William K. Leahy was born May 27, 1935 in Philadelphia to John and Geraldine Leahy. Bill, as he was affectionately known, was a deeply religious man and devout Catholic at the time he, while still a high school sophomore, entered St. Charles Seminary in 1951. A brilliant student, Leahy, shortly after graduating from the seminary, was sent to study scripture in Rome, where he was ordained in 1959. Leahy had a personal meeting with Pope John XXIII about the study of scripture and was given warning about straying from Church doctrine.
For the next three years, Leahy worked as a translator for the American Secretariat for the Council. Shortly before the Council was held, he earned his doctorate from the Dominican University in Theology. At the Council, his ability to transcribe the daily Council speeches from Latin to English by the close of the day earned him recognition as a brilliant translator. The Council also inspired Leahy's idealism and so he became a dedicated believer in the liberal cause of the Church both during and after the Council.
The end of the Council was only the beginning for Leahy, who developed a working relationship with other progressive theologians. In 1965, he was assigned to St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia, yet he was fired in 1966 for teaching his progressive beliefs, which included his support for a married clergy and contraception. He remained a priest and after a few other small assignments, he was defrocked from the priesthood.
Leahy's life thereafter was consumed by his alcoholism until he overcame it in 1975. Shortly after this time, he began reaching out to the poor and the underprivileged. His first position was as a high-level administrator at a hospital that he soon quit so he could work directly with the poor. He spent the last years of his life reaching out and ministering to the homeless, addicts, people with AIDS, and gays and lesbians. He was also involved in several progressive organizations such as the Federation of Christian Ministers, where he served a term as president. He also served as president of CORPUS, an organization that advocated for married priests. Lastly, he was active in the organization of Call to Action, which called for renewal and was made up of excommunicated Catholics.
A monumental part of Leahy's later life was the adoption of son David, whom he took in while still teaching at St. Charles Seminary. William K. Leahy remained in Philadelphia until his death following a minor illness on January 9, 1999.
The William K. Leahy Papers consist of seven series. The first series contains Latin copies of speeches made by the bishops at the Second Vatican Council. Most of these speeches include English translation notes that Leahy made before making full English translations of all Council speeches. Also included in this series are his personal notebooks and journals from the Council. The second series contains written English statements from the Bishops of the Council. Most of these also include personal notes made by Leahy on the doctrine that the Bishops were discussing in their statements. There are also multiple copies of released statements; the original statements include notes Leahy's notes made on the document.
The third series contains English news releases from the council. Most of these news releases were made from Leahy's translations of the Council speeches. These news releases are titled as "Council Digest" and include releases for the American delegation. There are also news releases included, in English, published for the members of the Council. The fourth series is a two-box collection of Latin Council pamphlets that Leahy collected. Most of these pamphlets are doctrinal statements that were released by the Council.
The fifth series is a collection of Italian and French newspapers concerning the events of the Council. Most of the French newspapers discuss the French delegation during the Council, as well as French Church politics. The Italian newspapers, all copies from the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, discuss Council politics and news from the papacies of John XXIII and Paul VI. The sixth series includes American newspapers concerning the council and the Papacy. There is also a large collection of The National Catholic Reporter, which includes social issues from the late 1960s and early 1970s. These issues include contraception, married priests, and the peace movement during the Vietnam War. The seventh series contains the contents of a scrapbook made by Leahy's sister upon his death. The scrapbook includes personal photos from his time in Rome, photos of his family, newspaper clippings, and his eulogy.
Lastly, the eighth series is a collection of Leahy's periodicals and personal books. The periodicals included in this collection are copies of Time and Newsweek discussing the council and the Papacies of John XXIII and Paul VI. The other set of periodicals are copies of America Magazine, which discusses various social justice issues of the mid-1960s. The books in this series includes four books on the Council, one of them of English translations of all speeches given at the council that was written by Leahy, and a Latin to English dictionary. Overall, these papers contain a rich collection of speeches and statements released from the Council, as well as publications about the Council and various activist movements of the 1960s.
The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities consists of three series:
None
At the American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives:
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
This collection was given to CUA Archives by William Leahy's sister Tess Tighe on April 9, 2003 and was accessioned by William John Shepherd the same day.
