Radio priest

Radio priest

By Donald I. Warren

Book Description

In the late 1920s, a Catholic parish priest began broadcasting simple biblical stories to children from his small Michigan church. What started as innocent religious programming would evolve into one of America's most controversial and influential radio shows, forever changing how spiritual authority could be wielded through mass media.

Donald Warren presents a meticulously researched examination of Father Charles Coughlin's transformation from humble clergyman to powerful political figure. Drawing on decades of investigation and previously restricted archives, this biography reveals how Coughlin built his Shrine of the Little Flower into a profitable empire while using radio waves to reach millions of listeners across the nation.

The story traces Coughlin's journey from delivering gentle children's sermons to broadcasting inflammatory political commentary that would eventually inspire extremist movements and violent actions. Warren explores how religious messaging became intertwined with political manipulation, showing how spiritual platforms can be corrupted when personal ambition overshadows genuine service.

For readers interested in understanding the intersection of faith, media, and political power, this work offers valuable insights into how charismatic religious figures can influence public opinion and social movements. The book serves as both historical documentation and cautionary tale, examining the responsibility that comes with spiritual leadership and the potential consequences when that trust is misused.

Warren's thorough research provides a foundation for understanding how populist religious movements develop and spread in American culture.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~10 hours)

📄 Length: 376 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Radio in politics
  • ✓ Explore Catholic Church
  • ✓ Explore Radio in religion
  • ✓ Explore Clergy
  • ✓ Explore Politics and government
  • ✓ Explore Right-wing extremists
  • ✓ Explore Coughlin, charles edward, 1891-1979
  • ✓ Explore Biography

Topics Covered

Radio in politics Catholic Church Radio in religion Clergy Politics and government Right-wing extremists Coughlin, charles edward, 1891-1979 Biography

Related Books You Might Like

Cover of Martyrdom and the politics of religion

Martyrdom and the politics of religion

Anna Lisa Peterson

1997 • 211p

In the midst of profound political upheaval and violence, how do ordinary believers find meaning and construct ethical frameworks that guide their actions? Anna Lisa Peterson examines this compelling question through the lens of Salvadoran Catholicis...
Cover of size of Chesterton's Catholicism, The

size of Chesterton's Catholicism, The

David W. Fagerberg

1998 • 214p

David W. Fagerberg invites readers into the expansive theological vision of G.K. Chesterton, revealing how the celebrated writer understood Catholicism as a faith of remarkable breadth and accessibility. Drawing exclusively from Chesterton's own theo...
📚

"Church and age unite!"

R. Scott Appleby

1992 • 296p

At the dawn of the twentieth century, American Catholic intellectuals found themselves at a crossroads between ancient faith and modern thought. R. Scott Appleby illuminates this pivotal moment when progressive priests, scientists, and scholars dared...
Cover of God-creature-revelation

God-creature-revelation

Jerry D. Korsmeyer

1995 • 227p

In an age where scientific discovery and spiritual faith often seem at odds, Jerry D. Korsmeyer offers a thoughtful bridge between these worlds. Drawing from the philosophical insights of Charles Hartshorne and Alfred North Whitehead, this work prese...
Cover of Sharing the Word through the liturgical year

Sharing the Word through the liturgical year

Gustavo Gutiérrez

1997 • 288p

Renowned Peruvian theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez invites readers into a profound exploration of scripture that unfolds throughout the sacred rhythms of the liturgical calendar. Drawing from his deep pastoral experience and theological insight, Gutiérre...
Cover of future church of 140 BCE, The

future church of 140 BCE, The

Bernard J. Lee

1995 • 218p

In this thought-provoking exploration of faith and community, Bernard J. Lee draws a striking parallel between ancient Jewish transformation and contemporary Catholic evolution. The author examines how educated Jewish laypeople sparked a revolutionar...