OF MANY THINGS

PUBLISHED BY JESUITS OF THE UNITED STATES n this last snowfall day of the cross-country skiing, either. But I once year in New York, which is spent a fabulous week alone skiing the EDITOR IN CHIEF Drew Christiansen, S.J. both a prediction and an trails in Yellowstone Park. I would soak Oassertively stated wish, I salute snow. my tired body in an outdoor hot tub EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT

Each year I’m thankful for its hush, for each night, looking up at the treetops MANAGING EDITOR that blanket of stillness that descends and, some evenings, the moon. Robert C. Collins, S.J. bit by bit like manna. Is it God as “Want to see snow?” my dad asked EDITORIAL DIRECTOR mother icing the cake? Or God as the my brother and me. We were in high Karen Sue Smith artist Christo wrapping a city of school but, having grown up in ONLINE EDITOR skyscrapers in a wintry blanket and Phoenix, had never seen snow. Dad had Maurice Timothy Reidy nestling it in his arms? to deliver a car to Flagstaff, in the CULTURE EDITOR On the pointiest tips, the snow Arizona snow bowl. When we stopped James Martin, S.J. leaves a fluffy crown. Every tree branch at a gas station, my brother went over LITERARY EDITOR is asked to hold a white twin formed to a big bank of hardened snow, Patricia A. Kossmann precariously above it glistening in the grabbed a handful and threw it, hitting POETRY EDITOR sun, whisked off by each gust of wind. me in the head, which bled profusely. James S. Torrens, S.J. I’ve seen dogs start wagging their We never got out of the car again dur - ASSOCIATE EDITORS tails and romping as they approach ing that trip, nor did we believe Kevin Clarke Central Park. They like snow too, snowflakes was the right word for it. Kerry Weber whether they are big or minuscule, At the University of Notre Dame, I Raymond A. Schroth, S.J. long-haired or short-haired, naturally had to learn to walk in snow, angled Edward W. Schmidt , S.J. unadorned or bedecked to comic effect forward with knees bent a little, or I’d ART DIRECTOR in booties and a cloth coat. Parents fall repeatedly on the walkways across Stephanie Ratcliffe come out early on weekends pulling the campus. ASSISTANT EDITOR tots on sleds, with older children toting My favorite memory of this year’s Francis W. Turnbull, S.J. armfuls of snow toys. They enter the snowfall is of a walk to work early one ASSISTANT LITERARY EDITOR park gates to make a fun-filled day of it, morning. I came toward the crest of the Regina Nigro kids sliding down hills, running up last hill and saw a love letter writ large GUEST EDITOR hills, red-cheeked, hair wet with sweat. in the snow: “I love Delores.” This lover Francis X. Hezel , S.J. Even the otherwise sullen teens snow - publicly proclaimed the message for all board down the highest hills and who passed to read. It was no private, BUSINESS DEPARTMENT toboggan in big groups, giving up their handheld tablet note, no personal e-mail PUBLISHER cool for a few hours or, if that’s too dif - message, but rather a proclamation of Jan Attridge ficult, trying death-defying stunts. billboard size. I was mystified by the lack CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER I rush to my window to see each of discernible footprints around it. It Lisa Pope snowfall when I’m at home. Sometimes must have been etched with a long stick. ADVERTISING I pull up a chair to watch the action. Of course, this declaration would Julia Sosa Will the snow descend evenly like a melt with the sun. I felt honored to curtain or in fistfuls and clumps? Will have seen, almost heard it—the writer’s 106 West 56th Street New York, NY 10019-3803 it melt as it hits the pavement or stick voice was so excited. And I pondered and accumulate? It’s out of my hands, my own feelings of love so overwhelm - Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596 so I just enjoy the show. ing once that the breaking news of it E-mail: [email protected]; Sometimes I take out my cross seemed worthy of a front-page headline [email protected] Web site: www.americamagazine.org. country skis, poles and boots, put on my in The New York Times. I never Customer Service: 1-800-627-9533 black fleece tights, a shirt, a vest, an old thought of snow-writing, though I once © 2011 America Press, Inc. red-and-white Gortex shell and an itchy considered hiring a sky-writing plane. white wool hat with a huge yarn ball on Snow, I couldn’t applaud at your last top and take to the trails. I revel in it if curtain call today, your performance the snow is new, which means that I can seemed so half-hearted. But I will say, Cover: Praying at the Western Wall glide slowly enough to stay erect. I can - until next time: Adieu. in Jerusalem. Photo: Shutterstock/ not ski downhill, and I’m not good at KAREN SUE SMITH Mikhail Levit CONTENTS www.americamagazine.org Vol. 204 No. 12, Whole No. 4929 April 11, 2011

ARTICLES 12 A SPIRITUAL HOME What Christians should know about Jewish identity Daniel F. Polish

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 4 Current Comment

5 Editorial The Detention Scandal 6 Signs of the Times

12 10 Column Back to the Garden Kyle T. Kramer

19 Faith in Focus A Hidden Sorrow Christopher Pramuk

23 Poem A Woman at the Last Supper Sister Lou Ella Hickman 28 Letters

30 The Word For the Forgiveness of Sins Barbara E. Reid

BOOKS & CULTURE 19 22 TELEVISION Todd Haynes’s “Mildred Pierce” BOOKS Colonel Roosevelt; Showtime

ON THE WEB ON THE WEB John Allen speaks from the L.A. Religious Education Congress . Plus, Drew Christiansen, S.J., reviews Stephen Carter’s The Violence of Peace, and Christopher Pramuk answers readers’ questions . All at americamagazine.org. 22 CURRENT COMMENT

Libya to take him out, we should get out.” Retirement at 40 Assassination is ruled out by international law for moral According to Japanese law, nuclear reactors have a 40-year and political reasons. Nevertheless, the U.S. government lifespan, though it can be extended. The recent news that has tried several times to solve problems by killing enemy the lifespan of the 40-year-old reactor currently spewing heads of state. In Vietnam the United States backed a radioactive steam at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant coup in 1963 to remove President Diem. In the first weeks had been extended in February, just one month before the of the Iraq War the United States bombed a city block to earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, is sobering. Reportedly, kill Saddam Hussein; he wasn’t there, and the attack killed the inspectors’ highly complex assessments of the earth - innocent people. Twenty-five years ago President Reagan quake-readiness of Reactor No. 1 were made hastily, but bombed Tripoli to teach Qaddafi a lesson and killed 100 the repairs they called for were not. civilians, including Qaddafi’s adopted daughter. What if the cracks in the backup generators that regula - Somehow the tabloid mind likes to apply the morals of tors reported in February had been repaired? Would the crime shows to international affairs. Got a problem? “Take reactor’s cooling system have worked and contained the him out.” The law of the street becomes national policy. radiation when the tsunami hit? Perhaps. The cooling sys - And America ends up with blood on its hands and a tems of younger reactors at the plant held for days, once wound in its soul. the electricity was restored. What if the government had decided to shut down the aged reactor instead of extending Unkind Cuts its life? That dismantling process takes time to accomplish, so the effects of the tsunami might still have caused With a new Congress purportedly devoted to austerity, radioactive leakage. Who knows? These questions merit President Obama may have calculated that the only way he public reflection, because every country with a nuclear was going to shoehorn some form of stimulus into the still reactor must now reconsider the engineering design, main - shaky U.S. economy in 2011 and 2012 was by back room tenance and lifespan of its nuclear power plants. dealmaking to extend the Bush-era tax cuts. But that deci - The unfolding catastrophe at Fukushima Daiichi makes sion merely continues a dangerous practice of combining clear the importance of tough government regulations, fre - tax-cutting and debt-juggling with continued epic spend - quent and thorough inspections, independent nuclear ing on defense. The nation long ago lost momentum watchdogs and high standards of maintenance. Until safer toward reducing the national debt begun by the Clinton energy alternatives are developed and widely used, every administration. Washington continues disingenuous feints precaution must be taken to ensure public safety. The dis - toward austerity focused almost exclusively on the small aster that struck Japan should also compel nations to portion of federal discretionary spending that is commit - invest without delay in safe energy alternatives. ted to social services, ignoring the vast tax wealth diverted to defense, agricultural subsidies and other miscellaneous props and assists to private enterprise. ‘Take Him Out!’ Owing to Wall Street’s rapid recovery, the number of The United Nations and the United States intervened in millionaires in the United States has begun to reset near Libya to protect innocent life, fearing a triumphant 2007 levels even as the nation achieves new highs in pover - Muammar el-Qaddafi would slaughter his opposition. ty. Almost 44 million people now live below the official Though the coalition bombed his personal compound and poverty line. Business cannot go on as usual in Washing- President Obama said Qaddafi must go, U.S. officials also ton, or that divergence will continue. The nation needs to say the coalition can achieve its goal even if he stays. face up to both civic and fiscal realities. It needs both to Inevitably the pundits and policy makers discuss a simpler raise taxes and to deal with its debt problem responsibly. It solution: Kill him. also needs to accept the legitimate cost of social services Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of and short-term relief for an increasingly impoverished Staff, told “Meet the Press” that killing the Libyan leader populace. That includes finally providing health care to all. is “potentially an outcome.” But later Vice Admiral These need not be hopelessly conflicting goals in a nation William Gortney said that Qaddafi “at this particular that keeps the common good at the forefront of its com - point” is “not on the target list.” The New York Daily mitments. The question is: Can the United States still be News columnist Mike Lupica retorted, “If we are not in that kind of nation?

4 America April 11, 2011 EDITORIAL The Detention Scandal ational security is the card played time and again istration to reconsider its premise that by regimes seeking to justify what the rest of the almost anything is justified in the interest Nworld sees as violations of human rights. To find of national security, but it had taken years examples of such self-justification, one needs only to recall to do so. All the while, tales of routine tor - recent events in Iran and North Korea or think back to the ture, religious insult and gross humiliation saga of the two U.S. journalists imprisoned by North Korea multiplied, leading Amnesty International in 2009 on charges of spying. The United States and other to describe Guantánamo as a “human countries have fittingly called on leaders in these nations to rights scandal.” cease the infractions of human rights all too often justified That scandal would finally be removed at the end of in the name of stability or security. Fair enough, but the Bush administration. At least, it seemed so. President shouldn’t we Americans apply the same high-minded prin - Obama announced on the day after his inauguration in ciples to our own conduct? January 2009 that the prison would be closed within the A case in point is Camp Delta and the two other units year, thus ending “a sad chapter in American history,” to use established shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the president’s words during his campaign. But early last 2001, as a detention center at the U.S. military base at month the White House, reneging on its promise, Guantánamo Bay. The Bush administration rounded up announced that the Guantánamo facilities are to remain in hundreds of individuals suspected of terrorism, incarcerating operation indefinitely. Trials will resume there for those them and suspending the usual habeas corpus provision of who can be charged with crimes, but Guantánamo will con - the U.S. Constitution, which requires that anyone impris - tinue to serve as a holding pen for the 48 prisoners who can oned first be charged with a crime. The detainees were, after probably never be legally tried because of torture and other all, confined on a military base outside the United States. dubious methods used to extract supposed evidence. Moreover, the prisoners were denied the protection to which The blame should not fall on the Obama administra - they would be entitled as enemy combatants under Article 3 tion alone. Congress, taking its cue from the American pub - of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The 775 detainees were lic, has strongly opposed closing the centers or even trying not protected by U.S. law, nor were they prisoners of war. the prisoners on American soil out of fear of turning loose What, then, were they? They were suspects in the so-called suspected terrorists. It is better to ignore the human rights war against terror, that nebulous term invented after the issues than to run the risk of freeing those who might harm frightening attacks on two major U.S. cities. They were indi - the country, the American public and its leaders seem to viduals suspected of complicity in terrorism but not charged agree. Once again, as 10 years ago, fear of terrorism trumps with any particular crime, as would be required under U.S. the principles of respect for the rule of law and human civil law. Nor were they captured enemies subject to a mili - rights by which Americans judge other nations—including tary tribunal and the rules of military engagement. War Iran, Libya and North Korea. against terror was a notoriously elastic term. So the Guantánamo facility remains unshuttered and A series of U.S. court rulings between 2004 and 2008, home to 172 detainees today. It stands, in the eyes of many, as including two Supreme Court decisions, denied these argu - an indictment against a nation so blinded by its own security ments. Formal tribunals were to be set up to determine interests as to compromise the very principles it is preaching whether the detainees could correctly be considered enemy to the rest of the world. In the latest attempt to put a defini - combatants. If so, they were to be treated according to the tive end to the scandal of Guantánamo, Senator Lindsey Fourth Geneva Convention. If not, they were to be protect - Graham, Republican of South Carolina, recently introduced ed by U.S. constitutional law: unless formal charges were a bill to reaffirm legal protection for detainees and speed their brought against them for specific crimes, they were to be trials. The presumption is that the detainees were responsible released. for past terrorist acts or at least affiliated with terrorist orga - Meanwhile, the rest of the world could only wonder at nizations. Senator Graham’s bill challenges the United States, the strange turns that justice had taken in a nation that yet again, to be true to its long-held standards: prove the claimed to hold its law sacred. U.S. courts forced the admin - charges against the prisoners or release them.