Processing completed in 2012 by Raymond Moore. EAD markup completed in 2012 by Raymond Moore. Revised in 2018 by Laurel Howard and W. J. Shepherd.
This series contains Latin copies of the speeches made by Bishops at the Council. There are also translation notes made by Leahy for his complete English copy of the speeches. Lastly, there are Leahy's personal notebooks of translation notes as well as his personal diary from the Council.
Bishop's speeches from October 22-27
Bishop's speeches from November 9-10
Bishop's speeches from November 12
Bishop's speeches from November 16
November 17-19
Bishop's speeches November 24-December 7
Released from British Cardinals
Released from the British Cardinals
All in Latin
All in Latin
News releases in English
News releases in English
News releases in English
Released by the Bishops October 1-9
Released by the Bishops October 15-25
Released by the Bishops October 29-November 18
Released by the Bishops November 19-26
Released by the Bishops November 28-December 2
Eight handwritten notebooks
Correspondence with other scholars at the Council
Personal notes taken on the Speeches from the Council
Bishop's speeches on reforming the liturgy
Released from the Bishops
Released from the Bishops
As well as reference notes
Also includes correspondence and newspaper clippings related to the speeches
Includes copies of the speeches
This series contains Latin and English statements made by the Bishops on various doctrinal issues and Church policy. This includes policies on education, religious freedom, the laity, and marriage.
Includes correspondence
Also a statement on religious freedom
Other Bishops' responses on religious freedom
Joint statement on the formation of the Council
Correspondence on the Bishops' statements
Including Latin publication of the statements
This series contains news releases from the Council titled "Council Digest," an overview of speeches and statements declared during the Council. These English news releases used the translations of speeches provided by Leahy, and these materials contain his personal notes from the releases.
Copies of the news releases
Vatican news releases
Vatican news releases
Original and secondary copies
all typed
Typed notes and handwritten
Includes a list of every Bishop that released a statement during the council
French pamphlet, 11 by 17, of messages released from the French Bishops
This series contains pamphlets released every year from the Second Vatican Council of doctrinal and liturgical reforms. The series contains multiple copies of these Latin pamphlets.
Two copies
Patrum Qui Partem Habuerunt In Commissionibus Praeparatoris Concilii
Ten editions
de quibus disceptabitur in Concilii sessionibus, two copies
Glossy pamphlet
Water damaged
three copies
De Divina Revelatione
Three editions
Three copies
Three copies
Statement on Non-Christians
On Seminaries
Three Copies
Statement on Catholic Schools
This series contains Italian and French newspapers. The Vatican newspaper is L' Osservatore Romano, and covered the Vatican II council as well as Papal politics for Pope John XXIII and Paul VI. The French newspaper La Croix is about the French delegation to the Second Vatican Council, and other French political issues.
Opening of the Council, color edition
John XXIII's signing of the "Peace on Earth" encyclical
Pope Paul VI meets with dignitaries
November 16th edition
November 17th Edition
November 18-19th Edition
November 20th Edition
November 21 Edition
November 22nd Edition
November 23rd Edition
November 24th Edition
November 25-26 Edition
November 27th Edition
November 28th Edition
November 29th Edition
November 30th Edition
December 1st Edition
December 2-3rd Edition
December 4th Edition
December 6th Edition
December 7th Edition
December 8th Edition
December 9-10th Edition
December 12th Edition
December 13th Edition
December 14th Edition
December 18th Edition
December 19th Edition
December 20th Edition
December 21st Edition
December 22nd Edition
December 23-24th Edition
December 25th Edition
December 27-28th Edition
December 29th Edition
December 30-31st Edition
November 19-20 Edition
November 21st Edition
November 22nd Edition
November 23rd Edition
November 24th Edition
November 25th Edition
November 26-27th Edition
November 28th Edition
November 29th Edition
November 30th Edition
December 1st Edition
December 2nd Edition
December 3-4 Edition
December 5th Edition
December 6th Edition
December 7th Edition
December 3rd Edition
December 10-11 Edition
December 12th Edition
December 13th Edition
December 14th Edition
December 15th Edition
December 16th Edition
December 17-18 Edition
December 19th Edition
December 20th Edition
December 21st Edition
December 22nd Edition
December 23rd Edition
November 6th Edition
November 7th Edition
