John Thomas Flanagan Sr.
(c.1910-2008)
Religion . . . a complicated matter that. Best discussed with clinical reserve and much care. It can unite strangers and divide brothers. My grandfather Walker was an Anglican and a Mason. He converted to Catholicism to marry my grandmother. His family never spoke to him again.
On the other side my Grandfar, John Thomas Flanagan Sr., was raised Catholic, but his true devotion was to Ireland and Republicanism. He was a page and an ammo carrier for Michael Collins boys in the early 1900's. He contracted polio in his early teens and a priest told him it was divine retribution for his activities in support of the violent rebel cause. He never stepped foot in a Church of any kind from that day forward and refused to speak to any man wearing a Roman collar. If the priest showed up in civilian clothing, he would chat amiably. The minute the conversation turned to religion he walked away.
Our parish priest in Philadelphia was always trying to get Pop to come back to the church. I remember a conversation they had when I was a boy. Father Meyer said, 'Johnny, your soul's in jeopardy (or somesuch).'
