Embrace Trust Tin Cây

ANGELUS

¡Confía! Embrace trust Tin Cây

February 23, 2017 Vol. 2 No. 7S This is a special Religious Education Congress issue of Angelus, the weekly magazine serving the people of God in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The magazine is part of Angelus News, a news platform that also includes a free daily newsletter, “Always Forward,” a news website, www.angelusnews.com, as well as updates via Contents Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Archbishop Gomez: The ‘good tidings’ of Angelus 3 Angelus News launched on July 1, transforming the 120-year-old Tidings into a multimedia platform. The magazine is the weekly ‘Embracing trust’ with Father Chris Bazyouros 4 print home for John L. Allen Jr. and his colleague, Inés San Martin. National voices like Ruben Navarrette, Kathryn Lopez, Grazie Pozo Father Ronald Rolheiser: Faith and fear 6 Christie and Mike Aquilina regularly contribute. Best-selling Catholic author Dr. Scott Hahn writes a weekly Scripture column. These voic- Heather King: The art of Butoh 8 es complement key contributors such as Archbishop José H. Gomez, Bishop Robert Barron, Father Ronald Rolheiser and Heather King. Through solid journalism, commentary and photography, we believe that Angelus can help our readers be more authentically Catholic. Read more about our mission on pages 3 and 28.

ON THE COVER: Young Catholics hold up their cell phones during last year’s Youth Day at the Religious Education Congress in Anaheim. CONTENTS IMAGE: Liturgical movement during the closing Mass at the 2016 Congress. Contents Archbishop Gomez: The ‘good tidings’ of Angelus 3 John L. Allen Jr. Pope Francis in 2017 10 ‘Embracing trust’ with Father Chris Bazyouros 4 Bishop Barron: Go in haste! Be amazed! Treasure! 14 Father Ronald Rolheiser: Faith and fear 6 R.W. Dellinger: Prison on parole 16 Heather King: The art of Butoh 8 Why Angelus? 28 VICTOR ALEMÁN 2 •ANGELUSFebruary 23, 2017

PAINTING BY LALO GARCIA OF BLESSED JUNIPERO SERRA, COMISSIONED BY THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES. OIL ON CANVAS. PAINTING BY LALO GARCIA OF BLESSED JUNIPERO SERRA, COMISSIONED BY THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES. OIL ON CANVAS. F The ‘good tidings’ of Angelus ofAngelus The ‘goodtidings’ ing books,newspapersandmagazines; communication platforms—publish- always createditsown networksand promise ofGod’s love. “good tidings” ofJesusChristandhis — intheChurch’s mission tospreadthe where Churchcommunication begins is stillspeakingtohispeople.This communion oflove. him andtolivetogetherwithina invites ustowalkwithhimandserve encounter andfriendship.AGodwho guage. AGodwhocallsustodialogue, desires tospeakusinourown lan- God who“communicates.” AGodwho Wething fundamental. believeina lives andoursociety. salvation andwhatthatmeansforour Jesus revealsaboutGod’s mercyand nicate throughwordsandimageswhat Angeles andtheAmericas—tocommu- “good tidings” ofJesusChristtoLos angel oftheAnnunciation, SanGabriel. mission inLosAngeleswasnamedforthe especially whenwerecallthatthefirst name seemslikeanaturalpoint ofgrowth, traditional “Angelus”prayer. Soournew and tobringtheethesegoodtidings.” Virgin Mary: “I am sent to speak to thee, story, wheretheAngelGabrieltells the wordisfoundinAnnunciation that means“newsofevents.” platforms atAngelusNews.com. ed withonlinedigitalandsocial media lus, aweeklyprintpublicationintegrat- magazine. TheTidings becomesAnge- becomes anevenmoreexcellentnews To servethismission, theChurchhas Through JesusandhisChurch,God The Angelusscenepoints ustosome- Our mission remainsbringingthe Catholics rememberthiseventinthe In thefirstEnglishBibletranslations, “Tidings,” asweknow, isanoldword With thisedition, afinenewspaper lic newspaper,TheTidings. has beenservedbyafineCatho- ily ofGodhereinLosAngeles or morethan120years,thefam- To readmorecolumnsbyArchbishopJoséH.Gomez ortosubscribe,visitwww.angelusnews.com. NEW WORLD BY ARCHBISHOPJOSÉH.GOMEZ people’s strugglesandjoysastheyseek and nationalities.We wanttoshow our their richdiversity ofcultures,languages the storiesofourCatholicpeopleinall trends andworldevents.We wanttotell offering opinions andanalysisoncultural ing newsandinvestigativereporting, “Catholic” visionoftheworldbyprovid- common life. that shouldmattermosttousinour and spirituality, justiceandthethings serious abouttruthandbeauty, prayer photographers andartistswhoare will becomeaplatformforwriters, and theCatholicmedia inourtime. nounce arenewaloftheCatholicpress cal about“truthclaims”ofChristianity. hostile totheChurchanddeeplyskepti- their faithfromsecularsourcesthatare most oftheir newsandinformationabout religion. Sadly, mostCatholicstodayget and asifpeoplearebeyondtheneedfor deliberately asifGoddoesnotmatter ized society, organized moreand presence. andindependentCatholicmediavital nels ofdigitalandsocial media. and satellite;now usingthechan- broadcasting overradio, television,cable “ Our aimistocommunicate atruly My hopeisthatthisnewmagazine With Angeluswearehopingtoan- We findourselvesinahighlysecular- Today, morethanever,weneeda Our missionremainsbring for ourlivesandsociety.” vation andwhatthatmeans about God’s mercyandsal- images whatJesusreveals municate throughwordsand and theAmericas—tocom- Jesus ChristtoLosAngeles ing the‘goodtidings’of OF FAITH -

