We were saddened to hear that Ambassador Thomas Melady, former ambassador to the Holy See, passed away yesterday. John Gehring summed it up best, saying:

His passing is a significant loss for the Catholic community in Washington and anyone who cares about public service. Tom was a true gentleman who believed in civility, building bridges across ideological divides and finding common ground with Catholic progressives like myself. A moderate Republican from Connecticut, he served his country and the Catholic Church by carrying himself with a gentle dignity that is all too rare in a city of strutting partisan peacocks.

Ambassador Melady was living proof that Republicans and conservatives need not trade a commitment to Catholic social teaching, concern for the poor, and willingness to work across party lines for some of the unfortunate impulses that have gained strength on the Right in recent years: libertarianism, hyper-partisanship, and over-the-top rhetoric . Ambassador Melady never wavered in his commitment to these values, which reflected his character and were shaped by his devout faith. As Gehring explains:

Tom was a man of integrity and clear moral vision. He spoke up as a pro-life Catholic who opposed abortion but also called the scourge of gun violence a sanctity-of-life issue. While some conservatives and a vocal minority of bishops argue pro-choice Catholic elected officials should be denied Holy Communion, Tom rejected turning a sacrament into a political bludgeon. He joined other Christian leaders to denounce Uganda’s shameful efforts to dehumanize gays and lesbians. He spoke out for comprehensive immigration reform. He challenged the powerful and all of us not to forget the growing ranks of the poor and hungry. Tom knew that politics could be a noble calling, not simply a blood sport for the self-serving and ambitious.

We have lost a valuable public servant and devoted son of the Church. He will be missed by all those whose lives he has touched, and our public sphere is poorer without his presence. May he dwell in the light of God’s loving presence.