Divine Intervention
Divine Intervention is the untold story of a ragtag band of radical nuns in combat boots, wild-haired priests and their madcap friends who swiftly became accomplished cat-burglars in a hellbent effort to sabotage the Vietnam war. Many went to jail, some betrayed their friends, others fell in love. Across 10 episodes, host Brendan Patrick Hughes uncovers their audacious illegal acts – scaling walls, picking locks, destroying draft cards, harboring a draft fugitive in a church sanctuary, and trading blows with J. Edgar Hoover.
Episodes
Divine intervention is a 10-part audio documentary about radical nuns in combat boots and wild-haired priests on a hellbent mission to sabotage a war. Tune in weekly starting March 11.
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It's 1971 and Paul Couming is a member of the underground Catholic resistance to the Vietnam war. Two years ago, he sent his draft card back to the government, refusing to take part in the bloodshed. Now, as he faces trial, a harebrained scheme emerges to give him political sanctuary in a downtown Boston Catholic Church, the first of its kind in 400 years.
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Father Patrick is the wild-haired radical priest who plans to harbor Paul Couming, but how did he get this way? A very unusual pope, attending seminary during the tumult of the 1960’s, and being a born party animal may have something to do with it.
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Anne Walsh is the combat booted nun who masterminds the Paul Couming sanctuary. Like Father Patrick, she started out as a good Catholic conformist. But when her convent's father confessor begins breaking the law to sabotage the draft, a whole new life of crime opens up for her.
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Anne Walsh commits her first illegal act in the Bronx, stealing draft files and claiming responsibility. Patrick is stationed after ordination at the Paulist Center in downtown Boston, and immediately sets about turning it upside down. An ambitious raid in Philadelphia draws in a young Cookie Ridolfi.
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Anne and Paul face terrifying legal consequences. Father Patrick quickly ascends to a daunting new role and suddenly meets Marianne Woodward, a divorcée with two kids living on welfare in Dorchester. She has just escaped a difficult first marriage in Texas, and neither of them are prepared for what they feel when they meet.
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Things start to go wrong for the movement as informers penetrate their ranks. The political sanctuary of Paul Couming turns into a wild three-day arts festival. The Paulist Center environment becomes very tense for Patrick, and he and Marianne get in way over their heads.
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J. Edgar Hoover declares war on the Catholic Left. Paul, Marianne and Sarah pull another heist. The Catholic Left strikes a major blow to Hoover, but then Hoover unleashes the full might of the DOJ onto the Catholic Resistance.
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One last giant heist is planned in Camden, New Jersey to prove that Hoover will never crush dissent. It's the biggest, boldest plan any raiders have yet dreamed up. It'll require guts, equipment, know-how, and 28 raiders.
You can check out Anthony Giacchino’s documentary The Camden 28 for more information on this slice of history.
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On the penultimate episode of Divine Intervention, a trial to end all trials goes on for three months. Finally, despite their legal peril, the resistance is able to put the Vietnam War itself on the stand.
You can check out Anthony Giacchino’s documentary The Camden 28 for more information on this slice of history.
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Patrick and Marianne arrive at the only possible solution. Anne and her father confessor do too. Cookie, Sarah, Paul, Anne, Patrick and Marianne find meaning after the war.
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