The cancellation by CBS of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” three days after Colbert lambasted his network for caving to a Trump administration lawsuit hit me hard as a regular watcher of the show. (Yes, I am a night owl.) I am still appalled at the network’s action and suspicious of its motivation.
I feel a type of grief settling into my heart. Yes, I will miss the humor, the great band, the political jabs and guest musicians. But what hurts my heart most is the loss of a television personality who does not hide his Christian faith. Colbert is a committed, practicing Catholic. He didn’t use his platform to proselytize or preach, but he did not back away from sharing with his viewers, as appropriate, that he was a Christian.
In a time when religious commitment is often perceived as toxic and when Christianity is too easily associated with those who circle around the current president, having a media personality who was at home with his faith without exploiting it one way or another was, to this Christian pastor, a blessing. I will miss that part of his identity on the “Late Show” a great deal. In his public life, he bore witness to faith, to following the way of Jesus that was gentle, authentic and kind. I look forward to what’s next for him, but will miss what we had in the “Late Show.”
The decline of Christianity in this country is well documented. Over the past 40 years, those who identify as “religious” declined while those who said they were “spiritual but not religious” grew. Some recent surveys say the decline has leveled off. But a new decline is on the horizon due to the average age of churchgoers. In this “spiritual but not religious” season in this country, having a late-night host with the highest ratings who was not afraid to speak of his faith was remarkable. Indeed, in The Colbert Questionnaire, an occasional feature for guests, one of the questions is: What do you think happens after we die? That’s a fairly deep religious question.
What we saw with Colbert on “The Late Show” was someone at home and comfortable with his faith; he didn’t use it as a marketing angle, he didn’t hide it. It was simply part of his public identity. I admire that and wonder if the role and understanding of religion and faith in America would be slightly different if more “progressive” or “liberal” people of faith were like him, feeling OK with being transparent about their faith and referring to it in conversation the same way they might talk about a favorite sports team or brewpub.
Colbert’s way of being a public person of faith was important, a challenge and a blessing. Colbert and “The Late Show” will be missed.
