Father Charles Coughlin was the founding priest of National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica Catholic Church in Royal Oak, Mich. where he broadcast his radio show during the 1930s.
Andrew Lapin, a writer and podcast producer has been researching Coughlin and joins Detroit Today to shed light on the dark history of who Father Coughlin was and how he was able to have a nationally broadcasted show filled with bigoted ideas. “He was a theatrical performer and a pathological liar,” says Lapin.
As part of the 2019 WDET Book Club, we are reading Dr. Mona Hanna Attisha’s, “What The Eyes Don’t See”, and although this conversation doesn’t relate directly to public health, water or infrastructure, it is a part of the book. Attisha writes about her youthful ignorance of Father Coughlin and his widespread message of racism and nationalism, despite growing up in Royal Oak where he was headquartered.