The Rise and Fall of Triumph

The History of a Radical Roman Catholic Magazine, 1966–1976

Mark D. Popowski

This is a history of Triumph—a post-Vatican II, Roman Catholic lay magazine—that examines its origins and decline, paying special attention to the editors’ often bellicose views on a range of issues, from Church affairs to the Vietnam War, and civil rights to abortion. Triumph’s editors formed the magazine to defend the faith against what they perceived as the imprudent and secular excesses of Vatican II reformers, but especially against what they viewed as an increasing barbarous and anti-Christian American society. Yet Triumph was not a defensive magazine; rather, it was audaciously triumphalist—proclaiming the Roman Catholic faith as the solution to America’s ills. The magazine sought to convert Americans to Roman Catholicism and to construct a confessional state, which subjected its power to the moral authority of the Roman Catholic Church. If the liberalizing and secularizing trajectory in American society exalted man as sovereign of himself and his world, as Triumph’s editors posited, then their mission was to reinstitute Christ’s Kingship, to hallow the world in His name.

Lexington Books

Pages: 282 • Trim: 6½ x 9½

978-0-7391-6981-0 • Hardback • November 2011 • $126.00 • (£97.00)

978-0-7391-6982-7 • eBook • December 2011 • $119.50 • (£92.00)

Subjects: Religion / Christian Living / Social Issues, Religion / Christianity / History

The Rise and Fall of Triumph

The History of a Radical Roman Catholic Magazine, 1966–1976

Hardback

eBook

Summary

This is a history of Triumph—a post-Vatican II, Roman Catholic lay magazine—that examines its origins and decline, paying special attention to the editors’ often bellicose views on a range of issues, from Church affairs to the Vietnam War, and civil rights to abortion. Triumph’s editors formed the magazine to defend the faith against what they perceived as the imprudent and secular excesses of Vatican II reformers, but especially against what they viewed as an increasing barbarous and anti-Christian American society. Yet Triumph was not a defensive magazine; rather, it was audaciously triumphalist—proclaiming the Roman Catholic faith as the solution to America’s ills. The magazine sought to convert Americans to Roman Catholicism and to construct a confessional state, which subjected its power to the moral authority of the Roman Catholic Church. If the liberalizing and secularizing trajectory in American society exalted man as sovereign of himself and his world, as Triumph’s editors posited, then their mission was to reinstitute Christ’s Kingship, to hallow the world in His name.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 282 • Trim: 6½ x 9½

978-0-7391-6981-0 • Hardback • November 2011 • $126.00 • (£97.00)

978-0-7391-6982-7 • eBook • December 2011 • $119.50 • (£92.00)

Subjects: Religion / Christian Living / Social Issues, Religion / Christianity / History

Author

Mark D. Popowski is professor of history at Collin College in Frisco, Texas.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Triumph
Roman Catholic Radicals
Triumph and History
My Perspective
Some Notes on Understanding Triumph
Chapter 1: Origins of Triumph, Part I
L. Brent Bozell and Frederick D. Wilhelmsen
Post-World War II Conservative Intellectual Revival
Disaffection with American Conservatism
Chapter 2: Origins of Triumph, Part II
Liberal Catholics and the Second Vatican Council
Spain and Carlism
Founding
Chapter 3: Church Affairs
Vatican Council II
Roman Catholic Church in the United States
Protestants and Jews
Pauline Mass
Priests and Nuns
Chapter 4: Sovereignty of Christ or Chaos, Part I
Secular Liberalism
Conservatism
Confessional Tribe
Confessional State
Chapter 5: Sovereignty of Christ or Chaos, Part II
Politics
Economics
Racial Strife
Education
Chapter 6: To Make Christendom
Cold War
Vietnam
Nuclear Weapons
Solution
Mirrors of Christendom
Global South
Chapter 7: Redeemed to His Likeness
Feminism
Contraception
Abortion
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
About the Author

Reviews

The list of wrongs to be righted in church and state was familiar, including civil rights legislation, the Second Vatican Council (which had 'Protestantized' the Church), and the emerging counter culture. Popowski catalogs all this from the pages of the magazine itself, and other researchers will thus find a useful guide in pursuing their own particular interests. . . .Those looking for 1960s radicalism different from the usual kind will find here an example to be incorporated into the larger story of the times.
— The Catholic Historical Review

For decades I've heard people remark that someone would eventually write the story of TRIUMPH and the Christian Commonwealth Institutes. I am glad it turned out to be Dr. Mark Popowski. His study is extremely well researched, and he has placed TRIUMPH and its editors into historical context very well.
— Dr. Alexandra Wilhelmsen, University of Dallas

In this fascinating, well-written and provocative book Mark Popowski views Triumph and its supporters, "the Christian tribe," through sympathetic eyes. He shares their enthusiasm for a Catholicism that was both deeply traditional and daringly radical. On balance, he believes that they offered the right answers to the painful questions dividing America in the era of Vietnam, Watergate, the sexual revolution, and Roe v. Wade.
— Patrick Allitt, Cahoon Family Professor of American History, Emory University

Mark Popowski has reminded us that the conservative movement was a house of many mansions. His discussion of the Catholic traditionalist movement and its journal Triumph is an important contribution to our understanding of the development of a conservative movement outside of the typical framework of electoral politics and the rise of the Right to political power.
— Gregory L. Schneider, Emporia State University