Richard W. Gilsdorf

Who was Richard W. Gilsdorf?

Fr. Richard Gilsdorf was a Catholic priest who played a role in doctrinal battles that followed the Second Vatican Council. He opposed renowned Scripture scholar Raymond E. Brown and wrote a number of articles for conservative Catholic publications on the issues of the day. Early in his priesthood, many considered him a progressive, especially because of his excitement over the work of Vatican II and its efforts to further Christian unity. As time progressed, however, his perspective changed as a result of what he saw as misuse and distortions of conciliar teachings and as he became disenchanted with leading Catholic theologians and academics such as Brown, Oscar Cullmann, and Karl Rahner.