Fr. Groeschel and the Gray Lady

Yesterday's issue of The New York Times has a profile of priest and author Father Benedict Groeschel (ht: Amy Welborn). Turns out (!) to be a fine piece. A couple of excerpts:

Father Groeschel lives in a converted garage next to the retreat house, in a cell-like bedroom that looks out on the Long Island Sound. Beneath his long white beard and kind demeanor is a wise-cracking, street-smart Jersey boy who is unafraid of ruffling feathers. He preaches orthodox Catholicism in the retreats he leads around the world, on his popular show on the Catholic cable network, and in the three dozen religious books he has written — forums in which he is well known for outspoken attacks on hypocrisy, bureaucratic complacency and the news media. ...

Since the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, fighting abortion is a top priority for Father Groeschel, who has made it a point of praying outside abortion clinics when he can. He was arrested in 1995 for praying in the driveway of the Women’s Medical Pavilion, a Dobbs Ferry clinic that offered abortions, where demonstrators on both sides of the abortion issue protested weekly for decades until it was closed in 2002.

The church’s views on issues like abortion and homosexuality put Father Groeschel on the opposite side of the political spectrum from many who support his work for social justice.

“I used to be a liberal, if liberal means concern for the other guy,” Father Groeschel said. “Now I consider myself a conservative-liberal-traditional-radical-confused person.”

Father Groeschel, who has written several books published by Ignatius Press, is indeed one of the finest preachers, priests, and authors living today. I've had the great pleasure of spending some time with him on a couple of different occasions, and was struck by his wonderful mixture of holiness, humor, and humility, as evidenced by his description of himself as "a conservative-liberal-traditional-radical-confused person." And I recall having a conversation with him about the influence of Joachim of Fiore on utopian political movements while the two of us emptied the garbage one evening at the Ignatius Press retreat house about four years ago. It would have seemed a bit surreal, excerpt that it was so very normal.

• IgnatiusInsight.com Author Page for Fr. Groeschel
• IgnatiusInsight.com Interview with Fr. Groeschel (June 2004)
• Excerpts from The Rosary: Chain of Hope       

Father Groeschel's books published by Ignatius Press:
       
• The Drama of Reform
• Arise From Darkness: What to Do When Life Doesn't Make Sense
• The Reform of Renewal
• Rosary: The Chain of Hope
• Still Small Voice: A Practical Guide on Reported Revelations
• Praying To Our Lord Jesus Christ: Prayers and Meditations Through the Centuries  

Comments

[cranky]

Other than for the man who took me into the church, Father may be my favorite living priest. I so admire the directness both men possess.

[cranky]

Other than for the man who took me into the church, Father may be my favorite living priest. I so admire the directness both men possess.