• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
In a screenshot of a YouTube video, Cardinal Lawrence Shehan speaks out in favor of open housing in 1966. (CR staff)

Footage of Cardinal Shehan’s open housing testimony uncovered

April 4, 2018
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Filed Under: Black Catholic Ministry, Feature, Local News, News

Not long after he was loudly booed and heckled while speaking in favor of an open housing bill before the Baltimore City Council in January 1966, Cardinal Lawrence Shehan calmly and confidently read his testimony for a local television audience.

“The dignity of the individual requires that no prohibition be placed against any person with respect to his place of habitation simply because of his race, religion or ancestry,” the white-haired prelate insisted. “The overwhelming persuasive moral argument which calls for statutory relief is one which cannot be postponed or crippled.”

For the first time in more than a half century, digitized footage of the cardinal’s television appearance is now available for viewing on YouTube.

YouTube video

While researching archival material to support Archbishop William E. Lori’s recent pastoral letter on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s principles of nonviolence, the archdiocesan communications office uncovered the newsreel at archives held at the University of Baltimore.

Originally broadcast by WMAR-TV in Baltimore, the news coverage includes reaction to the cardinal’s testimony from prominent Baltimoreans including then-Baltimore City Council President Thomas D’Alesandro III and then-Baltimore Mayor Theodore R. McKeldin.

The bill, introduced by D’Alesandro, would have banned discrimination in the sale and rental of all city housing. The cardinal was the first speaker at the city council meeting, which was moved from City Hall to the War Memorial Building to accommodate more than 2,000 people who attended.

According to 1966 coverage by what is today known as Catholic News Service, approximately half the audience stood and applauded as the cardinal walked to the microphone. Others booed and jeered him. Police escorted the cardinal from the hall following his testimony, Catholic News Service reported, “as the audience once again divided between jeers and cheers.”

Before the hearing, the cardinal’s brother had received an anonymous call from someone threatening to shoot the cardinal if he testified in support of the bill.

The recently uncovered footage shows D’Alesandro expressing shock at Cardinal Shehan’s treatment.

“It was an act of disrespect to probably the number one Catholic spokesman in this country,” the Democratic City Council president said. “It just exemplified the pent-up emotions that exist in this consideration.  I thought that regardless of the cardinal’s position, which was obviously known, that there would be respect for the office that he held as a prince of the church, the archbishop of Baltimore and cardinal.”

D’Alesandro, the bill’s sponsor, added that “people are so blinded sometimes by their emotion on this subject that they just throw caution to the wind, and, as a result, we saw what took place last night.”

Mayor McKeldin, a Republican, was similarly shocked.

“We Baltimoreans, of course, are not proud of the hearing held in the War Memorial Building when the beloved Cardinal Shehan of this city was booed by some of the spectators,” he said. “It seems to me that if I were against that bill and had been present and heard the cardinal booed, for no other reason, possibly, I would have voted for it.”

Despite D’Alesandro’s prediction that the cardinal’s testimony would sway the vote in favor of the bill, the council voted down the measure. Fair housing laws would not come to Baltimore until the U. S. Congress banned housing discrimination with passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

For more on the cardinal’s testimony, click here.

Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org.

 

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

George P. Matysek Jr.

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Hunt Valley parishioner recalls her former student – a future pope

  • Father Robert Wojsław dies at 52

  • Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

  • Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith

  • Loyola University Maryland graduate ordained Jesuit priest

| Latest Local News |

Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith

Lay associates journey with the Oblate Sisters of Providence

Father Robert Wojsław dies at 52

Scopes Monkey Trial ignited century-long debate on evolution and belief 

Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

| Latest World News |

NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best

Tolton ambassadors renew goal to promote, pray for famed Black priest’s canonization

Three dead, Holy Family Gaza pastor injured after mid-morning Israeli attack

Proof of life for kidnapped Nigerian priest received by Alaska diocese where he served

Filled with hope, Christians know cries of the innocent will be heard, pope says

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Tolton ambassadors renew goal to promote, pray for famed Black priest’s canonization
  • Creation, human and divine
  • NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best
  • Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith
  • Three dead, Holy Family Gaza pastor injured after mid-morning Israeli attack
  • Proof of life for kidnapped Nigerian priest received by Alaska diocese where he served
  • Filled with hope, Christians know cries of the innocent will be heard, pope says
  • Pope calls for ceasefire, dialogue, peace after church hit in Gaza
  • School club gives students chance to benefit veterans, fosters Gospel value of serving others

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED