BURKE, JOHN J.

Editor, founder of the National Catholic War Council; b. New York City, June 6, 1875; d. New York City, Oct. 30, 1936. Burke was educated in public schools and at St. Francis Xavier High School and College in New York. He was ordained June 9, 1899, after completing seminary studies at Catholic University; and he received a licentiate in sacred theology two years later. Appointed assistant editor of the Catholic World in 1903 and editor in September 1904, he retained the editorship until 1922. While editor, he directed the Catholic Publication Society, now called Paulist Press, and was a founder of the Catholic Press Association (1911) and consultor of the Paulist Fathers (1909–19).

When the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, Burke presented to Cardinal John Farley of New York a detailed plan for a central controlling agency to unify all Catholic war activities, especially those designed to serve men in uniform. With the approval of Cardinal James Gibbons, dean of the hierarchy, the plan was implemented in an organization called the National Catholic War Council, with Burke as director. He founded The Chaplains' Aid Association (June 1917) and became chairman of the trifaith Committee of Six to advise the Secretary of War on religious concerns (1917–22). At the end of the war, the National Catholic War Council was formed (September 1919) into the National Catholic Welfare Council ("Council" later becoming "Conference," abbreviated NCWC). He was often called the founder of the NCWC and was praised for that work by Archbishop Hanna, chairman of its administrative board. Burke was general secretary to the administrative board from 1919 until his death.

With William Kerby he cofounded the National Catholic School for Social Service, which opened in Washington, DC, on Nov. 4, 1921. In 1928 he represented the Holy See on two trips to Mexico, working closely with American ambassador Dwight Morrow to secure a modus vivendi that gave some measure of relief to the persecuted Church in that country. The Congregation of Seminaries and Universities awarded him an honorary doctorate in sacred theology (1927), and he was invested as domestic prelate (Sept. 21, 1936). His published works include translations of Abbe Anger's Doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ (1931), J. Duperray's Christ in the Christian Life (1927), and Henry Perroy's A Great and Humble Soul (1933).

Bibliography: w. j. kenney, CSP, "The Work of Father John J. Burke, C.S.P. (1917–1922)," unpublished M.A. dissertation, St. Paul's College (Washington, DC 1951). l. r. lawler, Full Circle (Washington, DC 1951). e. d. whitley, CSP, "Father John J. Burke, C.S.P. (1927–1929)," unpublished M.A. dissertation (Washington, DC 1951). Catholic Action, memorial issue (Washington, DC Dec. 15, 1936).

[j. b. sheerin]