TRANSITION

Richard John Neuhaus, 1936–2009

An Honorable Christian Soldier

By George Weigel | NEWSWEEK
Published Jan 10, 2009
From the magazine issue dated Jan 19, 2009

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  • Posted By: robomatic @ 02/01/2009 3:25:51 PM

    I did not know of Father Neuhaus prior to 2003, but I was definitely not impressed by the man. I saw him twice interviewed on television about the pedophile priests crisis going on in public at manylocations around the US and the world. He did not confront the truth but rather parroted the stonewall response that over the years severely exacerbated the problem and the confronting of the problem.

  • Posted By: ecralinf @ 01/10/2009 11:57:29 PM

    While his intellect set Neuhaus apart, his ultra-conservative theology and hawkish nationalism made him look like a number of other latter-day, right-wing converts to the Catholic Church: Lee Atwater, Laura Ingraham, Robert Novak, Tony Snow, et al. Having Weigel write his obit is like having Scooter Libby write Dick Cheney's!

    • Posted By: Mattawapriest @ 01/17/2009 9:55:36 AM

      Your remarks prove that you did not know the man. He was neither conservative or liberal: he was a Christian pastor who spoke truth to power with conviction and finesse. To try to view his life in such limited political terms as left or right is little more than in intellectually lazy attempt to reduce him to a two dimensional character. Put aside your intellectual prejudices and read his work in it's totality.

    • Posted By: Mattawapriest @ 01/17/2009 9:55:00 AM

      Your remarks prove that you did not know the man. He was neither conservative or liberal: he was a Christian pastor who spoke truth to power with conviction and finesse. To try to view his life in such limited political terms as left or right is little more than in intellectually lazy attempt to reduce him to a two dimensional character. Put aside your intellectual prejudices and read his work in it's totality.

    • Posted By: Mattawapriest @ 01/17/2009 9:52:00 AM

      Your remarks prove that you did not know the man. He was neither conservative or liberal: he was a Christian pastor who spoke truth to power with conviction and finesse. To try to view his life in such limited political terms as left or right is little more than in intellectually lazy attempt to reduce him to a two dimensional character. Put aside your intellectual prejudices and read his work in it's totality.

    • Posted By: Robberson @ 01/11/2009 2:53:38 PM

      Are you afraid to use your real name? I'm not!

      • Posted By: ghostmasseur @ 01/12/2009 10:47:42 AM

        It has nothing to do with fear. Any intelligent person would know that.

        Of course almost all of the top online security experts say that using one's real name is a bad idea.

  • Posted By: M Flanagan @ 01/13/2009 5:56:02 AM

    I don't remember how I happened to subscribe to First Things, but regardless of one's religion, Richard John Neuhaus was blessed with an intellect, faith and energy that, truely, few possess. I was saddened to hear of his death.

  • Posted By: Robberson @ 01/11/2009 2:51:40 PM

    Can't help but wonder about the authors of negative comments contained herein. Like, who are they and what have they done to honor Christ, to follow Him in His call to discipleship.

    • Posted By: ghostmasseur @ 01/12/2009 10:51:28 AM

      Consider that honoring christ or his calls may not be a positive thing to everyone and it is not needed by many people. Also, just because they express criticism of Neuhaus does not mean that they are not believing practicing Christians or good people. One can validly criticize Neuhaus and be a wonderful person and one can praise him and be a complete jerk (and visa versa). The two are not related.

  • Posted By: midnight05 @ 01/10/2009 7:13:19 PM

    I tried reading First Things and found it so right wing that I freaked and stpped. There were some wonderful articles but most of the rest of the publication was a rag.

    • Posted By: Robberson @ 01/11/2009 2:54:28 PM

      Are you afraid to use your real name? I'm not!

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