As a vehicle for the promotion of Christian principles of charity and justice between people of varied races, the Catholic Interracial Council (CIC) was founded in New York City in 1934. Its founder, Fr. John LaFarge, built the organization into a national system known as the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice (NCCIJ), with a membership of 60 councils by the early sixties. The Pittsburgh chapter was established in 1956, sending representatives to the first national convention at St. Louis in August, 1960. A 1964 statement of goals indicates that between 1956 and 1964 some of the activities had begun to languish, such as the housing committee, executive committee, and newsletter. This had been a period when most activity was centered within the Catholic community. After 1964, the organization was revamped; the constitution amendment of 1966 opened membership and offices to non-Catholics. Although it maintained loose ties with the church, it was not an official organ and on many occasions acted as a critic. Much of the CIC work was done by letter and use of handbills. In many cases some of its members of their own volition would participate in the picketing and demonstrations of other organizations. The exception to this was the CIC attempts to get local representation on hospital boards. In this connection, they sponsored their own picket of St. Francis and Mercy Hospitals. By the 1970s the NCCIJ had dwindled to six active chapters, but Pittsburgh's was one of them, with a membership of 231. The seventies saw the group active in the boycott of Iron City beer, the A & P supermarket, and Union National Bank in the interest of integrated labor. The integration of schools, public and private, became a big issue. Through the CIC's direct action the Catholic Cemeteries Association was integrated; public attention was drawn to the private segregated clubs; and the Eagles withdrew its white only membership requirement at the national level. As a result of its efforts with other organizations, Iron City Beer Co. signed a new contract allowing for more hiring of non-white employees, as did Union National Bank, A & P, and downtown department stores. Several active members of the CIC were Rev. Donald W. McIllvane, Molly Rush and Larry Kessler. These people were active in many Civil Rights activities of this period. Larry Kessler was director of the Thomas Merton Peace and Justice Center.
From the description of Records of the Catholic Interracial Council of Pittsburgh, 1960-1977. (University of Pittsburgh). WorldCat record id: 30262864
