The National Catholic Weekly March 8, 2010 $3.50 of Many Things
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THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY MARCH 8, 2010 $3.50 OF MANY THINGS PUBLISHED BY JESUITS OF THE UNITED STATES ne of the great members of women call a “living rule.” Were the our editorial staff, one of the Society of Jesus ever to lose its EDITOR IN CHIEF Drew Christiansen, S.J. Ogreat Jesuits and one of the Constitutions, we would need only look greatest men I’ve ever known died on to him to see how our life should be EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Feb. 17, Ash Wednesday, at age 92. lived. He was devoted to “Our Lord,” as MANAGING EDITOR John W. Donohue, S.J., joined America he invariably said, to the Eucharist and Robert C. Collins, S.J. as an associate editor with the April 1, to the church. A man of ascetical rou- EDITORIAL DIRECTOR 1972, issue and retired after the issue of tine, he rose each day at dawn to cele- Karen Sue Smith June 25, 2007. It is difficult to convey brate Mass. On Saturdays he walked ONLINE EDITOR how much he meant to the editors and (less rapidly as the years passed) to St. Maurice Timothy Reidy staff here over those many years. Patrick’s Cathedral to hear confessions. CULTURE EDITOR When John arrived, the editor in He lived his vows with the seriousness James Martin, S.J. chief, Donald Campion, S.J., informed and joy they deserve. LITERARY EDITOR readers (in this column) that John “did Somehow, he combined austerity Patricia A. Kossmann his doctorate in education at Yale, with humility and humor. When I was POETRY EDITOR taught at Fordham University, was the a Jesuit scholastic (John called me James S. Torrens, S.J. first dean of its much-admired Thomas “Mister” in the old style until the day of ASSOCIATE EDITORS More College [for women] and has my ordination), I dropped by his spar- George M. Anderson, S.J. written several books. You will shortly tan room. On his bed, I noticed an Peter Schineller, S.J. catch a further glimpse of his editorial alarmingly old bedspread: a thin can- Kevin Clarke hand at work in a special issue on the dlewick fabric—frayed, faded, ancient. ART DIRECTOR increasingly critical topic of religious “Father,” I said, “I think it’s time for a Stephanie Ratcliffe education.” new bedspread.” “Mister,” he said, “That ASSISTANT EDITORS That “editorial hand” helped America is the new bedspread.” Francis W. Turnbull, S.J. for 35 years in scores of unsigned edito- We loved John not so much for his Kerry Weber rials, as well as frequent signed articles, lucid writing, his vast wisdom, or his ASSISTANT LITERARY EDITOR essays and reviews. He was among the unflagging industry, but for him. John Regina Nigro best of writers: clear, erudite, gracious, was unfailingly polite, refreshingly mild witty—and frequently surprising. and very witty. “I have to do an editorial BUSINESS DEPARTMENT One example: When Christopher on Bosnia,” he said one day in the mid- PUBLISHER Hitchens launched an attack on Mother 1990s about that complex topic. “What Jan Attridge Teresa in his book The Missionary are you going to say?” I asked. “As little CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Position, John told me he planned to as possible.” Mostly, to use an underap- Lisa Pope respond. “Good,” I said. “Show them preciated word, he was kind. John was ADVERTISING how perfect the saints were!” John did one of the kindest people I’ve ever met Julia Sosa the opposite in an article published in and so one of the saintliest. May 13, 1995, called “Holy Terrors,” The engine of his remarkable life was 106 West 56th Street New York, NY 10019-3803 which reminded readers that many of his faith. His was an open, expansive the saints were far from perfect, offering and deeply traditional piety. In John’s Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596 a litany of “difficult” saints, like the iras- last hours on earth, as he lay in his bed E-mail: [email protected]; cible St. Jerome. John quoted one of his in the infirmary, a Jesuit read to him the [email protected] Web site: www.americamagazine.org. teachers, who said of the “vehement” St. close of the Anima Christi: “In the hour Customer Service: 1-800-627-9533 Cyril of Alexandria: “We don’t know of my death, call me. And bid me come © 2010 America Press, Inc. anything about the last 10 years of to Thee, that with all Thy saints I may Cyril’s life. Those must have been the praise Thee, for ever and ever.” years in which he became a saint.” In a Ever the man of tradition, John W. few pages, John politely refuted Donohue, S.J., answered with words Hitchens, informed readers and, inci- from the Rite of Ordination that Cover: Supporters of ousted dentally, changed the way I looked at summed up