Richard McBrien

Richard Peter McBrien (August 19, 1936 – January 25, 2015) was a Catholic priest, theologian, and writer, who was the Crowley-O'Brien Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, U.S. He authored twenty-five books, including the very popular Catholicism, a reference text on the Church after the Second Vatican Council.

The Reverend

Richard McBrien
Richard sometime in 1989 or earlier.
Born
Richard Peter McBrien

(1936-08-19)August 19, 1936
DiedJanuary 25, 2015(2015-01-25) (aged 78)
Farmington, Connecticut
TitleCrowley-O'Brien Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame
Theology career
Education
Occupations
  • Priest
  • theologian
  • writer
  • professor
Notable workCatholicism
Theological work
EraPost-Second Vatican Council
Main interests
Notable ideasAdvocated "seamless garment" of social teaching

Biography

Richard P. McBrien was born on August 19, 1936, the fourth of five children of Thomas H. and Catherine (Botticelli) McBrien.[1] His father was a police officer, his mother a nurse. McBrien earned his bachelor's degree at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Connecticut, in 1956, and a master's at St. John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, in 1962.[2] He was ordained as a Catholic priest for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford in 1962. His first assignment as a priest was at Our Lady of Victory Church in New Haven, Connecticut.[3] McBrien obtained his doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1967.[4] He taught at the Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts.[3]

McBrien authored several books and articles discussing Catholicism. He is most well known for his authorship of Catholicism. He also served as president of the Catholic Theological Society of America from 1974–1975. In 1976 he was the awarded the John Courtney Murray Award for outstanding and distinguished accomplishments in theology. McBrien joined the Notre Dame faculty in 1980; served as Chair of the Department of Theology of the University of Notre Dame from 1980 to 1991; and retired in 2013. Prior to going to Notre Dame, McBrien taught at Boston College, where he was director of the Institute of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry.[5]

McBrien's scholarly interests included ecclesiology, the relationship between religion and politics, and the theological, doctrinal, and spiritual aspects of the Catholic Church. McBrien published 25 books and was the general editor of the Encyclopedia of Catholicism.[1] He also served as an on-air commentator on Catholic events for CBS in addition to his regular contribution as a commentator on several major television networks. He was also a consultant for ABC News. He wrote several essays for the National Catholic Reporter as well as for The Tidings in Los Angeles. He produced a syndicated theological column for the Catholic press, Essays in Theology.[6]

Notre Dame Professor of Theology Brian Daley described his colleague as representing "what had been a pretty widespread point of view among Catholic theologians in the late 60s and 70s: liberal on the 'hot-button' issues, but – as he saw it – still theologically defensible. By the late 80s, though, this approach had definitely become a minority voice."[7]

McBrien died after a lengthy illness at his home in Farmington, Connecticut, on January 25, 2015, at the age of 78.[1]

Controversies

McBrien was a controversial figure in the American Catholic Church, mainly because of conflict surrounding his published works and public remarks.[8][6][9]

USCCB critique of Catholicism

McBrien's Catholicism sold over 150,000 copies in its original two-volume, 1980 edition.[10] Together with its revised, one-volume edition (1994), Catholicism was a widely used reference text and found in parish libraries throughout the United States.[2] Catholicism does not bear nihil obstat or imprimatur declarations from the Church that state the book is free of moral or doctrinal error.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Doctrine found that the book "poses pastoral problems particularly as a textbook in undergraduate college courses and in parish education programs," and "as a book for people who are not specialists in theological reasoning and argumentation, Catholicism poses serious difficulties."[8] The Committee on Doctrine noted that McBrien had presented some core Catholic teachings as one view among many, instead of as the authoritative views of the Church.[11] The USCCB also said that the book contained statements which are "inaccurate or misleading," that it exaggerates "plurality" within the Catholic theological tradition, and that it overemphasizes "change and development" in the history of Catholic doctrine even though official dogmas of the Catholic Church are, according to the Magisterium, unchangeable truths.[8] After the USCCB criticism of Catholicism, a number of diocesan newspapers dropped his column.[6]

"Seamless garment"

In 2004 McBrien wrote a column supporting "Seamless garment" theory propounded by the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago in 1983, which holds that issues such as abortion, capital punishment, militarism, euthanasia, social injustice, and economic injustice all demand a consistent application of moral principles that value the sacredness of human life. His position prompted criticism from what McBrien characterized as “single-issue, anti-abortion Catholics."[6]

Reviews of Encyclopedia of Catholicism

McBrien also served as the general editor of The Harper Collins Encyclopedia of Catholicism. According to Thomas Guarino, "one has the impression that it was written for undergraduates who have little or no idea of what was once the common world and parlance of Catholic culture."[12][13] The review itself elaborates, "It is intended as a handy reference for students or journalists who need a quick and succinct explanation of some Catholic term or practice." It concludes by stating that some "articles are models of precision and succinctness. The better ones include Revelation, Apostolic Succession, Conciliarism, Faith, Hell, Heresy, Homosexuality, Immortality, Inerrancy, Justification, Magisterium, Mary, Purgatory, and the Vicar of Christ. These have the merit of explaining clearly and concisely what the Catholic Church believes and why."[14]

Accusation of plagiarism

In March 2006, the Cardinal Newman Society sent an allegation of plagiarism against McBrien to the University of Notre Dame, where he taught, the second allegation in three months. McBrien denied having plagiarized, and John Cavadini, Chair of Notre Dame’s theology department, dismissed the charges raised by the society, which he described as a "militant, right-wing Catholic interest group."[15]

