Former Beverly Priest, Best-selling Author, Dies at 85

Famed Chicago priest and best-selling author Rev. Andrew Greeley died in his Chicago condo on Thursday at the age of 85, the Sun-Times Media reports.  

After he was ordained, Greeley’s first position was at Christ the King Church in Beverly. He used his experience there as a subject for several of his publications, including his master’s thesis and first book, “The Church and the Suburbs.”

Greeley went on to embark in a lifetime career as an author, journalist, sociologist and frequently controversial critic of the Catholic church. Despite his extensive work in academia and storytelling, however, he described himself as a nothing more than “a loud-mouthed Irish priest.”  

“He was a great author, but what I loved about him he was one of those courageous voices that always pushed the envelope,” Rev. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church told the Sun-Times. “He pushed to think outside the box and wrestle with a church too often locked into itself, and caused it to think broader than itself and be better.”  

Greeley’s wake is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Christ the King Catholic Church, 9235 S. Hamilton Ave. Visitation will occur from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday followed by a funeral mass at Christ the King.