Theologian and poet Huub Oosterhuis passed away on Sunday at the age of 89. His family announced this on Monday. Oosterhuis wrote hundreds of (song) texts, which are used in both Catholic and Protestant churches. He also published several collections of poetry.
Oosterhuis joined the Jesuits in 1952 and was ordained a priest in Maastricht in 1964. He soon became conflicted about celibacy: Oosterhuis believed that priests should be able to marry without losing their position. The church did not agree with him: in 1969 he was expelled from the Jesuit order and suspended as a priest.
A year later, Oosterhuis married nurse and viola player Josefien Melief. Together they had two children: singer Trijntje and composer and music producer Tjeerd Oosterhuis.
Also read this interview with Huub Oosterhuis from 2021: ‘What does God mean? It teems with the gods’