Tony Snow, journalist and aide to two presidents, died on Saturday at the age of 53. As with the death last month of beloved journalist Tim Russert, friends and fans are grieving the loss. Like Russert, Snow was a devoted family man with a strong Christian faith. I thought most obituaries of Russert did a good job of including religion in their tributes. Let’s look at some of the accounts of Snow’s death.
For context, here’s a bit from an essay Snow wrote for Christianity Today last year. The magazine asked Snow what spiritual lessons he has been learning through his ordeal with colon cancer. His lengthy piece explains a great deal about how his faith has guided him in life:
I don’t know why I have cancer, and I don’t much care. It is what it is—a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths begin to take shape. Our maladies define a central feature of our existence: We are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out.
But despite this—because of it—God offers the possibility of salvation and grace. We don’t know how the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face.
Second, we need to get past the anxiety. The mere thought of dying can send adrenaline flooding through your system. A dizzy, unfocused panic seizes you. Your heart thumps; your head swims. You think of nothingness and swoon. You fear partings; you worry about the impact on family and friends. You fidget and get nowhere.
To regain footing, remember that we were born not into death, but into life—and that the journey continues after we have finished our days on this earth. We accept this on faith, but that faith is nourished by a conviction that stirs even within many nonbelieving hearts—an intuition that the gift of life, once given, cannot be taken away. Those who have been stricken enjoy the special privilege of being able to fight with their might, main, and faith to live—fully, richly, exuberantly—no matter how their days may be numbered.
Snow was, I believe, a convert to Roman Catholicism and he gave a notable commencement address at Catholic University of America last year about love.
While the New York Times and the Washington Post found room to include Snow’s salary at his White House job, neither of them mentioned his strong religious views that were so integral to his outlook on life. The New York Times, along with the Associated Press and Washington Post, made somewhat odd digs in their obituaries about Snow’s supposed problem with facts during his press secretary stint. (He was known for his expertise at explaining the big picture rather than specific policy details.) So I found it particularly funny that the Times story had its own problem with facts:
During Mr. Bush’s 2006 re-election campaign …
Howard Kurtz’s piece in the Washington Post described how Snow won the respect of journalists while serving as press secretary. It’s a nice piece that shows much more personality than much of what has been written but it’s completely silent about Snow’s faith.
People interested in that element should be sure to read William Kristol’s touching and provocative tribute to his friend on the New York Times editorial page:
His deep Christian faith combined with his natural exuberance to give him an upbeat world view. Watching him, and so admiring his remarkable strength of character in the last phase of his life, I came to wonder: Could it be that a stance of faith-grounded optimism is in fact superior to one of worldly pessimism or sophisticated fatalism?
Catholic Online also did a fantastic piece about Snow’s religious views. But mainstream media coverage, as noted above, was somewhat lacking. Mike Allen at Politico nailed it, mentioning early in his story that Snow “spoke subtly but convincingly about his Christian faith.”
The Washington Times did a much better job than their across town competition by quoting people familiar with Snow’s commitment to faith and family. Reporter Jon Ward also dug up that Christianity Today piece from last year:
One year ago, Mr. Snow wrote a column about his bout with cancer for Christianity Today magazine, titled “Cancer’s Unexpected Blessings.” Staring death in the face, he said, had “swept away everything trivial and tinny, and placed before us the challenge of important questions.”
“The moment you enter the Valley of the Shadow of Death, things change. You discover that Christianity is not something doughy, passive, pious and soft. Faith may be the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But it also draws you into a world shorn of fearful caution. The life of belief teems with thrills, boldness, danger, shocks, reversals, triumphs and epiphanies,” wrote Mr. Snow, a Roman Catholic.
“We get repeated chances to learn that life is not about us - that we acquire purpose and satisfaction by sharing in God’s love for others. Sickness gets us partway there.”
Considering all of the material that could be drawn on, it is somewhat surprising that most major coverage failed to mention Snow’s Christian faith.
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Comments (29) |
July 14, 2008, at 10:12 am
Thank you for a wonderful piece about Mr. Snow. But should we be surprised that the major news media would fail to mention Mr. Snow’s Christian faith? — I’m not surprised.
