Fr Richard Rohr?

[aroosi]

Anybody is familiar with his writings? Somebody recommended me one of his books but when I started reading online reviews they were either very bad or very good. Is he a writer in line with Catholic teachings?

 

[Michael96]

I think if you are looking for something ‘traditional’ you might be best to avoid Fr. Rohr. I find him quite thought-provoking, if a little hectoring and condescending at times. I would say to read if you don’t mind being challenged and know how to take what is useful and to leave what is not. I wouldn’t recommend him to someone getting to know the Catholic faith.

 

[Gorgias]

Is he a writer in line with Catholic teachings?

I’m not a fan. If any Catholic – let alone an ordained priest! – calls himself a teacher of “Alternative Orthodoxy”, and holds “the Perennial Tradition” above the revelation of Christ… then I say they’re not worth my time.

 

[commenter]

The problem with his writings is that they are not “alternative” enough. The only orthodoxy he disagrees with is Catholicism. Most of his ideas reflect the secular media culture.

 

[christofirst]

I’ve read a few of his books, and I’ve enjoyed them, with the understanding that he is purposefully on the margins of traditional Catholic teaching. He often pushes the envelope, and many of the faithful cannot accept or even consider some of his thoughts and teaching.

 

[Lee1]

I was recommended him by a fellow parishioner who I trust and I mentioned I was reading his work to my priest and he became …animated! I ceased reading immediately.

I have the Didache Bible with commentaries based on the catechism of the Catholic Church, the commentaries are very good.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I receive Fr Rohr’s daily meditations and enjoy them for the most part.

Whenever I’ve been uncomfortable with a position, I just let it go, but after time they became clear and I saw his reasoning.

One of the things I did learn is that there are two paths of theology and Fr Rohr follows the Franciscan path, which is the same as what Pope Francis seems to follow. Of course we know what many so-called traditionalist think of Pope Francis.

Anyway, Fr Rohr is probably spiritually deeper than some Catholics can handle, so it’s best for them to find a different teacher.

Fr Rohr understands the teachings of other main stream religions and is able to show the similarities between Catholicism and them, I enjoyed his medication on Hindu Spirituality.

Jim

 

[JimR-OCDS]

But Fr Rohr is in union with Rome.

Nothing he teaches on Catholicism goes against Catholic Doctrine.

He very focused on Contemplative Prayer and finds it the deepest level of prayer, as St Teresa of Avila did.

Jim

 

[Crocus]

I receive Fr Rohr’s daily meditations and enjoy them for the most part.

I receive his daily meditation also. I skipped over his recent series on non Christian religions. But I kept and will go back to read again his social justice series.

 

[mrsdizzyd]

Thanks for prompting me to search for him.

I read the last couple weeks of reflections… very thought provoking! I promptly signed up for the emails.

Perhaps people are uncomfortable with how much he references insights from other religions? As the CCC states, most religions contain nuggets of truth even as they lack the fullness of the one true faith.

 

[Deditus_Domina]

I wouldn’t waste time with Rohr. At best his writings are questionable. There are hundreds, if not thousands of highly readable and totally faithful books out there. Why waste time on books that are questionable?

Rohr may be part of the modern Franciscan tradition but I don’t think Francis, Bonaventure or Duns Scotus would agree with him.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

I wouldn’t waste time with Rohr. At best his writings are questionable. There are hundreds, if not thousands of highly readable and totally faithful books out there. Why waste time on books that are questionable?

Rohr may be part of the modern Franciscan tradition but I don’t think Francis, Bonaventure or Duns Scotus would agree with him.

I know many agree with you, yet Fr Rohr is one of the most widely read teachers from the RC tradition today. He is greatly respected both by Catholics and non-Catholics.

I think that 60 years ago, people were saying similar things about Thomas Merton. ‘What is all this about his interest in other religions? Especially the Eastern ones? Why can’t he be a good Trappist monk and stay home?’ And here he is, on the road to sainthood. Many of our true mystics and prophets are outside the margins of what is ‘orthodox.’ I say, Thank God for that.

 

[Shakuhachi]

I have read probabaly 4 books and enjoyed them. Challenging but helpful.

 

[Gorgias]

he is purposefully on the margins of traditional Catholic teaching. He often pushes the envelope, and many of the faithful cannot accept or even consider some of his thoughts and teaching.

Don’t you think that, as a Catholic priest, he has the responsibility not to be “on the margins”, but rather, to teach authentic Catholic doctrine?

 

[christofirst]

As others have said, there are plenty of priests who do teach straight from the Catechism. I’m only speculating, but I think perhaps Fr. Richard Rohr considers a substantial part of his unique ministry is to reach out to those members of the Church who also consider themselves on the margins; those of us who struggle with some or many aspects of the Faith as it has been traditionally taught. The fact that, to my knowledge, he has never been officially silenced or censured by his religious superiors and those with actual authority over him demonstrates his rare ability to connect with questioning souls and the disaffected among us, while remaining true to his vocation and to the Church.

 

[Gorgias]

Fr. Richard Rohr considers a substantial part of his unique ministry is to reach out to those members of the Church who also consider themselves on the margins; those of us who struggle with some or many aspects of the Faith as it has been traditionally taught.

That’s a reasonable enough take on it.

Why, though, is it reasonable to preach a Catholicism that’s not authentic to the teachings of the Church? If folks are on the margins, shouldn’t we be teaching them truth, rather than affirming their marginally true beliefs?

The fact that, to my knowledge, he has never been officially silenced or censured by his religious superiors and those with actual authority over him demonstrates his rare ability to connect with questioning souls and the disaffected among us, while remaining true to his vocation and to the Church.

To me, it simply demonstrates that they have bigger fish to fry…

 

[Rob2]

One of the things I did learn is that there are two paths of theology and Fr Rohr follows the Franciscan path, which is the same as what Pope Francis seems to follow

I have to disagree @JimR-OCDS .

Pope Francis’ path is Ignatian .

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Pope Francis chose his name after St Francis of Assisi.

His actions reflect the spirituality of St Francis.

Are Ignatian and Franciscan Theology methods the same ?

The spirituality of both traditions are the same, but I’m not a theologian who can say what they share in that method.

Fr Rohr is the one who presented the difference between Franciscan Theology and Institutional Theology which the Church has leaned toward more after becoming part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Jim

 

[Rob2]

Pope Francis chose his name after St Francis of Assisi.

His actions reflect the spirituality of St Francis.

Are Ignatian and Franciscan Theology methods the same ?

The spirituality of both traditions are the same, but I’m not a theologian who can say what they share in that method.

Fr Rohr is the one who presented the difference between Franciscan Theology and Institutional Theology which the Church has leaned toward more after becoming part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Jim

Yes , but Pope Francis chose his spirituality from St Ignatius of Loyola when he became a Jesuit .

I would say that to understand Pope Francis well entails some understanding of what is involved in particular in the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius .

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Ignatian spirituality as all the Catholic Traditions, have much in common.

Fr Rohr is talking about theological methods, not spirituality.

Of course Pope Francis being an a Jesuit, would’ve been trained in Ignatian Theology, which being a religious order, may follow the same as Franciscans.

Again, I’m not a theologian, so I don’t know.

Jim