OF MANY THINGS

he management of NBC News proportionate response? Must every 106 West 56th Street New York, NY 10019-3803 announced on Feb. 10 that misstep by a public figure result in Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596 Brian Williams, the award- this kind of behavior, from which so Subscriptions: 1-800-627-9533 T www.americamagazine.org many of us seem to draw such perverse winning anchor of its top-rated NBC facebook.com/americamag Nightly News, had been suspended for satisfaction? The answer, of course, twitter.com/americamag misrepresenting “events which occurred is no, and there is a way to stop it. As while he was covering the Iraq War in René Girard, the Franco-American President and Editor in Chief Matt Malone, S.J. 2003. It then became clear,” said the literary critic, has observed, it is only Executive Editors management, “that on other occasions forgiveness “that is capable of stopping Robert C. Collins, S.J., Maurice Timothy Reidy

Brian had done the same while telling once and for all the spiral of reprisals, Managing Editor Kerry Weber that story in other venues.” which of course are sometimes Literary Editor Raymond A. Schroth, S.J. It’s hard to disagree with NBC’s interrupted by unanimous expulsions, Senior Editor and Chief Correspondent conclusion that Mr. Williams’s but violently and only temporarily.” In Kevin Clarke actions were “wrong and completely other words, tempering our judgment Editor at Large James Martin, S.J. inappropriate.” By reiterating stories with mercy is the only way to stop the Executive Editor, America Films Jeremy Zipple, S.J. that he knew to be false, or at least orgy of public shaming that needlessly Poetry Editor Joseph Hoover, S.J. should have known to be false, Mr. destroys lives and communities. Associate Editor and Vatican Correspondent Williams seriously compromised his Perhaps we should also bear this in Gerard O’Connell credibility as an honest broker of the mind as we consider the life of Blessed Senior Editor Edward W. Schmidt, S.J. news. The likelihood that every one of Junípero Serra, as Jim McDermott, Engagement and Community Editor us is guilty of some form of hyperbolic S.J., writes in this issue. The fact that Elizabeth Tenety Associate Editors Ashley McKinless, Olga Segura self-aggrandizement does not excuse Blessed Junípero was a flawed human Assistant Editors Francis W. Turnbull, S.J., Mr. Williams’s actions, nor does it mean being, beset by some of the more Joseph McAuley that he should not be held accountable. odious prejudices of his time, does not Art Director Sonja Kodiak Wilder Our shared experience of human mean that his legacy is irredeemable. Columnists Helen Alvaré, John J. Conley, S.J., weakness, however, should in some The chief requirement for sainthood Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M., James T. Keane, John W. Martens, Bill McGarvey, Angela Alaimo O’Donnell, discernible way temper our response to is holiness, not perfection, and those Margot Patterson, Nathan Schneider, Robert David Mr. Williams, yet it appears to have had two are in no way the same thing for us Sullivan little effect. As much as Mr. Williams mere creatures. Correspondents John Carr (Washington), An- thony Egan, S.J., and Russell Pollitt, S.J. (Johannes- is the protagonist in the middle of his At press time, it appears that Bill burg), Jim McDermott, S.J. (Los Angeles), Timothy third act, it is also true that there is a O’Reilly, the Fox News host, is being Padgett (Miami), Steven Schwankert (Beijing), powerful antagonist at work. In the days readied for the sacrificial pyre. Slate’s David Stewart, S.J. (London), Judith Valente (Chi- cago), Mary Ann Walsh, R.S.M. (U.S. Church) immediately following the disclosure, headline on Feb. 22 was so familiar it’s Moderator, Catholic Book Club a self-righteous mob of torch-bearing practically a cliché: “Seven CBS Staffers Kevin Spinale, S.J. Twitter-azzi and latter-day Thomas Discredit Bill O’Reilly’s ‘War Zone’ Editorial e-mail Putnams were intent on immolating Claims.” Here we go again. I have no [email protected] Mr. Williams. They have very nearly idea what Mr. O’Reilly did or didn’t succeeded. Rather conveniently, the do; I’m not even sure that I care. But I Publisher and Chief Financial Officer Edward Spallone. Deputy Publisher Rosa Del Saz. Vice phrase “off with his head” contains fewer do know that whatever happens during President/Advancement Daniel Pawlus. Devel- than 140 characters. this latest round of scarlet lettering, we opment Coordinator Kerry Goleski. Operations This all seems very familiar, doesn’t would do well to remember, as David Staff Chris Keller, Glenda Castro. Advertising contact [email protected]; 212-515-0102. it? As David Brooks noted in his Brooks wrote, that “the civic fabric Subscription contact/Additional copies column in The New York Times on would be stronger if, instead of trying [email protected]; Feb. 10, nowadays “when somebody to sever relationships with those who 1-800-627-9533 violates a public trust, we try to purge have done wrong, we tried to repair © 2015 America Press, Inc. and ostracize him. A sort of coliseum them, if we tried forgiveness instead of culture takes over, leaving no place exiling.” for mercy.... The pounding cry for “Public Shaming Gives Way to resignation builds until capitulation Public Forgiveness”; now that would be comes.” breaking news. Cover: Composite image: Shutterstock.com/ But is this public shaming a MATT MALONE, S.J. America Contents www.americamagazine.org VOL. 212 NO.8, WHOLE NO. 5081 March 9, 2015

ARTICLES 15 VACCINE WARS When skepticism goes viral Michael Rozier

19 ALL THE ANGELS AND SAINTS Imagining a church that reflects the diversity of its people Edward K. Braxton

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

4 Current Comment 15 5 Editorial A U.N. for Religion? 6 Reply All 8 Signs of the Times

12 Column Diamonds in the Rust James T. Keane 22 Vatican Dispatch Road Map for Church Leaders Gerard O’Connell 23 Faith in Focus Listening in Ferguson J. Augustine Wetta 25 Generation Faith Lift Me Up Alana Joy Davitt 38 The Word The Weakness of Sin John W. Martens 19 BOOKS & CULTURE

28 THEATER “Hamilton” OF OTHER THINGS Full Immersion Therapy BOOKS Inferno; Mortal Blessings; My Struggle POEM The Flea

ON THE WEB Margot Patterson reports from Havana on Cuban reaction to the breakthrough in diplomatic relations. Also, Rob Weinert- Kendt reviews “The Ice Man Cometh.” Full digital highlights at americamagazine.org/webfeatures. 28 CURRENT COMMENT

on unseaworthy vessels. The migrants who died in early Policing Prejudice February, for instance, tried to make their crossing on It is not every day that a government official quotes a overloaded rubber dinghies that were soon awash and Broadway show tune in a public address. Make that the sinking. This “policy” of indifference only piles cruelty upon nation’s top law enforcement official and a song called cruelty. The Mediterranean’s migrants will not be deterred “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist,” and it’s safe to say the by the threat of a watery demise, since it is the near speech given by James B. Comey, the director of the Federal certainty of death they are already fleeing in Syria, Iraq and Bureau of Investigation, on Feb. 12 was unprecedented. elsewhere. Speaking in Georgetown University’s Healy Hall—named Last November, a cash-strapped Italian government for Patrick Francis Healy, a man born into slavery who terminated Mare Nostrum, a joint military and became the 29th president of the Jesuit institution—Mr. humanitarian operation that had saved thousands of lives. Comey gave a frank and nuanced assessment of today’s It was replaced by the coast-hugging Operation Triton, a strained relations between law enforcement and the European Union effort that has proved fatally inadequate. minority communities they serve. Border control officials and advocates for migrants warn With the legitimacy that only an insider can bring that 2015 will see a record number of attempts to cross to bear, Mr. Comey said that he and many of his fellow the Mediterranean. The European Union must build up officers “develop different flavors of cynicism that we work operational capacity to respond and re-evaluate its current hard to resist because they can be lazy mental shortcuts.” policies on migration and asylum so that this perilous The antidote to such prejudice in police work, he suggests, crossing no longer appears as the only rational option for is empathy: “We must better understand the people we people simply seeking to save their lives. serve and protect—by trying to know, deep in our gut, what it feels like to be a law-abiding young black man walking on the street and encountering law enforcement.” Mass Rape in Darfur Mr. Comey did not, however, let the rest of society off On Feb. 11, the international organization Human the hook. Police officers work courageously in challenging Rights Watch released a 48-page report documenting communities “that most citizens are able to drive around” rape committed systematically by the Sudanese army. The literally and figuratively by ignoring social ills that attacks, which began on the night of Oct. 30 and lasted incentivize criminal behavior. In the national conversation over 30 hours, occurred in the town of Tabit in North on race, sparked by the events in Ferguson last summer, Darfur. According to witnesses, soldiers went from house people have too often spoken past each other. We must all to house looking for rebel soldiers; many of the rapes were take up Mr. Comey’s challenge to confront our own latent ordered because the women were believed to be supporters biases and see the humanity of police and civilians alike. of these soldiers. While the Sudanese government has denied these allegations, H.R.W. has stated that it has “27 first-hand accounts of rape…and credible information Death by Indifference about an additional 194 incidents of rape.” Pope Francis met with a delegation from the Italian coast In addition to denying these allegations, the Sudanese guard on Feb. 17, two days after a massive rescue operation government has prevented the African Union–United pulled more than 2,000 people from the Mediterranean Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, a peacekeeping Sea. That effort followed another tragic loss of life earlier mission established in 2007 to help combat the crisis in in the month, as more than 300 migrants trying to reach the region, from investigating these attacks. H.R.W. has Europe from North Africa were lost in rough winter seas. now called upon the United Nations to get involved. The The pope has consistently brought international attention report emphasizes the need for “concrete steps to protect to the plight of migrants seeking to escape conflict and civilians in Darfur from further abuse” and to “ensure access poverty, and he has appealed for a more merciful response to medical care for victims.” It also demands that “those from European states rushing to close their borders to responsible for crimes in violation of international law [be] these desperate men, women and children. brought to justice.” Western nations, including the United Remarkably, some European leaders believe that States, should take heed and encourage U.N. involvement. maintaining a state of readiness to rescue migrants only While our media attention is focused on today’s atrocities, encourages more escape attempts from North Africa we must not forget about these victims.

4 America March 9, 2015 EDITORIAL A U.N. for Religion? he headline on the CNN website on Feb. 17 read, the theologian William T. Cavanaugh has “Religion’s Week From Hell.” In this case, no one can written, one which is “essentially distinct Taccuse CNN editors of hyperbole. It had been an from ‘secular’ features such as politics and atrocious week—and month—for religions worldwide. The economics and has a peculiarly dangerous week began with another Boko Haram attack, this time in inclination to promote violence.” At the Cameroon. In the United States, a Hindu temple was dese- same time, believers understand these expressions of violence crated, and a Muslim mosque was burned to the ground. The and barbarism as something completely contrary to the essen- murder of three young Muslim people in Chapel Hill, N.C., tial injunctions of mercy, peace and brotherhood at the heart by a man who posted antireligious diatribes on social media of the world’s great religions. shocked the nation. Like other religious leaders from different faiths around Violence continued in Yemen, Iraq and Syria among the world, Pope Francis has said the right things when such Muslim communities. In Delhi the Indian government outbursts trouble television news reports. But this time of ac- struggled to respond to violence and vandalism directed at celerating crisis demands something more substantial from Catholics. In Copenhagen, an apparent sympathizer with the world religious leaders. Islamic State terrorist group fired on people at a synagogue The Vatican has hosted interreligious prayers for peace and a free speech meeting. The week reached a crescendo of in Assisi. It maintains regular channels of dialogue with oth- cruelty on Sunday with the gruesome beheading of 21 Coptic er Christian communities and other faiths, but these are in Christians who had been kidnapped in Libya. effect irregular and small outreach efforts, largely invisible to The ongoing strife in the Arab world is generated by a the wider world. A demand is frequently made that Muslim complex of socioeconomic, historical and political forces, but leaders step forward to condemn the violence perpetrated by it would be foolish to pretend that a twisted religious com- Islamic militants; they have repeatedly done so, but how many ponent is not an accelerant to the conflict. Likewise historical people ever hear of these denunciations? Whether on the grievances within the Orthodox tradition and between that front lines in Ukraine or at a madrassa in North Waziristan, tradition and the Catholic Church are an undeniable aspect of a bolder, consistent expression of religious cooperation, toler- the continuing turmoil in Ukraine and other border regions ance and mercy is needed. of what was once called Christendom. These historic interne- The real and imagined conflicts within the Islamic cine and geopolitical tensions appear to be now spilling over at world and between Islam and Christianity, Christianity and the local level as criminal expressions of intolerance and hate Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam—and on and on—demand begin to appear on the streets of U.S. and European commu- a regular, transparent and frank forum for dialogue and con- nities, as well as in anti-Semitic outbursts in the high-poverty, flict resolution—a United Nations for world religions, as for- low-opportunity ghettoes of France. mer President Shimon Peres of Israel proposed at the Vatican Responding to the escalating pace and expansion of the last September. The Vatican may be uniquely capable of cre- “religious” violence is clearly a responsibility for the world’s ating and sustaining such a forum, and it should put its good political leadership and security entities, but there are no offices, together with influential representatives from other quick or easy solutions, and it is becoming clear that secular faith traditions, to work to do so. leaders are running out of ideas. Trying to “drone” or bomb Politicians can combat extremism nonviolently with Islamic extremism into submission, for instance—apparently greater social and economic investments in troubled spots the default response of political leaders from Washington to around the world, but only the world’s religious leaders— Cairo—may be succeeding mostly in exacerbating that ex- working together—can confront the emptiness within a per- tremism. son’s soul that can lead to “religious” violence. They need to Each cruelty cloaked in religion, each act of violence in do so in a representative, authoritative and permanent forum, the name of God or in honor of the Prophet reduces all re- that. while avoiding reductionism and relativism, is devoted to ligious traditions; it provides false evidence of something ir- discussion of historic grievances and the promotion of toler- redeemable at the heart of religion itself. Astute observers of ance and cooperation. Messages of intolerance and hate need religious phenomena, of course, reject “the idea that ‘religion’ is to be combated with acts of mercy and practical expressions a trans-historical and trans-cultural feature of human life,” as of all that is good in our common humanity and faith.

