Andrew M. Greeley
Andrew M. Greeley, born on February 5, 1928, in Oak Park, Illinois, was a multifaceted figure known for his contributions as a Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, and prolific author. Educated at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary and the University of Chicago, Greeley's work often fused elements of storytelling with religious themes, making him a prominent voice in both fiction and nonfiction. He achieved fame as a best-selling author, creating works that featured Catholic characters intertwined with broader societal issues such as corruption and scandal. Greeley’s literary output included over one hundred titles addressing religious and sociological topics, although his fiction garnered more public attention.
In addition to his writing, Greeley held a long-standing affiliation with the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago and served as a professor of social science. His recognition came with numerous awards, reflecting his influence in both literary and academic circles, while his perspectives occasionally diverged from traditional Catholic teachings, sparking controversy. This complexity positioned him as a notable figure in discussions about the intersection of religion and society, earning him both acclaim and criticism throughout his career.
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Subject Terms
Andrew M. Greeley
Priest
- Born: February 5, 1928
- Birthplace: Oak Park, Illinois
- Died: May 30, 2013
Biography
Andrew Moran Greeley was born on February 5, 1928, in Oak Park, Illinois, to Andrew T. and Grace McNichols Greeley. His father was a corporate executive. Chicago was Greeley’s home throughout his life. He was educated at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, where he received an B.A. in 1950, an S.T.B. in 1952, and an S.T.L. in 1954. He graduated from the University of Chicago in 1961 with a M.A. and a year later with a Ph.D.
Greeley saw storytelling and religion as natural partners. While he was still a schoolboy, Greeley became aware of earlier Catholic writers who had filled their fiction with Catholic ideas and characters and with more secular issues such as sex, corruption, scandal. The idea of incorporating religion into storytelling appealed to Greeley, and he became a best-selling author of fiction that centered on Catholic characters. His mysteries even had religious detectives. Not to be outdone by less-prolific fiction writers, Greeley also authored several books of science fiction.
Fiction, however, was only a small part of Greeley’s written work. He completed over one hundred works on religious and sociological issues that spanned the course of more than forty years. These works are less known to readers, though they far outnumber his fiction. Ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1954, Greeley spent more than fifty years merging his religious and teaching life with his writing life in both secular and religious material. For his efforts he received numerous awards and honors, including such disparate honors as the Thomas Alva Edison Award (which he earned in 1962 for his Catholic Hourradio broadcasts) to his Mark Twain Award (in 1987, from the Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature) to his Popular Culture Award (in 1986, from the Center for the Study of Popular Culture at Bowling Green State University in Ohio). He also received at least three honorary doctorates.
Beginning in the early 1960’s, Greeley was associated with the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, and he became a professor of social science there in 1991. He was also an adjunct faculty member of the department of sociology at the University of Arizona, Tucson. Time magazine called Greeley “an information machine.” Though he was known as one of the premier authorities on the role of religion in society, Greeley did not always concur with Catholic teachings. Because he did not restrict himself to religious texts for the study of Catholicism, his fiction and nonfiction sometimes pitted him against his church, but he never remained silent. He was widely recognized as a superstar among the religious, a label that may be at the core of the controversy that often surrounded him.