Carl Hensler

Monsignor Carl Peter Hensler (November 7, 1898 – November 1984) was an American Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.[1] Nicknamed "the Labor Priest" in recognition of the help and support he gave to the Steel Workers union during his early career,[2] he also became a founding member of the Catholic Radical Alliance. Describing the alliance in 1937, Hensler said:[3]

"We contend that the relationship between Catholicism and Capitalism is one of fundamental opposition, which cannot be removed unless the ax of reform is laid to the very roots."

Monsignor Carl P. Hensler
Born
Carl Peter Hensler

November 7, 1898
Carnegie, Pennsylvania
DiedNovember 21, 1984
North Hills Passavant Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican
EducationSt. Vincent's Seminary, North American College
OccupationPriest
EmployerRoman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
Known forCatholic Radical Alliance
TitleMonsignor
Parent(s)Charles P. Hensler, Margaret E. Klein
RelativesClara Hensler (sister; aka Sister Estelle), Paul Joseph Hensler (brother), Cecilia Hensler Johnson (sister), John Francis Hensler (brother), Mildred Hensler Graham (sister), Francis Gerard Hensler (brother), Mary Hensler (cousin)

During the 1950s, he was assigned as pastor of St. George's Catholic Church,[4] and was also appointed director of the Institute of Adult Education, which was sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.[5]

Formative years

Born in Carnegie, Pennsylvania on November 7, 1898, Carl Peter Hensler was a son of Charles P. Hensler and Margaret E. (Klein) Hensler and the brother of Clara Hensler (later known as Sister Estelle), Paul Joseph Hensler, Cecilia Hensler (married surname Johnson), John Francis Hensler, Mildred Hensler (married surname Graham), and Francis Gerard Hensler.[6]

A graduate of St. Joseph's parochial school, he earned Bachelor of Arts and Licentiate in Philosophy degrees from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania in 1920.[7]

Theological training and ministry

Hensler then pursued theological training at the St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, earning his Master of Arts there in 1922.[8][9] and at the North American College in Rome, Italy. He was a pupil of minimum wage proponent, John A. Ryan.[10]

He was formally ordained as a priest at the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome on March 15, 1924.[11]

After initial ministries at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania[12] and at St. Brendan's Catholic Church in Braddock, Pennsylvania,[13] he left for China on August 7, 1930 to help establish the Catholic University of Peking.[14][15][16] His time there was challenging due to political unrest in the region and the escalating conflict between China and Japan, as well as the school's financial instability.[17][18][19]

By the end of 1933, he was back in Pittsburgh, celebrating Christmas masses as an assistant pastor at St. Lawrence Church.[20][21] During this period of his life, he also became a founding member of the Catholic Radical Alliance.[22] In December 1934, he presented a lecture to the St. Lawrence Parent Teachers' Association, entitled "Human Rights Versus Property Rights."[23]

In 1951, he was appointed as the pastor of St. George's Church.[24] In 1958, he became the director of the Institute of Adult Education, which was sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.[25]

Hensler died at the age of 86 at the North Hills Passavant Hospital on November 21, 1984.[26][27] Funeral masses were held at St. Wendelin Church in Carrick, Pennsylvania on November 23 and 24.[28][29]

References
  1. "Monsignor Carl P. Hensler Dies." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 22, 1984, p. 175 (subscription required).
  2. "Msgr. Hensler: Pastor of St. George's Keeps Cemetery Trim: It's Labor Priest's Favorite Hobby After Years of Service to Catholics." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 13, 1960, p. 6 (subscription required).
  3. "Priests of 'Radical Alliance' Rub Elbows with Strike Pickets" (includes photo of Hensler). Marshfield, Wisconsin: Marshfield News-Herald, October 14, 1937, p. 4 (subscription required).
  4. "Msgr. Hensler: Pastor of St. George's Keeps Cemetery Trim," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 13, 1960.
  5. "Diocesan Classes Open to All Races, Creeds: Teens or Aged Finding Culture, Education at Pittsburgh's Fastest Growing 'School.'" Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, January 19, 1958, p. 4 (subscription required).
  6. "Rev. Carl P. Hensler," in "Summary of Church News." Omaha, Nebraska: Our Sunday Visitor, August 1, 1920, p. 2 (subscription required).
  7. "Rev. Carl P. Hensler," in "Summary of Church News," Our Sunday Visitor, August 1, 1920.
  8. "Rev. Carl P. Hensler," in "Summary of Church News," Our Sunday Visitor, August 1, 1920.
  9. "Monsignor Carl P. Hensler Dies," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 22, 1984.
  10. "Radical Alliance' Priests Strike With Pickets". Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. p. 42. We contend that the relationship between Catholicism and capitalism is one of fundamental opposition
  11. "Rev. Carl P. Hensler," in "Summary of Church News," Our Sunday Visitor, August 1, 1920.
  12. "Rev. Carl Hensler Has First Service at Mt. Pleasant." Connellsville, Pennsylvania: The Daily Courier, August 12, 1924, p. 10 (subscription required).
  13. "Braddock." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, September 4, 1927, p. 52 (subscription required).
  14. "Scenes at Catholic University and Priests Who Will Teach There." Latrobe, Pennsylvania: The Latrobe Bulletin, July 28, 1930, p. 11 (subscription required).
  15. "Monsignor Carl P. Hensler Dies," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 22, 1984.
  16. "Msgr. Hensler: Pastor of St. George's Keeps Cemetery Trim," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 13, 1960.
  17. "Catholic U. of Peking Is Carrying On." Brooklyn, New York: The Tablet, March 5, 1932, p. 16 (subscription required).
  18. "Chinese Desert Colleges, Join Shanghai Army: Warfare with Japan Causes Universities to Collapse." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, February 26, 1932, p. 2 (subscription required).
  19. "Catholic University in Need of Funds." Latrobe, Pennsylvania: The Latrobe Bulletin, February 20, 1932, front page (subscription required).
  20. "Church Activities." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, December 16, 1933, p. 16 (subscription required).
  21. "Rev. Hensler to Lecture." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, September 22, 1935, p. 2 (subscription required).
  22. "Priests of 'Radical Alliance' Rub Elbows with Strike Pickets" (includes photo of Hensler), Marshfield News-Herald, October 14, 1937.
  23. "Activities Are Listed by P.T.A." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, December 23, 1934, p. 20 (subscription required).
  24. "Msgr. Hensler: Pastor of St. George's Keeps Cemetery Trim," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 13, 1960.
  25. "Diocesan Classes Open to All Races, Creeds: Teens or Aged Finding Culture, Education at Pittsburgh's Fastest Growing 'School,'" The Pittsburgh Press, January 19, 1958, p. 4.
  26. Kenneth J. Heineman A Catholic New Deal: Religion and Reform in Depression Pittsburgh. Penn State Press, 1999 page 211 ISBN 0-271-01896-8
  27. "Monsignor Carl P. Hensler Dies," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 22, 1984.
  28. "Masses for priest." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 23, 1984, p. 10 (subscription required).
  29. "Hensler" (funeral notice). Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 22, 1984, p. 175 (subscription required).

Sources

Archives of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Record Group 22, subgroup 01I

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