Father Charles E. Coughlin, the Catholic priest who was notorious for his anti-Semitism during the period immediately preceding World War II, has declared here that “bigotry is passe” and that its practice is now “confined largely to the professionals.”
The priest made that statement, among others, in the first published interview he has given in about 20 years. He was interviewed by Harold Schachern, religious editor of the Detroit News. “I think,” be told the interviewer, “that Catholics have been among the prize bigots. But we are losing that Latinistic arrogance and bigotry–a development that comes with maturity.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.