THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY april 9, 2012 $3.50 OF MANY THINGS

PUBLISHED BY JESUITS OF THE UNITED STATES ere is some great news: The wilderness—often in danger of being Vatican has given formal per - discovered and executed. After decades PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Hmission to begin the canon - out of contact with the West, JOHN P. S CHLEGEL , S.J. ization process for Walter J. Ciszek, Ciszek was presumed dead by his S.J. Father Ciszek was an American brother Jesuits until a letter arrived EDITOR IN CHIEF Jesuit (1904-84), the author of With unexpectedly years later announcing his Drew Christiansen, S.J. God in Russia and He Leadeth Me survival. His release from the Soviet EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT (both originally published by America Union was negotiated at the behest of MANAGING EDITOR Press) and, to my mind, one of the President John F. Kennedy. Robert C. Collins, S.J. great religious figures of the 20th cen - In October 1963, when EDITORIAL DIRECTOR tury. If modern-day Catholics know Ciszek returned from his arduous Karen Sue Smith him, it is probably for the harrowing sojourn in the U.S.S.R., the first place ONLINE EDITOR experiences that lie at the heart of his he came to was the headquarters Maurice Timothy Reidy books: the years he spent imprisoned of America , then located in Upper LITERARY EDITOR first in Moscow and then in Soviet Manhattan. A photograph that now Raymond A. Schroth, S.J. labor camps in Siberia. hangs in our editorial offices shows a POETRY EDITOR Those two magnificent books (writ - smiling Ciszek being welcomed at James S. Torrens, S.J. ten with the help of Daniel J. Flaherty, America House. (A letter from ASSOCIATE EDITORS S.J.) are perennial favorites among President Kennedy thanking an inter - Kevin Clarke Catholics. The first is a straightforward mediary for his help arranging the Kerry Weber recounting of what transpired in the release also hangs on our walls.) CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Soviet Union. The second, as he said in Thurston Davis, S.J., then the mag - James Martin, S.J. the book’s introduction, represented the azine’s editor in chief, who met Ciszek ART DIRECTOR answer to the question that many asked at New York’s Idlewild Airport, wrote Stephanie Ratcliffe after his first book was published: in America’s issue of Oct. 26, 1963, ASSISTANT EDITOR Francis W. Turnbull, S.J. “How did you survive?” He Leadeth Me , about his surprise at his friend’s then, is his spiritual testament. appearance: “In his green raincoat, grey BUSINESS DEPARTMENT How did a Pennsylvania-born Jesuit suit and big-brimmed Russian hat, he CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER end up in such perilous circumstances? looked like the movie version of a Lisa Pope After volunteering as a young priest in stocky little Soviet member of an agri - the late 1930s to work in Poland, cultural mission.” In that same issue, 106 West 56th Street Ciszek found himself caught up in Ciszek wrote a brief but moving state - New York, NY 10019-3803 the turmoil of the Second World War. ment in which he said, “In spite of Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596 When the German army took Warsaw seeming failures, I cherish no resent - E-mail: [email protected]; and the Soviets overran eastern Poland, ments or regrets for what transpired in [email protected] Ciszek fled into the Soviet Union the past years.” Web site: www.americamagazine.org. along with other Polish refugees. Father Ciszek is beloved among Customer Service: 1-800-627-9533 In 1941 he was captured by the American Jesuits, and those who knew © 2012 America Press, Inc. Soviets as a suspected spy. (He was not, him never fail to mention his great of course.) After five years of brutal humility. Among the many tributes to interrogation in Moscow’s notorious him is the naming of Ciszek Hall, a res - Lubyanka prison, he was sentenced to idence for young Jesuits in “first 15 years at hard labor in Soviet camps studies” at Fordham University. The in Siberia. After that he was released perhaps-future-saint is buried with his into the general population and found Jesuit brothers at the Jesuit Center in work in small towns in Siberia. Wernersville, Pa., a retreat house today In all these situations he ministered but once the Novitiate of St. Isaac to men and women as a priest—hearing Jogues, where the young Walter Ciszek confessions from prisoners in the drafty first heard the stirrings of the mysteri - corners of their barracks or celebrating ous call to go to the East. Cover: CNS illustration/Lucas Masses on tree stumps in the Siberian JAMES MARTIN, S.J. Turnbloom, The Southern Cross CONTENTS www.americamagazine.org Vol. 206 No. 12, Whole No. 4968 april 9, 2012

ARTICLES 11 OUR RISEN SELVES What does resurrection mean for us? Gerald O’Collins

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 4 Current Comment

5 Editorial In Thy Wounds, Hide Me 6 Signs of the Times

11 9 Column Mormons and Charity John J. DiIulio Jr.

17 Faith in Focus Alive Among Us! Nancy Hawkins

20 Poem All Things New Teresa Burleson 28 Letters

31 The Word The Breath of God Peter Feldmeier

17 BOOKS & CULTURE 19 MUSIC An album and novel from Steve Earle BOOKS Revelations; The Cat’s Table; Collision Course

ON THE WEB ON THE WEB James Martin, S.J., files a video report from the Holy Land. Plus, Thomas J. Scirghi, S.J., discusses his book on baptism, Everything Is Sacred, and an archive of articles by Gerald O'Collins, S.J. All at americamagazine.org. 19 CURRENT COMMENT

Status of Forces agreement. But in Afghanistan the death of Service of Unity civilians is already a neuralgic issue because of the unintend - The Catholic Church in Ireland will receive a much-need - ed deaths of civilians in U.S. nighttime drone attacks, ed boost of support when the International Eucharistic though many of them are carried out by the secret and legal - Congress meets in Dublin in June. In an interview last ly insulated Central Intelligence Agency, not by the military. month, Archbishop Piero Marini, president of the The military conviction rate for the killing of civilians, Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic in 30 out of 44 cases since 2001, suggests justice can be Congresses, said t he congress will be characterized by done. All the same, a great gulf divides Afghan justice humility and moderation. These are traits a church chas - under Shariah law and U.S. military justice, which may tened by sexual abuse is wise to embrace. The congress will take years to deliver a verdict. In the meantime, something be characterized by a “lack of triumphalism,” the archbish - must be done to heal the breach created by civilian deaths. op said, and will be based “on interiority, on moderation.” As we go to press, news services report that on order of Prior to the Second Vatican Council, eucharistic proces - President Obama, the families of those killed in Kandahar sions were a popular feature of these meetings, and they have received $50,000 in compensation and those wound - served to highlight the power and influence of the church. ed $11,000. The standard compensation is $2,500. The Processions will still take place at this year’s congress, but size of these payments is appropriately large, officials say, the focus will be on daily Mass. The congress will empha - because the victims were killed outside combat. size “the Second Vatican Council’s teaching that commu - nion is the center of the Eucharist, its primary aim,” the archbishop said. iPhone, Therefore I Am Planned in conjunction with the lay movement Even as new analysis confirms that bilingualism actually Focolare, the International Eucharistic Congress is expect - makes people smarter, evidence emerges that U.S. teens are ed to draw 80,000 people. The involvement of Focolare well along the path to a new language all their own. It is will surely help to energize the event. At a time of deep not clear, however, that speaking in text (you might know division within the church, in Ireland and elsewhere, a it as txtese or text talk) is likely to have as intellectually meditation on the unifying power of the Eucharist pro - salubrious an effect on America’s youth as, say, devoting vides an essential service. Focolare deserves praise for orga - themselves to Mandarin. nizing this event in their uniquely understated way. Their Texting has now become the preferred method of com - devotion to unity serves as a model for the whole church. munication among U.S. teens. Pew researchers report that 63 percent of U.S. 14- to 17-year-olds are producing a median of 100 text messages each day. Texting is far and Transnational Justice away the preferred form of teen communication, handily The demands of survivors for justice in the alleged killing beating out those old-fashioned cellphones (39 percent), by Staff Sergeant Robert Bales of 17 Afghan civilians, nine socializing outside of school (35 percent), social network of them children, have quieted down. Still, Afghanistan’s site messaging (29 percent), talking on landlines (19 per - President Hamid Karzai has bitterly complained that the cent) and sending e-mail (6 percent). U.S. military has failed to cooperate with an Afghan dele - What are they saying to each other? Who knows? gation charged with investigating the killings, and he has Parents since Seneca have complained that they cannot ordered NATO troops out of Afghan villages and unilat - understand their children’s private language. How many erally advanced to 2013 the date for foreign troops to hand parents, missing an anticipated call from a wayward off - over responsibility for security to Afghan troops. If Mr. spring, have unsuccessfully pondered said child’s Delphic Karzai keeps his word, this will be the second time in a explanation: “rnng 2 l8 4 chat; C U l8r.” year that disagreements over military justice have led to All is not lost, however, as even the most ossified of the early departure of U.S. troops at the request of the parental cortices can, with a lttl wrk, be retooled for txt host nation. Last year’s failure to reach agreement with speak. A parent bold enough to reach out and txt someone Iraq on jurisdiction over military offenses led to an unex - may find texting a valuable line of communication with pected full withdrawal of U.S. troops from that country. their kids. In Afghanistan, as elsewhere, the United States has LHM. That’s “Lord have mercy” for you folks who have immunized military personnel from prosecution by a prior trouble reading the texts of the times.

4 America April 9, 2012 EDITORIAL In Thy Wounds, Hide Me

e is not here. He is risen!” Two thousand years departure from the church of after the resurrection these words still have the young Catholics, especially ‘H power to startle us. When the women disciples women, is a source of great sad - first heard those words, they did not know what to make of ness. Women religious helped them. The Easter alleluia came only after the disciples’ build the church, and for cen - repeated encounters with the Lord. Their first reactions turies mothers passed on the were confusion, curiosity, disbelief. The community was faith to their children. Yet too often today women’s voices, hidden away in fear and grief until Jesus breathed his Spirit even distinguished ones, are dismissed. Without the support upon them. Today, as we grapple with the loss, disillusion - and perspective of women, the Catholic community is a sore - ment and brokenness in our own lives and in our church, ly wounded one. Catholic women should know that just as those first encounters with Thomas, Mary and Peter, Jesus had remarkable friendships with women during his should be signals for us of the power of the Resurrection to public ministry, so Christ finds joy in their company today. heal and unite us in the body of the risen Lord. They should be confident, too, that just as he sent Magdalene The Easter story is full of paradox and surprise. as “the apostle to the apostles,” the risen Christ will have pio - Consider Jesus’ wounds. Even in his risen glory, Jesus carried neering missions for them today among the people of God. with him the signs of his suffering. Yet his woundedness did Like Mary and the apostles, we are called upon to pro - not prevent him from commissioning the disciples to claim Christ’s rising, but we must not be afraid to accept our preach. We too live in a wounded world, riven by sin and own wounds. We are a sinful people, and the church is division, yet we still find our way to the empty tomb, to pro - marred by our sins. Yet these failings must not be an obsta - claim the glory of his resurrection. cle to our evangelization. How do we move ahead? In his The Apostle Thomas was the first to confront Jesus’ company. There Jesus will bind up our wounds so that we wounds. Jesus challenged the doubter to touch his side to may embrace the joy of the Resurrection. confirm that he had risen. Jesus’ wounds are a reminder of Think of Peter, who denied Jesus three times on the his suffering and death. Though he is risen from the dead, night of his trial. By refusing to acknowledge his bond with Jesus has not abandoned the deepest marks of his life on Jesus, Peter placed himself outside the Christian communi - earth. Far from scolding Thomas when he refused to ty. But Peter wept over his betrayal, and then Jesus sought believe, Jesus invited him to feel his wounds and thus wel - him out, invited his love and commissioned him to “feed my comed him back to the community of believers. Like sheep.” Peter, the first among the apostles, was always an Thomas, we are invited to probe Jesus’ wounds and to pro - imperfect disciple. His love for Jesus was not sealed until his claim our faith in him. By his wounds, “we are healed.” Jesus’ death, when he was led, in perfect identification with his wounds speak of his patient presence in the frail humanity Lord, “where he would not go.” Jesus reconciled Peter with that makes up the church. In his brokenness, we are made the community of disciples. He recognized the wounds of whole. division and healed them. By doing so, he enabled Peter to Jesus’ wounds are also signs of his solidarity with a embark on his ministry. Jesus shows us the path to unity and broken world. They invite us to see the face of God in those inclusion. who suffer in our world: the victims of war, disease and nat - By meditating upon the Easter mystery, we can dis - ural disaster, the victims of torture, exploitation and repres - cover the healing grace that Jesus brought to the early com - sive government. When we fall prey to anger or jealousy, or munity of disciples and that he continues to pour out upon resign ourselves to apathy, we contribute to the suffering in us today. Celebrating the Easter story deepens our compan - our world. By allowing a broken relationship to fester or by ionship with the Lord and with one another. Just as Jesus failing to attend to the poor in our lives, we deepen Jesus’ commissioned Mary and Peter and then all those gathered wounds. The wounds of Jesus in glory are reminders that around him in Jerusalem, he continues to commission us to his Spirit can empower us to bring comfort, healing and jus - spread his good news with joy to the men and women of our tice, just as he did. day. The wounded Christ helps us to live in a wounded In our church, too, we see signs of Jesus’ suffering. The world. The risen Christ can help us to redeem it.