March 9, 2015 America 5 REPLY ALL diocesan marriage tribunals. I be- teaching of subsidiarity should inform lieve that there is still the need, how- how we address issues in education. Local Process ever, for three members of the local Clearly, more money on its own is not Re: “The Annulment Dilemma,” by tribunal to sign off on the decisions working. Among public school dis- Msgr. Paul V. Garrity (2/16): Finally, regarding a particular case. If a larger tricts that receive the highest per-stu- a seasoned pastor who is able to put a portion of the process could be done dent funding are the lowest performing human face on the trials, tribulations on the local parish level with a recom- schools in urban areas, even in our na- and trauma faced by faithful Catholics mendation from the pastor or another tion’s capital. I understand the desire to seeking an annulment in our overly representative of the clergy working bring up the level of schools in low-in- complicated and overly legalistic pro- on a case, this might expedite matters. come areas to that of higher income ar- cess. While I am fortunate to have I realize that this is additional work eas. This can better be done at a state been married for nearly 30 years to a for the local clergy, but it would make or local level than in Washington, D.C. woman I loved dearly, I can empathize the process less threatening to the pe- Further, schools cannot make up for with those Catholics who are not so titioners. what is behind many students’ inabil- fortunate. Monsignor Garrity does an THOMAS SEVERIN ity to succeed: chaotic, unformed or excellent job presenting the problems Connellsville, Pa. missing families. The increase in poor faced by Catholic laymen and laywom- performance correlates to the increas- en in negotiating the current annul- No Federal Fix ing single motherhood, lack of father ment process. Re “Among School Children” (Editorial, involvement and the poverty and cha- The church has moved somewhat 2/16): Sending billions to the federal os that this life creates. We should not toward the exercise of subsidiarity government to be sieved through a bu- expect the schools to do what society in the process by no longer requiring reaucratic morass and then redistribut- cannot. archdiocesan and Roman tribunals to ed to the states has not helped students Catholic social teaching would be review and confirm findings of local succeed in school. The Catholic social such a benefit in society overall, but political leaders ignore the truth and ef- STATUS UPDATE there should be a debate. We should fectiveness of this approach and instead Readers respond to “Cruel and Unusual? not have our courts legislate this mat- ask for more money for yet another un- Court to Decide on Lethal Injections,” ter, but rather it should be decided by proven, ineffective or wasteful govern- (Signs of the Times, 2/16). our society at large if it is to be prop- ment program. erly effective. Why do we want the ELISABETH ANDERSON The death penalty is legalized mur- death penalty? Is it revenge, “justice” or Online Comment der and costs the taxpayers much protection of society? These questions more than keeping the prisoner in must be addressed in order for our so- Members on a Mission jail for life. And of course, there is al- ciety to accept any alternative. Re “Pope Francis Sends Pallium ways a possibility the person may be DAVID KNOBLE Home,” by Gerard O’Connell (2/16): innocent of the crime he or she was Long ago in my theological studies, I accused of. One-third of people on From a moral perspective, capital pun- was taught by an eminent church his- death row were found to be innocent ishment is a pro-life issue. But as far torian that the pallium was introduced of the crimes they were put on death as the law is concerned, it is permissi- as a vestment of commissioning and row for—not good odds. The system ble under the Constitution. Abortion communion that was given to mission- is not infallible, and I would not like to is not mentioned in the Constitution, ary metropolitans, founders of new be on a jury that wrongly accused an so it falls under the 10th Amendment. churches when they went out from innocent man put on death row. If Roe v. Wade were overturned, abor- Rome to “barbarian lands” as mission- JEAN MARCHESCHI tions might be banned in Utah, but it aries. We were taught that it was to is unlikely they would be in California. be a sign of the mission church’s link That the death penalty is an affront to That Justice Scalia recognizes the dif- with the universal church. I would sug- human dignity seems obvious to me. ference shows he is consistent in his gest that today all of Christ’s faithful, But it is also true that highly moral legal assessment even if it goes against whether in an archdiocese or diocese, people do accept the death penalty. It his religious beliefs. It would be nice if are members of a missionary church, is necessary, as part of the debate, to all the judges were similarly guided by as we are all called to be men and put forth alternative methods of re- the law. women on mission. WILLIAM DOLAN moving evil people from society. And PAUL CURRAN Online Comment

6 America March 9, 2015 Modern Apostles memorable visit to Tacloban, which ceiving the Eucharist. They present no “Take These Gifts,” by Mary Ann was cut short by a tropical storm. The understanding of why the church teach- Walsh, R.S.M. (2/9), provides inter- word that’s going around here in the es that contraception is intrinsically esting descriptive and statistical infor- Philippines is that he never even got to wrong and why divorce violates God’s mation on the status of women in the eat with the survivors. He was allotted plan for marriage. church. But regardless of the high-level 20 minutes with them (from the orig- A responsible use of liberty requires positions held by women, church teach- inal one to two hours) because a hasty the guidance of a well-formed, and ings and pastoral policies that affect decision was made to fly him out before truthful (non-erroneous) conscience. everyone in the church are decided by the typhoon made landfall. So he spent We do not establish or make up mor- the ordained male clergy. I celebrate the 20 minutes walking around and al truth. We only discover it. God gave that Pope Francis has appointed some individually meeting all the survivors us the gift of reason, by which we can women in the Roman Curia dicasteries assembled in the room. He then went search for and attain moral truth. But and councils, but I doubt, given their to his place at the table and, instead of conscience is always a pupil, not a teach- minority status, their influence in gov- eating, spent the time listening to the er (John Henry Newman). When the erning the church will be significant, at survivors’ stories and responded with teaching church repeatedly defines con- least in the near future. much silence and compassion. It is said traception as contrary to God’s plan for We are constantly reminded that that all he had to eat was the chips and spousal love, then we are to accept that men and women are not the same (bi- water that the plane had on the flight teaching while making every effort to ologically true) and are therefore called back to Manila. understand it. One would think that to different roles. It seems that in the Pope Francis really did make time dissenting theologians would be able to secular world, those differences are not with the people. I read stories of sur- see the devastating effects that contra- an obstacle to appoint or elect women vivors who recovered their faith not ception and sterilization have brought for the highest political positions in because Francis came to give them an- to marriage, spousal love, families, most countries. swers but because he came to be with youth and society at large. To ignore the CODY SERRA them, in silence, in their pains, to bring consequences of a contraceptive society Online Comment to them the compassion of God. is not an exercise of prudence. Rather, it ERWIN MONTOJO is one of folly. A Sister’s Gift Online Comment Recognizing that we often make In an especially good issue of America wrong decisions and engage in flawed (2/9), with excellent book reviews Always a Pupil reasoning should make us suspicious (Schmidt, Shelley and Himes) and Re “Following Faithfully,” by Michael of following faithfully and relying too fine columns (Padgett, Sullivan and G. Lawler and Todd A. Salzman (2/2): heavily upon frail, unaided human rea- O’Connell), nothing could match the The authors want to provide Catholics son. marvelous “Take These Gifts,” by Mary with arguments to justify contraception MATTHEW HABIGER, O.S.B. Ann Walsh, R.S.M. I cannot imagine a and divorced and remarried people re- Atchison, Kan. better synthesis of the pluses and mi- nuses of the state of women in today’s church. Sister Walsh has laid it all out as she, former spokesperson for the nation’s bishops, is uniquely qualified to do. And she has pointed the direction that the bishops of today and tomorrow must unquestionably move toward. Maybe, as we today rejoice in the “Francis ef- fect,” we may eventually come to enjoy the fruits of the “Mary Ann effect.” TOM QUIGLEY Online Comment

The Pope’s Presence In “The Pope in the Poncho” (2/9),

Gerard O’Connell describes Francis’ BOB ECKSTEIN CARTOON:

March 9, 2015 America 7 SIGNS OF THE TIMES

U.S. ECONOMY Will Walmart Hike of Entry-Level Pay Be a Retail Game Changer? almart reported on Feb. 19 that it would increase wages and establish more predictable work schedules for employees. New employees will Wreceive a minimum wage of $9 an hour beginning in April 2015 and $10 starting in 2016. In a letter to Walmart “associates,” Walmart’s chief executive officer and president, Doug McMillon, explained the new policy: “We’re always trying to do the right thing and build a stronger business. “We frequently get it right but sometimes we don’t. When we don’t, we adjust,” he said. “When we take a step back, it’s clear to me that one of our highest priorities must be to invest more in our people this year.” Business analysts say the retail giant’s wage decision is being driven by pressure from other large retailers like the Gap, which similarly adjusted its pay scale upward last year. The new wage schedule should help with employee retention and would allow the company to unify wage standards that have become complicated by suc- cessful local and statewide campaigns to raise minimum wages around the country. ALWAYS LOW WAGES? In a statement to the press, Emily Wells, an organizer with the worker-advo- Maybe not: Walmart cates group OUR Walmart, said, “The company is addressing the very issues that we announces a wage hike on Feb. 19. have been raising about the low pay and erratic scheduling.” Wells added, however, that “this announcement still falls short of what American workers need to workers had been receiving, the in- gaining because they know what work- support our families.” She argues that crease falls far short of the $15 an hour ers need and don’t let workers articulate Walmart can do much more. “With currently sought by labor activists in what those needs are themselves.” He $16 billion in profits and $150 billion the retail and fast-food industries. said such paternalism undercuts work- in wealth for the owners, Walmart can Beyond the relatively minimal im- ers’ human dignity. afford to provide the good jobs that pact on what Catholic social teach- “Walmart could pay $20 an hour,” Americans need—and that means $15 ing suggests should be a just wage for Father Oubre added, “but there would an hour, full-time, consistent hours and workers, Father Oubre points out that still be a justice issue here because of respect for our hard work.” the Walmart move does not increase the natural right of workers to join in The Rev. Sinclair Oubre of the the chances that its superstores will associations and represent themselves Catholic Labor Network cautioned become more welcoming of union or- continues to be virulently denied.” that the Walmart decision still leaves ganizing efforts. Walmart has been no- The Walmart move should put much room for improvement, and not toriously aggressive in efforts to keep pressure on other low-paying retailers just on wages. He pointed out that the unions out of its stores. to follow suit. Because of Walmart’s higher wage remains far from a genuine “As Catholics, what cannot be lost mammoth scale—it employs more living wage for the many retail workers in this discussion is that for 120 years than 1.4 million people at its hundreds with families to support. our church has insisted that it is a nat- of locations in the United States—it “Anything that helps workers move ural right of workers to join together in essentially establishes wage and benefit closer to a living wage,” said Father associations [that allow workers to en- policy for the entire retail sector. For Oubre, “we would support.” Though gage] in collective bargaining,” he said. good or ill, Walmart can call the tune. the Walmart minimum is now about Catholic consumers, Father Oubre “This very positive action should not 25 percent above the federal minimum said, should treat with concern “retail or distract [U.S. Catholics] from the larger wage and about 50 cents to a dollar even ecclesial institutions which believe goal, which is two-fold,” Father Oubre more per hour than its entry-level they do not need to have collective bar- said. “Employers have a responsibility

