Of Many Things

THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY march 12, 2012 $3.50 OF MANY THINGS

PUBLISHED BY JESUITS OF THE UNITED STATES he quality of America ’s book to treat religion and globalization, eco - review section is one of our nomic development and democracy, as PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER boasts. Our literary editors well as religious freedom and human JOHN P. S CHLEGEL , S.J. Thave had a rule, however, that we do rights. not invite reviews of collected essays. It The contributions include some by EDITOR IN CHIEF is a rule I subscribe to; but one I occa - classic authors like Thucydides, Drew Christiansen, S.J. sionally work around by devoting an Of Augustine and Aquinas. There are EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Many Things column to a worthwhile notable moderns, like Reinhold MANAGING EDITOR compilation. The book that moves me Niebuhr, John Howard Yoder and Peter Robert C. Collins, S.J. to circumvent the rule this week is Berger, along with practicing scholars, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Dennis R. Hoover and Douglas M. like Jose Casanova, R. Scott Appleby Karen Sue Smith Johnston’s Religion and Foreign Affairs: and Timothy A. Byrnes, and public ONLINE EDITOR Essential Readings (Baylor). At more intellectuals, like Brooks, Robert D. Maurice Timothy Reidy than 600 large pages, it is a hefty book, Kaplan, Samuel P. Huntington and Vali CULTURE EDITOR but the richness of its content should Nasr. James Martin, S.J. make it a standard text. There is more than enough material LITERARY EDITOR Dennis R. Hoover is editor of The here for a one-semester course or even a Raymond A. Schroth, S.J. Review of Faith and International two-semester seminar interspersed with POETRY EDITOR Affairs, a journal published by the reading of full-length, original sources. James S. Torrens, S.J. Institute for Global Engagement For my own taste, however, there is too ASSOCIATE EDITORS founded by the far-sighted Robert A. little on the contribution of religious Kevin Clarke Seiple. Doug Johnston is the founder pacifism and active nonviolence. Kerry Weber of the Center for Religion and Though there are responses by Yoder ART DIRECTOR Diplomacy, a leader in the academic and Rowan Williams to permissive Stephanie Ratcliffe study of the role of religion in foreign application of the just war, the selec - ASSISTANT EDITOR Francis W. Turnbull, S.J. policy and an action intellectual who tions lean to realist and Christian real - has pursued religious reconciliation in ist perspectives. This is disappointing BUSINESS DEPARTMENT some of the world’s most troubled con - because Johnston, in particular, began CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER flict zones. his work bringing the work of peace - Lisa Pope I have worked with both editors, makers like the Mennonites to public publishing a number of articles in Faith attention. 106 West 56th Street and International Affairs, including My other reservation is that Catholic New York, NY 10019-3803 one, “Catholic Peacemaking, 1991- sources are under-represented. The mil - Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596 2005: The Legacy of Pope John Paul lennium between Augustine and the E-mail: [email protected]; II,” republished in this volume. Doug early modern period is represented [email protected] Johnston was a collaborator with me in solely by Aquinas, and the modern Web site: www.americamagazine.org. a project at the Woodstock Theological period overlooks key thinkers like John Customer Service: 1-800-627-9533 Center on forgiveness in politics that Ford, John Courtney Murray and J. © 2012 America Press, Inc. led to a book of the same name that I Bryan Hehir, not to mention epochal co-authored. church teachings, like “Pacem in Terris” Religion and Foreign Affairs has a and “Gaudium et Spes,” which re- broad scope, beginning with an exami - shaped the church’s role in world poli - nation of secularization in the study tics. It also neglects “The Challenge of and practice of international affairs. Peace,” which taught the whole nation That section opens with a piece by how to apply the just war in the nuclear Charles Taylor on secularization and age. closes with another by David Brooks on Reservations aside, Religion and Cover: A demonstrator from the “Kicking the Secularist Habit.” After Foreign Affairs is an extraordinary Occupy Wall Street campaign stands treating the interconnected topics of the achievement. It is a must-have for both with a dollar taped over his mouth in Zucotti Park near the financial dis - ethics of force, religion and conflict and personal and university libraries. trict, New York City, in September religion and peacemaking, it moves on DREW CHRISTIANSEN, S.J. 2011. Reuters/Lucas Jackson CONTENTS www.americamagazine.org Vol. 206 No. 8, Whole No. 4964 march 12, 2012

BOOKS ON THE BIBLE 13 OCCUPY THE FUTURE Can a protest movement find a path to economic democracy? Gary Dorrien

19 ONE NATION UNDER GOD Can we please both church and state in a pluralistic society? John A. Coleman

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 4 Current Comment 13 5 Editorial A State of Dysfunction 6 Signs of the Times

10 Column Absence of Evidence John F. Kavanaugh

25 Faith in Focus Comfort My People Camille D’Arienzo

30 Poem Operating Room, Upper East Side, March 1945 Paul Mariani 36 State of the Question

39 The Word Into the Light 25 Peter Feldmeier

BOOKS & CULTURE 29 BOOKS ON THE BIBLE Cultures Ancient and Modern TELEVISION PBS’s “Downton Abbey”

ON THE WEB ON THE WEB James Martin, S.J., discusses the Catholic side of “ Downton Abbey ” and Gary Dorrien answers questions on the Occupy movement. Plus, the debut of Conciliaria , a new Web site on the history of Vatican II. All at americamagazine.org. 29 CURRENT COMMENT

by the effluvia of campaigning. The contagion has spread Hell in Honduras even to NPR and PBS. Honduras is facing growing international scrutiny following Lent could be a time when we revive our shrinking a jailhouse fire that killed more than 350 inmates, many brains by substituting reading around an issue or just sur - burned alive in their cells. It was the third major prison fire veying the news of the world rather than ingesting the triv - in the last decade. The many institutional failures that led ia of election-year journalism. Imagine how much better to the tragedy suggest a prison system out of control. The we would be prepared to vote in November if every prison barracks where the men died, in Comayagua—about evening we took 20 minutes to read about an issue—the 47 miles north of the capital Tegucigalpa—were seriously Keystone XL pipeline, the Eurozone crisis, the withdrawal overcrowded. Many of the dead had not been convicted of from Afghanistan—rather than taking in the evening any crime; many had in fact been detained merely because news. Try reading The Economist or The Atlantic. Online of their gang-related tattoos. scope out longform.org and givemesomethingtoread.com. The tragedy at Comayagua is a small indicator of a larg - Or take your news from globalpost.com and read its spe - er social breakdown. Democracy appears to be unraveling cial reports. Reject the dumbing down of America and in Honduras. Since the June 2009 coup that deposed the help smarten up the national conversation. volatile President Manuel Zelaya, Honduras has struggled to return to something approaching normalcy but is fail - Minding Our Elders ing. In a ghastly reminder of the past, human rights abuses There is a pile-up of old codgers with hits right now on and the assassinations of opposition, labor and media fig - the Amazon.com music bestseller list—right behind Adele ures are on the rise. (age 23), that is. The seniors include Leonard Cohen (77), Drug violence and diminishing economic opportunities Bob Dylan and Paul Simon (70), Paul McCartney (69), are propelling a new generation of undocumented migrants Bruce Springsteen (62) and Tony Bennett (85). At the northward. It is testimony to conditions in Honduras that 2012 Grammys, McCartney and Bennett won trophies, this treacherous migrant path and an uncertain welcome in too. the United States seem to many a better option than stay - The art world also celebrates its senior citizens. In ing behind. The increasing instability of this Central February, Will Barnet (100), a New York painter and American neighbor seems to warrant closer, proactive printmaker, received a National Medal of Arts, presented attention now, but an immediate need is an independent by President Obama at the White House. That same U.N. Human Rights Council or Organization of American month “Gerhard Richter: Panorama,” a traveling retrospec - States inquiry into the lapses that led to this completely tive of the German artist’s work, opened in Berlin fresh preventable tragedy. from the Tate Modern. Richter (80) has long been an international artist sensation. His thousands of works News Fast include photographic oil paintings (characteristically Lent is upon us. It is the season for fasting from addictions blurred portraits and landscapes plus edgy abstractions), harmful to body and soul. While we at America have pro - prints and drawings. His works have sold for double-digit posed taking up civic engagements for Lent (“What Will millions, prices usually reserved for nonliving artists. You Take Up,” 2/20/12), there is one civic practice It is commonplace to think of pop culture as the Christians might think of giving up: election news. province of the young, but the aged often play leading Electioneering has grown into a 24/7, year-round activity. roles, whether as singers, conductors, actors, composers, There is never a moment when the news media are not writers or artists. As stars age, their fans age with them. covering political personalities, their hypocrisies, their Stars still aglitter often attract the notice of younger gener - gaffes, every hint of scandal, every sound bite. ations. Talent has few borders. It is misguided to think Talking heads, commenting about the ins and outs, ups that young people are drawn solely to their peers. Young and downs of the national political scene are now supple - people in the 1980s idolized Ronald Reagan, the oldest mented by high-tech graphics, illustrating the “metrics” of president ever elected. They flocked to Pope John Paul II the electoral horse races. Solid reporting is displaced by during his last decades, as many do to Pope Benedict XVI surveys of the candidates’ appearances, their digs at their today. The two popes are revered among teens as cultural rivals and fact-checks about their claims. Hard news is celebrities, if not as authoritative religious leaders whose driven from the screen, the airwaves and the printed page precepts they follow.

4 America March 12, 2012 EDITORIAL A State of Dysfunction

ast month brought a rare instance of bipartisanship primary drags on, each candidate when Republicans and Democrats agreed to extend a waiting for the next infusion of Lpayroll tax cut. Unfortunately, the moment of comity cash. It is not surprising that some was overshadowed by an unfortunate reality: the proposed of the most sought after legislation is likely to be the last act of cooperation between Republican contenders chose to the two parties before the November election. Given the ide - opt out of the race. ological divide in Congress, the prospects for substantive In this chaotic environment, President Obama could action in the remaining months of 2012 are remote. have stood against the influence of money in politics. At a time when the country is beginning a fourth Instead, his campaign decided to embrace the “super PAC” straight year of unemployment above 8 percent, Congress system, which allows wealthy individuals to funnel millions will in effect (if not officially) be in recess, thanks to the of dollars to candidates. Campaign staff members explained impending election. In the next few months, the American that they would not “unilaterally disarm” in anticipation of public may be treated to political hearings or stem-winding the November election. Yet in light of the legislative paraly - speeches on the House floor, but very little will be going on sis engendered by this marathon of a campaign season, the in the way of serious engagement with the pressing social president and his staff may wish to reconsider their com - and political issues of the day. plicity in our dysfunction. The Oval Office is a unique piece The increasingly drawn-out presidential election pro - of moral high ground. President Obama would have sent a cess is high on the list of reasons for this state of affairs. powerful message if he had eschewed super PAC money in With each state jockeying for the lead position in the an election year. Republican primary season, this year’s election cycle was With the aid of outside money, President Obama may pushed back to early January. The long schedule, coupled well win a difficult re-election fight. But then what? The with a stunning 20 debates, has provided plenty of distrac - Republicans will surely achieve some notable victories. tion for cable news addicts. Yet it has also given the impres - Super PACs could help put the Senate in the hands of the sion that the presidential election is just around the corner, Republicans, ensuring another two years of political divi - when it is in fact eight months away. sion. Even if the Democrats somehow regain control of both The United States, with its sprawling network of state houses, they will have a short window to implement their primaries, will never be able to embrace a shortened election agenda. Pundits now estimate that the party in power has season in the style of the United Kingdom and other parlia - only 100 days to set a legislative course. After that the pub - mentary governments. But the current presidential selection lic’s attention turns to the midterm elections; and before you process is unsustainable. One hopes that the problems evi - know it, the media will look toward 2016, when the horse dent this year will press both parties to make significant race can begin again. changes in the nomination system. Reform is not a pipe As long as the nation is in permanent campaign mode, dream; in 1968 the backroom deals that traditionally engi - the promise of legislative progress will remain faint. Reform neered the Democratic nomination finally gave way under should focus on two fronts. Shortening the primary season the weight of public scrutiny. This year could be another by sponsoring rotating regional primaries is one proposal such turning point. worth serious consideration. The fewer state contests, the The absurd state of the campaign finance system less likely that super PACs can make mischief. Meanwhile, should help to advance the cause of reform. The two Congress should enact additional disclosure laws to make it Supreme Court decisions commonly referred to as Citizens clear who is donating to super PACs. Other, more unortho - United have, in short order, upended the presidential elec - dox finance reforms should also be discussed, like Max tion process. Thanks to wealthy individuals with idiosyn - Frankel’s proposal (The New York Review of Books, 2/9) cratic agendas, candidates have been able to survive far that would require a candidate to purchase equal time for an longer than they would have managed otherwise. Money opponent when buying a television ad. Creative thinking has fueled the rise of individuals who plainly lack the cre - and close attention will be required to combat the influence dentials or temperament to be president. Meanwhile, the of money in politics and mend our flawed electoral system.