April 9, 2012 America 5 SIGNS OF THE TIMES

SYRIA Members of the rebel Free Syrian Church Protests ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ Army in Homs on Feb. 29. In Homs Neighborhoods eports of “ethnic cleansing” of Christians in the Syrian city of Homs have begun circulating in the aftermath of an assault on the city by the Syrian R army, which drove out most armed elements of the Syrian opposition in mid-March. The Syrian Orthodox Church, which represents 60 percent of the country’s Christian minority, alleges that militant armed Islamists have managed to expel 90 percent of Christians from Homs and have confiscated their homes by force. According to Orthodox Metropolitan sources, the militants went door to door in the Homs neighborhoods of Hamidiya and Bustan al-Diwan, forcing Christians to flee without giving them a chance to take their belongings. Church leaders say this “ongoing ethnic cleansing of Christians” is being carried out by members of the Brigade Faruq. According to church sources, the Faruq Brigade is run by armed ele - ments of Al Qaeda and various Wahhabi groups and includes mercenaries from Libya and Iraq. In Homs, according to a local source, there are only about 1,000 Christians left, living in hiding and fear in a neighborhood that “is caught between two fires,” as fighting continues between army and rebels. The warnings issued by the Orthodox Church accompany new concerns from the New York-based Human Rights Watch about the deportment of the Free Syrian Army, army deserters and rebel fighters loosely organized under the oppo - sition Syrian National Council. Western media have frequently noted we can say that these relationships are mously approved by the U.N. Security the numerous flagrant human rights beginning to break down the wall of Council on the conflict in Syria abuses perpetrated by Syrian govern - silence built up to now by the press “should be fully supported, as it is real - ment forces during the yearlong clamp - worldwide.” He said, “In this situation ly urgent to put an end to violence.” down on internal opposition to the Islamist and terrorist movements are The United Nation’s six-point plan regime of President Bashar al-Assad . making headway.” calls for an end to troop movements Now Human Rights Watch warns The vicar apostolic recalled with and the use of heavy weapons, the pro - of similar abuses by the irregular concern some recent episodes: “Last gressive implementation of a cease- forces of Syria’s opposition. In an open Sunday, a car packed with TNT fire, the distribution of humanitarian letter to the leaders of Syria’s opposi - exploded in Aleppo in the vicinity of aid, the release of those detained arbi - tion, Human Rights Watch noted the school of the Franciscan fathers. trarily, the free movement of journal - increasing evidence “of kidnappings, By a miracle a massacre of children ists and the beginning of political dia - the use of torture and executions by was avoided at the Center of logue. armed Syrian opposition members.” Catechesis of the Church of St. The group urged resistance leaders to Bonaventure only because the RELIGIOUS LIBERTY “ensure that all opposition members Franciscans, sensing danger, made the refrain from engaging in these unlaw - children leave 15 minutes before the New U.S.A.I.D. ful practices.” usual time. Other bombs exploded in Regarding the reports of ethnic Damascus. These are bad signs for Rule a Model? cleansing, the Vicar Apostolic of religious minorities.” little-publicized policy direc - Aleppo, Bishop Giuseppe Nazzaro, In Damascus the apostolic nuncio tive from the U.S. Agency for O.F.M., said: “We have no sources to to Syria, Archbishop Mario Zenari, AInternational Development is confirm this information directly, but said that a March 21 statement unani - getting a closer look from advocates of

6 America April 9, 2012 guage could pertain to federal pro - shall not be required to adhere to all grams ranging from health care reform aspects of what the agency calls a com - to assistance to human trafficking vic - prehensive approach to combating the tims. disease. Such an approach includes the “[The new directive] expresses distribution of condoms and instruc - quite well what we would have wanted tion on their use. to see, and we are pleased with the The directive implements the con - constructive process we went through science protection mandate that was with [U.S.A.I.D.] and they went included in the Tom Lantos and through with us,” said Bill O’Keefe, Henry J. Hyde U.S. Global Leadership vice president for government rela - Against H.I.V./AIDS, Tuberculosis tions and advocacy at Catholic Relief and Malaria Reauthorization Act of Services. 2008. The law authorized up to $48 “It’s very important obviously billion over five years to combat malar - because the church’s global health net - ia, tuberculosis and AIDS. It includes work is critical to addressing the prob - funding for the widely lauded lem of AIDS in many countries. That President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS was recognized in the legislation and Relief program, known as Pepfar. now is recognized explicitly in this The directive was welcomed by the guidance, so we can at least compete U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, fairly. We’re not asking for any prefer - which is embroiled in its own dispute ential treatment. But as the law speci - with the Obama administration over fied, we wanted to be able to compete religious freedom issues and con - fairly without discrimination because science protections on a number of of our teaching,” O’Keefe said. fronts, particularly health care reform. religious freedom and promoters of He acknowledged that C.R.S. Richard Doerflinger, associate director conscience protections in federal law. played the leading role in the direc - of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for The directive offers broad and inclu - tive’s development. The agency has Pro-Life Activities, remained cautious, sive conscience protections to faith- received hundreds of millions of dol - however, noting the directive is limited based organizations funded by lars in federal funding for AIDS ser - to specific programs funded by one U.S.A.I.D. to operate AIDS treat - vices around the world since 2004 and government agency. ment and prevention programs and helped almost other health care programs around the 700,000 people. world, Catholic observers said. The language in Specifically, the directive bans dis - the directive to crimination against faith-based and U.S.A.I.D. staff other organizations that decide not to around the world engage in activities that violate reli - is explicit in gious or moral principles, such as con - explaining that any dom distribution and education in organization— their use. Advocates of religious free - faith-based or oth - dom see the language in the agency’s erwise, both acquisition and assistance policy direc - domestic and tive as a model that could be imple - international— mented in all government programs, that is eligible to contracts and grants, with minor receive funding for changes depending on the programs AIDS prevention Sister Gladness Ntuli dispenses drugs for AIDS treatment at individual agencies oversee. Such lan - and treatment a C.R.S.-sponsored clinic in Phelandaba, South Africa.

April 9, 2012 America 7 SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Sex Abuse and NEWS BRIEFS Orthodoxy On March 20 the Vatican released a Three people were killed and more than 50 summary of the findings and recom - injured as thousands packed St. Mark’s mendations of its offical visitation to Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt, on March 18 Ireland. The investigation recognized and 19 to pay their respects to Pope serious shortcomings in the handling Shenouda III , head of the Coptic of accusations of sexual abuse of Orthodox Church, who died on March 17. minors but found that today Ireland’s • Ken Hackett, who retired in December bishops, clergy and lay faithful are Egyptian Christians mourn after 18 years as president of Catholic Pope Shenouda III doing an “excellent” job creating safe Relief Services, will receive the University environments for children. The inves - of Notre Dame’s 2012 Laetare Medal during commencement cere - tigators found that Irish bishops need monies on May 20. • Archbishop Robert J. Carlson of St. Louis, to update their child protection guide - Mo., said the archdiocese planned to appeal a March 15 ruling that lines, establish “more consistent affirmed St. Stanislaus Parish Corporation’s control over parish admission criteria” for seminarians and property and assets. • The Conference of Major Superiors of Men formulate policies on how best to deal announced on March 19 that Abbot Giles Hayes of St. Mary’s with clergy and religious “falsely Abbey in Morristown, N.J., had resigned as president for health rea - accused” of abuse or convicted of sons, to be replaced by Thomas H. Smolich, S.J. , now the vice pres - abuse. The investigators also warned ident • The Rev. Edward Flanagan was declared a “servant of God” of a “fairly widespread” tendency during a Mass on March 17 at Immaculate Conception Church at among priests, religious and laity to Boys Town, as the Archdiocese of Omaha formally opened the cause hold unspecified unorthodox views. for sainthood of the founder of the home for troubled youths.

Pope in Mexico, Cuba morality while ignoring social con - the point of view of Islamic law on a En route on March 23 to Latin science. Commenting on the Mexican proposal to ban the construction of America, Pope Benedict XVI called drug war that has claimed an estimat - new churches in Kuwait. The Grand for patience with the Catholic ed 50,000 people over the past five Mufti, the highest official of religious Church’s effort to promote freedom in years, Pope Benedict said that the law in Saudi Arabia—where no Communist Cuba and criticized church has a responsibility to “unmask churches have been built despite the Catholics who participate in the illegal evil, unmask the idolatry of money presence of almost a million drug trade or who ignore their moral that enslaves man” as well as the “false Christians—responded by observing responsibilities to seek social justice. promises, the lie, the swindle that lie that Mohammed believed the Arabic Responding to a question about behind drugs.” Peninsula must only have one reli - human rights in Cuba, Pope Benedict gion. His conclusion was that all said that the “church is always on the churches in the territory must be side of freedom—freedom of con - destroyed. The response went beyond science, freedom of religion.” He Destroy All Churches? the Kuwaiti proposal, which bans the added, “We want to help in the spirit All Christian churches on the Arabian building of new non-Islamic places of of dialogue to avoid the trauma and to Peninsula should be destroyed, said worship. European Catholic bishops help move toward a fraternal and just the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, denounced the statement as a “denial” society” in Cuba. Asked about Latin Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, on of basic human rights for millions of America’s dramatic inequalities of March 12, in response to a query from foreign workers in the Persian Gulf. wealth, Pope Benedict lamented what Kuwait’s Society of the Revival of he called a widespread moral Islamic Heritage. The Kuwaiti delega - “schizophrenia” that stresses personal tion had asked for a clarification from From CNS and other sources.

