Stephen Spiro

Stephen Spiro

Infobox Person
name=Stephen Spiro


image_size=
caption=
birth_name=
birth_date=1939
birth_place=the Bronx
death_date=October 23, 2007
death_place=
death_cause=cancer(liposarcoma)
resting_place=
resting_place_coordinates=
residence=
nationality=United States
other_names="Shorty"
known_for=opposition to Vietnam War, "consistent life ethic"
education=Fairleigh Dickinson University
employer=
occupation=computer programmer
title=
religion=Roman Catholic
spouse=Diana Rankin Spiro
children=John-Paul Spiro, Dan Spiro, Judee Fiorello
parents=
website=
footnotes=

Stephen Spiro was a political activist who opposed the Vietnam War. He opposed the war based on the theory of Just War, and was a conscientious objector. The law allowed for conscientious objection only on the grounds of opposition to all wars, and he was convicted of avoiding conscription. He was given a five year suspended sentence for avoiding conscription, and was later pardoned by President Gerald Ford. [cite journal |last=Cornell |first=Tom |title=Stephen Spiro, 1940-2007 |journal=Catholic Worker |year=2008 |volume=LXXV |issue=May-June |pages=6]

Early life

Spiro was born in the Bronx in 1939. He attended Xavier High School in Manhattan. He attended the University of Chicago and later received bachelors and masters degrees in economics from Fairleigh Dickinson University. [O'Neill, Patrick. [http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2007d/110907/110907l.htm "Catholic pacifist pro-life activist dies"] , "National Catholic Reporter", November 9, 2007. Accessed September 17, 2008.]

Opposition to the Vietnam War

Spiro opposed the Vietnam War as not conforming to the Catholic theory of just war. As the conscription laws in the United States at the time allowd for conscientious objection only on the grounds of opposition to all war, he was convicted of avoiding the draft. The sincerity of his beliefs were recognized, as he received a five year suspended sentence for his actions, and he was later pardoned by President Gerald Ford. His family was more proud of the conviction than the pardon. [cite web |last=O'Neill |first=Patrick |title=Catholic pacifist pro-life activist dies |url=http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2007d/110907/110907l.htm |format=on-line article |accessdate=2008-06-01]

Pro-Life Movement

Spiro was involved in the Right to Life movement, advocating a consistent life ethic, also known as the seamless garment argument. This argument states that the right to life leads to opposition to abortion, capital punishment and war as a single consistent moral position.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Spiro (name) — Spiro(s) or Spyro(s) (Greek: Σπύρος with a nominative final s, that is usually dropped when Anglicised) is a male given name fairly common in Greek speaking population (Greece, Cyprus, Greek diaspora). It is a shortened form of the archaic… …   Wikipedia

  • Spiro Agnew — 39th Vice President of the United States In office January 20, 1969 – October 10, 1973 President Richard Nixon …   Wikipedia

  • Mark Spiro — is an American Songwriter, Record Producer, Recording Artist, and TV Series Original Music Producer. He is represented on over 100 Million Records sold World Wide. Discography and Soundtrack Filmography SONGWRITER …   Wikipedia

  • Conscription in the United States — Young men registering for conscription during World War I, New York City, June 5, 1917. The Draft redirects here. For other uses, see Draft (disambiguation) …   Wikipedia

  • Vietnam War — Part of the Cold War and the Indochina Wars …   Wikipedia

  • Fairleigh Dickinson University — Infobox University name=Fairleigh Dickinson University image size = 130px tagline=The Leader in Global Education motto=Fortiter et Suaviter established=1942 type=Private head label = President head= Dr. J. Michael Adams city=Madison/Florham Park… …   Wikipedia

  • Xavier High School (New York City) — Infobox School2 name = Xavier High School motto= Men for Others established = 1847 type = Jesuit, Private, Catholic, University preparatory head name = President head = Fr. Daniel Gatti, S.J. head name2 = Headmaster head2 = Mr. Michael LiVigni… …   Wikipedia

  • List of people from the Bronx — These famous people all resided in The Bronx, New York City, at some time in their lives. Many of the early historical figures lived in that part of Westchester County which would later become part of The Bronx.Academics and science*Todd Gitlin… …   Wikipedia

  • Peace movement — A peace movement is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war (or all wars), minimize inter human violence in a particular place or type of situation, often linked to the goal of achieving world peace.… …   Wikipedia

  • Nicholas Thatcher — is Professor of Oncology at the University of Manchester, in the School of Cancer and Imaging Sciences at the Christie Hospital NHS Trust and Wythenshawe Hospital; he was appointed to the position of Professor in 1996.[1] He received his PhD from …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”