April 11, 2011 America 5 SIGNS OF THE TIMES

LIBYA Rebels in pursuit of forces loyal to Muammar el-Qaddafi 75 miles east of Air Campaign Broadens; Sirte, eastern Libya, on March 28 Bishops Apprehensive he ouster of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, the Libyan strongman, appears to have become the accepted out - T come of the international campaign to protect civilians and enforce a no-fly zone over Libya, following a meeting in London that gathered NATO leadership and coalition represen - tatives and delegates from more than 40 nations. Some members of the Western coalition went even further. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain suggested that U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, which authorized the use of force in Libya, could be extended to allow arms sales to rebel forces. That expansive interpretation, which appears to contradict a U.N. Security Council resolution in February (Res. 1970) that imposed a Libyan arms embargo, could prove crucial to the outcome of the resistance movement against Qaddafi. After a number of haphazard attacks, poorly trained and equipped opposition forces have crumbled before better trained and, perhaps more important, better armed Qaddafi loy - alist battalions. Pope Benedict XVI appealed on March 27 for a halt to the violence in Libya, and U.S. bishops issued a tentative endorsement of the tiated, pro-Qaddafi fighters have now African country. The pope said, “My Obama administration’s use of force in been stripped of tanks and artillery by fear for the safety and well-being of the order to “to protect civilians in Libya coalition attacks that have significantly civilian population is growing, as is my from their own government.” degraded their material superiority apprehension over how the situation is The coalition campaign against over rebel forces. developing with the use of arms.” The forces still loyal to Qaddafi, initially The change in the tone of the cam - U.S.C.C.B. said the purpose articulat - begun to interrupt the fall of the “rebel paign was noted by Russia’s foreign ed in Resolution 1973 appears to meet capital” Benghazi when such an event minister, Sergei Lavrov, who said on the traditional criteria of “just cause” seemed to promise a massacre of civil - March 28 that the expanded air cam - but added that they joined Pope ians, has taken on the appearance of a paign was not sanctioned by U.N.S.C. Benedict XVI in following the mili - strategic campaign on behalf of a Resolution 1973. Seeming to confirm tary action with “great apprehension.” revived rebellion. U.S., French and the Russian’s suspicion that the coali - The pope’s apparent call for a cease - British sorties are going well beyond tion had exceeded its mandate, fire was quickly endorsed by North enforcing a no-fly zone over opposi - President Nicolas Sarkozy of France Africa’s Catholic bishops. In a state - tion territory and are directly targeting and Prime Minister David Cameron, ment released on March 28, signed by pro-Qaddafi units that threaten to in a joint statement released on March Archbishop Vincent Landel of Rabat, advance against rebel positions. As a 28, called on Qaddafi’s remaining sup - Morocco, the bishops acknowledge result, the improvised opposition army porters to drop him before it was “too that the region’s expanding conflict is was briefly able to reclaim nearly all late.” the result of a “legitimate claim for the territory lost to the loyalist units in Pope Benedict called for a suspen - freedom, justice and dignity, particu - what appears to be the beginning of a sion of fighting in Libya and the larly by the younger generations.” But prolonged, seesaw struggle. Denied air immediate start of a serious dialogue the bishops reaffirmed their opposi - support since the no-fly zone was ini - aimed at restoring peace to the North tion to violence and war: “We know

6 America April 11, 2011 United States, the career diplomat said ssador Sarukhan said. Generations of that international and domestic issues Mexican workers used to spend some for Mexico and the United States have months at low-wage jobs in the United become so entwined “there is no longer States before returning home to stay a distinction between foreign policy for the balance of the year or for a few and domestic policy.” The ambassador years before economic necessity again addressed an audience at the Catholic propelled them north. But the United University of America on March 21 States issues only 5,000 visas for that included at least a half dozen U.S. unskilled laborers each year. As a bishops and other people involved in result, hundreds of thousands of church and government policy work. Mexicans and other Latin American The ambassador said Mexico, with a migrants cross illegally in search of 5.2 percent growth rate last year, has jobs each year, despite stricter U.S. made great strides in creating new jobs border enforcement and the spiraling at home meant to stem the exodus of costs of illegal migration. 300,000 people who cross the border to “It’s now taking seven, eight, nine look for work every year. “The loss for attempts to cross, and they’re paying Mexico is a gain for the U.S. of talent - $3,000 to $7,000” to a smuggler, Mr. ed, entrepreneurial people,” he said, Sarukhan said. “Once they’re on [the adding that if Mexico cannot hang onto U.S.] side, the incentives to go back its people, its economy will not grow. home disappear.” Both countries need Ambassador Sarukhan was joined to make sure everyone who crosses the by Archbishop Rafael Romo Muñoz border does it legally, at a port of entry of Tijuana, Mexico, who pointed to and with a passport, the ambassador joint pastoral efforts by Mexican and said. But, he added, giving 11 million that war solves nothing, and when it U.S. bishops that call for new employ - undocumented residents the chance to breaks out, it is just as uncontrollable ment opportunities in Mexico and “come out of the shadows” with a legal as the explosion of a nuclear reactor. improved treatment of migrants in status that allows them to return to The first victims,” the bishops said, both countries as a template for action their countries should be a part of U.S. “are always the poorest and most dis - by the two governments. “The human immigration reform. advantaged. Moreover, whether we costs, the suffering of our like it or not, the war in the Near East, brother and sister migrants and now in the Maghreb, will always is very high; we witness be interpreted as ‘a crusade.’” this with pain,” Archbishop Romo said. “Our task,” he said, “continues to be to IMMIGRATION ensure that the migration policies of our countries The View deal with the different From Mexico stages of the migration process and offer more here is n o more important timely solutions that issue that will define the respect human dignity and ‘T U.S.-Mexico future rela - safeguard human rights.” tionship than getting immigration Part of the pressure on reform right,” said Mexico’s Mexico comes because “cir - Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan. In his cular migration” has essen - A migrant near Orizaba in Veracruz, Mexico, clings fourth year as ambassador to the tially stopped, Amba- to a freight train heading north to the U.S. border.

April 11, 2011 America 7 SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Faith Groups Stand NEWS BRIEFS With Workers Faith communities across the nation Pledging to honor Ukrainian Catholics who stood with working people, civil rights died for their faith under Communism, the groups, students and immigrants on new head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church , April 4 during the commemoration of Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, was the death of the Rev. Martin Luther installed on March 27 in Kiev. • Roy King Jr. in support of working families. Bourgeois of Maryknoll received a letter The national observances were coordi - from his order on March 18 asking him to Robert Taft, S.J. nated by Interfaith Worker Justice, “publicly recant” his support of women’s ordi - which has produced resources for this nation or face dismissal from Maryknoll and “a request for laiciza - mobilization, called “We Are One.” tion.” • “A sin against the patrimony of the human race,” is how Arlene Holt Baker, executive vice pres - Robert Taft, S.J., described the degraded condition of the Pontifical ident of the A.F.L.-C.I.O. and an Oriental Institute’s collection of Eastern Christian manuscripts . • I.W.J. board member, said the “power The Archdiocese of Boston and the Daughters of St. Paul went grab” by Wisconsin’s Gov. Scott before a mediator on March 29 to resolve a dispute over the disposi - Walker reignited a huge movement of tion of pension funds for the order’s lay employees. • The Malaysian people standing up for human dignity government has called off plans to stamp serial numbers and a mes - and human rights. She said, “We sage restricting their use to Christians only on thousands of Bibles it honor Dr. King with our determina - had seized. • A study released on March 22 reports that compared tion to stand up and build the future with members of other U.S. Christian denominations, Catholics are our children deserve. These attacks on more tolerant of gay and lesbian people, more hostile to discrimina - the middle class aren’t about the econ - tion against them and more likely to accept same-sex marriage. omy or the state budget. [They are] about politics and payback.” Khartoum officials at that time asked elderly and nursing mothers, for C.R.S. Returns C.R.S. to leave because they could not whom the long wait would be too guarantee security for their staff n i the arduous. Violent aftershocks and the To Western Darfur troubled region. The agency reports continued disruption of gas supplies Catholic Relief Services reported on that if it had closed its food program, forced parishioners to cook meals March 29 that the agency is resuming more than 400,000 people would have with propane. Food was supplied by a operations in western Darfur more been without food aid. variety of organizations, including than two months after evacuating its Caritas Japan, food banks and ecu- staff. Just days earlier it warned that it Catholics Respond menical groups. Raymond Latour, might be forced to suspend operations O.P., pastor of Kita Sendai and indefinitely if it could not receive In Hard-Hit Sendai Haramachi Church in Minamisoma, approval from the North Sudanese Despite the post-tsunami chaos, said those who remained in government in Khartoum to resume parishioners of Kita Sendai Catholic Minamisoma were forced to stay its services to Darfur’s hungry and dis - Church have been busy delivering food indoors because of their proximity to placed people. In mid-January, more aid to victims of the deadly quake and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant than a dozen C.R.S. workers were tsunami that struck on March 11. and had only ramen noodles to eat. evacuated from a remote area of west - Hiroko Hag, a parishioner, said that Japanese police reported on March 24 ern Darfur to Khartoum with the help because of persistent distribution diffi- that the official death toll surpassed of the United Nations after receiving culties in the city “people must stand 9,800 with 17,500 still missing. “indications of threats.” There had in line for three hours to buy a slice of been erroneous reports that C.R.S. bread.” Sendai Catholics are assisting had been distributing Bibles. not only the homeless but also the From CNS and other sources.

8 America April 11, 2011 SPECIAL EASTER OFFER FROM AMERICA MAGAZINE!

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO WOULD LOVE AMERICA? Our special Easter offer makes this the best time to share America with a friend or loved one.

Celebrate your faith this Easter by subscribing or giving a gift at the special rate of only $32 for one full year! That's over 65% off the cover price!

Interested in learning more about your faith, about the country, about the world? Then why not subscribe to America magazine, the national Catholic weekly, founded by the Jesuits in 1909? This award-winning publication provides provocative articles on a wide variety of topics - from politics to the sacraments - and offers reviews on books, film, television and theater, and also offers a weekly column on the readings of the Sunday Mass. It is a magazine for thoughtful Catholics and those who care what Catholics are thinking. WINNER OF OVER 100 AWARDS FROM THE CATHOLIC PRESS ASSOCIATION

To take advantage, just fill out the form below, and mail it with your payment to: America, Subscription Department, P.O. Box 293159, Kettering, OH 45429-9774 Or you can call us at 1-800-627-9533 (mention code B3161).

