Republican Dissent among Irish Jesuits during the Civil War, 1922–23

Abstract

Republican Dissent among Irish Jesuits during the Civil War, 1922–23 Olivia Frehill In the historiography of the Catholic church during the Irish Civil War (June 1922–May 1923), minimal attention has been devoted to the attitudes of religious orders. Members of religious orders constitute a presence in the church which is distinct not just from bishops but also from the general body of the secular clergy. Unlike the secular clergy, who were an inextricable part of their local communities and directly accountable to the bishops, each religious order itself represented a separate community, with its own chain of command. According to the Hobbesian view, when state authority loosens, human divisiveness comes to the fore. As Stathis N Kalyvas argues, in studying the phenomenon of civil war, we must look beyond broadly defined actors such as the ‘Catholic church’ and look at intra-community dynamics.1 The religious did not have the same degree of power to mould public opinion within localities as secular clergy, since their views were not expounded through weekly sermons. Yet, they could be highly influential in other ways. The Society of Jesus represents an intriguing example, given in particular its pre-eminence in middle class education. This essay will ask ‘what was the officialattitudetowardstheCivilWarwithintheorderinIreland?’Itwillassess the republican inclinations of seven more or less dissenting Jesuits, using their personal files and relevant material unearthed through an examination of the papers of Clongowes Wood College, Co. Kildare; Belvedere College, Dublin; Mungret College, Co. Limerick; St. Stanislaus College, ‘Tullabeg’ as it was known in Jesuit circles, in Co. Offaly; St Ignatius’ College, Galway and Crescent College, Limerick. The essay will seek to reveal something about the nature of Jesuit dissent and how superiors viewed and responded to resistance to the postion they had taken in the name of the body as a whole. In the final section of this essay, the Jesuit experience will be placed in context by a brief comparison with that of the Capuchins, the Columban Fathers and the Sisters of Mercy. Studies • volume 107 • number 425 57 The official Jesuit position Ascertaining the official position of the Society during the Civil War is critical. The official position can be taken to mean the majority position promoted by superiors. The purpose of uncovering this is not to generalise about members’ views but rather to establish the underlying political tone. A clear divergence exists in the historiography between Louis McRedmond and Brian Heffernan on the issue of Jesuit political leanings. McRedmond asserts that the Jesuits fostered ‘holy indifference’ and remained ‘serenely above’ political tensions.2 Such an argument oversimplifies the matter and tends to ignore the realities of human nature. In contrast, Heffernan, based on his research into the 1919–21 period, offers a more nuanced account.3 He asserts that while a large proportion of Jesuits were pro-Home Rule, there was a range of conflicting views within the order, which required management.4 To protect the order’s reputation, the policy adhered to was ensuring that such discord as existed should remain private. More importantly, at an official level a policy of neutrality prevailed.5 How did this official position evolve throughout the Civil War? At the top of the Jesuit hierarchy, a certain ambiguity emerged in the approach taken by the Polish Superior General, Fr Wlodimir Ledochowski SJ (1866–1942), to Irish Jesuit responses to the civil war in their country. This is evident from some incomplete correspondence between him and the Irish Provincial, Fr John Fahy SJ (1874–1958).6 The Irish Jesuits began by asking if they could act as chaplains in the Civil War.7 Arguably, the very fact that they asked indicates a bias toward the Free State, since the feeling at an earlier meeting of bishops was that Anti-Treaty-ites were not to be given chaplains.8 Alternatively, the request may simply be explained by the fact that Irish Jesuits had served as chaplains in the First World War and wished to continue in this role.9 The response from Rome was that it would be indiscreet to do so; they should abstain from politics but keep the spirit of Christ involved.10 A further telegram simply...