Why Kill a Priest?

J.G. Reade was Librarian of the Dalhousie Ocean Studies Programme, Dalhousie University, Halifax.

The author is a member of the Scarboro Foreign Mission Society and this book is an account of the murder of another priest of the Society, Father Arthur MacKinnon of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, in Dominica in 1965.

In 1960 Art MacKinnon was sent as a missionary to Dominica, where the Scarboro Society has worked since 1943. Father MacKinnon in the years of service before his death became adjusted to the economic and social conditions of the country, the poverty of its people, the unequal balance of power, and the struggles of the populace to achieve some degree of security and improvement in their lifestyle. He was also aware of the forces used by the government to maintain its hold on the people and the external forces (particularly multinational corporations) supporting the authorities out of a desire to maintain the status quo and prevent the accession of a true democracy.

The advent of the Dominican revolution in April 1965 found Art MacKinnon sympathetic to the rebels, with these sympathies well known in his parish. He worked diligently to release parishioners imprisoned by government forces. On the night of June 22, “Padre Arturo” accompanied two police officers in a jeep to the outskirts of the town of Monte Plata. The bodies of all three were later found in the roadway, beside the vehicle. The evidence of a soldier from the local barracks, that he had shot all three persons, after he had seen the jeep being driven wildly and the occupants had not responded to his challenge, was discounted. The body of Arthur MacKinnon bore signs of bruising and in it were lodged bullets from two different rifles.

The author has been able to uncover little evidence as to who ordered the assassination of Art MacKinnon. He has been able to trace, however, the details of the Father’s years of service in the country and his increasing loyalty to its people, particularly the poor, and their ideals of liberty.

As background to the short description of the life of this priest, the author explains at length the history of revolutionary activity in the Dominican Republic and the support given by the American government to several of its dictators.

Father Steele is obviously in sympathy with the ideals of his murdered colleague. For him, Art MacKinnon is a true martyr, a sacrifice to the state, because of his intense loyalty to and identification with the people of Dominica. Father Steele does not hide the fact that Art MacKinnon was known to be impetuous and have a quick temper (which obviously led to reports of his death being due to his own rash behaviour), but he is also certain as to who are the real villains of this piece, for whom the murderers of Padre Arturo served as expendable minions.

At the heart of this book is the problem of the identification of the clergy, particularly in Latin America, with local movements for social justice and equality. Almost 20 years ago, Art MacKinnon knew where his loyalties should lie. The problem of clergy involvement, however, has not been solved. Unfortunately, neither have the problems of the people for whom Art MacKinnon died.

A disturbing death; a disturbing book.