T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History Collection

ABSTRACT

INTERVIEWEE NAME: James Lee Babin

COLLECTION:#4700.0138

IDENTIFICATION: LSU English professor and member of Christ the King congregation

INTERVIEWER: Karla Woggon

PROJECT: LSU History

DATES: May 13, May 28, 1992

FOCUS DATES:1950s - 1970s

ABSTRACT:

Tape 191

Christ the King as a church parish; priests and nuns leaving church; Father Michael Cody stepping down from altar to protest segregation; types of priests at Christ the King; Claretians at LSU; academic training of Claretians; evangelical Christians luring Catholics away from church; response to evangelicals; Bishop Robert Tracy and Christ the King; Bishop Joseph Sullivan's conservatism; creation of Catholic faculty group; Bishop Sullivan's attempt to purge liberal clergy; controversy over Father Charles Curran (birth control advocate) lecture; removal of Claretians; shift from Latin to English mass; Father Richard Green as pastor; student reaction to dismissal of Claretians; retreats; impact of G. I. Bill on LSU in 1950s; Babin's crisis of faith; decision to leave seminary; becoming an English professor

Tape 192

counseling students; poorly educated priests at Christ the King; breech between Christ the King and LSU Catholic faculty; Fr. Michael Cody and protest against segregation; Vietnam Moratorium (1969); Prof. Herbert Rothschild's extreme liberalism; Billy Graham Crusade at LSU; relationship between Catholics and evangelicals on campus; Vatican II; Christ the King parish council; membership in Theta Kappa Phi; classes taught by Father Borders; Catholic Student Center; meeting wife at LSU; philosophy professor Jason Xenakis

TAPES: T 191; T 192

TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 3 hrs

# PAGES TRANSCRIPT: 93

RESTRICTIONS: none