July 14, 2008, at 10:38 am
Good to see that The Washington Times gets religion, at least in this case. Shame on most other MSM pubs.
July 14, 2008, at 12:37 pm
Tony was a solid guy!
He was an exception journalist, and conducted his life with dignity and a healthy respect for others.
I and my family will truely miss, the likes of Tony, being a part of the national media.
Love to all of Tony’s family at this sad time.
Mark Ormsby
July 14, 2008, at 1:03 pm
Condolences to his family, of course.
But the sort of person who runs around saying things like this should hardly be posthumously lionized as a great Catholic or “solid guy”: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Tony_Snow
July 14, 2008, at 1:27 pm
I thought Tony Snow was such an example. He could be in the thick of politices, but stay true to his faith. He was so grounded. I a so thankful for his life on this earth. My symapthies to his family and friends.
July 14, 2008, at 1:32 pm
But the sort of person who runs around saying things like this should hardly be posthumously lionized as a great Catholic or “solid guyâ€: …. Say what? First, are we, really, to judge somebody by a handful of quotations isolated from their contexts? Second, what’s wrong with any of his remarks, anyway? If I had the chance, I’d be proud to have said any of them. I think you must have linked to the wrong page.
Sorry, off topic, I know. But dipwaddery sometimes cries out to be answered.
July 14, 2008, at 1:44 pm
I am sorry that Tony Snow has succumbed to cancer and I wish the best for his family. I do, however, agree with Verily that it is hard to think of him as a great guy and a great Catholic. I find it strange that Catholics froth at the mouth when Catholic politicians support choice and gay rights, saying that they are not really Catholics at all, but then don’t seem to have a problem at all with Catholic politicians and officials supporting the death penalty and a war that the Vatican has condemned. Talk about Cafeteria Catholics!
July 14, 2008, at 1:54 pm
CLAUDE:
I am totally opposed to the death penalty. No exceptions.
But you need to know that Catholic social teaching on that issue is actually a bit nuanced and is, by no means, as locked tight as its doctrines on abortion (in terms of its roots in the teachings of the Early Church Fathers).
The question here: Are you opposing the Church’s stance on an issue that the CHURCH has raised to the level of certainty and, thus, sin.
July 14, 2008, at 2:07 pm
Last week GR looked at obituaries concerning John Templeton. One of the comments made reference to studies financed and rewarded by the foundation including one that explored the effects of prayer. Some commentators thought the Templeton effort a waste of money.
In the Christianity Today article linked above is the following passage by the late Tony Snow.
Part of the news of Tony Snow’s death included brief biographical items: born in Berea, Kentucky and a diploma from Davidson with a major in Philisophy. Good grounding. Not the stuff of many newsrooms.
He was the kind of guy you know you’ll miss.
July 14, 2008, at 2:17 pm
In response to Claude; Catholic teaching is 100 % clear in its opposition to choice and its teaching that sex is permitted only in marriage between a man and a woman.
Catholic teaching DOES NOT teach against the death penalty or a just war. On these last two, practicing Catholics may disagree.
The first two? NEVER !!
John
July 14, 2008, at 2:39 pm
I believe Mr. Snow’s funeral is at Christ Church in Alexandria indicating he was Episcopalian at the time of his death.
July 14, 2008, at 3:25 pm
I believe Mr. Snow’s funeral is at Christ Church in Alexandria
Not so.
July 14, 2008, at 4:20 pm
Thank you; A beautiful venue for the funeral. Shudder to think Westboro will be outside spewing hate.
July 14, 2008, at 5:06 pm
From tmatt:
I don’t oppose the Roman Catholic Church’s stance on abortion (though I do on homosexuality), but my point is that it is strange to describe Tony Snow as such a great Catholic (though perhaps he wasn’t a Catholic at all) when he certainly did not follow the Vatican’s position on the death penalty and the Iraq War.
From John Waite:
Does it therefore follow that the Roman Catholic Church should be opposed to civil rights for homosexuals? The Church does not campaign to deny civil marriage to divorced people or to deprive the children of heterosexual couples who live together outside marriage of insurance benefits.
