Father Richard John Neuhaus died last Friday. He was 72. Neuhause was one of the greatest intellectuals of our time, who was an advisor to Pope John Paul II and held appointments from three American Presidents (Carter, Reagan and Bush 41). He was founder and editor of First Things: The Journal of Religion, Culture, and Public Life. His best known work, The Naked Public Square, tackled the consequences of excluding values from the public forum. Among his accomplishments: He was involved in the civil rights and the anti-war movements of the 1960's. He later focused his attention on the pro-life movement, seeing it as the natural extension of the civil rights movement. He was a Lutheran Pastor for thirty years when he found that the fulfillment of his religious life could only occur in the Catholic Church. This led him to his ordination as a Catholic Priest in 1990. A very witty person, hearing him talk was always educational and very entertaining. Here is a clip about Father Neuhause, found on YouTube, that gives a peek into the life of this extraordinary thinker.