Reverend Richard John Neuhaus
Phil Lindau ‘58
The Reverend Richard John Neuhaus will be the keynote speaker when Gustavus Adolphus College holds the inaugural Lindau Symposium at 7:30 p.m. May 8, in Alumni Hall, located in the O.J. Johnson Student Union. The event is a gift to the College from Phil (’58) and Nancy Lindau and is intended to honor the memory of Phil, who passed away last April, while providing a forum in which diverse intellectual voices and mainstream beliefs and values can be brought together in a liberal arts environment.
As a reflection of Phil Lindau’s passion for the faith-life intersection and the church-relatedness of the College, Neuhaus will address “Religion in American Public Life.”
Neuhaus is a prominent conservative intellectual who was a Lutheran minister for 30 years before converting to Catholicism in 1990. A talented writer, Neuhaus has published several books including The Naked Public Square: Religion and Democracy in America and Catholic Matters: Confusion, Controversy, and the Splendor of Truth. He is also a confidant of President George W. Bush, whom he advises on a range of religious and ethical matters including abortion, stem-cell research, cloning, and the defense of marriage amendment.
“Richard John Neuhaus is one of America’s true public intellectuals. His writings have attained broad influence, both in academic circles and within government and the political arena,” Gustavus Professor of Political Science and Coordinator of the Lindau Symposium Chris Gilbert said. “We are very pleased to have Father Neuhaus as the inaugural speaker for the Lindau Symposium. Few people are better positioned to discuss religion’s influence on public life in the United States today.”
Lindau devoted many years of his life to help ensure the future success and advancement of Gustavus. He served the College as a member of both the Alumni Association Board and the Board of Trustees, which he chaired from 1992 to 1995. Lindau also chaired the Building a Greater Gustavus Campaign following the 1998 tornado and was awarded the Greater Gustavus Award in 2003 for his commitment and generosity to the College.
The event is free and open to the public and those interested in more information can contact the Gustavus Office of Advancement at either 800/726-6193 or 507/933-7577. Information can also be requested via email at advancement@gustavus.edu.
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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510