Fr. Richard Rohr O.F.M.
I naively found another heterodox author: Fr. Richard Rohr O.F.M. I started reading his book Jesus’ Plan for a New World last June. After a couple of chapters, I took a little break from it so that I could read the new translation of John Paul the Great’s theology of the body, Man and Woman He Created Them. After completing Man and Woman He Created Them and a couple other books, I picked up Jesus’ Plan for a New World again. I’ve now read the fist half of it, but have no desire to read the rest.
I was very enthusiastic about Jesus’ Plan for a New World as I read the Introduction and the fist chapter. I even thought of someone that I should suggest this book to. However, as I continued I thought to myself, “This book could be very easily misinterpreted to support an anti-hierarchical position against the Church.” After a few more pages I realised that it would be a bad idea to suggest this book to the person I was thinking of because he would likely come to some wrong conclusions about the Church. A couple of chapters later I realised it was I that was misinterpreting the first section of this book. The anti-hierarchical message found in this book is not a misinterpretation, but deliberate theme that begins subtly, and grows until it is overt.
Once I realised that this book may not be orthodox, I checked the internet to see what I could find on Fr. Rohr. On his Wikipedia page, I found out that he does not accept the Church’s teaching on contraception, nor the teaching that only men can be priests. He also wrote a letter of support to Soulforce, a homosexual advocacy group. Judging by his chapter in Homosexuality and the Christian Faith by Walter Wink, Fr. Rohr believes that God views homosexual relationships as acceptable as heterosexual relationships.
Despite Fr. Rohr’s claim that he is in good standing with Rome, his Franciscan Superiors and the Archbishop of Santa Fe, his views are at odds with orthodox Catholic teaching. I would not recommend any of his works to faithful Catholics.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Glad know you have seen thru Rohr.
Here’s a Catholic Site that has reviewed him and his ministry:
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/reviews/view.cfm?recnum=2827
April 1st, 2009 at 1:43 am
Do you have direct quotes that are referenced where Father Rohr supports contraception and homosexual behaviour?
Thank you.
April 1st, 2009 at 2:07 am
There were some direct quotes on Wikipedia, but I see that the article on Fr. Rohr has changed. Luckily I found a site that cached what Wikipedia used to have. Here are a couple of responses from Fr. Rohr to common accusations by his detractors.
2. Do you full accept the 2000 year teaching of the Catholic Church that contraception is always evil?
Of course not; God contracepts far more than we do, and it is not even close to being a 2000 year old teaching. But I do think there is much spiritual and psychological wisdom in Pope Paul VI encyclical, Humanae Vitae, and I encourage people to study it and learn from it.
As to supporting homosexual behaviour, read his chapter in Homosexuality and the Christian Faith by Walter Wink
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:54 am
Thank you for the quotes. Yes, I have seen what he has said on Wikepedia, but there is no reference to who interviewed him, when, etc.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:37 am
The teaching on contraception IS NOT in fallible and the ‘sense of the faithful’ indicates that it will never be a true teaching.
February 20th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Born and raised Catholic, I now consider myself a Christian first and put my denomination as secondary. A member of my family was reading The Naked Now, so I picked it up and scaned it. I find it hard to believe that the author is a Franciscan priest. I think his chapter titled “Faith is more how to believe than what to believe” says it all. He talks more about religion rather than Christianity, he seems to be saying that all religions lead to the same place. He takes the simple “Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord” and give a new age slant to scripture along with his mystical eye concept, very dangerous indeed. I would not recommend his book to anyone.