IHPRA Newsletter
June 2009
This month's focus on Muscular Christianity
is in response to the following reader comments/questions.
You have mentioned that turn-of-the-century training imported from countries like Germany was
widely practiced before the "Battle of Systems",
and was "reshaped" for use during World War II.
What about "Muscular Christianity?"
If the training methods were rediscovered, was there much of a link
between fitness and spiritual development during/after WWII?
What about Muscular Christianity today?
|
The struggle to find a
noble purpose, paradigm, and vision for tomorrow's national physical culture |
|
Also begin to study the Muscular Christianity movement. |
The body as a temple of the soul can become a cultural
caricature.
Great damage can be done if we claim divine authority
for foolish aggression.
Society can also decay if men become too feminine.
Perhaps a personal story will shine light on the years following World War II.
Davenport, Iowa was heavily German Catholic when I was
born there in 1945.
My grandparents often spoke to me in German,
Front row, second from left.
 German immigrants brought highly evolved physical culture to the USA |
 Davenport had one the best training halls. |
 I lived near it and two other German-based gyms |
 Many great teachers - gymnastics, wrestling, boxing, etc. |
 German system stressed courage, self control, and service. |
 World War II gave fitness new life |
 Davenport revered its priests. |
 Movies in the 1930-40's did too. |
Throughout the 1930s-40s, the clergy were often
manly beacons of righteousness
who worked to save young men from a life of crime.
My neighborhood was rough. Somewhere between
the Little Rascals and the Bowery Boys.
My turf was downtown davenport including skid row and the Salvation Army.
First arrest was in sixth grade.
Just like in the movies.
I did not know that the Davenport Diocese was infested with pedophile priests by the time I was becoming a teenager,
and Father Francis Bass sought out young delinquents like me to "rehabilitate."
I figured out what he was up to and
avoided sexual abuse.
Looking back, the time spent wrestling, boxing, and learning to defend
myself no doubt saved me.
I
I tried to warn others about Bass.
I went to a nearby Parish and told this guy. Unfortunately Father Janssen
was equally deviant.
He chastised me and ordered me never to tell anyone else.
I tried
then and for many years after to warn the Davenport Diocese that Bass was a
pervert,
but it would take decades for the public to confront the Catholic Church.
In early-2000, I contacted the
attorney leading the fight stop
the abuse in Davenport.
My testimony in 2004 helped force the
Davenport Diocese to release its records concerning
the many complaints about these two and other pervert priests.
Jesus has certainly been getting
more muscular in recent years,
and churches are increasingly more interested in fitness.
If we keep our eyes on the Ideal,
our children will grow strong, wise, and noble.
If a perverted Christianity endures,
our national physical culture is doomed.