Michael Brooks
Richard John Neuhaus was a prominent writer and Christian cleric who was born in Canada and later became a naturalized US citizen. He was raised in a pious Lutheran household and was ordained as a Lutheran minister. However, in 1990, he renounced his Lutheran profession and was received into the Catholic Church by John Cardinal O'Connor. In an article titled How I Became the Catholic I Was, Neuhaus reflected on his experiences and beliefs, attributing his conversion to a desire to be more fully who he was as a Lutheran. He went on to become a Catholic priest and an advisor to prominent political figures, playing a significant role in shaping the American political landscape during the rise of neoconservatism in the 1980s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of conversion | September 1990 |
| Reason for conversion | To be more fully what he was and who he was as a Lutheran |
| Religious background | Lutheran |
| Childhood | Born in Canada, moved to the US, grew up in Texas, dropped out of high school, graduated from Concordia Lutheran College of Austin, Texas, grew up in a pious, bustling home filled with siblings |
| Education | Studied at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis from 1955 to 1960 |
| Influences | Arthur Carl Piepkorn, Martin Luther |
| Ordination | Ordained as a Catholic priest in 1991 by Cardinal John O'Connor in the Archdiocese of New York |
| Political involvement | Adviser to President George W. Bush, adviser to President Ronald Reagan, supporter of conservative causes, including the anti-abortion movement, advocate for faith-based policy initiatives |
| Writing | Founded and edited First Things, authored numerous books, including Death on a Friday Afternoon: Meditations on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross and As I Lay Dying: Meditations upon Returning |
| Legacy | Credited with redefining the American political landscape during the neoconservative upsurge of the 1980s, considered an extraordinary Christian man |
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What You'll Learn
Richard John Neuhaus' journey from Lutheranism to Catholicism
Richard John Neuhaus was born in Canada and grew up in a pious, bustling home filled with siblings. His father was a Lutheran minister. In his childhood, he observed differences between the Lutheran church and the evangelical Protestant church, which he felt had more in common with the Catholic Church.
Neuhaus dropped out of high school at 16 but later graduated from Concordia Lutheran College of Austin, Texas, in 1956. He was influenced by Arthur Carl Piepkorn, who taught him that Lutheranism was a reform movement to foster unity, and that the division between Protestants and Catholics was no longer needed. Neuhaus was ordained as a Lutheran pastor and served at St. John the Evangelist Church in Brooklyn, a poor, predominantly black and Hispanic congregation. He addressed civil rights and social justice concerns and spoke against the Vietnam War.
In 1990, Neuhaus was received into the Catholic Church by John Cardinal O'Connor. He said he became Catholic "to be more fully what I was and who I was as a Lutheran." He added that he was grateful for all the goodness he had known in the Lutheran communion, where he was baptised, learned his prayers, and was introduced to Scripture. A year after becoming Catholic, he was ordained as a priest of the Archdiocese of New York. He continued to write and edit the journal First Things, which he had founded. He also served as an advisor to President George W. Bush on religious and ethical matters.
Richard John Neuhaus died in 2009 at the age of 72. He is remembered as a prominent Catholic cleric who redefined the American political landscape during the neoconservative upsurge of the 1980s.
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The Catholic Church in a postmodern world
In his book, "The Catholic Moment: The Paradox of the Church in the Postmodern World", Richard John Neuhaus explores the role of the Catholic Church in a postmodern context. He argues that politics should exist within the framework of Christian morality, a concept he termed "the naked public square". This idea underscores his belief in the necessity of integrating religious values into the political sphere, a perspective that significantly influenced the American political landscape during the rise of neoconservatism in the 1980s.
Neuhaus' journey from his Lutheran boyhood to the Catholic priesthood is deeply intertwined with his views on the role of the Church in contemporary society. His transition to Catholicism was influenced by his recognition that the division between Protestants and Catholics was unnecessary, and he sought to mend the breach created by the Protestant Reformation. This shift was not merely a change in denomination but a continuation of his Lutheran identity, as he believed that becoming Catholic allowed him to be "more fully what I was and who I was as a Lutheran".
In his writings, Neuhaus advocated for ecumenical dialogue and social conservatism. He was a staunch defender of the Catholic Church's teachings on abortion and other life issues, and he actively promoted faith-based policy initiatives grounded in Judeo-Christian values. His influence extended beyond religious circles, as he served as an unofficial adviser to President George W. Bush on religious and ethical matters, including abortion, stem-cell research, and cloning.
As a Catholic priest, Neuhaus continued his work as a writer and public intellectual. He served as a commentator for the Catholic television network Eternal Word Television (EWTN) during significant events such as the funeral of Pope John Paul II and the election of Pope Benedict XVI. Additionally, he remained the editor of "First Things", a monthly journal he founded, contributing to both scholarly and popular genres.
Richard John Neuhaus' impact extended beyond his lifetime, as evidenced by his posthumous appearance in the 2010 film "The Human Experience". His writings continue to shape discussions within the Church and influence public policy debates, particularly regarding the intersection of religion and politics.
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The synthesis of piety, reason, and authority
Richard John Neuhaus was born in 1936 and grew up in a pious, bustling home filled with siblings. His father was a Lutheran minister. In his childhood, he intuited a difference between the authority of his father and that of the Bishop of Pembroke. He was educated at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, where he came under the influence of Arthur Piepkorn, who taught him that Lutheranism was a reform movement designed to foster unity.
