The Rev. Ronald Lawler: Priest, Author, Spiritual Adviser By Ann Rodgers-Melnick Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (November 8, 2003) The Rev. Ronald Lawler, a Catholic theologian who spoke as easily of faith to kindergartners as to graduate students, died Wednesday at the Vincentian Home in McCandless after a long battle with cancer. He was 77. A Franciscan Capuchin friar, Father Lawler was the only American on the Pontifical Roman Theological Academy, an elite group of theologians who advise the pope. But he was best known as co-editor of the adult catechism "The Teaching of Christ," with his brother, Thomas, and Bishop Donald Wuerl of Pittsburgh -- who was a young priest when the first edition was published in 1976. Father Lawler was Wuerl's spiritual director. "Like St. Francis, he preached the gospel incessantly and uncompromisingly, and sometimes even used words," Bishop Wuerl said. "I will have to find a new spiritual director. But his lessons I hope will live on in my heart as they do in the hearts of so many whom he guided, taught, touched and helped as a friar in the image of Francis and a priest in the image of the Good Shepherd." Father Lawler's great interest was in the spirituality of the family. Father Lawler wrote on bioethics, defending church teaching as it applied to matters ranging from embryonic stem cell research to end-of-life issues. But his teaching was never arcane, said Michael Aquilina of Bridgeville, a Catholic writer who assisted Father Lawler. "As he put it, he didn't like to use words of more than three syllables. He would talk about generous love. That was the word that was always on his lips. It took in everything he taught. And he really taught us that there was joy in that." Born David Lawler in Cumberland, Md., he took the name Ronald in the Capuchin order. He was ordained in 1951 and held many teaching posts. While at the former St. Fidelis College in Herman from 1960 to 1969, one of his students was the future Archbishop of Boston, Sean O'Malley. "The good influence that Father Ronald had on so many Capuchins and
diocesan priests cannot be exaggerated," Archbishop O'Malley wrote in a September tribute. "His brilliant mind, Herculean capacity to work, his boundless love for Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church and the Catholic priesthood have made an indelible mark on our lives." In 1977, he became the founding president of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, formed as a conservative counterpoint to the Catholic Theological Society of America, which some theologians believed was dominated by dissidents. Father Lawler wanted to promote official Church teaching, including its unpopular rejection of artificial contraception. He was inducted into the Pontifical Roman Theological Academy in 1982 alongside two giants of modern Catholic theology: Cardinal Henri de Lubac and Father Hans Urs von Balthazar. In 1990, Bishop Wuerl drafted Father Lawler as a consultant to the diocese for adult faith formation. He revamped diocesan marriage preparation. Ironically, the sex education program he drafted for parochial schools, The Catholic Vision of Love, was denounced by ultra-conservative Catholics. "I think Father Lawler was, at the very core of his being, a teacher. He wanted more than anything to try to help people understand what the church taught," said Father Kris Stubna, diocesan secretary for education. Because Father Lawler believed that the church must support couples after the wedding, he held regional gatherings for them. "Sometimes there would be 100 families there," Father Stubna said. "Father Lawler was on the administrative staff, but we used to kid him that what he was really doing was spiritual direction. That's how he saw his ministry." Father Lawler became an honorary grandfather to many children, including Aquilina's. "He really showed us how to love our children and our children how to love us,"aquilina said. He recalled hearing Father Lawler explain God's love to his 6-year-old daughter and to theology students on the same day. "It was the same message, and the language wasn't all that different," Aquilina said. "He was talking about what our Lord wanted and what the Second Vatican Council wanted, and it all came down to the same thing."
