Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, RIP

Father Richard John Neuhaus, founder of First Things magazine and one of the most influential social conservatives in America, died January 8 at the age of 72.

I first "met" Father Neuhaus through First Things and its blog-like department called On The Square (both of which I link to over in the right sidebar). I was immediately drawn to him because he was a man of faith who was also a man of reason: one who believed that true faith and right reason are inseparable - two sides of the same coin, both oriented towards those "first things" that give life its meaning.

One of his most moving and personal reflections - entitled "Born Toward Dying" - has been reposted on the First Things web site. In addition, many of Fr. Neuhaus's other writings and several reflections on his life and work have been compiled here.