Authority control databases
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
James Likoudis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 December 1928 Lackawanna, New York, US[1] |
| Occupation | Catholic theologian, author, journalist, and seminary professor |
| Alma mater | Honorary Doctorate of Divinity – Sacred Heart Major Seminary
M.S. – Elmira College B.A. – University of Buffalo |
| Subject | Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, traditionalism, liturgy, doctrine, papacy, sex education, catechetics, pro-life, American politics, conservatism, liberalism, history, church history, Vatican II |
James Likoudis (December 11, 1928) is an American Catholic theologian, author and former lecturer in religious studies.[2]
In 1977 Likoudis's translation of Renée Casin's St. Thomas Aquinas: Orthodoxy, and Neo-Modernism in the Church from French to English was published.[3] He has also authored several books dealing with sex education, the Eastern Orthodox Church and its teachings, liturgical issues and controversies following the Second Vatican Council, and articles and commentary about prominent Catholics. He is the president emeritus of the Catholic lay organization Catholics United for the Faith (CUF) and the founder of Credo of Buffalo.
While working with CUF, Likoudis led the charge to remove ecclesiastical approval from the theologically problematic "Christ Among Us" Catechism, a campaign that was eventually heard by the Vatican's CDF head, Cardinal Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI), which took action to remove the Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat before eventually requesting that Paulist Press cease further production and sales of the book. Similarly, Likoudis played a prominent role in bringing to the Vatican's awareness the dissent and theological error being taught at CUA by Fr. Charles Curran. After many years and many more reports, Fr. Curran was removed from his teaching position by the Church hierarchy.
Mr. Likoudis is also the former president of Morality in Media, an organization now known as The National Center on Sexual Exploitation - an organization that campaigns against pornography, sex education and sex trafficking. The organization describes its goal as "exposing the links between all forms of sexual exploitation". In its beginnings, the organization was primarily Catholic. He is also the former moderator of the New York TV series "Sex and Morality."
Another significant contribution of Likoudis is his work with the late Dietrich von Hildebrand and his wife Alice von Hildebrand in their work on sex education, through the organization Veil of Innocence. In addition to being involved with “Veil” through writing and lecturing, Likoudis additionally served the organization as one of its board members. One of his accomplishments during this time was his contribution of an essay to the published work of Dietrich's: “Sex Education: The Basic Issues and Related Essays” which contains a personally penned letter of recommendation inside the front pages, from Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Likoudis also helped to found the late Father John Hardon S.J.s organization, Eternal Life, as well as contributing to some of Father Hardon's books, most notably, penning the foreword to the published dissertation of Fr. Hardon which he completed at the Gregorian in Rome on the topic of "Bellarmine's Doctrine of the Relation of Sincere Non-Catholics to the Catholic Church".
A convert to Catholicism in 1952 from Eastern Orthodoxy,[4] the Christian faith into which he was baptized,[5] Likoudis has since devoted a great deal of his apologetical and polemical efforts to foster reunion and submission of the Eastern Orthodox Churches to the See of Rome and the Papacy. In his essay, To be Truly Orthodox is to be in Communion with Peter's See (1988), Likoudis gives an account of his personal journey from Greek Byzantine Rite Orthodoxy to Byzantine Catholicism.
Likoudis' book Ending the Byzantine Greek Schism (2nd revised edition, 1992) aims to answer historical criticisms as well as theological objections raised by apologists for Orthodox Christianity.
In Likoudis's The Divine Primacy of the Bishop of Rome and Modern Eastern Orthodoxy: Letters to a Greek Orthodox on the Unity of the Church, he refutes the objections of Orthodox and Protestant critics to modern Roman Papal claims. An earlier edition of this book – The Divine Primacy of the Bishop of Rome, Reply to a Former Catholic – was written particularly to refute Eastern Orthodox writer, Michael Whelton's arguments, put forth in his book, Two Paths.
His last book in this trilogy is Eastern Orthodoxy and the See of Peter in which he outlines some current controversies, as well as identifies pathways forward for reconciliation of both sides and shows a portrait of a saint who devoted his life to this ecumenical endeavor and modeled it in his personal life.
His latest book is Heralds of a Catholic Russia – Twelve Spiritual Pilgrims, from Byzantium to Rome. This book contains portraits of saints, philosophers, and royalty, who all found their way from Orthodoxy to Catholicism through intellectual engagement with the arguments for and against Catholicism. The book ends with a pertinent section on Our Lady of Fátima's apparitions and messages and their relevance to a future, hoped-for Catholic Russia.
Likoudis co-authored The Pope, the Council and the Mass (Christopher Publishing House, 1981 and 1982; Rev. Ed. Emmaus Road Publishing, 2006), a defense of Pope Paul VI's Ordo Missae and the liturgical reforms envisaged by Vatican II. L'Osservatore Romano noted in 1981, "This book has been sorely needed for well over a decade."
Likoudis has lectured extensively on issues affecting education, family life, and the role of the laity in the Catholic Church. He has also written for The Wanderer (see below). Additionally, he is a contributing author to the Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought, Social Science and Social Policy as well as the widely acclaimed Faith and Life children's catechetical series published by Catholics United for the Faith which is used as a primary resource in many Catholic Schools.
He has appeared on numerous shows including EWTN's Journey Home network, the Mother Angelica show, the Geraldo Show, the Phil Donahue show, and most recently, the Reason and Theology show. He has been a part of conferences hosted by and with the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Dr. Robert Fastiggi, and Mother Angelica, among others.
In 2020, Likoudis received an honorary doctorate from Detroit's Sacred Heart Major Seminary for his work in Catholic apologetics, catechetics, ecumenism, and Catholic – Eastern Orthodox relations. He is a member of Aleteia's Board of Experts, a former member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars and the Society of Catholic Social Scientists, and has worked as a consultant for Catholic Answers’ apologetics website.
In 1957 Likoudis received a Summer Scholarship in Middle East Studies from the University of Rochester.
He is the 1968 Harvest Yearbook Dedication Recipient for his philosophy of life, and inspirational approach to critical thinking.
In 1973 he received the Morality in Media award.
He is listed in the American Catholic Who's Who: Bicentennial edition.
In 2002, he received the Blessed Frederick Ozanam Award for Catholic Social Action, which was presented at the October 18, 2002, annual meeting of the Society for Catholic Social Scientists.
December 2020, Mr. Likoudis had conferred on him by Sacred Heart Major Seminary an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.
James Likoudis married Ruth Hickleton who together have six children: Therese, Paul (in memoriam), Mark, Celine, Cathy and Margaret. They have 35 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren.
While Ruth passed away at the age of 91, James, a few years her senior, currently resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan.[6]
A small sampling of his essays can be found below. However, Dr. Likoudis has authored over 300 additional essays. He also has an extensive list of books he has contributed to, in addition to the books he has written personally.
Many of his essays can be found on his website.