November 8th Edition
November 9th Edition
November 10th Edition
November 11-12th Edition
November 13th Edition
November 14th Edition
November 15th Edition
September 29th Edition
October 1st Edition
October 2nd Edition
October 3rd Edition, two copies
October 4th Edition
October 5th Edition
October 6th Edition
October 7-8 Edition
October 9th Edition
October 10th Edition
October 11th Edition
October 12th Edition
October 13th Edition
October 14-15 Edition
October 16th Edition
October 17th Edition
October 18th Edition
October 19th Edition
October 20th Edition
October 21-22nd Edition
October 23rd Edition
October 24th Edition
October 25th Edition
October 26th Edition
October 27th Edition
October 28-29th Edition
October 30th Edition
October 31st Edition
November 1st Edition
November 2-3 Edition
November 4-5th Edition
September 13th Edition
September 16th Edition
December 9-10 Edition, closing of the Council
April 15th Edition
September 6 Edition
September 7th 1962
September 8th Edition, Meeting with Vice President Lyndon Johnson
September 9th Edition
September 10-11 Edition, African delegation to meet Pope John XXIII
September 12th Edition
September 13th Edition
September 14th Edition
September 15th Edition
September 16th Edition
September 17-18th Edition
September 19th Edition
September 20th Edition
September 21st Edition
September 22nd Edition
September 23rd Edition
September 24-25th Edition
September 26th Edition
September 27th Edition
September 28th Edition
September 29th Edition
September 30th Edition
October 1-2nd Edition
October 3rd Edition
October 4th Edition
October 5th Edition
October 6th Edition
October 7th Edition, John XXIII meeting with President of Republic of Senegal
October 8-9th Edition
October 10th Edition
October 11th Edition
October 11th Evening Edition
October 12th Edition
October 13th Edition
October 14th Edition
October 15-16th Edition
October 17th Edition
October 18th Edition
October 19th Edition
October 20th Edition
October 21st Edition, full picture special from the council
October 21st Edition
October 22-23rd Edition
October 24th Edition
October 25th Edition
October 26th Edition
October 27th Edition
October 28th Edition
October 29-30 Edition
October 31st Edition
November 1st Edition
November 4th Edition
November 5-6 Edition
November 7th Edition
November 8th Edition
November 10th Edition
November 11th Edition
November 12-13th Edition
November 14th Edition
November 15th Edition
November 16th Edition
November 17th Edition
November 18th Edition
October 3rd Edition, meeting of Italian president and Somalian President
October 16th Edition
October 2nd Edition
October 4th Edition, de Gaulle meeting with Prince Felix of Luxembourg
October 9th Edition
October 10th Edition
October 14th Edition
October 19th Edition
October 25th Edition
October 29th Edition
November 8th Edition
November 13th Edition
November 20th Edition
November 22nd Edition, Meeting with De Gaulle and Adenauer
April 19th Edition, Pope Paul VI picture exposé of the Council
This series contains copies of the American Catholic Newspaper "The Register" and a binder of clippings and pictures of William Leahy. There are also some other diocesan newspapers included in this series. The copies of The Register contain information on the many social issues of the Catholic Church in America during the 1960's and the early 1970's. The issues included in these papers include the Civil Rights Movement, urban reform, poverty, and contraception.
October 6th edition, main article on Pope Paul VI's declaration that the Vatican is a "Fountain of Progress"
November 10th edition on Communist suppression of religion in Eastern Europe
October 20th edition
November 3rd Edition and report on Catholic Schools
July 25th Edition - Thomas A. Donnellan installed as Archbishop of Atlanta
August 2nd Edition, "California Catholics Challenge Abortion"
June 28th Edition, Philadelphia clerics discuss racial strife
November 24th Edition, bishops take a stand against the War in Vietnam
September 12th Edition, excerpt from Pope Paul VI's encyclical on the Holy Eucharist
November 29th edition
December 13th edition on the funeral of Cardinal Francis Spellman of New York
December 20th edition
January 17th edition on the Roman Curia shakeup
October 27th edition on the aftermath of the Selma March
January 24th Edition
January 31st edition on missionary priests assisting Guatemalan guerrillas
February 7th Edition on Baltimore Cardinal Lawrence Shehen's visit to local parochial schools
February 21st edition on Chicago priest backs rioters
February 21st edition
March 13th edition on Archbishop Terence J. Cooke's installation to replace Cardinal Spellman
March 27th edition on Church opposition to the Vietnam War and Catholic youth campaigning for Eugene McCarthy.
