Father Richard John Neuhaus passed away this morning in New York City. Joseph Bottum, the editor of First Things and a member of the advisory board of The City among many other things, writes:
My tears are not for him—for he knew, all his life, that his Redeemer lives, and he has now been gathered by the Lord in whom he trusted.
I weep, rather for all the rest of us. As a priest, as a writer, as a public leader in so many struggles, and as a friend, no one can take his place. The fabric of life has been torn by his death, and it will not be repaired, for those of us who knew him, until that time when everything is mended and all our tears are wiped away.
Several months ago, Fr. Neuhaus saw fit to recommend The City in his collected thoughts printed in First Things under the title The Public Square as an “evangelical First Things.” It was a moment of enormous pride for us, and more – that passing mention alone accounted for more than 1,000 new subscribers to The City.
It is safe to say that this project would not exist without Fr. Neuhaus’s work at First Things, and his lifetime of work on behalf of the goal of bringing Catholics and Evangelicals together. His imprint on religious life in America cannot be underestimated, and we will miss him enormously. If you have prayers to say, say them not for him – Fr. Neuhaus knew his Creator – but say them for all who loved and knew him best, and mourn the loss of a truly great man today.
“To live is Christ, to die is gain.” R.I.P.
You must log in to post a comment.