Andrew Greeley, Outspoken Priest and Writer, Dies at 85

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Eternal rest grant unto Fr. Greeley, O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
 
*He was exuberantly combative. He could be scathing about the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops; at one point he described them as “morally, intellectually and religiously bankrupt.” If the church wanted “to salvage American Catholicism,” he wrote, it would be well advised to retire “a considerable number of mitered birdbrains.” *

I don’t think I’m too keen on his steamy writings, but how did I miss this? :crying:
 
I am so sad to hear this. While I did not agree with much of his politics, I did enjoy his books. He was a good storyteller and I enjoyed following his characters and the family sagas. My prayers for he and his family.
 
po18guy said:
Eternal rest grant unto Fr. Greeley, O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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Amen.
 
Just finding out about this, very interesting, he lived in the famous John Hancock building and the poor man was hurt badly in an accident by the below. God Bless His Soul.
Greeley died in his sleep at his Chicago apartment in the swanky John Hancock Center, his spokeswoman June Rosner said.
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The popular priest had been in declining health for last five years after fracturing his skull in a freak accident when his jacket snagged on a taxi cab door and he was pulled to the pavement.
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Read more: nydailynews.com/news/national/rev-andrew-greeley-outspoken-priest-dies-85-article-1.1358805#ixzz2UpS4AwsI
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He wrote books on Irish history, I know of a Priest who is extremely well-versed in history, so I think quite a few are and it is a fascinating subject.
 
Catholic dIssident, pro-abortion, pro-contraception, anti-papal anything, this priest was antagonistic towards any Church authority and wrote soft-porn on the side. My mom used to read his novels and she had some pretty interesting ideas about the Church, and I couldn’t convince her to do research in more reputable places. Greeley needs our prayers, but let’s not gloss over his negative influence from his decades of subversive prose, articles, and homilies.
 
I wouldn’t call his books soft porn. And if he was not pro life I am unaware of that.
 
Go to any search engine on the internet and type in “catholic dissent greeley”, and see the many places where you can read about Greeley and his contrary-to-the-faith ideas. He was an advocate for women’s “reproductive rights,” especially in the developing world, and he encouraged Catholics to vote for pro-abortion politicians. He called pro-life leaders all sorts of ugly names, and figured other issues like the death penalty are just as important as the anti-abortion work. He took a stand against the death penalty but not against abortion.

And yes, he writes steamy adult-only novels:

nwitimes.com/entertainment/columnists/offbeat/author-rev-andrew-greeley-back-home-and-on-the-mend/article_5fbf71c1-aaad-5d13-af55-6ef37f02ffb3.html
A better question might be: What didn’t make it controversial?
For starters, the book jacket featured a shapely nude female figure draped in a scarlet red regal cloak of fabric.
The book included adult themes, adult language, sexual situations, adultery, homosexuality, scandal, gossip and more.

I tried reading one of Greeley’s novels, before I knew who he was. It was disgusting and scandalous; surely there is a better way of expressing one’s views in fiction rather than sordid bedroom scenes?

And another quote:
*
catholicleague.org/greeley-and-martin-strange-bedfellows/
For Greeley, the Church is comprised of women-hating, elitist bureaucrats bent on secrecy. Father Greeley introduces us to financial scandals in the Vatican, deranged anti-abortionists, a Church that ignores the laity and an authoritarianism that would make the Pentagon blush*
 
casey_zia said:
Go to any search engine on the internet and type in “catholic dissent greeley”, and see the many places where you can read about Greeley and his contrary-to-the-faith ideas. He was an advocate for women’s “reproductive rights,” especially in the developing world, and he encouraged Catholics to vote for pro-abortion politicians. He called pro-life leaders all sorts of ugly names, and figured other issues like the death penalty are just as important as the anti-abortion work. He took a stand against the death penalty but not against abortion.

And yes, he writes steamy adult-only novels:

nwitimes.com/entertainment/columnists/offbeat/author-rev-andrew-greeley-back-home-and-on-the-mend/article_5fbf71c1-aaad-5d13-af55-6ef37f02ffb3.html
A better question might be: What didn’t make it controversial?
For starters, the book jacket featured a shapely nude female figure draped in a scarlet red regal cloak of fabric.
The book included adult themes, adult language, sexual situations, adultery, homosexuality, scandal, gossip and more.