8 America March 9, 2015 in self-professed allegiance to Islamic Christians a “heinous crime” commit- State. Their deaths provoked univer- ted “at the hands of the terrorist gang... sal outrage in Egypt; the government hostile to all human values.” declared seven days of mourning and Jordan’s information minister, launched retaliatory air strikes on ex- Mohammed al-Momani, accused the tremists’ training camps. Islamic State of “inciting blind ha- Bishop Giovanni Innocenzo tred” with the killings, while the Rev. Martinelli, apostolic vicar of Tripoli, Rifat Bader of the Catholic Center for has vowed to stay in Libya even as the Studies and Media in Amman called last foreign nationals scramble to es- the beheadings a “crime not only against cape. Speaking to Vatican Radio, he Arab Christians, but a crime against confirmed that jihadi militants were humanity.” The foreign minister of the currently in the city and that at any United Arab Emirates, Sheik Abdullah moment he and his parishioners could bin Zayed Al Nahyan, meanwhile, re- be taken by terrorists. But Bishop ferred to the Islamic State extremists as Martinelli said he is not leaving his “sick souls frantic to shed the blood of church and the few Christians left in innocents.” Tripoli. “We are ready,” he said, “to bear Auxiliary Bishop William Shomali, witness to whom we are and to what we chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate do, according to the words of Christ.” in Jerusalem, noted that President Martinelli denounced a lack of dia- Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine called logue aimed at ending the nation’s cri- for three days of mourning following sis, arguing that the international com- the beheadings. “It is unbelievable that munity should sponsor talks with the this is happening in the 21st centu- to pay a living wage to employees, and opposing sides in a divided nation that ry,” said Bishop Shomali. “There is too we as consumers have a responsibility needs—first of all—to find internal much brutality. But what gives us com- to be willing to pay a premium so that unity. Referring to the nations of the fort as Christians is the strong Muslim our fellow workers have a just wage.” West, he said, “We have helped our- reaction against [the beheadings]. We KEVIN CLARKE selves to oil; we have guarded our own do not feel alone, and Christians are interests, we have put dialogue and a united with all moderate Muslims, who sincere human exchange between [dif- are the majority.” LIBYA ferent groups] to the side.” At his morning Mass in Rome on SEE THE VICTIMS. Neighbors and Executions Feb. 17, Pope Francis called for prayers friends of 21 Coptic Christians for the slain Egyptians he called “our 21 executed in Libya attend Mass at a Unite World church south of Cairo Feb. 16. brother Copts,” and he asked people to In Horror pray for the victims so “that the Lord he leader of the Catholic welcome them as martyrs.” Church in Libya called for Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Tdialogue and understanding secretary of state, said, “The situation in his violence-torn country on Feb. [in Libya] is serious, and it demands 16, even as prayers and calls for action a united response from the interna- followed the horror of the beheading tional community—a rapid response, of 21 Coptic Christians. The men, the quickest possible from the U.N.” who had come to Libya from Egypt in Jordan’s King Abdullah II, whose coun- search of work, had been kidnapped try is also fighting Islamic State mil- in two separate incidents in December itants in neighboring Iraq and Syria, and January by extremists operating called the beheadings of the Egyptian

March 9, 2015 America 9 SIGNS OF THE TIMES Jesuit Freed by Taliban On Feb. 22 Prime Minister Narendra NEWS BRIEFS Modi of India announced the release In a letter on Feb. 19 to state legislators, Archbishop of Alexis Prem Kumar, S.J., in a com- Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco wrote that he ment on his Twitter feed. The Indian respects the legislators’ right “to employ or not employ Jesuit had been seized in June 2014 in whomever you wish to advance your mission” and expects western Afghanistan after a visit to a the same courtesy after several had urged him to remove Jesuit-supported school for the chil- sexual morality clauses from handbooks for archdiocesan dren of returning refugees he super- teachers. • Muslims on Twitter have been tweeting photos vised as the Afghanistan country rep- of themselves using #Muslims4Lent, declaring what they Colleen resentative for Jesuit Refugee Services. Hanycz will be giving up for Lent as an expression of solidarity and Peter Balleis, S.J., the international mutual respect for Christians. • Appointed on Feb. 17, director of J.R.S., said in a statement Colleen N. Hanycz became the first lay and first female president in released to the press: “The last eight the 152-year history of La Salle University in Philadelphia. • As New months have been a long and diffi- York State lawmakers began in February to consider a bill to legalize cult period of uncertainty.... You can- physician-assisted suicide, the New York State Catholic Conference not imagine our relief that he is now launched a new website “to offer Catholics moral clarity and guid- home, safe and sound. We are aware ance on the church’s teachings regarding end-of-life decision-making.” of the tireless efforts at many levels to • The Conference of European Justice and Peace Commissions, in a achieve his release and we are grateful report on Feb. 18, condemned “racism and xenophobia” in Europe for the consolation we have received and urged religious communities to speak out against a growing “na- from the prayerful support of count- tionalism of exclusion” of the type that preceded both world wars. less friends—including those of the school children from the school where he was kidnapped.” Despite the abduc- debate and no amendment process,” Baltimore. In a letter on Feb. 13 to tion, J.R.S. has continued its work in the group said. A letter from the group the House of Representatives, the Afghanistan. “We were close to the to the White House and Congress bishops, who chair the Committee Afghan people before the abduction of complained that “‘fast track’ is a broken on Pro-Life Activities and the Ad Father Prem and we will continue to and undemocratic process because it Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty accompany them in any way we can,” privileges the views of powerful global of the U.S. Conference of Catholic said Stan Fernandes, S.J., the J.R.S. re- corporations...while excluding voices Bishops, urged legislators to sup- gional director in South Asia. of those adversely impacted.” Trade port and co-sponsor the Health Care agreements should “receive a fair hear- Conscience Rights Act (HR 940). “It ‘Fast Track’ on Trade ing in the public square, protect people is increasingly obvious that Congress living in poverty, promote the dignity needs to act to protect conscientious The Washington-based Interfaith of all workers, and responsibly protect objection to the taking of innocent Working Group on Trade and God’s creation,” the letter said. human life,” wrote Cardinal O’Malley Investment called the Obama ad- and Archbishop Lori. “Recently ministration’s efforts to fast-track the California’s Department of Managed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agree- Acts of Conscience Health Care began demanding that ment “undemocratic” in a statement Congress should reaffirm the prin- all health plans under its jurisdiction on Feb.17. The trade pact between the ciple that government “should not include elective abortions, including United States and about a dozen Asian force anyone to stop offering or late-term abortions. This mandate has countries is expected to lift tariffs on covering much-needed legitimate no exemption for religious or mor- goods and services on an estimated 40 health care” because of a conscien- al objections, and is being enforced percent of U.S. imports and exports. tious objection to abortion or oth- against religious universities, schools Fast-track negotiations “would limit er procedures, said Cardinal Seán and even churches.” Congress to only 90 days of delibera- P. O’Malley, O.F.M.Cap., of Boston tion for the bill with only 20 hours of and Archbishop William E. Lori of From CNS, RNS and other sources.

10 America March 9, 2015 SIGNS OF THE TIMES

DISPATCH | LOS ANGELES A Controversial Canonization

hat should disqualify Serra: California, Indians, and the represented by mission curators. someone from being a Transformation of a Missionary. Once To measure Serra’s actions by Wsaint? baptized, Native peoples were forced 21st-century standards would be unfair. That might seem a funny question. to live on the mission property— And his motives were the best: that the How about sin? But over the course of building, farming and learning to live people might know Jesus. Yet shouldn’t the last month, people in California as Spaniards. the facts to which Andrade, Senkewicz, and elsewhere have been asking it a lot. Few Native Americans understood Galvan and others point also give us In January, Pope Francis announced going in that baptism was an “irrevo- pause? What does it say to canonize that in September he will canon- cable commitment,” says Senkewicz. today someone whose life’s work ended ize Junípero Serra, the 18th-century Many came to the missions not out of up extinguishing whole communities Spanish Franciscan priest whose net- any religious motivation but because (with the advent of European disease) work of missions formed the ba- and even cultures? sis both for Christian evangeliza- Perhaps the bigger question to- tion and Spanish colonization of Serra was a missionary day is, what is canonization for? Is the region. of his time. He was not it meant to make a statement about Pope Francis described Serra a past life, a kind of Catholic gold as “the evangelizer of the west interested in star awarded posthumously? As of the United States,” and by Native cultures. Professor Senkewicz points out, all accounts Serra was a man being a saint clearly does not re- of extraordinary zeal. Over 15 quire a sinless life: “If that were the years he walked many hundreds of the livestock brought by the Spanish case, St. Peter wouldn’t be one.” miles up and down the state to start had destroyed the plants the tribes Philip Chmielewski, S.J., of Loyola the missions, though an ulcerated leg relied on for food. The missions were Marymount University, who has spent kept him in almost constant pain. He their only means of survival. most of his life working on issues of in- fought tirelessly for the work, disput- Today, “Rarely do you find a culturation, wonders if the choice is not ing or even ignoring the orders of the California Native person with a about the past, but the future. “Maybe Spanish governors if he thought he [Native] name like Eagle,” says Ron making someone a saint is to pose a was right. (Like most saints, he usually Andrade, a member of the La Jolla question to people from the time the did.) Tribe, who is executive director of canonization occurs. Maybe Serra is But Serra was also a missionary the Los Angeles City/County Native there to ask us, what kind of faith do we of his time. The diary of his first trip American Indian Commission. Their want to carry to others?” north is rich with affection for Native names, like their cultures, were largely Instead of a declaration, he suggests peoples. But fundamentally he was not erased. it could be “an invitation, even one to interested in Native cultures; he was Even for modern Native people correct the question [that it’s asking].” not there to “go in their door” but to who support Serra’s canonization, like Along highways 101, 82 and 1, small help them leave all that behind. Andrew Galvan of the Ohlone Tribe, replicas of mission bells hang from poles “To become a Christian was to be- who is the curator of Mission Dolores shaped like shepherd’s crooks, marking come a European,” explains Robert in San Francisco, the current rela- the 600 miles the Franciscans traveled Senkewicz, a professor of history tionship between Native peoples and to build and support Serra’s network of at Santa Clara University and the the church leaves much to be desired. 21 missions. In the end, perhaps Serra’s author of the new book Junípero “Most Native peoples have stories canonization is meant to be for us like where we’ve been blocked out of the the ringing of those bells, a reminder, missions,” forced to pay to get into the yes, but also important for the sorts of JIM McDERMOTT, S.J., a screenwriter, is America’s Los Angeles correspondent. Twitter: missions their ancestors built and then things it causes to resonate within. @PopCulturPriest. not consulted on how their history is JIM McDERMOTT

March 9, 2015 America 11 JAMES T. KEANE Diamonds in the Rust ou’re a fan of Bob Dylan, right? antidiscrimination laws against “in- 2015 Grammys. Dylanologists every- But not really. You’re a fan of citement to hatred” for comparing where cringed a bit, I suspect, because Yhis music. You prefer covers Croatians to Nazis. Awkward. this was exactly the sort of moment by Adele, Johnny Cash, The Byrds or And then there’s Dylan’s demeanor where Dylan often deliberately behaves Joan Baez, because you don’t much at his own concerts. When I invited badly. Remember Michael Jordan’s care for Dylan’s voice. And if you’re one friend (a musician himself ) last petty, sneering 2009 acceptance speech like most people, you think Bob Dylan year to a show, he retorted, “to watch for the NBA Hall of Fame? It was sure is sort of a jerk. him treat his audience with utter con- to be something like that. He’s given us plenty of reasons tempt? I’ll pass.” And it’s true; there’s Instead, we were given 30 minutes to think so, and I don’t mean in his no patter with the crowd, no love-fest of beautiful staccato prose, expressing personal life, which is none of our between star and adoring fans. He Dylan’s gratitude for those who helped business. Folks have learned over the walks on stage, he sings his songs the him and who honored him. He talk- decades that to invite Dylan to speak way he wants to (which is almost nev- ed of his heroes (and yes, his enemies: his mind is to court disaster. It started er the way the fans want “They say I can’t sing. in the early days of his career, when them), stares out at the I croak. Sound like a he unleashed a farrago of lies about audience, and he’s gone. It’s To invite frog. Why don’t they his age, name and background long been going on for decades. say similar things about before we knew him any better than Who could like a jerk Dylan to Tom Waits or Leonard that. like that? speak his Cohen?”), reminisced The worst came in December 1963, I love him. I have ever about his own career, two weeks after John F. Kennedy was since a day in 1996 when, mind is made some terrible assassinated, when Dylan turned his backpacking around Italy, to court puns (“I’m going to get acceptance of the Tom Paine Award I bought a bootleg CD of out of here now; I’m go- into a drunken meditation on how “I “Bob Dilon’s Songs” in a disaster. ing to put an egg in my got to admit that the man who shot shady mercatino in Naples shoe and beat it”) and President Kennedy, Lee Oswald.... I and listened to it on repeat gave his views on what saw some of myself in him.” Then there for days. “Every one of them words makes good music or bad art. And he was the abuse he hailed on Time cor- rang true,” to quote Bob, “And glowed showed a few moments of startling respondent Horace Freeland Judson like burnin’ coal/ Pouring off of every vulnerability: “Like the spiritual song, in 1965, captured in the documenta- page/ like it was written in my soul.” I’m still just crossing over Jordan, too.” ry “Don’t Look Back.” (Judson later I’d never heard lyrics like that, never If you loved Dylan already, it was called Dylan “a self-indulgent, whining felt so simpatico with a singer. Two de- an early valentine; if you didn’t, it was show-off.”) Decades of silence or cryp- cades down the road, I’m still an evan- still a moment where the batty uncle tic public remarks have followed. At gelist and apologist. Dylan is to my in the attic showed you what he’s been the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia mind our nation’s new Walt Whitman, working on up there since 1962. Think in 1985, he mused that some of the our poet of the body and poet of the on that for a second—Bob Dylan has money raised for African famine relief soul, someone whose songs have influ- been someone on your mind since should be given to American farmers enced not just musicians but our na- 1962, more than 50 years ago. instead. (The organizer, the musician tional conscience on everything from He turns 74 this May. It’s been Bob Geldof, called Dylan’s remarks war to love to art and aesthetics. The 53 years since he wrote “Blowin’ in “crass, stupid and nationalistic.”) Just man whose lyrics have become our lex- the Wind.” He’s still singing, writing, two years ago, he ran afoul of French icon is entitled, if you ask me, to be a thinking. Even if he says he “ain’t no jerk in public. prophet, and ain’t no prophet’s son,” All this was on my mind when it seems he still has much to tell, our JAMES T. KEANE is an editor at Orbis Books in Ossining, N.Y., and a former associate editor of Dylan received the MusiCares Person Walt Whitman, to an audience that America. Twitter: @jamestkeane. of the Year award recently before the needs to listen.

