(July 23, 1933 – October 3, 2014) was an American Franciscan friar, Catholic priest, retreat master, author, psychologist, activist, and television host.

Groeschel served as lifelong Chairman of the Good Counsel homes for homeless pregnant women and their babies, which he described as a "work of God," cofounding these with Christopher Bell.

Among Groeschel's close friends were St. Teresa of Calcutta, Mother Angelica, Christopher and Joan Bell, Dr. Philip Mango, Dr. Paul Vitz, and Dr. Alice von Hildebrand.

"[12] After joining the Institute of Psychological Sciences[15] in 2000, Groeschel taught an annual intensive course focused on how to give practical assistance to people experiencing trauma, extreme stress, and sorrow, while at the same time integrating religious values with counseling and psychotherapy.

[17] The late Donna Summer, the queen of disco music paid tribute to Groeschel in the liner notes of her studio album Cats Without Claws originally released in 1984, when it became available as a compact disc a few years later.

[18] Throughout his career, Groeschel was "an outspoken opponent of abortion and was quick to defend the church against what he saw as unfair criticism, which endeared him to conservative Catholics in particular.

(2005)[19] His weekly television program, Sunday Night Live with Father Benedict Groeschel, offered a mix of interviews, answering viewer questions and discussing spiritual and social matters relating to the Catholic faith.

In September 1998, he led protests outside an Off-Broadway theater in New York City against the production of Terrence McNally's play Corpus Christi.

He "suffered numerous broken bones and intracranial bleeding",[12] and over a four-hour period, he had no blood pressure, heartbeat or pulse for about 20 minutes.

Although the accident left him with limited use of his right arm and difficulty in walking, he resumed preaching and giving retreats by the end of 2004 and he continued to keep a full schedule.

The stroke caused temporary cognitive and speech difficulties that were noticeable in his March 29 appearance as the host of EWTN's Sunday Night Live With Father Benedict Groeschel, where he made the condition public.

"[26] Notably during the broadcast Groeschel misspoke Apostoli’s name as "Father Augustine" and "confused a recent story in the news when he said that the University of Notre Dame was receiving an award from President Obama.

[2] Groeschel's expertise was focused on clarifying critical psychological issues pertinent in the screening of stable and orthodox seminarians.

In 2002 with large numbers of public allegations arising accusing priests of sexual abuse against minors, Groeschel caused some controversy during a sermon at a Yonkers church.

"[2] Groeschel also made controversial comments in a 2012 interview published by the National Catholic Register, leading to the end of his public career.

The interview related to the sexual abuse of children by priests, with Groeschel stating: "Suppose you have a man having a nervous breakdown, and a youngster comes after him.

I deeply regret any harm I have caused to anyone.The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal organization also apologized for Groeschel's remarks, noting that they were out of character for him and stemmed from infirmities due to his 2004 car accident and a recent stroke.

[3][34] He had an ongoing medical condition[3] that was grave enough that preparations to memorialize his life, including a Facebook tribute, were begun on September 9, 2014, by members of his religious order.

[35] On September 30, 2014, the Cardinal Newman Society announced on their Facebook page that they had received word that Groeschel "fell and re-injured the same arm that was hurt in his accident ten years ago" and asked for people to request prayers of intercession for his health from "Venerable Solanus Casey, a former roommate of Fr.

[36] Doctors informed him that they felt it was inadvisable to attempt to repair the damaged arm (a fractured elbow and shoulder[1]) as he was already in a weakened condition from the ongoing illness and was unlikely to survive surgery.

[3][38] On the day of his death Groeschel met with Michael Mencer who as a child had his juvenile macular degeneration reversed, which he and his family accredited to the intercession of Sister Miriam Teresa Demjanovich, S.C.

Mencer had the relic of Demjanovich (a strand of her hair) that he had carried with him when he felt his vision problems lift and loaned it to Groeschel who blessed himself with it.

O'Connor stated that after "kind of a rough day" of pain, Groeschel and he prayed the rosary accompanying the recording of Mother Angelica on EWTN.

After a few times asking for a response O'Connor noticed his mouth and eyes move, and felt that Groeschel was either asleep or in a "little trance" that he had been going into lately.

"[35] Groeschel's remains were placed in a simple pine casket (in accord with the rule of his community)[41] and entombed in the crypt of the Most Blessed Sacrament Friary on October 12, 2014, following a funeral Mass at the Basilica Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey.