For the first thirteen years after Ordination in 1962, I served in two parishes in wealthy towns in the Archdiocese. In the 1950s, Catholics were systematically excluded from purchasing homes in precinct 1 of those towns. A parishioner in one of those towns actually told me that a real estate agent in 1956 told him and his wife, "We don't sell houses in this area of  town to Irish catholics."

Shortly after my arriving in both towns, the clergy in those
towns began what was called in those days, an "Open Housing Campaign." Our goal was to promote with our parishioners and town real estate dealers, an openness to selling and welcoming anyone into any part of town. At that time, the issue of course was the ability of black families to buy a house This involved clergy visiting real estate dealers, preaching and handing out literature. The fear that, "If black people move into our neighborhood, it will bring our property values down," really puzzled me.
I tried to suggest again and again that if a person had the money to buy a home in an upscale neighborhood, then he/she would have an
investment for which to care. Why would they not take good care
of their property and be good neighbors? In one of those towns, at
one point, U.S Senator Edward Brooke was considering buying a
home on a main street with very expensive houses. Needless to
say, this had that part of town in an uproar.

A number of times, I walked away from some
conversations on this totally confused as to how to respond to what
I saw as an out of control irrational response At times, I found
myself the object of nasty phone calls and threatening letters,
unsigned of course. Sometimes I even had people driving by the
church as I greeted parishioners coming out of church and giving
me what I will politely refer to as a defective peace sign. But in
time, I also had strong and overwhelming support for this work in
both parishes.

Over the years many of us have consistently done our bit
to promote racial equality through our churches and community
involvement. As a result, I need to tell you that it has been quite a
week for me, as it has been for many of you, to see a black man
being sworn in as President of the United States of America, and
his wife, a great granddaughter of a slave or great, great
granddaughter, living in theWhite House, and no one is saying that
this will destroy the neighborhood.

Initially, as we approached the primaries, Barack Obama
was not my candidate. I was not against him, but preferred
someone else. However, I have to say, that the symbolism of a
black US President has given me pause and some rather
connecting my 1960s and 1970s efforts by surprisingly deep feelings of pride in our country. I say this as I am many on behalf of open housing for all. Back then, I never crossed my mind that the White House could or would ever be home to a black family. It has happened. How far we have come as a country and what a sign to the world that our words about liberty and justice for all are more than just words.