From the first time I read his work in First Things, I was hooked on the thoughts and views of Father Richard John Neuhaus – a brilliant and holy man. Father Neuhaus’ work is so rich and enlightening that I keep every First Things issue and regularly select one at random, turn to his column, and enjoy it a second or third time.
Last week, cancer took Father Neuhaus at age 72. His passing leaves a gaping hole in the intellectual life of millions, including me.
Father Neuhaus was also rather witty, especially when he commented on culture. Here’s one of my favorite passages of his, published in the December issue of First Things:
I’ve never seen the program, but a reader tells me that, on a television program called Jeopardy, a contestant was given this clue: “Robert Louis Wilken’s The Spirit of Early Christian Thought is subtitled Seeking the Face of [fill in the blank].” The contestant, a fellow names Wes, answered, “Christ.” The correct answer is “God,” and it appears that Wes lost $18,600. It is another instance of the costly consequences of not being a regular reader of First Things. Moreover, as I explained to my friend Wilken, when one’s scholarly book is an item on a television quiz show, it gives a whole new meaning to “public intellectual.” To which he responded, “It would have been even better on Oprah.”
Rest in peace, Father Neuhaus.