&RGH%&

®ºÈv¥Áº¶ÈºÈɶÇɶÄú‚κ¶ÇÅǾÃÉ ®ºÈv¥Áº¶ÈºÈɶÇɶ¼¾»ÉÈʷȸǾÅɾÄöÉɽº ÈʷȸǾÅɾÄöÉɽºÈź¸¾¶ÁǶɺÄ»yˆ‡ Èź¸¾¶ÁǶɺÄ»yˆ‡»ÄÇɽºIJÇÈÉκ¶Ç ›ÄǶ¹¹¾É¾ÄöÁ ÄǹºÇȁÅÁº¶Èº ¾Ã¸Áʹºº¶¸½öº £¶Âº £¶Âº ¶Ã¹¶¹¹ÇºÈÈÄö ȺŶǶɺȽººÉÄ» –¹¹ÇºÈÈ –¹¹ÇºÈÈ Å¶ÅºÇƒ  ©Ä¸Ä˺ÇÅÄÈɶ¼º ˜¾ÉÎ ¨É¶Éº ¯¾Å ˜¾ÉÎ ¨É¶Éº ¯¾Å ¶Ã¹œ¨©ÅÁº¶Èº¶¹¹ ª¨yˆ »Äǘ¶Ã¶¹¾¶Ã š‚¶¾Á}ÄÅɾÄöÁ~ š‚¶¾Á}ÄÅɾÄöÁ~ ÈʷȸǾÅɾÄÃȃ —ž¡¡ž£œž£›¤§¢–©ž¤£ ˜š˜ š£˜¡¤¨š™ –ÁÁÈʷȸǾÅɾÄÃÈ Ŷζ·Áº¾Ãª¨ £¶Âº —ž¡¡¢š »ÊùÈÄÃÁ΃–ÁÁúÌ ÈʷȸǾÅɾÄÃÈ̾ÁÁ –¹¹ÇºÈÈ ¥¡š–¨š—ž¡¡¢®˜§š™ž©˜–§™ ¸Äºøº‰ÉÄ‹ ̺ºÀȶ»ÉºÇǺ¸º¾ÅɃ ¤»»ºÇ˶Á¾¹ÄÃúÌ ˜¾ÉÎ ¨É¶Éº ¯¾Å ˜¶Ç¹£Äƒ ÈʷȸǾÅɾÄÃÈÄÃÁ΃

š‚¶¾Á}ÄÅɾÄöÁ~ šÍžǶɾÄٶɺ KYLE T. KRAMER

Back to the Garden ike most farmers and gardeners, bon in the process. ative ways to ensure other useful this time of year I itch to work Ecologically sensitive farms and yields in the transition period). And L the soil. There seems some - gardens of the future, then, will likely there is a steep learning curve to con - thing so fundamentally right about a replace many annual grains and veg - duct such a diverse biological sympho - field or garden plot of freshly turned etables with permanent plantings. ny. earth and the new season’s growth it Imagine, for example, an intensively I hesitate most, however, because I promises. What more archetypal tended, heavily mulched “food forest” am still enamored of the idea of get - activity is there than putting a spade of nut, fruit and other trees, with a ting a fresh start every year. When into the ground? What more all- multilayered understory of berry- growing annual crops, no matter how American image than a tractor pulling yielding shrubs, vining plants, perenni - badly you botch a season, you can plow a plow? al vegetables and grains—in which the it clean and start over next spring. Lately, though, I’ve become a little main task is simply to har - Perennial plantings, like uneasy with this rite of spring. Even vest. Whether on farm scale The most life and history, have no my family’s organic farm is far from or in a suburban yard or reset button: they are a sustainable, and annual plowing has a city park, it would look a lot elegant living (or dying) testa - lot to do with it. Because of all our like, well, Eden. And ways of ment to good or poor tillage, my tractor has burned far more though they require more weather and manage - energy in diesel fuel than the calories labor and hence more peo - growing ment over time. we get out as crop. Tilling depletes the ple on the land (both good My hesitation is organic matter in the soil and releases things, in my opinion), such food mimic quintessentially Ameri- it to the atmosphere as carbon diox - “forest gardens” are vastly natural can. Is it any coinci - ide—a greenhouse gas! Our freshly more productive per acre dence that a culture turned soil is also vulnerable to erosion than Iowa cornfields. We ecosystems. built on replacing this from wind and rain. Tilling, it seems, could feed the world handi - country’s permanent has a shadow side. In the Book of ly and with healthier and more diverse grasslands and forests with annual Genesis, Cain was the first tiller of the foods. High fructose corn syrup does grain agriculture should have an ever- soil, and we all know how that story not grow on trees, after all. shorter historical memory? Is it any ended. As a farmer, I resonate with this coincidence that so many of us idolize The most elegant and sustainable novel approach called “permaculture.” self-reinvention and constantly seek ways of growing food mimic the natu - As a Catholic, I can see clearly how it fulfillment in a new iGadget, new job, ral ecosystems of their region while resonates with the church’s call for eco - new city, new house, new spouse or nudging them toward human uses. If I logical stewardship: to preserve and new religion? stopped working my Midwestern enhance creation’s sacramental integri - Embracing roots and continuity fields they would soon become wood - ty, to protect the planetary common means bearing the blessings and bur - land again; the forest should therefore good and, most important, to safe - dens of the past along with hope and be the model for my farming. guard the poor who suffer hardship responsibility for the future. In Managed forests can produce a great because of environmental distress or Catholicism, you get Archbishop and diverse yield—with no tilling, no food supply shortfalls. Oscar Romero and Catholic social fossil fuels, no fertilizer and no pesti - Even so, I have moved our farm teaching, but you also get the cides or herbicides. As a bonus, the only in fits and starts toward this Inquisition and sexual abuse by mem - forest builds soil and sequesters car - regenerative form of agriculture. bers of the clergy. But with trees or tra - Permaculture requires substantial dition, deep perennial roots also bring upfront labor and capital, with a great rewards: stability and resilience Kyle T. Kramer is the author of A Time to Plant: Life Lessons in Work, Prayer, and longer return on investment (even in the tough times and unsurpassed Dirt (Sorin Books, 2010). though, I should note, there are cre - fruitfulness in the good.

10 America April 11, 2011 THE THIRTEENTH ANNUAL RUSSO FAMILY LECTURE

50 Years Later JFK Online Master of Wednesday, 13 April 2011, at 6 p.m. Science Fordham University | McNally Amphitheatre 140 West 62nd Street | New York City in

JOHN F. KENNEDY was sworn in as the nation’s Church rst Catholic president a half-century ago. He Management served only a thousand days, but his speeches, his actions, and his image loom large in postwar U.S. Transform your history. ree writers will explore the legacy of JFK’s leadership of the Church short presidency and explain why he remains a in an increasingly powerful presence in American politics and culture. complex world. Villanova School of Business offers Terry Golway, Director of the Kean Center a unique and affordable program, for American History at Kean University, led by nationally recognized Professor and the author of many books, including Charles Zech. Theprogram provides JFK: Day by Day and Let Every Nation Know: participants a strong business skill JFK in His Own Words. He is working on a set to help effectively serve your parish history of Irish-American politics in New community. All courses are holistic and York City. integrated, and have been specifically designed for church managers. Thomas Maier, an award-winning author of four books and an investigative reporter Curriculum: 30 credits for Newsday in New York. Maier’s book, Delivery: 100% online The Kennedys: America’s Emerald Kings, Student body: Clergy and lay was praised as one of the top 10 all-time Church leaders and managers JFK books by the American Booksellers Association’s Book Sense program. Travel requirement: One week of orientation at Villanova School Stephen Schlesinger, a Fellow at the of Business Century Foundation, and a former speechwriter and foreign policy advisor Tuition discounts: Significant discounts available to students to Governor Mario Cuomo. He is the who work for the church author of three books, including Act of Creation: The Founding of The United To see the coursework and to apply, Nations, which won the 2004 Harry S. visit: www.mscm.villanova.edu. Truman Book Award. Contact us at [email protected] or 610.519.4371 with questions.

ADMISSION IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. For more information, contact the Archbishop Hughes Institute at (718) 817-3012.

April 11, 2011 America 11 PASSOVER

A Spiritual Home WHAT CHRISTIANS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT JEWISH IDENTITY BY DANIEL F. POLISH t t o c s e r p l u a p / k c o t s r e t t u h s

: o t o h p e live in a remarkable moment. After exist in the realm of social issues and foreign policy, deprived 2,000 years of distrust and enmity of spiritual significance. For Jews, however, even Jews who between the Jewish and Christian take issue with policies of the Israeli government, Israel car - communities of faith, we have seen ries very different significance. When believing Jews hear them discover dramatically new believing Christians speak of Israel, they do not hear those wWays of encountering each other. Of profound consequence Christians express appreciation for the extent to which for Jews were the separate visits of Pope John Paul II and Israel plays a fundamentally spiritual role in the lives of Jews. Pope Benedict XVI to the State of Israel. Why is this so? Around the world, representatives of the two commu - Love, Pain and Miscommunication nities regularly meet with collegiality and true friendship. What is at stake in this miscommunication is of great con - Jews and Christians have collaborated on a range of social sequence for the relationship of Jews and Christians. A issues, and in formal dialogue they have engaged a remark - story that Martin Buber attributes to the Hasidic master able breadth of issues in mutual respect and candor. Moshe Leib of Sasov captures the conflicted feelings in Among them are Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion of the this relationship. Moshe Leib told of overhearing some Christ,” the Good Friday prayers in the revived Tridentine peasants at an inn. After much drinking, one of the peas - rite and the 2009 note of the U.S. bishops on evangeliza - ants asked another, “Do you love me?” His companion tion and mission. We have exchanged cultural histories of replied, “Of course I love you; I love you very much.” To martyrdom and of the Holy Land, and together we have which the first retorted, “You say you love me, but if you developed a film series for congregations, “Walking God’s really loved me, you would know what pains me.” Paths,” intended to educate adults of both our traditions I have been pained by the actions of religious commu - about the practices and beliefs of the other. nities that have been partners of the Jewish community in Yet in the midst of the growing comity, the two com - dialogue. One is the embrace by many Protestant denomi - munities stub their toes on a single issue: the State of nations, though few American Catholics, of the 2009 Israel. Too often Israel has become a painful wedge in the “Kairos Palestine” document. This statement by deepening understanding between Jews and Christians. Palestinian Christian religious leaders condemns Israel’s On this subject we seem to talk past one another or, worse, occupation of Palestinian lands “as a sin against God and speak different languages. That failure of communication humanity” and declares “nonviolent resistance to this injus - causes pain to both groups. tice is a right and a duty of all Palestinians including Certainly there are instances of clear communication Christians,” but in doing so it sets out an offensive discon - when Israel is discussed constructively. But often the con - nection between Jews and the Land of Israel as the cradle versation between Jews and Christians does not reflect the of our civilization. reality that Israel and the issues it brings in its wake mean Then there was the Vatican’s tepid rebuke of Exarch profoundly different things to Jews and Christians. Cyril Salim Butros, a Greek Melkite archbishop from To me, as a Jew, Christian discussion of Israel seems to Boston, who declared at the conclusion of the Synod of

