November 20, 2009
 
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| Richard John Neuhaus, 1936 - 2009 |
| by Rev. George W. Rutler |
| 1/10/09 |
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About 25 years ago, I had the first of many dinners with the Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, when he was still a Lutheran. He objected to the term "converting" for a baptized Christian who became Catholic: Rather, such a one "embraced" Catholicism. I demurred, as I thought I had converted, albeit not from so intensely dogmatic a confession as Lutheranism but from the pleasant perch of Anglicanism. That same evening, he pointed out that the heating system in a nearby building was being converted to gas, to which I replied that he should have said it was embracing gas. Our friendship was not thwarted, and I became one of countless people whom he called friends so frequently in his crucial journal First Things that it might have passed as a convention of name-dropping were it not true. While he was a formidable debater, he won more friends than arguments and preferred it that way.
Father Neuhaus did not hide his lamp under a bushel, and he did not wait passively for lamp stands to appear. His religious conversion, or embrace, came after his change of politics, putting him in that category of liberals who have been mugged. In his case, he was not mugged by thugs but by reality, and so the change in social perspective was, in fact, the sensible way he saw to effect the civil-rights agenda and other benevolent causes that had become his public signature. So he became known as a "public intellectual" -- which is a vague term, and must mean, whatever else it means, a person who is not shy about his thoughts.
Our friend definitely was public. What some did not understand is that he was not a theologian, however theologically acute his perceptions were, but he was a social philosopher and, like Chesterton, influenced religion in his capacity as a journalist. Chesterton's only lapse into false modesty was his description of journalism as the art of writing badly. Neither GKC nor RJN could write badly, and I was not the only one to start reading First Things at the back end, for Father Neuhaus's ruminations were like the prize at the bottom of the Cracker Jack box, which normal children have always opened upside down. Our age's abandonment of reason and literacy has left us with a burlesque journalism, and it is poignant that Father Neuhaus's last column was an explanation of why the New York Times is no longer even worth satirizing.
The decay of public writing is a subject for the public intellectual who, because of the general corruption of culture, is now perforce a social pathologist. Father Neuhaus died just before the start of a new presidential administration that he anticipated with foreboding.
What he had hoped for in the green years of his civil-rights enthusiasms has become its macabre caricature, ushering in a Darwinian utilitarianism in which life itself will be an arbitrary privilege instead of a right. This is something crueler than the secularism of the last generation's "Naked Public Square" and more like Vico's "Barbarism of Reflection," which uses the fine technology and tailoring of the last but lost high culture to impose its inhuman agenda.
Father Neuhaus kept a picture of Martin Luther in his rooms -- partly, I think, to animate remarks from such as me, but also because he believed that people who thought deeply and powerfully, despite their errors, had more of a way with eternity than the functionaries of lifeless remnant religion, such as the National Council of Churches, to whose suburbanized Orwellianism he reacted by forming the Institute on Religion and Democracy. But with the collapse of mainline Protestantism, that was like beating a dead horse. Having concluded that there is no longer any reason for Lutheranism, he was resigned to the fact that most Lutherans did not agree, either out of conviction or complacency.
John Cardinal O'Connor's mentorship was so generous, ordaining him one year after his Profession of Faith, that Father Neuhaus responded with uncritical loyalty, and this perspective tinted his assessment of other prelates. He found the language and music of the revised liturgy "a cause of sorrow," but with filial piety he looked away from the cardinal's own little ways at the altar. Although Father Neuhaus was unconscious in the hospital when he was anointed, he may have sensed from a higher plane that I used the Douai translation.
Having become a Catholic, he began to realize that the Barque of Peter is also the largest of ocean liners with a manifest vaster than any denomination. Big ships are hard to turn around, harder than Father Neuhaus may have hoped, but he was pragmatic: "What I described in 'The Catholic Moment' is not a prophecy but the outline of a possibility. There are no guarantees that my hopes expressed in 'The Catholic Moment' will ever be realized." Nonetheless, he was impatient with some of the national documents of the bishops of the United States, which sounded like the work of Wodehouse's Madeline Bassett, and he regretted that clerical bureaucracy and the life of the mind are not naturally symbiotic.