May 15th edition on poverty report conducted by the Church
June 12th edition of remembrance on the assassination of Robert Kennedy
June 19th edition on Pope Paul VI's fifth anniversary as Pope
June 26th edition on radical protesters in comparison to five years earlier
July 3rd Edition on Washington DC poverty protest breakup
July 10th edition on laity calling for more power within the Church
July 17th edition on debate of Christians role in the world
September 4th edition on reaction to the Democratic Convention riot
September 11th edition on Catholic University changes in administration
October 2nd edition on Bishops reaction to encyclicals
October 16th edition on two priests conviction for stealing draft cards
October 23rd edition on keeping the newspaper Catholic after several bishops petitioned to have the name dropped.
October 30th edition on protesters request for Archbishop Lucey's ouster
November 27th edition on lawsuit for food rights for the poor
December 4th edition
December 11th edition on San Francisco State protests
January 1st edition on Pope Paul VI's visit to Brazil
January 8th edition on Rev. Charles Curran investigation
January 15th edition on Bishop's closer ties to Rome
January 22nd edition
January 29th edition on Black Catholics petition to US Bishops
February 12th edition
February 19th edition on Malcolm X's image improving
February 26th edition on Notre Dame president's call for expulsion for any protesters
March 5th edition on President Nixon's calls for order on college campuses
March 12th edition on military prisoners for soldiers protesting the War in Vietnam
March 19th edition on James Earl Ray's trial for Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination
March 26th edition
August 20th edition on Bishop James P. Shannon's resignation and marriage
August 27th edition on Irish Troubles
September 10th edition on AWOL Air Force soldier seeking refuge from a Honolulu Church
September 24th edition
October 1st edition on Chicago trial for instigators of the 1968 Democratic Convention riot
October 1st special fall report on oppression
October 8th edition on Rev. James Groppi's arrest for protesting with welfare mothers in the Wisconsin state assembly
October 15th edition
October 29th edition on priest shortage
November 5th edition on Paul VI's synod
November 12th edition on Nixon's Vietnam speech
November 19th edition on meeting of bishops
November 26th edition on current Vietnam War protests
December 3rd edition Draft board raids up
December 10th edition, plan of review on all religious texts
December 17th edition
December 17th edition for Christmas
December 24th edition on Christmas
January 7th edition on Pope's plea for peace in Vietnam
January 21st edition on Pope's warning to Dutch Bishops
January 28th edition on Dutch bishops publicly backing optional celibacy
February 4th edition on CUA controversy on appointing a new dean of Theology
February 18 edition on middle class Catholics
February 25th edition on Chicago Seven riot
March 4th edition on Nixon praising Catholic Schools
March 11th edition on Private Schools growing popularity due to busing
March 18th edition on the Peace Corps
March 25th edition
April 1st edition on contraceptive warning from FDA based on Church study
June 19th edition on National Council of Churches being attacked by feminists
June 12th edition on North American College updates
June 5th edition on the Silent Majority
May 29th edition on Brazilian torture since 1964 coup
May 22nd edition on South Vietnam peace advocates
May 15th edition of a message to President Nixon to end the war in Vietnam
May 8th edition on Mixed Marriages and the Pope's response
May 1st on Rev. Daniel Berrigan run from the authorities
April 24th edition on Washington DC priests calling to a fair hearing after nineteen priests were suspended for their support for contraception.
April 17th report on ex-priests and nuns who are entering the workforce
April 10th edition on Dick Gregory and his work with youth
This series is a scrapbook compiled by Leahy's sister after his death and contains photos from Leahy's time in Rome as a seminarian, as well as photos of his family. There are also newspaper clippings from his time as a priest and his obituary. Lastly, there are also several eulogies that were read at his memorial service.
