Catholic Human Rights Council

Biography / Administrative History

The Catholic Human Relations Council (CHRC) was founded in Los Angeles in 1963 and officially incorporated in January 1964, with the purpose--according to its constitution--to "promote better relations among the people of this community through the practical application of the Christian principles of charity and justice, as expressed by the Catholic bishops of the United States in their joint statements of 1943, 1958, and 1963, and relevant papal encyclicals."

The CHRC was also part of the National Catholic Conference on Inter-Racial Justice. Its first president was Emil J. Seliga, and Horace Williams and William Fitzgerald, Loyola University political science professor, were among its first members (which numbered around 150 persons). Although a Catholic organization, membership was open to non-Catholics as well. An initial major activity was the organization's work against Proposition 14, an initiative on the California ballot spearheaded by California realtors to repeal California's fair housing act, the Rumford Act. This included participation in meetings and demonstrations against the proposition, as well as educational outreach to Catholic churches and officials. In addition, the CHRC worked for school integration in Los Angeles and lobbied against legislation considered harmful to civil rights in California. The CHRC was also a strong supporter of Cesar Chavez and the United Farmworkers' strike against the owners of vineyards in California. In short, the Catholic Human Relations Council participated in some of the major issues of the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Besides political activities, the CHRC provided practical assistance in the form of money and referral services to indigent persons. By 1966 its work in civil rights was respected enough to receive from the Community Relations Conference of Southern California an award for "distinguished achievements dedicated to the ideals of democracy and the advance of unity." To publicize its work and ideals the CHRC had its own newsletter, The Witness, that, besides articulating the CHRC's philosophy, recorded the activities of Roman Catholic social activism in general in southern California. By 1967, Horace Williams had succeeded Emil Seliga as president of the CHRC. Williams' work for the CHRC, as well as for other Catholic organizations, resulted in his being made a Knight of St. Gregory, an honor bestowed on lay Catholics only by the pope.

Chronology

• 1963: The Catholic Human Relations Council (CHRC) was founded in Los Angeles.
• 1963: CHRC works against Proposition 14
• 1964: CHRC officially incorporated.
• 1966: Presented award by the Community Relations Conference of Southern California
• 1967: Horace Williams succeeds Emil Seliga as president in 1967

From the guide to the Catholic Human Relations Council Collection, 1958-1992, 1969-1971, (Loyola Marymount University. Library. Department of Archives and Special Collections.)