Rebecca Alpert Jim Biechler Marcus Braybrooke Ellen T. Charry Leobard D'Souza David Efroymson Gabriele Feyler Stefan Feyler Eugene Fisher Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer Krystina Gorniak-Kocikowska Yitz Greenberg Wan-Li Ho Sanaullah Kirmani Reinhard Kirste Hans Küng Lihua Liu Jack Malinowski Patricia Martinez Sergio Mazza Alan Mittleman Ronald Modras Paul Mojzes Malcolm Nazareth Angelika Quade Ida Raming Virginia Kaib Ratigan John Sahadat Simone Schaupp Ingrid Shafer Shu-hsien Liu Thomas Thompson Catherine Berry Stidsen

Jim Biechler "Pray that your flight be not in the winter," Jesus told his disciples concerning the last days. I was once called to make a flight in the winter and Len and Arlene Swidler were there to receive and welcome me after my journey. It was on January 25, 1967, the feast of the conversion of St. Paul (I remember that detail because as students in the St. Paul Seminary we always looked forward to that day as the beginning of our mid-term vacation) that I left the Diocese of LaCrosse and began the process of my laicization from the priesthood. Four months earlier I had met and fallenl in love with Rose Marie Ward and after an agonizing period of discernment realized that the celibate life was not my calling. During that period of discernment I received the counsel of Jack Swidler who was then with the Catholic Social Services in the Diocese of LaCrosse. It was he who suggested that I might want to pursue a career in religious studies and told me of the program at Temple University where his brother "Leo" was a professor. Until then I had entertained only the possibility of philosophy as an option and had suggested to the bishop, who was concerned about the "scandal" I would cause by resigning as his secretary and defender of the bond in the matrimonial tribunal, that he obviate that "scandal" by sending me for further studies at Catholic University where I had earlier received the degree of licentiate in canon law. He thought that might be a good solution but several weeks later informed me that he would not agree to do that. On the night of January 24 I went to the bishop's home to say good bye. As he suspended me from priestly ministry and cut off my salary and insurance benefits, I knelt down, kissed his ring, and said good bye. The next morning I drove my car with its small U-Haul trailer containing all my worldly possessions out of the seminary grounds and turned in the direction of Pennsylvania. I stopped in Pittsburgh to pick up Rose Marie and together we headed to Philadelphia. There we were greeted by Len and Arlene who shared with us their generous hospitality. With the U-Haul parked behind their home they were true friends sharing advice, food, and personal acceptance. They made my painful transition a bearable and positive experience. During my years at Temple University Len and Arlene were always there as friends and professional models. Len has a way of bringing out the best in a person by suggesting projects and opportunities for service. I remember the time he brought Hans Küng to Temple for a presentation. This was after Küng had his troubles with the Vatican. Len asked me, as a member of the religion department at LaSalle University, to say a simple word of welcome in the name of LaSalle. A few days later the president of La Salle called me and said, "Jim, the time has come to discuss the meaning of the word 'sponsorship.'" I hadn't the slightest idea what he was talking about; the question came out of the blue as I was sitting at my desk eating my lunch. Then he explained that he was referring to the Küng presentation and the association of La Salle's name with that event. Apparently someone had complained to him about that. I then had to explain that it was not I who authorized the "sponsorship" but the chairman of the religion department, Br. Edward Davis. Nothing further came of the matter but it illustrates the kind of trouble you can get into by associating with Len Swidler! He also kept me OUT of trouble by making me book review editor of his Journal of Ecumenical Studies. I was able to hold that position for only a year or so but my 30 published book reviews in his journal are further indications of his influence on my life. Since our retirement Rose Marie and I have not had the good fortune of continuing our social connections with Len and Arlene. My years on the board of directors of the Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church gave me the opportunity to see Len once or twice a year but those moments were brief and preoccupied. We did have the unexpected pleasure of a visit from Len's brother, Jack, to our home on Lake Ripley a few years ago. I will always be in his debt for making the connection which led to years of association with Len and Arlene Anderson Swidler.

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