12 America March 9, 2015 March 9, 2015 America 13 14 America March 9, 2015 DEATH THREAT. Rhett Krawitt, 6, who has leukemia, could die if he catches measles from an unvaccinated child.

Vaccine Wars when skepticism goes viral BY MICHAEL ROZIER he outbreak of measles has many concerned about the resurgence of a deadly disease. But what if it is actually the symptom of something much larger? The outbreak in January, which originated in Disneyland and has spread to over a dozen states, has brought the vaccine debate back to the national spotlight. Many people are criticizing parents who refuse to vaccinate their Tchildren. Physicians, parents and public officials point out the benefits of “herd immuni- ty”—that a vaccine not only protects the child who is vaccinated but safeguards those who are not vaccinated by slowing the spread of the disease. Herd immunity is particularly im- portant for infants too young to be vaccinated and children who are immunocompromised,

like those battling cancer. Parents who refuse vaccination are accused of putting other peo- REUTERS/ELIJAH NOUVELAGE

MICHAEL ROZIER, S.J., is a doctoral student in the department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Mich.

March 9, 2015 America 15 ple’s children at unnecessary risk for deadly diseases. will not solve the debate over vaccines. Over a decade ago, a Parents who oppose vaccines push back, claiming that it prestigious medical journal and a Playboy playmate of the is their right as parents to decide whether to vaccinate their year made strange partners in laying the foundation for the children. Some express a desire for a “toxin free” life for their anti-vaccine movement. The article in The Lancet in 1998 has children. Others believe big pharmaceutical companies push been retracted, and Jenny McCarthy has been contradicted vaccine benefits in order to make a profit. And many, shock- by piles of data; yet hopes that science will ultimately win the ingly, continue to believe there is a link between vaccines and day do not seem to be coming true. Experts must be exhaust- autism, a claim that has been widely ed from constantly reiterating that discredited. We will never get to the link between vaccines and autism Rahm Emanuel, current mayor of has been discredited. The physician Chicago, famously said, “You never the heart of this who published the Lancet article has want to let a serious crisis go to waste.” been barred from practicing medicine. Many public health officials believe issue if we keep There is not much more the public that the most recent measles outbreak health community or public officials is just such a crisis and see it as their pretending that the can do to marshal scientific evidence opportunity to increase vaccination crisis is based on a in defense of vaccines. So what is next? rates in certain parts of the country, I’m sorry to say it, but in some ways where they are low. The Centers for lack of understanding. leaders in the science community have Disease Control and Prevention have contributed to the problem. Since the said that they are “very concerned” scientific revolution, that commu- about a widespread measles outbreak and are once again nity has made concerted efforts to discredit other domains promoting vaccination campaigns. White House Press of knowledge and convince us that science is the one true Secretary Josh Earnest said, “People should evaluate this for font from which to draw. In truth, science has good reason themselves with a bias toward good science and toward the to present itself as the most powerful explanatory model for advice of our public health professionals.” With all due re- our lives. Many aspects of the world that were once explained spect to my public health colleagues and public officials, I by magic and mystery are now very well understood, thanks think they are missing the point. to generations of scientists and their sacrifices. But some sci- I am unequivocally on the side of vaccination. Yet I believe entific leaders pushed a belief in the scientific method with a that this crisis cannot not be easily characterized as the fault of slash-and-burn strategy designed to discredit other ways of the parents who refuse to vaccinate. Some of the blame must knowing. And now science is forced to dwell in the world it also rest on the scientific community, which has too often re- created. So when scientific arguments do not seem to work, fused to acknowledge that values and morals play a sometimes what is left? In practice the solution of many of my colleagues decisive role in our decision-making. We cannot know if these is to keep throwing more science at the problem or to dismiss parents are violating a social expectation until we have an hon- those who dare challenge it as foolish. est conversation about what our social expectations are. In this case, at least, the scientific community must seek We will never get to the heart of this issue if we keep pre- help from an area it discarded as irrelevant long ago. The solu- tending that the crisis is based simply on a lack of under- tion for the low vaccination rates, and many other crises, is standing. It is based on our failure to discuss what we mean to admit that values and beliefs shape people’s lives in major by the common good, to have an honest debate about balanc- ways. There are domains of knowledge—although not em- ing rights and responsibilities and to talk about what we owe pirically testable like gravity and germ theory—that must be our neighbors. debated as openly and clearly as we debate scientific theory. Imagine that instead of getting vaccinated on national tele- Many of the parents who refuse to vaccinate their chil- vision, politicians actually engaged us in a conversation about dren take advantage of “personal belief exemption” laws that the role of the common good. We could then talk about the allow them to send their unvaccinated children to school. In true social consequences of an extreme libertarian philoso- Colorado, the state with the lowest vaccination rate, nearly 20 phy. And we could entertain the notion that our individual percent of children are not fully immunized. An early child- opinions cannot, in fact, be absolutized. This moment is too hood center in Santa Monica, Calif., is reported to have a per- serious to waste on the tired vaccine-autism debate. Let’s talk sonal belief exemption rate of over 65 percent. This means about something that matters. that there are some communities in the United States that have lower vaccination levels than countries suffering from Personal ‘Belief’ Exemptions civil war and famine. Try as one might, encouraging “a bias toward good science” These personal belief exemptions are different from reli-

16 America March 9, 2015 gious exemptions, although they are often difficult to distin- parents unrestricted freedom to vaccinate or not, or you can guish. What we do know is that there is something motivating use the government’s coercive power to limit exemptions so parents to refuse vaccinations even when their physicians give that the community reaches herd immunity. But this contra- them clear evidence of their importance. Talking about more diction in positions will be exposed only if we include values science is not working. So why aren’t we talking about the per- alongside science in our public discourse. sonal beliefs or values that these parents are invoking? And A recent Pew Research survey revealed some notewor- if we think the social expectations are settled and that these thy divisions in this debate. The expected division was parents are violating them, then shouldn’t state laws make ex- based on political philosophy—a slight partisan divide, emption more difficult? with Republicans less likely than Democrats to believe that parents should be required to vaccinate their children. The Worthy Debates unexpected division was one based on age—younger adults If the scientific community could admit that values and mor- are less likely to believe that parents should be required to als are worthy of debate alongside science, it might find more vaccinate their children. Only 59 percent of adults age 18 to allies than it expects. 29 said parents should be required to vaccinate, compared There is scientific consensus on climate change, but to 79 percent of adults age 65 and older. This may be attrib- there is little action. So what can another report from the utable to the fact that older adults actually lived through the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change actually do? ravages of many infectious diseases that younger adults have But Pope Francis and his long-awaited encyclical on the never seen. But what if it is because younger adults are less environment may move hearts as well as minds. I do not likely to claim responsibility for the “other”? Then it is not a expect climatologists to invoke “our moral responsibility for matter of science better explaining how deadly these diseas- creation,” but they would be wise to recognize that at this es are, but a matter of the values that underpin our society. point our faith leaders may be able to change more minds We are faced with several crises that will not be resolved than they can. simply by appealing again to science. As a Jesuit priest work- Those who favor gun control continue to marshal more ing in the field of public health, both of my worlds are inter- scientific evidence to support their positions. But, again, ested in the human person fully alive. It took the church far these public health experts and social scientists fail to rec- too long to admit that science had many important things ognize that their opponents will not be swayed by more to say about the workings of our world. The church was science. Opponents of gun control evoke values to support wrong in that. I hope science will be quicker to admit its their position. Therefore, gun control advocates might be mistake. We will ultimately stop this measles outbreak, but better served by debating which position best fosters a cul- we should not be fooled into thinking that doing so solves ture of life. Or they might engage in a debate on what we the crisis. The real crisis runs much deeper, and it is far too mean by liberty—whether it is liberty from government or serious to let it go to waste. A liberty for human flourishing. But that will require admitting that morals and values can stand alongside science in the public square. I am not claiming that if we just talk about values we will all suddenly find we agree with each other. We will disagree on fundamental notions of how we want to construct society. But at least we won’t be talking past each other. The Republican presidential contend- ers have faced an interesting dilemma during this most recent measles out- break. Many of them are trying to thread the needle of recognizing the good vac- cines do for society while evoking the political dog whistle of “freedom.” The reason it has been so difficult for them is that they are trying to hold mutually exclusive positions. You can either give

March 9, 2015 America 17

All the Angels and Saints Imagining a church that reflects the diversity of its people BY EDWARD K. BRAXTON

n order to appreciate the racial divide in the United they may suspect you of wrongdoing. States, I would like to do something rather unusual. It You and your friends, whose families are struggling to requires white Catholics to use their imagination in or- make ends meet, live near the neighborhood Catholic church. der to enter into the role-reversal presented in the narra- You have never been inside the church. You and your family Itive that follows. The narrative portrays an imagined Catholic are not members of the Catholic Church, which some of your Church in the United States in which most American relatives call a “black racist institution” that traditionally has Catholics are people of color and white Catholics are mem- not shown much interest in inviting white people to join the bers of a very small minority group. parish. As a matter of fact, when some white people visited Imagine yourself as a white American teenager living in the church for Mass, they were largely ignored and made to a poor urban area with few opportunities for you to get a feel unwelcome. You and your friends feel that a church that good education and find meaningful employment. Imagine promises the joy of eternal life after you die while offering that some of your friends are troublemakers, and when the little to help in your daily struggles is not very meaningful. African-American police come around they often intimidate As a white youth having a hard time with life, you want a them. This frightens you because another white friend of church that will be at your side, engaged in the struggle, help- yours was shot and killed by African-American police officers ing you find a God of the oppressed and an angel of freedom when he reached into his pocket for his wallet, which they and justice. You want a church that embraces, celebrates and thought was a gun. Since you were very young, your parents is informed by the “white experience.” If God is to really be have cautioned you to avoid contact with the police because God for you, he must be God the liberator, who uproots in- justice and oppression by his mighty power. For you and your MOST REVEREND EDWARD K. BRAXTON is the bishop of Belleville, friends, a God of the status quo is dead. Ill. This article is adapted from the prologue of his pastoral letter for the Now imagine that an African-American acquaintance, World Day of Peace 2015, “The Racial Divide in the United States.” The sensing that you are discouraged, persuades you to go with CNS ILLUSTRATION/COURTESY ST. MARY’S PRESS MARY’S ST. CNS ILLUSTRATION/COURTESY full text is available at diobelle.org.