8 America April 9, 2012 JOHN J. D I IULIO JR. Mormons and Charity hether Mitt Romney wins ties than other Americans do. The parishes, the minority of self-identified the Republican nomina - comparison stands up even after one Catholics who attend Sunday Mass Wtion for the presidency or subtracts from the Mormon totals the regularly expect it to take not more not, his serious-contender candidacy work of young, full-time Mormon than an hour, punctuated by a con - has sparked an explosion of empirical missionaries. trived communal “sign of peace” wave research on Mormons in the United Mormons reliably tithe to their or handshake and followed by a post- States. In due course, this research churches and also give about $1,200 Communion dash to the parking lot. should serve not only to enhance pub - annually “to social causes outside the By contrast, last month I attended lic respect for the Mormon minority, church.” Even Mormons who have rela - standing-room-only evening Purim but also to give Catholics some clues tively low household incomes both services (complete with costumes, about how to strengthen their own tithe fully and give more of their small children running in the aisles faith community. income to assist non- and raucous noise at In a report issued in January 2012, Mormons in need than Most every mention of “Mormons in America: Certain of other Americans do. Haman) at an Ortho- Their Beliefs, Uncertain of Their What is behind these Mormons dox synagogue in New Place in Society,” a research team rep - differences? At the Pew Orleans. I was joined by resenting the Pew Forum on Religion panel, David E. Campbell, a practice a small group of and Public Life found that most University of Notre Dame what they Catholic undergradu - Mormons are regular churchgoers and political scientist who is a ates who were on an that more Mormons (73 percent) Mormon, quipped that preach about interfaith, service-learn - believe that “working to help the poor” while Mormons are even helping the ing trip. is “essential to being a good Mormon” more “hierarchical” than As one Catholic stu - than believe the same thing about “not Catholics, hierarchy is defi - needy. dent put it, hearing the drinking coffee and tea” (49 percent). nitely not the answer. Nor, all-Hebrew singing- According to a new study pre - he said, does the fidelity of individual reading of the Book of Esther took well viewed on March 15 by an expert Mormons to particular Mormon reli - over an hour but was “a blast,” as was panel convened at Pew’s headquarters gious tenets explain the differences. the communal after-party that includ - in Washington, D.C., most members Rather, research suggests the secret ed eating, drinking, card-playing—and of the Church of Jesus Christ of to filling church coffers and packing collecting donations for the poor. Latter-day Saints practice what they the pews while simultaneously stimu - Catholic bishops should pay as preach about helping the needy. Led by lating robust ministries that benefit much attention to how much time Ram A. Cnaan, a renowned Israeli- needy nonmembers is what a religion churchgoers spend together at or after born social-work scholar at the does to induce intrafaith friendships, Sunday Mass as they have recently University of Pennsylvania, the study transcend Sunday-only ties and foster paid to which words get used ( consub - concludes that churchgoing Mormons widespread participation in faith- stantial! ) during nearly empty worship “are the most pro-social members of motivated, civic good works for people services. The bishops should continue American society.” in need. to promote annual donations to won - On average, Mormons dedicate Cnaan’s surveys were administered derful Catholic nonprofit organiza - nine times as many hours per month to Mormon congregants in four differ - tions like Catholic Charities, which (nearly 36 hours) to volunteer activi - ent regions of the country after their also attract thousands of Catholic usual three-hour worship services, community-serving volunteers. They which are typically followed by many and all Catholics should also strive to JOHN J. DIIULIO JR. is the co-author of members and their families intention - make our churches places where ever American Government: Institutions and Policies (2012) and other books on politics, ally socializing together. more Catholics come to worship, religion and public administration. Let’s face it, in too many Catholic socialize and serve neighbors in need.

April 9, 2012 America 9 10 America April 9, 2012 WHAT DOES RESURRECTION MEAN FOR US ? Our Risen Selves BY GERALD O’COLLINS

elebrating at Easter the glorious resurrection of Jesus inevitably causes us to think about our own resurrection. What will our risen existence be like? One obvious danger is to fill the void with science fiction fantasies or worse. In The History of the World in 10½ . a d È

J Chapters, Julian Barnes warns his readers against this excess through an o C l e i amusing parody of a heavenly existence that consists in indulging in unlim - r b a g ited sex, meeting celebrities and enjoying unprecedented success in sport. - È N e None of us has directly experienced resurrection for ourselves, and that r / s e r conditions the way we might imagine and conceptualize risen life. Still, we T r a can look beyond the limitations and evils of our present existence and cau - © / y N

, tiously suggest something about the new, bodily existence we hope for. e c r u o s e

r Matter and Spirit

T r a / As human beings we are bodies. Our bodies insert us into the material x u a

N world. Each of us becomes a tiny part of the cosmos and the cosmos part o i T a

N of us. People once naïvely assumed that the human body enjoyed far- s e È reaching autonomy and stability; scientists had not yet discovered that s u m

s our physical life forms a dynamic process of continual circulation e d

N between our bodies and the material environment. To adapt a line from o i N u

È the poet John Donne, no body is an island. Through our bodies we con - r

: o

T stantly share in and relate to the universe. o h p Modern thinkers stress the spiritual and bodily unity of the human T o m

N person, our psychosomatic unity. At the same time, a dualism remains a J s i between matter and spirit. Such dualistic thinking about our present u o l

y existence should not steer us, however, toward a Platonic conclusion in b

” , s which we (as soul or spirit) are “in” a body or “have” a body. Speaking of l u o s f o e

g GERALD O’COLLINS, S.J., is adjunct professor at Australian Catholic University in a s s Melbourne, Australia. He is the author/co-author of 60 published books, the latest a p

e of which is Believing in the Resurrection: The Meaning and h T

“ Promise of the Risen Jesus (Paulist Press).

April 9, 2012 America 11 matter and spirit, we need not suppose that these are dis - nication. Being subject to the constraints of space and time, parate realities that, like oil and water, will not mix. All mat - our bodies set us apart and restrict our chances of relating ter has something spiritual about it. A pure materiality that and communicating. People talk, hug, kiss, make phone calls, would be totally unspiritual seems impossible. On the other send e-mail and text messages, write letters and in other hand, all the material in our universe is at least potentially ways try to make up quantitatively for what they lack quali - human matter. The spiritualizing of matter takes place con - tatively. Through sickness, old age, imprisonment or exile tinually through breathing, eating and drinking. By being our bodies can bring us radical solitude and terrifying loneli - taken into a human body, matter becomes vitally associated ness. Bodily loneliness and breakdown in communication with the functions of a spiritual being. find their final expression when the tomb contains a newly The world of art exhibits a similar phenomenon. buried corpse or the crematorium someone’s fresh ashes. Paintings, pieces of sculpture and stained glass windows are Few modern writers have described that irreversible material objects. Through being organized and spiritualized break more poignantly than John McGahern in All Will Be in the hands of their makers, works of art can embody a rich Well. He wrote of his mother, who died at the age of 42: cargo of meaning. Christian believers acknowledge a similar “She was gone. She would never answer to her name again. process in the life of the sacraments, particularly the She was gone for ever…gone where I could not follow.” Eucharist. A piece of bread and a cup of wine are spiritual - Our bodies do not merely separate and alienate us from ized and personalized through the power of the Holy Spirit one another, from the world and from God. Through weari - to become the most intensely real presence of the risen ness, physical weakness, sickness, sleep and death, they also Christ. The use of material substances, like water and oil, in alienate us from ourselves. Our embodied condition can the sacraments visibly connects the bodies of the worshipers make us feel not fully free to be ourselves and be with others. with the material universe. But the rites aim higher: to link We may usefully imagine the resurrection as maximizing worshipers with highly personal realities, the body of the our capacity to relate and communicate. The supreme church and the body of Christ himself. example here is Jesus himself. As raised from the dead Matter can be understood and interpreted in many ways. through the power of the Holy Spirit, he now relates to the Physicists know it as mainly empty space, the field of sever - Father, human beings and the whole cosmos in a manner al basic forces. Subatomic particles appear as either mass or that has shed the constraints of his earthly existence. energy. Nevertheless, breathing, eating, drinking, painting, Wherever two or three gather in his name, they experience celebrating the sacraments and other human activities dis - the risen Lord in their midst (Mt 18:20). Nothing reveals close another face of matter: its potentiality to be spiritual - more powerfully the new communicative power of Jesus ized and personalized. than the Eucharist. It brings his worldwide presence and his Resurrection from the dead will mean the full and final offer to share a life that will never end. personalizing and spiritualizing of our matter, not its aboli - To expect resurrection involves hoping that we will be set tion. Through the action of the Holy Spirit, the human free to go far beyond the limitations and triviality of so spirit will “dominate” matter, in the sense that the body will much that passes for communication in this world. We will clearly express and serve the glorified spirit of human be liberated to be truly ourselves and to be with others in an beings. Accepting this requires a leap of imagination. We enhanced and loving way. can be helped to make this leap by reflecting on one aspect of risen life: our transformed capacity to communicate. Bodily Continuity and Our History Here and now our material bodiliness creates the possi - Jesus’ empty tomb pointed to a transformation of his dead bility for us to be communicators. With and through our body into a new, risen mode of existence, but it was a trans - bodies we act, express ourselves, relate to and communicate formation that brought no loss of personal identity. The with others. Without our bodies there would be no lan - Easter narratives of the Gospels make it credible that when guage, no art, no literature, no religion, no industry, no polit - Jesus appeared to individuals or to groups of disciples they ical life, no social and economic relations and none of the could—at times with initial difficulty—recognize him as married love in which verbal and nonverbal communication the same Jesus they had known. Some (transformed) mate - reaches a supreme intensity. In short, without our bodies we rial continuity enabled them to identify the risen one as the could not make and enjoy any human history. Through our Jesus they had known and followed. But the preservation of bodies we build up a vast web of relationships with other our individual, personal identity in a risen existence seems human beings, with the material universe and with God. more problematic. This requires explanation. Our bodies enable us to communicate, play the human Here and now our bodies ensure our individual continu - game and compose our individual, personal stories. ity and our recognizability as the same person. To be and to At the same time, our bodies place limits on our commu - be recognized as the same person, we must remain “the

12 America April 9, 2012 same body.” Despite continual and massive bodily changes, 6, 16 and 60 years of age. As old matter is discarded and our personal continuity and identity are somehow bound up new matter is absorbed into a living body, there is a steady with our bodily identity and continuity. We are and have the replacement of the matter constituting that body. How do same body and therefore remain the same person. Bodily we keep the same, numerically identical body all through continuity points to the persistence of personal identity. our lifetime? Some question the link between bodily continuity and We might suggest that our unique genetic structure, the continuity of personal identity, interpreting the latter in which our DNA molecules carry, maintains our body terms of a continuity in mental states—in particular, the through this life. But at death, with our physical remains continuity of our consciousness and memories. Chains of dispersed into the environment through the decay or burn - conscious memories surely have a role in maintaining our ing of our corpse, how can we speak of any bodily continu - sense of personal identity. The memory of what I have per - ity between earthly existence and our risen life? sonally experienced constitutes the evidence within me of One answer could be found by noting the connection my persisting identity. Yet one’s enduring personhood can - between saying “I am my body” and “I am my history.” not depend simply upon one’s memory; otherwise loss of Through our bodiliness we grow in relation to other per - memory would entail loss of personal identity. The case of sons, to God and to the world. Our individual history is amnesia rebuts attempts to promote memory as the means unimaginable without our body constantly being “in rela - for constituting and preserving personal continuity in the tionship.” Our personal history expands by all that we do one, unique life story that is “me.” and suffer with our bodies. It is through our bodies that our Although we may agree that personal identity and conti - particular histories are shaped—from conception through nuity remain somehow bound up with bodily continuity, we to death. have to ask: in what sense will we rise with the same body? Thinking this way creates some credibility for under - What counts here as bodily sameness? standing resurrection as the raising from the dead of our Even in this earthly life the enormous and continuous particular, embodied history. In resurrection, the particular, interchange of matter with our environment can make us bodily history that has made up the unique story of each wonder how correct it is to speak of someone being or hav - person will be brought to new life. In a mysterious, trans - ing the same body six months before birth and then again at formed fashion, their risen existence will express what/who

live in the mystery and let your faith unfold

Best-selling author Margaret Silf believes that faith is not about mastery but about mystery. In Simple Faith, Silf encourages us to rethink many of the teachings on faith that end up holding us back from experiencing the joy and freedom that a simple faith offers.

