Edward E. Swanstrom was born on March 20, 1903, in New York City.
Education
He graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1924. He studied for the priesthood at Saint John"s Seminary in Brooklyn and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn on June 2, 1928. Swanstrom earned a diploma from the New York School of Social Work (now Columbia University School of Social Work) in 1933 and a Doctor of Philosophy from Fordham in 1938.
Career
French His doctoral dissertation concerned the problems of waterfront laborers in Brooklyn. Swanstrom was curate at Saint James Pro-Cathedral in Brooklyn from 1934 to 1960. He took on additional responsibilities as assistant diocesan director of Catholic Charities from 1933 to 1943, assistant executive director of Catholic Relief Services from 1943 to 1947, and finally as executive director of Congressional Research Service from 1947 to 1976.
Catholic Relief Services was originally intended as a temporary effort of the United States. bishops to assist World World War II refugees and POWs, but by 1955 the organization became permanent, and assisted victims of natural disasters as well as victims of war.
In its earlier years, Congressional Research Service concentrated on resettling refugees and sending supplies of food, clothing, and medicine to areas of need. Later, Congressional Research Service began efforts to foster economic development in the areas it serves, particularly in the Third World.
During his tenure at Congressional Research Service, his offices at the Empire State Building were among those destroyed when a B-25 Mitchell bomber accidentally crashed into the building. He was not there when incident happened, but his secretary was among those that were killed.
In 1960, Swanstrom was appointed auxiliary bishop of New York by Pope John XXIII. He also served as pastor of Saint Andrew"s Church in New York City from 1965 to 1973 while remaining executive director of Catholic Relief Services.
With American involvement in the Vietnam War, Congressional Research Service began substantial operations in southeast Asia. Swanstrom and Congressional Research Service were heavily criticized by the Catholic Peace Fellowship for concentrating their efforts in South Vietnam. In 1967, it was alleged by the Certified Financial Planner that Congressional Research Service" single largest food distribution program was being used by the United States. and South Vietnamese governments as a pay program for South Vietnamese militiamen and their families.
If so, said the Certified Financial Planner , Catholic Relief Services was merely an agent of American governmental policy rather than an impartial provider of needed services to the people of Vietnam.
Bishop Swanstrom replied that aid to North Vietnam was probably against United States. law, and that there was no assurance that Congressional Research Service aid would not be used for military purposes. He made several trips to Vietnam from 1956 to 1968 to oversee Congressional Research Service operations there.
Bishop Swanstrom retired on March 20, 1978 and lived in New York City until his death in 1985. He held honorary degrees from Catholic University, Iona College, and Saint John"s University.
He was named an assistant at the papal throne in 1977.
He was the author of two books: "The Waterfront Labor Problem: A Study in Decasualization and Unemployment Insurance" (1938 dissertation), and "Pilgrims of the Night: A Study of Expelled Peoples" (1950).
Membership
While at Fordham he was a member of the varsity track team, captaining it his senior year.