March 12, 2012 America 5 SIGNS OF THE TIMES HUMAN RIGHTS

A child walks a few blocks from an African Numbers Down, But Child Union checkpoint in Mogadishu after an al- Soldiers Remain Global Shame Shabaab withdrawal in August.

he world noted the plight of children trapped in warfare on Feb. 12 during the annual International Day Against the Use of Child TSoldiers. The United Nations reports that thousands of children in at least 15 countries are forced every day to serve in armed gangs or armies as combatants, spies or in sexual servitude. A report released just a few days later by Human Rights Watch suggests how far the world remains from the goal of preventing children from being used as combatants. According to Human Rights Watch, Somalia’s war - ring parties have all failed to protect Somali children from the fighting or from serving in their forces. The Islamist insurgent group al-Shabaab has increasingly targeted children for recruitment and rape and attacked teach - ers and schools, Human Rights Watch said. Since Somalia’s conflict intensified in 2010 and 2011, al-Shabaab has increasingly forced children as young as 10 to join its dwindling ranks. Child recruits are sent to the front lines, where some serve as cannon fod - der to protect adult fighters, Human Rights Watch found. Others have been coerced into becoming suicide bombers. A 15-year-old boy told Human Rights Watch that in 2010, “out of all ties to the conflict in my classmates—about 100 boys— Somalia since 2010. Human only two of us escaped; the rest were Rights Watch called on all par - killed. The children were cleaned off. ties to the conflict, which include The children all died and the bigger Somalia’s Transitional Federal soldiers ran away.” Government and African Union Al-Shabaab has also abducted girls forces against al-Shabaab, to for domestic and front-line service, as release any child soldiers in their well as to be wives to al-Shabaab fight - ranks, protect children formerly ers. Families who try to prevent their associated with fighting forces children’s recruitment or abduction by and protect schools, teachers and al-Shabaab, or children who attempt students from attack. to escape, face severe consequences Human Rights Watch and even death. researchers allege that even “For children in Somalia, nowhere Somalia’s government military is safe,” said Zama Coursen-Neff, and militias aligned with it are deputy children’s rights director at deploying children in their forces Human Rights Watch. “Al-Shabaab despite commitments from rebels have abducted children from Somali officials since late 2010 their homes and schools to fight, for to end the recruitment and use of chil - with rehabilitation and protection in e c i

rape and for forced marriage.” dren. To date no Somali official has accordance with international stan - r P

t r

The report, “No Place for been held accountable for this abuse. dards. “Al-Shabaab’s horrific abuses do a U t S Children,” describes in detail unlawful Government forces have also detained not excuse Somalia’s Transitional / o t o

recruitment and other violations of the children perceived to be supporters of Federal Government’s use of children h P

N laws of war against children by all par - al-Shabaab instead of providing them as soldiers,” Coursen-Neff said. U

6 America March 12, 2012 The number of children involved in Services. Roy also managed to squeeze most severe food insecurity problem active combat is probably now lower in a visit to the United Nations to could occur in southern Mauritania in than the number of 250,000 world - speak with officials there about a num - just a few months. Moving into April wide, previously estimated by the ber of pressing issues including the and summer in the Northern United Nations. That decrease, unfor - formation of an international confer - Hemisphere, food insecurity could tunately, has not been attributed to ence aimed at finally resolving the reach crisis levels in parts of Mali, growing acceptance of the new and decades-long state of crisis that has Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad. widely accepted international proto - been Somalia. Beyond these persisting famine and cols regarding the involvement of chil - “What we are pushing for,” he said, hunger issues, Secretary General Roy dren in armed conflict, which essen - “is there must be a lasting solution to said conditions in Syria have become tially prohibit anyone younger than 18 the situation in Somalia. We can’t just an acute concern in Rome. “The bish - from exposure to combat. It is due be looking at what is happening and ops are very frightened about what is instead to a decline in the number of when there is a drought or when there going to happen to the Christian com - armed conflicts themselves. According is a special upsurge in the conflict, then munity if things go on as they are to Child Soldiers International, many we come in” for an emergency response. now,” Roy said. “The plea again there thousands of children continue to be Roy said, “We have to get involved is stop violence; let us sit around a recruited and used in hostilities by in finding a real solution by bringing table and find a solution.” both government forces and armed all actors together around the groups in most contemporary armed country to discuss the future of conflicts. the country and re-establishing a A boy holds the remains of a state in Somalia.” mortar on Feb. 23 in Homs. Roy expects that the famine RELIEF AND crisis in Somalia will continue to DEVELOPMENT require attention from Caritas through 2012. He added that Full Plate for drought and famine in Africa’s Sahel—a regional belt of semi- New Caritas arid land on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, stretching Secretary from Senegal to South Sudan— amine and state-building in also promises to be a huge con - Somalia, drought and hunger in cern this year. FAfrica’s Sahel region, continu - Representatives from the U.S. Christian communities in Syria, he ing reconstruction in Haiti and the Agency for International Development, said, “felt they were at peace with the deteriorating conditions in Syria are at the European Union and U.N. agencies lay, secular government” of President the top of the 2012 priority list for the met in Rome on Feb. 15 to begin Bashar al-Assad and protected from new Caritas Internationalis secretary preparing an international humanitari - religious intolerance by Assad’s now general, Michel Roy. These make a full an response to this emerging hunger embattled regime. That security may plate for Roy as he nears the end of his crisis. “Due to erratic rainfall and failed now be in jeopardy. All the same, he first year on the job leading the harvests, high food prices and rising thinks, these communities are pre - church’s international umbrella agency conflict,” wrote U.S.A.I.D. Assistant pared to deal with Syria’s changing for relief and development. Administrator Nancy Lindborg in a political realities. “They are ready to y o r

Roy visited New York on Feb. 24, blog post, “more than seven million move forward within another frame of l e h c just days after touring conditions in people across the Sahel region of west - a state,” he said, “but they want to be i m

Haiti, and he used the opportunity to o

ern Africa are at risk of plunging into respected and considered as equal to t o h meet representatives from U.S. and crisis when the lean season begins this others in a new country.” P Canadian Caritas groups, including spring.” The Famine Early Warning the Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Systems Network is predicting that the From CNS and other sources.

March 12, 2012 America 7 SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Rebuilding Libya NEWS BRIEFS As residents of Benghazi, Libya, marked the anniversary of Libya’s rev - Outside the White House on Ash Wednesday, Feb. olution on Feb. 19, the head of the 22, members of the Catholic Worker demonstrated city’s diminished Catholic community for repentance and conversion of “ourselves, our soci - spoke of a need to rebuild his congre - ety and our churches to the Gospel way of justice, gation and of the uncertainties ahead. nonviolence and a reverence for all life and creation.” “Thank God everything passed peace - • After elevating 22 men to the rank of cardinal on fully,” said Bishop Sylvester Magro Feb. 18, Pope Benedict XVI announced that Blessed after a Mass attended by just a few Kateri Tekakwitha and Blessed Marianne Cope of Molokai would be canonized at the Vatican on Oct. White House dozen worshipers, most of them demonstration Filipinos. Beyond the gates of the 21, along with five others. • On Feb. 22 a federal court Church of the Immaculate struck down a Washington State rule that requires pharmacists to Conception, the city’s Mediterranean- dispense the morning-after pill even if it violates their religious facing boulevards were crammed with beliefs. • Catholic Charities USA President Rev. Larry Snyder pre - thousands of revelers, guarded by sented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Nancy Wisdo , the for - heavily armed militia and a fledgling mer associate general secretary of the United States Council of black-clad police force. Libya is an Catholic Bishops, on Feb. 16. • Former Salvadoran Army Col. almost entirely Muslim country, with Inocente Orlando Montano Morales , implicated in the 1989 assas - Christianity restricted to enclaves of sinations of six Jesuit priests, is fighting criminal charges for alleged - foreign workers. Benghazi was once ly lying on immigration papers that have allowed him to live quietly home to a 2,000-strong Catholic com - in the United States for the last 10 years. munity. Now just 300 Catholics remain. Despite the official end to the war in late October and the return of relative security in eastern Libya, Calderón said in English during the especially the neighborhood of Baba Bishop Magro said Catholic migrants unveiling ceremony. “The best way to Amr, a bastion of antigovernment are only slowly returning. The do this is to stop the flow of automatic sentiment. The civilian evacuations prospect of a new, more Islamic gov - weapons into Mexico.” Before unveil - came as representatives of world pow - ernment for Libya has raised some ing the billboard, Calderón supervised ers met in Tunisia and called for a concerns over future restrictions on the destruction of more than 7,500 political solution in Syria, as well as the country’s Christian communities. automatic rifles and handguns at a mil - what one diplomat called a “tsunami itary base in Ciudad Juárez. Calderón wave” of pressure that would peel said more than 140,000 weapons have away internal support for the embat - Calderón’s Gun Show been seized since December 2006, tled regime. Homs has now endured President Felipe Calderón of Mexico when he launched a crackdown against almost four weeks of Syrian army unveiled a “No More Weapons!” bill - drug traffickers. More than 47,500 attacks with artillery and heavy board made with crushed firearms on people have been killed since then. weapons. Hundreds have been killed Feb. 17 near an international bridge in or wounded and neighborhoods Ciudad Juárez. The billboard, which is demolished. Residents have been liv - in English and weighs three tons, can Syria’s Suffering ing in makeshift shelters and were be seen from the United States. Continues running low on food, medical and Calderón said the billboard’s letters Red Cross and Red Crescent rescue other supplies. The Syrian opposition were made out of weapons seized by crews evacuated a few wounded and claims more than 8,000 people have local, state and federal authorities. sick women and children from the been killed since the uprising began “Dear friends of the United States, besieged Syrian city of Homs on Feb. last March, and a U.N. report released Mexico needs your help to stop this 24, even as Syrian government forces on Feb. 23 accused the Assad regime terrible violence that we’re suffering,” continued shelling parts of the city— of “crimes against humanity.”