America readers SAVE 30%! Simple Faith 0Bs s $6.97 NEW! Order Today!   www.loyolapress.com/simplefaith

Use promo code 4165 to save 30%. Offer EXPIRES0RICEDOESNOTINCLUDE3(

April 9, 2012 America 13 they as embodied persons were and became in their earthly This proposal about our continuity being preserved life. Given the intimate link between our bodiliness and our through the resurrection of our embodied history leads to history, we can say: the same resurrected body means the the question: How can the temporal history of individuals, same resurrected history, and vice versa. fashioned over a stretch of time, be raised up by God to an This proposal needs defense. First, if I ask what has existence that is not temporal but eternal? made me what I am as a unique individual, it has surely been We might develop here a comparison between the incar - my embodied history, not the millions of molecules that in nation and the resurrection. Where the incarnation involved a passing parade have at different moments constituted my the timeless Son of God taking on a temporal existence, res - particular physical existence. Second, my whole bodily his - urrection from the dead involves temporal beings (that have tory is much more “me” than the physical been embodied in their unique history) body that breathes its last, say at 80 years becoming eternal, to the extent that creat - of age. It makes sense to imagine the res - ON THE WEB ed beings can participate in the divine James Martin, S.J., reports urrection as God bringing into a trans - from the Holy Land. attribute of eternity. On the one hand, the formed, personal life the total embodied americamagazine.org/video timeless Son of God, by becoming history of dead individuals and so ensur - embodied, could develop his own unique ing their genuine personal identity. human history. In a similar but not iden - This approach also makes very good sense of what hap - tical way, on the other hand, the embodied historical exis - pened to Jesus, the prototype of our resurrection. When he tence of human beings can, through the power of God to rose from the dead, his whole life rose with him. In his risen raise them up, become eternalized. state Jesus possesses fully his whole human story. His resur - Something of this sharing in eternity shows up in the rection and glorification have made his entire life and histo - earthly history of human beings. Time involves not only a ry irrevocably present. Even if they never thought explicitly succession of earlier and later events, but also has something in terms of the irrevocable presence of Jesus’ earthly history, cumulative about it. More than a mere stream of fleeting the four Evangelists wrote their Gospels out of a sense that moments that disappear, time entails many things coming the earthly life of Jesus had risen with him and remains together and being preserved: memories in the mind, marks indispensably significant for his followers through the ages. on our bodies, webs of persisting relationships with rela - tives, friends and colleagues at work, etc. Likewise, and LATE DELIVERY OF MAGAZINE much more so, resurrected life will be a gathering up and coming together of a whole, accumulated past. In resurrec - tion, by the power of God our time and history will be summed up and completed. My proposal about our embodied history being raised up finds support in what Caroline Walker Bynum documented in her classic study, The Resurrection of the Body in Western Christianity, 200–1336. She illustrated extensively the per - sistent conviction of many Christians that resurrection would preserve for all eternity their gender, family experi - ences and the other characteristics and events that identified them as unique human persons and constituted their indi - vidual history. In thinking about the resurrection of Jesus Are you experiencing problems with the on- and their own resurrection, these rank-and-file Christians time delivery of your issues of America? were, in effect, insisting that the whole of our history rises Postal regulations require that there be at least 3 with us. instances of late or no mail delivery before requesting Here then are two, complementary but not mutually a publication watch. exclusive ways of thinking imaginatively about our future res - urrection. We must remain cautious when reflecting on You should notify your local post office and make a something we have not yet experienced. Nevertheless, not complaint and/or request a publication watch. You knowing everything is not the same as knowing nothing at all. may also notify us at 212-581-4640 ext 118 or by What we do know through faith and reason can make sense email at [email protected] and we of the resurrection for which we hope: God spiritualizing will contact the USPS. (but not destroying) our material existence and bringing the whole of our earthly history into a new, transfigured life. A

14 America April 9, 2012 Paid Advertisement

April 9, 2012 America 15 ANNUAL SPRING MCGINLEY LECTURE

The Atheistic Imagination A Challenge for Jews, Christians and Muslims The Reverend Patrick J. Ryan, S.J. Laurence J. McGinley Professor of Religion and Society

RESPONDENTS Rabbi Daniel Polish, Ph.D. Congregation Shir Chadash, Poughkeepsie, New York Professor Amir Hussain, Ph.D. Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California

The lecture will be delivered at two locations: Tuesday, 24 April 2012, 6 p.m Pope Auditorium | Lowenstein Center Lincoln Center Campus | 113 W. 60th Street New York City Wednesday, 25 April 2012, 6 p.m. Flom Auditorium | Walsh Library Rose Hill Campus | Bronx, New York

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. For more information, please call (718) 817-4745 or e-mail [email protected].

16 America April 9, 2012 FAITH IN FOCUS Alive Among Us! BY NANCY HAWKINS

ften I find myself pondering encounter the risen Lord each day. Stephen ministers are lay women and how it was for the earthly Ours is a world of grace—that grace men trained to meet the short-term O followers of Jesus on the being God in our midst. It is “amazing” needs of their church community. evening of Jesus’ death and the next grace, freely given with no strings They do whatever is needed, from tak - day, which we call Holy Saturday. I attached. But we must decide to give ing people grocery shopping to provid - picture them huddled in a dark room ourselves over to this grace and to ing companionship to lonely people. in a state of shock, unable to eat and approach each day expecting to Hospice touches thousands each year. utterly depressed. Fear lives in their encounter the risen one. When my father was recently ill, my hearts and they have no reason to go With eyes that are clear and hearts family and I experienced the support on. They have no hope. Over the past full of hope we will find him alive in of the hospice program. Not only do few years I have encountered many the communities that surround us in these people assist the one who is people who are living their own Good our world. We always meet the Lord in preparing to die, but they also help Friday and Holy Saturday. These good the breaking of the bread and in the those who are in mourning. I remem - people have lost their jobs, been disap - opening of the word, a source of great ber seeing relief on my mother’s face pointed in their church, have had to comfort and spiritual strength. The after hospice came to her home. We leave their homes and have lost their risen Lord is present to the world in knew the risen Lord was close. health care. They have no hope. other ways as well. Last year, when the United States It is to both groups that the Easter celebrated the 10th anniversary of kerygma is proclaimed: “Jesus is raised Communities of Service 9/11, I watched on television the ded - in accordance with the Scriptures!” Communities of people who serve oth - ication of the memorial near the for - The message assures us that Jesus the ers in need continually manifest the mer World Trade Center. I recalled Christ is raised and lives in our midst presence of Christ. The Peace Corps the first responders, many of whom now. He has conquered death, of and Doctors Without Borders, for lost their lives as they climbed the tow - which we are most afraid, and offers us example, reach out to the needy all ers, and Mychal Judge, O.F.M., who deep peace and hope. But where do we around the world, especially in rushed to the area and became the find this message? In 2012 we do not nations where there is politi - first recorded victim of that have the luxury of seeing the Lord face cal unrest and war. They day. Thousands of peo - to face. We cannot put our hands into minister in cultures ple helped to find the his side, as Thomas did, or eat fish foreign to their own bodies of the dead with the Lord on a beach at sunrise. with respect for and minister to Or can we? those they serve. the police and fire Where will we find the risen Similarly, thou - fighters—all Christ? For many, this is a tremendous sands of mission - manifestations of

N

challenge, yet it is not as difficult as aries spread the the risen Lord. W o r b one might think. The promise of faith word of God in Many are suffer - d

l e is that Christ is always with us, even to foreign lands and ing physically today a h c i m

the end of time. If we take the Gospel bring spiritual com - as a consequence of / m o c message at its word, then we can fort to those they meet; their works of mercy. . k c o

they are the risen one The risen Lord is also T s

NANCY HAWKINS, I.H.M., r

is associate profes - e

among these people. present in those who fight for T T

sor of systematic theology at St. Bernard’s u h

Closer to home I see the risen Lord justice and stand up for the downtrod - s

School of Theology and Ministry in Rochester, : T r

N.Y. in the Stephen Ministry program. den. In an atmosphere of political neg - a

April 9, 2012 America 17 ativity, it is easy to believe that no one One. We adults are disarmed in their St. Ignatius Loyola called it. The exa - is selfless or focused on truth and jus - midst. No wonder Jesus told his fol - men involves taking time at the end of tice. But that is not true. Many lawyers lowers to let the children come to your busy day to look back and ask are working pro bono for immigrants him. God to show you where God has been locked in detention centers who need In Luke’s Gospel (4:18-19) Jesus present. You pay attention to the day’s representation. Advocates for the enters the synagogue on the Sabbath events and the people you encoun - homeless staff soup kitchens and try to and reads from the scroll of the tered. You review your interior moods, bring healing to the addicted; they also prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the feelings, joys, difficulties and loves, petition the government for laws to Lord is upon me, because he has noting what makes an impression on protect the needy. Others are organiz - anointed me to bring good news to you. The basic question of the examen ing variously to speak for justice and the poor. He has sent me to proclaim is, “How did I meet God today?” This truth. I have sometimes seen the risen release to the captives and recovery of exercise is best done in quiet as part of Lord in diplomats and world leaders sight to the blind, to let the oppressed one’s evening prayer. If practiced regu - who fight for peace and make deci - go free, to proclaim the year of the larly, the examen will bear rich fruit. sions based on goodness and reconcil - Lord’s favor.” Gradually you may come to anticipate iation. All our years are years of favor from seeing the risen Christ all the time in Friends, family members or co- the Lord, and communities of service events and people! workers may be vivid signs of Christ’s have the power to set people free, Another tool is to pray over the presence in our own daily lives. It is which they do every day. As St. Teresa gifts and fruits of the Spirit listed at 1 easy to take for granted those near us. of Avila put it, “Christ has no other Cor 12:3-11 and Gal 5:22-26. One of We need to pay attention to how they hands but yours.” Missionaries and the functions of the Spirit of Jesus is to call us to growth, love us uncondi - others serving in foreign lands, those fill our lives with blessings and gifts. tionally, support us when we are who sit with the dying or offer friend - The communities and individuals we down and cheer for us when we ship and a break from loneliness, lead - encounter each day are blessings and achieve. I have encountered the risen ers for justice, those near us whom we gifts from God. When we use and Jesus when those I care about chal - love best—these are the hands, eyes appreciate these, we experience the lenge me to see new possibilities for and faces of the risen Lord. fruits of the Spirit. If you find yourself my life and to trust that Jesus is with becoming more joyful, loving, patient, me on the journey. Around children Discernment Tools peaceful, kind, trusting, gentle, self- especially—these vulnerable little Christian tradition offers excellent controlled and filled with goodness, ones who love to smile, laugh and run tools to help us “discern” Christ’s pres - you are living in the aura of the Spirit. freely—I feel the presence of the risen ence. One tool is the daily examen, as Then you know you have encountered the Lord in the workings of your day. We are all on the road to Emmaus. Jesus the Christ comes upon us every day. But often we do not recognize him as we pass him at our jobs and in the supermarket. We read about him in the newspaper and teach him in our classrooms. He comes in all shapes and sizes, colors and cultures. “So much is unfolding that must complete its gesture, so much is in bud,” writes the poet Denise Levertov of the Easter season. May we not miss what is blos - soming in our midst this Easter. Tonight, before you pull up the cov - ers, take time to look over your day and perceive where the risen Lord was present to you. Then sing a verse of “Amazing Grace,” smile and say thank you. A