RABBI DANIEL F. POLISH, a frequent contributor to America, leads Congregation Shir Chadash in New York’s Hudson Valley. His latest book is Talking About God (SkyLight Paths Publishing). Bishops of the Middle East at the Vatican in October 2010: role it plays in the emotional lives of their Jewish friends and “The Holy Scriptures cannot be used to justify the return of partners in dialogue and to address the realities of political Jews to Israel and the displacement of the Palestinians, to Israel in that context. justify the occupation by Israel of Palestinian lands…. We Christians cannot speak of the ‘promised land’ as an exclu - Facing Jerusalem sive right for a privileged Jewish people. This promise was The power that Israel exercises over the emotional lives of nullified by Christ…. There is no longer a chosen people— Jews finds physical expression, for me, in a compass I once all men and women of all countries have become the chosen saw whose needle pointed not to the north, but consistent - people….” This came 45 years after the Second Vatican ly in the direction of Jerusalem. One of the leaders of Council’s “Declaration on Non-Christian Religions,” which Reform Judaism (whose career began at the time when the opened a new age in Jewish-Catholic relations rooted in our Reform movement was virulently anti-Zionist) stipulated common biblical heritage. in his will that his gravestone be inscribed with a quotation No less distressing was the theological prologue of the from the Medieval Spanish-Jewish poet Yehudah Halevi, draft statement of the “My heart is in the East Middle East study team of and I am in the West.” the Presbyterian Church; Christians should not underestimate What is the nature of this the prologue seemed to magnetic pull that Israel seek to disconnect Jews the power that Israel exercises over exerts on Jewish hearts? from their own historical On the simplest level, past and deny them their the emotional lives of Jews. the power that Israel exerts self-understanding. In over Jews finds a parallel in stating that Jews have no intrinsic connection to the land of a poignant reminiscence by Barack Obama in his book their historical experience, and in making relative their asso - Dreams From My Father. He writes of his first visit to Kenya: ciation with it, the document creates a picture of Jewish “all of this while a steady procession of black faces passed identity in which Jews can hardly recognize themselves. before your eyes…for a span of weeks or months you could All of these communities of faith have histories of dia - experience the freedom that comes from not feeling logue with the Jewish community, yet all seem unaware (I watched…. Here the world was black, and so you were just would rather assume ignorance than indifference) of the pro - you.” found nature of the role that Israel plays in the spiritual lives Replace the word black with the word Jewish , and you of Jews. For Catholics, the offense these incidents gives to have a vivid articulation of what the Jew feels when in Israel. Jews ought to be a special concern because they seem to deny It is a kind of exhaling, even when you did not know you Jews their own experience of Israel. The 1974 Vatican were holding your breath. The most assimilated Jew can “Guidelines for Religious Relations with the Jews” proposed relate to this sense of being surrounded by people who bear that Christians “learn by what essential traits the Jews define the same label as you, who share something profound and themselves in light of their own religious experience.” For fundamental with you. Even Jews far removed from their Catholics, then, Jews’ own perception of the religious signifi - identity will speak, often in wonder, of the intensity of the cance of the modern state of Israel ought to have a certain feeling of being at home. weight in how Catholics respond to developments there. On a deeper level Jews resonate with Israel in terms of the First a caveat: It is important to stress that for Jews the collective life of the people. No Jew of any age is unaware that emotional gravitational pull to Israel has nothing to do with our lives are brands plucked from the fire of the Holocaust. the actions or policies of any Israeli government. It is felt Consciously or not, for all Jews Israel embodies the notion of equally by those who applaud a particular government or set resurrection. The arbiters of Jewish religious practice cannot of policies and by those who despair of that government or have been oblivious of what they were conveying when they policies. Something more profound is going on. established Yom HaShoah/the day of commemorating the Second, an appreciation of what Israel means to Jews holocaust, exactly one week before Yom HaAtzma’ut/Israel’s cannot imply that Israel is beyond criticism. There is Independence Day—both of them in the season of rebirth enough to criticize about actions of the government of and renewal. Can any organism survive the loss of one third Israel. Jews who do so are often belittled as “self-hating”; of its corpus? Though it is painful to say so close to the Christians who do so are often dismissed as anti-Semites. events, I suspect later generations will embrace the idea that These accusations are often profoundly wrong in both the people of Israel would have perished from the trauma of cases. The challenge for Christians who want to speak to the Shoah had not it been given a new handhold on life by Israel’s shortcomings is to begin with an awareness of the the project of reclaiming its ancient home.

14 America April 11, 2011 Post-Independence Jewish Identity acter. Theodore Herzl, the “Father of modern Zionism,” The existence of Israel has changed what it means to be a famously said, “If you will it, it is no dream.” But the dream Jew, whether one lives there or not. This was intuited in of Israel that animated those who built it and animates 1948 by the poet Karl Shapiro: Jewish aspirations for it still, is not of a “normal” state like all the others, a state whose shortcomings are to be accept - When I see the name of Israel high in print ed as the “price” of realpolitik in a “dangerous neighbor - The fences crumble in my flesh; I sink hood.” Deep in a Western chair and rest my soul…. Asher Ginzberg, who wrote under the pen name Achad Ha’Am, dreamed of a Jewish state that would embody the This very redefined sense of self may have made it possible millennia-old values of the Jewish people. This state would for Jews to participate more comfortably in interfaith dia - be a light to the nations in the way it conducted its collective logue and, paradoxically, engage more unfetteredly in cul - life, a state that offered a vision of what every state might be. tural and political life. Today they feel a part, not apart. That dream gives us permission to be pained by the distance Israel possesses an incarnational dimen - between what Israel might be and what it sion. It embodies the totality of the experi - ON THE WEB is at this moment. That dream challenges ence and the message of the Jewish people. Visit America on Facebook. us to right what is wrong. And that facebook.com/americamag When Jews visit Spain, they find it beauti - dream moves our engagement with Israel ful and charming, but Spain’s history is not beyond simple “support” to profound, theirs. Even though the Jews’ expulsion from Spain in 1492 life-encompassing commitment. is a traumatic memory for all, Spain is not essential to For the Jew, then, engagement with Israel is bound up Jewish identity in the way Israel is. It does not talk to them with our past, present and future; it is beyond the realm of how they came to be as they are. of the political. It is a relationship we cannot expect non- When Jews visit Israel, its landscape and historical sites Jews to share. But we hope that our Christian friends and speak in more intimate terms. It is the embodiment of the dialogue partners will speak and act in ways that reflect Jews’ collective past, situating us in our history and evoking an awareness of how much that engagement means to its meaning. One might almost say that Israel functions for Jews. A Jews in the same way that Communion functions for a Catholic. Toward the middle of the 20th century, the lead - God is calling ers of the Soviet Union famously denigrated Jews as rootless Are you listening? cosmopolitans. The existence of Israel annuls any possibili - ty of understanding Jews in that way again. Finding the time to slow down, listen for, and Israel offers Jews something they have not had since the consider God’s call can be difficult but what could be more important? The Congregation of Holy year 70, the last expulsion from the land and the inception Cross has multiple retreat programs for high school, of its existence as a diaspora people: what the philosopher college, and post graduate men designed to guide Emil Fackenheim calls “the Jewish return to history.” you along the way as you seek to hear and answer God’s call. Contact our office to find out more, Fackenheim implies that the existence of a Jewish state 574.631.6385 or email at [email protected]. offers Jews the chance to apply the teachings of their tradi - tion on a broader plain than they had when they were a holycrossvocations.org marginal, pariah people existing at the sufferance of others, acted upon but denied the opportunity to be actors on the world stage. A Jewish state offers Jews the chance to be no longer the pathetic inheritors of an attenuated tradition of diminishing significance. It offers them the opportunity to be part of a people charged with expressing its culture in ever new forms, a living, dynamic organism rather than a static, petrified museum piece.

The Pain of Historical Existence That call to re-enter history evokes and explains the pain many Jews feel when that state does not succeed in embodying the ideals of the inherited teaching, when its Jewishness is merely one of demography rather than char -

April 11, 2011 America 15 presents The Matteo Ricci Award for their contribution to culture to Daniel Callahan and Sidney Callahan

  .              .

May God continue to be with both of you in your service to the Church.

www.bc.edu/stm

16 America April 11, 2011  

Matteo Ricci, S.J., Award

Congratulations to Drs. Sidney and Dan Callahan IRUUHFHLSWRIWKHÀUVW Matteo Ricci, S.J., Award.

And many thanks for enlivening the Catholic intellectual tradition.

congratulations to Sidney and Dan Callahan on the receipt of the Matteo Ricci, S.J., Award

THE CATHOLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION extends its congratulations CongratulatesCongratulates iitsts llongtimeongtime and gratitude to contributorscoont buut s anda d friendsieendd Matteo Ricci, S.J., Award recipients SIDNEY CALLAHAN, Ph.D. Danielaniel CCallahanh Associate/ExecutiveAsAssociate/Exxeeecutive Editordi and DAN CALLAHAN, Ph.D. 1961961-68661-68 for their many contributions & to Catholic health care. Sidneyd e CCallahanl n ColumnistColumnisum stt 1993-2002993 20 Board MembMembeMemberer 1992-present1992 present

OnOn rreceivingeceiving tthehe rstrst ®

www.chausa.org MatteoM tt RiRicci,Ricccci,ci SS.J.,.J.,J., awardard

A Passionate Voice for Compassionate Care www.commonwealmagazine.orgwwwww.commonwealmagazine.org.commonwealmagazine.orgwwealmagazine.orgga org

April 11, 2011 America 17 Summermer RetreatsRetre eats 2011

JUNEJUNE O Nurturing God: A Directed Retreat Re-Experiencing the Depth of Discipleship Artists’Artisttss’ CContemplativeontemplative RRetreat With Feminine Imagery Presenters: John Burchill. OP; Barbara Metz, SNDdeN Directors: Janet E. Corso; Gail DeMaria, CSJP; Carol Otto Sunday, August 14 – Sunday, August 21; Coordinator:oordinator: LucianneLucianne SSiers,iers, OPOP Sunday, July 10 – Friday, July 15; $375 - $400* $450 - $475* Thursday,Thursdayy,, JuneJune 9 – Thursday,Thursda June 16; $$450450 - $$475475 AsAs YouYYoou AreAre Able*Ab Rediscovering God in Our Human Story Attuning, Attending, Atoning and Advocating in Prrayingaying WWithith thethe Mystics:Mystic Presenter: Diarmuid O’Murchu, MSC Our Relationship with Sacred Earth Ourur HHolyoly WomenWomen aandnd MenM Friday, July 15 – Sunday, July 17; Presenters: Carol DeAngelo, SC; Nancy Erts, OP $225 - $250;*Commuters $150 - $175* Sunday, August 21 – Friday, August 26; Prresenter:esenter: MichaelMichael Laratonda,Laratonda, FFMS $375 - $400* Friday,Fridaayyy,, JJuneune 1717 – TThursday,hursdayy,, June 23; $425 - $450* Directed Retreat Directors: Ron Henery, OP; Theresa Lardner, OP; DDirectedirreected RetreatRetreat Mary Naughton; Judy Schiavo; Bob Vaughn, OP * As You Are Able: We have chosen not to raise our fees, but to offer you a range that allows you the freedom to choose what is Diirectors:rectors: NancyNancy Erts,Erts, OP;OP; RoseRose Marie Harkins, OP; Tuesday, July 19 – Tuesday, July 26; Ronon Henery,Henery, OP;OP; JudyJudy Schiavo;Schiavo; BobB Vaughn, OP $450 - $475* appropriate to your situation while being as generous as possible WWednesday,ednesdayy,, JuneJune 2299 - Wednesday,WWeedn July 6; $$450450 - $$475*475* Praying in Accord with Your Personality Director: Nancy Erts, OP JULYJULLYY Wednesday, July 27 – Saturday, July 30; $275 - $300;* Commuters $125 - $150* QQuiltersQuuilterrss andand CCraftersrraaaffftterrss RRetreatet Bonding with For online information & registration: Bugs,Buugggss, Bees,Beeess, BBirds,irrdddss, BBlossoms,losso and Berries! PPresenters:resesenterrss: DonnaDonna Brunell,Brunell, OP;OP; Judy Brunell, OP; AUGUST www.mariandale.org; or contact Linda Rivers, OP, NancyNanccyy Erts,Erts, OOP;P; PPatriciaatricia WernerWerner Directed Retreat 914-941-4455, [email protected] for inquiries WWednesday,ednesdayy,, JulyJuly 6 - Sunday,Sunday July 10; Directors: Dianne Carlson, RSM; Mary Kay Flannery, SSJ; or to arrange private retreats. $325$325 – 350;350; Commuters:Commuters: $225$ - $250* Francis Gargani, CSsR; Justine Lyons, RSCJ; Julia Masseo; Beverly Musgrave, Ph.D.; Nancy Pluta; Parables:Parraableess: StoriesStorieess toto ChangeChan Ourselves Anne L. Simmonds, D.Min. aandnd OurOur WorldWWoorrlld Sunday, July 31 – Sunday, August 7; $450 - $475* PPresenter:resesenter: MaryMarryy Schneiders,Schneiderrsss,, OPOP Weednesday,dnesday, JulyJuly 6 – Sunday,Sunday July 10; $325 - $350* Embracing Jesus as the Christ of Our Today and Our Tomorrow 299 North Highland Avenue HealingHealing OOurur SSpSpiritualpirriitual GGriefr Presenter: Barbara Fiand, SND Ossining, NY 10562-2327 PPresenter:resesenter: VivianneVivianne LaRiviereLaRiviere Sunday, August 7 – Saturday, August 13; (914) 941-4455 SSunday,undayy,, JulyJuly 1010 – Friday,Fridayy,, JJulyul 15; $375 - $400* $425 -$475;* Commuters $250 - $275* www.mariandale.org Rest

