Father of neoconservatives: nowadays, the truest disciples of the liberal theologian Reinhold Niebuhr are conservatives. - Michael Novak, National Review; 5/11/1992.

"This is the one-hundredth year (centesimus annus) since the birth of Reinhold Niebuhr. There is no one on the Christian Left who fills his shoes today. Indeed, a significant number of Christians who have become disillusioned with the Left (as Niebuhr was with "liberals" in his time) call him their father. Others may regard them as illegitimate children (may perhaps state their view even more pungently). The fact is, neoconservatives cite Niebuhr at least as often as those on the Left do."