I tried reading one of Greeley’s novels, before I knew who he was. It was disgusting and scandalous; surely there is a better way of expressing one’s views in fiction rather than sordid bedroom scenes?

And another quote:
*
catholicleague.org/greeley-and-martin-strange-bedfellows/*
For Greeley, the Church is comprised of women-hating, elitist bureaucrats bent on secrecy. Father Greeley introduces us to financial scandals in the Vatican, deranged anti-abortionists, a Church that ignores the laity and an authoritarianism that would make the Pentagon blush
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Cut the guy some slack. He’s dead already.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the soul of Thy departed servant Father Andrew Greeley the full remission of all his sins, that through our pious supplications he may obtain that pardon which he has always desired, Thou Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

V. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon him.
V. May the Divine Assistance remain always with us.
R. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen.
 
Whether or not you agree with him, he was always one of my favourites and an inspiration to many. I’ve been thinking about him and praying for him all day.

Lord, forgive him his sins and grant him eternal rest in your Kingdom. Amen.
 
casey_zia said:
Catholic dIssident, pro-abortion, pro-contraception, anti-papal anything, this priest was antagonistic towards any Church authority and wrote soft-porn on the side. My mom used to read his novels and she had some pretty interesting ideas about the Church, and I couldn’t convince her to do research in more reputable places. Greeley needs our prayers, but let’s not gloss over his negative influence from his decades of subversive prose, articles, and homilies.
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While he often mentioned that many people do support abortion being available under certain circumstances, I have never seen anything in which he personally supported abortion. I trust you can provide a source for that accusation?
He certainly was extremely critical of what he saw as a disconnect, in the hierarchy, between preaching and action on the subject. Come to think of it, I’ve seen some of that same criticism here on CAF.

While we’re at it, let’s also “not gloss over” the fact that he was one of the earliest, loudest, and most fearless critics of the church’s mishandling of the sexual abuse scandal – he most certainly was antagonistic toward mis-used authority. And you’ve obviously never read any of his non-fiction on Catholicism, which is a great loss to you. It seems obvious, from your second post, that you base your opinion of him on the opinions of others, not on your own knowledge of him.

He was also criticised by many “liberals” for his defenses of priestly celibacy, and insistence that bad homilies are hurting church attendance. You think this is bad?

I’m sorry you blame him for your mother’s opinions, and don’t think she was capable of forming her own.
 
I used to hope for fame when I was young and didn’t know better, now I pray to never be in the public eye. All the more people to pick you apart whether you’re living or dead.

Fr. Greely, may you rest in peace in the loving arms of the Lord.:signofcross:
 
MikkiD said:
I wouldn’t call his books soft porn. And if he was not pro life I am unaware of that.
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I read I believe 2 of his novels, I remember, The Cardinal Sins and* Ascent into Hell. .*

I don’t recall them being soft-porn or porn at all. I was about 18 or so when I read them.

His style of writing and story telling reminded me a great deal of Sidney Sheldon, whom I also used to read a great deal of back then. I actually think Sheldon was significantly more risque’. It’s been about 25 years though.
 
I regret saying Greeley was pro-abortion. It’s hard to pin him down, from his writings. He was antagonistic towards pro-lifers, like they were missing something theologically important in their protection of the unborn. He opined that “Catholic resistance to abortion was weakened by the Catholic pro-life identification of birth control with abortion.” So this was a sore point for him, in his support of contraception (he was one of the first dissident clergy to speak out against Humanae Vitae), and perhaps his own “weakened resistance to abortion” in light of the abortifacient effects of the Pill.

His novels are “steamy”, “trash”, “racy” (quotes from reviewers who like his stuff, so don’t hit me on this one!), which I experienced in my choice of trying to get through one of his books. I never did read his other nonfiction works, though with his anti-Church, anti-papacy, anti-tradition system of beliefs, I can’t believe his works wouldn’t be severely biased.

He encouraged people to practice “being Catholic on their own terms.” That’s an oxymoron, and builds a smorgasbord.

And, to be clear, I am praying for him. * Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him…*
 
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