“SStirring,tirring, jjoy-filled,oy-filled, bbeautiful...”eautiful...” ——RROONN HAANSENNSEN, author,uthor, Marietteariette iinn EEcstasycstasy

• A New Edition of the Catholic Book Award Winner • This Our Exile A Spiritual Journey with the Refugees of East Africa JAMES MARTIN, S.J. With a New Afterword by the Author With stories that are by turns frankly incredible, darkly comic, inspirational, tragic, and always provocative, this compelling work is a wonderfully realized tribute to our shared humanity. “A can’t-put-it-down page-turner....You will learn about sorrow and injustice on a scale you can scarcely imagine. But you will also witness the triumph of faith and love and the human spirit.” —Catholic News Service 240pp b/w photos 978-1-57075-923-9 pbk $18.00

www.maryknollmall.org ORBIS BOOKS From your bookseller or direct Maryknoll, NY 10545 1-800-258-5838 Follow us on Facebook

18 America April 11, 2011 FAITH IN FOCUS A Hidden Sorrow Praying through reproductive loss BY CHRISTOPHER PRAMUK

Before I formed you in the womb I knew his last labored breath and lay motion - the revelation of how many others you, and before you were born I conse - less. God, it seemed, had been willing, have been through this. After both crated you ( Jer 1:5). and a family’s humble prayer had been our miscarriages it seemed that answered. whenever we shared our news with a everal years ago my younger sis - Four days later, we prayed at the close friend or family member, a kind ter gave birth to a three-pound graveside where Jerry’s body, in a tiny of hidden door opened behind their Sbaby boy stricken with severe coffin, would be laid in the earth next eyes and words would tumble forth, genetic anomalies. With sophisticated to his older brother, Jack. Delivered at “I’m so, so sorry.” Long pause. “You prenatal testing, she and her husband were about as well prepared for the birth as possible. Their single hope and prayer was that the infant, Jerry, might live long enough—a few sec - onds, a few minutes—to say hello, as it were, and say goodbye. They wanted to hold him and look into his eyes, however briefly, so that the child might feel and know their love for him. God willing, they would have long enough to introduce him to his two sisters, ages 2 and 4. God willing —the phrase still catches in my throat. The day came, and we gathered in the delivery room to welcome the baby. k With his limbs badly deformed, his e c A i W breathing labored, Jerry gazed into my b o b sister’s beaming face as she held him : t r against her, crying and smiling. He was A beautiful, and for more than eight full-term nine years earlier, Jack was know, we had a miscarriage two years hours he fought to stay alive. Everyone stillborn, the victim of an umbilical ago. It was awful.” around the hospital bed held him in cord accident. Another long pause, “No, we didn’t turn: parents, grandparents, aunts, know.” uncles and his two big sisters, beaming Stumbling Toward Language And the unspoken question arises, with delight. At last, lying on his Jerry’s death awakened painful mem - “Why didn’t you tell us?” mother’s breast, with his father’s hand ories. My wife and I have suffered two In Christian and Catholic circles, a resting gently on his head, Jerry gave miscarriages. For years I have strug - strange kind of silence, an existential gled to reflect prayerfully on these and theological loneliness, surrounds CHRISTOPHER PRAMUK lives with his fami - and on my sister’s losses, experiences these more hidden deaths. Some ly in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he teaches theolo - that have struck me to the core; large - silences are good, healthy and holy, gy at Xavier University. He is the author of Sophia: The Hidden Christ of Thomas ly, I have failed. What disarms me still pregnant with hope and expectation. Merton (Liturgical Press, 2009). is not just the pain of those losses but Something new, something beautiful

April 11, 2011 America 19 waits to be born here. The silence fol - 12, he treats our newly adopted son, war or disease. Closer to home, I lowing our miscarriages, however, was 10 years his junior, like the Little might better understand the wisdom nothing like this. It felt like loneliness, Prince. of my grandmother, second of 13 death, crucifixion. It seemed to mock I know that as a man my experi - children, just eight of whom reached my wife and me and our desire for life, ences are very different from those of adulthood. At 103, she shared the our trust in its elemental goodness. my wife or sister or of any woman memory of those lost siblings, includ - I will not soon forget gazing at the who has felt the anguish of life’s per - ing a 14-year-old sister she adored, a ultrasound monitor, our excitement ishing deep in her body. We hurt in great aunt I would never know. passing quickly into desperation as different ways. Following our second How do we survive such losses, the technician gently pressed the miscarriage, I anguished above all for much less make sense of them? Can wand, now here, now there, into my my wife, for her bleeding body, her the church, our faith communities, wife’s exposed belly. Our son, then 4, broken spirit; I anguished for myself, help us grieve, protest and heal? In all sat close by my side, eager to see his too, for my inability to understand or of this, where is God, the one who little brother or sister “on TV,” as we to help. We had already discussed knows every child even before we are had described it. He soon picked up names, and the nursery was nearly formed in the womb? our nervous cues—the fidgeting, the ready. This pregnancy had felt like a expressions of disbelief—and knew gift, a persistent prayer answered. Yet Stumbling Toward Images something was wrong. Silence, ques - God, it seemed, was not willing. Serene Jones, president of Union tions, tears. Had we the slightest Why? Theological Seminary in New York, notion there was a problem, I never The best I could manage was a recently published a collection of would have let my son experience forced acceptance and a dawning real - essays, Trauma and Grace, in which that. Yet something of that painful ization that I might now begin to she tells the stories of women who moment, I am sure, still lives in him, understand the suffering of so many have shared their experiences of mis - something about the fragility and other parents who had lost a child or carriage and stillbirth. “My womb is a preciousness of life, a memory I am of countless people across the world deathbed, my body a grave,” a woman not sure I would take from him. Now who see life snuffed out by poverty, says. And, Jones writes, “She holds in her womb the dead, imagined person whose future she has conjured. Why New Introductions to Islam and Hinduism had her body rejected and killed the Introducing the Qur’an ‘other’ whose life she so passionately For Today’s Reader desired to nurture?” JOHN KALTNER Jones asks whether the Christian Kaltner surveys the origin, structure, contents, study, community does not hold some story, and use of Islam’s sacred text. Offering selective some image or memory that might rather than comprehensive coverage, the work relate to women’s experiences of repro - allows for discussion and analysis of specifi c themes ductive loss and bring some healing. and issues of interest to modern readers. “Accessible, And she suggests that the Christian timely, informative—a valuable introduction to Islam.” community might remember the story —JOAN E. COOK, Georgetown University 9780800696665 256 pp pbk $25.00 of “a death that happens deep within God… in the very heart—perhaps the The Hindu Traditions womb—of God.” This is, of course, A Concise Introduction the death of Jesus. MARK W. MUESSE “When Christ is crucified, God’s “Properly focused on Hinduism’s widely shared beliefs own child dies; ...and yet by letting it and practices, Muesse is also attentive to matters of happen, God also bears guilt for it,” contemporary controversy. This book should work well writes Jones. This image must not in courses and is a fi ne addition to introductory texts.” “encourage women to imagine their —ANANTANAND RAMBACHAN, Chair of Religion, Philosophy, and Asian Studies, Saint Olaf College own suffering as redemptive,” she cau - 9780800697907 240 pp pbk $29.00 tions. Rather, “the poetic move here is to suggest a morphological space with - At bookstores or call in which [women] might imagine 1-800-328-4648 • fortresspress.com God’s solidarity with them as those

20 America April 11, 2011

04/11/2011 4.625 x 4.625 N2645 who lose a future they had hoped for.” however, doggedly remains. Like dren and like a twin with whom I Telling the story of God’s shared Kushner, I have more or less learned shared my mother’s womb. Gazing mourning will not end women’s sor - not to blame God for “moral evil” or deeper into the glass, I see the children row, but it might “lessen their sense of even for “natural evil” like earthquakes, of the South Bronx, Haiti, Iraq, isolation.” disease, miscarriage. Yet like Kushner I Darfur, once buried in the rubble of The image of the world resting, reserve my unquenchable need to cry neglect or violence now raised up and turning and flowering forth in the out in protest, grief and lamentation. playing joyfully before the gates of womb of God has long been deeply Kushner asks, “Can you forgive God heaven. consoling and beautiful for me. To for creating a world in which the It is by no means easy to rise to such imagine the womb of God as a grave wrong things hap - faith when we feel for the body of Jesus evokes a wider pen to the people ON THE WEB forsaken by the very range of disarming but powerful asso - you love?” My head Christopher Pramuk answers Father who has ciations. Mary holding her son’s bro - absolves God of questions and offers resources. promised to remain ken body is Christianity’s classic “mor - responsibility; my americamagazine.org near. But even there phological” icon of God’s maternal sol - heart does not. And we must have the idarity. And I carry with me the image yet I want to forgive. courage to remember and tell the story of my mother, as she described it many Something else, though, steals in of a God who, like Mary, enfolds the years later, alone and bending over the sometimes during my prayer. The suffering world in her fiercely protective sink as she “baptizes” with water and prayers and rituals of Catholicism, arms and urges us to do the same. In the tears a mass of tissue dispelled by her especially its pregnant silences, show womb of such faith, perhaps we can womb during the course of a difficult me something of that promise hidden bring our longings and unrequited pregnancy. That tissue, her doctor behind the veil, even if seen “through a hopes back to the one who consecrates explained, was likely my twin, a life glass darkly”: rumors of resurrection, us even before we are born. And in tethered to mine for a while but now of lives not lost forever but resting, humble prayer, we might ask not only reabsorbed—dare we imagine?—into turning, flowering forth again in the for renewed strength but for the grace the healing womb of God. arms of Christ—like my sister’s chil - and the wisdom to forgive. A

