Funeral services were held Jan. 13 in New York for Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, a Roman Catholic priest and former LCMS pastor who championed conservative issues in the church and society through his writing and participation in public forums. He died Jan. 8 of complications of cancer. He was 72.
A prolific writer, he wrote or edited many books on contemporary issues. He founded the journal First Things in 1990 and once edited the Lutheran Forum Letter. In his book, The Naked Public Square, published in 1984, he argued that religion and religious values were wrongly being excluded from American society.
In 2005, Time magazine listed him among the 25 most influential evangelicals in America, noting his “under the radar” influence with the administration of President George W. Bush. In a statement at the death of Father Neuhaus, Bush said, “He was also a dear friend, and I have treasured his wise counsel and guidance.”
An anti-war and civil rights activist during the 1960s, Father Neuhaus moved toward conservative causes following the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court “Roe v. Wade” decision legalizing abortion. The Catholic News Service said, “His views on abortion, stem-cell research, cloning, and social issues contributed greatly to Catholic and other religious discourse on politics and society.”
Posted January 22, 2009
