The Next William F. Buckley: Are there no longer any real Catholic public intellectuals?

Aleteia ^ | 06/03/2014 | Mark Judge

[SeekAndFind]

It could be due to the usual suspects: the dumbing down of culture. The partisanship of politics and cable television, which doesn’t make time for erudition and deep penetration into an issue. The dominance of secularism.

Those are all probably to blame for the fact that there are no longer any real Catholic public intellectuals. Note: I did not say Catholic intellectuals. I said Catholic public intellectuals. William F. Buckley. Richard John Neuhaus. Fulton Sheen.

These men were Catholic public intellectuals: they created popular magazines, hosted TV shows, wrote both fiction and nonfiction books. Their prose was literary, and they wrote about a variety of topics.

They were also able -- indeed, eager -- to engage the larger culture with something other than bromides. A few months ago James Poulos wrote an insightful piece about how conservative journalists are always reducing things to their pet hobbyhorses. He used the example of James Shapiro, a budding right-wing star who blames the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman on Hollywood liberalism.
 

Interpreting Hoffman’s death as primarily ideological news prevents anyone -- even a credentialed member of the intellectual elite like Shapiro -- from undertaking a soulful reflection on fame, genius, addiction, or death -- in short, on our humanity. How would Socrates have thought about Hoffman’s death? Rather than setting out to clobber his political foes and their “lifestyle,” he might have turned our attention to where his always focused: how we choose to die. For Socrates, the puzzle of politics and “ideology” could not be unraveled without understanding what ruled human souls.

Of course William F. Buckley and Richard Neuhaus would have had some biting things to say about Hollywood. But they would also go deeper and attempt to discover not the obvious thing to say about Hoffman’s death is, but also the wise insight. I’m not sure there are many Catholics in the public eye about whom you could say the same thing.

These days, it seems that there are two ways to be a Catholic and get in front of a popular audience. One, you can come up through the system of good schools and foundations and have a spotless record. Such people are often fine examples of moral behavior, but they also lack the humor and lived experience that can connect with broader audiences. Remember, Richard John Neuhaus dropped out of school at sixteen to run a gas station in Texas. William F. Buckley rode a scooter around Manhattan and was not afraid to get into a verbal street fight with Gore Vidal. I’m sorry, but complaining of long hours from your job at the White House is not exactly living with lepers.

The second way to be a Catholic public intellectual these days is to be loud and abrasive -- the Sean Hannitization of Catholicism. This is somewhat a product of the success the Right has had in creating it’s own media over the last ten years. Because liberals controlled the media for so many decades, the digital revolution was an intoxicating rush for many on the Right. All of a sudden, if a liberal journalist told a lie, it could be instantly rebutted on the web. Suddenly, we could interview our own heroes, and write our own stories. Yet because there was more money and hits to be had in boxing with the left rather than from introspection or producing artful long-form journalism, we had a glut of right-wing books and media attacking the left. Stars were made out of young right-wingers because of their skill in humiliating the left, not necessarily for their insight.

Liberals are for higher taxes, identity politics, abortion, gun control, and sexual decadence. These are things that should be opposed, indeed it is crucial and even fun to oppose them, but at some point the Catholic media is going to have to offer more. In his omnibus Athwart History, William F. Buckley writes about politics, of course. But he also writes about sailing, Beethoven, “what to do about sloppy dress,” the role of beauty in politics, skiing, rock and roll, and Catholicism. He did profiles of Malcolm Muggeridge, David Niven, John Dos Passos, Evelyn Waugh, Churchill, and Princess Grace, among others. Buckley could also push back against his own side, as when he criticizes Ann Coulter for what he saw as her excessive defense of Joseph McCarthy.

Several weeks ago, I came across a breathtaking poem, Every Riven Thing by Chris Wiman. Wiman is a Christian who was treated for cancer, and his poem is about God being everywhere, including the broken places in this world. It is a great work. I’m an amateur filmmaker, and wanted to do a short film shot in black and white at St. Matthews Cathedral in Washington, with a professional actor reciting the poem. The point was just to create a nice piece of art, a redemptive contemplation on finding God in our struggles. When I talked to some Catholics about it (including if there were any Catholic groups or foundations that might want to help hire the actor and host the video), many didn’t get it. All said no. Aren’t the secular Hollywood and New York liberals the ones who do that stuff?

William F. Buckley would have gotten it. As would Richard John Neuhaus. It has been years after their deaths and we’re still far from replacing them.


Mark Judge, a journalist and filmmaker, is the author of Damn Senators: My Grandfather and the Story of Washington's Only World Series Championship and A Tremor of Bliss: Sex, Catholicism, and Rock 'n' Roll.

