Three VFP Chapters in Iowa to Receive the Dingman Award

December 12, 2013

The three Iowa chapters of Veterans for Peace will be recognized by the Catholic Peace Ministry for our work in Iowa with the Maurice J. Dingman Award. The annual Dingman dinner is April 5, 2014 at Holy Trinity Church in Des Moines. The suggested contribution is $40, and all members and their families are welcome to attend. Details about the event are posted on the Catholic Peace Ministry website here: http://catholicpeaceministry.com/

What is the Maurice J. Dingman award?

Catholic Peace Ministry's Maurice J. Dingman Peace Award is given each year in memory and in honor of Maurice Dingman, the late bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines revered for his commitment to justice, peace and equality.

Who was Bishop Dingman?

From Wikipedia:
bishopdingman.jpegOn April 2, 1968, Dingman was appointed the sixth Bishop of Des Moines by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on the following June 19 from Archbishop Luigi Raimondi, with Bishops Ralph Leo Hayes and Gerald Francis O'Keefe serving as co-consecrators. He was installed in Des Moines on July 7, 1968. Bishop Dingman became known as a champion of rural issues and ecumenism, and strengthened the laity, priests, and nuns of the diocese.

He supported nuclear disarmament and was open to discussion on the subject of women's ordination. From 1976 to 1979, he served as president of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference.

On October 4, 1979 Pope John Paul II made an historic visit to the Des Moines Diocese upon the suggestion of a local Iowa farmer, Joe Hays of Truro, and the invitation of Bishop Dingman. After landing at the Des Moines Airport, the pope visited the rural parish of St. Patrick near Irish Settlement. He then celebrated a Mass at Living History Farms in Urbandale.

In October 1983 he was abducted by gun point by two juveniles, for whom the bishop would later advocate in court.

For his life work advocating for peace and justice issues, Bishop Dingman received the 1986 Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award, which is sponsored in part by his native diocese of Davenport, and his alma mater St. Ambrose College.

After eighteen years as bishop, Dingman resigned due to poor health on October 14, 1986. He later died at age 78.

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