Comments on: Praying for Fr. Andrew Greeley http://eorthodox.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/praying-for-fr-andrew-greeley/ Information about Eastern Orthodox Christianity posted by Leo Peter O'Filon, Disabled Neophyte Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:27:46 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Leo Peter O'Filon http://eorthodox.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/praying-for-fr-andrew-greeley/#comment-1147 Leo Peter O'Filon Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:25:31 +0000 http://eorthodox.wordpress.com/?p=481#comment-1147 Yes, it is true that Fr. Greeley is controversial within and without -- er, <i>beyond</i> -- the Churches in communion with First Rome. But as another somewhat-big RC columnist, <a href="http://www.ronrolheiser.com/" rel="nofollow">Canadian Fr. Ron Rolheiser OMI</a>, has said, "No one has ever left the {Catholic} Church because of Fr. Greeley's books, but many have come back." I love Fr. Greeley, as much as I can love someone I don't know personally, and more than the 'mere' love we are to show to everyone. I no longer agree with everything he says(!), but that doesn't seem to matter. I guess it does help that the man who was multitasking long before Windows is able to respond to hundreds of emailers per day, including occasionally myself, allowing many of us 'fans' to entertain the thought that maybe that vast mind and memory of his even allots some of us a neuron or two. (Though I've never had the nerve to test him on it!) I've also found that rare is the writer able to truly convey him/herself in their writing, and I seem to be drawn to them, even if they're controversial, like Stanley Hauerwas, Victoria Clarke, and Andrew Greeley. Maybe it helps that I've read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Parish-Priest-Andrew-Greeley/dp/0671610848" rel="nofollow">volume one of his autobiography</a>, even as he downplayed it and put forward Blackie Ryan as his more informative alter ego. But I've also just found him informative or insightful (not to say inciteful!!) about my lifelong fave topic, religion: Lots of people, including religious leaders or spokespeople (self-appointed or otherwise), have opinions about the state of this or that faith in this or that land, but Greeley's devotion to DATA offers to truly inform them -- though they don't often like what he reports, even, strangely, if it sounds like GOOD news!!! That's his eternal frustration, I think; I just hope he doesn't go out of this world bitter (to coin a phrase!). Speaking of which, I'd forgotten another profound e-interaction we've had: At one point, when I said I had significant experience in a certain Latin archdiocese under a certain Cardinal (not Chicago!), he offered that in doing so I'd already put in all my suffering for my sins, and would bypass Purgatory! (Not Orthodox teaching, and I was not Orthodox at the time!) I knew he wasn't theologizing - he actually and technically accurately doesn't claim to be a theologian in the Western sense - merely commiserating, and welcomed it in the spirit in which it was intended. Thanks for your note, and God Grant Him Many Years ... or in Latin, <i>Ad Multos Annos!</i> Yes, it is true that Fr. Greeley is controversial within and without — er, beyond — the Churches in communion with First Rome. But as another somewhat-big RC columnist, Canadian Fr. Ron Rolheiser OMI, has said, “No one has ever left the {Catholic} Church because of Fr. Greeley’s books, but many have come back.” I love Fr. Greeley, as much as I can love someone I don’t know personally, and more than the ‘mere’ love we are to show to everyone. I no longer agree with everything he says(!), but that doesn’t seem to matter. I guess it does help that the man who was multitasking long before Windows is able to respond to hundreds of emailers per day, including occasionally myself, allowing many of us ‘fans’ to entertain the thought that maybe that vast mind and memory of his even allots some of us a neuron or two. (Though I’ve never had the nerve to test him on it!) I’ve also found that rare is the writer able to truly convey him/herself in their writing, and I seem to be drawn to them, even if they’re controversial, like Stanley Hauerwas, Victoria Clarke, and Andrew Greeley. Maybe it helps that I’ve read volume one of his autobiography, even as he downplayed it and put forward Blackie Ryan as his more informative alter ego. But I’ve also just found him informative or insightful (not to say inciteful!!) about my lifelong fave topic, religion: Lots of people, including religious leaders or spokespeople (self-appointed or otherwise), have opinions about the state of this or that faith in this or that land, but Greeley’s devotion to DATA offers to truly inform them — though they don’t often like what he reports, even, strangely, if it sounds like GOOD news!!! That’s his eternal frustration, I think; I just hope he doesn’t go out of this world bitter (to coin a phrase!).

Speaking of which, I’d forgotten another profound e-interaction we’ve had: At one point, when I said I had significant experience in a certain Latin archdiocese under a certain Cardinal (not Chicago!), he offered that in doing so I’d already put in all my suffering for my sins, and would bypass Purgatory! (Not Orthodox teaching, and I was not Orthodox at the time!) I knew he wasn’t theologizing – he actually and technically accurately doesn’t claim to be a theologian in the Western sense – merely commiserating, and welcomed it in the spirit in which it was intended.

Thanks for your note, and God Grant Him Many Years … or in Latin, Ad Multos Annos!

]]> By: asimplesinner http://eorthodox.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/praying-for-fr-andrew-greeley/#comment-1145 asimplesinner Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:36:16 +0000 http://eorthodox.wordpress.com/?p=481#comment-1145 As a point of contact for the Catholic faith, if I heard someone was directed to him, I would direct them to run the other way. That unplesantness being said, it is laudible, admirable, and humbling to see your sentiments of prayer for Father Andrew. God love you. That is the right thing to do. As a point of contact for the Catholic faith, if I heard someone was directed to him, I would direct them to run the other way.

That unplesantness being said, it is laudible, admirable, and humbling to see your sentiments of prayer for Father Andrew.

God love you. That is the right thing to do.

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