18 America April 9, 2012 BOOKS &CULTURE

MUSIC | KEVIN CLARKE taken a shot at acting with a role in HBO’s “Treme” and recently added EARLE GRAY “novelist” to his impressive C.V. In a burst of multitasking hubris, Lamenting ‘I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive’ Earle released an album and a novel s a singer-songwriter who protecting the authenticity of a unique together. The two efforts share a name, kept throwing grit and American musical tradition and in “I’ll Never Get Out of This World squalor into that overpro - birthing a new one—the more con - Alive”(lifted from a Hank Williams A tune) and a wizened view of the world duced candy shop Nashville called temporary iteration of “Alt-Country” country, Steve Earle has had a hand in or “Americana” music. He has lately and man’s often sad and lonely place struggling in it. Earle’s father passed away as he wrote many of the album’s Steve Earle songs, which may have contributed to the gloom of mortality that hangs over both works. Earle has recently remar - ried and late in life appears surprised to welcome a new son into the world. You can almost hear his bemused appreciation for this turn of events and the peculiarly creative effort of baby- raising in the album’s few counter-cur - rent tunes. Faith and redemption taunt both the book and the vinyl. But where one succeeds in coaxing nods of recogni - tion and a lopsided smile or two, the other surrenders its narrative integrity to duplicitous moralizing.

Some Great Tunes The musical incarnation of “I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive” includes the basics of any recent Steve Earle album. Anyone who has paid the least attention to his career will recog - nize its overall sound and structure— personal reflection followed by a howl or two at political moons. Earle remains faithful to the American folk tradition, digging deeper on occasion as some tunes tap the cheerful cyni - cism of Irish folk. But he twists and folds the tradition to his own sardonic N o r

r devices, firing away at contemporary a b

d targets. The album surveys death and e T

: o recrimination, redemption and grati - T o h p tude. God and the devil seem to haunt

April 9, 2012 America 19 Earle’s present as he surveys his past comes across instead as contrived and (Another Irish-sounding tune, and reconsiders his future. a little pointless now. Worse, it’s hard “Molly-o,” might have been better left I don’t think Earle can make a bad to listen to. That’s especially surprising in an archive.) Though “Gulf of album, and this one includes some since another great musical multi - Mexico” tracks BP’s errant ways and great tunes that work at times despite tasker, T-Bone Burnett, produced the the impact of the great oil spill of 2010 themselves. “Every Part of Me” offers album. on the working men and women of the an unfortunate litany of lyrical clichés, “Meet Me in the Alleyway” chan - gulf, it might have been written a cen - but it still charms mostly because of its nels Tom Waits and touches on per - tury ago about union organizers, unselfconscious sincerity. “This City” sonal end-times. On “God is God,” Galway fishermen or highwaymen. is a mournful tribute to the often tried Earle assures, “I believe in but unbroken spirit of New Orleans. prophecy/some folks see things not Novel Blues Still, Earle sounds a little listless. everybody can see/...I believe in mira - If the album disappoints, it’s mostly in The album lacks the energy and some cles,” a theme he returns to in his novel. comparison with the high bar set by of the passion of other recent efforts, But Earle’s flat statement of faith and stronger efforts, but the novel pro - like “Washington Square Serenade” blessings received, earned or not, trou - vokes an emotion closer to betrayal. and “Transcendental Blues.” Earle’s bles a little; there is more resignation The work suffers from some minor craggy, wise voice is recognizable, but than joy in it. structural disorders. A first-time nov - it’s distracted and uninspired, not so Earle revives on “Gulf of Mexico,” a elist, Earle doesn’t seem to trust his much properly world weary as plain contractual nod to the Irish folk tradi - story to tell itself or his reader to figure weary. What should have been a sting - tion from which he hails and “Waitin’ things out. Some moments are over - ing rebuke to the presidential legacy of on the Sky,” a jaunty exploration of a wrought and overloaded with exposi - George W. Bush, “Little Emperor,” wayward life, finally redeemed. tion; some characters seem poured out of a box of literary ready-mix, albeit one that’s mouse-gnawed and whiskey-stained. Internal monologues displace narrative action. ALL THINGS NEW “I’ll Never Get Out of Here Alive” initially surpasses these drawbacks on chutzpah alone. Earle generally tells What was so stark this story of addiction, poverty and the Now glistens green. miraculous amid the squalor well, probably because it’s a place he has What was barren blooms. inhabited too long himself. He seems What was sleeping awakes. to have devised a gravelly variant of a Who can withstand Him number of familiar American genres. Gritty magic realism meets American Who is the Force pulp. It’s as if Albany’s William Behind the flowering, Kennedy and the dime novel maestro The sprouting, Jim Thompson had a bastard child together, though at times the ghostly The beating of wings? presence of Hank Williams resembles This is the third day a morphine-addicted Caspar more than a spectrified Don Buendía. And He has the last word. Earle tells the tale of “Doc” Ebersole, as beat up and beaten down TERESA BURLESON a character as you are likely to meet in TERESA BURLESON is a substitute teacher and freelance San Antonio’s South Presa Strip or writer in Central Texas. Her book, The Pilgrim’s Lyre, anywhere else in American fiction. was published in 2003. Once the personal physician of the leg - endary Hank Williams, Doc is now a morphine addict himself, a drifter, supporting his habit by working as the

20 America April 9, 2012 Summer Retreats 2012 Lift the Spirit

JUNE ‘Crafting’ on the Summer Surf Moving into the Breadth and Depth of a Prayer Facilitator: Nancy Erts, OP ‘Universe-al’ Christian Faith Artists’ Contemplative Retreat Craft Instructor: Patricia Werner Presenters: Carol DeAngelo, SC; Nancy Erts, OP Coordinator: Lucianne Siers, OP Wednesday, July 11, 3 pm – Sunday, July 15, 1 pm Sunday, August 19, 5 pm – Friday, August 24, 11am Thursday, June 7, 5 pm – Thursday, June 14, 11 am Fee: $350 - $375,* Commuters: $250 - $275* Fee: $400 - $425*; Commuters: $275 – 300* Fee: $475 - $500* God, Jesus, Eco-Spirituality Tuning Up Our Spirits Private Retreat Time: and the Future of Christianity Presenters: Gaynell Cronin; Jack Rathschmidt, OFM, Cap. Days of Quiet and Intimacy Presenter: Michael Morwood Friday, August 24, 5 pm – Sunday, August 26, 1 pm Sunday, June 24, 5 pm – Wednesday, June 27, 11am Sunday, July 15, 5 pm – Saturday, July 21, 11 am Fee: $250 - $275*; Commuters: $175 - $200* Fee: $225 - $250* for three nights or $75 per night Fee: $450 – 475,* Commuters: $325 – 350* Loving God Anew: Healing Our Directed Retreat Contaminated Images of God Directors: Nancy Erts, OP; Rose Marie Harkins, OP; Presenter: Don Bisson, FMS Gerald McIntyre, SJ; Judy Schiavo Thursday, June 28, 5 pm – Sunday, July 1, 11 am Sunday, July 22, 11 am – Friday, July 27, 11 am * As You Are Able: We offer you a range that allows you Fee: $300 - $325* Fee: $400 - $425* the freedom to choose what is appropriate to your situation while being as generous as possible. JULY AUGUST Directed Retreat Directed Retreat For online information & registration: www.mariandale.org, or contact Linda Rivers, OP, Directors: Nancy Erts, OP; Gerald McIntyre, SJ; Directors: Dianne Carlson, RSM; Mary Kay Flannery, SSJ; Judy Schiavo Francis Gargani, CSsR; Justine Lyons, RSCJ; Beverly Musgrave, Ph.D.; 914-941-4455, [email protected] for inquires Sunday, July 1, 11 am – Thursday, July 5, 11 am Nancy Pluta; Anne L. Simmonds, D. Min. or to arrange private retreats. Fee: $375 - $400* Sunday, July 29, 5 pm – Sunday, August 5, 11 am Fee: $475 - $500* Finding Joy, Courage, and Peace in the Word of God Finding God in Our Human Experience: Presenters: Nancy McAward, OP; Aedan McKeon, OP An Incarnational Spirituality Sunday, July 8, 5 pm – Wednesday, July 11, 11 am Presenter: Michael Laratonda, FMS 299 North Highland Avenue Fee: $300 - $325* Sunday, August 12, 5 pm – Saturday, August 18, 11 am Ossining, NY 10562-2327 Fee: $450 - $475* (914) 941-4455 www.mariandale.org Restore the Soul

April 9, 2012 America 21 neighborhood’s unofficial E.M.T. He for the best when the blades stop spin - fable, dressed up with Catholic and is a knife- and bullet-wound healer as ning: the serene, unquestioning faith of Mexican shiny foil. In the novel’s needed and an abortionist for the simple folks; rampant Jackie-Kennedy denouement, great spiritual forces bat - prostitutes who work the streets mania; stigmata-infused miracles; a dol - tle for Graciela’s soul; Hank Williams, around his hotel when they get care - lop of dying for Nahua spirit-ani - less. Doc is literally haunted by the everyone else’s sins; ON THE WEB mals and Margaret ghost of Hank Williams, who has had and a hint of syn - Jake Martin, S.J., reviews Sanger reveal them - two “working girl” sitcoms. “a feeling called the blues” since Doc cretism. Someone americamagazine.org/culture selves, but Jesus inadvertently killed him on a dark schooled Earle well in never makes the highway years before with an overdose things Catholic. The scene. of morphine. reader begins to suspect redemption Then all the Catholic trinkets scat - Doc suffers misgivings about his lurking around the corner. Doc is keen - tered through the book seem trashy work but rationalizes his commitment ly aware that his sins should lead in one and cruel, particularly Doc’s imitation to the trade. At least when girls come direction, if he believed in that direction. of Christ and Graciela’s serene accep - to him, he reasons, they are not likely Hell couldn’t be any worse than some of tance of her stigmata-punctuated to be imperiled by a procedure they’re the places he’s known on earth. “ministry.” Catholic readers can expect going to undergo anyway. Doc’s self- All that Roman stuff catches in the to feel used, even angry, to have things destructive routine is broken by the craw by the end of the novel, though. they hold sacred exploited, and to such arrival of a young Mexican girl and her Earle’s dabbling with things Catholic is ends. Someone sold Earle a piece of no-good boyfriend, who puts her in a deceit disguised as irony. Graciela’s the true cross and he put it in his book; family way and then dumps her on deep Catholic faith and mystical con - I know it’s not real, but I find myself Doc. After her abortion, the girl is too nection to Aztec life forces cannot hold wanting to take even this fake relic ashamed to return to her family, so she off the predetermined course of this back from him. joins Doc in purgatory at the Yellow narrative, no matter how inexplicable Rose Guest Home. In this place of such life-giving spirituality makes her KEVIN CLARKE is an associate editor of exhaustion and despair, she begins to final decision. This is a pro-choice America . produce small miracles. Graciela begins to experience the stigmata after a chance encounter with Jackie Kennedy. Girls who come to Graciela PHEME PERKINS (get it?) don’t return to their trade and more abortions; they return to church. WORLD’S END With Graciela and her perpetually bleeding arm around, Doc is able to Revelations kick his habit, his dealer goes straight, Visions, Prophecy, and Politics and D.O.A.s are restored to life. In the Book of Revelation Eventually the stories of back-alley By Elaine Pagels miracles reach a local priest. While Viking. 225p Earle maintains sympathy for his deeply flawed characters, he exempts In her writings, Professor Elaine Pagels the parish priest from his kindness. has popularized Gnostic gospels by Father Killen’s inexplicable, barely con - crafting stories of spiritually gifted indi - tained fury is chalked up to class viduals whose insights were rejected by resentment and some sadistic sisters a religious hierarchy adept at wielding from his past. His lack of humanity political power. Orthodoxy, reinforced and complexity are driven by the nar - by Constantine, eviscerated the spiritu - rative. If an unrepentant abortionist ally creative impulses in Christianity. and his assistant cannot be the bad Readers taken with her earlier books, guys, then the perpetually infuriated Adam, Eve, and the Serpent: Sex and Catholic priest will have to do. Politics in Early Christianity (1988), and Earle seems to throw a jumble of The Origin of Satan (1995), will find Catholic tropes into a blender and hope this territory familiar.