The Da Vinci Code

McBrien served as a paid consultant for the controversial film The Da Vinci Code.[16]

Eucharistic adoration

In September 2009, McBrien published an article in the National Catholic Reporter in which he criticized the practice of Eucharistic adoration by calling it "a doctrinal, theological, and spiritual step backward, not forward."[17]

Criticism of popes

In a 1991 op-ed piece, McBrien discussed "the prolonged, slow-motion coup that has been under way in the church since the election of Pope John Paul II in October 1978,"[18] in which he saw "Ecclesiastical hard-liners, fearful of the loss of power and privilege,... attempting to reverse the new, progressive course set by Pope John XXIII."[18][9]

During a 1992 talk in Indianapolis, he criticised "current discipline on obligatory celibacy and the ordination of women" and challenged Catholics to take far more seriously the teachings of the Church on social justice, service, and evangelisation.[9]

In 2012 McBrien told The National Catholic Reporter, "If there are any reasons for the bad patch the church is now going through, it is the appointments to the hierarchy and the promotions within made by John Paul and Benedict. By and large, they have all been conservative."[3]

Works

McBrien's Lives of Saints and Lives of the Popes provided detailed biographical information and discussed the larger religious and historical significance of saints and popes. He later published pocket guides to each of these volumes to supply more accessible information.

  • Religion and Politics in America, (1987)
  • Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from Saint Peter to John Paul II (HarperSanFrancisco, 2000 (revised in 2006), ISBN 0-06-065304-3)
  • The Church: The Evolution of Catholicism (2008, ISBN 0-06-124521-6)
  • The Pocket Guide to the Popes (HarperSanFrancisco, 2006, ISBN 0-06-113773-1)
  • The Pocket Guide to the Saints (HarperSanFrancisco, 2006, ISBN 0-06-113774-X)
  • Lives of the Saints: From Mary and St. Francis of Assisi to John XXIII and Mother Teresa (HarperSanFrancisco, 2006, ISBN 0-06-123283-1)
  • 101 Questions & Answers on the Church (Paulist Press, 2003, ISBN 0-8091-4250-3)
  • Responses to 101 Questions on the Church (Paulist Press, 1996, ISBN 0-8091-3638-4)
  • The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism (HarperSanFrancisco, 1995, ISBN 0-06-065338-8)
  • Inside Catholicism (Signs of the Sacred) (HarperCollins, 1995, ISBN 0-00-649052-2) A Roman Catholic theology, history, and morality.
  • How To Give Up Sex (co-authored with Roger Planer and John Riley: Hodder & Stoughton, 1989, ISBN 0-450-49473-X)
  • Ministry: A Theological, Pastoral Handbook (HarperSanFrancisco, 1988, ISBN 0-06-065324-8)
  • Caesar's Coin: Religion and Politics in America (MacMillan, 1987, ISBN 0-02-919720-1)
  • In Search of God (Dimension Books, 1977, ISBN 0-87193-082-X)
  • The Remaking of the Church: An Agenda for Reform (Harper & Row, 1973, ISBN 0-06-065327-2)
  • For the Inquiring Catholic: Questions and Answers for the 1970s (Dimension Books, 1973)
  • Who is a Catholic? (Dimension Books, 1971)
  • Church: The Continuing Quest (Paulist Press, 1970, ISBN 0-8091-1525-5)
  • The Church in the Thought of Bishop John Robinson (Westminster Press 1966, SCM Press 1966)

References
  1. "Richard McBrien, 1936 - 2015". Essays in Theology. Richard P. McBrien. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  2. "Fr. Richard McBrien, theologian and church expert, dies at 78". National Catholic Reporter. January 25, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  3. Roberts, Sam (January 28, 2015). "Rev. Richard McBrien, Dissenting Catholic Theologian, Dies at 78". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  4. "Rev. Richard P. McBrien". theology.nd.edu. Department of Theology, University of Notre Dame. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  5. "In memoriam: Theologian Rev. Richard P. McBrien". Notre Dame News. University Communications, University of Notre Dame. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  6. "Fr. McBrien attacks pro-life bishops in syndicated column". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  7. "Life after Richard McBrien: Q&A with Father Brian Daley, S.J." America. January 28, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  8. "Review of Fr. McBrien's Catholicism.". National Council of Catholic Bishops. April 9, 1996. Retrieved April 5, 2009 – via CatholicCulture.org.
  9. "Notre Dame theologian Fr Richard McBrien dies". Catholic Herald. January 27, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  10. "Colleagues celebrate career of Fr. Richard McBrien". National Catholic Reporter. April 23, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  11. "The Rev. Richard McBrien dies at 78; liberal Catholic theologian". Los Angeles Times. January 27, 2015. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  12. Rychlak, Ronald J. "Library : Dealing with Dissent: Fr. Richard McBrien". Catholic Answers. Retrieved July 15, 2017 – via CatholicCulture.org.
  13. Rychlak, Ronald (July 1, 2005). "Dealing with Dissent: Fr. Richard McBrien". Catholic Answers. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  14. Guarino, Thomas (October 1995). "The View from South Bend". First Things. 56 (53).
  15. "Controversial Notre Dame priest accused of plagiarism...again". South Bend, Indiana. Catholic News Agency. March 14, 2006. Archived from the original on June 8, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  16. "Fr. Richard McBrien named in 'apparent plagiarism'". South Bend, Indiana. Catholic News Agency. January 19, 2006. Archived from the original on May 17, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  17. "Perpetual eucharistic adoration". National Catholic Reporter. September 8, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  18. McBrien, Richard P. (December 10, 1991). "The Catholic coup". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
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