Father Treacy

I had the privilege of speaking with Father William Tracy at Unity Skagit Valley this evening. Fr. Tracy was born in 1919 in Ireland. Together with Rabbi Raphael Levine and a Protestant minister, he co-hosted the ecumenical 'Challenge' TV program for 14 years on KOMO-TV. Father Tracy and Rabbi Levine purchased a Skagit Valley farm dedicated to fostering understanding among people of all faiths.

At 98 years, Father Treacy is an amazing man who has touched so many lives and 'brought harmony to the human family'. We heard and accept your  challenge to get to know individuals and families from other traditions so that we can make a more harmonious world.

"The Treacy Levine Center is dedicated to promoting understanding, bridging divides, and building relationships amongst people across religious, cultural, ethnic, and social lines through educational and experiential activities. The center's roots lie in the pioneering television interfaith dialogue program, "Challenge," begun in 1960 in response to widespread fear among Americans concerning the prospect of a Catholic president.  As an outgrowth of that dialogue, participants Rabbi Raphael Levine and Father William Treacy founded the Treacy Levine Center in 1966, under its original name, Camp Brotherhood. Located in a stunning natural setting in Skagit County, the center offered programming that broadened its dialogue to include all major world religions as well as secular groups, focusing on cultural and ethnic inclusiveness while addressing social and humanitarian problems, offering interfaith services, and providing a retreat setting for non-profit groups.

A few of the highlights of the camp's history included hosting Kids4Peace and groups from Israel, Palestine, Afghanistan, South Africa, and North Ireland.  A decision to sell the property in 2016 has freed the organization of property maintenance, allowing it to now focus exclusively on developing programs that support its mission.

Current initiatives include the presentation of a major speaking engagement with Jim Wallis, an interfaith youth project focused on the shared value of compassion and culminating in a public art project by teens in Mount Vernon, sponsorship of the Treacy Levine Lecture in Holden Village, and compassionate response to faith communities victimized by hate crimes or vandalism. Father William Treacy remains in his role as Director For Life of the Treacy Levine Center, active on the board, and providing inspiration to all."

"Rabbi Arthur Green, in his book Seek My Face, writes, "Confronting reality as fully as anyone who lives in our world, we know there is another side to reality as well.  The absence of God and the rule of darkness certainly represent a truth, one we cannot deny."  Rabbi Levine and the late William Warren, manager of KOMO-TV, challenged the darkness we faced in America in 1960 when religion was being used to divide people as John F. Kennedy was seeking to be president.  They were successful in launching a weekly TV program, in which I was privileged to take part discussing issues of the day with a Protestant partner.  Six years after the start of the program Rabbi Levine decided to purchase a 300-acre farm for a retreat center where people could come to find light in their lives.  Rabbi Green describes how this can be done:  "The light within us is rekindled when we see a glimpse of that same light shining in another."  People came to the Center during its 50 years of existence from all over the Northwest, from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Israel, Palestine, Belfast and elsewhere, to discover the light in each other.

Treacy Levine has sold the property to Camp Korey which cares for children with life-threatening illnesses free of charge.  In the meantime Treacy Levine will endeavor to share the original vision of Rabbi Levine of promoting peace and unity in the human family by using media, lectures, meetings, etc.  We invite your support to that end." ~ Father Treacy

Photos of Father Treacy and Rabbi Levine

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