July 14, 2008, at 7:52 pm
CLAUDE:
You are ignoring the fact at dispute. The Vatican has positions on the issues you cite. It has ancient DOCTRINES on the other issues.
July 15, 2008, at 12:53 am
The funeral Mass will be held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Thursday morning at 10 a.m., Archbishop of Washington Donald W. Wuerl presiding.
July 15, 2008, at 2:41 am
Amen.
Claude is confusing some prelate’s individual opinion with ancient defined teaching. There have been no definitive statements made on the Iraq war or civil rights benefits to homosexuals or the insurance rights of children of irregular domestic situations. On the other hand, canon law provides for automatic excommunication regarding procured abortions.
July 15, 2008, at 8:36 am
tmatt,
In fact, the Roman Catholic catechism says that homosexuals should not be discriminated against: “The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. They do not choose their homosexual condition; for most of them it is a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.”
That, of course, does not prevent the Church from systematic discrimination against homosexuals and from opposing every gay rights initiative ever proposed, whether for equal rights in employment to hate crimes legislation.
July 15, 2008, at 8:53 am
You know, I wonder. It appears that the whole purpose of this blog is to point out when the press does and doesn’t get religion. In fact, the issue here was that T. Snow’s faith didn’t get a whole lot of coverage. His religion wasn’t got, so to speak. Yet, perhaps, in our society, it was. After all, the focus was mostly on Snow’s roll as Fox Commentator, conservative spokesman, and Bush press secretary - and the subtle implications thereof. The world of politics and political issues. Judging from some of the comments, that seems to be the defining factor. What makes Snow a ‘good Catholic’? Well, agreeing with me of course. It appears that his seriousness about his faith, his devotion to Church and its teachings, his life as a disciple, are up for grabs. In fact, it’s been suggested that because he holds a position that the Church doesn’t flat out disagree with, yet doesn’t slam the Church on a particular position that is held by the Church, that somehow knocks him down a notch on the ‘devout Catholic slide rule.’ So it appears that in our day and age, one’s political/social standings in a way define just how good a believer one happens to be. In that, the press apparently focused on the right thing, since all those other things about taking up crosses, attending Mass, praying, and devotion to family apparently aren’t the ultimate factors in considering the reality of one’s devout life.
July 15, 2008, at 11:04 am
Dave G., I think the problem is that so many politicians have pretty cravenly used religion for their own purposes, and so many religious people have been exposed as rank hypocrites, that one is automatically suspicious of both politicians and religious people, and relgious politicians are doubly suspect. I don’t know whether Tony Snow was a devout Catholic or not (or even what being a devout Catholic might entail). He seems to have been very well liked by many people. I don’t think his political career was very edifying, and it is not one in which I find any inspiration, but he may indeed have been a great person. I hope that his family find comfort in their faith and consolation in their memories.
July 15, 2008, at 11:10 am
Claude,
Almost every time I read your comments, I wonder what they have to do with media coverage of religion. Please try to focus your comments on media coverage of religious news.
July 15, 2008, at 12:12 pm
Requiscat in Pace…May he rest in peace
July 15, 2008, at 12:14 pm
[…] While browsing on the internet I chanced upon this website which featured numerous essays and articles on religion and how it is affecting political thought and directing the course of US. One of the articles on this website is an obituary to Tony Snow, a catholic journalist. In the article the writer clearly appreciates that the numerous obituaries written in daily newspapers about Snow included religion because he was a devout christian. […]
July 15, 2008, at 2:02 pm
Claude,
What I was trying to say is that maybe from one point of view, the MSM was covering Snow’s ‘religion’, since what really matters in some circles is your views, your standing on issues. Whether you pray or go to church or tithe or whatever doesn’t even make the radar screen. It’s what your views are on this or that issue. The point is, the question was why more of the MSM didn’t cover Snow’s religion. A few folks dismissed the idea of him as a decent person, or at least a person who was a good example - not on whether or not he was religiously devoted to his church or gave food to the poor or sang in the choir - but purely on if he ‘had his mind right’ or not. Since, for some, apparently that is a mighty big indicator of one’s overall standing in the world of decency, even in a discussion about religious coverage, it made me think. If some think that, could it be true for some in the MSM? Is that what is really important about a person, might it even be a religious view, or indicative of a person’s spiritual scorecard? After all, I had colleagues from more liberal leaning denominations who didn’t really give a rat’s rear about your views on this or that traditional doctrine, or even if a person goes to church or not. What really, really mattered was their views on women clergy, or homosexuality, or reproductive rights, or even tax cuts for the rich. In those circles, such issues were what would separate the sheep from the goats. And maybe the MSM focus, or lack thereof, on what some would label ‘religious’ might be explained. After all, Tim Russert was religious all over the place according to the coverage - but interestingly, he was not a representative of the Right. Maybe just discussing his role in politics spoke volumes about his ‘religion’ in some eyes. Who knows? Just thinking out loud really.