Stumbling Toward Community dŚĞ/ŶƚĞůůĞĐƚƵĂůdĂƐŬƐŽĨƚŚĞEĞǁǀĂŶŐĞůŝnjĂƟŽŶ These very personal imaginings are crucial for healing, but are they ĐŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐƉŽŶƐŽƌĞĚďLJƚŚĞh^ŽŵŵŝƩĞĞŽŶŽĐƚƌŝŶĞĂŶĚƚŚĞ^ĐŚŽŽů enough? In his book When Bad Things ŽĨdŚĞŽůŽŐLJĂŶĚZĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ^ƚƵĚŝĞƐĂƚdŚĞĂƚŚŽůŝĐhŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJŽĨŵĞƌŝĐĂ Happen to Good People, Harold Where͗ tĂƐŚŝŶŐƚŽŶŽƵƌƚ,ŽƚĞů Kushner reflects on his son’s death and When: Sept. 15 - 17, 2011 asks what finally helps us survive such dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJϲƉŵƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJŶŽŽŶ crippling grief. “Is it our theology,” Kushner asks, “or our friends?” <ĞLJŶŽƚĞƐƉĞĂŬĞƌ͗Daniel Cardinal Di Nardo For Kushner, it is the latter: “God Other presenters: comes to us through the incarnation of Dr. John Cavadini Msgr. Kevin W. Irwin caring people,” friends, family and Dr. Ralph Del Colle Fr. Frank Matera often strangers who reach out to us. Archbishop J. A. Di Noia, O.P. Dr. Janet E. Smith This was true for my wife and me after dŚŝƐĞǀĞŶƚŝƐŽƉĞŶƚŽŶŽŶͲƚĞŶƵƌĞĚĨĂĐƵůƚLJŝŶƚŚĞĚĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚƐŽĨƚŚĞŽůŽŐLJŽƌ our miscarriages. And it continues to ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐƐƚƵĚŝĞƐǁŚŽŚĂǀĞƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚŽĐƚŽƌĂůĚĞŐƌĞĞƐǁŝƚŚŝŶƚŚĞƉĂƐƚĮǀĞLJĞĂƌƐ͘ be true when we share our losses with others. In the very act and risk of shar - &ŝŌLJƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂŶƚƐǁŝůůďĞĐŚŽƐĞŶĨƌŽŵƚŚĞĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ͘ůůĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐŵƵƐƚ ďĞƐƵďŵŝƩĞĚďLJDĂLJϭϱ͕ϮϬϭϭ͘ ing our most difficult life passages, something that once seemed impossi - dŽĂƉƉůLJĨŽƌƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶŝŶƚŚŝƐĞǀĞŶƚ͕ŐŽƚŽh^͘KZ'ͬĚŽĐƚƌŝŶĞ͘&ŽůůŽǁƚŚĞůŝŶŬ ble erupts: consolation, healing and ƚŽ͚/ŶƚĞůůĞĐƚƵĂůdĂƐŬƐ͛ĨŽƌĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶĨŽƌŵ͘ grace. dƌĂǀĞů͕ƌŽŽŵ͕ĂŶĚďŽĂƌĚƚŽďĞƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚďLJĂŐĞŶĞƌŽƵƐŐƌĂŶƚĨƌŽŵ It has not been hard for us to dis - ƚŚĞ<ŶŝŐŚƚƐŽĨŽůƵŵďƵƐ͘ cover God’s healing presence in the compassion of others. The question of &ŽƌĨƵƌƚŚĞƌŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ͗ĂƉĂƌƟĚĂΛƵƐĐĐď͘ŽƌŐ God’s providence, power and will,

April 11, 2011 America 21 BOOKS &CULTURE

TELEVISION | MAURICE TIMOTHY REIDY Unfolding over a decade, “Mildred Pierce” is the story of one woman, of A MOTHER’S LOVE course, but also of the subtle class sys - Todd Haynes’s ‘Mildred Pierce’ tem in Depression-era America just as it was beginning to fray. Featuring the ver the last few years HBO parts aired over four nights beginning formidable Kate Winslet in the title has treated viewers to epic March 27) but with a more modest role, “Mildred Pierce” boasts an Ominiseries on epic subjects. focus: the eponymous 1941 novel by impressive roster of talent, including In “John Adams” the subject was the James M. Cain. Melissa Leo, Guy Pearce, Brían Revolutionary War and the growing Notice I did not say the 1945 film O’Byrne and Evan Rachel Wood. pains of a fledgling nation. “The starring Joan Crawford. The folks at The series begins with an ending: Pacific” examined the sprawling Allied HBO want to make that clear. This after a fierce fight, Mildred’s husband, campaign against Japan during World isn’t a remake of that noir classic but a Bert (O’Byrne), leaves the family home War II. This year brings us Mildred “reimagining” of the Cain novel by the in suburban Los Angeles to move in Pierce , a no-less-lengthy project (five acclaimed director Todd Haynes. with his not-so-secret lover. Mildred

Evan Rachel Wood, left, as Veda and Kate Winslet as the title character in HBO’s “Mildred Pierce.” tries to hide the fact from their two strous child. This time around, Veda is to learn the business, she tells Veda, daughters, at least for a short time, but by no means an angel, but Haynes is and hopes to open a place of her own. her older child quickly grasps the situ - not interested in making her out to be Such is the slow pace of personal ation. Why, the precocious Veda won - the devil’s spawn. Yes, there is plenty of growth in “Mildred Pierce.” Once you ders, are Daddy’s bags gone from the screaming and slapping, but after every think a character has achieved an closet? Right away we see that Veda violent encounter Haynes allows his important insight or crept closer to has a sharp eye for her mother’s dis - characters to take a breath and inch maturity, she reverts to her old ways. sembling. The year is 1931, not a good toward some understanding of their While Mildred becomes a professional time to be a newly anger. So when success, building on her pie-making single mother. Before ON THE WEB Veda upbraids her skills to become a restaurateur, she is long, Mildred is Jake Martin, S.J., reviews the mother for taking a shadowed by her deceptions. She fails counting every coin complicated women of Showtime. job as a lowly wait - to consider, for example, how her and selling her americamagazine.org/culture ress, Mildred daughter will be affected when she famous pies to sus - comes to see that brings a man home. That Veda devel - tain the lifestyle to which her family her daughter’s frustration is a reflec - ops a schoolgirl crush on that man, a had grown accustomed. tion of her own pride. Unfortunately, sort-of-famous polo player named In his film “Far From Heaven” any chance at true healing is soon lost Monty Beragon (Pearce), further com - (2002), Haynes took as his inspiration when Mildred offers a lie to hide her plicates matters. the films of Douglas Sirk, appropriat - shame. She took a job at the restaurant Beragon lives in a mansion in ing their style in an effort to excavate social and political themes that Sirk himself—working in the age of the Hollywood production code—could a woman at the last supper not directly address. With “Mildred Pierce,” Haynes is up to something similar. Instead of exploring homosex - uality and interracial romance, as in i knew exactly what he meant “Far From Heaven,” he focuses on the emerging role of women in the work - for i know about body and blood force and the bright line separating as well as flowers and yeast and sewing those who work from those who do not. he used words i could understand about giving life For most of her life, Mildred has and during those moments been in the latter category. Yet once i felt the world revolved around me instead of only men her husband leaves, she must find a job outside the home. Faced with few options, she briefly considers becom - ing a housemaid, but that is a bridge but now she cannot cross. She is repulsed by the prospect of a career “in service,” there are dishes to wash, a floor to sweep knowing that her prideful daughter and food to put away would not approve. Eventually she is yes, i know about body and blood; about giving life o hired as a waitress at a coffee shop but b h / Z t hopes that she can hide this from her and i will remember r A W

h family. The effort proves fruitless: the c S

W 11-year-old Veda knows what her e r D

N mother is up to, and devises an elabo - A

:

5 SISTER LOU ELLA HICKMAN 2

rate ruse to force her to confess the &

3 2 truth. S e

G LOU ELLA HICKMAN, I.W.B.S. A Viewers of the 1945 film “Mildred , has been a teacher, librarian and religious educator of p

S adults. She is now in training as a spiritual director. o

t Pierce” will remember Veda (as played o h p by Anne Blyth) as a particularly mon -

April 11, 2011 America 23 Pasadena, wears custom-made embodying complex women she nation’s history. A great Western city shoes and teases Mildred for has few peers. Yet their last on the rise, women leaving home to what he calls her “pie scenes together do not find their way in the workplace, a wagon” business. He is convincingly capture country emerging from the frozen only half kidding. the Shakespearean class system of the robber baron era to Though he has no scale of their charac - embrace its egalitarian roots—all of money himself—his ters’ betrayals. these themes are touched on lightly, family fruit business Nevertheless, I but with impressive effect. goes bankrupt—he was not disappoint - The series also works, finally, as an never considers tak - ed. Haynes excels at intense study of one woman’s life. ing a job, preferring creating unique Mildred is a flawed individual, frus - instead to “loaf” around, moods, and here he suc - tratingly obtuse and insufficiently relying on Mildred to pick ceeds in sustaining the film’s introspective; but she is recognizable, up his bills. To underscore the dis - alluring atmosphere for close to too. parity between Mildred and Monty, six hours. “Mildred Pierce” may not be Haynes punctuates the soundtrack as ambitious as “The Pacific,” but it MAURICE TIMOTHY REIDY is online editor (entrancing, by Carter Burwell) with does portray a pivotal moment in the of America . campaign speeches from Franklin Roosevelt. Listening to F.D.R. on the wireless, Mildred applauds the social reforms he proposes, including CONSTANCE M. M C GOVERN expanded health care for the poor. Monty is not so sure. ALWAYS READY AND EAGER Like “Far From Heaven,” “Mildred Pierce” seeks to infuse melodramatic COLONEL ROOSEVELT of onlookers, Roosevelt promised the material with real emotion. There are By Edmund Morris crowds in Battery Park that he was many dramatic moments—from bliss - Random House. 784p $35 “ready and eager” to do his part for his ful sexual encounters to one sequence country. of unbearable sadness; but they are During the first year after Theodore None of Roosevelt’s intensity, pace spaced out so they feel organic, rarely Roosevelt left the White House, he or audacity would change significantly forced. If the same story were told in hunted lions, ate elephant hearts, read over the next eight years. Pulitzer 120 minutes, it would be the worst dozens of pocket-size books especially prize-winning author Edmund Morris kind of soap opera. packed for his safari, produced 11 deftly and entertainingly captures it all This is the advantage of a minis - installments of his adventures for in Colonel Roosevelt , just as he did in eries: it allows the characters to devel - Scribner’s and generally spent those The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt (1979) op naturally, while the series’ predeter - months “daily risking death in Africa.” and in Theodore Rex (2001). Any mined length ensures that the director Before embarking upon his journey biographer (and there have been many can reach his desired conclusion. home in June of 1910, this “most of Roosevelt, even in his lifetime) is Along with BBC’s fine production of famous man in the world” traveled and fortunate to have such a prolific and “Downton Abbey,” “Mildred” may sig - orated his way through Naples, Rome, colorful subject. Morris, whose earlier nal a renaissance for this resilient art Vienna, Budapest and Paris, with side volumes have been hailed as “stirring,” form. trips to Belgium, the Netherlands, “dramatic,” “irresistible” and giving one Luckily, “Downton” is set to contin - Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the “persuasive sense that you, the ue in 2012. Not so for “Mildred Germany. Representing the Taft reader, are there” makes full use of this Pierce,” which follows the Cain novel administration at the funeral of Edward man whom some called a demagogue to its devastating conclusion. VII, he accepted an honorary degree and more disruptive than the anarchist Unfortunately, the final scenes ring from Cambridge and delivered an Emma Goldman and others revered as false, even if the viewer half-knows Oxford lecture critical of British policy “Teddy the loveable.” where the story is headed all along. As in Egypt. Welcomed by a flotilla of Beloved, maligned, respected, feared, the adult Veda, Evan Rachel Wood is ships in New York harbor and a ticker- Teddy Roosevelt never stopped. Multi- suitably haughty, and Winslet proves tape parade of mounted police, Rough state whistle stop campaigns during once again that when it comes to Riders, marching bands and thousands which he delivered 10 to 12 speeches a

