View source for George G. Higgins

{{Short description|American activist (1916–2002)}}
'''George Gilmary Higgins''' (January 21, 1916&nbsp;– May 1, 2002) was an American labor activist and [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] clergyman known as the "labor priest". He was a major force in the Catholic Church's support for [[Cesar Chavez]] and his [[United Farm Workers|union movement]].<ref>[http://www.aflcio.org/aboutus/ns05012002.cfm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061201084055/http://www.aflcio.org/aboutus/ns05012002.cfm|date=December 1, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archden.org/dcr/archive/20020515/2002051505wn.htm |title=Denver Catholic Register - World/Nation |publisher=Archden.org |access-date=2014-02-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929205227/http://www.archden.org/dcr/archive/20020515/2002051505wn.htm |archive-date=2012-09-29 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://libraries.cua.edu/achrcua/higgins.html |title=University Archives |publisher=Libraries.cua.edu |access-date=2014-02-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722081030/http://libraries.cua.edu/achrcua/higgins.html |archive-date=2010-07-22 }}</ref>

==Biography==
Higgins was a native of [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], where he attended [[Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary]] and the [[University of St. Mary of the Lake]], where he studied under the visionary rector [[Reynold Henry Hillenbrand]].

Higgins taught at the [[Catholic University of America]], served as chairman of the public review board of the [[United Auto Workers]] and chairman of the board of the [[United Farmworkers]]' Martin Luther King Jr. Fund.

He was the author of the syndicated column "The Yardstick" and was the author of numerous other writings on worker [[justice]] in light of [[Catholic social teaching]].

President [[Bill Clinton]] presented Higgins with the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom|Medal of Freedom]] in August 2000 in recognition of his role as a vocal supporter of the [[labor movement]] and an advocate for [[social justice]].  Higgins was the 2000 recipient of the [[Pacem in Terris Award]]. It was named after a 1963 [[encyclical]] letter by [[Pope John XXIII]] that calls upon all people of good will to secure peace among all nations. ''[[Pacem in terris]]'' is [[Latin]] for 'Peace on Earth'. In 2001, he was awarded the [[Laetare Medal]] by the [[University of Notre Dame]], the oldest and most prestigious award for [[American Catholics]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher= University of Notre Dame |title=Recipients {{!}} The Laetare Medal |url=https://laetare.nd.edu/recipients/#info2001 |access-date=2 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

He died in [[La Grange, Illinois|La Grange]], Illinois, on May 1, 2002.

== Legacy ==
The George Gilmary Higgins papers are housed at the American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C.<ref>[http://libraries.cua.edu/achrcua/higginsfa.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610113441/http://libraries.cua.edu/achrcua/higginsfa.html|date=June 10, 2010}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago}}
{{Pacem in Terris Award laureates}}
{{portal bar|Biography|Christianity|Illinois}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Higgins, George G.}}
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:Clergy from Chicago]]
[[Category:Activists from Chicago]]
[[Category:Catholic social teaching]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic activists]]
[[Category:American trade union leaders]]
[[Category:University of Saint Mary of the Lake alumni]]
[[Category:Catholic University of America alumni]]
[[Category:Laetare Medal recipients]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago]]