Perhaps best-known for his novels, Father Greeley is also a distinguished sociologist, newspaper columnist and theologian. He has published extensively, with more than 15 million books in print. His recent novel, Irish Lace, accompanied President Clinton on vacation this year.

Fr. Greeley is professor of Social Sciences at the University of Chicago and the University of Arizona. He is also research associate at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. He writes a weekly column on political, religious and social issues carried by The New York Times Religious News Service wherein he discusses neglected issues and often anticipates social trends.

A philanthropist, Father Greeley established a $1 million Catholic Inner-City School Fund that provides scholarships and financial support to schools in the Chicago Archdiocese. He also contributed $1 million to establish a chair in Roman Catholic Studies at the University of Chicago in honor of his parents. Fr. Greeley’s grandparents hail from Co. Roscommon.