Seventy-five years ago, during the Second World War, Fr. George Zabelka was the Catholic chaplain for the 509th composite group, the group that dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In the mid-1970's, Fr. Zabelka repented for the role he played in the Second World War and became a public advocate of Christian nonviolence. No Catholic publication in the late '70s was interested in publishing the story of his conversion. Even after his story became internationally known in the '80s and a documentary was made, no American t.v. station, either Catholic or secular, was interested in televising it. This podcast tells the story of George Zabelka from the perspective of his friend, Fr. Emmanuel Charles McCarthy. Hear about the rocky start to their relationship, George's virtues of faithfulness and courage, their lunch with Charlie Sweeney (the Catholic who dropped the bomb on Nagasaki), and some of the fruits that came from Fr. Zabelka's work towards the end of his life. Note: Parts 1, 3, and 5 focus on George. Parts 2 and 4 digress but provide helpful context and more food for thought.
Part 1 0:00 - 1:14:55
Part 2 1:14:56 - 1:39:30
Part 3 1:39:31 - 2:09:47
Part 4 2:09:48 - 2:43:47
Part 5 2:43:48 - end
To further explore this topic, the following are recommended:
"Blessing the Bombs," article by George Zabelka
"A Military Chaplain Repents," interview by Fr. McCarthy (originally published in Sojourners)
"The Reluctant Prophet" documentary (1989)
"August 9," booklet by Fr. McCarthy
"Conversation on Christian Nonviolence" with Fr. George Zabelka, Fr. McCarthy, and Mairead Corrigan McGuire
"The Church a Fold of Lambs," talk given in "Behold the Lamb" by Fr. McCarthy
"The Miracle of Edith Stein," Episode 13 of the CAM podcast
Find Fr. McCarthy and "Behold the Lamb" here:
www.emmanuelcharlesmccarthy.org
www.centerforchristiannonviolence.org
Find CAM here:
Find us at : www.catholicsagainstmilitarism.com
Find our podcast/RSS feed: http://www.buzzsprout.com/296171
Find CAM here:
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