July 15, 2008, at 5:50 pm
Dave G.,
Yes, I think you are right about the MSM coverage of Snow’s religion, that it is inevitably intertwined with his political beliefs. Of course, it is understandable since the reason he is prominent is because of his political activities.I.e., we know him only because he was a political commentator and then Bush’s spokesman. I doubt that he would have been especially known as a Catholic layman otherwise. But your point that in MSM the religious is political is well taken.
July 15, 2008, at 10:40 pm
The difference between the coverage of Tony Snow and Tim Russert had to do with their personalities. Tim Russert evidently talked about being Catholic an awful lot. He was tribal Irish, like the Kennedys. I take it that the convert Tony Snow was not so exuberant and public about his faith. Neither trait has much of anything to do with being a “good Catholic”.
Many non-devout as well as devout people are saints in the Catholic way of thinking. It’s more of a Protestant thing to think that you can tell by his/her outward demeanor and success in life whether somebody is saved or not.
So it’s no wonder to me that the liberal-leaning press in a majority-Protestant country would gush about Tim Russert who wore his religion on his sleeve and thought like them as opposed to a conservative-leaning Tony Snow who didn’t publicly display his religious beliefs.
It’s interesting to note that Tim Russert’s funeral was at a Jesuit church in Georgetown whereas Tony Snow will be buried out of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. That says a lot to Catholics who are paying attention.
Jesuit Georgetown is the home of the late Fr Drinan and the alma mater of Bill Clinton as well as Dick Durbin, among others. It is widely believed that Fr Drinan, a US representative until the Pope told him to quit, and a big supporter of abortion rights, helped Catholic Democrats craft their “personally opposed but” schtick. And the Jesuit commentator in every pressman’s rolodex, Fr Thomas Reese, is at the Woodstock Theological Center that is located at Georgetown.
Tony Snow, on the other hand, gave a graduation speech last year at the less-liberal Catholic University of America which was founded and still sponsored by the US Catholic bishops and is associated with the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception where the Pope held Vespers recently.
A comparison of the two men and their religious affiliations would be very interesting and illuminate a lot about Catholicism in contemporary America.
July 16, 2008, at 8:22 am
Julia, your post is very interesting and revealing of the difference in MSM coverage of the deaths of Russert and Snow. The difference does stem from the differences in personality and politics of the two men, but is also related to the difficulties of generalizing about Catholicism. As you illustrate, U. S. Catholicisms is very diverse, and the Church is by no means monolithic. This very diversity, of course, makes it very difficult for the MSM to cover the nuances of Catholicism.
July 16, 2008, at 8:42 pm
I would like to have seen an article on Tony Snow’s reasons for becoming a Catholic. There must be someone who could speak to or write on this topic. Also, wasn’t the late sports commentator Jim MacKay also a devout Catholic (As was, of course, Tim Russert.) Is this sudden calling home by God of respected and even beloved Catholic media personnel God’s way of spotlighting the lives of decent, dedicated, devout Catholic laypeople in the face of the headlined sins and incompetence of some Catholic clergy?
July 17, 2008, at 9:33 am
Deacon:
And of course, we also recently lost another prominent Catholic writer and thinker, the founder of National Review: William F Buckley.