# Quixote Center

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The '''Quixote Center''' is a social justice group in [Maryland](/source/Maryland) founded by Catholic priest [William R. Callahan](/source/William_R._Callahan_(priest)) and [Dolores "Dolly" Pomerleau](/source/Dolores_C._Pomerleau)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dolly Pomerleau |url=https://quixote.org/people/dolly-pomerleau |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=Quixote Center |language=en}}</ref> in 1976.<ref>{{Cite web |title=QUIXOTE CENTER RECORDS, 1972-2012 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY/SCOPE AND CONTENT // Archives // Raynor Memorial Libraries // Marquette University |url=https://www.marquette.edu/library/archives/Mss/QC/QC-sc.php |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=www.marquette.edu}}</ref>

== History ==
The Quixote Center achieved prominence in its support of the ideals of the [Sandinista](/source/Sandinista_National_Liberation_Front) government of Nicaragua in the 1980s.  The Center raised more than $100 million in humanitarian aid for the Nicaraguan people.<ref>"Rev. William R. Callahan Dies at 78; Dissident Who Challenged Vatican," Douglas Martin, New York Times, July 10, 2010, [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/us/11callahan.html]</ref>  Although the Center did not officially take sides during the revolution in Nicaragua, its work was described by [The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times) as "intensely political" and the aid it sent went largely to assist victims of the Contra War. A leader at the Center described U.S. efforts in Nicaragua as a "policy of terrorism."  Some critics accused the Center of following a [Marxist](/source/Marxist) agenda and the [United States Department of the Treasury](/source/United_States_Department_of_the_Treasury) investigated allegations that Quixote Center had smuggled guns, but no charges were brought and leaders of the Center described the allegations as politically motivated.<ref>"A Mayoral Hopeful Now, de Blasio Was Once a Young Leftist," Javier Hernandez, [New York Times](/source/New_York_Times), [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/23/nyregion/a-mayoral-hopeful-now-de-blasio-was-once-a-young-leftist.html?pagewanted=all]</ref>

The Center has actively opposed the death penalty.<ref>"Ideas & Trends; Death and the White House," Jim Yardley, New York Times, Dec. 17, 2000 [https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/17/weekinreview/ideas-trends-death-and-the-white-house.html]</ref>

Former New York City Mayor [Bill de Blasio](/source/Bill_de_Blasio) worked for the Center in 1988.<ref>"A Mayoral Hopeful Now, de Blasio Was Once a Young Leftist," Javier Hernandez, [New York Times](/source/New_York_Times), [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/23/nyregion/a-mayoral-hopeful-now-de-blasio-was-once-a-young-leftist.html?pagewanted=all]</ref>

== Support for the Equal Rights Amendment ==
In the 1970s and early 1980s, many activists affiliated with the Quixote Center supported the ratification of the [Equal Rights Amendment](/source/Equal_Rights_Amendment) including Sister [Maureen Fiedler](/source/Maureen_Fiedler).<ref>{{Cite web |title=QUIXOTE CENTER RECORDS PROGRAMS, 1975-2010 Scope and Content Note // Archives // Raynor Memorial Libraries // Marquette University |url=https://www.marquette.edu/library/archives/Mss/QC/QC-series5-sc.php |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=www.marquette.edu}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [Catholics Act for Choice](/source/Catholics_Act_for_Choice)
* [Donna Quinn](/source/Donna_Quinn)
* [Margaret Traxler](/source/Margaret_Traxler)
* [Marjorie Tuite](/source/Marjorie_Tuite)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
*[https://www.marquette.edu/library/archives/Mss/QC/QC-Main.shtml The Quixote Center Records] at Marquette University
*[https://ecommons.udayton.edu/finding_aid/27/ "Guide to the Harriette Lane Baggett Papers"] Collection of Harriette Lane Baggett's papers from her activism in Catholic feminist organizations housed in the University of Dayton's U.S. Catholic Special Collection

Category:Organizations based in Maryland
Category:Catholic lay organisations
Category:Equal Rights Amendment activists
Category:Catholic feminism
Category:Feminism in Maryland

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Quixote Center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quixote_Center) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quixote_Center?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.