22 America April 9, 2012 Even though the same ecclesiastical authorities concluded the Christian Scriptures collected for the New Testament with the Book of Once a Parish Priest, Revelation, other visions were lost: Now a Sulpician Father “Left out are the visions that lift their hearers beyond apocalyptic polarities to see the human race as a whole— and, for that matter, to see each one of us as a whole, having the capacity for both cruelty and compassion.” As the final word, she says Revelation has the effect of playing a poisonous role in Christianity. New visions and prophetic leaders take on the demonic guise that John of Patmos employed against imperial Rome. Images of the conquering lamb and the whore of Babylon fueled new out - While fully engaged in parish ministry, breaks of religious violence against something more was asked of me. both outsiders and dissenting Christians. In the American Civil War, Discover more about my journey and the Union sang “Battle Hymn of the discern if you too are called to join us Republic,” while Confederates depicted at www. Sulpicians.org. Lincoln in the clutches of the great dragon. In a similar way, the great Dedicated to Priestly Formation Since 1641 drama of Revelation encompasses both our worst nightmares and the glorious vision of life emerging beyond death. Roman Catholics have been condi - TO SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW tioned by their liturgy to focus on the K New subscription K Renewal Yearly rates are $56 for each subscription. Add visions that occur in the heavens, $30 for postage, handling and GST on Canadian Seek orders. Add $54 for foreign subscriptions. rather than the chaos and destruction Wisdom Payment in U.S. funds only. on earth below. Angelic hosts praising K Payment enclosed K Bill me God, the lamb with a victory flag on Faith in Times of Transition On occasion America gives permission to other April 20-22, 2012 organizations to use our list for promotional pur- the Easter table, the faithful martyrs, poses. If you do not want to receive these promo- Barbara Fiand,SNDdeN tions, contact our List Manager at our New York the Blessed Virgin (an image intended Art & Spirituality Forum: offices. 9 0 by John as Israel) as clothed with the The Journey of the Artist 9 0 A

April 29, 2012 E sun with Satan under her heal, the Jack Gilpin, Darko Tresnjak, FOR church as bride of Christ, and the heav - Linda Hoffman, CHANGE OF Joshua Stone, Dani Shapiro ADDRESS enly Jerusalem lit by God’s



presence—






Soul Sisters: Women’s Retreat AND








all these are the Catholic images. Pagels May 4-6, 2012 RENEWAL: acknowledges these eleme











nts, but she Edwina Gateley Please attach the P I Z

Book of Ecclesiastes








mailing label from

emphasizes the half of the story that is

July 13-15, 2012 the front cover when

e directed toward or on the ea

rth.








t Rabbi Rami Shapiro writing about service a t S

or change of






Directed and Guided Retreats: Most scholars agree that Revelation

address. Allow 3 to

July 15-20 and August 10-17, 2012

was composed around 90

C.E. Since





4 weeks for change

of address to take

we lack evidence for official opposition

WISDOM HOUSE s

s

effect. Thank you. l

i e e

r a

y m d m t to Christianity, the martyrs mentioned 229 East Litchfield Rd. a d i - in Revelation must be victims of Litchfield, CT 06759 N A C E 860-567-3163 Mail to: America episodic localized violence. Why then www.wisdomhouse.org P.O. Box 293159, Kettering, OH 45429-9159








or call 1-800-627-9533 the sustained hostility to Roman [email protected] or visit www.americamagazine.org

April 9, 2012 America 23 imperial rule? Pagels adopts a minori - serious revision. Of course this inflat - author, John of Patmos, and John, the ty view that John of Patmos would ed rhetoric is not found in the scholar - son of Zebedee, the disciple whose have identified himself and those ly paper “The Social History of Satan. authority helped secure its place in the churches faithful to his teaching as Part III: John of Patmos and Ignatius canon. The general reader will have a Jewish, whose observance of ritual of Antioch—Contrasting Visions of hard time keeping track of the rapid purity and adherence to Jewish law God’s People,” that Pagels gave at run through second- and third-century was the prerequisite to participation in Princeton in 2005 and has published revelations and their orthodox the heavenly court. His antagonism twice since then. Christian counterparts and opponents against “false Jews” in Rv 2:9 and 3:9 is If the non-scholarly audience is like - that takes over half-way into the book. directed against Gentile believers in ly to mix up actual Jews with John of Revelation comes in and out of the the Pauline churches of Asia Minor Patmos’s Jesus believers who call them - story as the Christians face persecu - who were not observant Jews. selves “Jews,” the situation becomes tion by Roman authorities. In the end, What connects the Jewish visionary even worse when Pagels dumps it is spiritual freedom from all forms of ascetic at war with the internal enemy, Revelation altogether in favor of assort - domination by authorities, both civil Pauline Christians, to the anti-Roman ed Gnostic revelations. One of the key and religious, that Pagels celebrates. polemic beyond some general concern examples, a widely read Secret Book of to avoid seduction by an impure world? John , presents a third “John” in the story. PHEME PERKINS is professor of New For Pagels imagination takes over. She He is, in addition to Revelation’s Testament at Boston College. fills in the gaps with her own specula - tion. By imagining that John of Patmos had fled Judea as the Roman troops devastated Jerusalem and burned its GERALD T. COBB Temple some 20 years earlier in 70 C.E., she reads the book as wartime lit - INTO THE DEEP erature. After all, she argues, another Jewish seer whose visions are found in THE CAT’S TABLE emotions recalled in the relative tran - 4 Ezra confronted the revealing angel By Michael Ondaatje quility of adulthood. The mature nar - with his distress over the ruin of Israel’s Knopf. 288p $26 rator treats the voyage as a call to hopes at about the same time. memory and insight: “I try to imagine However, in the interests of creat - Michael Ondaatje set his award-win - who the boy on the ship was.” ing a dramatic scenario, Pagels’ narra - ning novel The English Patient against Ondaatje presents vivid slices of the tive is likely to confuse readers. Other the broad expanse of Italy and Egypt daily shipboard lives of the 11-year- scholars support the thesis that those during World War II, but in his old boy, his cousin Emily and his two whom Ignatius of Antioch labels newest book, The Cat’s Table , he crafts companions, Cassius and Ramadhin. “Jews” engaged in false teaching among a much more confined Michael recalls care - Christians are actually followers of but no less richly imagi - free days on the ship, ris - Jesus practicing what they consider a native setting, that of a ing before dawn to Jewish way of life. They also point out cruise ship sailing from sneak a swim in the first that these (Christian) Jews have no Ceylon to England in class pool: “Each day we ties to the actual Jewish communities 1954. The tale opens had to do at least one in Asia Minor. Ignatius indicates that with the narrator, who thing that was forbid - these believers observe the Sabbath shares with the author den.” He also records, in (Letter to the Magnesians 9.1-2 ), while the name Michael, an examination booklet, both Ignatius and John of Patmos recalling how, as an 11- snippets of overheard underline the Lord’s Day (Rv 1:10) as year-old, he left his aunt conversations, suggest - the day of Christian assembly. and uncle for a 21-day ing that his Ceylonese Pagel’s sweeping generalizations ocean voyage to be education in a strict that line John of Patmos up as a self- reunited with his moth - Catholic school has not identified “Jew,” an advocate of the er, who had left the fam - been interrupted so Hebrew prophetic tradition against ily home some years previously. much as it has been transformed from Ignatius’ Pauline disdain for the law This is a beautifully complex novel, conventional subjects to lessons in and hierarchical church order, need filled with the turbulence of youthful human nature.

24 America April 9, 2012 The passenger ship Oronsay, an tain’s table in the ship’s dining room, Michael recalls the first stirrings of actual historical ship of the Orient and serves as Ondaatje’s symbol for romantic and sexual desire: “Where Line, is something of an ark, its seven marginalization and humility. From had it come from? And was it a plea - levels and 600 passengers representing the humble perspective of the cat’s sure or a sadness, this life inside me? It a diverse cross-section of humanity. table, Michael gains insight into the was as if with its existence I was lack - The ship contains a below-deck gar - powerful: “Nothing much of lasting ing something essential, like water.” den, a dog kennel and a mysterious value ever happens at the head table, Years after his arrival in England, prisoner who is watched closely by a held together by a familiar rhetoric. the narrator returns to the voyage as retinue of guards. It exudes the atmo - Those who already have power contin - he retells the story to his own children. spheric complexity of a Freudian ue to glide along the familiar rut they Memories of his two companions dream awaiting interpretation. For have made for themselves.” flood into his heart, and he sets out to example, hidden The novel fea - solve a present-day mystery concern - deeply within its ON THE WEB tures eccentric wis - ing Ramadhin. He also wrestles with interior is a mural of Thomas J. Scirghi, S.J., discusses his dom figures, like the mid-life questions as to whether in the naked women that new book on baptism. voracious reader final analysis he has a cold heart, the three boys first americamagazine.org/podcast Mr. Fonseka, who whether he loved his friends enough hear about as a “seemed to draw and whether he has become a distract - rumor and later discover as a taboo forth an assurance or a calming quality ed, superficial person. An existential glimpse into their sexual futures. Also from the books he read. He’d gaze into emptiness wracks him: “We all have an circulating through the ship are other an unimaginable distance.... He had a old knot in the heart we wish to loosen rumors, of crimes minor and major, serenity that came with the choice of and untie.” one of which leads to a dramatic con - the life he wanted to live.” Mr. This novel will not quicken the frontation worthy of any oceangoing Mazappa, the ship’s pianist, sings reader’s pulse with breathless high seas swashbuckler tale. bawdy lyrics to introduce the boys to adventures, but it does offer powerful The “Cat’s Table” of the title refers experiences of love and loss that they revelatory and arresting moments. to the spot most distant from the cap - have no experiential base to grasp. One might say the book is not so

from SS PRE CAL RGI LITU w! e ® N DAILY PRAYER FOR TODAY’S CATHOLIC

“Give Us is Day has truly enriched my faith and prayer life. t
ć
F
BSUXPSL
PO
UIF
DPWFS
JT
DPMPSGVM
BOE
EJWFSTF
t
3FĘ
FDUJPOT
GPS
FBDI
EBZ
BSF
WFSZ
OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON YOU! XFMM
DIPTFO
BOE
SFMFWBOU
UP
B
NPEFSO
$BUIPMJD
t
ć
F
TJNQMF
TUSVDUVSF
PG
NPSOJOH

FWFOJOH
QSBZFS
IFMQT
PLEASE NF
SFNBJO
DPNNJUUFE
REMEMBER Give Us is Day
JT
B
DPOTUBOUMZ
VOGPMEJOH
HJę

ć
BOL
ZPV” AMERICA America readers — save $5 on a K.W. St. Louis, MO 2–year subscription. Use the promotion IN YOUR WILL code TDAM2YR when you subscribe.

