Dorothy Day

About Dorothy Day

Dorothy Day was an American journalist, social activist, and founder of the Catholic Worker Movement. After a bohemian youth, abortion, and common-law marriage, Dorothy converted to Catholicism in 1927. With Peter Maurin, she founded the Catholic Worker newspaper and hospitality houses for the poor and homeless. Dorothy combined radical social teaching, pacifism, and traditional Catholic piety. She lived in voluntary poverty, served the poor directly, protested wars, and challenged both capitalist and communist systems. Though controversial, her cause for canonization was opened in 2000. She is a Servant of God.