Protesting the “Condonation of Savagery”: American Catholics and Non-Involvement in the Spanish Civil War

There was a confluence of factors that impeded U.S. support for the Loyalists during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), particularly that America’s European allies adopted non-involvement. Using contemporary newspapers, government documents, letters to Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Department of State, and a number of Catholic organization archives, this study advances a further reason American aid was hindered. This paper investigates the extent of American Catholic protests against any form of U.S. involvement in the Spanish Civil War. It argues that Catholics were central to the domestic considerations to retain the non-involvement policy regarding the war. Due to the ardent concern with the reported persecution of Catholics in Spain, Catholic organizations, press, clergy, and politicians protested any involvement that would support the Loyalists. These protests occurred at all levels of American society. Within the press, priests denounced pro-Loyalist Protestant ministers in the New York Times. In government, Catholic politicians denounced fundraising for the Loyalists while other Catholics formed committees and sent letters to Roosevelt opposing reforms to neutrality legislation. Among the public, Catholics impeded the non-governmental fundraising of the North American Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy by protesting and censuring its speakers and events.Bachelor of Art