Wednesday, February 5, 2025

*** This is a rough transcript of today’s show ***

It is the 5th of February 2025. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

It has just come to my attention that February 5th is not only a significant day for 20th-century theological troublemakers from different parts of the church but also that two of them were born on February 5th, 1928, an 8-hour drive away from each other, one in West Point, Nebraska, and the other in Oak Park, Illinois. The former (that’s the first) was Martin Marty, and the latter was Andrew Greeley.

We recently mentioned Marty as the Lutheran student at St. Louis Seminary who invited the theologian Franz Bibfeldt—and yes, Martin Marty the Lutheran is a real person—but today’s show is dedicated to a 20th-century troublemaker from the other side of the Reformation divide.

He was Andrew Greeley- born on this day in 1928 and died in 2013; he was a Catholic priest, sociologist, author, and professor (and friend of Marty’s at the University of Chicago, and both were residents at the John Hancock Tower in Chicago)). Born in Illinois to Grace and Andrew T., he says, “I always wanted to be a priest…My core identity is a priest. I will always be a priest.” As such, he went to St. Mary of the Lake there in Illinois and was ordained in 1954. He was initially an assistant at a Parish but was soon at the University of Chicago, where he received his PhD in Sociology in 1962. His early works would be theological and sociological in nature- 1963’s “The Church and the Suburbs” and 1977’s “The American Catholic”. His most famous nonfiction work is likely 2002’s “The Catholic Imagination”.

But Greeley always thought that stories- works of fiction- had the ability to break down certain barriers and get past defenses. And you would be forgiven if came across some of his fiction and would have never guessed it was written by a priest.

In fact, Greeley himself said, “Sometimes I suspect that my obituary in The New York Times will read, ‘Andrew Greeley, Priest; Wrote Steamy Novels.’”. And he wasn’t far off- the New York Times obituary read, “Priest, Scholar, and Scold are Dead at 85” (ouch!) 

But it was religious periodicals- primarily the Catholic press (obviously) that seemed to be in something of a pickle writing his obituary, and they all certainly mention his 50-plus novels- the first “Cardinal Sins” in 1981 being about two priests, one of whom is having an affair.

But both in fiction and non-fiction, steamy and scholarly- his main target is the Catholic Church- and as someone from inside the church, not an outsider. This made it such that he didn’t serve a single parish- no bishop would risk that, but he believed his readers to be his parish, catholic and non-catholic alike.

In the 80s, he ruffled feathers for calling into question the issue of priestly abuse that was just starting to be revealed in the press- and he found that bringing up the failing of his own church wasn’t popular. He became something of a public figure, appearing famously on the Phil Donahue program wherein the host (a lapsed Catholic himself) is infuriated when Greeley won't fit into categories of either “liberal” or “fundamentalist.” Given his perch in the Catholic Church, but as a sociologist and not a theologian (in his definition), he could offer criticisms of both the church and the culture.

But, he wrote more than criticism of salacious stories- he wrote 17 in the Blackie Ryan detective series as well as 13 in the Nuala Anne McGrail series of mysteries. Following in the footsteps of those like Sayers and Chesterton- but even more prolific- as one obituary wrote, he was a “burr in the saddle” of the church but also a friend, teacher, and priest, and he would point out Bulls/Cubs/Bears fan… he was Andrew Greeley- born on this day in 1928 and died in 2013- he was 85 years old.

The last word for today is from Mark 5- one of my favorite stories in the Gospel.

35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.

After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 5th of February 2025, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man glad that our savior is concerned about snacks… he is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by collecting your mailbag questions for this weekend for about one more day- keep them coming, I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.