March 9, 2015 America 19 him to this very church, St. Charles Lwanga, for Mass. You of all if the holy men and women of the Bible were pictured enter the church, and the first thing you notice is that all im- as people of different ethnic and racial backgrounds? After all, ages of the sacred are in Afro-centric art. All images of Jesus, though we know they were Jewish, no one knows what they Mary, Joseph and all the saints are as actually looked like. Semitic people do people of color (African, Hispanic, Wouldn’t the church be not all look like western Europeans.” Asian or Native American). God the He responds: “That question has been Father himself is painted on the ceil- more universal and asked before, and the response has ing of the church as a distinguished usually been that people who are white older black gentleman. You think to welcoming if the holy should realize that the Afro-centric art yourself, “God the Father is absolute represents them as well. Afro-centric spirit. He has no race or nationality men and women of art is universal. It represents all people. or anatomical gender. Scripture never Furthermore, everyone realizes that describes him as an elderly, African- the Bible were the all-black religious art is found in looking, brown-skinned man.” You pictured as people of Catholic churches for historical rea- wonder if the Catholic Church be- sons. Even though a few churches have lieves that only people of African an- different ethnic and added a white saint here and there, for cestry are in heaven. the most part the few white Catholics You notice that even the angels in racial backgrounds? we have in the church have simply ac- the church have African features. If cepted the fact that the majority of angels have no bodies and no gender, if they are pure spirits, churches have few or no images of the citizens of heaven who why are they not represented in all races? Just think of the look like them.” impact it would have on unchurched white people, like you, You ask your acquaintance, “Does the Catholic Church if they encountered the image of a magnificent white angel intend to perpetuate this all-black image of heaven in the with blond hair and blue eyes when they entered a Catholic churches of the future?” Your African-American acquain- church. You also notice that in the Catholic Church, “black” tance replies, “There are a few churches in big cities with a symbolizes everything that is good and holy whereas “white” large number of ‘minorities’ where they have painted white symbolizes evil, sin and death. The images of Satan, devils and angels and saints. But some of the older white people don’t demons in the church are all white. Later, you search art books like it. They say they do not believe God looks like them. and cannot find one image of Satan painted in dark hues. He They also say that the dense, impenetrable darkness of is always depicted in light, pale, radiant white colors. blackness better expresses the deep mystery of God, who You ask your African-American acquaintance, “Wouldn’t dwells in unapproachable night. These white people point the Catholic Church be more truly universal and welcoming out that in many countries where most of the people are European, the people almost never com- plain about the all-African religious art. They seem to appreciate that black really is beautiful.” “But,” you ask, “what about here in the racially diverse United States? What a powerful statement the Catholic Church would make if it mandated all future churches to have racially diverse images of God, Jesus, Mary, saints and angels? Wouldn’t this convey a more authentical- ly universal image of heaven? Wouldn’t that be a small bridge for crossing the racial divide that continues to under- mine the catholicity of the church?” Your African-American acquaintance answers, “I think I understand the point you are trying to make. But, I really don’t think that is ever going to happen.” “Why not?” you ask. “Why not?” A

20 America March 9, 2015 March 9, 2015 America 21 VATICAN DISPATCH

Road Map for Church Leaders ope Francis’ electrifying hom- does not fit into their usual thinking the balm of God’s mercy on all those ily to the new cardinals in St. and their ritual purity. He wanted to who ask for it with a sincere heart. The PPeter’s Basilica on Feb. 15 reinstate the outcast, to save those out- way of the church is precisely to leave stands out as one of the richest, most side the camp.” her four walls behind and to go out in significant and powerful that he has Looking at the Catholic Church search of those who are distant, those given in his two-year pontificate. leadership today in the light of what essentially on the ‘outskirts’ of life.” Focused on “the Gospel of the mar- Jesus did, Francis finds it at a crossroads: In healing the leper, he said: “Jesus ginalized,” it provides a road map for “There are two ways of thinking and of does not harm the healthy. Rather, he Catholic Church leaders worldwide having faith: we can fear to lose the saved frees them from fear. He does not en- at this moment in history and for the and we can want to save the lost.” There danger them, but gives them a brother. Synod of Bishops on the Family in is “the thinking of the doctors of the law, He does not devalue the law but instead October. which would remove the danger by cast- values those for whom God gave the He delivered the homily before 165 ing out the diseased person,” law. Indeed, Jesus frees cardinals, senior Roman Curia offi- and “the thinking of God, the healthy from the cials and some 8,000 priests, religious who in his mercy embraces Exclusion temptation of the ‘older and laypeople from all continents. He and accepts by reinstating brother.’” spoke after receiving (several cardinals him and turning evil into hurts both Francis exhorted the told me) “overwhelming support” from good, condemnation into the excluded new cardinals “to serve the College of Cardinals for his ongo- salvation and exclusion into the church in such a way ing effort to reform the Roman Curia. proclamation.” and the that Christians—edified Commenting on Jesus’ cure of Indeed, “these two ways excluders. by our witness—will not the leper in Mark’s Gospel, he said, of thinking are present be tempted to turn to “Compassion leads Jesus to concrete throughout the church’s Jesus without turning to action: he reinstates the marginal- history: casting off and re- the outcast, to become a ized!” Jesus responds “immediately” instating,” he said. He recalled that closed caste with nothing authentically to the leper’s plea “without waiting to St. Peter and St. Paul caused scandal, ecclesial about it.” He ended by telling study the situation and all its possible faced criticism, resistance and even them: “We will not find the Lord unless consequences” because “for Jesus, what hostility for following the path of re- we truly accept the marginalized!” matters above all is reaching out to instatement. And, as Cardinal Donald In conclusion, I think that this dy- save those far off, healing the wounds Wuerl noted in his blog on Feb. 12, namic of casting out and reinstatement of the sick, restoring everyone to God’s Francis is also being criticized for do- represents a powerful prism to discern family!” ing likewise. the pastoral lens that Francis is calling “This is scandalous to some peo- “The church’s way, from the time of church leaders to adopt and use in a ple!” the pope noted, but “Jesus is not the Council of Jerusalem, has always host of pastoral inquiries, ranging from afraid of this kind of scandal! He does been the way of Jesus, the way of mer- those who are divorced and remarried not think of the closed-minded who cy and reinstatement,” Francis recalled. to those who have totally lost their are scandalized even by a work of This means “welcoming the repentant moral compasses, to those who are gay, healing, scandalized before any kind prodigal son; healing the wounds of sin to the young who reject the church pre- of openness, by any action outside of with courage and determination; roll- cisely because it is so often judgmental. their mental and spiritual boxes, by ing up our sleeves and not standing by Francis’ church is one of moral strength any caress or sign of tenderness that and watching passively the suffering of and standards but not one of exclusion. the world.” For exclusion warps and hurts both the GERARD O’CONNELL is America’s Rome “The way of the church is not to excluded and, perhaps even more deep- correspondent. America’s Vatican coverage is sponsored in part by the Jesuit communities of condemn anyone for eternity,” Pope ly, the excluders. the United States. Twitter: @gerryorome. Francis stated. Rather, “It is to pour out GERARD O’CONNELL

22 America March 9, 2015 FAITH IN FOCUS Listening in Ferguson It’s not all black and white BY J. AUGUSTINE WETTA No monk should ever defend another in Dennis is African-American and lives a black man on this side of town and the monastery. Nor should he take sides in Ferguson. I asked him, as we were assume he must be up to something.” in an argument…. We decree that no driving out to the service, what he Three times. My friend Dennis has one should be permitted to ostracize or thought of the protests. He smiled and been working here for eight years, and to strike any one of his brothers; and if avoided the question. “I don’t want any he has been pulled over three times. any monk should break this rule, let him part of that. I’m just trying to get on I’ve lived here for 18 years, and I’ve be publicly reprimanded, that the others with my life. Those people are mak- been pulled over once: for doing 45 in may learn from his mistake. ing trouble. They aren’t even from the a 30-mile-an-hour zone, and the cop —Rule of St. Benedict neighborhood.” let me off with a warning. So I asked “But they aren’t the only ones mak- more questions. n two consecutive passages, St. ing a scene,” I said. I wanted to press Dennis continued: “A few weeks Benedict outlines how a monk him for a deeper an- Ishould respond when he encoun- swer because how else ters discord in his community. He is a white guy like me should not lash out, even if he feels jus- from West County go- tified. And he should not choose a side, ing to understand this even though he may think he knows all situation if I’m not the facts. Instead, he should listen—as willing to ask some he is compelled to do by the opening awkward questions? words of the Rule itself: he “inclines “Are the cops racist?” the ear of his heart” (Prologue, 1.1). I asked. “How come Like most people in North America black people keep get- right now, I have been thinking about ting shot? And why is Ferguson. Or rather, I have been won- everyone so angry?” dering what I should do about the con- “The police have al- flict that has come from it. But I live in ways been like that,” he a monastery in a suburb of Saint Louis said. “It isn’t going to change.” back, my car broke down, and I had that was recently ranked 12th among Of course I noticed that this second to walk the rest of the way to work,” the 25 most affluent neighborhoods answer was a bit different from the he said. “A guy sitting on his front in North America. What do I know first. And I figured if I asked a third porch called the police on me. Just for about urban poverty or racism? time, maybe I’d get an even deeper ex- walking down his street at eight in planation. I said maybe things should the morning. I know he did because Tired of This change. I said clearly something must I watched him do it as I walked by. So recently I asked permission to drive be wrong or this many people wouldn’t Sure enough, two patrol cars showed out to a prayer service in Ferguson, be this angry. I asked him why so many up. Look here, I’m just trying to make and I caught a ride with my friend people think the police are racist. money, you know? Trying to get by; I Dennis, who works here at the abbey. “There are good police and bad don’t need that [stuff ].” police,” he said. “But I’ll tell you this There was some anger. It took some much: I’ve been pulled over three times time for me to pry it out of him, but J. AUGUSTINE WETTA, O.S.B., is a monk of in your neighborhood. I don’t know sure enough, it was there. And here’s Saint Louis Abbey and a teacher at the Saint Louis Priory School, where he also coaches rugby why they’ve got to be pulling me over the thing: my friend Dennis is a family and serves as chaplain. that many times except that they see man—a married man with three chil- PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ SEAN GLADWELL

March 9, 2015 America 23 dren and two jobs, who pays his taxes he doesn’t get pulled over on his way ten, both sides are being squeezed into and pays his rent on time and goes to here). a conflict that neither asked for—and church on Sunday and educates his by forces way beyond their control. kids just like anyone else. Caught in the Middle While I was thinking about this, I have this other friend named Charles Max’s Way Dennis started to back off a little. Lutz. He is a policeman from around These forces, however, are not, I be- Maybe he felt self-conscious. Maybe here, and he helps with security on lieve, beyond our control. I believe we he felt this kind of talk wasn’t some- campus at our school when he is off can disarm this trap (or defuse it or thing I needed to hear, or maybe he duty. So I told him about Dennis and unwind it) if we stop focusing on the was afraid I’d judge him for it. “But how he’d been pulled over three times, riots and the protests and even the you know, that’s just how things are,” and how when his car broke down, shootings themselves. I think we can he said, “I don’t have time to be angry someone called the cops on him. begin to restore peace to our city if, about it.” “I hate that,” said Officer Lutz. instead of lashing out or taking sides, Dennis doesn’t have time for the “Honestly.” we simply stop to listen. And maybe if anger. He does not want the anger. Hate what? we listen patiently to this anger—if we He would rather live his life without “I hate that some old racist with ask the awkward questions and really the anger. And that was pretty much nothing better to do has to call the listen to the answers—practical solu- all I was going to get out of him. He cops just because he sees a black man tions will emerge. didn’t want to talk about it any more. walking down his street. It embarrass- There is an eighth grader here at I don’t blame him. He doesn’t want es me. It’s a waste of my time. Plus, I’m our school named Max. A couple of to be lumped in with the looters, bot- the one who ends up looking like a jerk. months ago, he and his older brother tle-throwers and arsonists. He has And the worst part of it is, a peaceful asked their mom if they could drive other fish to fry—like making a liv- citizen gets harassed by the police.” down to Ferguson to help with the ing. Like taking care of his kids. Like “You don’t have to harass him,” I cleanup. She understandably declined getting to work on time (provided said. to send them into an active riot zone. “Look here,” he said. “Yesterday, we Still, Max and his brother felt they get a call from a jewelry store owner needed to do something, so they went here in town because there are two online and looked up a list of the busi- black men in his store ‘acting sus- nesses that had been damaged. They picious.’ Is it a crime to be black in a found the name of one of the owners jewelry store now? Of course not. Do I and called her on the telephone. She want to drive over there and get in the hung up on them. So they drove out middle of that? Of course not. And to her house. For three and half hours, how do I even walk into the store with- they sat in her living room and lis- out making those guys feel like dirt? tened to her anger. And it turned out But what happens if I ignore the call? that unless they had $20,000, there What happens if I decide not to drop was not much they could do. Well, by and, God forbid, those two guys do that was the answer, wasn’t it? They end up robbing the place? Then who went home, started an online petition, gets blamed for that? I’m caught in the and eight days later, they had raised middle. And I hate it.” $20,608. And Maria Flores rebuilt her So here’s the situation the way I see business. it. On the one hand, you have many When Max and his brother saw white cops all across the country who injustice, they didn’t lash out in anger. are angry and embarrassed and don’t They didn’t choose a side. They lis- want to be in the middle of this mess. tened carefully. They reached out with On the other hand, you have black their hearts, they created partnerships, people all across the country who are and the answer spoke itself. Now if angry and embarrassed and don’t want Max can help change Ferguson, so can to be in the middle of this mess. There’s we. Let’s start really listening. And if righteous anger on both sides. And one of you hears an answer, let the rest that means they are trapped. Too of- of us know. A

