swat away a gnat. Having spent an hour doctors, he doesn't buy the prayer study Immediately after the show aired, I before the camera, only three and one- in the cardiac ward," which was referred faxed a note to Fischer that read in half sentences (and not his ace material) to as "the most staggering of all" (unlike part: survived editing. Introducing him as most, this study was from a medical chairman of the National Council journal). But neither Murphy nor "Now" I understand why my input was not desired. You squandered a prime Against Health Fraud, Murphy may Dossey even hinted that within his own opportunity to teach the nation a have created the false impression that book Dossey acknowledges that the sorely needed lesson in critical Sampson equates prayer with "fraud." study had actually "missed the mark. thinking. Murphy then tells the pre-Easter week ... [S]tatistically significant life-or-death audience, "And guess what. Like many effects ... simply did not occur." Shame on them. •

Catholic-Evangelical Compact

Showcases Neuhaus's Rising Star delegates that the pro-life movement's situation today is not unlike that of anti- Tom Flynn slavery forces at the time of the Dred Scott decision, when all three branches f all leading figures on the neo- Catholic church that seemed most of government were arrayed against Oconservative religious right, per- peculiar coming from a Lutheran pastor, them.5 haps none bears watching more closely but which now reads as clear fore- Make no mistake, then, Richard John than Richard John Neuhaus. For seven- shadowing of his coming conversion.3 Neuhaus is a force to be reckoned with— teen years the pastor of a Lutheran Later publications included America within Catholicism, in the religious right, church in Brooklyn's troubled Bedford Against Itself, an updated jeremiad and on the political right as well. Secular Stuyvesant section, Neuhaus converted against secularism that reflects the ways humanists should be concerned now that to Roman Catholicism in 1990 and man- in which his 1984 arguments underwent one of Neuhaus's cherished aims—a aged to qualify for ordination as a priest development (in some cases, abuse) by formal, high-level rapprochement be- the very next year. Conservative icons writers ranging from Christopher Lasch, tween conservative Catholic and evan- including William F. Buckley and Amitai Etzioni, Mary Ann Glendon, gelical Protestant leaders—has been Robert Bork made a point of attending George Weigel, and William F. Buckley fulfilled. his first Mass. to Pat Buchanan, Don Feder, and Cal On March 29, 1994, a group of thirty- Neuhaus was already well known as Thomas. nine prominent Catholic and evangelical a theologian and as a conservative Along the way, Neuhaus founded his leaders issued a joint statement in which ideologue. His 1984 book, The Naked own research and education organiza- they pledged to temper conflicts between Public Square, set forth what have be- tion, the Institute on Religion and Public their differing visions of Christian come traditionalists' canonical argu- Life (IRPL). IRPL publishes a journal, teaching. Titled "Evangelicals and ments against secularization in public First Things, a monthly in its fourth year Catholics Together: The Christian life.' Neuhaus himself has continued to whose lavish funding (provided in part Mission in the Third Millennium," the stress the same agenda for a decade. "The by prominent right-wing organizations) statement calls on America's 52 million premise that anything government has enabled it to seize a central place Catholics and 13 million evangelicals to touches should be thoroughly sanitized among conservative lay religious publi- focus on the concerns they share in com- of any religious influence" is "societally cations. IRPL also sponsors the Ramsey mon—notably abortion, opposition to suicidal," he declared in response to Lee Colloquium, a periodic gathering of con- gay and lesbian rights, defense of family v. Weisman, the 1992 Supreme Court servative Jewish and Christian thinkers, values, and the like—and urges them to decision that struck down officially including Neuhaus. This March, the avoid falling prey to "misunderstand- sponsored graduation prayers in public Colloquium released a lengthy but ings, misrepresentations, and caricatures schools.2 widely republished attack on homo- of one another."6 In particular, the docu- In 1987 Neuhaus published The sexuality as a moral object, a lifestyle, ment deplores the tendency of some Catholic Moment, a blueprint for and a focus of agitation for political and Catholic and evangelical missionaries centering moral authority within the social change .4 aggressively to proselytize one another's Neuhaus has an active public life away memberships, particularly in Latin Tom Flynn is Senior Editor of FREE from his institute. He keynoted the America and Eastern Europe. Such INQUIRY. National Right to Life Committee's 1993 cross-proselytizing "is neither theo- conference in Milwaukee. There, he told logically legitimate nor a prudent use of