This has been a cold year for warm friends. Last April, when I offered Holy Mass for William F. Buckley Jr., I was flanked by Father Neuhaus and by Bill's local pastor, Rev. Kevin Fitzpatrick, who died a few months later. Father Neuhaus died less than a month after his great friend Avery Cardinal Dulles. My Christmas and Easter dinners with the two of them could not go on forever, not in any simulation of the heavenly banquet.
It was typical that Father Neuhaus got a book out of his near death ten years ago, and typical too that in it he did not quote a child's prayer without first sourcing it to the twelfth-century Enchiridion Leonis: "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee Lord my soul to keep; if I should die before I wake, I pray thee Lord my soul to take."
The Rev. George W. Rutler is the pastor of the Church of our Saviour in New York City. His latest book, Coincidentally: Unserious Reflections on Trivial Connections, is available from Crossroads Publishing. Readers have left 24 comments. I don't get this part: "Although Father Neuhaus was unconscious in the hospital when he was anointed, he may have sensed from a higher plane that I used the Douai translation." Who can explain it? Written by Anono Anono, The Douai-Rheims (sometimes spelled differently) is the traditional Catholic English Bible, the "approved" English translation prior to Vatican II. Fr. Rutler, A fine elegy--and a fascinating glimpse into the private lives of public figures in the Church. It makes an interesting counterpiece to your classic "Speaking Well of the Dead" from 1997.  Written by JC To have been at one of those dinners with Fathers Neuhaus, Dulles and Rutler and taken in the richness and depth of their conversation! Thanks Father Rutler for a wonderful tribute. During the death of Pope John Paul II and subsequent election of Pope Benedict XVI, Father Neuhaus' commentary on EWTN had me hanging on his every insightful word. My only regret is not subscribing to "First Things" much earlier than I did. Father Neuhaus will be missed. Written by Bob This is a beautiful tribute, not only to Father Neuhaus, but to the sacrificial vocation of Agape: he who feeds the sheep without error (or drivel)to lead them towards CHRIST and salvation. In my rebellious days when I would hear Cardinal Dulles, I remember listening to his public statements and thinking "what a whack job". A few decades later, I turned on the television and heard him lambasting the Episcopal Conference over some ridiculousness. I remember shouting, "HOLY TOLEDO, I AM THINKING LIKE AVERY DULLES!!" We live in this valley of tears among so many who get sucked into believing when Christ's said "I am the Way, the Truth and the Light", he was talking about them. I'm sorry for the loss of these precious gifts of friendship and support in your vocation. Written by Dee Thank you for a wonderful eulogy for a giant of a man. I grieve for your loss. As a young man, the passing of several great men in such a short amount of time--so shortly after I've gotten to know their writings--fills me with foreboding. I ran across this phrase from another loyal Neuhaus reader a few days ago: "We are living through the passing of a generation of giants, and where will come their like again, now that we need them so much?" --Stuart Koehl Written by Jesse We have been blessed doubly in this life by the fact that those gifts we can hold in our hands or with our eyes we can also hold in our memories. This marks an incalculable expansiveness in the love and guidance that we might, in our better moments, show to others and realize in our turn from them. Such a consolation should not be thought to substitute for grief but is surely its natural completion. That George Rutler should have used the Douai will surprise no one familiar with the limpid prose and heartening seriousness of either man. RJN, RIP and in our memories. Written by Robert Mosby Dear Father Rutler, Thank you for the beautiful tribute to your friend, Fr. Neuhaus. Like Bob, who commented earlier, I too wish I had subscribed to First Things earlier. However, I owe Fr. Neuhaus a huge "thank you". It is because of an article he wrote some time ago about the the poor translations of many Bibles (especially the NAB), that the Douay-Rheims has become my Bible of choice. I only wish it was the translation used in our Mass. Fr. Richard John Neuhas has left behind a tremendous literary legacy- one I will continue to enjoy reading. Written by Karinann Jesse, Fr Maximilian Kolbe said that the people in heaven can "fight with both hands". So, while I too hate the idea of the Catholic giants in this country leaving us just at the time we need some true leadership the most, I'm also convinced that they haven't