The Rev. Benedict J. Groeschel, a Franciscan priest and author known in New York City for his efforts on behalf of the poor and familiar to a worldwide television audience as the bearded friar who denounced modernism and news reporting on sexual abuse by priests, died on Friday in Totowa, NJ. He was 81.
His survivors include two sisters, Marjule Drury and Robin Groeschel, and a brother, Garry.