8 America March 12, 2012 Join America’s Navy Chaplain Corps A small town of 5,500 men and women travel the world on peacekeeping missions, sometimes with no one for spiritual guidance and sacramental opportunities. That is why the Navy needs you. As a member of America’s Navy Chaplain Corps, you’ll minister to the needs of sailors and share with them the challenges and rewards of Navy life. It’s an exciting opportunity for YOUTOSEETHEWORLD RECEIVEEXCELLENTBENElTS WHILEATTHESAMETIME SERVINGBOTH'ODAND country. To learn more about the Navy Chaplain Corps, go to navy.com/chaplain JOHN F. KAVANAUGH

Absence of Evidence n this election year, two questions takes” is making “apologies,” it is a unto others as you would have them will guide my deliberation: What gross distortion of Obama’s public do unto you should be applied to Ievidence is being ignored when words and actions. nations, he suggested. The largely people make political or economic The other side knows how to dis - Christian audience in this largely claims? And what questions are not tort evidence as well. Now that former Christian country was outraged. How being asked about social and moral Senator Rick Santorum seems to be dare he wonder whether Jesus’ summa - issues? surging as the possible Republican tion of the law and the prophets be Making political judgments, like nominee, look for (if it has not hap - applied to contemporary life? Such making moral judgments, ideally pened by the time this column questions must never be asked. approximates the procedures of a court - appears) liberals to mount an orches - And yet, the unasked questions are room. In fact, when we exercise our trated ridicule of his approach to often just a request for principles and conscience, which is our practical moral human sexuality and his evidence. I for one judgment, we are acting as a judge. And antipathy toward abortion. would love to hear a few like any good judge, if we are going to be If you have not heard it Our political more of them, including able to render a judgment, we must already, you will soon hear a few like these: have evidence. Otherwise our judg - that Santorum has outra - judging If Obama ever suc - ments are groundless and, in a worst geously compared homo - should ceeded in bringing the case scenario, dangerous. sexual acts to bestiality or graduated tax rates back Hearsay is not enough. Interpreta- polygamy. True, he did approximate to where they were in tions are tendentiously inadequate. utter the words in the same courtroom the time of Ronald Unexamined premises nullify argu - sentence, but if you are able Reagan, would that ments. Evidence that has been tam - to find an unedited video of procedures. mean Reagan was a pered with is disqualified. And yet his talk, you will see that he socialist bent on pun - these tactics are the stuff of the politi - was asking for a principle, ishing the rich? cal and media discourse that seems to rather than making a comparison. How does the refusal to pay for rule the day. The question is this: if autonomy is someone’s abortion deny the rights of We have already witnessed pre - the supreme principle in matters of that person? views of the diatribes that will be sexual attraction and love, then on If the government, with our taxes, launched against President Obama: what grounds do we deny marriage has never created a job, what paid for “He hates America.” “He has a hatred between five consenting adults or the interstate highway system, our for white people.” “He hates capital - someone who wants to marry a standing armed forces and our stellar ism.” Could someone please name the domesticated pet? We may not like the politicians? source that justifies such assertions? examples or analogy, but has anyone If you want no restraints on a At best these are perverted interpreta - offered an answer to his question? woman’s right to abortion, do you sup - tions. At worst, they are vile slanders. Similarly, in his opposition to partial port abortion for sex selection? We will no doubt hear again the claim birth abortion, Santorum has been If you wish to criminalize abortion, that Obama “goes around apologizing criticized for his graphic description of should people who play a role in one for America.” Well, even if you grant the procedure. But why? Must such be imprisoned? the questionable proposition that call - evidence be suppressed? If torture or the killing of the inno - ing us an “imperfect union” or admit - A telling moment occurred recently cent is justified for national security, ting that our country has “made mis - during a Republican debate, when Ron does that principle apply to other Paul was questioned about his “non- nations and political groups? intervention” policy. To a cascade of Oops. There’s that golden rule JOHN F. KAVANAUGH, S.J. , is a professor of philosophy at Saint Louis University in St. disdain and hoots, he invoked the again. Better not to have asked the Louis, Mo. golden rule. Perhaps the idea of doing question.

10 America March 12, 2012 8

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An Occupy Wall Street demonstrator is arrested by New York City police dur - ing what protest organizers called a "Day of Action" in New York on Nov. 17. S r e t U e r

, r a g e S e k i m / S N c

: o t o h P

12 America March 12, 2012 CAN A PROTEST MOVEMENT FIND A PATH TO ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY ? Occupy The Future BY GARY DORRIEN

ity governments around the nation have driven Occupy Wall Street demonstrators into the streets—sometimes with unusual force—depriving “Occupiers” of a physical claim on ongoing protest in public space. But the move - ment no longer depends on privileged sites of occupation. CIt may be on its way to becoming something much more—a force for eco - nomic democracy, a contemporary vision of society and economic justice that has deep roots in Catholic and Protestant social ethics. It was not a coincidence that the Protestant social gospel, the modern Catholic tradition of social teaching, various socialist movements, the fields of social ethics and sociology and the ideas of social structure and social justice all arose during the 19th century. They were all cultural products of the clash between corporate capitalism and a rising trade union movement. A call for the common good and economic democracy, the social gospel was a response to the story of its time. The story of our time is that the common good has been getting ham - mered for 30 years. Today’s debates about busting public unions, cutting Medicaid and privatizing Medicare are the culmination of three decades of economic globalization and of massive structural, and to some degree politically engineered, inequality. Social contracts have vanished under threats of obsolescence and ruin, while the global market exploits resources, displaces communities and sets off wealth explosions in wild cycles of boom and bust. Every recent trade deal signed in Washington has resulted in well-pay - ing jobs leaving the United States. Partly as a result of such free trade

GARY DORRIEN is the Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics, Union Theological Seminary, and a professor of religion at Columbia University in New York. His two lat - est books are Kantian Reason and Hegelian Spirit: The Idealistic Logic of Modern Theology (Wiley-Blackwell) and The Obama Question: A Progressive Perspective (Rowman & Littlefield).

March 12, 2012 America 13 commitments, wages have been flat for 35 years and wealth endorsement whatsoever in the modern Catholic and ecu - inequality has accelerated dramatically. In the 1980s the menical Protestant traditions of social ethics. That ethical United States cut the marginal tax rate from 71 percent to system begins with the acceptance of mutual obligation and 28 percent and the capital gains rate from 45 percent to 20 a firm belief in the common good. percent. Since then the share of U.S. income held by the top From this standpoint, three practical points should be 1 percent has more than doubled. The top 10 percent of the made about contemporary debates over tax policy and social U.S. population holds more than 70 percent of the nation’s inequity: wealth; the top 1 percent alone commands an astonishing 1. Americans are not overtaxed. In 2011 the total burden 39 percent share. Meanwhile the bottom 50 percent can on U.S. taxpayers reached the lowest point since 1958. In claim just 2 percent. The United States needs economic 1999 Americans per capita directed 28 percent of their democracy now more than ever. income to federal, state and local taxes; today the number is The global integration of two radically different models 23 percent. As a percentage of gross domestic product at of growth—debt-financed consumption and production- 14.8 percent American taxation is at its lowest level since oriented export and sav - 1950. ing—created a wildly 2. The shift to lower unstable world economy The story of our time is that the taxes is a major reason the featuring asset bubbles United States fell so deeply and huge trade imbal - common good has been getting into debt. If the United ances. During this period States had followed the nearly every manufactur - hammered for 30 years. revenue and spending ing-oriented society not track set at the end of the only outperformed the Clinton administration, United States in income the national debt today growth; they did this with more equitable distribution of would be negligible to nonexistent. Instead, U.S. total debt income. Why didn’t the United States do the same? exploded. Why? Because during the Bush years the marginal rates on income taxes and capital gains taxes were Double Vision sharply reduced at the same time the nation launched an For over two centuries, our nation has debated two funda - expensive new drug prescription benefit and two wars. mentally different answers to the question of what kind of These vast expenditures and deep tax cuts were not offset country the United States should be. The first envisions a by new revenue or spending cuts. They doubled the nation’s society that provides unrestricted liberty to acquire wealth. debt in seven years. The costs associated with that fiscal The second envisions a “realized democracy,” in which rights recklessness keep mounting, accounting for three-fourths of over society’s major institutions are established. the new debt that has accumulated during Barack Obama’s In the first view, the right to property is lifted above the presidency. right to self-government, and the just society minimizes the Today the wealthiest Americans pay minimal income equalizing role of government. In the second view, self-gov - taxes, owing to favorable tax policies in Washington. ernment is considered superior to property; and the just Investment managers earning billions a year are allowed to society places democratic checks on social, political and eco - classify their income as “carried interest,” which is taxed at nomic power. Both of these visions are ideal types, deeply the same rate as capital gains, 15 percent. A tax system that rooted in U.S. history, that reflect inherent tensions serves the common good would create additional brackets between classic liberalism and democracy. Both have limit - for the highest incomes, as the United States once did. It ed and conditioned each other in the American experience. would lift the cap on the Social Security tax, taxing annual But in every generation one of them gains predominance salaries above $102,000 or, at least, creating a “doughnut over the other, shaping the terms of the debate and telling hole” that adds a Social Security tax for individuals earning the decisive story of its time. Today an extreme version of more than $250,000. the first of these two views is being asserted aggressively. 3. Tax rates are not the most important contributor to eco - According to this perspective, a great people is stymied by a nomic growth. Creating a healthy and productive workforce, voracious, intrusive federal government; Americans are educated for 21st-century jobs, is more important than fluc - overtaxed; and government is an incompetent, even mali - tuations in tax rates. Investing in research and technology is cious social force. more important. Sustaining a middle class that buys goods Claims of this sort have deep cultural roots; the Tea and services is more important. Developing a strong infras - Party did not invent them. But this ideology finds no tructure (the United States ranks 23rd in the world) and

14 America March 12, 2012 saving for investment (most Americans have no savings) are ment banking and opening the door to the megabank empires at least as important as tax rates. of the Bush years. Today seven banks control 66 percent of the nation’s assets. The government, by paying off the very Building a Movement? people who created the mortgage meltdown, has made these How can the nation begin to shift direction toward that banks more powerful than ever. The big banks are already contested path to economic democracy? It may already be back to gambling in the credit swaps market. They fought happening. Occupy Wall Street hardly represents the kind every reform in the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill and of force many progressives imagined would arise to promote spend $50 million each quarter to obliterate the minimal significant economic and social reform, but it is building a reforms that did pass, like the bill’s watered down and overly social movement that prizes radical democracy and radical complex Volcker Rule, named for the former Federal Reserve hospitality and measures a distinct blend of nonviolence chairman Paul Volcker. The measure was intended to prevent and outrage. It is committed to an egalitarian, autonomous, banks from making risky trades for their own profit in secu - leaderless process governed by consensus. It has nurtured a rities, derivatives and other financial products, but industry powerful sense of community, building a global protest groups have campaigned for broad exemptions and now the community that is transformative in the lives of those who rule’s regulatory impact is unclear. A social counterforce could are joining it. push back to protect common sense reforms. The Occupy movement is no left-wing counterpart of 3. Support alternative production models. Can we imagine the Tea Party. The Tea Party, from its beginning, identified and invest in real-world alternatives in the nation’s dimin - with the Republican Party and tried to take it over. To a sig - ished manufacturing sector that move beyond the tradition - nificant extent it has done so. The Occupy movement has al dualism of worker and capitalist? People work harder and no similar relationship to the Democratic Party. To many more efficiently when they have a stake in a company. In occupiers, President Obama is a bigger obstacle than a Spain, the Mondragon network of worker-owned manufac - President Romney or a President Gingrich would be, turing cooperatives is spectacularly successful; in the United because loyalty to Mr. Obama restrains many progressives States there are already 14,000 firms with worker-owner - from breaking with the system. ship plans, and approximately 1,000 companies are fully The movement has been clear about what it is against. worker-controlled. The O.W.S. New York City General Assembly declared that it is against allowing corporate economic power to run the government. It is against predatory banking and foreclo - sures, the bailing out of megabanks, the perpetuation of inequality and discrimination based on race, sex, age, gender identity or sexual orientation or age. It is against monopoly farming and the poisoning of the food supply, the abuse of animals, unsafe working conditions, the outsourcing of labor, the legal status of corporations as persons, lack of health coverage, the erosion of privacy and the abuse of mil - itary and police power. Can the movement figure out what it is for? Becoming a force for economic democracy seems a sensi - ble direction to take. Here are some positive positions worth consideration: 1. Support the creation of public banks. The nation spent trillions of taxpayer dollars bailing out banks and eating the toxic debt of the insurance conglomerate American International Group and “too big to fail banks,” like Citigroup. It ought now to establish public banks at the state and federal levels that could finance startups in green technology and provide financing for worker cooperatives that traditional banks spurn. 2. Support real bank reform. In 1999 the Gramm-Leach- Bliley Act repealed the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, tearing down the New Deal wall between commercial and invest -