Father Lawler is survived by a brother, Thomas, of Sterling, Va.; and a sister, Mary Lawler Busch, of Berlin, Md. Father Lawler's body will be received at St. Augustine Friary in Lawrenceville at 1 p.m. today, with visitation from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The body will be transferred at 1 p.m. tomorrow to St. Augustine Church in Lawrenceville, where visitation will continue until 9 p.m., with a wake service at 8 p.m. A Mass will be celebrated Monday at 11 a.m. in St. Augustine Church. Burial will be in St. Augustine Cemetery in Shaler. Ronald David Lawler, O.F.M. Cap. 1926-2003 The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, Province of St. Augustine Born: July 29, 1926 Profession of the Capuchin life: July 14, 1946 Ordination to Priesthood: August 28, 1951 Date of death: November 5, 2003, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania "The good influence that Father Ronald [Lawler] had on so many Capuchins and diocesan priests cannot be exaggerated," said Archbishop Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap., Archbishop of Boston and fellow Capuchin friar. He spoke those words to Pat Bartos of the Pittsburgh Catholic Newspaper in September. The tribute was just one of the many to be received for Father Ronald Lawler, OFM Cap., 77, a Capuchin Franciscan friar of the Province of St. Augustine who died on Wednesday, November 5, 2003, at Vincentian Home, Pittsburgh, PA, after a long battle with cancer. A noted professor, writer, catechist and lecturer, Father Ronald was born in Cumberland, MD, as "David" Lawler on July 29, 1926, the son of the late Leo Thomas and Lillian (Laing) Lawler. He grew up with the Capuchin Franciscan friars at the parish of Ss. Peter and Paul, in Cumberland, MD, and was educated at Ss. Peter and Paul School before entering St. Fidelis Seminary in 1939 where the Capuchins became his friends and his mentors. He was given the name of "Brother Ronald" when he entered the Order of Capuchin Franciscans and made his vows of poverty, chastity and obedience on July 14, 1946. He was ordained a priest on August 28, 1951, and spent his first few years of priesthood ministry working with seminarians at St. Fidelis High School Seminary in Victoria, KS, a ministry which would be at the forefront of his life's work in 52 years of ministry. Father Ronald moved on to studies in Philosophy at St. Louis University,
receiving his Doctorate in 1958. One could say that "teaching the teachers" was a consistent theme in his life and work. He spent nine years (1960-69) working at St. Fidelis College in Herman, PA, before moving on to sow the seeds of Catholic Education at Josephinum College (Worthington, OH; 1975-1977); Catholic University of America (Washington, DC; 1977-1980); St. Thomas University (Houston, TX; 1980-1982); St. John University (New York, NY; 1982-88); and Holy Apostles College and Seminary (Cromwell, CT; 1988-90). In 1976, along with his brother, Thomas Comerford Lawler and the Most Rev. Donald Wuerl, now Bishop of Pittsburgh, he co-wrote and co-edited The Teachings of Christ, a widely respected and popular explanation of the Catholic Faith, now in its 4th edition. "It was very successful right from the start," Father Ronald said in an interview. "We were surprised. It was proof that catechisms could be written." In 1990, Father Ronald accepted the position of Catechetical Consultant for the Diocese of Pittsburgh where he continued his collaboration with close friend Bishop Donald Wuerl. He was "very instrumental" in bringing the chastity education program, "The Catholic Vision of Love," into the diocese and helped to organize the adult faith formation lecture series. Judy Kirk, head of the diocesan religious education office for the Diocese, said that "He has a way of bringing the faith to people. He makes you want to be Catholic. He has such a way about him. He's so gentle with people." Father Ronald was particularly proud of his work in founding the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars (1977) which presented him with its second Annual Founders Award in September, 2003, for "outstanding work on behalf of the Church in the intellectual apostolate." Archbishop Sean of Boston said, "His brilliant mind, Herculean capacity to work, his boundless love for Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church and the Catholic priesthood have made an indelible mark on our lives." "It's a great life," Father Ronald once said. "Teaching is a wonderful, wonderful life." But Father Ronald, a tireless worker, was to become the profound "learner" in his last months as he fought the effects of cancer. He was cared for by his brothers at St. Augustine Friary, Pittsburgh, PA, the community's "motherhouse." Seeing that he needed special care as the end approached, he was transferred to Vincentian Home, Allison Park, PA, on Tuesday, November 4, 2003 where he died the following day. Another of his Capuchin students, Archbishop Charles Chaput, Archbishop of Denver, CO, said, "I don't know that anyone has had a more positive effect on my own life and thinking than Father Ronald. Father Ronald is a pillar and foundation for me and so many others, a pillar of integrity, strength, virtue, consistency and fidelity." Father Ronald was preceded in death by his brother Albert ("Bert"), and two
sisters Lillian Lawler and Laing Lawler Baker. He is survived by his brother, Thomas Comerford Lawler of Sterling, VA, by his sister Mary Lawler Busch of Berlin, MD, numerous nephews and nieces, and by over 10,000 Capuchin Franciscan brothers throughout the world. Father Ronald's body was received at St. Augustine Friary, 221-36th Street, Pittsburgh, PA, on Saturday, November 8, 2003, at 1:00pm, where visitation took place from 2:00pm-4:00pm and 7:00pm-9:00pm. The body will be transferred to St. Augustine Church, 37th Street, on Sunday, November 9, 2003, at 1:00pm, where Visitation will continue until 9:00pm. A wake service will be celebrated at 8:00pm on Sunday evening. On Monday, November 10, 2003, a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am by the Capuchin Provincial Minister, Very Rev. Paul Kuppe, OFM Cap. The Most Rev. William Winter, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh will preside, and former student and friend of Father Ronald, Most Reverend Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap., will offer the Homily. Burial will follow in the friars' plot of St. Augustine Cemetery, Shaler, PA. In lieu of flowers and according to his wishes, donations may be made to the education of Capuchin Franciscan friars in memory of Father Ronald. Please call the Capuchin Province of St. Augustine [220-37th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201; (800) 224-0330].