I'm thrilled to announce that, following many requests from people seeking an audio version of my biography of Father Edward Dowling, SJ, Father Ed: The Story of Bill W.'s Spiritual Sponsor, Orbis Books has released Father Ed on Audible.
The reader is my longtime friend Kevin O'Brien, an actor who has recorded over one hundred audiobooks. He is from Dowling's hometown of St. Louis, which adds an air of authenticity—starting with the pronunciation of Father Ed's home neighborhood of Baden (with a long "a"). I couldn't be more pleased with this release, which gives sight-impaired people and all audiobook lovers a chance to learn how Father Ed, through his friendship with Bill W., helped shape the spirituality behind the Twelve Steps.
In researching my biography of Father Louis J. Twomey, SJ, I've discovered a fascinating connection between that great Southern Jesuit (who was the first Catholic ally of Martin Luther King Jr.) and Bob Dylan. I invite you to read all about it on my Substack, Matters Twomey.
Screenshot of reporter Mark Irons's interview with me on "EWTN News In Depth"
On August 30, 2024, EWTN News reporter Mark Irons wrote me asking for an interview, which I granted. But when Irons edited the interview for airing, he added a statement that defamed me, attacking my reputation as a Catholic theologian. I have tried to get the network to run a retraction and apology, but it has refused. I also asked Bishop Steven J. Raica of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, where the network is located, to mediate and he refused. Please read and share my story about the defamation, published today by Where Peter Is. Thank you and God bless you.
Just a quick, happy note to say thanks to you who check in on The Dawn Patrol, and to let you know that I'm continuing to post regular updates on my work on my next book, A Priest in Good Trouble, on my Substack, Matters Twomey.
Last Sunday—which coincidentally was the birthday of my previous biographical subject, Father Edward Dowling, S.J.—I awoke to the wonderful news that my Kickstarter for my next biography was fully funded. Thanks to nearly ninety backers who believe in the project, I now have the means to devote myself fully for the next five months to writing the life story that I have been researching for more than a year: A Priest in Good Trouble: Father Louis J. Twomey, S.J.’s Battle for Human Dignity with MLK in the Deep South.
If you haven't backed the Kickstarter, there is still time to chip in to help fulfill my stretch goal, which will fund my hiring a professional to create the index for A Priest in Good Trouble (as my publisher, like most publishers today, requires the author to provide the index). But, in any case, I'm grateful and relieved to have my living expenses covered as I tell the story of the Jesuit priest who was the first Catholic ally of Martin Luther King Jr.
This week also brought several new media items related to my Father Twomey research:
— My video interview on Father Twomey and my own journey for Thomas Howes and James McGill Patterson's podcast Why Postliberalism Failed (above). It was a great pleasure speaking with Dr. Howes and Dr. Patterson, whose work promoting democratic principles and countering harmful ideologies is in many ways a modern-day continuation of Father Twomey's mission. They not only gave me the opportunity to speak about Twomey's work but also asked me about my personal journey. Because I felt comfortable with them and appreciated their own openness, I ended up sharing more of my inner life than I normally share in interviews. So, even if you've heard me speak about my life and views before, I don't think you've ever heard the exact things I share in this interview.
— My video interview with Tom Neal for his "Sharing the Faith" podcast. This too was a warm and highly enjoyable conversation. Tom and I have known each other for many years, and I greatly admire his work as a layman who has dedicated much of his life to the formation of candidates for the priesthood. In the interview, I appreciated his asking me about my Father Dowling biography as well as my Father Twomey research.
My friend Stefan Gigacz of Cardijn Research, who was passing through Washington on his way to the Peter Maurin Conference in Chicago, snapped this photo of me last Tuesday, on my 56th birthday. Earlier that day, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and my spiritual director, I renewed my dedication of my celibacy to the Sacred Heart, which is like a renewal of marriage vows, only to God. All of my Kickstarter backers were in my prayers, as well as all my family, friends, spiritual family, and readers of my writings.
I enter my 57th year full of hope and gratitude for being able to tell the story of Father Twomey's life and achievements. Thank you for your part in that. God bless you!
My Kickstarter for A Priest in Good Trouble, the biography I am writing of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Jesuit ally Father Louis J. Twomey, has now been running for twenty-four days, with sixteen days to go. It is currently just under 50 percent funded, which means that, unless a significant number of new people choose to back it, it will fail. Kickstarter is all or nothing, because it's about enabling creative people to complete projects, and I can only complete my Father Twomey biography if it's fully funded.
I am grateful to the fifty-eight backers thus far who have shown me that they agree that Father Twomey's story is worth telling. If you would like to see me continue my work as a biographer of Jesuits who are models for the priesthood and for pastoral engagement with the modern world, I hope you'll visit my Kickstarter, pray for its success, and support it if you are able. Thank you and God bless you.