forgotten us just because they've crossed over....now they'll be able to do even more against the Culture of Death that's thriving in the USA! Written by g Father Neuhaus and First Things brought me back to the Church that I had loved as a child and young man. Cardinal Dulles and Father Rutler (whose fusion Liturgy sustains me on most Sundays)have helped to keep me reverted to a Church whose clergy seem to be intent on driving me away. What is it about you converts that has done so much for my faith and my morals? Written by Bob Moran Now we grieve the loss of Fr. Neuhaus.... a monumental and prolific advocate of the Catholic faith. He not only inspired our intellect, but awakened us to contemplate the graces God has for us by listening to and abiding by the Holy Spirit. He loved Christ deeply - and deep was Christ's love for him. Thank You - God .... for Fr. Neuhaus..enfold him now in your loving arms. Thank You, Fr. Neuhaus, for teaching us about the loving, enfolding arms of GOd. May all of you be sustained through this time of sorrow. Written by Maria Carmela I am a nurse and I can respond to Anono's question. A person who is in an unconscious state can still hear, as it is the last sensory to go before dying. So, Father Neuhaus could hear the Doui Translation being read to him. I would suppose that the author of this article was very close to Fr. Neuhaus and knew that Fr.Neuhause knew the differance between the modern day translation of the bible and the Doui Translation, and that in all probability appreciate hearing the Doui Translation being read to him. I have known about people who were in a comatose state repeating things that they heard while they were in a coma. Written by Sharon Holmes As a student in Rome during the final years of the Second Vatican Council I had the privilege of listening to the public lectures of various periti and I realized how important it was for someone who wants to serve the Church and to bring about renewal to cultivate a high level of theological sophistication to bring about enduring change. Karl Rahner, Edward Schillebecx, and of course a person like Fr. Neuhaus have served us well. We are likewise lucky to live at a time when luminaries like John Paul II and Joseph Ratzinger have guided the Church. May Fr. Neuhaus' legacy inspire bright young Catholics to offer to the Church the service of the Intellect. Every age must re engage itself to deepen its understanding of the Mystery of Faith. I personally knew the French Theologian Marie Dominique Chenu O.P. and was guided through the 42 years of my service as a priest in the renewal. Written by Salvador Pico A charming tribute to Fr Neuhaus. I agree with Fr Rutler's observation: "What some did not understand is that he was not a theologian, however theologically acute his perceptions were, but he was a social philosopher..." I believe that Fr Neuhaus's early association with the prominent sociologist Peter Berger had a lasting influence. Not many theologians are familiar with the best of the social sciences. Admittedly much from those disciplines can be thrown away but there are a few landmarks past and present whicn can be used to justify the ways of God to man. I know that Berger and Neuhaus had their later differences but I believe their initial collaboration helped Fr Neuhaus to make perceptive commentaries regarding not only theology and philosophy but also public policy and sociology. Fr Neuhaus was a rare bridge-builder - one might say a pontifex. Written by Patrick Molloy Buckley, Neuhaus, Cardinal Dulles, our conservative American heros are leaving us. I too look with foreboding upon the coming year(s). I am begining to expect some of the living to disappear too. Written by Steven D Smiith I think it is interesting that both Cardinal Dulles and Father Neuhaus were both converts. Nothing against Catholics who were were Baptized as infants, I am one myself, but I wonder if growing up as Protestants, being exposed to Protestant theology, then becoming curious about Catholicism and learning about Catholicism as a "rational adult" is a serious factor? I would suspect so. Perhaps Converts grasp some things that I don't because I never had to make a rational decision as an adult to become a Catholic, since I was always one? Of course, growing up Catholic, you pick up a lot of Catholic "culture" and "Heritage" that you would not otherwise get. Still, Converts may be better at defending the Faith, since they had to first defend it to themselves? Written by Will I too was saddened at the news of the death of Father Neuhaus. As I have only had the chance to read him through First Things for the past few years I regreat that I had not found him and his writings earlier. As an instructor in an RCIA program