CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAS

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) is a charitable organization of Catholic lay and religious women who "strive to embrace the principle of faith working through love in the promotion of justice, equality, and the advancement of human rights and human dignity for all." Incorporated in Utica, NY, June 18, 1903, as a parallel organization to the Knights of Columbus, the organization assumed the name "Catholic Daughters of America" in 1921 to distinguish it from another offshoot of the Knights of Columbus called the "Daughters of Isabella." Recognizing its members in Mexico and the Caribbean, the 1978 CDA convention delegates changed the name from "America" to "Americas."

From the outset members organized into groups at the local level called "courts." Their early goals included "the propagation and preservation of the Faith, the intensification of patriotism, the spiritual and intellectual development of Catholic womanhood and the promotion of Catholic charitable projects." The CDA grew quickly in membership, developing a nationwide structure. According to its constitution and bylaws, the local and state courts, and the national court meet periodically under the leadership of a regent. Members elect delegates to a national biennial convention. National officers and directors assist the national regent (formerly called supreme regent) in the spiritual, philanthropic, legislative, patriotic, and social activities of the CDA. Under the jurisdiction of the state courts, girls ages six to eighteen comprise the Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas (JCDA). A national youth chairman works with state and local courts to support their meetings and activities.

From the beginning the CDA had a publication to inform the membership about issues of interest and significance to women. The national publication has held various titles: the Herald (1904), Woman's Voice (1930), News and Views (1952), and Share (1970).

Initially, the Knights of Columbus guided the women, helping them draft their original bylaws and their ceremonial and initiation rites. For a few years Knights occupied several leadership positions at the national level and assisted at CDA initiation rituals and the establishment of new courts. Members used secret passwords for several decades to verify their eligibility to attend meetings as members in good standing.

The years of greatest growth and change were during the long-time regency of Mary C. Duffy (1923–1950) when she led the CDA to national, and eventually to international, recognition. She moved CDA headquarters from Utica to New York City and increased dues to establish a national fund for philanthropic action. Duffy organized the activities of the CDA into departments led by national directors and loosened the ties with the Knights of Columbus, giving the CDA greater autonomy. She was the first regent to choose a national chaplain from the American hierarchy. In the 1920s and 1930s the CDA promoted catechetical work and other pastoral ministries. During the World War II years, under Duffy's leadership, the CDA participated in war-relief efforts, and after the war vigorously supported post-war charitable and rehabilitative projects.

Working closely with American bishops in the decades after World War II, the CDA partnered projects with the National Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities USA, and the National Catholic Education Association. Courts at all levels supported the construction of chapels, and the educational work of the Catholic University of louvain (Leuven) in Belgium, The catholic university of america in Washington, D.C., and the north american college in Rome.

In its first hundred years the Catholic Daughters developed a close relationship with Catholic bishops and church leaders in the Americas and abroad. The national regent became an ex officio observer at the fall meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Her membership on the board of Morality in Media indicates the CDA's long-time concern about the impact of the entertainment medium in American culture.

CDA membership rose from 60 in 1903 to 214,092 in 1962. It totaled 107,600 by the year 2001, with courts throughout the United States, the Dominican Republic, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and the Virgin Islands. At one time courts also met in Canada, Cuba, and Panama.

Bibliography: The papers and publications of the CDA are in the archives of The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. Of particular note are the issues of Share commemorating the fiftieth, sixtieth, seventieth, and seventy-fifth anniversaries of the CDA. Other important sources of information about the CDA include: m. dvoracek, "Glorious History: Joy in the Beginning," Share (summer 1993) 32–35; r. mclaughlin, "Down Memory Lane in CDA History," Share (fall 1999) 11–13; s. rytlewski, "JCDA/Youth: Reviewing the Past, Looking to the Future," Share (fall 1999) 16–17; g. j. hebert and h. joyce, The Catholic Daughters of the Americas: 1903–1986, revised and updated by Edna Jane Nolte and Thomas Finney (1986).

[c. d. clement]