March 12, 2012 America 15 Economic Democracy The nation’s political leaders in this time of grave crisis may opt for muddling through another lost decade. They may savage public sector unions and slash Medicaid and Medicare, hoping that austerity and limited social and polit - ical expression for workers will somehow restore national vitality. An alternative approach would be to renew the country by investing significantly in a clean energy economy and rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure. Labor, equip - ment and capital costs will never be lower. A bet on human capital and the nation’s future, rather than retrenchments aimed at restoring its past, could offer a payoff well in excess of its economic impact. Most of our traditions in social theory and Christian social ethics have operated with unitary ideas of capitalism and socialism, as though each were only one definitive, mutually exclusive whole. Economic democracy must be built from the ground up, piece by piece, breaking from the universalizing logic of state socialism, taking seriously the POETRY CONTEST idea that there are different kinds of capitalism. Economic Poems are being accepted for democracy is about building up institutions that do not the 2012 Foley Poetry Award. belong wholly to the capitalist market or to the state. Economic democracy extends the values and rights of democracy into the economic sphere, encouraging the devel - Each entrant is asked to submit only one opment of environmentally sustainable economies. typed, unpublished poem of 30 lines or fewer Economic democracy features mixed forms of worker, that is not under consideration elsewhere. community and mutual fund or public bank enterprises. It Include contact information on the same page begins by expanding the sector of producer and consumer as the poem. Poems will not be returned. cooperatives, community land trusts and community finance corporations. Factors of production do not trump Please do not submit poems by e-mail or fax. everything, but those who control the terms, amounts and Submissions must be postmarked between direction of credit play a huge role in determining the kind Jan. 1 and March 31, 2012. of society everybody lives in. The Occupy movement will soon have to raise its voice on Poems received outside the designated period important policy decisions like these. All Americans would will be treated as regular poetry submissions, benefit if the move - and are not eligible for the prize. ment were to become a ON THE WEB voice for economic Gary Dorrien answers questions on democracy. But what - Occupy Wall Street. The winning poem will be published in the americamagazine.org June 4-11 issue of America. Three runner- ever course it sets, Occupy Wall Street up poems will be published in subsequent represents a large-scale social force that can make a difference. issues. In one month it spread from lower Manhattan to more than 900 cities and four continents. Coalitions are forming that Cash prize $1,000 were not possible six months ago. There is opportunity here for religious communities to play a significant role as well. Send poems to: Wall Street is by far the most commanding force in the Foley Poetry Contest nation’s economic and political life. It requires a certain stub - bornness and moral passion for any movement to set itself America, 106 West 56th St. against something that powerful. Can these stubborn occu - New York, NY 10019 piers move from seizing public sites to seizing this moment in history to begin building a better social order? A

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March 12, 2012 America 17 18 America March 12, 2012 One Nation Under God Can we please both church and state in a pluralistic society? BY JOHN A. COLEMAN

any people think the adage about rendering ity, the free-exercise clause shows that the metaphor of a so- to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to called wall of separation cuts both ways. God what belongs to God pertains primar - ily to the separation of church and state. Yet A History of Persecution Mthe statement arose from a trick question posed to Jesus U.S. Catholics have had good reason to treasure the First about religious liberty. In his time, the Romans imposed a Amendment. They were once persecuted or held as second- head tax of one denarius on every man, woman and slave aged 14 to 60, and it had to be paid in the Roman coinage. Deeply religious Jews opposed using a coin that pictured the emperor Tiberius and contained the title Caesar, Divini Augusti Filius Augustus Pontifex , which means “August Son of the Divine Augustus, High Priest.” For them this repre - sented a kind of idolatry, which compromised their monotheism. So they refused to pay the tax on religious grounds. The Herodians and Pharisees set the question to Jesus as a trap. If he sided with the religious conscientious objectors, Jesus would lose the support of the Herodians, lackeys of the Romans, and of the Roman governor who might see the response as sedition. If Jesus allowed the payment, he would be seen by nationalists and conscientious objectors as a col - laborator. But Jesus sidesteps this trap with the clever retort, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” Jesus refrains from clarifying what belongs to each, advising the questioners to render to Caesar that on which his face appears. Jesus also insists that there are things of God that Caesar cannot touch, saying in effect: pay as much attention to God’s things as to Caesar’s. class citizens in colonies that had religious establishments. These days, few citizens assume that religious liberty is Their attempt to gain religious liberty from English perse - principally a gift to them derived from the good graces of cution by starting the Crown Colony of Maryland, where the state. Rather, as the U.S. Declaration of Independence they extended religious liberty to others, was undercut puts it, religious liberty is an inalienable right from the when a new majority established there the Church of Creator. We honor the First Amendment principle that England. The papal emissaries sent to Paris to confer with government not establish or define religion or impede its Benjamin Franklin about the appointment of a bishop for free exercise. The First Amendment is an act of epistemic the United States were astounded to learn that the govern - e N humility, in that the state admits it has no competency to ment did not regulate, control or try to influence the choice. i z a g adjudicate on matters religious. If the establishment clause Despite the denial of their religious rights by Know- a m

a c reminds religious groups that they have no legitimate man - Nothing, nativist, anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic forces i r e m

date to impose their religious truths on the pluralist major - (and the burning of Catholic churches and the killing of a

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Catholics in Philadelphia in the 1840s) and despite the soci - o h P

etal forces in 1928 and 1960 that tried—against Article 6 of e t i

JOHN A. COLEMAN, S.J., is an associate pastor at St. Ignatius Church S o in San Francisco. For many years he was the Casassa Professor of the Constitution—to keep a Catholic from being elected P m o

Social Values at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. president, the Constitution has protected Catholic liberty. c

March 12, 2012 America 19 And when Catholics fought an attempt in Oregon to forbid tion of the whole of human activity.” Finally, religious com - students from attending religious schools, the Supreme munities have the right “to establish educational, cultural, Court protected their rights (Pierce v. Society of Sisters) in charitable and social organizations under the impulse of 1925. their own religious sense.” One could expect Catholics to be supportive of the reli - Not everyone would agree with this Catholic construal of gious liberty of other minorities—Jews, Muslims and religious liberty. Nor does everyone agree on a single inter - Mormons. Recently, when a group of prominent Catholics pretation of the establishment and free-exercise clauses in issued a statement condemning anti-Mormon bigotry in the the Bill of Rights, although most Americans accept them. Is current presidential election, one signatory was the great the establishment clause a function of the free-exercise grandson of the former governor of New York State and clause, or does it take the indispensably primary role? Can Catholic presidential nominee Al Smith. government accommodate the religious sensibilities of a An American Jesuit scholar, John Courtney Murray, was majority by a kind of “civil religion,” which allows acknowl - the principal architect of the Second Vatican Council’s edgement of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance and decree “Declaration on “in God we trust” on U.S. Religious Freedom,” which coinage? Remember that was subtitled “On the Anyone who has studied the history the U.S. Court of Appeals Right of the Person and of for the Ninth Circuit, in Communities to Social of the First Amendment knows that California, tried to rule the and Civil Freedom in phrase “under God” in our Matters Religious.” The it involves seeking a balance that Pledge of Allegiance ground for religious free - everyone can live with. unconstitutional; others dom, the document have tried to stop the hir - asserts, is that persons ing of chaplains in the U.S. “should act on their own military and Congress. judgment, enjoying and making use of a responsible free - Some would disjoin the religion clauses from the other dom, not driven by coercion.” It notes that “all people are clauses of the First Amendment about freedom of speech bound to seek the truth,” but that obligation rests “upon the and assembly and try to privatize religious liberty. They human conscience” and that “the truth cannot impose itself would not let religious groups show through public argu - except by virtue of its own truth.” The document goes on to ment how their view has relevance to wider societal activi - state: “The human person has a right to religious freedom. ties. These interpreters hide behind Jefferson’s metaphor of This freedom means that all are to be immune from coer - a “wall of separation” and forget his injunction that “all men cion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any should be free to profess and by argument to maintain their human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act opinions in matters of religion and the same should in no in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civic capacities.” publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within Recently, The New York Times ran a series of articles due limits.” about newly perceived threats to religious liberty. A Sikh Even for those we think in error, the right to religious commentator noted ways by which wearing a turban has freedom exists unimpeded. As the decree states, no one been discriminated against: Title VII of the Civil Rights should “be forced to act in a manner contrary to his con - Act was interpreted to mean that employers can segregate science. Nor, on the other hand, is he to be restrained from their Sikh employees from customers. Others have tried to acting in accordance with his conscience…. The act of faith keep Muslims from building their mosques. In the series, is of its very nature a free act.” Not even God coerces faith. Michael W. McConnell, a former federal judge and First “Religious communities,” the document continues, “also Amendment specialist, was quoted as saying, “Whatever its have the right not to be hindered in their public teaching source, any effort to confine religious people and their ideas and witness to their faith.” The document cautions, howev - to an innocuous ceremonial role in public life is a threat to er, that they should “refrain from any manner of action religious liberty and to American democracy.” Anyone who which might seem to carry a hint of coercion or of a kind of has studied the history of the First Amendment knows that persuasion that would be dishonorable or unworthy.” It also it involves seeking a balance that everyone can live with. says, “It comes within the meaning of religious freedom that religious communities should not be prohibited from freely No Easy Solution undertaking to show the special value of their doctrine in Only the naïve would expect any easy consensus on inter - what concerns the organization of society and the inspira - preting the religion clauses. Is religious liberty just one free -