in Lancaster County Pa, I have come across many new converts to our church and I have been very impressed at their devotion and spirituality and their support of the Church. I often cannot help to compare them to the generic catholics who appear in the main stream press; the difference in stunning on one side you have loyalty and genuine desire for holiness on the other side you have catholic school grads who have not the faintness idea of the teachings of the church. I recently was fortunate to attend a lecture by Scott Hahn of the St. Paul institute who also is a convert and I was so impressed and edified by this man that I think we do have a younger generation of faithful Catholics coming to the take the place of Father Neuhaus and Cardinal Dulles. oremus pro invicem Written by John O'Neill As a former military man who is old enough to remember the draft, I think perhaps an analogy to Converts vs Cradle Catholics may be Volunteers vs Draftees. Converts are like Volunteers, who want to be there, whereas, all too often, Draftees don't want to be there and engage in a lot of foot dragging to put it mildly. Many of us who attended Catholic schools do not know our theology very well [you are correct], however, I wonder if it could have been taught somewhat better? A lot of emphesis on laws and rules, which are very important, but not too much thought as to why the laws and rules exist. In most cases, the instruction was not an attempt to challenge you intellectually, which of course, is exactly what Cardinal Dulles and Father Neuhaus did. "Draftees" can actually be pretty good troops if you handle them properly, ditto those of us who came into the Church via "the draft." Written by Will I think in the end all Catholics - whether native or immigrant - need to be converts. For every Peter (poetic licence) there is a Paul, for an Augustine an Aquinas, for a Newman a Neumann, for a Dulles a Ratzinger and for a Neuhaus a Wojtyla. What matters is the meeting with the Christ and the leaving of everything for the high romance of faith, hope and love. Written by k3vin Thank you Fr. Rutler. You are as you have always been ... awesome. Fr. Neuhaus reminded me of a clerical William Buckley. I will miss him. The two books which opened my eyes to many things were "Slouching Towards Gomorrah" by Robert Bork and "Beyond Modernity" by Fr. Rutler. Written by Mark It is truly a shame that Robert Bork did not get his seat on the Supreme Court. Bork would not just have just been another Conservative vote, but would have been an intellectual force. it would have been good to have both Bork and Scalia together on the Court. I think the Liberals in the Senate went after him because they knew he was more than just a conservative vote, he was an intellectual force who would possibly influence other justices and write very clear opinions. Too bad he didn't get confirmed. The outcome of Bork has been that Conservative judges must somehow camouflage themselves if they are to be confirmed. Too bad. Written by Will While rightly mourning the loss of several giants of our Faith, may I also ask that we remember in our prayers the soul of Cardinal Pio Lahgi whose funeral will take place tomorrow in St. Peter's? A warm and holy man who was sent by the Pope to counsel our President not to engage in Iraq...all in vain. Written by Jim Pickard Yes, the Cardinal was a fine man [and a wise one]. A pity that Bush did not listen to him. It would have saved us all a lot of trouble. I never got to meet Father Neuhaus, however, I did read on a regular basis "First Things" and his other writings. A truly great Conservative Intellectual. Still, I would like to have been able to meet him. Neuhaus had faith, and also was able to provide an intellectual case for Catholicism. Unfortunately, I did not "discover" him until a couple of years ago. It will be interesting to see who steps forward to become the new voice. Written by Will Thank you Father Rutter for that wonderful note celebrating a dear friend. I met Father Neuhaus only once and corresponded with him only once. I wrote to thank him for his beautiful eulogy of a mutual friend, Father Ernest Fortin, A.A. Now I write to thank you for your note on Father Neuhaus. It is indeed sad to lose such towers of strength such as Cardinal Dulles, Ernest Fortin and now Father Richard John Neuhaus. To lose such powerful public defenders of the Faith in these trying times is painful. Keep up the good work, Father Rutter. Frederick Vaughan, Sou'west Cove, Nova Scotia Written by Frederick Vaughan A fine contributor on EWTN and in the Catholic Community. I respected his views and knowledge and he will be greatly missed. God Bless. Written by John H |
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