24 America April 11, 2011 day were routine. So too were lecture Ever the politician, and despite his tion to Woodrow Wilson and the tours on behalf of the National growing discontent with William Democrats. Back in the battle by 1914, Geographic Society or in his role as Howard Taft, Roosevelt had stumped he became ever more vitriolic, believing president of the American Historical one “must shake your fist” at your polit - Society. He was on the road as well ical enemy and “roar the Gospel of with his sons, in one instance taking Righteousness in his deaf ear.” When part in a Hopi Snake Dance ritual that Wilson clung to “armed neutrality” even required Teddy to sit surrounded by in the face of the 1917 Zimmerman undulating rattlesnakes pacified only by telegram, Roosevelt called him the “lily- the Hopi priests’ soothing feather livered skunk in the White House.” As wands. In 1914 he was off again hunt - war raged in Europe, he raised thou - ing jaguar, tapir and peccary, this time sands of potential volunteers, sent his in the unexplored rivers and rainforests sons off to a preparedness camp in of Brazil. Rain, mud, rapids and Plattsburg (and eventually to war) and “bloodthirsty pium flies” plagued the grew in confidence that more explorers, yet Roosevelt refused to give Americans might place their hopes in a up his Gibbon, Sophocles or Goethe man who understood a world where and continued to write daily for “two oceans were mixing at Panama” Scribner’s with gloved hands and head and “Zeppelins floating across the draped in cheesecloth. English Channel to bomb Londoners” His pen was never still. In addition had to be aggressively confronted. to Scribner’s he wrote for Outlook and Edmund Morris so vividly captures Metropolitan. When the Kansas City the fervor and color of Teddy Roosevelt Star asked for war commentary, for Republican candidates in 1910, in his final years that the reader some - Roosevelt whipped off a couple of arti - courted the new Progressives and bolt - times forgets the physical frailty of the cles at lunch even before the ink was dry ed his party in 1912, handing the elec - man. While he may have been, as the on their agreement. His Naval War of 1812 and Winning of the West had been best sellers. African Game Trails , America and the World and An Autobiography followed suit. Some 18 RXUIXWXUH or more books he wrote in his post- depends on presidential decade alone were less suc - cessful financially but typical of this indefatigable writer. Indeed, on the day of his death, he dictated an article on \RX the League of Nations and another supporting women’s suffrage. His reading habits were no less pro - please lific. He consumed on average a book a remember day at the pace of two to three pages per minute. His secretary once found him DPHULFD in a railroad car lavatory poring over in your W. E. H. Lecky’s History of Rationalism will. in Europe ; “he had chosen this peculiar reading room both because the white enamel reflected a brilliant light and he was pretty sure of uninterrupted quiet.” He could converse in three languages, our america press inc., read in four and cite verbatim from vir - legal 106 west 56th street tually anything he had ever read, Arabic title new york, ny text or obscure poetry. is: 10019

April 11, 2011 America 25 dons of Oxford declared, “the most and, from his “bully pulpit,” he had strict linear narrative and a chronicle— strenuous of men, most distiniguished launched American imperialism. And “of conceptually determining or even of citizens, dominating today’s world he ever remained the conscience and schematizing information, and of con - scene,” Roosevelt in fact lived with a critic of American democracy in action. ceptual laxity in organizing it”— weakened heart, blindness in one eye, And thus, with Colonel Roosevelt , Stempel, as best he understands, has some deafness, frequent bouts of malar - Edmund Morris’s definitive study of “sought to shape [a] history...in ever- ia, recurring skin abscesses, attacks of Theodore Roosevelt comes to an end. shifting combinations of data and ideas gout, bouts of laryngitis and consider - Serendipitously for Morris, as he said as these correspond to changing cultur - able rheumatism. Not even an assassin’s in a recent interview with Charlie al pressures over time.” In short, as his bullet could stop him, however. Rose, Roosevelt “spilled his personali - own language suggests, Stempel scripts Roosevelt, pressing his handkerchief to ty out onto every page he wrote.” But “a scholarly reassessment of the history his chest to stem the bleeding, proceed - Morris is modest. He is a skilled and of the medium.” ed to deliver his nearly two-hour speech perceptive biographer. His turn of At the start of Showtime Stempel on labor policy before he consented to phrase rises to nearly Rooseveltian cites a Czech theorist, Ivo Osolsobe, any medical care. heights, his interweaving of the politi - who defines the musical in his Semiotics On January 6, 1919, the “arc of a cal, personal and literary finally does of the Musical Theatre as “the theatre great life” ended. This most cultured of justice to Roosevelt’s “polygonal” per - which speaks, sings, and dances” or, American presidents, this largest of sonality, and his command of the sheer more fully, “talking (almost always); personalities, this lover of power, adula - volume of sources (Roosevelt wrote singing (most often accompanied by tion and celebrity died at the age of 60, over 40 books and boasted of writing unseen instruments); and dancing as he had predicted while a young man 100,000 to 150,000 letters a year) (generally mixed and interspersed with at Harvard. He had risen to power as astounds even the inveterate Roosevelt other kinds of movement).” the United States rose to world power, aficionado. Stempel’s book is knowledgeable he had busted trusts, he had fashioned and engaging, containing information CONSTANCE M. M CGOVERN is emerita pro - the progressive agenda, he had spear - fessor of history at Frostburg State University with which many fans are familiar: the headed the conservation movement in Maryland. topsy-turvy stuff of Gilbert and Sullivan, the double songs of Irving Berlin (e.g., “An Old Fashioned J-GLENN MURRAY Wedding” from “Annie Get Your Gun”), Cole Porter matching specific CURTAIN CALL styles to specific stars, Rogers and Hammerstein blurring the “functional SHOWTIME choked-up Sondheim, quoting Alice distinction between spoken dialogue A History of the Broadway Roosevelt, said simply: “First you’re and musical numbers—book and Musical Theater young, then you’re middle- score”—and Off-Broadway By Larry Stempel aged, and then you’re won - plays as well. W. W. Norton. 826p $39.95 derful.” Broadway devotees will Stempel’s labor of love, appreciate the book’s eye- To begin a book on the history of coming to birth after a ges - catching illustrations: Broadway musical theater with tation period of 30 years posters and playbills as well Stephen Sondheim could hardly be and more, is just that: won - as kernels of dialogue, lyrics construed as novel or surprising. After derful. This associate pro - and musical scores. There all, Sondheim is arguably the finest liv - fessor of music at Fordham are also memorable anec - ing composer and lyricist of this capti - University does just what dotes, like David Merrick’s vating category of theater. Being a fer - he says he will do. He shameless announcement of vent fan of the genre in general and of writes a history. “It’s the Gower Champion’s death at Sondheim in particular, I was glad fragment, not the day.... Not the build - the opening-night curtain call of “42nd Larry Stempel begins his history with ing but the beam, Not the garden but Street” and Liza Minnelli’s lip-syncing this master, who turned 80 last year. the stone, Only cups of tea and history” on stage to pre-recorded songs in “The At a gala birthday celebration at (“Someone in a Tree,” from Sondheim’s Act.” Carnegie Hall, upon ascending the “Pacific Overtures”). As both a fan of theater and a schol - stage to thunderous applause, a clearly Working between the extreme of a ar, the author ably steers “the course

26 America April 11, 2011 between the Scylla of outright advocacy who in musicals of the age: the likes of Boat”) and the reinvented (“Crazy for and the Charybdis of mere description” Walker, Comden and Green, Robbins, You”). He also examines the rise of the in constructing “a history of the Styne, Fosse, Sondheim, Kander and antimusical (“Hello Again”) alongside Broadway musical at once coherent and Ebb, among others. There was also the the old-fashioned, with its modern “mix critical.” The historian tells us he draws satire of Harburg, notably, “Finian’s of nonsense, prurience, and pizzazz” on a wide variety of primary materials Rainbow.” (“The Producers”) and those antimusi - and archival holdings of original Of course no history of the cals that reached wider audiences sources (prompt books, typescripts, Broadway musical (“Jelly’s Last Jam”). song sheets, costumer renderings, per - would be complete ON THE WEB Stempel concludes sonal interviews he conducted as well as without a thorough Drew Christiansen, S.J., reviews with what he calls The Violence of Peace . a plethora of secondary sources). This discussion of the americamagazine.org/books Sondheim’s chil - wealth of information and insight adds “concept” musical and dren, musicals based up to a compelling history. how it changed the on proven material The book moves from our country’s musical theater’s landscape, if not forev - (“Wicked”), original tales (“Avenue Q ”) cultural transition from dependence on er, certainly for a not insignificant time. and Sondheim as touchstone (“Rent”). French, German and English theater to Here the names Harold Prince and Stempel’s big book may be more the beginnings of a native style, finding Stephen Sondheim are most notable. than the occasional fan of the Broadway its footing in Uncle Tom’s Cabin (awak - Stempel also cites the influences of the musical wants or wishes to read. For the ening sympathy and feeling for the different directors, who caught and fervent fan, on the other hand, African race) and The Black Crook . taught all that was physically possible Showtime is refreshingly rewarding, Then it is on to an examination of our on the musical stage. bursting with keen analysis—a capti - gilded age and its variety shows, the ris - Since the history continues to vating keepsake that theater-goers will ing immigrant experience, burlesque unfold, Stempel discusses the current devour. and the black musical influence. Then definition of the “revival” and its three J–GLENN MURRAY, S.J. is parochial vicar at Stempel covers the golden age of contemporary trends: the reconstructed Holy Trinity Church, Georgetown, Washing- American light opera and operetta, and (e.g., “Encores!”) the respected (“Show ton, D.C. the rise of the truly American musical, with its native wit and the likes of Oblate Cohan and Jolson, among others. LOOKING FOR Then there are the even more ambi - tious undertakings, American opera as Summer Institute it were: “Porgy and Bess” (the Presents Gershwins), “Most Happy Fella” A JOB (Loesser), “Fanny” (Rome), “West Side IN THE CATHOLIC SECTOR? TTheologyheology Story” (Bernstein). As Stempel the his - HIRING AT YOUR torian points out, the Broadway musi - aandnd tthehe AArtsrts cal is nothing if not diverse theater CHURCH OR SCHOOL? entertainment: “Guys and Dolls” GET THE WORD OUT WITH (Burrows and Loesser), “The Pajama Game” (Abbott and Bissell, Adler and AMERICA! Ross), “The Music Man” (Willson), “Gypsy” (Laurents, Sondheim and Job Listings are accepted for publication in America's print and Kathleen Norris Styne), “How To Succeed In Business web editions. Without Really Trying” (Burrows, and Mary Jo Leddy Weinstock, Gilbert and Loesser). The For more information contact Julia June 20, 21, & 22, 2011 list goes on. Sosa at [email protected] Telephone: 212-515-0102 or visit: In the midst of this burgeoning of Oblate Renewal Center the “great American showshop” was at WWW.AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORG least one, singular sensation—the pro - ducer George Abbott, whose roster of America Oblate School of Theology authors, songwriters, stagers, perform - 285 Oblate Drive · San Antonio, TX · 78216 ers and entrepreneurs reads like a who’s (210) 341-1366 · www.ost.edu