[Alex Murphy]

It could be due to the usual suspects: the dumbing down of culture. The partisanship of politics and cable television, which doesn’t make time for erudition and deep penetration into an issue. The dominance of secularism. Those are all probably to blame for the fact that there are no longer any real Catholic public intellectuals. Note: I did not say Catholic intellectuals. I said Catholic public intellectuals.

PFL

[Just mythoughts]

Why we got Nancy Pewlouise, saint Biden, Speaker of the peoples House Boner, supreme saint Roberts, the list is long of the Catholic intellectuals ... Secretary of State JohnFKerry.... who is this author to judge?????

[piusv]

I think the key word is “real” Catholic.

[pax_et_bonum]

I think it will happen soon, as the first large wave of Catholic homeschooled young adults begin to get in their thirties.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I would think George Weigel would qualify.

Though we sadly have not produced an orator with the skills of Fulton Sheen in many, many years. We could sure use one. Protestant churches seem to turn them out by the dozen.

[RIghtwardHo]

I was reasonably good friends with Bill back in the day. Can’t say I was an inner circle friend by any means, but we were more than friendly acquaintances.

The answer ... no. There are none like that, none I see on the horizon, and haven’t been any for years.

[ex-snook]

There’s Pat Buchanan but his non-interventionist foreign policy has made him anathema.

[Misterioso]

Who was a “real Catholic intellectual” before WFB? Do you imagine there is a position to be filled? The question seems silly.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Who was a “real Catholic intellectual” before WFB?

I’d name G.K. Chesterton and Bishop Fulton Sheen as two of them.

[Just mythoughts]

I think the key word is “real” Catholic.

Who is in charge of defining what the meaning of that word 'real' is. I mean really who are you to judge?????

[ansel12]

At FR, it means voting with the minority of Catholics.

[Just mythoughts]

At FR, it means voting with the minority of Catholics.

What minority of Catholics. They all have first loyalty to Rome screw the Constitution.

[x]

RE: Who was a “real Catholic intellectual” before WFB?

John Courtney Murray. Thomas Merton. Jacques Maritain. Avery Dulles.

[Stingray51]

I think Father George Rutler qualifies as a Catholic public intellectual, and he even has a WFB-like accent!

[pbear8]

Our first loyalty is to Our Lord.

[Old Yeller]

I think it will happen soon, as the first large wave of Catholic homeschooled young adults begin to get in their thirties.

Are you saying parochial schools are no good?

[Oratam]

My vote is for the sleeper candidate--Fr. Justin Wylie. He's an intellectual and a gifted homilist . . . if not preacher. I wish more people could hear him. I think presently his light is under a bushel basket but I hope that will change.

He's on loan from South Africa and working at the Holy See's mission to the U.N. and as such battles demons (and demoniacs) every day. Pray for him.

[Salvation]

How about Deacon Burke Sievers?

If you ever want a bust down the walls crowd, give him a call!

[CdMGuy]

We have more people working today on behalf of Catholicism that ever before. However, most are lay people, many part of the New Evangelism. If you want to find out who they are, then start going to the numerous Bible and other conferences held in churches and halls across the US every year. Here are some names:

George Weigel
Scott Hahn
Terry Barber
Michael Barber
Grant Pitre
Tim Gray
Jeff Cavins
Ed Sri
Curtis Martin
Mary Healy
Jim Beckman
Marcus Grodi

Some of the religious are:
Archbishop Charles Chaput
Bishop Michael Barber
Father Rutler
Father Mitch Pacwa
Father Frank Pavone

I could go on and on. Try Googling some of these names. You will be surprised. They are all around us. Many appear on EWTN on a regular basis. People like Dr. Tim Gray have founded the Augustine Institute, a Catholic graduate school of Theology in Denver. He has written books and speaks in parishes and leads Holy Land pilgrimages. Jeff Cavins has developed a top notch comprehensive Bible study program on video which is used in Churches throughout the US. Dr. Scott Hahn is a prolific book writer and speaks at conference throughout the US. Curtis Martin started FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) which is working wonders on US college and university campuses. Terry Barber is a one many dynamo who has done wonders in spreading the Catholic faith throughout the LA and Southern California area. Archbishop Charles Chaput out of Denver and now in Philadelphia is both an author and spokesman for traditional Catholic beliefs. There is Fr. Pavone, the great defender of the unborn.

Folks, there are excellent Catholic spokespersons who are faithful Catholics out there working to spread the Good News. Seek them out. They are all around us. You will be amazed.