Michael Prior Tributes and Obituaries

I was sorry to read in today's Times of the death of Michael Prior on 21 July 2004:

Father Michael Prior
Roman Catholic priest and scholar who campaigned for the rights of Palestinians

FATHER MICHAEL PRIOR was a biblical scholar who spent much of his life writing and campaigning about the rights of the Palestinians in the Holy Land. A radical priest, he was also an outspoken critic of Zionism, which, he argued in his books, articles and lectures, was unbliblical.

The obituary mentions several of Michael Prior's publications including The Bible and Colonialism: A Moral Critique. Also worth a mention is Jesus the Liberator: Nazareth Liberation Theology (Luke 4.16-30) (The Biblical Seminar; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995).

I first met Michael Prior in 2001 when I began external examining at St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill, where he was employed from 1977 until his death. The obituary describes him as "genial and with a lively sense of humour", which is exactly right -- he was a larger than life character, with real warmth. He will be missed.

The St Mary's College web site features a research profile on Michael Prior. It also has an announcement of his death:

Professor Michael Prior CM

The end of the academic year has been marked by great sadness with the sudden and unexpected death of Professor Michael Prior CM.

Michael Prior was a man of considerable academic distinction, publicly recognised earlier this year through his personal professorship, and a man of strong loyalties and of courage and conviction. He was greatly respected by the students for the personal qualities he brought to his work. He will be greatly missed. The Requiem Mass for Michael Prior was held on Friday 30 July.

The Daughters of Charity have carry the following affectionate tribute:

Tribute to Fr Michael Prior CM

And The Tablet obituary of 31 July is reproduced on this Vincentian Priests and Brothers site, with some further links too:

FR MICHAEL PRIOR CM