GOODBYE 'RAGIN' CAJUN'

by

Thomas A. Horkan, Jr.

July 8, 1999

   The retirement of Henry Libersat as editor of The Florida Catholic marks the end of an era of evangelism and growth of Catholicism in Florida.

   Henry and I came to work for the Church in Florida at about the same time, in 1969.  Many are the memories we share.

   In 1968, the Province of Miami was established.  It included all of Florida:  the Archdiocese of Miami, the Dioceses of St. Augustine, Orlando and St. Petersburg; and the Florida panhandle which had been part of the Diocese of Mobile, Ala.

   Incredible changes have taken place since then.

    Henry was in fact the "Ragin’ Cajun," full of fire and brimstone.  He had published a book by that name, part autobiographical and part spiritual reflection.  Always the committed journalist and committed to the truth, he had a way of rubbing some people the wrong way, including me.

   Many times I angrily called him about some article that I thought was contrary to something the Florida Catholic Conference was doing or working on.  He likewise angrily responded. Although we were friends, this went on for several years.  Finally, one time, he responded to one of my calls by suggesting that we switch jobs.  I would edit the paper and he would run the Conference.   That took me up short.  Editing a Catholic paper, especially one with several bishops as publishers, was one job I did not want!

   It is inevitable that every issue of a Catholic newspaper will have something to offend some readers. Over a period of a month or so, because of time pressures, deadlines, staff or business pressures, a diocesan paper will contain something that will offend many, including sometimes, its bishop. In recent years, The Florida Catholic has published in six dioceses in Florida, thus multiplying the problem. Henry has been blessed with six reasonable bishops, but the pressure has been there. He has done an exemplary job, in my opinion.

   Any Ragin’ Cajun, in his younger years, needs someone holding the reins. Henry had Father David Page, a great priest and pastor, who was also the executive editor. Henry had been a journalist; Father Page knew the Church and the publishing and business sides of The Florida Catholic. They were a great team for many years, as Father Page gradually turned over the reins. Henry recently spoke to me of how much he owed to Father Page.

   In the middle '70s, the Catholic bishops wanted to publish a booklet on the plight of migrant workers in Florida, and I asked Henry to submit a draft. He sent in a draft called "The Problem of Philemon," based entirely on St. Paul’s letter to Philemon. It seemed so far out to me, (a left-brained person) that I called him angrily. This was one of our many such discussions that gradually turned peaceful. He sent me a copy of Father James T. Burtchaell’s book "Philemon's Problem:  A Theology of Grace," and embarked me on a long-time study and appreciation of the letter, which probably contains within one or two pages, 90 percent of the teachings of the Catholic Church.

   Nonetheless, his draft was discarded and a different message was given.

   Probably one of my many mistakes.

   Another memory is my favorite front page story of all time. It was an article by Bishop Thomas J. Grady, then bishop of Orlando, in 1981, about a recently published book by Father Andrew Greeley, entitled "The Cardinal Sins."

   Bishop Grady and Father Greeley had been priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

   They were friends, and Father Greeley had often stayed with Bishop Grady when he vacationed in Orlando. Father Greeley, a talented writer, had begun writing novels which were sexually explicit and sensational, and therefore best sellers. The new novel concerned a cardinal of the church, a priest and needless to say, one or more women. Bishop Grady’s article was a great masterpiece of literature, and took the book apart. It concluded by noting that the cardinal was obviously a certain named cardinal, and that the handsome, debonair young priest was obviously Father Greeley.

   Henry’s hand in the placement and publishing of that article may have been his finest hour.

   The changes in the Church in Florida in the last 30 years are hard to even imagine. There are now seven dioceses, six of which are part of The Florida Catholic.

   Henry Libersat not only reported the changes, he lived them and had a part in bringing them about.

   We"ll miss the old Ragin' Cajun!.