I was a high school kid when I first “met” Father Neuhaus”“ I can never remember how I came across the First Things website, but somehow I did, and it was like a light switch being turned on in my head. Here was an entire world of Christian thought and tradition, with worlds upon worlds contained in the hallways it pointed me down. I spent I don’t know how many nights poring over issue after issue, drinking it all in like water in a desert. At the time I probably didn’t understand half of it, but that didn’t matter”“ the depth and breadth of the Christian tradition in those pages, the sheer excitement of thinking through the adventure of the Gospel”“ I knew I had found something that was worth a lifetime. And I very well remember thinking: “Wow. Wouldn’t it be something to write this stuff myself someday?”
A few years later, that’s exactly where I found myself”“ working and writing at First Things as a junior fellow. I was in charge of compiling his monthly column, the Public Square, and pretty soon got drafted into covering the Anglican beat for the website as well. Every evening, we gathered for prayer at 338 E 19th St., and each Friday night was dinner at Fr. Neuhaus’s apartment. His apartment was something like a revolving door of old friends”“ Cardinal Dulles, George Weigel, Robert Louis Wilken, Michael Novak, the list goes on. Board meetings and ECT gatherings brought even more friends and comrades-in-arms: Chuck Colson, Robert George, Mary Ann Glendon, David Novak, David Bentley Hart, and Robert Jenson. Every so often, I had to pinch myself: “I’m a farm kid from North Dakota”“ what the heck am I doing here?”
Thank-you, Jordan, for this wonderful tribute.
How marvellous – thank you for such a moving tribute.
This is a fine tribute to a great Christian intellectual, one whose judgment and insight I came to appreciate more and more after years of reading “The Public Square” column and his other writings.
Even the title “First Things” reminds us to avoid the pitfall of many conservative Christians–majoring on minors–rather than seeking common ground in the public square. Richard John Neuhaus’ hallmark was speaking (and writing) the truth with respect, wit, and love. He left a unique example and legacy for 21st century Christians.
First Things has been such a grace – truthful, rational, faithful, generous and loving. I’ve no doubt the character of the journal comes from Fr. Neuhaus.