24 America March 9, 2015 GENERATION FAITH Lift Me Up Our faith means we must count one another. BY ALANA JOY DAVITT opened the letter to find a Post-it this wild road to college acceptance, the the girl who developed her own app at note stuck to a magazine article: first stop in the “real world,” it is that age 15. I“You could do this.” And that is few people seem to be very interested in Even so, I want to tell admissions why I am writing this. Let me explain. my faith. Maybe this is just a symptom boards and the whole world about the There are few things one can count wide range of special events that have on in life. For the lucky ones these shaped me as a Catholic. This in- things include family, friends and cludes the time I had the privi- the chance to spend time work- lege and joy of singing a song ing toward an education or a I wrote for our bishop at fulfilling job. I am one of the my confirmation—and my lucky ones. Each day I have my grandparents surprised me parents, my brother, my school by driving 10 hours to be and classmates, my faith—and at the church. Or the time a letter in the mailbox from I was selected to go on a my grandmother. She is the school trip to Italy and had most devout, energetic, lovely the chance to go to Mass at Catholic you will ever meet and St. Peter’s Basilica; I cried also the one with the most stationery. tears of joy because I felt so My grandmother is constantly tak- close to God gazing up at the small ing time to send an encouraging word, of our politically correct society. Yet the stained glass window of a dove on the often enclosed with an old picture of fact that one college application tells center wall, which truly felt like the me when I came to visit or a clipping me I may omit any questions that seem Holy Spirit present with and in me at of a newspaper article she enjoyed. to require mention of religion does not that moment. Or, finally, when I wrote a So when she saw that America was strike me as correct at all. If we are re- paper for my English teacher, who does calling for articles from young people ally striving to be open-minded people, not practice any religion, and he com- about “the joys and challenges that would it not be better to allow students mented that my words gave him hope come with living out one’s faith in the the opportunity to share their personal that there truly is a God and a heaven. midst of real life,” she naturally took beliefs without remorse and without Faith is often regarded as a source of out her scissors and sent the clipping fear of prejudice? My application fold- inspiration or of hope, but for me—an my way. er should be leaking light, because the ambitious, college-bound young wom- I can particularly appreciate this best way I can identify myself amid a an—my faith is also a source of oppor- phrasing, the midst of real life, as I am sea of other applicants is to share the tunity. It is a reason to demonstrate in the middle of my senior year of high light and the joy that I receive and try my talents and my blessings. Galatians school, and it seems as though every to give as a Catholic. 6:10 reads, “Therefore, as we have op- major life decision is packed into a Colleges are always asking for lists: portunity, let us do good to all people, truck speeding toward me. If there is of grades, classes and scores, of expe- especially to those who belong to the one thing I have noticed, though, on riences, of accomplishments. Many of family of believers.” God granted us the greatest accomplishments of my each special gifts: perhaps the gift of life, however, involve sharing my faith, devoted parents, the gift of a special tal- ALANA JOY DAVITT, a senior at Norfolk and though these are important to me, ent or the gift of strong moral character. Academy in Norfolk, Va., will attend Harvard University on a Navy ROTC scholarship in the they might not stand out next to the He created each of us with something fall of 2015. boy who was voted class president or constant in our lives that we can use for PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ AFRICA STUDIO

March 9, 2015 America 25 good. In my case, because I have been raised with things I can count on—my family, my faith, even my grandma’s let- ters and clippings—my life has been full of love and meaning. I have the opportunity to bring love and meaning into the lives of others by sharing my gifts and trying to set an example by living with purpose. The great naturalist and author Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “If you would lift me up you must be on higher ground.” As Christians our recognition of God’s blessings gives us a reason to serve others, and what the Bible and Emerson both describe is my greatest joy: knowing that we all can do so by simply being ourselves. This is a joy that I have now in the midst of real life—a joy I will have in college, in the work- force and perhaps one day as a grand- mother myself—encouraging my own family to take every opportunity to lift up others with their faith, to look at one another and say: You could do this. A

Poems are being accepted for the 2015 Foley Poetry Award. Each entrant is asked to submit only one typed, unpublished poem on any topic. The poem should be 30 lines or fewer and not under consideration elsewhere. Include contact information on the same page as the poem. Poems will not be returned. Please do not submit poems by email or fax. FOLEY Submissions must be postmarked between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2015. Poems received outside the designated period will be treated as regular poetry submissions and are not eligible for the prize. POETRY The winning poem will be published in the June 8-15 issue of America. Three runner-up poems will be published in subsequent issues. Notable entrants also may be considered for inclusion on our poetry site, americaliterary.tumblr.com. Cash prize: $1,000 CONTEST Send poems to: Foley Poetry Contest America Magazine 106 West 56th Street New York, NY 10019

26 America March 9, 2015 March 9, 2015 America 27 Books & Culture

THEATER | ROB WEINERT-KENDT over the size and role of government have if anything only intensified. Hamilton’s story is a dramatic one; FROM RAGS TO REVOLUTIONARY it is remarkable it has not yet been giv- ‘Hamilton’ tells a true American story en a film or stage treatment. Born out of wedlock in the West Indies and

epending on when you Daveed Diggs in “Hamilton.” orphaned at 11, he was clerking date its birth, it took rock for a trading charter by age 14. Dmusic as much as a decade By age 17, with donations from and a half to move from the pop well-wishers who could sense his charts to the Broadway stage, with promise, he was on a boat to New 1968’s “Hair.” Hip-hop has been York City, just in time for the bud- with us nearly twice as long—at ding American Revolution. He least 30 years, if you measure by rose quickly in both society and mainstream success—and as such the nascent U.S. government on is long overdue for its own stage the strength of his searing in- musical moment, not least because telligence and indomitable will. rap, even more than rock, is a natu- His aptitude for statecraft and ral narrative form. financial wizardry, which gave the That moment has arrived, de- U.S. its first central bank, were finitively, with the sensational new matched only by his talent for musical Hamilton, which, like making enemies. “Hair,” is getting its Off-Broadway Also to be weighed on start at New York’s Public Theater, Hamilton’s balance sheet: He in a hotly anticipated run that has was a staunch abolitionist. And been extended through May 3. It is though not exactly a womanizer, unlikely to wait long for a commer- he had a pronounced weakness cial Broadway transfer. for feminine charms and was em- As surehanded a piece of mu- broiled in the new nation’s first sical storytelling as has been seen It is an angle on the nation’s cre- extramarital sex scandal. He also onstage in many a season, “Hamilton” ation myth that, like Hamilton’s, is never quite tamed his touchy temper, is all the more impressive for tack- both expansive and pragmatic: This is which surely contributed to his famous ling a supremely unlikely subject: the a country where freedom would have end by Aaron Burr’s pistol in a need- founding of the United States, as seen a chance to reign like never before, but lessly petty duel that followed his own through the eventful life of one its less only if the heavy lifting of governance 19-year-old son’s death in a similarly lionized figures, Treasury Secretary was met with the same fervor as revo- avoidable exchange. Alexander Hamilton. But the show’s lution had been. “Dying is easy, young Miranda picks up the story in 1776, creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda—who man/ Living is harder,” Gen. George with revolution already underway, and wrote the music, lyrics and book Washington (Christopher Jackson) rifles through both the biography and and stars in the title role—makes a tells the impetuous, battle-hungry history deftly, from battles to early convincing case for Hamilton, the Hamilton when he enlists him as his congressional debates, as well as do- “ten-dollar founding father without wartime consigliere. Later, amid the mestic scenes. If these don’t sound like a father,” as the first of a distinctly squabbling of his cabinet, President the makings of musical theater mag- American type: the immigrant out- Washington echoes the line: “Fighting ic, fear not: “Hamilton” has not only sider of humble beginnings who re- is easy/ Governing is harder.” It is a some of the densest yet sharpest lyrics, makes, and ultimately undoes, himself timely message for our age of gridlock many delivered in dazzling, rapid-fire

PHOTOS BY JOAN MARCUS with sheer chutzpah and hustle. and retrenchment, in which debates raps, since the heyday of Stephen

28 America March 9, 2015 COLONIAL CHIC. Lin-Manuel Miranda and the company of “Hamilton”

Sondheim. It also has a sumptuous, James) even steals a scene or two with er’s keepers, not in some vague com- sinuous R&B/pop score that seam- a catchy don’t-leave-me ditty. munitarian idyll (à la Jefferson) but lessly weaves rapping, singing and How does all the pop-millennial at- as financially interdependent players recitative into a nearly nonstop mu- titude square with the corseted period with real skin in the game, does that sical quilt. Miranda, onstage a slight, drama? Remarkably smoothly, thanks enhance human flourishing and free- endearingly nebbishy underdog figure in part to the director Thomas Kail’s dom or reduce us to interest groups with a raspy rap timbre and only an inventive, “Les Miserables”-inspired dependent on government largesse? adequate singing voice, accordingly staging and Andy Blankenbuehler’s This still-ongoing debate, as gives some of the show’s strongest ma- tireless choreography, much of it per- Americans of color might remind us terial to others. formed by a large chorus of singer/ better than anyone, is hardly academic; Daveed Diggs has a showstopping dancers who strut and swirl around it has flesh-and-blood stakes. Our na- entrance as a rakish Thomas Jefferson, the leading players. The costumes, by tion’s policies regarding debt, welfare, newly returned from France, and Paul Tazewell, are straight-up colonial, immigration and foreign intervention, Leslie Odom Jr.’s strikingly sympathet- but only up to the neck; the hairstyles not to mention the disgraceful legacy ic Aaron Burr has a series of memora- onstage, like the score, are defiantly of slavery, have always had real, quanti- ble songs delineating his envy, ambi- 21st-century, from spiky blonde to fiable winners and losers, and the cast tion and love. nappy curls. of “Hamilton”—again, without having The women in Hamilton’s life—his That the cast of “Hamilton” is most- to drive the point home—helps re- wife Eliza (Phillipa Soo) and her sis- ly nonwhite, in fact, is neither com- mind us that our nation, born in pro- ter Angelica (Renee Elise Goldsberry), mented on nor particularly earth-shat- test by young people of high ideals, has with whom he was equally smitten— tering. But it does speak to our al- been on the right side of history only have strong roles in an otherwise most-post-Obama moment with a when it has honored those ideals and male-dominated tale, with a three- bracing authority, not least because, as fought hard to uphold them. song sequence in the first act that told by Miranda, Hamilton embodies handily covers New York’s centrality to both the promise and peril of what he ROB WEINERT-KENDT, an arts journalist history, Hamilton’s courtship of Eliza would have called federalism and we and associate editor of American Theatre mag- azine, has written for The New York Times and and Angelica’s regret that she wasn’t its might call big government liberalism: Time Out New York. He writes a blog called The target. King George III (Brian D’Arcy If we are bound together as each oth- Wicked Stage.

March 9, 2015 America 29 OF OTHER THINGS | BILL Mc GARVEY FULL IMMERSION THERAPY

t’s spring break time; do you know The answer—much to the despair In this post-textual environment, au- where your collegeFage children of the questioner—is almost always: thenticity, lives of service and the pur- Iare? If they attend a Catholic col- “ You d on’t .” suit of justice speak a language of faith lege, there’s a decent chance they’re The question itself is understand- that is far more persuasive than mere among the thousands of students who able but the wrong one to ask. A bet- words. are spending it on an immersion trip ter question would be, “Why are our It is a language that Pope Francis to any number of communities in need pews emptying out of young adults speaks fluently. “Someone recently around the globe. while these immersion trips—as well mentioned that the image of the pope Over the next few weeks, while 1.5 as campus-based service learning and caressing a severely disfigured man’s million students descend on Florida community service programs—are fill- face said something far more powerful and Texas and spend upwards of a ing up?” about compassion than billion dollars to drink and party, the It is a failure of our Lives of all the encyclicals in the Alternative Break Immersion pro- collective imagination world ever could,” said grams sponsored by schools across not to see a religious service speak Michael McCarthy, the country are taking students to impulse at work in a language of S.J., executive direc- places like Camden, N.J., Harlan, Ky., millennials. “These tor of Santa Clara and Pine Ridge, S.D. While there, trips provide powerful, faith that is far University’s Ignatian they build and repair homes, work on incarnational experi- more persua- Center for Jesuit Indian reservations, learn about sus- ences for students in Education. “Young tainable agriculture, help single moth- ways that traditional sive than people who might not ers…. The list is endless. worship sometimes expect enlightenment At Jesuit universities, these are not doesn’t,” said Susan mere words. listening to a homily considered service trips but immer- Haarman, the Faith encounter Christ on an sion experiences, in which students and Justice campus immersion.” learn from our neighbors outside of minister at Loyola What began as con- insular college campuses. For a week, University Chicago. versation has moved students are exposed to aspects of life The reality is that in- to concrete encoun- that most of them will never encoun- carnational experiences ter and now must be ter. Some might even have their lives on any level are unusu- understood through transformed by who they meet and al for students who live contemplation. It is an what they experience. highly buffered existences, grounded undeniably transformational Catholic When I hear of the constant in tenuous digital “connections” and moment. hand-wringing about dwindling reli- disembodied, often anonymous online Haarman believes that this teach- gious affiliation among millennials, I conversation. Immersion programs able moment applies to both students have mixed feelings. I understand the force students to move from conversa- and the parishes we hope they might anxiety, but I also believe it distracts us tion to concrete encounters, sometimes come back to. “Often when students re- from seeing a much bigger picture— with profound results. turn from an A.B.I.,” she says, “they read and a much larger opportunity. “For many millennials, personal ex- Matthew 25 and say, ‘I’ve seen Christ If you’re involved in ministry to perience is sacrosanct,” Haarman said. hungry, fed him and, most important, young people, a frequent question is “They blog and post videos on their been fed by him.’” some variation of the following: “How YouTube channels, etc., but the per- If these students ever choose to pass do I get my son/daughter to go to sonal, human, unfiltered encounters on through the doors of our churches in church?” these trips are feeding a deep need that the future, they will remain only if they media-saturated students sometimes recognize that what goes on inside our BILL McGARVEY, a musician and writer, is the can’t articulate.” church walls bears some tangible rela- author of The Freshman Survival Guide, Our hypertext world deals in ab- tionship to what is happening to the owner of CathNewsUSA.com and was the long- time editor in chief of BustedHalo.com. Twitter: stractions that inevitably crumble when least of our brothers and sisters out- @billmcgarvey. faced with someone or something real. side them.

