American Catholic: A Social Portrait

Roman Catholic priest Andrew M. Greeley is the author of more than 100 non-fiction works of theology, sociology, prayer, and poetry; a professor of sociology; a newspaper columnist; and a successful novelist, writing in several genres, including mystery and science fiction. He was born on February 5, 1928 and is a native of Chicago, where he is a research associate at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. Greeley studied at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary and earned an AB from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in 1950, a Bachelor of Sacred Theology in 1952, and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1954. He went on to receive a Master of Arts in 1961 and a PhD in 1962. Greeley's fiction, which often tells stories of crime and scandal in the Roman Catholic church, can be violent and lurid and is considered controversial by many Church leaders. Greeley has written on such issues as homosexuality in the clergy, pedophilia, and papal politics, and he created the popular mystery series starring Father Blackie Ryan, as well as another featuring the character Nuala McGrail.