The very colorful minister, the Reverend Peter J. Gomes, who served at Harvard for more than 40 years, died last evening. Reverend Gomes oversaw the ministries of Memorial Church and delivered a rousing Easter sermon each year. He was an accomplished and stimulating writer, teacher and preacher. Peter Gomes' name is clearly connect with the Christian presence at Harvard. Any serious Christian aware of the landscape at Harvard had to negotiate the personality of Peter J. Gomes.
Peter Gomes would not be confused for his orthodox faith but he preached Christ. He appreciated the efforts of others to make Christ known and loved.
May God have mercy on Peter J. Gomes and embrace him with love. Let's pray for his eternal rest.
Very few people realize that Dr. Gomes was baptized a Catholic as a child. As Stephen Colbert told him in an interview, "You're still in."
He wrote a very eloquent editorial in the Boston Globe at the height of the sex abuse scandal there, which was printed the morning of Cardinal Law's resignation: http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/stories3/121302_gomes.htm
May he rest in peace.