30 America March 9, 2015 BOOKS | FRANCIS R. HERRMANN circumstances so egregious that they are “incompatible with human dignity A CRY OF HOPE and [have] no place in civilized society,” the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel INFERNO to descend into a world of abject fear and unusual punishment will not af- An Anatomy of American and violence within institutions ridden ford prisoners protection. Punishment with gangs, where the lives of the pun- It has not helped the more than By Robert A. Ferguson ished are filled with unnecessary pain 100,000 inmates held in prolonged Harvard University Press. 352p $29.95 and degradation to the point of being periods of solitary confinement. In ef- barely worth living. Our enormous fect, once a convict disappears behind “Abandon all hope, you who enter (and enormously expensive) human the wall, the Eighth Amendment dis- here.” That counsel of despair famous- warehouses hold 35 percent of the en- appears with him, unless the official ly confronts the condemned who pass knows the inmate faces an “excessive through the gates of Dante’s Inferno. risk of serious harm and then unreason- In that hell, as Robert A. Ferguson ably fails to abate it.” Try proving that. observes, everlasting punishment “can It is not the courts alone that abet never be fully satisfied no matter what harsh penal conditions. Congress’s the doomed do or say.” Ferguson’s own Prison and Litigation Reform Act pro- Inferno: An Anatomy of American tects prison officials from liability for Punishment convinces us that our state any mental and emotional injury that or federal prisons could aptly place an inmate suffers while in custody, Dante’s inscription on their 21st-cen- unless physical injury is also inflicted. tury front gate. The book’s descent So, if you are merely placed in a cell into the frightening depths of criminal with human waste, or subjected to punishment leaves us nearly despon- the screams of psychiatric patients, or dent, but Ferguson refuses ultimately ridiculed for your sexual orientation, to submit to Dante’s injunction. He or forced to tap dance while naked, or proposes, in the end, that American made to crawl around on a leash, you society still retains power to change may be out of luck, as some have been, hell into purgatory. when you look for relief. But first the hell. In the longest por- Other legislative acts indulge so- tion of Inferno, Ferguson opens our ciety’s punitive appetite. There are 57 eyes to the brutal facts of American “supermax” prisons across 40 states. In prison conditions. “Legal punishment tire world’s prisoners “cheek by jowl, those alone, over 20,000 inmates are as we know it is sick and getting sick- without hope, with nothing to do, un- held in prolonged solitary confinement er,” he says. The United States exercis- der conditions worse than those given for at least a year. Mandatory mini- es a passion to punish that is unique to most domestic animals.” mum sentences, harsh drug legislation among modern democracies in both its Who should be held to answer and “three strikes” laws produce vast frequency and severity. for this? Ferguson scrutinizes in turn overcrowding. Lengthy sentences are As one follows Ferguson’s account, court decisions, legislative policies and usual, far beyond anything imposed the term “American exceptionalism” ultimately us, the fundamental dem- in other democracies. Budgetary cuts takes on a new and disgraceful mean- ocratic bearers of the American im- leave inmates who are lingering for ing. We possess, he says, a singular “pu- pulse to punish. We are all “the legal years in our “holding pens” (one out of nitive impulse,” accompanied by gross punishers.” 10 is serving a life sentence) without indifference, toward the over two mil- As to the courts, key decisions have adequate mental and physical medical lion human beings we keep behind our largely relegated to oblivion the claims care. Life without parole is common prison walls in conditions of “unique of prisoners for relief from most kinds (41,000), even for nonviolent crimes. loneliness, fear, suffocation, anger, dan- of injuries that they must suffer. In And then there is us. It is not the ju- ger, hopelessness.” Out of sight, out of the Supreme Court’s long-held view, diciary or the legislatures who are the mind. American society, at best, fa- “courts are ill-equipped to deal with the chief agents of punishment. At least 80 tally accepts (or on some level is even increasingly urgent problems of prison percent of the public supports harsher pleased) that it has caused millions administration and reform.” Except in sentencing. “The punitive impulse has

March 9, 2015 America 31 controlled criminal justice in America there is nothing we can do about it. We productive behavior; a secure envi- for almost half a century, and its te- do not even care. ronment for education, differentiated nacity continues even though crime In the last segment of his book— according to prisoner capacities; and rates have dropped in recent decades.” when the reader may have given up all pilot programs leading gradually to- What explains our exceptional atti- hope for reform—Ferguson resists fa- ward economically viable reintegration tudes toward punishment? Ferguson talism. As a first positive step, he joins in society. It is essentially important, looks for the social variables. First, he other critics of our penal system who the author warns, that we protect these sees a “culture of fear,” attributable in advocate the easing of drug laws, short- restorative efforts against anticipat- part to mass media’s pervasive and viv- er sentences, better physical conditions, ed budgetary attacks from those who id portrayal of violent crime in movies, the elimination of prison violence and privilege punishment over rehabilita- videos and news reporting. This fear the end of long-term isolation. But, tion. Currently, American society’s pu- creates its own reality and produces “an Ferguson argues, more is needed than nitive impulse confines people in cages overly reactive reply that it is otherwise these “commendable, if stock, recom- with nothing to do and without any difficult to comprehend.” mendations” that stay society’s retribu- future. Ferguson’s major re-envision- Second, bias sharpens the desire tive hand. “A different way of thinking ing of what incarceration offers us is a for punishing. It is “easier to relegate is in order.” Real reform must base itself chance to turn our present incarcera- someone to...a secular hell when that on something more than and separate tive hell into a purgative place where person appears to be different than from retribution. hope of redemption can still survive. you.” Most prisoners come from im- We must create a system that es- Fatalists will dismiss Ferguson’s pro- poverished ethnic minorities. Our fear poses the fundamental principle that posals as a pipedream. Opponents, in- of “the other” allows us to disregard the life of each inmate “must continue cluding powerful correctional unions, how often we punish or shame them. to be worth living.” Ferguson advocates will accuse him of coddling criminals Ferguson points to a third factor con- restorative programs aimed at recon- with expensive “hug a thug” programs. tributing to the inferno. Americans structing a prisoner’s “positive self Surprisingly, however, isolated judicial, have become so inured to the existence within the imprisoned self.” His pro- legislative and executive activity within of our penal hell that fatalism infects posals include creating tiered incentive the last few months suggests Ferguson us. “That is just the way things are,” and systems with rewards that encourage may have the audience he needs to be- gin reform. A federal court in California The Flea has signaled an open- ness to breathing For him the truth is a flavor, a meal cadged by a parasite whose disguise some life into the a pulse made of nutriment, is the squirrel’s scurry, moribund Eighth a living mountain of breath. or the mastiff’s drowse. Amendment as ap- plied to prison condi- Hiding when he cannot leap, he is a fugitive Even pinched between tions; a commissioner the fingers and released, he springs of the second largest to perfect absence, beyond punishment, who stays where he is, misery to the tomcat, jail in the United States has called for a celebrant of undetectable freedom. vexation to the hound, incentive programs; Cinder-speck, a vibrant purveyor of infection in hosts some fiscal and reli- too mute upon the summer field gious conservatives in Congress have joined fiend of punctuation, to know the name of what forces with liberals no bigger than a typesetter’s steals their peace. to propose bills that semicolon, there he is again. Now he says, meaning then. “get smart on crime” And again. He leaves tiny misery, Here he says, meaning there. Too late. in ways Ferguson has proposed. his wound angry but subtle, MICHAEL CADNUM One senator has even intimated that Michael Cadnum’s 35th book, Seize the Storm, has just been published by Farrar, Strauss and Giroux. He also writes haiku on Twitter: @MichaelCadnum. our prisons should foster inmates “reach-

32 America March 9, 2015 March 9, 2015 America 33 ing their God-given potential.” That out.” Ferguson’s book opens our eyes in O’Donnell’s tales of shopping and sounds like Ferguson’s restoration of the darkness and points to a possible flirting, as well as her daily log of the the positive self. Will all this activity exit. It should be required reading for countless other pedestrian tasks as- prove to be nothing more than a false judges, legislators, politicians, prison sociated with care for the sick and dawn? It is much too early to tell; but, authorities and all of us who are dem- dying, soar to new heights when she at least the signals may justify the au- ocratically responsible for the inferno views this work through the lens of thor’s refusal to despair. that together we have created. ritual and the sacraments. I was es- “Criminal justice has gone astray, pecially taken by her good use of the lost in a dark wood of its own making. FRANCIS R. HERRMANN, S.J., is a professor Rev. Andrew Greeley’s writings in this It is time, more than time, to find a way at Boston College Law School. regard: “Catholics live in an enchant- ed world, a world of statues and holy water, stained glass and votive candles, ANNA J. BROWN rosary beads and holy pictures. But these Catholic paraphernalia are mere hints of a deeper and more pervasive THE LIGHT IN OUR LIVES religious sensibility which inclines Catholics to see the holy lurking in MORTAL BLESSINGS ing of the deceased or of the sometimes creation.” When O’Donnell, having no A Sacramental Farewell strained relationship among family holy water on hand, uses her own sa- By Angela Alaimo O’Donnell members in O’Donnell’s book. The liva to trace the cross on her mother’s Ave Maria Press. 160p $15.95 book’s opening image of an alcoholic forehead, she powerfully and lovingly (as the reader soon learns) 82-year-old puts into practice her understanding In what now seems a moment of seren- mother, clad in a pink bathrobe, trip- of Greeley’s words and of her Catholic dipity, I received the request to review ping and breaking her hip in the ensu- faith: “Everything is, to use Greeley’s Mortal Blessings, by Angela Alaimo ing fall on a ceramic tile floor is one that, term, ‘enchanted,’ charged with signifi- O’Donnell (an America columnist), upon first read, I wanted to turn from cance, and available to us as a manifes- just as I finished reading and discuss- and not look back. When O’Donnell tation of divine presence in our daily ing William Faulkner’s novel As I Lay later describes encountering her tooth- lives.” Dying with a handful of fellow book less mother donning The chapters of her club members. Faulkner’s agonizing a big black wig in an fine book, with titles yet powerful account of the death of assisted care home, like “The Sacrament Addie Bundren, as told by Bundren, she, too, shares her re- of Speech” and “The her family members and neighbors, vulsion at the sight of Sacraments of the left me feeling devastated for days. I her mother and her Cell Phone and the suppose it was the way he rendered desire not to look. And Wheelchair,” offer the human vulnerability, our efforts to re- yet, and yet. Daniel reader a rich blend of tain some kind of dignity and integri- Berrigan, S.J., reminds O’Donnell’s experience ty, no matter how far-fetched or gro- us that a Catholic read- of the sickness and tesque our actions may be, in a world ing of the world says death of her mother, that often seems hell-bent to crush ev- that death does not her original insight, ery last shred of our humanity, that left have the final say, that sonnets and rendering such a deep impression. O’Donnell’s there is a slight edge on of ritual and sacra- book, a meditation on the final illness the side of life. Thus, for ment and well chosen and death of her mother, likewise left as much as O’Donnell passages from some of a deep impression of grief and sadness wishes to look and perhaps even walk the finest literary and Catholic minds. but also a way, through her own read- away, there she is, along with her sisters, Through O’Donnell’s work, the reader ing of holy ritual and Catholic sacra- happily clothes-shopping for her fash- learns how we are to stay rooted, pay ments, to bear witness faithfully both ion conscious mother, tearfully capti- attention, be present and live that most to the death of a beloved yet all-too- vated while watching the film “Dirty Catholic of commands, to love one human one and to death itself. Dancing” with her mother and chuck- another. Toward the end of her book, Much as in the narrative of the ling at the sight of her mother flirting when her mother takes her final few Bundren family, there is no sugar coat- with a handsome young orderly. breaths and the finality of death is at

34 America March 9, 2015 hand, O’Donnell writes of “being un- sister, to which O’Donnell adds, “And done by the wildness of grief ” but then Rose was right—even in death she of finding strength in her practice of shone.” Though humble and tattered, ritual, sacrament and faith. our lives are suffused with the radiant In one of the most beautiful ac- light of the divine; how we might bet- counts in the book, the ability to stay ter see and savor that light in our daily present at this harrowing moment of lives is the gift of Angela O’Donnell’s death allowed O’Donnell and her sis- book. ters to remain at their mother’s bedside and carefully watch the subtle physical ANNA J. BROWN, who teaches political science transformation, from the supple to the and directs the Social Justice program at Saint stone-like quality of the flesh, rendered Peter’s University, most recently co-edited and contributed to Faith, Resistance, and the by death upon her mother’s body. “She Future: Daniel Berrigan’s Challenge to looks like a saint,” says O’Donnell’s Catholic Social Thought.