20 America March 12, 2012 dom among others, one that can be easily traded off if there superior to that of those who won the contract, C.R.S. is a conflict of rights? Or was the Supreme Court correct would not directly provide abortion services, which made when it claimed, in two important cases (Sherbert v. the organization ineligible for the contract. Recently, many Werner, 1963, and Wisconsin v. Yoder, 1980), that religious Catholic leaders protested a proposed federal mandate that liberty is privileged among rights and that the government church institutions provide insurance for employees that must show a “compelling” public interest to override it for covers contraception, sterilization and access to abortifa - some other right, and must do so in a way least restrictive or cient pills. They claim that mandates violate their religious burdensome to religion? These two cases feed some con - freedom to follow their consciences on matters of abortion temporary claims regarding new threats to religious liberty. and contraception. Catholic and other religious voices claimed religious dis - These two issues raise vexing issues of religious liberty. crimination when courts decided that the adoption and fos - Will a justice of the peace whose conscience opposes same- ter-child agencies of Catholic Charities must accommodate sex marriage be forced to perform such marriages, even if same-sex couples in Illinois (the agencies had been willing other justices of the peace are available and willing to do so? to refer such couples to other adoption groups). A judge Such a decision was made recently in the Netherlands. In ruled that “no group has a constitutional right to a govern - some U.S. states, nurses and doctors who believe abortion is ment contract,” thus dismissing any religious liberty claims. wrongful killing must assist with the procedure or risk los - The chief counsel of the U.S. Conference of Catholic ing their professional license. Vanderbilt University banned Bishops rejoined: “It is true that the church does not have a Christian groups from meeting on campus because their First Amendment right to a government contract, but it bylaws would disqualify an atheist from membership. does have a First Amendment right not to be excluded from Not every general law precludes some religious exemp - a contract based on its religious beliefs.” tions, of course; Jews and Christians were exempt from Similar complaints were raised when the Department of Prohibition, under the rubric of their religious liturgies. Health and Human Services rescinded a contract with Similarly, religious pacifists are not bound to military con - Catholic Relief Services for the care of victims of sex traf - scription out of respect for religious liberty. On the vexing ficking. Although outside evaluators considered their work issues of abortion and same-sex marriage, society must try

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March 12, 2012 America 21 to accommodate the claimed rights of some with the reli - arguments about religious liberty. An army soldier is work - gious exemptions of others who do not accept the morality ing to get atheist chaplains into the armed services, claiming of what is allowed by law. Overturning religious liberty that the present arrangement violates the establishment rights should always demand that government show a sub - clause because it prefers religion. Proposals are circulating in stantial legal and social burden in order to disallow religious the legislature of the State of Washington that envision exemptions. Whatever one may think about the adoption of mandated abortion coverage in the insurance provisions of same-sex marriage in New York, care was given—as it was all employers. We face another conflict of “claimed” rights, not in other states—to protect the reli - but the religious conscience must strenu - gious exemptions of those who oppose ously resist being coerced into moral evils ON THE WEB the practice. John A. Coleman, S.J., by governmental ukases. No one should Our social world has become so inter - blogs at In All Things. be naïve. Religious civil disobedience may twined and complicated that general laws, americamagazine.org/things grow, if the government attempts to force which do not take into consideration reli - religious believers to betray their con - gious liberty, may still impinge on it. In 2006, when the sciences. An issue on the horizon involves extensions of House of Representatives passed a law making it a crime to assisted suicide laws, as they exist in Oregon. Will any nurse aid or abet an illegal immigrant, the law was so far-reaching or doctor be forced to cooperate? that a church offering shelter, meals or other pastoral out - There is no magic bullet to solve complicated religious reach to such immigrants would be subject to severe crimi - liberty cases. But some kinds of legislative efforts might nal penalty. The Senate did not pass the law. Perhaps it did require religious Americans to choose: compromise their not because Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles pub - faith, or be forced into a privatized religion that betrays the licly instructed his priests and other diocesan pastoral work - more public dictates of their faith or engage in civil disobe - ers not to cooperate with it if it passed. He claimed, rightly, dience. Our society needs more careful discussion and vigi - that it would infringe on part of any church’s reason for lance on the issue of what belongs to Caesar and what being—caring for those in need. belongs to God if all of us, religious or not, are to live Nor is it only religious people who feel the sting of new together and work for the common good of all. A

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24 America March 12, 2012 [email protected] FAITH IN FOCUS Comfort My People

A gathering for grieving families BY CAMILLE D’ARIENZO

ain and snow mingled on the extend comfort to those who grieve. vices, we had never heard so brutal a last Saturday of October The laypeople, priests and sisters story or such a passionate call for R 2011. The day was gray and who make up the nine members of the revenge. This was not the time for somber. I spent a portion of it writing Cherish Life Circle offer hospitality pious correction. We waited. names on pale green cards, each of and consolation to all who come to the It was not long before another which had a sketch of a god-figure service, some every year, others for the holding someone in a welcoming first time. All are given cards on which embrace. What had begun as a chore to write messages to those taken from became a tender task. As I wrote each them or perhaps a prayer to God name, I thought of the named ones’ about their troubled hearts. mothers, at the time each awaited the This fall about 70 of us gathered to birth of a precious child. I imagined remember 22 victims through their their expectations for this new life— relatives and supportive friends. After its future joys and sorrows. On the refreshments and table conversation, next day those very mothers would we offered all present an opportunity accept and wear these cards at a service to share their personal experiences of for families and friends of murder vic - loss, if they wished to do so. Eventually tims. almost everyone spoke; the mourners This is the 15th year the Cherish who spoke Spanish were offered an Life Circle of the Sisters of Mercy and interpreter. mother, whose son had been murdered Safe Horizon Victims Services have One of the first to respond was six years earlier, responded to the welcomed grieving families to such a filled with rage and a desire for woman’s misery. “Your suffering is so gathering. In the early years we met in revenge. From her wheelchair she awful and so fresh,” she said, “it would Brooklyn churches. For the past 10 described the way her 33-year-old son be hard for you to believe this, but it years we have used the auditorium and and caregiver had been slain five will get easier in time. Don’t allow chapel of the Convent of Mercy. The months earlier. She said the four those killers to destroy you too.” building, begun as a motherhouse and killers who broke into her home were Another mother told of the three orphanage in 1862, now houses Mercy not unknown to her. They lived across men who had killed her son. Two Home. This agency, which oversees 13 the street. With a gun to her head and eventually met violent deaths; the supervised residences and a wide range a knife to her throat, she was forced to third was incarcerated for life. Justice of support services for developmental - watch them slaughter her son, from finds its way to the criminals, she rea - ly disabled men and women, is the whom they were demanding drugs he soned. descendant of that 19th-century did not have. As he cried out, “Why A third counseled that in the end, orphanage. During the week the build - are you doing this?” they stabbed him God provides the only real justice.

k c

ing is alive with staff and day pro - to death. Then they mutilated his “Try to pray for the ones who killed a S g N grams. On many weekends the build - body. The distraught mother managed your son.” i P m U j

ing is empty. It is a perfect place to to call 911. The police arrested the A fourth cautioned, “Don’t even / m o c

four, and all are awaiting trial. think of wanting to do to them what . k c o

CAMILLE D’ARIENZO, R.S.M., a member of “I want to do to them what they did they did to your son. That would turn t S r the Mid-Atlantic Community of the Sisters of e

to my son,” she cried. “I want them to you into a terrible person. You’ve got t t

Mercy of the Americas, is a past president of U h

suffer and die like he did.” to let go of the hatred or you’ll never S the Leadership Conference of Women : t r

Religious. In all our years of holding these ser - have peace.” a

March 12, 2012 America 25 Most of those who shared their sor - readings from the prophets Isaiah and row and the wisdom that grows with Jeremiah regarding the importance of the years were women mourning sons. names to the God who calls us “with A few said they wait all year for the an everlasting love.” A speaker gave a chance to return to our service. They brief, touching reflection in English are grateful for the comfort and peace and Spanish after the readings. it offers. Ordinarily the speaker has either had a This year a young man who works loved one murdered or has been a for an emergency medical service in source of comfort to many who have the Bronx joined the group. He was suffered so great a loss. stressed out from witnessing the Then, with the lighting of a paschal deaths of so many victims of violence. candle, the names of the dead were His way of coping, he said, was to run, intoned. Two of our group escorted run and run. the name-bearers to the sanctuary. When the stories ended and tears Along the way each deposited his or were spent, the names were called and her message in a glass bowl, accepted a individuals came to accept and wear red carnation, proceeded to the altar over their hearts the card that identi - steps and faced the congregation. They fied the person they mourned. Then heard a prayer and pledge of remem - we all walked together to the beauti - brance, received a blessing from the ful chapel, a plac e that has heard onlookers and returned to their seats thousands of prayers for over 100 for the final blessing. years. “Comfort, O comfort my people,” The ritual there included hymns says the prophet Isaiah. popular in black congregations, a com - And so we do year after year and munal praying of the 23rd Psalm and are blessed and inspired in return. A

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26 America March 12, 2012 March 12, 2012 America 27 Celebrating the Completion of

1-800-654-04761-800-654-0476

Ignite your spiritual imagination. www.saintjohnsbible.org/celebrate

“This is a great work of art … a work for eternity.” Pope Benedict XVI

28 America March 12, 2012 BOOKS &CULTURE

BOOKS ON THE BIBLE | DANIEL J. HARRINGTON of technical scholarship but also points the way forward to further CULTURES ANCIENT AND MODERN research in what has been one of the most lively areas of biblical studies mong the several dictionary book. She is particularly effective in over the past 50 years. In organizing definitions of culture , the showing the ambiguity of the various this project and bringing it to fulfill - A one that best expresses the characters and even the figure of God ment, the editors and the publisher word’s use in this annual survey of in the narrative. have made a significant contribution books on the Bible involves the to understanding the culture of the beliefs, attitudes, goals, social forms One of the great achievements of New Testament world. and material traits of a group or a recent biblical scholarship has been people. Throughout its Another important con - long history, the Bible tribution to the study of has been both a reflec - Early Judaism is Anathea tion of the cultures in E. Portier-Young’s Apo- which it was produced calypse Against Em- and an influence on the pire: Theologies of cultures in which it has Resistance in Early functioned. Judaism (Eerdmans). The book of Ruth is An assistant professor of one of the most attractive Old Testament at Duke stories in the Bible. Set in Divinity School, she the time of the Judges argues that the first (1200-1000 B.C.), it was Jewish apocalypses most likely composed in emerged from Judea’s the Persian period (538- elite in the 2nd century 333 B.C.) and reflects the B.C. and were a literature agrarian culture of of resistance to empire, ancient Israel. Ruth is a especially to King gleaner, one who follows the har - the discovery and publication of Antiochus IV Epi phanes in his effort vesters, picking up what they leave many Jewish works from the period to rebuild his Seleucid empire. After behind. In Gleaning Ruth: A Biblical between 300 B.C. and A.D. 200 and establishing a conceptual framework Heroine and Her Afterlives (Univ. of the development of early Judaism as for understanding resistance in the South Carolina Press), Jennifer L. an academic field and as the cultural earliest apocalypses, she examines the Koosed brings to the biblical book the matrix of Jesus and early Christianity. historical events and conditions in historian’s respect for its original con - The Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judea from the beginning of texts (imagined and real) and the 21st- Judaism (Eerdmans), edited by John Hellenistic rule through the period of century interpreter’s tool kit of new lit - J. Collins and Daniel C. Harlow, Antiochus’ persecutions (167-64 erary methods and hermeneutical per - brings together the fruits of recent B.C.). Then she shows how the book

r spectives (postcolonial, feminist, research on this phenomenon in one of Daniel, as well as the Apocalypse of e U a B

social-scientific, etc.), supplemented large and handsome volume. It con - Weeks and the Book of Dreams y c N a by her personal experiences and refer - tains 13 major essays synthesizing (incorporated in 1 Enoch) are best N / k c ences to films and novels. Moving significant aspects of Judaism in this understood as resistance literature o t S r between the distant past and the pre - period, as well as 520 alphabetical composed in response to the terror e t t

