Archbishop George Niederauer: A Christian Gentleman

Intermountain Catholic

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Jon M. Huntsman, Sr.

Jon M. Huntsman, Sr.

During the more than ten years he served as Bishop of the Salt Lake City Diocese, the Most Reverend George Niederauer has won the respect and admiration of Utahns from every walk of life, Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Now, as he moves on to assume even more challenging responsibilities as Archbishop of the San Francisco Archdiocese, it is appropriate that we pause for a moment to chronicle, albeit incompletely, some of the characteristics of an unusually talented, able, and genuinely good man.

Anyone attempting to describe Bishop Niederauer’s character and personality might well use terms such as "witty," "urbane," "erudite," or "congenial." To my mind, the phrase which best captures the personality of Bishop Niederauer is simply "Christian gentleman."

Bishop Niederauer is both a Christian and a gentleman, to be sure. He devotes his entire life to the service of the Christian church he loves. His Christian faith is passionate and true, never faltering. He is a strong and consistent advocate for Catholic positions on a broad variety of issues, while ever willing to salute the goodness and sincerity of those who believe otherwise. But of his own deeply held commitment to the cause of Christ, there can never be any doubt.

Integral to Bishop Niederauer’s commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ is his understanding that what the Gospel says about social justice is just as non-negotiable as what it says about sexual morality. Christians, he has noted, "need to realize that, according to the Gospels, we don’t go to heaven if we break the Commandments; but we don’t go there either if we fail to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless, welcome the stranger, and visit the sick and imprisoned." (Common Good Awards Luncheon, Oct. 11, 2002.) Under Bishop Niederauer’s direction, Catholic Community Services of Utah has reached out, in so many ways, to fulfill the divine commandment given by our Savior to care for the poor and needy. That caring, the bishop knows, must have its roots in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of mankind.

Bishop Niederauer certainly fulfills the definition of "gentleman," as well. His behavior consistently conforms to a high standard of propriety and correct behavior. He exhibits to a high degree those noble traits of chivalry and courtesy which are the mark of the true gentleman.

Bishop Niederauer was one of the founding members of the Alliance for Unity, a diverse group of Utah business, civic, and religious leaders, which seeks to foster a more unified community in which all Utahns are included and valued, regardless of differences. The Alliance, in which Bishop Niederauer has taken a major role, asks Utahns of every background to nurture a deeper respect for our differences, recognizing that differences need to be aired and problems resolved in an atmosphere of courtesy, respect, and civility.

In working with his colleagues on the Alliance for Unity, and in his general relationships with Utahns from every walk of life, Bishop Niederauer’s actions transcend tolerance to embrace respect and understanding. It’s not that he takes himself too seriously. "We all need healthy doses of humility, reflection and flexibility," he has noted. "We all need to become ...more willing to admit faults and the need for improvement in even our most cherished institutions. We also need to be more loving in our criticism. We need to be, or become, more just." (Ibid.)

And so we say farewell to a dear friend and trusted colleague. Farewell and God speed. We shall miss your gentle goodness but know that your time and talents will be spent on loving and lifting even more of our Father’s children.