DAVID J. MICHAEL FAITH IN A NEW SHAPE

MY STRUGGLE titled Min Kamp. Book Three: Boyhood Karl Ove Knausgaard is part of what By Karl Ove Knausgaard the Swedish critic Victor Malm has dubbed the “Norwegian New Sincerity,” Translated by Don Bartlett Archipelago. 432p $27 a stable of writers characterized by “a retreat to the intimate, the unadorned, In a 1993 essay, David Foster Wallace and the naked.” Knausgaard has become suggested a turn away from the irony the movement’s scion, both at home and that had come to abroad. At this sum- characterize his gen- mer’s book release eration of American party for the English writers: “The next translation of Book real literary ‘rebels’ in Three: Boyhood, a this country might line of 500 people well emerge as some wrapped around a weird bunch of an- block in New York. ti-rebels, born oglers “A life is sim- who dare somehow ple to understand, to back away from the elements that ironic watching, determine it are who have the child- few,” he writes in ish gall actually to the second volume endorse and instan- of My Struggle, the tiate single-enten- English translation dre principles.” With a few exceptions, for the series. “In mine there were two. Wallace’s hope has yet to materialize. My father and the fact that I had never Perhaps this is why the books that belonged anywhere.” But these elements have taken the U.S. literary scene by are less organizing principles than forc- storm are a Norwegian writer’s chron- es affecting the volumes’ progress. The icle of his everyday life, a six-volume books progress like a moon, spinning in memoir in the guise of a novel that runs an orbit around two objects—his father to over 5,000 pages and is provocatively and a sense of restlessness—which are

March 9, 2015 America 35 often glimpsed but whose gravity is al- turn to his grandmother’s house, where a country and marriage he says were ways felt. his father spent his final months drink- suffocating him, his falling violently in Volume one of My Struggle be- ing himself to death. Knausgaard finds love with a new woman and the birth gins with a grand meditation on what a formerly well-ordered house strewn of their children. But the specifics of happens to a body in death and then with bottles and human excrement, his what he fled from remain blurry. The seamlessly transitions into a childhood grandmother herself now an alcoholic. presence of both his father and his ex memory in which the young Karl Ove He sets about cleaning the place, osten- are forcefully felt, though they are near- is watching the TV news report on sibly so the funeral can be held there, ly absent from the book. a lost fishing boat. In the footage of a but really it is an attempt to erase his fa- With Book Three, his father is back choppy sea, he glimpses the outline of a ther’s destruction. One hundred pages in focus. He had received a job teaching face and runs off to tell his father, who chronicling the deep cleaning of a house middle school in the countryside, and mocks him. The scene sets the tone of a sounds a taxing proposition, and yet it the young family had moved to a new, house dominated by his father’s moods, is effortless reading. planned estate on the coast of Norway a relationship dominated by his father’s This endless dedication to minuti- that had been developed for the bur- antagonism and a book that is largely ae is equally present in volume two, A geoning middle class in a country in the concerned with death. Man in Love, but the setting, and the early stages of transitioning from a rela- The first part consists of a wan- man, have changed. The book opens tively poor country of fishing and farm- dering through detailed memories of with a picture of fatherhood: the writer ing to a nation bloated with oil money. his teenage years, when his family be- and his wife on holiday, catering to their Everything seemed new and modern. gan to fall apart and his father began three young children at a cheap fair. The “And for those of us who were children, the slow slide into the alcoholism that rest of the book’s 500-odd pages might that meant no history. Everything was would eventually kill him. But his fa- be seen as an attempt to explain to him- happening for the first time.” The book, ther does not actually die until part two self how he arrived at such a domes- the most linear of the first three, reads of the book, which takes place when ticated point. He reccounts his move as an account of the early years of a Knausgaard is 30 and chronicles his re- from Norway to Sweden, a flight from New Norway, a family, and a boy who is

36 America March 9, 2015 both sensitive and precocious. The idea of God, for instance. ries and everyday experience, which he Like most boys, Karl Ove is also a bit The idea of faith. The Divine. All mines ceaselessly and laboriously in his mischievous, which makes for amusing those things that have just disap- art. This technique is not without draw- reading; he writes about looking for peared. Is it coming back in some backs, namely ocassional boredom. But porn magazines in the local dump or other shapes? That’s what inter- with My Struggle: Book Three: Boyhood, accidentally setting fire to a small island. ests me, really. Is it still possible one reads not to find out what happens But the levity is continually broken by to talk about faith? What is it for but because one has come into contact the specter of his father, of whose pres- us? And I can’t do this as a kind of with a man in the grip of genius. A dif- ence Karl Ove is always aware. In one abstraction. So what I do, I write ficult man who possesses the courage, instance, his father force-feeds apples to about what I see and hope that the attention, and the capacity of spir- him until he cries—all because he ate there is something in there, there it to look very long and hard at his life an apple from the kitchen without ask- is some connection. and the world around him and describe ing permission. In another, his father it in prose that eschews irony and dis- slaps him for losing a sock at swimming What could be characterized as tance. For readers, this is a welcome if lessons and forbids him from going self-absorption is in fact something demanding gift. back to the pool. Knausgaard’s moth- more: a search for the religious through er, an absent-minded, cheerful woman the aesthetic. In looking for the mys- DAVID J. MICHAEL is a writer and producer who works as a nurse, exists mostly in tical, Knausgaard turns to his memo- living in Brooklyn. the background. CLASSIFIED She saved me because if she hadn’t Positions THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO is search- been there I would have grown up ing for an ASSOCIATE UNIVERSITY DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS MINISTRY. Loyola MINISTER to begin in August of 2015. Primary alone with Dad and sooner or lat- University Chicago, Health Science Divisions duties will include retreats, service and social jus- (Medical School, Nursing School, Biological er I would have taken my life, one tice, pastoral counseling and collaboration with Sciences Ph.D.). • Provides leadership in the de- way or another. But she was there, the ministry team to support the spiritual devel- velopment of programs, activities and services opment of U.S.D. community members. For more Dad’s darkness had a counterbal- that respond to the religious and spiritual needs information or to apply, please visit www.sandi- ance, I am alive and the fact that I of professional students, faculty and staff. • ego.edu/jobs. do not live my life to the full has Collaboratively links to curricular innovation and nothing to do with the balance of administration as a division-wide resource with primary collaborative relationships with Student Retreat my childhood. I am alive, I have Affairs, the Bioethics Center and the Center for SAN DAMIANO RETREAT is a Franciscan re- my own children, and with them Community and Global Health. • Develops a treat house located 35 miles east of San Francisco I have tried to achieve only one formation-focused model for fostering faith, in Danville, Calif. We offer a peaceful, prayerful well-being and success of students on campus by setting for rest and renewal. Our location is ex- aim: that they shouldn’t be afraid providing opportunities for retreats, prayer, wor- cellent for retreats, meetings or conferences, with of their father. ship, reflection, service and religious education. some weekends and mid-week space available. • Recruits, hires, supervises, evaluates all staff Contact Lisa: [email protected]. Private re- and provides ongoing professional development treats with or without spiritual direction are also In a small country like Norway, and training as needed. • Develops, reviews and available. Contact Kateri: katerik@sandamiano. where everyone knows somebody who manages strategic plans, assessment goals and ob- org. Upcoming retreats: Holy Week, April 2-5, knows somebody, the confessional style jectives consistent with the larger strategic plans with the Franciscan friars; and Life Shift, “Work and the Christian Journey,” May 15-17, with Tom of is not a bloodless prop- for the medical school and H.S.D. • Partners with Book Three development staff when fundraising opportunities Bachhuber, Ph.D. and Jim Briggs. Contact: (925) osition. His father’s family no longer present themselves. • Performs other duties as 837-9141; www.sandamiano.org. speaks to him. But the rigorous earnest- required. To apply: www.luc.edu/hr. L.U.C. is an ness and honesty seems less courageous equal opportunity employer. WANT YOUR AD HERE? than compulsive, the act of someone Visit americamagazine.org. ST. BONIFACE IN BROOKLYN seeks p/t Email: [email protected]. possessed by graphomania. However, Director of Religious Education for Grades 1-7 Knausgaard is doing more than na- (179 children). 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March 9, 2015 America 37 THE WORD The Weakness of Sin FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (B), MARCH 15, 2015 Readings: 2 Chr 36:14–23; Ps 137:1–6; Eph 2:4–10; Jn 3:14–21 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world (Jn 3:17) ne of the darkest times in the ten law of God, reform their lives and his only Son, so that everyone who be- life of the Jewish people was rebuild the ruined Temple. God did not lieves in him may not perish but may the destruction of Jerusalem wait for them to achieve righteousness have eternal life.” The word translated O but allowed the conditions for righ- “believe” in Jn 3:16 is the verbal form of and the Temple by the Babylonians and the subsequent exile of the people of teousness to flourish. pistis, the same word translated “faith” in God. According to the Chronicler, this This is precisely the point Ephesians. All who have faith was not an action God wanted, “but made by the author of the (pisteuôn) in God’s Son are they kept mocking the messengers of Letter to the Ephesians, on the path to conform- God, despising his words, and scoffing traditionally thought ing themselves to God’s at his prophets, until the wrath of the to be Paul, who speaks image in order to share Lord against his people became so great of God reaching out to in eternal life or, in the that there was no remedy.” Only then humanity “even when we language of Ephesians, did the Babylonians come. were dead through our to share Christ’s life in And the Babylonians came with fury. trespasses.” God reached “the heavenly places.” They killed young and old alike “and out to reward us not be- It is this faith that al- had no compassion on young men or cause we had achieved the lows us, even in our sinful necessary level of righteous- young women, the aged or the feeble”; PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE the wealth of the king was looted and ness but because God is merciful and desires to seat us “in the heav- brought to Babylon; the Temple was Reflect on how God’s gracious gift has burned to the ground and the walls of enly places in Christ Jesus, so that in inspired you to good works. Jerusalem broken down; and those who the ages to come he might show the ART: TAD A. DUNNE TAD ART: were not killed were taken into exile in immeasurable riches of his grace in state, to see that the “light has come Babylon to become servants. kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” into the world” and “those who do what It was as they were weeping by the This all takes place through God’s gra- is true come to the light, so that it may rivers of Babylon that God came to the cious initiative. be clearly seen that their deeds [ ] exiled Jews and told them to go home. Ephesians says that “by grace you erga have been done in God.” Ephesians This return was brought about by the have been saved through faith, and this tells us that we have been created for conquerors of Babylon, King Cyrus of is not your own doing; it is the gift of “good works,” while the Gospel of John Persia and his army, “in fulfillment of the God.” This could not be clearer: sal- says those in the “light” do their “deeds” word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.” vation is gift, salvation is grace. Yet we in God. The same Greek word ( ) Out of the darkness came light. are also told that we are saved “through ergon lies behind “works” in Ephesians and It was not the case that God’s sal- faith” (pistis), which is itself a part of the “deeds” in the Gospel of John. vation came because the lives of the gift. Salvation cannot be earned, bought God’s salvation is an undeserved gift Judeans were now lived in perfect righ- or bargained for, but faith is the essen- that begins with faith. But our response teousness, but because God looked in tial human response. Faith in God’s to God’s grace naturally blossoms into mercy upon his people. We know from gracious gift allows us to be conformed good works, “so that it may be clearly Ezra, Nehemiah and Haggai that the to God’s image, since we were “created seen that their deeds have been done in people needed to return to the forgot- in Christ Jesus for good works [ergois agathois], which God prepared before- God.” These deeds are not the means to hand to be our way of life.” merit salvation but the joyous response JOHN W. MARTENS is an associate professor to God’s merciful gift of salvation. of theology at the University of St. Thomas, St. In John’s Gospel Jesus tells us that Paul, Minn. Twitter: @BibleJunkies. “God so loved the world that he gave JOHN W. MARTENS

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