Summer 1994 7 resources," the statement charges. To for speaking favorably of Mother You Gone, Michaelangelo? The Loss of ensure that its message is heard in these Teresa. But Colson believes "more peo- Soul in Catholic Culture, "has gone and areas, organizers are even now trans- ple are going to call up and say, `Praise committed another book." Noting that lating the statement into Spanish, Portu- the Lord you did this.' " "most folks object when they're called guese, Polish, and Russian. However, On one level, the statement represents secular humanists," Neuhaus writes in some observers note that the document's nothing unprecedented. Grassroots co- response to Toward a New Enlighten- impact in Latin America may be blunted operation between conservative Catho- ment: The Philosophy of Paul Kurtz: because evangelical missionary groups lics and Protestants has been increasingly "We've been on platforms with Kurtz there are increasingly likely to be in- frequent over the last decade, particu- and find him a personable fellow who digenous, not under the control of a U.S. larly regarding shared causes like anti- is utterly relentless." Responding to denomination.? abortion activism or resistance to gay- Kurtz's critique of his claim that atheists The signers comprise a "Who's Who" rights initiatives. And some of the state- canot be good citizens, Neuhaus sighs, of conservative Catholic and evangelical ment's points first emerged in dialogues "Relax Mr. Kurtz. Your rights are Protestant leadership. In addition to between the Vatican and the Baptist secured by our understanding of the Neuhaus, prominent signers include World Alliance and other groups during truth, even if ours are not by yours."1 ° John Cardinal O'Connor of New York; the 1970s and 1980s. But Neuhaus's Editorial "we" and all, Neuhaus is an televangelist and one-time presidential statement represents a new, politically able spokesperson for American reli- candidate Pat Robertson; and Charles potent expression of the desire many gious conservatism—a redoubtable Colson, the Watergate figure who had Catholic and Protestant conservatives opponent for humanists and other pro- a "born again" experience in prison and feel to band together, the better to resist gressives. Bridging the worlds of aca- later founded the Prison Fellowship secularism and social change. Further, deme, theology, and politics much as his ministry. Though no Vatican repre- its adoption is an added laurel for own life bridges the long-turbulent sentative signed the statement, Neuhaus Neuhaus, who has emerged as one of waters separating the Catholic and told the New York Times that he had the most respected and powerful intel- Protestant camps, Neuhaus has staged kept Vatican officials appraised of the lectuals on the Christian right.$ a so-far successful bid for leadership statement's development, and that it had In their collisions with the Religious among those opposed to the secularist their approval. Other signers included Right, secular humanists have often been ideal. His writings and future accom- Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade able to depend on opponents to under- plishments will merit close and—to use for Christ; Catholic theologian Avery mine their own positions through a word Neuhaus applied to Paul Kurtz— Dulles; Fordham University sociologist ignorance, lack of sophistication, or "relentless" scrutiny. Joseph Fitzpatrick; attorney Keith inadvertent expressions of intolerance. Fournier, of Robertson's American For example, in describing the sense of Notes social disintegration many Christian Center for Law and Justice; commun- I. Richard John Neuhaus, The Naked Public itarian scholar Mary Ann Glendon; conservatives share, Colson stated: Square: Religion and Democracy in America conservative Catholic scholar James (Grand Rapids, Mich.: W. B. Eerdmans, 1984). 2. Peter Steinfels, "Beliefs," New York Hitchcock; Richard Land and Larry Christianity is besieged on all sides— Times, July 4, 1992. Lewis, high-ranking officers of the by a militant nation of Islam, by pan- 3. Richard John Neuhaus, The Catholic Southern Baptist Convention; Richard theists who have invaded many areas Moment: The Paradox of the Church in the Post- of life, including the church through modern World (San Francisco: Harper & Row, Mouw, president of Fuller Theological the New Age movement, and by the 1987). Seminary; theologian Michael Novak, aggressive secularism of Western life.9 4. "The Homosexual Movement: A who recently received the Templeton Response by the Ramsey Colloquium," First Things, March 1994, pp. 15-20. For a counter- Prize for Progress in Religion; Catholic It is difficult to take too seriously a critic response by a leading gay activist, see Jack bishop Carlos Sevilla of San Francisco; who envisions the New Age movement Nichols, "God's Gift to Atheism: Religious Catholic archbishop Francis Stafford of as primarily an insurgence within the Homophobia Teaches that Gays are 'Fallen Creatures,'" The Weekly News (Miami, Fla.) Denver; John White, a former president churches—or who speaks of the threat March 23, 1994. of the National Association of Evangel- posed by a "nation of Islam." Does 5. Robin Toner, "Anti-Abortion Group icals; and others. Colson find Minister Louis Farrakhan Maps Strategy," New York Times, June 27, 1993. 6. "Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The "Evangelicals and Catholics that frightening, or might he be worried Christian Mission in the Third Millennium," First Together" has been a pet project for about Iraq? Things, May 1994, 15-22. Neuhaus since September 1992, when he The likelihood of Richard John 7. "Evangelical-Catholic Coalition Goes Beyond Activism: An Analysis," Religion Watch, met with Colson and launched the Neuhaus committing such gaffes ap- vol. 9, no. 6, p. 2. process that led to the present statement. proaches zero. He is literate and urbane, 8. Peter Steinfels, "Conservative Christians Both admit that the statement will attract Seeking to End Conflicts: Some Catholics and if occasionally given to flights of Evangelicals Forge Ties," New York Times, controversy in some quarters. "I'm lacerating wit that seem to step beyond March 30, 1994; see also Associated Press wire putting the storm windows and doors traditional Christian ideals of charity. service feed by David Briggs, March 30, 1994. on," said Colson, who has sometimes 9. Steinfels, op. cit. March 30, 1994. "Thomas Day," quipped Neuhaus in a 10. Richard John Neuhaus, "While We're At been criticized by hard-line evangelicals brief notice of that author's Where Have It," First Things, April 1994, 64, 67. •

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