Rosemary Radford Ruether, 1936-2022
Catholic Feminist Theologian
Pioneering Catholic feminist theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether, accompanied by her daughters Mimi and Becky, died peacefully on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 3 PM PDT in Pomona, California after a long illness. Arrangements are pending with more information to follow.
Dr. Ruether was a scholar activist par excellence. She was respected and beloved by students, colleagues, and collaborators around the world for her work on ecofeminist and liberation theologies, anti-racism, Middle East complexities, women-church, and many other topics.
Her legacy, both intellectual and personal, is rich beyond imagining. The scope and depth of her work, and the witness of her life as a committed feminist justice-seeker will shine forever with a luster that time will only enhance.
Let us rejoice in the privilege of having known her.
Mary E. Hunt, Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER),
at the request of the family
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For more on Rosemary Radford Ruether: https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/life-scholar-activist-rosemary-radford-ruether
feminismandreligion.com 
Rosemary Ruether was not only a brilliant scholar, RRR had a social justice activist commitment as integral to her understanding of what theology should be. I was fortunate to take a course with her while she was a visiting prof one year at Harvard Divinity School in the
early 1970s. She was also a lot if fun! You didn’t have to always agree with Rosemary, she loved engaging in spirited thinking together. Will always remember when Rosemary accepted our invite to came dancing with a few of us at women’s bar then. Rosemary was full of joy shakin’ it on the dance floor where we all danced together in those days. She will missed by so many.
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She is the one who her thinkings about theology feminism I am really appreciate until now. It was really open my eyes why i started with the women studi.
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Aw, Emily, thank you for sharing that story. I love knowing that she went out to dance with you all. She was tremendously generous, and yes, funny. I learned that slowly, actually, cause I doesn’t expect it, so it took me a minute to catch on! And, relevant to FAR, she was super supportive to us and endorsed the project from the start.
I feel like there is so much to process each time we are faced with the death of a foresister. It’s heavy. A friend tonight, in an email about Rosemary, said, She is Risen, which lifted my heart.
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God has blessed His /her created world with some great persons, and, Ruether was one among them. Her writings call us to continue to work for a just and peaceful society, irrespective of caste, color, gender and region.
I offer my sincere tribute to her. Now she will talk to us through her writings.
Rev. Dr. Christ Sumit Abhay Kerketta
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“Her writings call us to continue to work for a just and peaceful society, irrespective of caste, color, gender and region.” My thoughts exactly…. she was a beacon in my life – as Xochitl states losing a forecaster… It seems like we need them more than ever.
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whoops – typo – or? forecaster to foresister!
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Rosemary Radford Ruether, through her many books, was catalytic in my academic education as well as my emotional development. I heard her speak once at a public gathering (Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Va.) and was impressed with her brilliance and focus. One young seminarian (male) tried to engage her with doctrine that was incidental to her talk. She would not get bogged down with his attempt to derail her and just moved forward. Her specific behavior right then stuck with me. May she rest in peace and power.
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Yes, RRR was impressive and brilliant. I wish I could have met her!
BTW, is Union Theological Seminar in Richmond, Va., the same as Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Va.? I went to the one in NYC.
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Yes, I no doubt mis-typed! Mea culpa….
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I’m sad to hear that RRR is gone. I found her writing inspiring. Blessing on your journey, Rosemary!
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Rosemary Radford Ruether’s writings had a big impact on me, too, and they were part of the reason I went to seminary. In fact, I did my thesis on her work and Carol Christ’s. I was lucky enough to meet her when she visited Maine. I wish I could have met Carol, too. They were both such brilliant women.
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Even before she was on my dissertation committee during her time at Claremont Graduate University, her work had a tremendous impact on me. I’m sad to hear of her passing. May her memory be a blessing.
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It will be my everlasting honor and privilege that I was able to spend my graduate studies sitting at the foot of R3. Rosemary’s works were the first doors to which it was not only acceptable but required to question and challenge the male dominate religious narratives. Her legacy will continue on. Rest in Peace and Power R3.
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