Timothy Radcliffe: modern Renaissance man

Friday, Apr. 01, 2016

This year marks the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Dominican order, so it seems appropriate for the members of the St. Catherine of Siena Lay Dominican chapter to reflect on the achievements of Dominicans. The most obvious choices are Dominican saints and blessed, but many Dominicans who are still among us are equally inspiring and perhaps easier to relate to.

An outstanding Dominican I especially admire is scholar, writer and preacher Timothy Radcliffe. 

Fr. Radcliffe was born in London in 1945, entered the Dominican order in 1965, and was ordained in 1971. He taught at Oxford University at Blackfriars and was elected English provincial in 1988. From 1992 to 2001, he served as master of the Dominican order, the only Englishman ever elected to that prestigious position. 

Since stepping down as master, Fr. Radcliffe has continued his affiliation with the Dominican Priory at Blackfriars, where he helped launch Las Casas Institute, which focuses on ethics and social justice. He currently serves as the institute’s director.

Fr. Radcliffe is an outspoken advocate of those he sees as outsiders in the Catholic Church, especially homosexuals and divorced couples. He also strongly supports women having a more active role in the Church. His views have antagonized conservatives but endeared him to those working to make the Church more inclusive, and he is the recipient of many honors, including a Doctor of Divinity degree, Oxford University’s highest honorary award. In his award presentation, the chancellor extolled Fr. Radcliffe as “distinguished both for eloquence and for wit, a master theologian who has never disregarded ordinary people, a practical man who believes that religion and the teachings of theology must be constantly applied to the conduct of public life.”

Fr. Radcliffe is a strong supporter of Pope Francis, and the feeling seems to be mutual; last year the Holy Father appointed him as a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Somehow amidst his busy life of traveling, lecturing, and giving retreats, Fr. Radcliffe has found time to author seven books. The best known and most widely read are “What Is the Point of Being a Christian?” (2005), which won the 2007 Michael Ramsey Prize; and “Why Go to Church? The Drama of the Eucharist” (2008). 

It is as a writer that I connect to Fr. Radcliffe. His writing is lively, witty, and eclectic, and the quotes he uses to illustrate his points range from philosophers to pop culture, from Emily Dickinson to the religious poetry of John Donne and George Herbert.

He is just as animated as a speaker. His talks are crammed full of anecdotes from his travels to far-flung countries; some of them are funny, others are warm and empathetic, and a few are frightening; he has had some close calls in chaotic countries.

When Fr. Radcliffe spoke in Salt Lake City a year ago, our Lay Dominican chapter had dinner with him, and I was delighted to see how down to earth and approachable he is; he loves talking to people. 

On every level, Fr. Timothy Radcliffe is a contemporary Renaissance man.