Neuhaus was ordained as a Lutheran pastor and served at St. John the Evangelist Church in Brooklyn, a poor, predominantly Black and Hispanic congregation. He addressed civil rights and social justice concerns and spoke against the Vietnam War. He founded Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam with a Jesuit priest and a rabbi, gaining national prominence. He was active in the Evangelical Catholic movement in Lutheranism and spent time at a Lutheran Benedictine monastery in Michigan.
In 1990, Neuhaus was received into the Catholic Church and ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of New York. He wrote that he became Catholic "to be more fully what I was and who I was as a Lutheran". He said that he was grateful for all the goodness he had known in the Lutheran communion, but that his communion with Christ's Church was now fuller. He continued to work at the Institute of Religion and Public Life and served as an advisor to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. He also met with Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
Neuhaus believed that politics should exist within the context of Christian morality and called for Christians to find their place in the "naked public square". He advocated for faith-based policy initiatives and originated "Neuhaus's Law": "Where orthodoxy is optional, orthodoxy will sooner or later be proscribed". He promoted ecumenical dialogue and social conservatism, editing the ecumenical manifesto "Evangelicals and Catholics Together: Toward a Common Mission". He was named one of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America by Time magazine.
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The Catholic Church's role in politics
Richard John Neuhaus was a prominent writer and Christian cleric who played a significant role in shaping the intersection of religion and politics in America. Born in Canada and raised in a Lutheran family, Neuhaus eventually converted to Catholicism and was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1991.
Throughout his career, Neuhaus engaged with various causes that had significant religious and political ramifications on a national level. In his early years as a pastor, he was heavily involved in civil rights and anti-war activities, addressing these issues from the pulpit. He also co-founded Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam, a group that opposed the Vietnam War.
However, as time went on, Neuhaus's political views shifted towards conservatism. He became a staunch defender of the Catholic Church's teachings on abortion and other life issues, and he actively promoted ecumenical dialogue and social conservatism. He advised President George W. Bush on a range of religious and ethical matters, including abortion, stem-cell research, cloning, and the Federal Marriage Amendment. In addition, he advocated for faith-based policy initiatives by the federal government, rooted in Judeo-Christian values.
Neuhaus strongly believed that politics should exist within the context of Christian morality. He originated "Neuhaus's Law," which states, "Where orthodoxy is optional, orthodoxy will sooner or later be proscribed." He was also a supporter of the movement to reestablish the permanent diaconate as a full-fledged office in the historic episcopacy, following the example set by the Catholics in the Second Vatican Council.
Through his writing and public speaking, Neuhaus influenced both religious and political discourse in America. He was a founder and editor of the journal First Things, where he published articles such as "The Persistence of the Catholic Moment," which explored the role of Catholicism in the postmodern world. His book "The Naked Public Square: Religion and Democracy in America" further emphasised his belief in the importance of religion in the public sphere.
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The Catholic Church's stance on abortion
Richard John Neuhaus, a prominent Catholic cleric, played a key role in reshaping the American political landscape during the neoconservative wave of the 1980s. He was a staunch supporter of the Catholic Church's teachings on abortion and other life issues. In 2004, he advocated denying communion to Catholic politicians who supported abortion.
The Church's position on abortion is based on early Christian teachings such as the Didache, the Epistle of Barnabas, and the Apocalypse of Peter. The Church has consistently affirmed the moral evil of procured abortion, considering it a grave sin and an act of killing innocent children before they are born. This belief is shared by those who identify as "pro-life," who argue that abortion should never be tolerated in a free society.
While the Church strongly opposes abortion, it recognizes certain acts as morally legitimate if they indirectly result in the death of the fetus. For example, in the case of ectopic pregnancy, where a woman's life is directly threatened, the Church allows for the removal of the tube containing the human embryo (salpingectomy). This is justified by the Thomistic Principle of Totality and the Doctrine of Double Effect, where the direct purpose is to preserve the life of the mother.
The Church also addresses the issue of abortion in cases of rape. While providing immediate medical, emotional, and spiritual care to victims of rape, the Church teaches that both the woman and the child conceived during the rape are innocent and precious. Therefore, abortion is not considered a solution, as it would be an act of violence against the unborn child.
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Frequently asked questions
Richard John Neuhaus was a prominent writer and Christian cleric. He was first a pastor in the Lutheran Church, then the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and later the Catholic Church. He founded First Things and served as its editor-in-chief from 1990 to 2009.
Richard John Neuhaus became Catholic to be more fully what he was and who he was as a Lutheran. He believed that the division between Protestants and Catholics was no longer needed and that the time had come to fix the breach promulgated by the Protestant Reformation.
Richard John Neuhaus was ordained by Cardinal John O'Connor as a priest of the Archdiocese of New York in 1991. He served as a commentator for the Catholic television network Eternal Word Television (EWTN) and was an unofficial spokesman for the Church in America. He also wrote several books and was a sought-after public speaker.
Richard John Neuhaus was an unofficial adviser to President George W. Bush on religious and ethical matters, including abortion, stem-cell research, cloning, and the Federal Marriage Amendment. He was also an adviser to President Ronald Reagan. He was a leading advocate for denying communion to Catholic politicians who supported abortion.
Richard John Neuhaus is often credited with redefining the American political landscape during the neoconservative upsurge of the 1980s. He helped forge an alliance between conservative Catholics and Protestant evangelicals, and between free-market neoconservatives and social conservatives. He was named one of the "25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America" by Time magazine in 2005.
