Rev. Richard P. McBrien

The Crowley-O’Brien Professor of Roman Catholic Theology

Fr. Richard P. McBrien, a priest of the archdiocese of Hartford, Conn, is known by nearly all followers and scholars of the Catholic faith. His book, Catholicism, is perhaps the best known and most widely circulated introduction into Catholic belief in the world, having been translated into German, French, Danish, and Chinese.

Chair of Notre Dame’s department of theology from 1980-91, McBrien is an expert in the theology of the church. Accordingly, his recent book, The Church: The Evolution of Catholicism, is a summation of his own lifelong thinking in ecclesiology. McBrien is also a frequent television commentator for Catholic event coverage and an award winning syndicated columnist. He is published in many newspapers across the country, and has been for more than 40 years.

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Established in 1975, with a joint gift from the O’Brien Corporation and its president, the late Jerome J. Crowley (’31), the Crowley-O’Brien Professorship is one of the University’s oldest. Jerry was a Trustee of Saint Mary’s College and, later, a Trustee and Fellow of Notre Dame. He and his wife, Rosaleen, were the parents of 10 children, including two Notre Dame graduates.