- Deal W. Hudson
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Deal Wyatt Hudson (born 20 November 1949) is an American conservative political activist. He is currently president of Catholic Advocate.[1] His most recent book is Onward, Christian Soldiers: The Growing Political Power of Catholics and Evangelicals in the United States (2008). Since 2000, Hudson's chief political activity has been to help organize the Catholic vote in support of conservative and Republican candidates.[2]
Contents
Life
Hudson was born in Denver. Raised as a Protestant, Hudson became a Southern Baptist in college at the University of Texas-Austin before converting to Catholicism in 1984,[3][4] as detailed in his memoir An American Conversion. He has written, edited or contributed to several other books, and in 2004 he wrote the online guide "How to Vote Catholic".[5] Hudson has written as well for the Los Angeles Times[6] and for Slate.[7]
Hudson first taught philosophy at Mercer University Atlanta (1980–89) and at Fordham University (1989–1995). In 1995 he became publisher of the conservative Roman Catholic magazine, Crisis.[8] He served as director of Catholic Outreach for George W. Bush's 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns. In 2004, Hudson resigned from the campaign, and shortly thereafter from Crisis,[9] when accusations of sexual misconduct leading to his surrender of tenure at Fordham came to light; a female freshman student accused him of plying her with drinks and then having sex with her in his office.[10] Hudson wrote an essay at the time, published at National Review Online, acknowledging and explaining the situation, saying, "In matters of this nature, exaggeration, half-truths, and rumor often tend to overtake the truth — and I wanted truth to get a head start."[11][8][12]
The scandal resurfaced in 2008, when Hudson was a prominent Catholic supporter of John McCain's presidential campaign. He was retained, despite the urging of three separate religious groups to have him removed from the McCain campaign.[10] Catholic League president Bill Donohue described efforts to remove Hudson as "vindictive campaigns of personal destruction under the guise of promoting the Catholic cause."[13] Hudson was quoted at the time (though he had made the statement much earlier) saying, "My past continues to be a source of shame to me and, unfortunately, my family. I'm not blaming anyone for this. It was my own fault. And while the revelation of my failing was deeply humiliating, it was also an important wake-up call for me. Over the past four years, I've tried to make amends with family, friends and supporters."[10]
He remains influential among conservative Catholic voters, an important demographic electoral bloc.[14]
Among Hudson's activities outside politics is his sponsorship of an annual poetry luncheon at the beginning of Advent each Christmas season.[15]
See also
Publications
- Understanding Maritain (ed. with Matthew J. Mancini). Mercer University Press, 1987 ISBN 0866542791
- The Future of Thomism: The Maritain Sequence (ed. with Dennis William Moran). University of Notre Dame Press, 1992 ISBN 0268009864
- Sigrid Undset: On Saints and Sinners (ed.) Ignatius Press, 1994 ISBN 0898704839
- Happiness and the Limits of Satisfaction. Rowan & Littlefield, 1995 ISBN 0847681394; PB ISBN 0847681405
- Public Catholicism: The Challenge of Living the Faith in a Secular American Culture (contributor). Our Sunday Visitor, 1996 ISBN 0879737549
- An American Conversion: One Man's Discovery of Beauty and Truth in Times of Crisis. Crossroad, 2003 ISBN 0824521269
- Onward, Christian Soldiers: The Growing Political Power of Catholics and Evangelicals in the United States. Simon & Schuster, 2008 ISBN 1416524428; PB, 2010 ISBN 1416524460
References
- ^ Catholic Advocate: Team
- ^ Filteau, Jerry (September 23, 2004). "Deal Hudson resigns from Crisis magazine, stays with publishing house", Catholic News Service.
- ^ Varacalli, Joseph A. (2001). Bright Promise, Failed Community: Catholics and the American Public Order. Lexington Books. p. 45. ISBN 0739102923.
- ^ von Hildebrand, Alice (January 2004). "Glorious Broadmindedness", This Rock. Retrieved 4/16/09.
- ^ Hudson, Deal W. (2004). "How to Vote Catholic"
- ^ Hudson, Deal W. (January 23, 2000)."Catholics and the GOP: an Uneasy Fit", Los Angeles Times, page M-5.
- ^ Hudson, Deal W. (April 1, 2005). "Contextual Conservatism", Slate.
- ^ a b Kirkpatrick, David D. (August 19, 2004). "Bush Campaign Adviser Quits as Sexual Misconduct Case Is Recalled". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D05E4D91E3FF93AA2575BC0A9629C8B63. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
- ^ Feuerherd, Joe (April 6, 2005). "Exclusive: Deal Hudson" The New York Observer.
- ^ a b c Hansen, Ronald J. (July 31, 2008). "McCain resists calls to remove embattled Catholic aide", The Arizona Republic. Accessed October 18, 2008.
- ^ Hudson, Deal W. (August 18, 2004). "The Price of Politics", National Review Online.
- ^ Cooperman, Alan (September 22, 2004). "Crisis Publisher to Step Down". The Washington Post: p. A09. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A39745-2004Sep21?language=printer. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
- ^ Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights (2008-07-17). "Phony Assault On Deal Hudson". The Catholic League. http://www.catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1463. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
- ^ Boyer, Peter (September 8, 2008). "Party Faithful". The New Yorker. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/09/08/080908fa_fact_boyer. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ Salmon, Jacqueline L. (December 6, 2008). "Getting Into Christmas Spirit is Pure Poetry for Catholic Group", The Washington Post, p. B7.
External links
Categories:- 1949 births
- American publishers (people)
- American Roman Catholic religious writers
- Converts to Roman Catholicism
- Fordham University faculty
- Living people
- People from Fairfax, Virginia
- People from Fort Worth, Texas
- University of Texas at Austin alumni
- Virginia Republicans
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