U sent, Koosed gleans from many differ - entries written by 270 scholars from visited upon Jews by Antiochus. Not h S

: o only does she provide a scholarly and t ent sources and brings out the com - 20 countries. The work not only syn - o h

P plexity and subtlety of this much loved thesizes the results of large amounts plausible account of one of the most

March 12, 2012 America 29 important periods in Jewish history apprehend God’s providential order - studying the New Testament. They (the events leading up to the ing of space, time and created life. reasoned that the time period was too Maccabean Revolt); she also offers a narrow, the excavations were too few sympathetic account of the earliest Not long ago biblical scholars cus - and the New Testament writers were apocalyptists’ ability to look beyond tomarily said that archaeology was not much interested in the informa - their present dire situation and to not thought to be of much help in tion that archaeology could provide. In Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit: Jewish Daily Life in the Time of Jesus (Eerdmans), Jodi Magness, an Operating Room, archaeologist-historian and professor of early Judaism at the University of Upper East Side, March 1945 North Carolina at Chapel Hill, shows how wrong those scholars were. To do so she brings together the results Those wooden floors with their pine-scented antiseptic of extensive archaeological work done recently in Israel and the literary evi - and the argus-eyed lights in the gunmetal shadows dence found in Jewish (Hebrew Bible, of the 59th Street Bridge. And there you are, a small boy Qumran, early Jewish and rabbinic) and early Christian texts (especially the Synoptic Gospels). In placing strapped to a gurney as the mask covers your face, Jesus in the context of everyday the sweet smell muffling your cries, two nurses in white Jewish life, she provides a graphic pic - guiding you down some endless hall, the click of wheels ture of the world in which he lived and worked. Her topics include ritu - als of bodily purification, edible crea - going round & round. And your younger brother tied tures considered as clean or unclean, household vessels, dining customs to the table beside you, still and unmoving, as if already and communal meals, Sabbath obser - lost, and the ether takes hold and the body goes under. vance and fasting, coins and taxes, clothing and religious garb, oil and spit, toilets and toilet habits, and The body unfolds & the music begins, much as a mother’s tombs and burial customs. The effect musings, the missing mother who went off through of her work is to remind us that Jesus had more in common with first-cen - the locked door, whispering it’s all right, it’s all right , tury Palestinian Jews than with 19th and 20th-century European philoso - my little ones, you’ll be fine, fine, just fine-O . And you listen phers and theologians. While not a theologian, she does illuminate many in the time you have left to the honeyed humming obscure passages in the Gospels and in the spinning brain, the merest medley of song, so that illustrates nicely the implications of the Incarnation.

even the glint of that scalpel becomes part of the song now, Most of the New Testament was as the mother sings on, bending above you, bidding written by and for people outside the Land of Israel, and so it reflects her pretty ones to let go as she has and give over to sleep. (and/or rejects) to some extent the culture of the Greco-Roman or PAUL MARIANI Mediterranean world. One way to PAUL MARIANI , poet, biographer and memoirist, former poetry editor of gain an insider’s perspective on that America , is the University Professor of English at Boston College. culture is through Seneca: On Benefits (Univ. of Chicago Press), beautifully introduced and translated

30 America March 12, 2012 by Miriam Griffin and Brad Inwood. John’s Gospel reflects a distinctive sub - Hermann Spieckermann (Old This culture was very much an culture within early Christianity. In Testament)—have joined forces to honor-and-shame society, in which The Riddles of the Fourth Gospel: produce a massive treatment of God in great emphasis was placed on how An Introduction to John (Fortress), the Bible. Their basic thesis is that in you appeared to others and what they Paul N. Anderson, professor of bibli - the Bible God is always in relationship thought of you. Lucius Annaeus cal and Quaker studies at George Fox with persons and the world. This Seneca (4 B.C.-A.D. 65) was a University, focuses insight (see Mk famous statesman, dramatist and on the perplexing ON THE WEB 12:27) allows them Stoic philosopher. His philosophical “riddles” one runs This month’s to consider God’s treatise concerns doing good (or into when taking Catholic Book Club selection. being (six chapters) favors) for someone else and recipro - John’s Gospel seri - americamagazine.org/cbc and God’s doing (12 cating when on the receiving end. ously: theological chapters). They Thus it reveals much about how elite riddles (whether Jesus Christ can be range freely around the Bible, always members of Roman society interacted both human and divine; whether Jesus placing their texts in their historical- and what they regarded as important. is equal or subordinate to the Father; cultural context while focusing on In some cases Seneca comes close to whether the Son judges; etc.), histori - their theological significance not only the Golden Rule: “Let us give benefits cal riddles (whether John’s narrative is in antiquity but also today. Not always in the way in which we would receive historical or theological; whether an easy reading, the English translation is them” (2.1.1). However, despite his eyewitness was the source of John’s still a very Germanic book in style, and many sharp insights about gift tradition; the relationship between most of the footnotes are to German exchange and civility, for the most John and the Synoptic Gospels; etc.) sources. part his world and its values are far and literary riddles (whether the from those of Jesus and Paul, espe - Prologue was an original introduction The year 2011 marked the 400th cially with regard to God’s role in or a later add-on; whether the anniversary of the publication of the social transactions and to the mystery Johannine epilogue is a fresh start or a King James Bible, the translation that of the cross. second ending; whether Jn 7:53–8:11 has most influenced the language and was originally part of John’s Gospel; culture of the English-speaking peo - In Exploring the Spirituality of the etc.). Anderson contends that theolog - ples. Of the many fine books pro - Gospels (Liturgical Press), Patrick J. ically the Johannine “riddles” are main - duced to commemorate the event, one Hartin, a priest of the Diocese of ly a product of the Evangelist’s own of the very best is Manifold Spokane and professor at Gonzaga dialectical thinking, that is, his looking Greatness: The Making of the King University, seeks to meet the hunger for at a subject from one side and then James Bible , edited by Helen Moore spirituality in today’s culture with the another. He contends that historically and Julian Reid (Bodleian Library, in Christian spirituality found in the four the Johannine tradition itself also association with the Folger Gospels. He defines biblical spirituali - shows evidence of dialectical features Shakespeare Library). The volume ty as the search by believers to “inte - that have influenced its development takes its title from the opening words grate life through the spiritual vision of and presentation. That is, the of the translators’ dedication in the those biblical writings that witness to Johannine riddles are due in part to 1611 and subsequent editions (“Great an encounter with God in the person dialogue within the Johannine tradi - and manifold were the blessings…”). of Jesus and the response required by tion, engagement with other traditions The eight essays that make up the their transformed life.” After setting the (Mark’s in particular) and the complex heart of the book concern the context for exploring biblical spirituali - process by which the Gospel reached English-language predecessors of the ty, Hartin examines the spiritual its final form in the Johannine commu - King James Bible, the origins of the visions of Matthew, Mark, Luke and nity. project, the Oxford translators, their John, respectively, with reference to two materials and methods, the KJB and questions: Who is Jesus? and What God has been a surprisingly neglected its cultural politics, its afterlives from transformative response does this topic in biblical scholarship. That is no 1611 to 1769, its history in America encounter with Jesus invite? Then he longer so in the light of God of the and early English Bibles in the Folger gives examples to illustrate how Living: A Biblical Theology (Baylor Shakespeare Library. Written by spe - Christians from past and present have Univ. Press). Two professors at cialists in various fields and accompa - modeled their lives and thinking on the Göttingen University—Reinhard nied by splendid photographs, the spiritual visions of the Gospels. Feldmeier (New Testament) and essays are concise, evenhanded and

March 12, 2012 America 31 fascinating. They capture nicely the choices of material, the editors have rective and a hopeful sign of positive place of the KJB in its original cultur - supplied helpful introductions to each developments within evangelicalism. al context and its impact on subse - chapter and to each item. Some of the quent cultures throughout the cen - highlights among the selections James L. Kugel’s In the Valley of the turies. include the place of the Bible in the Shadow (Free Press) is an exercise in Salem witch trials, the uses of Bible in biblical theology, autobiography and That the Bible has exercised enormous the 19th-century debates over slavery, modern culture. Kugel has taught influence in American history and cul - women and the vote, evolution and Hebrew Bible at Yale, Harvard and ture is beyond dispute. The excellent creationism, and the struggle for civil Bar-Ilan in Israel and is the author of collection of materials included in the rights. The editors also give abundant important books on the interpretation anthology entitled The Bible and space to various “marginal” figures, and effective history of biblical texts. American Culture (Routledge), edit - ranging from the prophetic and chal - This book is also a cancer survivor’s ed by Claudia Setzer and David A. lenging (Martin Luther King Jr.) to the memoir and a report on and critique of Shefferman, who teach in the depart - bizarre (Jim Jones, David Koresh), as research about the origin of religion, ment of religious studies at Manhattan well as to paintings, poems, songs and along with forays into anthropology, College, documents that fact very nice - novels. Their fine anthology both neuroscience, English poetry, ly. After providing a brief framework, informs and entertains. American popular culture and many they present the pertinent materials, other fields. Above all, it is a biblical ranging from colonial times to the pre - In The Bible Made Impossible: Why scholar’s effort to try to integrate what sent, under five major headings: Biblicism Is Not a Truly Evangelical he has read and studied with his expe - spreading the word, the Bible and the Reading of Scripture (Brazos), rience of living with a serious case of republic, the Bible and America’s great Christian Smith, professor of sociolo - cancer. Kugel’s basic thesis is that legal social debates, reading the Bible gy at the University of Notre Dame, reaching out to God—and the eerie in the margins and the Bible and artis - defines the culture of “biblicism” as a proximity of the starkness, and its tic expression. Besides their wise theory about the Bible that empha - intrusion into everyday reality—is a sizes together its exclusive authority, basic part of what it means, or what it infallibility, perspicuity, self-sufficien - has always meant until recent times, e Art and Inspiration of Sieger Köder cy, internal consistency, self-evident for us to be a religious species. He meaning and universal applicability. emphasizes the concepts of human He examines how this approach func - smallness, the “starkness” of the world tions in some American evangelical around us and meeting God “in the circles and contends that it fails valley of the shadow”—a play on Ps because it does not describe accurately 23:4. In this context he treats in fresh what the Bible really is and because it and challenging ways the perennial does not successfully engage the “per - theological problems of suffering, evil, vasive interpretive pluralism” inherent theodicy, justice, monotheism, the in the Bible. Smith first presents a bib - supernatural, secularization, death and lical, sociological and historical cri - the self. This is an unusual and stimu - tique of the American evangelical form lating book, well worth careful reading of biblicism. Then he makes proposals and contemplation. about how evangelicalism can become more authentically evangelical by mak - Recent Catholic documentation on ing Jesus Christ the center of the Bible often refers to it as “the word Christian life (and taking the Bible as of God in human language.” The a primary witness to him), learning to books surveyed here illustrate how Books and high quality posters live with the Bible’s complexity and much our Scriptures reflect their orig - supplied by mail order om ambiguity and rethinking the process inal cultures and have shaped our sub - of understanding the Bible and the sequent history. authority of biblical texts. Given the )662: 4,+0( <2 importance and influence of evangeli - DANIEL J. HARRINGTON, S.J. , is professor of Online catalogue: www.pauline-uk.org New Testament at Boston College School of 10% discount on web orders calism in American religion and cul - Theology and Ministry and editor of New `LENT & EASTER b ture, this book is a both a healthy cor - Testament Abstracts.