April 11, 2011 America 27 LETTERS invite Christian leaders to discuss the to indict anyone. Yes, the church must budget, a moral document, judged by face up to this shame because even one how it treats the weakest members of case is too many, but priests have Wringing Hands society. rights too. Maryann Cusimano Love’s “The MARGIE LACHMAN FRANK C. TANTILLO Constitution, by Heart” (3/28) clearly Beaverton, Ore. Freehold, N.J. defines what is wrong with our coun - try today. One political party, pretend - Priests Have Rights Too Respect N.G.O.’s ing to be fiscally and socially conserva - You claim in “Philadelphia Shame” I wish the otherwise illuminating arti - tive, proposes a budget that cuts social (Current Comment, 3/28) that “the cle by Michael Westerhaus, “On Call services upon which so many of our church still has not fully faced the in Amuru” (3/21), had not included poorest citizens depend. At the same scourge of clerical sexual abuse.” One disparaging remarks about N.G.O.’s. time, they want to continue to cut thing the church has not faced is that Ten years working with CARE, the taxes paid by corporations and the the majority of these cases are same- International Rescue Committee and richest Americans. The other political sex. And the constitutional rights of Save the Children in two global mater - party wrings its hands, doing little the accused priests have been lost in nal health programs at Columbia about this draconian budget, as if it the rush to justice. Of the 61 cases University’s Mailman School of Public did not have the power or the will of examined in 2003 in Philadelphia, 24 Health have convinced me that the bulk of our citizens backing it. were dismissed because accusations N.G.O.’s are deeply committed to Our Constitution clearly states that could not be substantiated. In the long improving health care of the poor our goals are to be a people united in run no credible accusations had been under difficult circumstances. Rather establishing domestic tranquility, pro - made against the majority of the than make the brief visits Westerhaus moting the general welfare and liberty priests accused. And the charges describes, the local staffs of the for everyone, including our posterity. among the remaining 24 include mat - N.G.O.’s live and work in underserved The evangelical writer Jim Wallis ters like “boundary issues” and “inap - communities like Amuru improving asked House speaker John Boehner to propriate behavior,” terms so elastic as health services at all levels. The flow of information within N.G.O.’s and to To send a letter to the editor we recommend using the link that appears below articles on contributors includes critical evalua - America ’s Web site, www.americamagazine.org. This allows us to consider your letter for publi - cation in both print and online versions of the magazine. Letters may also be sent to America ’s tions of their work. It is misleading to editorial office (address on page 2) or by e-mail to: [email protected]. They should say that N.G.O.’s avoid critical evalua - be brief and include the writer’s name, postal address and daytime phone number. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. tion for fear of losing funding. GEORGE PATTERSON New York, N.Y.

CLASSIFIED Wills You’ve Got to See It Please remember America in your will. Our legal Books title is: America Press Inc., 106 West 56th Street, I agree with the Rev. Robert Barron CONCILIO VATICANO II: CONCEPTOS Y New York, NY 10019. that the “theology” in the film “The SUPUESTOS. A new publication on Vatican II Adjustment Bureau” (3/21), at least as in Spanish, appropriate for Hispanic study America classified. Classified advertisements are he describes it, is bad. But is theology groups: www.vaticanoii.com. accepted for publication in either the print version of America or on our Web site, www.americam - the point? The single hint that the Parish Missions agazine.org. Ten-word minimum. Rates are per point may be something else appears INSPIRING, DYNAMIC PREACHING : parish word per issue. 1-5 times: $1.50; 6-11 times: when Terence Stamp’s character states missions, retreats, days of recollection; www $1.28; 12-23 times: $1.23; 24-41 times: $1.17; 42 .sabbathretreats.org. times or more: $1.12. For an additional $30, your that most unalterable plans exist print ad will be posted on America ’s Web site for because of the 20th-century experi - Positions one week. The flat rate for a Web-only classified ad ence with free will. So to avoid future EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. Solidarity Bridge, a is $150 for 30 days. Ads may be submitted by e- holocausts, free will has to be reined dynamic medical mission to Latin America mail to: [email protected]; by fax to based in Evanston, Ill., seeks Executive (928) 222-2107; by postal mail to: Classified Department, America , 106 West 56th St., New America (ISSN 0002-7049) is published weekly (except for 12 Director. Bilingual, mission-focused leader combined issues: Jan. 3-10-17, 24-31, May 2-9, June 6-13, 20-27, with spiritual orientation and knowledge of York, NY 10019. To post a classified ad online, go July 4-11, 18-25, Aug. 1-8, 15-22, Aug. 29-Sept. 5, Nov. 28-Dec. 5, to our home page and click on “Advertising” at the Dec. 19-26) by America Press, Inc., 106 West 56th Street, New Latin American culture required. Person will York, NY 10019. Periodicals postage is paid at New York, N.Y., and begin as Associate Director with clear track and top of the page. We do not accept ad copy over the additional mailing offices. Business Manager: Lisa Pope; phone. MasterCard and Visa accepted. For more Circulation: Judith Palmer, (212) 581-4640. Subscriptions: United timeline for becoming the E.D. Send C.V. to: States, $56 per year; add U.S. $30 postage and GST [email protected]. information call: (212) 515-010 2. (#131870719) for Canada; or add U.S. $54 per year for interna - tional priority airmail. Postmaster: Send address changes to: America, 106 West 56th St. New York, NY 10019. Printed in U.S.A.

28 America April 11, 2011 in. As Barron suggests, not following “the plan” would deny Matt Damon’s character his destiny to be a president PAST AND PRESENT and Emily Blunt’s to be a great dancer. But perhaps in their coming together, they are being given an opportunity to The Social Mission of the U.S. take on something that was larger than Catholic Church God’s original plan. Perhaps God’s A Theological Perspective plan is vindicated by our protagonists Charles E. Curran exercising their free will. 978-1-58901-743-6, paperback, $26.95 BRIAN GROSS Moral Traditions series Washington, D.C.

It’s Hard To Forgive The Origins of War You praise Governor Pat Quinn of A Catholic Perspective Illinois for having signed the abolition Matthew A. Shadle 978-1-58901-735-1, paperback, $29.95 of the death penalty into law (Current Moral Traditions series Comment, 3/28). This master flip- flopper has done himself proud, because in Illinois the system just couldn’t get it right all the time. I know that we Catholics are about life, not death. But after having spent my whole adult life on the police force and becom - ing a permanent deacon, I know Jesus teaches us to forgive and himself for - gave those who killed him. But how do I comfort someone whose husband was killed buying a Slurpee at the 7-Eleven when it was being robbed by someone Graduate who didn’t want to leave any witnesses? Heavenly Father, give me the grace to Religious Education support the governor’s decision. GARY KUPSAK Mundelein, Ill. ONLINE Prayer Coins Master of Arts in Religious Education (33 credits) Thank you for William Van Ornum’s Master’s Certi cate in Religious Education (18 credits) beautiful article, “Spiritual Currency” Post-Master’s Certi cate in Religious Education (18 credits) (3/21). It is amazing how much histo - ry and biography can be shown in a t
$PVSTFT
BEESFTT
SFDPNNFOEBUJPOT
GPVOE
JO
UIF
4UBOEBSE
5ISFF
o
small piece of art. While it would be
$BUIPMJD
5IFPMPHZ
-BZ
&DDMFTJBM
.JOJTUSZ
$FSUJöDBUJPO
4UBOEBSET
BOE

&MFNFOUT
PG
*OUFMMFDUVBM
'PSNBUJPO
$P8PSLFST
JO
UIF
7JOFZBSE
PG
UIF
-PSE
wonderful to see the coins in the Vatican Museum, the online slide t
"MM
DPVSTFT
BSF
POMJOF
BOE
SFTJEFODZ
JT
OPU
SFRVJSFE show was wonderful too. I appreciate t
"MM
GBDVMUZ
SFDFJWFE
UIF
.BOEBUVN
BOE
IPME
EPDUPSBUFT the idea of using the coins for medita - t

NJOJTUFSJBM
EJTDPVOU
JT
BWBJMBCMF
UP
RVBMJöFE
QFSTPOT tion and will start with the “Lamb of God Grant Us Peace” and move to St. STUDENTS FIRST Peter in the storm. My favorite is of Peter and Andrew fishing in the Sea of 201.559.6077 or [email protected] Galilee. 
4PVUI
.BJO
4USFFU
-PEJ
/+

t

XXXGFMJDJBOFEV JANICE JOHNSON San Diego, Calif.

April 11, 2011 America 29 THE WORD For the Forgiveness of Sins PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION (A), APRIL 17, 2011 Readings: Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-24; Phil 2:6-11; Mt 26:14–27:66 “This is my blood of the covenant which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins” (Mt 26:28)

sk any Christian why Jesus he washes his hands, declaring, “I am blood signifies acceptance of the life- died, and many will respond, innocent of this man’s blood” (27:24). force of God, which empowers disci - A “to save us from our sins.” In contrast, the crowd responds ples to endure and overcome suffering There are, in fact, a great many differ - with a recognition that the effects of and evil. ing theological explanations for the Jesus’ execution will continue In the Gospel of Matthew this death of Jesus in the New Testament. to redound not only upon power is explicitly linked with The Gospel of Matthew is the only one them but upon their chil - forgiveness. Jesus has lived in which Jesus, with his words over the dren (27:25). This verse and taught forgiveness as a cup at the Last Supper, interprets his is most often read as an means of breaking cycles of death in terms of forgiveness of sins acceptance of respon - violence. He has accepted (26:28). But in Matthew, Jesus’ death is sibility or guilt for the “the cup” of opposition not framed as a sacrifice of atonement death of Jesus. that such a life has engen - but rather as the result of living a life of However, there is no dered, which will culminate forgiving love and teaching others his verb in the sentence, in his death. His own blood way of forgiveness (5:38-48; 9:2-8; making it possible to read it 6:12, 14-15; 18:23-35). Unique to as a statement, “his death is upon us PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE Matthew is the fuller account of the and upon our children.” It is a recog - • As we drink from the cup at Eucharist, treachery of Jesus’ friend and disciple, nition that the effects of violence pray for the ability to resist suffering that Judas, and his tragic end. A question is committed by leaders reverberate is the result of abuse and injustice. set before us, whether we, like Judas, onto the people as a whole and con - • Drink in the life-giving power of God to will be incapable of accepting forgive - tinue to affect future generations. At withstand the suffering that comes from ness or, like Peter, will be open to the the same time, with Jesus’ words living the Gospel. e

forgiveness Jesus freely offers when we over the cup, Matthew asserts that N N

• Drink in the forgiving friendship of Jesus U D fail. Further, can believing communi - the forgiving effects of the shedding and extend it to another. D A t ties embrace those who have sinned of Jesus’ blood also redound to : t r grievously? them. A There is a particular emphasis in Jesus’ invitation to drink from the seals again God’s covenant with God’s Matthew’s Gospel on the shedding of cup of his “blood of the covenant which people, just as Moses did with blood blood and its consequences, which is poured out for many for the forgive - sprinkled on the people (Ex 24:8). The reaches a climax in the Passion narra - ness of sins” (26:28) brings together pouring out of Jesus’ blood “for many,” tive. Previously, Jesus had exposed the two powerful symbols: blood and cup. leaves no one out, as the Greek word refusal of the religious leaders to rec - Blood signifies the life-force over which pollon , reflects a Semitic expression ognize their complicity in the shed - only God has power (Dt 12:23). The where many is the opposite of one , thus ding of the blood of the prophets cup connotes suffering, as in Jesus’ plea the equivalent of “all.” When the angel (23:30), just as Pilate tries to do when in Gethsemane, “let this cup pass from announces to Joseph, “He will save his me” (26:39). By accepting Jesus’ invita - people from their sins” (1:21), it is not BARBARA E. REID, O.P. , a member of the tion to drink from the cup, disciples by a single sacrificial act but by an Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids, Mich., is accept suffering that befalls them as a entire way of life into which his fol - a professor of New Testament studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Ill., consequence of living the Gospel. lowers are invited. where she is vice president and academic dean. At the same time, partaking of the BARBARA E. REID

30 America April 11, 2011 NEW!

Cave Company Fine Ecclesiastical Products and Services "We Still Make House Calls!"

P.O. Box 211 Old Westbury, NY 11568 800-989-CAVE (2283) (516) 676-1231 FAX (516) 676-9695 www.caveco.us Gregory Cave: [email protected]

April 11, 2011 America 31 NATIONALGUARD.com