David Goldstein (Catholic apologist)

David Goldstein (1870-1958) was a Jewish convert to the Roman Catholic Church.
==Early life==
David Goldstein was born to a Dutch Jewish family that migrated first to England and then to the United States. His parents were strong proponents of socialism, and inculcated these ideas into him from early childhood. 
==Socialist==
Goldstein quit school at eleven years, and began to work as a tobacco stripper. His real education began here, from his fellow-workers, to people such as Samuel Gompers and Henry George, who the young Goldstein supported in his run for Mayor of New York City in 1886. Gompers would remain an influence throughout his life. 
In 1888 Goldstein's family moved to Boston, where, inspired by Edward Bellamy's Looking Backward, he decided to work to improve the lot of American workers. In 1895 he joined the Socialist Labor Party of America, where he met Martha Gallison Moore Avery, who had also been influenced by Bellamy and who became Goldstein's lifelong friend and mentor. Goldstein became the Secretary of the Boston School of Political Economy, an institution founded by Avery in 1899. 
==Disenchantment with socialism==
In response to the activities and teachings of the Christian Socialist George D. Herron, they gradually became disenchanted with what they saw as the irreligious and immoral implications of a socialist society until, in 1902, they proposed a motion at the Massachusetts Socialist convention to formally repudiate any socialists who attacked religion or advocated violence or free love. After the defeat of their motion by the convention, they withdrew from the Socialist party and became fervent anti-socialists, jointly publishing a book, Socialism: The Nation of Fatherless Children, in 1903.
Soon after, they both decided to convert to Catholicism in 1905 and 1904 respectively, and became outspoken opponents of socialism. Both became involved with Fr. Peter Dietz' Militia of Christ, a movement to inoculate Catholic workers against the inroads of socialism and communism into the union movement. Goldstein began using the Boston School of Political Economy to publicize his opposition to socialism and communism. As a socialist and a Jew who had converted to Catholicism, Goldstein quickly became a sensation in Catholic circles, and rose to become a prominent lecturer around the United States for the Militia of Christ.
Goldstein also became deeply involved in evangelizing the Jews, authoring several prominent books and tracts designed to be used by Christian apologists working with Jews. He founded the Catholic Truth Guild in 1917 along with Martha Moore Avery. In 1936 he founded the Catholic Campaigners for ChristDavid Goldstein, The Autobiography of a Campaigner for Christ, Boston, Catholic Campaigners for Christ, 1936..
==Legacy==
Following Vatican II, Goldstein became unfashionable. His writings are considered in some circles as offensive to Jews, and therefore a hindrance to inter-religious dialogue. However, he is still greatly revered by, extensively relied upon, and quoted, by Traditionalist Catholics. Perhaps, the most famous and relied upon apologetical book by David Goldstein is What Say You?
== Writings ==
* Suicide Bent: Sangerizing Mankind. St. Paul: Radio Replies Press, 1945.
* Jewish Panorama. Boston: Catholic Campaigners for Christ, 1940.
* Letters, Hebrew-Catholic, to Mr. Isaacs. St. Paul: Radio Replies Press, 1943.
* What Say You? St. Paul: Radio Replies Press, 1945.
* Socialism: The Nation of Fatherless Children. (With Martha Moore Avery). Boston: T.J. Flynn & co., 1911.
==References==
==Sources==
* American Catholics of the Past
* History of the Labor Movement in the United States
* A Catholic Salvation Army: David Goldstein, Pioneer Lay Evangelist
Category:1870 births
Category:1958 deaths
Category:American Jews
Category:American Roman Catholics
Category:Converts to Roman Catholicism from Judaism
Category:Dutch Jews
Category:English Jews
Category:Socialism