32 America March 12, 2012 people who would never willingly TELEVISION | JOHN ANDERSON admit to an appetite for soap operas. TO THE MANOR BORN First aired in the United Kingdom to rave reviews and epic ratings, PBS’s ‘Downton Abbey’ concludes its second season “Downton” was created by that sly dog Julian Fellowes, best known for the The first words of the first episode of sunk. More than a few people, largely two-tiered class drama “Gosford Park” the first season of Downton Abbey, among the impoverished and disen - (2001) and as a screenwriter who

e franchised, saw a divine hand behind t two years ago, were “Oh, my God,” a knows how to skewer upper-class y e k locution probably not as common in the iceberg. Among them was the English hubris to very entertaining S e l i g blues singer Blind Willie Johnson, / Edwardian England as it is in Obaman effect. Among his credits are the e c e i whose song “God Moves on the

P America. In this case, though, the upcoming centenary television series r e t Water” (“God moves, moves, God S words are perfectly appropriate to the “Titanic,” the 2009 feature film a m

r news being received by the North moves, ah, and the people had to run “Young Victoria” and the screenplay to o F

1 Yorkshire telegraph operator we see at and pray”) exuded not glee, exactly, but director Mira Nair’s adaptation of 0 2

d a certain degree of satisfaction. e work on April 15, 1912, who has just “Vanity Fair” (2004), based on t i m i l Such echoes about the intrinsic

learned of the sinking of the Titanic. William Makepeace Thackeray’s N o i

S inequities and cosmic meaning of i That event was a cataclysm of bibli - acidic satire of early 19th-century V e l e cal proportions not just for the 1,517 wealth, privilege and birthright are British life. Published in 1848, the t

m people lost and the snake-bitten precisely what one does not hear in book is subtitled “A Novel Without a l i F l a White Star ship line, but for modern “Downton Abbey,” which recently Hero.” The family at its center is called V i N r ended its second season. Nor would

a Western culture. The ego of progress Crawley. So is the family of “Downton c

: o one expect to. “Downton Abbey” is a t had been bruised; faith in technology Abbey.” Feel free to draw your own o h

P had been ruptured; the unsinkable had soap opera, albeit one that appeals to conclusions.

Left to right: Iain Glen as Sir Richard Carlisle, Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary and Dan Stevens as Matthew Crawley in “Downton Abbey.” Like much fiction that aspires to the intrinsic democracy of “Downton The soapish aspects of the first two historical, the first two seasons of Abbey” diminishes the distinction seasons of “Downton” are pro - “Downton Abbey” telescope world his - between upstairs and down—it’s more nounced: multiple characters, multi - tory, which we see only as it affects the like everyone is crowded onto a land - ple plotlines, ridiculously noble dia - characters in our immediate vicinity. ing. And it is one crowded landing. logue, equally craven characters, all of These are the Crawleys: Robert, the which serve not just a nostalgic but Right Honourable Earl of Grantham perhaps even an atavistic appetite for a (Hugh Bonneville); his American wife, world of vicarious luxury upstairs and Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), Countess something close to contentment of Grantham; their three daughters, below. There is an occasional note of Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery), Lady Marxist discontent—“Our lot always Edith (Laura Carmichael), Lady Sybil gets shafted,” says Thomas at one (Jessica Brown-Findlay) and Robert’s point—but those notes are played by mother, Violet, the Dowager Countess the least likable of characters. Lady (Maggie Smith), who is every Sybil falls for the chauffeur, Tom

“Downton” fan’s favorite font of the Dame Maggie Smith as Lady Violet Branson (Allen Leech), and eventual - politically inappropriate. My favorite ly secures her father’s blessing for her Violet line: “What is a weekend?”— Eighteen characters make up the marriage to him, a plotline that seems accent on the second syllable, emphasis principal population of “Downton clichéd even for “Downton Abbey,” on a lifestyle (before there were Abbey,” a lot of Brits—key to the pro - which suffered from its transition “lifestyles”) that never had to acknowl - gram’s charm. In order to keep tabs on from first season to second, mostly edge the existence of a work week, or everyone, rare is the scene that lasts because all those introductions to work. longer than 30 seconds and that doesn’t characters and story kickoffs con - While the Titanic disaster is leav - end with an ever-so-subtle twist. tained a natural momentum lost in ing its worldwide wake of socio-politi - Viewers are kept in constant motion, the second movement. cal/spiritual upheaval, at Downton the Ping-Ponging from the romantic entan - Perhaps the most remarkable thing sinking feeling has been about money glements of the about “Downton and property. Robert’s cousin James Crawley girls to the ON THE WEB Abbey,” in terms of and his son, Patrick, have gone down intrigues below stairs James Martin, S.J., on the Catholic side structure, is its vio - with the ship. Because of the way the being hatched by of “Downton Abbey.” lent compression of family inheritance is structured, this Cora’s scheming americamagazine.org/podcast time and, occasion - throws the Crawleys into commotion. lady’s maid O’Brien ally, space. No Because the heir must be male, and (Siobhan Finneran) and her equally moments are wasted in comings and because Cora has “failed” to give birth unlikable ally Thomas (Ron James- goings; people speak of arriving and— to a son, cousin Patrick was to inherit Collier); then back to the complicated instantly—have arrived. After both the title and the money, including sub-rosa romance between Lady Mary Matthew and his footman, William, Cora’s dowry, which has been and Matthew Crawley, her cousin and are wounded at the Battle of Amiens “entailed” to the estate. To keep things the family’s middle-class heir apparent. in 1918, they suddenly materialize at tidy, Patrick was to marry Mary. Then Then we ricochet to the stalwart Anna Downton as if they have just returned e c e i

P God moved on the water and, in this (Joanne Froggatt) and the noble Bates from a pub down the block. r e t

S case, propelled a plotline. (Brendan Coyle), who got his game leg Viewers will be curious to see how a m

r Under all the tradition, pomp and serving as Lord Grantham’s batman Fellowes and Co. manage to maintain o F

1 upholstery of “Downton Abbey,” a during the Boer War, who marries the pace they have set for themselves 0 2 d

e world is shifting. A war is coming, Anna and is promptly arrested for the with the third season, to begin some t i m i l

comes, and then goes; women are flex - murder of his gorgonesque blackmailer time next year. The stories may N o i S i ing their muscles. Despite their seem - of an ex-wife (Maria Doyle Kennedy of become more baroque, or time itself V e l e ing contentment, the servant class is “The Tudors”). Around these planets may be suspended. Either way, this t

m not quite as servile as one expects. many moons are in orbit, narratives are viewer will be watching. l i F l a Although predictable comparisons afoot and anachronisms are creeping: V i

N JOHN ANDERSON is a film critic for Variety r

a have been made between “Downton” When Bates is arrested, the police c

and The Washington Post and a regular con - : o t and the classic “Masterpiece Theater” Mirandize him, which probably would tributor to the Arts & Leisure section of The o h

P series “Upstairs/Downstairs,” the not have happened for another 50 years. New York Times.

34 America March 12, 2012 CLASSIFIED sionate care for people of all ages, faiths and back - TEACHER AND SERVICE COORDINATOR. grounds from conception to natural death. C.H.A. Marymount School of New York is seeking a reli - employs dedicated women and men, both religious gious studies teacher to implement our Upper Positions and lay, to support the shared mission of our mem - School social justice curriculum. The position bers, the Catholic health ministry. C.H.A. main - entails coordination of service trips and activities as ASSUMPTION SCHOOL in Pasadena, Calif., tains offices in both Saint Louis, Missouri and well as retreats. The ideal candidate is a practicing seeks an elementary school PRINCIPAL . Washington, D.C. C.H.A. is an equal opportunity Catholic with knowledge of Catholic social teach - Assumption is a vibrant school in a growing parish employer. Interested candidates should send a ing and a degree in religious studies or related field. with a stable enrollment of 300. The Principal cover letter and résumé to: Human Resources, Send résumé and references to: Sr. Clevie reports directly to the pastor and is responsible for The Catholic Health Association, 4455 Woodson Youngblood, R.S.H.M., Marymount School, 1026 fostering the spiritual and academic growth of the Road, St. Louis, MO 63134-3797. Fax: (314) 253- Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028, or to students, in collaboration with the Consultative 3560; e-mail: [email protected]. [email protected]. School Board, the Parish Finance Council and the Pastor. Applicants must be a knowledgeable and practicing Roman Catholic with a thorough under - The DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON , Del., is seek - Wills Please remember America in your will. Our legal title standing of and commitment to the Catholic phi - ing a Head of School for Saint Mark’s High is: America Press Inc., 106 West 56th Street, New losophy of education; have received an M.A./M.S. School. St. Mark’s is a large, diverse, college York, NY 10019. degree in school administration or another related preparatory diocesan Catholic high school that area; hold a California teaching and administrative educates young men and women to be leaders credential; have completed three to five years of whose faith and service reflect the values of excel - successful administrative experience in Catholic lence, humility and integrity. Qualified applicants schools; exhibit excellent communication and tech - will be practicing Catholics who witness Gospel nology skills, budgeting and finance experience. values and support church teachings, hold a mas - Résumés to: [email protected]. ter’s degree in education or administration and have a minimum of five years of experience in CHIEF OF STAFF. The Catholic Health Catholic school leadership. 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The Catholic health Russell Berrie Fellowship ministry is the nation’s largest group of not-for- profit health systems and facilities, which, along with their sponsoring organizations, employ more in Interreligious Studies than 750,000 women and men who deliver services combining advanced technology with the Catholic UP TO TEN FULL FELLOWSHIPS caring tradition. C.H.A. supports the Catholic FELLOWSHIP AWARDS PROVIDE ONE YEAR OF FINANCIAL health ministry’s commitment to improve the SUPPORT TO STUDY AT THE ANGELICUM IN ROME health status of communities and create quality APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 30, 2012 and compassionate health care that works for ANG ELIC VM The Russell Berrie Foundation ROMA everyone. Through C.H.A. the ministry raises its Making A Difference PONTIFICIA UNIVERSITÀ S. TOMMASO D’AQUINO passionate voice advocating justice and compas - http://berrie.iie.eu

