Andrew Greeley

Explore the life and legacy of Andrew M. Greeley (1928–2013) — American Catholic priest, sociologist, educator, journalist, and prolific novelist. Discover his ideas, controversies, writings, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Andrew Moran Greeley (February 5, 1928 – May 29, 2013) was a uniquely multifaceted figure in 20th- and early 21st-century American Catholic life. He wore many hats: Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, commentator, educator, and bestselling novelist.

What set Greeley apart was his ability—and sometimes willingness—to cross boundaries: combining rigorous academic sociology with sometimes provocative public commentary, all while writing popular novels rooted in Catholic themes and characters. He was at once loved, criticized, admired, and controversial. In this article, we trace his life, key contributions, worldview, and impactful quotations.

Early Life & Family

Andrew Greeley was born on February 5, 1928 in Oak Park, Illinois, into a large Irish-Catholic family. During the Great Depression his family lived in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago.

From an early age, Greeley felt the call to the priesthood. Sources say that by second grade he already “knew he wanted to be a priest.”

He attended St. Angela Elementary School in Chicago. For his secondary formation, he enrolled at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, and then at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary (Mundelein, Illinois).

He earned a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) in 1950, then a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) in 1952, and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) in 1954, the same year he was ordained.

His parents were Andrew T. Greeley (a corporate executive) and Grace McNichols Greeley.

Education & Academic Formation

After ordination, Greeley served as an assistant pastor at Christ the King Parish in Chicago from 1954 to 1964. Meanwhile, he studied sociology at the University of Chicago: he earned a Master’s degree in 1961 and a Ph.D. in 1962.

His doctoral dissertation focused on how religion influenced career plans among 1961 college graduates.

Later in his academic career, Greeley taught sociology at the University of Arizona and was associated with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago.

Career & Contributions

Sociology, Religion & Interpretation of American Catholicism

Greeley’s sociological work often addressed the role of Catholics in U.S. society, the effects of Vatican II (the Second Vatican Council), and the internal life of American Catholic institutions.

One of his early influential books was Unsecular Man: The Persistence of Religion (1972), in which he argued that religious belief remained strong in modern society.

His 1977 work The American Catholic: A Social Portrait is another major contribution, exploring demographic, cultural, and behavioral patterns among U.S. Catholics.

At one point in the 1970s, the U.S. bishops commissioned him to profile the American priesthood. His report, completed in 1972, revealed widespread dissatisfaction among priests—findings the bishops reportedly rejected.

Greeley did not shy from criticism within the Church. He once remarked that he believed the leadership of the Church was, in his words, “morally, intellectually and religiously bankrupt.”

His sociological perspectives often included the concept of the “Catholic imagination,” the notion that in Catholic tradition visible, physical realities can serve as metaphors for divine truths.

Novel Writing & Popular Influence

Parallel to his academic work, Greeley became a prolific and commercially successful novelist.

His first novel was The Magic Cup (1975), a fantasy. His breakthrough in popular Catholic fiction came with The Cardinal Sins (1981).

He authored more than 50 novels and over 70 works of nonfiction during his career.

Many of his novels explored moral, theological, and institutional tensions within Catholic life. Some of his recurring characters include Father “Blackie” Ryan, a fictional priest detective, and Nuala Anne McGrail, heroine of a series set in Irish diaspora contexts.

His fiction often included frank treatment of sexuality, institutional corruption, and the human complexities of faith—topics that sometimes stirred controversy among ecclesiastical authorities and readers.

Journalism & Public Commentary

Greeley maintained a weekly column in the Chicago Sun-Times for many years, and contributed to national outlets such as The New York Times, National Catholic Reporter, America, and Commonweal.

He was outspoken on public issues, often critiquing Church policies, politics, immigration, and the Iraq War. For example, his book A Stupid, Unjust, and Criminal War: Iraq 2001–2007 (2007) criticized the U.S. government’s approach to the war.

Philanthropy & Legacy

Greeley donated much of his income from his novels and writings. In 1984, he endowed a chair in Roman Catholic Studies at the University of Chicago. In 1986, he established a fund for scholarships in Chicago’s inner-city Catholic schools.

He also funded a lecture series “The Church in Society” at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary (Mundelein, IL).

Challenges, Controversies & Later Years

In November 2008, Greeley suffered a serious head injury: his clothing got caught in the door of a departing taxi, pulling him along and causing skull fractures. He never fully recovered.

His health remained compromised until his death.

He died on May 29, 2013 at his home in Chicago, aged 85.

Throughout his life, Greeley drew criticism from some within the Church—especially for his open critique of clerical structures, his treatment of sexual themes in fiction, and his public stances. Yet he also was lauded for his intellectual integrity, generosity, and engagement.

Personality, Worldview & Contributions

• Faith + scholarship: Greeley saw all his work—as sociologist, novelist, journalist—as part of his identity as a priest. He once said, “I’m a priest, pure and simple … The other things I do … are just my way of being a priest.”

• Curiosity about Catholic life: His sociological and fictional works often centered on the lived experience of ordinary Catholics, clergy, institutions, and tensions between ideal and real.

• Courage in critique: He did not shy from confronting ecclesiastical hierarchy, policies, or cultural taboos—even when it earned him enemies.

• Generosity: He used his literary earnings to support education and charitable causes, particularly in underserved Catholic communities.

• Imaginative theology: His notion of the Catholic imagination, and his deployment of metaphor, art, and narrative in religious reflection, influenced how many think of Catholic spirituality and culture.

Famous Quotes of Andrew Greeley

“I decided I wanted to be a priest when I was a kid … I've never wavered or wanted to be anything but.”

“Honesty compels me to say that I believe the present leadership in the church to be morally, intellectually and religiously bankrupt.”

“The only way I can write fiction is to keep those hours from 6:00 to 9:00 A.M. sacred.”

“Why should I practice contraception on my ideas?”
(A quip he made in defense of prolific writing.)

“There is nothing wrong with sex … sexual love tells us something about God.”

Lessons from Andrew Greeley

1. Bridge worlds with integrity.
   Greeley showed that one can inhabit both academic and popular domains, engaging specialized scholarship and wider public conversation.

2. Critique from within matters.
   As a priest who spoke boldly about Church institutions, Greeley exemplifies how accountability can be rooted in love and loyalty.

3. Narrative is formative.
   His novels demonstrate that story, metaphor, and character can communicate theological and moral truth in ways that pure argument often cannot.

4. Success can fuel generosity.
   Greeley channeled considerable literary income into education and charity, showing how success may be leveraged for communal good.

5. Faith is dialogical.
   By engaging sociology, theology, and literature, he modeled that faith can ask questions, wrestle with tension, and still remain committed.

Conclusion

Andrew M. Greeley’s life was a vivid tapestry: a parish priest who held a doctorate in sociology; a critic of ecclesiastical structures who remained a loyal Catholic; a bestselling novelist whose stories stirred controversy and conversation. His contributions to American Catholic thought, narrative faith, and public discourse remain influential.

Though his final years were clouded by tragedy and declining health, his legacy persists in his many books, his philanthropic impacts, and the conversations he provoked. If you like, I can also prepare a chronological timeline of his major works or compare his influence to other theologian-writers. Do you want me to do that?