Born in Providence, Rhode Island, on August 20, 1912, Edward H. Flannery was ordained priest for the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island in 1937. Father Flannery earned a bachelor's degree in the Seminary of Saint Sulpice in Paris, and a master's degree at Catholic University. He received the Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Hebrew Union College. Father Flannery is the author of Anguish of the Jews: Twenty-three Centuries of Anti-Semitism. He received the Benemerenti Medal from Pope Paul VI, as well as numerous awards and citations from the National Conference of Christians and Jews and other organizations. In conferring him the Isaiah award, the American Jewish Committee described Father Flannery as a "distinguished priest, fighter for justice, friend of Jewish people, and servant of humanity. He epitomizes the injunction of the prophet…Learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed." (Isaiah 1:17)

Father Flannery served as associate director of the Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies at Seton Hall University (1965-67) and editor of the Providence Visitor, among other posts. For ten years (1967-77), he served as Executive Secretary of the Secretariat for Catholic-Jewish Relations of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Later he became director of the Diocesan of Providence Office of Continuing Education of the Clergy in the Diocese of Providence (1976-86). Father Flannery was president of the National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel (1985-88). He died at the age of 86 on October 19, 1998.