March 12, 2012 America 35 STATE OF THE QUESTION Readers respond to Patricia Wittberg’s ‘A Lost Generation?’ (2/20 ) That’s Not Fair priests. The most important positions issues rather than ignore, stifle or spin When I initially read Patricia in the church are not an option for them. I say this as a minister who is Wittberg’s article, I was saddened, over half my class. loyal and loves the faith despite these concerned and yet a bit surprised that Why are young women not going to grave deficiencies, and I continue to I, as a 23-year-old, young practicing church? Because they, like my first encourage young women to see the Catholic woman, was apparently a graders, were once told that they do church as a spiritual home. member of a minority. These not have the option to pursue the min - Unfortunately, all too often the voice thoughts, however, were all far from istry of the priesthood. They were that discourages them comes from the my mind as I headed to teach my first baptized priest, prophet and king, but church’s leaders—not from the secular grade catechism class about Lent. To their options to minister in the role of world. get them into the mindset to start con - a priest ends as a layperson (or reli - MARGOT VAN ETTEN Rochester, N.Y. sidering what sin is and how we receive gious, who again have no place in the forgiveness, I asked a volunteer to help church’s hierarchy). Who can blame Social Pressure me demonstrate what the sacrament of young women for not wanting to be a Patricia Wittberg’s article touched on reconciliation is like. part of that? several issues of concern. But it seems Before we began the enactment, I BECKY MOYLAN that her solutions fall short of resolv - Farmington Hills, Mich. said to the class: “Now, I’m going to ing the underlying malaise she pretend to be the priest. But as you R-E-S-P-E-C-T describes. At best, her solutions are know, I am a girl and therefore I can’t Of course young women are not only partial because the problems be a priest.” Immediate uproar ensued attracted to the church. Why would extend to both sexes, i.e., all the laity. from the girls and boys alike. The girls anyone be drawn to an institution that For example, we read in the public instantaneously in unison responded seems to have such little respect for press of surveys that reveal, with dis - with “What?! That’s not fair! Why them? puted accuracy, the frequency of not?” and the boys proudly embraced Women are not being listened to heretical opinions among the their position with cheers: “Boys rule! adequately. Women’s experience too Generation X group of Catholic You can’t because you’re a girl.” often appears to be ignored or dis - women and the high use of contracep - I completely understood where dained. Like most women, I am not tives by the millennial group of young these girls were coming from. They interested in a form of “feminism” that Catholic women. For the most part, were raised in a world where every has been developed by men and these women have Catholic spouses adult tries to make things as “fair” as imposed on me as “authentic.” The who share their wives’ views or at least possible for them, and they have also church has repeatedly failed to seek mentally tag along. been told that girls can do anything out, value or listen to the experience of These misguided souls look around just as well as boys. women. Rather, leaders still continue them and find that the rest of human - My response was to go with the to write of us as the “other.” ity agrees with them and that the very watered-down theology of Most of the activities that in an ear - church stands mute. My observation is “because Jesus was a man.” Another lier day required women to be mem - that about 90 percent of the people at round of “Not fairs” began. And again bers of a religious order if they wished Mass receive Communion. Too many I agreed with them. It broke my heart. to undertake them can now be done in of those receiving the host are proba - I felt like such a hypocrite for every - the secular world. You don’t have to be bly not in the state of grace, yet nary a thing I had ever taught them in my a sister to teach, to be a nurse, to be a word from the pulpit suggests that classroom. For the past five months, I missionary or even to get an advanced anything is amiss. spent every week reiterating that God education. Moreover, the opportuni - While an acceptable development, loves us unconditionally and equally, ties women have in the secular world the ordination of women probably that he wants the best for us, that Jesus are far more determined by their skills would be taken as “giving in to pres - was a man who preached justice and than by their gender. Why should it be sure” and would not generate much fairness and a million other Catholic- surprising that women focus there? toward curing other ills of the church. isms that in one minute were undone If the church truly values women, it In fact, such action would most likely for these kids because girls can’t be will address their experience of these generate a demand for more “relax -

36 America March 12, 2012 ation” of other traditions. The church istry and that only men are capable of nation was always that none of the 12 loses vitality during periods of flaccid being “ontologically changed” in the Apostles were women, which is ridicu - shepherding, and it now appears as sacrament of holy orders. lous. If that were a good premise, then vulnerable and as unresponsive to var - The next morning after my conver - we should probably say that women ious ills as in the time of Martin sation with my dad, I woke up early should not be educated either, because Luther. enough to attend a weekday Mass. It so few were schooled back then. Oh, BILL BOYD was July 4, Independence Day and the and let’s keep Catholic parishes in the Pawleys Island, S.C. birthday of the United States of South segregated, because it was what America. The priest was on vacation, used to be acceptable. So funny that An Answered Prayer so instead of a Mass, the parish held a the male hierarchy often sees women In prayer I began to question God Communion service. The presider was as the more spiritual vessels, yet will about ideas I encountered in graduate a woman; the lector was a woman; and not allow us into the priesthood! And school studying theology—ideas that the eucharistic minister was a woman. they forget that Jesus treated his focused on Christian feminism, the In this eye-opening moment, I wept in female followers as equals. If Jesus concept of church and the all-male relief that God had heard my prayer. I could treat men and women as hierarchy. When I first asked about had seen the future of my church on a respected equals, why can’t our this matter, I literally approached God quiet morning service in the celebra - church? in fear and trembling because my con - tion of the Eucharist. BONNIE WEISSMAN servative upbringing had told me that NANCY NUGENT Vienna, Va. even thinking about these issues was Washington, D.C. akin to heresy. Call Waiting I honestly think I would have More Spiritual Vessels A person who attended a Call to ignored the issue if it hadn’t been for I am a 59-year-old cradle Catholic Action seminar reported that when my dad’s ordination to the diaconate. mother of two daughters who were invited, over 150 women stood up who I was proud of him and happy for raised in the faith and no longer attend felt they had a “call” to priesthood. I him, but I found myself wrestling Mass or consider themselves Catholic, am just wondering if “call” is not being with his ordination. I didn’t yet know largely due to the way the church confused with “right to become.” I have what was moving in my heart, but I treats its female laypeople. I have found that Ms. Wittberg’s article has kept thinking of how many fewer remained in the church and attend created a foggy area between politics classes he had to take compared with Mass only because I realize the church and the Holy Spirit. This is not a bad those required for my basic master’s is run by human beings, who, even if thing. The subject is worthy of serious degree. This man who had encour - they are very holy or very smart, are contemplation. But which is the driv - aged me that I could do anything he nonetheless human beings. And ing force? Which is the influence? could do was no longer able to say human beings make mistakes. Cultural norms or the Holy Spirit? that when it came to the church. It The argument against female ordi - Should women be ordained as priests hurt both of us. When I ask him about his views today, he understands WITHOUT GUILE that the church needs to transform to meet God’s will for the future. And I saw on that day that my dad would help me with my vocation. Still, I continue to cry out to God about what the church has said to young adults: that God only allows men to the priesthood, that Jesus only selected men as apostles in his min - N I

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March 12, 2012 America 37 because it is relative to today’s society? versations with Christ than did men. ting go of their sorrow and anger over This seems to take us to what Pope Like the women of the modern the statements of many bishops was Benedict has been talking about all church, they are always present, always wearing. along: the dictatorship of relativism. doing what needs to be done. Most of their children and grand - DARRIN M CCLOSKEY I attended a semester-long after - children had embraced other churches. Vancouver, B.C., Canada noon class at a nearby parish last fall. None of these women felt they should About 20 female practicing Catholics, impose their life-long faith on their Who Will Stay? age 55 to 85, gathered weekly. The families, whose reasons for abandon - Many U.S. bishops and Vatican offi - class was on the Scriptures, not on ing Catholicism seemed reasonable cials lack real experience with women feminism. All the women had been and valid. in general and with women in leader - active and faithful members of their A similar discussion took place in ship positions. Because they lack such parish, devoting countless hours of the evening class, a somewhat younger experience and because many travel in service to the church and the parish and more diverse group. Though this narrow social, intellectual and theolog - school. All had raised their children in was only a small sample, the words of ical circles, they are incapable even of the church. the women in these groups, combined imagining, much less trusting in, what At the end of the semester, a dis - with the data in Wittberg’s article, are a church full of educated lay people cussion revealed that all these faithful sobering. The women who spoke are empowered by the documents of women had doubts about their own the very women who have remained Vatican II might look like or accom - ability to stay in the church. All had faithful to the Catholic vision through plish. These bishops are blind to the considered leaving for another denom - thick and thin, served as their chil - movement of the Spirit and deaf to the ination because of the church’s treat - dren’s first catechists and taken on the sensus fidelum , even as they beatify ment of women and the arrogance of day-to-day labor needed to support John Cardinal Newman. the hierarchy. While all remain in love parish work. If the children of these Bishops should reread the with their faith, their parish and their women are leaving the church, who Scriptures and notice Jesus’ love for church, all voiced the feeling that the will stay? and trust in women. New Testament spiritual, intellectual, psychological MARY BRENNAN ZIEGLER Oak Park, Ill. women had many more extended con - and emotional energy expended in let -

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38 America March 12, 2012 THE WORD Into the Light FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (B), MARCH 18, 2012 Readings: 2 Chr 36:1-23; Ps 1-6; Eph 2:4-10; Jn 3:14-21 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son (Jn 3:16)

hese days, it is hard to miss will say, “When you have lifted up the other is love. To enter into the gift of John 3:16. This is especially Son of Man, then you will realize Jesus is to know and live his love: “As Ttrue if you are a sports fan; that I am” (8:28) and “When I the Father loves me, so I also love placards reading “John 3:16” are often am lifted up from the earth, I you. Remain in my love” (15:9) spotted behind home plate, near end will draw everyone to and “As I have loved you, so zones and throughout basketball are - myself” (12:32). There is you also should love one nas. The Denver Broncos quarterback something about the cross another” (13:34). Tim Tebow even etches the verse into that makes it both an icon Have you ever forgiven the anti-glare black grease under his of God and a magnet for someone for something really eyes. (Let’s not get started on his hav - our souls. serious, and done so freely ing passed 316 yards in the upset play - What is it about the and completely, as pure gift? off win against the Steelers at the end cross that draws us, that Have you ever given yourself of the season.) reveals the divine presence, over to another’s need so com - This oft-cited passage comes from that heals us when we gaze pletely that thoughts about your - today’s Gospel: “For God so loved the upon it? For Jesus, the cross is his PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE world that he gave his only begotten hour and glory (12:23ff, 17:1), the Son, that everyone who believes in ultimate expression of how “God so • Spend some time gazing at a crucifix. him might not perish but might have loved the world.” By making himself • Reflect on how you relate to the cross: eternal life.” This is a crucial piece in a a total offering, he expresses the what draws you or repels you? much longer conversation Jesus has radiant light of divine love. His glory e N

• Give a gift this week such that you disap - N with the Pharisee Nicodemus. He is in his self-emptying; his wealth U d

pear in the giving. d a approaches Jesus at night, in which exists as gift. t

: t r

Jesus represents “the light that has Now that the savior of the world a come into the world” (3:19). Jesus tells has drawn us to the cross, what are him that one must be “born from we to do? John 3:16 tells us that we are self vanished entirely? Have you ever above.” Nicodemus scratches his head. to believe in him. The theme of belief experienced love of God so completely Jesus tells him that one must be “born in Jesus dominates John’s Gospel. But that you seemed to disappear and of water and the Spirit.” Again believing is not simply intellectually what remained seemed only divine? If Nicodemus scratches his head. accepting the claim, “Jesus is Lord.” you answered yes to any of these, you How will Nicodemus (and we) Theological truths are important, but know something of the great mystery escape this darkness? In Jesus’ final this is not the point. Even demons of the cross. response he assures Nicodemus, “Just believe the truth about God “and The cross is a blazing icon of divine as Moses lifted up the serpent in the tremble” (Jas 2:19). Jesus challenges us love. Whoever sees it and believes in desert, so must the Son of Man be lift - to literally “believe into” ( pisteuō eis ) the Lord may have eternal life. ed up, so that everyone who believes in him, that is, we enter into him and Wonderfully, after having experienced him may have eternal life.” Later he fully entrust ourselves to him. “Where the glory of the cross, we find I am, there also will my servant be” Nicodemus, now a disciple, risking his (12:26). life to help prepare the body of the PETER FELDMEIER is the Murray/Bacik Professor of Catholic Studies at the University Believing into Jesus is one of two Lord for burial (19:39). of Toledo. dominant themes in John’s Gospel; the PETER FELDMEIER

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