources
Civil rights--United States--20th century--Archival resources
Clergy--United States--History--20th century--Archival resources
Clippings
Contracts
Correspondence
Labor unions--United States--History--20th century--Sources--Archival resources
Letters
Los Angeles (Calif.)--History--20th century--Archival resources
Pamphlets
Postcards
Press releases
Publications
Race relations--Religious aspects--Catholic Church--History--Archival resources
Social justice--United States--History--20th century--Archival resources
Speeches, addresses, etc., American--20th century--Archival resources
Telegrams

 

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.