Richard Rohr
Encyclopedia
Richard Rohr, O.F.M. (born in 1943 in Kansas
) is a Franciscan
friar
ordained to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church
in 1970. He is an internationally known inspirational speaker and has published numerous recorded talks and books.
Rohr was the founder of the New Jerusalem Community in Cincinnati, Ohio
in 1971 and the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico
in 1986 where he currently serves as the Founding Director.
Scripture as liberation, the integration of action and contemplation, community building, peace
and social justice
issues, male spirituality
, the Enneagram of Personality
and eco-spirituality are amongst the many subjects addressed in his writing and preaching. He is a contributing editor and writer for Sojourners magazine and a contributor to Tikkun
magazine. He was one of several spiritual leaders featured in the 2006 documentary film ONE: The Movie
.
Rohr has been notable for his support of homosexual causes, attracting criticism from some Catholics. In 1996, Rohr presided over a wedding ceremony for a lesbian couple during one of his retreats.
In 1997, Rohr spoke at a symposium of New Ways Ministry
, a ministry to homosexual persons which was condemned by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for not teaching in accord with the Catholic Church's moral teachings regarding homosexuality.
In 2000, Rohr publically endorsed Soulforce
, an initiative to use "relentless nonviolent resistance" to encourage Christian groups to accept homosexual relationships.
In a 2003 letter to his diocese, the Archbishop of Santa Fe, Michael Sheehan
, wrote that Rohr had agreed in discussions to conform to official Catholic teachings in his presentations.
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
) is a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
ordained to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in 1970. He is an internationally known inspirational speaker and has published numerous recorded talks and books.
Rohr was the founder of the New Jerusalem Community in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
in 1971 and the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
in 1986 where he currently serves as the Founding Director.
Scripture as liberation, the integration of action and contemplation, community building, peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
and social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
issues, male spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
, the Enneagram of Personality
Enneagram of Personality
The Enneagram of Personality is a model of human personality which is principally used as a typology. Principally developed by Oscar Ichazo and Claudio Naranjo, it is also partly based on earlier teachings of G. I. Gurdjieff...
and eco-spirituality are amongst the many subjects addressed in his writing and preaching. He is a contributing editor and writer for Sojourners magazine and a contributor to Tikkun
Tikkun (magazine)
Tikkun is a quarterly English-language magazine, published in the United States, that analyzes American and Israeli culture, politics, religion and history from a leftist-progressive viewpoint, and provides commentary about Israeli politics and Jewish life in North America...
magazine. He was one of several spiritual leaders featured in the 2006 documentary film ONE: The Movie
ONE: The Movie
ONE: The Movie is an independent documentary about the meaning of life, created and directed by Michigan filmmakers Scott Carter, Ward M. Powers and Diane Powers, starring Deepak Chopra, Robert Thurman, Thich Nhat Hanh, Jaggi Vasudev, et al....
.
Rohr has been notable for his support of homosexual causes, attracting criticism from some Catholics. In 1996, Rohr presided over a wedding ceremony for a lesbian couple during one of his retreats.
In 1997, Rohr spoke at a symposium of New Ways Ministry
New Ways Ministry
New Ways Ministry is an organization providing positive ministry and support to gay and lesbian Catholics in the United States of America. The organization is primarily based in Maryland.-History and purpose:...
, a ministry to homosexual persons which was condemned by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for not teaching in accord with the Catholic Church's moral teachings regarding homosexuality.
In 2000, Rohr publically endorsed Soulforce
Soulforce
Soulforce may refer to:* Soulforce is an American LGBT-issue-focused social justice and civil rights organization.* Soulforce Revolution is the 1989 release of the punk band 7 Seconds....
, an initiative to use "relentless nonviolent resistance" to encourage Christian groups to accept homosexual relationships.
In a 2003 letter to his diocese, the Archbishop of Santa Fe, Michael Sheehan
Michael Jarboe Sheehan
Michael Jarboe Sheehan is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eleventh and current Archbishop of Santa Fe, having previously served as Bishop of Lubbock from 1983 to 1993.-Early life and ministry:...
, wrote that Rohr had agreed in discussions to conform to official Catholic teachings in his presentations.