his long service to Our Honduran President Manuel Zelaya wave flags while blocking a street in sanctity. It was a brilliant piece. Lord: “I am ready and willing.” Tegucigalpa on Nov. 30, 2009. John was what religious men and JAMES MARTIN, S.J. Reuters/Edgard Garrido CONTENTS www.americamagazine.org VOL. 202 NO. 7, WHOLE NO. 4885 MARCH 8, 2010 ARTICLES 12 THE OTHER AMERICA The drama in Honduras depicts Central America’s continuing miseries. Tim Padgett COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 4 Current Comment 5 Editorial Behind Closed Doors 12 8 Signs of the Times 11 Column The Defense Dilemma Maryann Cusimano Love 17 Faith in Focus God Is Ready James Martin 22 Faith in Focus Goodwill Offering Vale rie Schultz 34 Letters 39 The Word Claiming Our Inheritance Barbara E. Reid 22 BOOKS & CULTURE 24 IDEAS Lessons on social change, from Newman to “Juno” BOOKS ON THE BIBLE Exploring where Judaism and Christianity meet ON THE WEB ON THE WEB James Martin, S.J., talks about his new book, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, on our podcast. Plus, a slideshow chronicling the political crisis in Honduras and a critique of snark from Jake Martin, S.J. All at americamagazine.org. 26 CURRENT COMMENT off. In the Gulf of Mexico, three decades of efforts have led The Unsweetened Truth to a slow comeback of the ridley turtle. While no easy With the aim of reducing childhood obesity, first lady solution exists, greater efforts to halt illegal trade in turtles Michelle Obama is working to ensure that sugary drinks through Traffic, the monitoring arm of the Wildlife Fund are no longer served or sold in schools. Such beverages and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, (whether sweetened with sucrose, glucose or high-fructose would be at least a move in the right direction. The danger corn syrup) may not be addictive and when consumed of extinction confronting turtles threatens many other sparingly pose few health risks. But despite an abundance species as well, including birds, plants and land-based ani- of no-calorie alternatives, including flavored waters, mals like leopards. With human activities playing a larger Americans choose sugary drinks as their single major and larger role in once isolated areas of sea and land, pro- source of calories (7 percent of total daily calories for tections for threatened species are more needed than ever. adults, up to 10 percent for children and teenagers). These beverages contribute to two dangerous and expensive Swift-Boating the Church? national health problems: childhood obesity and diabetes. A small but vocal contingent of Catholic conservatives are In theory, government intervention should not be neces- calling for a “tea party” style revolution within the church sary. Parental guidance could have prevented this problem in an effort to root out the dissent they see lurking within and could still solve it. But parents, forced to compete with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic producers and advertisers that market sweetened drinks to Campaign for Human Development. The insertion of children, no longer hold sway. Nor have parents or public hyperpartisan, “Swift boat” style politics into an internal health advocates organized effectively to demand that pro- church dialogue that should be characterized by mutual ducers reduce the sugars per serving or stop marketing to respect and charity is probably the last thing the already kids. Michelle Obama’s leadership might ignite such actions. discordant church in the United States needs. Meanwhile, the rates of obesity and diabetes among In recent weeks a campaign of insinuation and guilt by children are rising. With the health of the nation at stake association has been directed at the leadership of the and the escalating costs of health care borne by all taxpay- U.S.C.C.B. and the Catholic Campaign. Hostility to the ers, government should intervene now by taxing sugary C.C.H.D.’s agenda has been longstanding within certain drinks. Though it would not single-handedly solve either Catholic circles. What is new about these Web-based problem, a tax would make parents and teenagers aware of assaults is the attacks on specific individuals on the what they eat and drink, and it would cause a decline in U.S.C.C.B. staff and the complete absorption of secular consumption. Some reduction of childhood obesity and society’s noxious style of political mudslinging as a legiti- diabetes would inevitably follow. The tax could be revisited mate form of criticism within the church. in 10 years and its effects examined scientifically. Such a The ultimate goal of these attacks appears to be to dis- tax could deliver enormous benefits to society at minimal credit or intimidate employees perceived to be “liberal” cost.