Formally in a binder that was compiled by Leahy's sister upon his death. This binder contains personal photographs, clippings and obituaries on Leahy
This particular series contains periodicals William Leahy collected during the 1960s-1970s. Most of these magazines are on the Vatican II council as well as social issues concerning the Church during this time period. Also, there are books that Leahy wrote, as well as his Latin Dictionary.
June Edition political developments
May edition on clerical celibacy
January edition on the Vatican Council and "a new view of the Church"
February edition on "The Role of the Bishop and the Church" following the Vatican Council
July edition on the upcoming third session of the Vatican Council
August edition on liturgical reform
September-October edition on Pope Paul VI's address to the cardinals
November edition on the "Nature and Mission of the Pastors of the Church"
December edition on the debate on religious freedom, from the council
Index of Vatican II documents published for that year
January edition, council debate on Jews and Non-Christians
February edition, the beginning of the third session of the council
March edition on the Theology of the Episcopate from Trent to Vatican I
April edition on Christian morality
May edition on the Church around the world
June edition on poverty
July edition on the future of the Church
August edition about the Church around the world
September-October edition on the fourth session of the council
November edition on a Protestant evaluation of the Vatican Council
December edition on the ending of the council and a review from the American Delegation
January edition, "The Decree on the Bishops"
February edition on the Council's decree on the laity
April edition, reports from around the world on current church issues
May edition, an assessment of Vatican II
June edition on new liturgical music
July edition on African secularism
August edition on the Church in Communist countries
September-October edition on Catholic Family Planning
October edition, Cardinal Ritter's article on Ecumenism
August 1st edition, "The Church and the Negro"
August 22nd edition on modern churches
August 29th edition on "Newman and a New Era"
September 5th edition, reflection on the Council
January 7th edition on the "Bankruptcy of the Liberals"
Pope John XXIII memorial magazine
October edition on the opening of the Council
September edition on the new liturgy
September edition on the Council and Vietnam
January 4th edition John XXIII named Man of the Year
November 26th edition on the ending of the Vatican Council
Time Life Book commemorating Pope Paul VI's visit to the US
October 13th edition on the best books about the church
March 30th edition, article about the importance of truth
Clipping from America Magazine from June 22 by Raymond Etteldorf
June 15th edition on the death of Pope John XXIII
December 7th edition
December 14th edition a reflection around the world after JFK's assassination
December 21-23 edition on the Christmas season
February 22 edition, on business responsibility
February 29 edition, the future of the liturgy
March 7th edition on Pluralism
April 25th edition, "Who Was Shakespeare"
May 9th edition on "The Cult of Culture"
June 13th edition, Council speeches of Vatican II
June 27th edition
July 4th edition on history of Catholics in America
July 11th edition, on how to teach Religion in school
July 18th edition on economic growth and is it enough for the poor
August 1st edition
August 15th edition, "The School Whose Is It"
August 22nd edition on the liturgy
September 12th edition on the third session of Vatican II
September 19th edition of Catholics in Higher Education
September 26th edition, study on Latin America
October 3rd edition "Marguerite Higgins on Vietnam"
October 10th edition, "Boundaries, Buses and School Boards"
October 17th edition, "A New Dimension in the Church" on modern American Catholicism
August 28th edition, "One World, One Word"
September 25th edition, on education
November 6th edition on the "Parish of the Future"
November 13th edition, "Let's Give Shared Time a Try"
December 4th edition, "US Representative at the Vatican"
December 11th edition on the Legion of Decency with a modern outlook
January 1st edition on modern religious life
January 8th edition on the condition of American cities
January 15th edition on Latin America's role in Church politics
January 22nd edition, study on problems with St. John's University
January 29th edition on modern immigration following the 1965 Immigration Act
Newspaper and magazine clippings related to the Second Vatican Council that Leahy collected
Book released by the council, in English with pictures. This book was distributed to the American delegation.
Edited by William K. Leahy and Anthony T. Massimini
Book commemorating Pope Paul VI's visit to India, includes speeches and addresses in English, Latin, and Italian
A book distributed to the Council Priests during the second session of the Council, completely in Latin
Written by Carmel McEnroy
A book on the mission of the North American College