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

Richard John Neuhaus: Witness to Truth

A First Things junior fellow remembers the man whose life was spent 'witnessing to the truth.'

Jordan Hylden | posted 1/09/2009 12:09PM

I was a high-school kid when I first "met" Father Richard John Neuhaus. I can never remember how I came across the website of First Things, but when I did, it was like a light switch had been turned on ...

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John Paul

Posted: January 13, 2009 7:00 PM

As a theologically educated Evangelical who bacame Catholic, I can see that there is so much ignorance as to the source, ancientness, and reasons for Catholic beliefs. If Catholics are not Christians, then there weren't any Christians for centuries. Catholics teach what they do because they are dedicated to preserving the original deposit of Faith and understanding its implications. To reject a doctrinal idea because it cannot be found in one's narrow interpretation of Scripture is one thing. To say that Christians who embrace historical orthodox Christianity are not even Christians is quite another. So many Evangelicals let their traditions blind them to the truth. What a shame. Fr. Neuhaus did much to try to open up dialogue on these issues so that the ignorance could cease. If one wants to understand Catholicism, do not trust ex-Catholics and Protestant books to explain it. Go to good sources. See what the early Fathers taught, etc.

Eddie Settles

Posted: January 13, 2009 6:16 PM


As a deeply committed evangelical Protestant all my life I find Father Neuhaus' essay on why he went to Rome very, very attractive. If Jesus did truly call us all to be one (and I'm sure He did), then Richard John Neuhaus is one who spent his life seeking that unity in our Lord. May God be good to him.

Maryann

Posted: January 13, 2009 5:15 PM

How unfortunate that Eric and Rev. are so filled with hatred, condemnation and judgement about a branch of Christianity that they obviously know nothing about. The Catholic liturgy is scripture from start to finish (attend one if you dare) with nearly every word taken from the Word of God. They spew misinformation, but then so do many of my fellow Catholics, and in doing so, both accomplish very little other than to show ignorance and intolerance. Catholicism embraces faith and reason and many deviations are personal failures, not Church doctrine. We all will be judged by the light that we are given, and thank God for that. There are a lot of dim Christian bulbs out there and that includes all denominations.

Rev. D. Philip Veitch

Posted: January 13, 2009 2:36 PM

Theologically, the ECT dialogue is a vocal, substantial, and unfortunate expression of the weakening of evangelicalism. Serious Romanist thinkers could not follow Neuhaus's dubious effort. Serious and educated Protestant Churchmen--Lutheran, Reformed, Presbyterian, Confessional Anglican, Reformed Baptist--could follow Neuhaus's surreptitious efforts to forge a theological coalition. Jim Packer erred. Bill Bright did not have a Reformational Gospel. Pat Robertson, while a marvellous organizer, is an illiterate, theologically. Same for Chuck Colson. The Roman Gospel is another gospel for those with eyes to read Romans and Galatians carefully. The Roman practices of invocation of the saints, Requiem Masses for the dead to mitigate Purgatory time, sacerdotal magic in seven sacraments, the supremacistic verison of Petrine supremacy, pilgrimmages, pardons, relics, indulgences, the treasury of merit, baptismal regeneration, etc., ARE standard Roman teachings. False.

J F Norris

Posted: January 13, 2009 9:50 AM


OK without mentioning any (user)names here who left the door open long enough to let the Fundy blow in?

Don Booker

Posted: January 12, 2009 7:20 PM


My experience was similar to Jordan's. Father Neuhaus awakened the same response as C.S. Lewis. Here was someone who understood "true Truth" and who could articulate it clearly. But who also cared about it; who was a witness to truth in the exact sense demanded by Jesus : "you are MY witnesses in and to all the world(s)" He is deeply missed. But his witness will remain.

erick reyes

Posted: January 12, 2009 5:48 PM

whoever said that he( the priest) is a witness to the truth should think twice. how can a man who turned his back away from JESUS by embracing a pagan religious organization who have done nothing but to teach false doctrines and whos goal is to destroy the real CHRISTIAN faith founded by Jesus himself be a witness to the truth? he is a witness... a witness to lies which he embraced... if the writer of this article only reads the bible, he will find out that there is no amount of good works that can make you enter the LORDs kingdom. He even dared calling himself father... I dare you brother not to call this site christianity today if you will continue to publish anti- christian articles like this... remember... CATHOLISM is UNCHRISTIAN and you dont need a degree to know that... if you have a bible... read it so you will not die a sinner like the pagan priest you idolize. Believe in JESUS and not in a man who is a descendant of JUDAS scariot... a traitor!!!

Raymond Takashi Swenson

Posted: January 12, 2009 5:44 PM

Even though Neuhaus had little appreciation for my own (LDS) church, his constant example of a serious Christian engaged with the serious issues of public controversy, insisting on the right of people to express the political convictions that grow from their religious faith, was a constant inspiration to me and made me a subscriber to First Things. He demonstrated that people do not have to come to total theological agreement before they can find common ground in the Bible for significant agreement on our duties, and rights, as citizens. Contra Mr. Peterson, Neuhaus did not seek riches, worked tirelessly for civil rights as a minister to black and Hispanic parishioners, wrote with a lively and engaging wit, and the only "authority" he pushed was that of God--certainly not his own.

Patrick Gann

Posted: January 12, 2009 7:12 AM


I would love to know, Gregory, what made Neuhaus a bigot and sellout (in your eyes). Also, three cheers to the article's author (and Neuhaus himself, of course) for recognizing the value of JP2's "Fides et Ratio." One of the best Papal writings of the last 100 years.

Gregory Peterson

Posted: January 11, 2009 11:13 PM


Nicely written, but Father Neuhaus doesn't deserve it. I remember him as a shameless sellout, a shameless bigot, and a shameless...well, since he's recently deceased, I'll save that for another time. His mature age "truth" was authoritarian, tedious, and for someone who thought about things for a living, thoughtless.

John G.

Posted: January 10, 2009 4:43 AM


Although I would disagree with his embrace of Catholicism, I admired Neuhaus's thinking and writing. We shall not see his like again, I fear. (Aside to John: I agree with Jerome. Your rude comments contribute nothing. I'll say it less politely than Jerome did: Get lost!)

Jerome

Posted: January 09, 2009 6:04 PM


John? What does your website link have to do with Richard John Neuhaus? Please stop Spamming here? If you can't read the article and comment on it directly then please go somewhere else.

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