Monsignor Carl Peter Hensler (November 7, 1898 – November 1984) was an American Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh."Monsignor Carl P. Hensler Dies." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 22, 1984, p. 175 (subscription required). Nicknamed "the Labor Priest" in recognition of the help and support he gave to the Steel Workers union during his early career,"Msgr. Hensler: Pastor of St. George's Keeps Cemetery Trim: It's Labor Priest's Favorite Hobby After Years of Service to Catholics." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 13, 1960, p. 6 (subscription required). he also became a founding member of the Catholic Radical Alliance. Describing the alliance in 1937, Hensler said:"Priests of 'Radical Alliance' Rub Elbows with Strike Pickets" (includes photo of Hensler). Marshfield, Wisconsin: Marshfield News-Herald, October 14, 1937, p. 4 (subscription required).

"We contend that the relationship between Catholicism and Capitalism is one of fundamental opposition, which cannot be removed unless the ax of reform is laid to the very roots."

During the 1950s, he was assigned as pastor of St. George's Catholic Church,"Msgr. Hensler: Pastor of St. George's Keeps Cemetery Trim," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 13, 1960. and was also appointed director of the Institute of Adult Education, which was sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh."Diocesan Classes Open to All Races, Creeds: Teens or Aged Finding Culture, Education at Pittsburgh's Fastest Growing 'School.'" Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, January 19, 1958, p. 4 (subscription required).

Formative years Born in Carnegie, Pennsylvania on November 7, 1898, Carl Peter Hensler was a son of Charles P. Hensler and Margaret E. (Klein) Hensler and the brother of Clara Hensler (later known as Sister Estelle), Paul Joseph Hensler, Cecilia Hensler (married surname Johnson), John Francis Hensler, Mildred Hensler (married surname Graham), and Francis Gerard Hensler."Rev. Carl P. Hensler," in "Summary of Church News." Omaha, Nebraska: Our Sunday Visitor, August 1, 1920, p. 2 (subscription required).

A graduate of St. Joseph's parochial school, he earned Bachelor of Arts and Licentiate in Philosophy degrees from Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania in 1920."Rev. Carl P. Hensler," in "Summary of Church News," Our Sunday Visitor, August 1, 1920.

Theological training and ministry Hensler then pursued theological training at the St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, earning his Master of Arts there in 1922."Rev. Carl P. Hensler," in "Summary of Church News," Our Sunday Visitor, August 1, 1920."Monsignor Carl P. Hensler Dies," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 22, 1984. and at the North American College in Rome, Italy. He was a pupil of minimum wage proponent, John A. Ryan.

He was formally ordained as a priest at the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome on March 15, 1924."Rev. Carl P. Hensler," in "Summary of Church News," Our Sunday Visitor, August 1, 1920.

After initial ministries at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania"Rev. Carl Hensler Has First Service at Mt. Pleasant." Connellsville, Pennsylvania: The Daily Courier, August 12, 1924, p. 10 (subscription required). and at St. Brendan's Catholic Church in Braddock, Pennsylvania,"Braddock." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, September 4, 1927, p. 52 (subscription required). he left for China on August 7, 1930 to help establish the Catholic University of Peking."Scenes at Catholic University and Priests Who Will Teach There." Latrobe, Pennsylvania: The Latrobe Bulletin, July 28, 1930, p. 11 (subscription required)."Monsignor Carl P. Hensler Dies," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 22, 1984."Msgr. Hensler: Pastor of St. George's Keeps Cemetery Trim," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 13, 1960. His time there was challenging due to political unrest in the region and the escalating conflict between China and Japan, as well as the school's financial instability."Catholic U. of Peking Is Carrying On." Brooklyn, New York: The Tablet, March 5, 1932, p. 16 (subscription required)."Chinese Desert Colleges, Join Shanghai Army: Warfare with Japan Causes Universities to Collapse." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, February 26, 1932, p. 2 (subscription required)."Catholic University in Need of Funds." Latrobe, Pennsylvania: The Latrobe Bulletin, February 20, 1932, front page (subscription required).

By the end of 1933, he was back in Pittsburgh, celebrating Christmas masses as an assistant pastor at St. Lawrence Church."Church Activities." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, December 16, 1933, p. 16 (subscription required)."Rev. Hensler to Lecture." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, September 22, 1935, p. 2 (subscription required). During this period of his life, he also became a founding member of the Catholic Radical Alliance with two other Roman Catholic priests, Charles Owen Rice and George Barry O'Toole."Priests of 'Radical Alliance' Rub Elbows with Strike Pickets" (includes photo of Hensler), Marshfield News-Herald, October 14, 1937. In December 1934, he presented a lecture to the St. Lawrence Parent Teachers' Association, entitled "Human Rights Versus Property Rights.""Activities Are Listed by P.T.A." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, December 23, 1934, p. 20 (subscription required).

In 1951, he was appointed as the pastor of St. George's Church."Msgr. Hensler: Pastor of St. George's Keeps Cemetery Trim," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 13, 1960. In 1958, he became the director of the Institute of Adult Education, which was sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh."Diocesan Classes Open to All Races, Creeds: Teens or Aged Finding Culture, Education at Pittsburgh's Fastest Growing 'School,'" The Pittsburgh Press, January 19, 1958, p. 4.

Hensler died at the age of 86 at the North Hills Passavant Hospital on November 21, 1984.Kenneth J. Heineman A Catholic New Deal: Religion and Reform in Depression Pittsburgh. Penn State Press, 1999 page 211 "Monsignor Carl P. Hensler Dies," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 22, 1984. Funeral masses were held at St. Wendelin Church in Carrick, Pennsylvania on November 23 and 24."Masses for priest." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 23, 1984, p. 10 (subscription required)."Hensler" (funeral notice). Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 22, 1984, p. 175 (subscription required).

References

Sources Archives of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Record Group 22, subgroup 01I