Subscribe, view, or request a sample OUR LEGAL TITLE IS: www.GiveUsThisDay.org AMERICA PRESS INC., or call 1-800-858-5450 LITURGICAL PRESS 106 WEST 56th STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10019

April 9, 2012 America 25 much a page-turner as it is a “page- this crucial transitional period in his federal service would alter existing holder” with many moments to savor life. labor relations as little as possible,” and to ponder. Ondaatje masterfully Emily Dickinson famously wrote, McCartin explains. “No federal work - captures the stream of consciousness “There is no Frigate like a Book/ To ers were quicker than air traffic con - and conflicts that swirl about and take us Lands away.” Ondaatje’s novel trollers to seize the opportunity to within the deepening interiority of a offers readers the double literary con - organize afforded by [the executive sensitive young boy. solation of providing a book that at order]. And none were quicker to dis - Ondaatje aptly selected for his one level deals with a literal ship cover the order’s inadequacies.” novel’s epigraph a passage from whisking people to far-off lands, while In the 1930s, 40s and 50s, millions Conrad’s novella Youth dealing with at another level the novel invites us to of private-sector workers had rushed perspective. It reads in part, “This is a more symbolic journey to attain a to join labor unions and bargain with how I see the East.... I see it always deeper, wiser awareness of where we their employers under the terms estab - from a small boat.” The 21 days aboard have been and who we have become. lished in the 1935 National Labor the Olonsay prove to be a turning Relations Act, or Wagner Act. But the point in Michael’s consciousness. N.L.R.A. excluded public-sector GERALD T. COBB, S.J ., is associate professor Everything that happens later is per - in the English department at Seattle employees, and Kennedy’s executive ceived by the adult Michael through University. order lacked two vital elements of the Wagner industrial relations system. First, wages and benefits were exclud - CLAYTON SINYAI ed from the scope of bargaining, con - fining contract negotiations to periph - UNION FLIGHT eral matters. Second, even if workers and their unions could bargain over COLLISION COURSE Controllers, and the Strike That wages and benefits, they had no mech - Ronald Reagan, the Air Traffic Changed America . In this book Joseph anism for resolving an impasse. They Controllers, and the Strike That McCartin, a professor of history at could neither strike nor demand bind - Changed America Georgetown University, looks back to ing arbitration. By Joseph A. McCartin the origins, course and consequences The air traffic controllers formed Oxford Univ. Press. 504p $29.95 of the strike by the Professional Air Patco in 1968 and almost instantly Traffic Controllers’ Organization 30 began to bump against the limits of The Great Recession—with its conse - years ago and shows this odd system of labor quent sudden collapse in tax how a relatively small relations. As the endemic receipts—has inspired a fierce nation - union of air traffic con - inflation of the 1970s wide dispute over the rights and duties trollers helped shaped swallowed up any wage of public employees. Gov. Chris the destiny of orga - increases offered by the Christie of New Jersey has earned a nized labor for decades federal government, the certain folk hero status on YouTube thereafter. controllers who saw their with his verbal confrontations with The book is a well- real wages declining state workers; Wisconsin’s Gov. Scott crafted narrative histo - demanded action. They Walker successfully pressed an initia - ry. The strike was set in tried lobbying; they tried tive to strip state workers of most col - motion, McCartin con - sickouts; they tried cre - lective bargaining rights and now faces tends, well before ative job actions where by a recall election as a result. Academics Reagan’s election and meticulously following are engaged in a spirited debate over even before Patco itself the F.A.A. regulation they whether government workers are over - was established—the slowed air traffic to a paid or underpaid relative to their pri - elements were built into President crawl; they tried arcane reclassifica - vate-sector counterparts, and federal John F. Kennedy’s 1962 executive tions within the civil service system. By workers have seen their pay frozen for order granting federal workers the decade’s end the controllers had elect - two years running. bargain collectively. “Kennedy…issued ed a militant new leadership and were It is an especially opportune time an executive order intended to placate quietly preparing to strike. for the appearance of Collision Course: his labor allies while ensuring that the Interestingly, both the union and Ronald Reagan, the Air Traffic advent of collective bargaining in the the newly elected president took a

26 America April 9, 2012 number of significant steps in the hope even other labor unions. When the became collateral damage of the Patco of avoiding a confrontation. Ronald president declared that the strike was strike. For decades, firms that valued Reagan, a former president of the illegal and that any controller who their reputation had refrained from Screen Actors Guild, had set out not failed to report for duty within 48 permanently replacing striking work - to break Patco but to coopt it; the air hours would be fired, he gained the ers, fearing the social consequences. traffic controllers, largely military vet - advantage in public opinion, which he The Fortune 500 chief executive offi - erans, were the prototypical Reagan never forfeited. “As president of my cers watching events unfold were nei - Democrats. Patco in turn had defied own union, I led the first strike ever ther historians nor political scientists, most of the labor movement by called by that union,” Reagan and they cared nothing for the distinc - endorsing Reagan in hopes of an explained that first day. “But we can - tion between private workers and pub - acceptable wage settlement. In fact, the not compare labor-management rela - lic servants. What they learned was new administration showed more flex - tions in the private sector with govern - that the public backlash for breaking a ibility at the bargaining table than ment.” The air traffic controllers were strike would be muted and fleeting. As Johnson, Nixon, Ford or Carter ever not employed by a private interest but firms like Phelps Dodge, Greyhound had. But it was too late. Patco mem - by the elected government; they had and International Paper imitated bers, who had seen their hopes disap - sworn an oath not to strike; they were Reagan’s “leadership,” workers learned pointed too many times before, would violating the laws of the land, which he to their sorrow that the code of honor not settle short of a major break - himself was charged to execute. that governed postwar labor relations through, and in August 1981 as many Despite immense costs for the govern - no longer applied and that every job as three quarters of the air traffic con - ment and the American economy, action could be their last. In that sense, trollers walked off the job. Reagan never wavered, and the former more than perhaps any other, it was Patco had done an excellent job union president earned a place in U.S. indeed a strike that changed America. organizing the strike—air traffic history as the most notable strike - would not be restored to prestrike lev - breaker of the postwar era. CLAYTON SINYAI is a trade union activist and the author of Schools of Democracy: A els for years—but little or nothing to Whatever the president’s inten - Political History of the American Labor justify its cause before the public or tions, private-sector workers soon Movement .

April 9, 2012 America 27 CLASSIFIED LETTERS such services through the insurance premiums they pay? These are ques - Positions Slathered in Sarcasm tions of policy. They are not questions SETON HILL UNIVERSITY POSITION OPEN - that inhere in the constitutional issue Bishop William Lori, instead of offer - ING. Associate Director Campus Ministry & raised by the administration’s man - Chaplain. Seton Hill University, a Catholic liberal ing reasoned opposition to what he date. arts university in Greensburg, PA seeks a Roman believes was a misguided editorial Catholic Priest in good standing to serve as The constitutional questions are of (“Policy, Not Liberty,” 3/5), slathers Associate Director of Campus Ministry and a separate nature and of a higher order Chaplain and to tend to the spiritual and religious his response (“Letters,” 3/19) with sar - of magnitude, a fact that has generally needs of the college community. Must demonstrate casm. He has served neither himself understanding of mission of the university, under - been overlooked. Those questions will nor his cause well. Lathering sarcasm standing and openness to the developmental needs not be answered by the chattering class is no substitute for saying what of college-age students, understanding of the rela - in their opinion columns. They will be tionship of Campus Ministry to an academic com - focused and good-faith efforts are certainly and inevitably decided by the munity and possess a sense of collaborative min - being made to work out the issue. istry. On-campus housing accommodations are U.S. Supreme Court. available. Forward letter of interest, resume and list Nor does what he “feels” substitute (REV.) CHARLES E. IRVIN, J.D. of references to Maureen O’Brien, S.C., Director for reasoned argument. The claim that DeWitt, Mich. of Campus Ministry, Seton Hill University, inclusion of coverage for vasectomies Greensburg, PA 15601. Seton Hill University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer “feels...an awful lot like infringement Right to Interfere? and is committed to having a faculty, staff and stu - on religious liberty” does not make it In your editorial “Policy, Not Liberty” dent body that reflects the diversity of our global infringement. The bishops have yet to (3/5), you alluded to the recent strug - population. offer reasoned logic supporting that gle between our church and our gov - TEACHER AND SERVICE COORDINATOR. oft-repeated claim. The most egre - ernment to more clearly define their Marymount School of New York is seeking a reli - gious assertion the bishop makes is: “If respective roles in our society. gious studies teacher to implement our Upper the editorial is to be believed, bishops Unfortunately, the church has picked School social justice curriculum. The position entails coordination of service trips and activities as should regard it not as a matter of reli - the wrong cause with which to repel well as retreats. The ideal candidate is a practicing gious liberty but merely policy that as what it deems to be government inter - Catholic with knowledge of Catholic social teach - providers they teach one thing but as vention. ing and a degree in religious studies or related field. Send résumé and references to: Sr. Clevie employers they are made to teach The Catholic Church has long since Youngblood, R.S.H.M., Marymount School, 1026 something else.” abdicated the moral high ground to Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028, or to With all due respect, this is sheer condemn “artificial” contraception and [email protected]. nonsense. At no time and in no way forbid Catholics from availing them - Retreats has the Department of Health and selves of it. It happened over 60 years NEED SILENCE AND PRAYER? Come to One Human Services mandate “made” the ago. In permitting “natural” birth con - Heart, One Soul Spirituality Center, Kankakee, church teach anything. The very thing trol, which is anything but natural and Ill. Peaceful wooded river-front setting with her - the bishops demand, their religious very unreliable, the church has validat - mitages, private rooms and meeting facilities. Ph.: (815) 937-2244; www.sscm-usa.org/ohos.html. liberty, permits them to preach and ed the principle that a married couple teach loudly and clearly. may deliberately interfere with the Wills RITA HESSLEY procreative process for the express Cincinnati, Ohio Please remember America in your will. Our legal title purpose of preventing the conception is: America Press Inc., 106 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019. Supreme Decisions of a child. Having this right acknowl - edged by the church, the issue of With regard to the Health and America classified. Classified advertisements are accepted method should be simply a matter of for publication in either the print version of America or on Human Services mandate and its personal choice. our Web site, americamagazine.org. Ten-word mini - “accommodation,” the debate is bifur - mum. Rates are per word per issue. 1-5 times: $1.50; 6- RANDY VELEZ 11 times: $1.28; 12-23 times: $1.23. For an additional cated (“Policy, Not Liberty,” 3/5). One Cooperstown, N.Y. $30, your print ad will be posted on America ’s Web site aspect deals with the policy of the U.S. for one week. The flat rate for a Web-only classified ad is government versus the policy of the Trust Mystery $150 for 30 days. Ads may be submitted by e-mail to: Catholic Church. Do women have a [email protected]; by fax to (928) 222-2107; The column by John P. Schlegel, S.J., by postal mail to: Classified Department, America , 106 right to receive contraceptive services (Of Many Things, 3/19) was a great West 56th St., New York, NY 10019. To post a classi - the church pays for? Should the reflection on finding God in all places, fied ad online, go to our home page and click on Catholic Church, and others who people and things. I loved his contrast “Advertising” at the top of the page. We do not accept ad copy over the phone. MasterCard and Visa accepted. For share its moral compunctions, be of the expansive view of nature in more information call: (212) 515-0102. forced by our government to pay for Omaha with the restricted view of red

