All Comments for: First Things Founder Richard John Neuhaus Dies at 72 | Christianity Today

Free Newsletters:

RSS Feeds |

Audio |

Twitter

Home > 2009 > January (Web-only)

Christianity Today, January (Web-only), 2009 |

First Things Founder Richard John Neuhaus Dies at 72

The Catholic theologian also co-founded Evangelicals and Catholics Together.

Daniel Burke, Religion News Service | posted 1/09/2009 09:16AM

The Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, an eminent Catholic intellectual who tutored President Bush in Catholic social teaching and helped build the political coalition that made his election possible, died Thursday ...

[Reader Reviews]

Average User Rating:

Rate and Comment on this article

Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 comments.

Page: 1

Show All

Don Booker

Posted: January 12, 2009 6:59 PM


We will miss his voice. He was always open to discuss substantive issues with anyone, friend or foe, great or unknown. But the far reaching impact and influence of his life and work will remain.

A hermit

Posted: January 10, 2009 7:11 PM

Neuhaus did not tutor Bush on the WHOLE of Catholic social teaching. The church has proclaimed a 'preferential option for the poor'- Bush's economics can be summed up as a 'preferential option for the rich.' Pope John Paul II decried the war in Iraq as "unjust and illegal"- Neuhaus and other conservative Catholics basically ignored this. The Church as proclaimed the need for stewardship and protection of creation (the environment). To Bush, the environment is only good to be used for material profit. So-called 'pro-lifers' can be liked to someone who saves a baby from falling down the stairs, while the whole house is burning with everyone else trapped inside.

SEAN CARLSON

Posted: January 10, 2009 11:25 AM


AN ARTICULATE VOICE FOR TRANSCENDANT TRUTH. WILL BE GREATLY MISSED.

AP	Posted: January 10, 2009 10:49 AM

I appreciated First Things and Father Neuhaus's writing. But, John Paul, I think you may be confusing what Luther and Calvin believed in contrast to the Catholic Church. Works are indeed the fruit of faith or evidence of faith, but they are not the basis of faith. There is a huge difference between these two, and if you get it wrong, you cut off the root of love. Ask yourself this question--at what point is God 100% irrevocably for you?

Ephrem Hagos

Posted: January 10, 2009 7:12 AM


Evangelism without firsthand knowledge of God in Christ as "a First Thing", Biblically defined, will surely make the Devil have his day in hell!

Padre Dave Poedel,STS

Posted: January 10, 2009 12:37 AM

As an Evangelical Catholic whose journey mirrored Fr. Neuhaus' (I grew up Roman Catholic and became an Evangelical Catholic priest (aka LCMS Lutheran Pastor). Fr. Neuhaus has been a great influence on my intellectual life and a model of being a priest and intellectual. I am of the age where my spiritual and intellectual mentors are being called to their Eternal Rest: first Fr. Henri Nouwen several years ago, then Cardinal Dulles and now Fr. Neuhaus. While I am delighted for them (to live is Christ, to die is gain), I will also find a huge void in my spiritual nourishment. Lord, raise up leaders in your Church...maybe even me....

John Paul

Posted: January 09, 2009 6:16 PM

Hey Bill, the Catholic Church teaches and has always taught that initial salvation is by grace alone through faith. Works, however, are a necessary part of salvation. They are the living out of the faith. Without them we have no faith. Luther and Calvin also believed that the lack of works proved one was not of the elect (saved by grace) and, therefore, they were not saved. Works, as taught by the Catholic Church, are God's works. It is He who does them through us. They do not "earn" us salvation because they are not even our works. We are pronounced dead at Baptism. We no longer live, but Christ lives through us. Hey John, the universal truths evident in most religions are the outcome of God's revelation to Man by various means throughout history. Christ fulfilled all of this. That is why Christianity may appear so similar to other religions. It is also why so many Gentiles accepted Christianity. It was the fulfillment of what their prior religion longed for and foretold

Bill Scudder

Posted: January 09, 2009 5:08 PM


Neuhaus fooled many with his work on "Evangelicals and Catholics Together" Even Colson fell for it. Neuhaus and the catholics gave up nothing and still hold to salvation by the Catholics church and sacrements and works. The council of Trent still stands and pronounces a curse on those that beleive you ar saved by Grace alone without works.

Steve

Posted: January 09, 2009 12:59 PM

Father Neuhaus is in part responsible for my close connections--both theological and social--to the Roman Catholic Church, though I still remain an evangelical. He has been greatly influential on me, as have some of his compatriots at First Things, people like George Weigel, Avery Cardinal Dulles (who just recently passed away), R.R. Reno, Philip Jenkins, to name only a few. His enduring legacy will stretch far beyond political victories (which this article spent all too much time discussing) and focus more on the connections, both intellectual and spiritual, between Catholics, evangelicals, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians interested in vibrant, personal, classically Christian faith. Father Neuhaus, be at peace.

Patrick Gann

Posted: January 09, 2009 11:51 AM

Neuhaus has been a big influence in my intellectual life. I've read a lot of writings in "First Things," and am the better for it. There is a part of me, as I think there is in many Evangelicals, that is captivated by some of the thought and doctrine of the Roman Catholic church. Granted, I'm not going to convert (not a big fan of the hierarchy), but there's a ton of wisdom to glean: a lot of history that protestants should NOT let go of. It is sad to hear that he is gone, but he will be remembered. Thanks CT for posting the article.

Page: 1

E-mail this page

Write CT

Print this article

Post a comment