Own works
- The Great Themes of Scripture: Old Testament (with Joseph Martos) (1987, reissued St Anthony Messenger Press, 1988) ISBN 978-0867160857
- The Great Themes of Scripture: New Testament (with Joseph Martos) (St Anthony Messenger Press, 1988) ISBN 978-0867160987
- Why Be Catholic?: Understanding Our Experience and Tradition (with Joseph Martos) (Saint Anthony Messenger Press, 1989) ISBN 978-0867161014
- Discovering the Enneagram: An Ancient Tool a New Spiritual Journey (with Andreas Ebert) (1990 and 1991, reissued by Crossroad Publishing Co ,U.S.; Reissue edition 1993) ISBN 978-0824511852
- Simplicity, Revised & Updated: The Freedom of Letting Go (1991, reissued by Crossroad Publishing Co ,U.S.; 2nd New edition of Revised edition edition, 2004) ISBN 978-0824521158
- The Wild Man's Journey: Reflections on Male Spirituality (with Joseph Martos) (1992, reissued by St Anthony Messenger Press; New edition edition 1996) ISBN 978-0867162790
- Near Occasions of Grace (Orbis Books (USA), 1993) ISBN 978-0883448526
- Quest for the Grail: Soul Work and the Sacred Journey (1994, reissued by Crossroad Publishing Co ,U.S.; New edition edition, 1997) ISBN 978-0824516543
- The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective (with Andreas Ebert) (1995, reissued by Crossroad Publishing Co ,U.S., 2002) ISBN 978-0824519506
- Enneagram 2: Advancing Spiritual Discernment (1995, reissued by Gracewing; New Ed edition 2008) ISBN 978-0852443200
- Experiencing the Enneagram (with Andreas Ebert) (Crossroad Publishing Co ,U.S., 1995) ISBN 978-0824512019
- Simplicity: The Art of Living (Crossroad Publishing Co ,U.S.; 2nd Revised edition edition , 1995) ISBN 978-0824512514
- Jesus' Plan for a New World: The Sermon on the Mount (with John Booker Fisher and J. Feister) (St Anthony Messenger Press, 1996) ISBN 978-0867162035
- Radical Grace: Daily Meditations (with John Bookser Feister, Editor) (1993, reissued by St Anthony Messenger Press, 1996) ISBN 978-0867162578
- The Good News According to Luke: Spiritual Reflections (Crossroad Publishing Co ,U.S., 1997) ISBN 978-0824514907
- Hope Against Darkness: The Transforming Vision of Saint Francis in a (St Anthony Messenger Press, 2001) ISBN 978-0867164404
- Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer (Crossroad Publishing Co ,U.S.; 2nd Revised edition edition , 2003) ISBN 978-0824519957
- Adam's Return: The Five Promises of Male Initiation (Crossroad Publishing Co ,U.S., 2004) ISBN 978-0824522803
- Soul Brothers: Men in the Bible Speak to Men Today (with art by Louis S. Glanzman) (Orbis Books (USA), 2004) ISBN 978-1570755347
- From Wild Man to Wise Man: Reflections on Male Spirituality (with Joseph Martos) (St Anthony Messenger Press, 2005) ISBN 978-0867167405
- Job & the Mystery of Suffering (1996, reissued by Gracewing, 2006) ISBN 978-0852443088
- Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality (Saint Anthony Messenger Press, 2008) ISBN 978-0867166590
- The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See (The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2009) ISBN 978-0824525439
- "The Spiritual Family and the Natural Family" (Saint Anthony Messenger Press, 1976)
Contributions
- Foreword in Roots of Violence in the U.S. Culture: A Diagnosis Towards Healing by Richard Alain (Blue Dolphin Publishing, 1999) ISBN 978-1577330431
- Foreword in Meal Stories: The Gospel of Our Lives by Kathleen Casey (Thomas More Association, 2000) ISBN 978-0883474952
- The Franciscan Opinion in Stricken by God? Nonviolent Identification and the Victory of Christ (ed. by Brad Jersak and Michael Hardin) (William B Eerdmans Publishing Co, 2008) ISBN 978-0802862877)