28 America April 9, 2012 brick walls in New York City. Yes, our do not know depression have no idea of what kind of country we should be lives have periods of expansion and of the depths of despair of this disease. is framed by two alternatives: unre - constriction, or maybe it just seems Yes, depression is a disease, and it is strictive liberty or economic democra - that way. Your article assisted me in fatal, as is addiction to drugs. My sym - cy. Of course, when you frame the my quest to accept change and transi - pathies are with you, Jan, as are my question in these parameters you are tion in my life now and in the future prayers. Your sister is finally resting in leading the answer. It seems to me the with grace and trust in the divine mys - peace, and my wish for you and your kind of country we should be was tery. Thank you. family is that you find peace. established by our Constitution, and NANCY WALTON-HOUSE BARBARA LOFQUIST that is a representative form of govern - Snoqualmie, Wash. St. Augustine, Fla. ment. Perhaps the question of alterna - tives should be revised to: maintain Ministering Angels Pitiful and Sinful our basic identity or radically alter our Thank you for “My Sister’s Demons,” Re “Montessori Ministry,” by Kyle T. identity. Under this scenario, the con - by the pseudonymous Jan Monaghan Kramer (3/19): Unfortunately there trast between the Tea Party and (3/19), a story that describes so clearly are many “Hannah” stories in the Occupy Wall Street is seen in the and succinctly how addiction to mind- church today. Some of the details may proper context. altering drugs (including alcohol) can be different, but pastors and bishops All institutions strive to maintain hurt more people than the addict alone. often fail to invite and welcome part - their identity and mission through It can contaminate the mind and spirit, ners in ministry. The trend is to deny time. If transformation is too radical, including sometimes even the physical that the Second Vatican Council hap - however, there may be a point when health, of family and friends. It can pos - pened and head back to the future: that identity and mission cannot be sess them worse than any demon. more Latin, more distance, more men and boys! It is pitiful and sinful to preserved. It is good to know there is a way JOHN MAYO out—detach with love from the reject the gifts of so many people who San Diego, Calif. addict. That’s easier said than done. are willing to share their call through It is also good to know that there is baptism and the Spirit. A Final Edit DENISE GILMORE an organization where family and Kansas City, Mo. Thank you for the Rev. Robert E. friends of addicts can come together Lauder’s article “His Catholic and share their experience, strength Identity Crisis Conscience: Sin and Grace in the work and hope with each other. There they In “Occupy the Future” (3/12), Gary of Martin Scorsese” (2/27). I read it can learn a better way of life, to live Dorrien mentioned that the question with great interest. happy and productive lives, whether the addict continues to use drugs or not. They are angels ministering to WITHOUT GUILE one another. JOSEPH QUIGLEY Tomakin, New South Wales, Australia

Detach With Love “My Sister’s Demons,” by Jan Monaghan (3/19), brought tears to my eyes. Al Anon taught me over 30 years ago how to detach with love. Alcoholics Anonymous helped me to deal with my own addiction to alcohol for 20 years. My heart breaks for peo - ple who don’t have the gift of sobriety. N I

The author’s words remind me that E T S it is a gift not to be taken for granted. I K C E

do think that many people who suffer B O B

with addiction also suffer from other Y B

N issues, like depression, that further “In this revival of ‘Death of a Salesman,’ we’re going to launch O O T R complicate recovery. Those of us who Willy Loman across the stage and into that building.” A C

April 9, 2012 America 29 ONE-HALF TUITION FOR ALL STUDENTS! I would, however, like to point out one inaccuracy in the article. It con - A Master’s Degree in cerns the remark, “too much Good Christian Spirituality and/or a Certificate Friday, not enough Easter Sunday.” It was made by our parish priest, the Rev. in Spiritual Direction & Directed Retreats Francis Principe, not my teacher at in Just Three Summers? New York University, Haig Join us for our 38th summer. Study, pray and learn with Christian Spirituality students from all over the world. Manoogian. June 11 to July 6 July 9 to August 2 This remark has often been repeat - © ed, but seeing it once again in print in COURSES INCLUDE: America , I remembered Father JOIN US: EIGHT DAY SILENT RETREAT The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Principe’s exact words to me, and I U MAY 31 – JUNE 9 U Art and Spirituality would like to take this opportunity to U Spirituality and Sexuality U Discernment of Spirits: Theory and Practice correct the record. U Spirituality of Reconciliation: A Social It was after a small screening of my & Global Perspective movie “Taxi Driver” in 1976. My then U Spirituality and the Practice of Forgiveness publicist had invited a small group of U Salesian Spirituality U Jungian Psychology & Christian Spirituality friends to the Plaza Hotel afterward, U Supervision for the Spiritual Director including Father Principe. His response U Creating a Preached Retreat to the movie after the screening was, TWO, FOUR WEEK SESSIONS OFFERED “I’m glad you ended it on Easter EACH SUMMER, SELECT ONE OR BOTH. Sunday and not on Good Friday.” For application information: NEW! This was a personal remark to me, www.creighton.edu/christianspirituality ON-LINE, ACCELERATED as he knew me well. But over the years Call Toll free: 800.637.4279 or M.A. MINISTRY Email: [email protected] www.creighton.edu/masterofministry it has often been quoted in a shorter version, which has quite a different meaning. MARTIN SCORSESE New York, N.Y .

Correction John A. Coleman, S.J., reports incor - rrectly that Catholic Relief Services was denied a contract by the Department of Health and Human Services (“One Nation Under God,” 3/12). It was in fact the Department of Migration and Refugees Services of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that was denied the grant regarding victims of human traffick - ing. PATRICK MARKEY Executive Director, Office of National Collections, U.S.C.C.B . Washington, D.C.

America (ISSN 0002-7049) is published weekly (except for 14 combined issues: Jan. 2–9, 16–23, Jan. 30–Feb. 6, April 16-23, June 4–11, 18–25, July 2–9, 16–23, July 30–Aug. 6, Aug. 13–20, Aug. 27–Sept. 3, Sept. 10–17, Nov. 26–Dec. 3, Dec. 24–31) by America Press, Inc., 106 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019. Periodical postage is paid at New York, N.Y., and additional mailing offices. Business Manager: Lisa Pope. Circulation: (800) 627–9533. Subscriptions: United States, $56 per year; add U.S. $30 postage and GST (#131870719) for Canada; or add U.S. $56 per year for international priority airmail. Postmaster: Send address changes to: America, P.O. Box 293059, Kettering, OH 45429.

30 America April 9, 2012 THE WORD

much of it comes from God and how much from the imagination. Thomas The Breath of God also works as a sort of analog for the SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER (B), APRIL 15, 2012 post-apostolic church, which did not directly experience the risen Christ. Readings: Acts 4:32-35; Ps 118:2-24; 1 Jn 5:1-6; Jn 20:19-31 Jesus responds to him: “Have you “Peace be with you” (Jn 20:19) come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not y interest in Christian 7). Thus empowered by Jesus, the dis - seen and believed.” truths started in college, ciples receive the authority to mediate Jesus’ words are, of course, meant when I took seriously the divine forgiveness: “Whose both for Thomas and for us. But M shouldn’t we, like Thomas, challenge of a theologian who adapted sins you forgive are forgiv - Socrates’ famous line to say that an en them and whose sins need some evidence to unexamined faith is not worth believ - you retain are retained.” I believe? Are we blessed ing. That truth continues to deepen in do not quite think that to believe any religious my heart and mind. As a Christian, I Jesus had the sacrament claim that comes have experienced Christ’s overwhelm - of reconciliation in along? The truth is, ing love for me many times. But I must mind, though that will however, that Thomas’s say the most compelling evidence I later be an expression problem was not that he have for faith is embodied by the holy of this empowerment. wanted evidence, but people I know. They have a presence Rather, envision the dis - that he was blind to the that shows they have experienced the ciples (all disciples) man - peace of Christ and new life in the ifesting his new, resurrected Spirit. In today’s second reading we life and ministry in their own per - PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE hear, “Whoever is begotten by God son. Jesus was breathing the spirit of • Who is the holiest person you personally conquers the world.” his own mission and authority. know? In today’s Gospel the disciples, too, Appropriately, in the first reading are created anew by the divine from Acts we learn that the apostles • What about him/her makes that holiness evident? breath—the very breath that created bore witness to the resurrection us all in the first place: “Then the Lord “with great power” ( mega • Pray for one particular grace that would e

make you holier. N N

God formed the man out of the dust of dynamis —think dynamite). This u d

d the ground and blew into his nostrils power comes from the Spirit. a T

: T r

the breath of life, and the man became But Thomas was not with them a a living being” (Gn 2:7). On Easter and would not believe. Jesus appears evening, fearful and behind locked again the following Sunday and evidence right before him. He should doors, the disciples experienced the Thomas not only believes but pro - have seen that his companions had risen Lord: “Jesus came and stood in claims, “My Lord and my God!” become transformed from a group of their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be Thomas’s proclamation of faith is a people who were afraid, hopeless, with you’.... And when he had said this, prophetic bookend to the beginning of guilty and powerless into believers he breathed on them and said to them, the Gospel where we learned “the Word who were clear-sighted, courageous ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” was God” and the “light of the human and hope-filled; people who were for - Now born “from above” they race” (Jn 1:1, 4). Now enlightened, given and empowered to extend that become entirely formed anew; for Thomas makes a dramatic confession. forgiveness to others. Above all, their “what is born of flesh is flesh, and what It would be easy to see Thomas as fear was replaced by the risen Jesus’ is born of the spirit is spirit” (Jn 3:6- having been set up for failure. He was gift of peace. The evidence was over - told an outrageous story and was whelmingly present to Thomas. He expected to believe it without proof. could have seen it in all that consti - PETER FELDMEIER is the Murray/Bacik Professor of Catholic Studies at the University Whenever someone describes a wild tutes being a new creation in Christ. of Toledo. religious experience, I wonder how PETER FELDMEIER

April 9, 2012 America 31 TThehe NNeNewew YoYYorkorrkk TTiTimesimes BBestsellerestseller NowNow inin PPaperbackaperback!

WithWWiith a NNewew RReader’seader’s GGuide—uide— PPerfecterffeect fforor tthehe CClassroomlassroom aandnd RReadingeading GGroupsroups

“A“A rremarkableemarkable aachievement.”chievement.” —The——TThe TabletTTaablet ((London)London) “A“A rread-alongead-along sspiritualpiritual ddirector.”irector.” —USA—UUSSSAA TToTodayodaayy “An““AAn eexcellentxcellent iintroductionntroduction ttoo JesuitJesuit spiritualityspirituality fforor a ggeneraleneral rreader.”eader.” —Commonweal—Commonweal

ALSOALSO AVAILABLEAVAILABLE | Between HHeeaven and MMiirth — the AuAudiobook

“Between HHeeaven and MMiirth will make annyy reader smile.” —Timothhyy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New YYoork READ BY THE AUTHOR

Available for download from iTunes, Audible.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and eMusic.com

1 n [email protected]