to anewgenerationintheAmericas. us asweseektobringthesegoodtidings New World. Maysheinspireandguide Jesus totheselandsatthedawn ofthe dalupe, whobroughtthegoodtidings of with Angelus. with othersaboutwhatwearedoing new effort—andsharethegoodnews lic journalismandmedia. for AngelusandthefutureofCatho- to seekanendthedeathpenalty. probably the first person in the Americas for therightsofnativepeoples.Hewas women andchildrenspeakingout moral fervorandcompassion,defending the naturalenvironment.Hewrotewith tiful descriptionsofplants,wildlifeand America’s firstpeoples,alongwithbeau- reporting ofhisexperiencesamong ists.” Heleftuswithrichanddetailed was oneofthiscontinent’s first“journal- founders ofLosAngelesandCalifornia. Junípero Serra,whowasalsooneofthe feast dayofAmerica’s newestsaint,St. this markedthefirstcelebrationof enslaved, traffickedandpersecuted. grant; theprisonerandallthosewhoare homeless, therefugeeandimmi- the womb;sickanddying; and mostvulnerable—thechildin human person,especially thepoorest ism must alwaysserveanddefendthe destiny andpurposegivenbyGod. can neverbedenied andatranscendent image withasanctityanddignity that human person—whoismadeinGod’s Jesus Christ’s “goodtidings” aboutthe more likethewayGodcreatedittobe. to livetheir faithandtomakethisworld gural issue ofAngelus,July 1,2016. I entrustallofustoOurLadyGua- Please prayforusasweembarkonthis We invokeSt.Junípero asourpatron St. Junípero wasagreatmissionary and We launchedAngelusonJuly 1because To betrulyCatholic,ourjournal- At theheartofCatholicvisionis This columnoriginallyappearedinthe inau- February 23, 2017 •ANGELUS •3  ‘Embrace trust’ How encountering Christ is key to religious education

BY J.D. LONG-GARCÍA / ANGELUS

Religious education is about an me talk to you about this.’ They went that it’s based on the witness and encounter with Christ. where people gathered and brought teaching and life of Jesus and what he When asked specifically about young this message of Christ.” laid down for his disciples,” he says. “It Catholics, Father Chris Bazyouros, Still, he says, it wasn’t so much that is what he wanted them to do.” who has been serving as the director the apostles knew what to say, but Father Bazyouros, who in 2013 be- of the Office of Religious Education that they carried a “living faith.” “And gan working in the Office of Religious for the Los Angeles Archdiocese for people were drawn to that living faith Education at the behest of former the last two years, says his approach and said there’s something happening director Sister Edith Prendergast, often applies to all Catholics, young here. I have to find out what it is,” RSC, says the office is seeing “a lot of and old alike. Father Bazyouros explains. amazing things” in its work. “People are going to come to us “It’s really going to be the same with “I feel that we’re really at a key because they perceive that we have everyone. With youth and children, moment in our history as a Church, something that they really need,” he we need to also look into walking with a time to make some important says. “All of us are going to say, ‘Of their parents, but also walking with decisions about how we want to move course, you need God!’ But the rest of adults who are not married, or who forward into this new century,” Father the world doesn’t think that way.” are single who are trying to make their Bazyouros says. “If we’re able to allow So, Father Bazyouros says, the key way into adulthood,” he says, adding the Spirit to guide us in those deci- is how catechists and other Catholics that they are “trying to find something sions, we’ll see amazing things hap- help others encounter Christ as a that is meaningful. These sorts of pening. The work of evangelization, living person. things don’t happen overnight. We not just from Pope Francis but also “And in so doing, give people a gently offer an opportunity to be a part from his predecessors, is continually chance to think, to consider that this of something greater.” coming up in our conversations. How person — Jesus — also wants to be a Offering that opportunity includes do we encounter Christ?” part of their lives and can be relevant answering Pope Francis’ call to be The only way to embrace trust, he in their lives,” he says. present to the marginalized. says, is to encounter Christ. Young adults are around, but are “So going to the margins, going out “Embracing Trust,” this year’s Re- not being connected, he says. A to people who are hurting and suffer- ligious Education Congress theme, young night is great, but it’s just the ing, that was always Jesus’ mission,” he came about as all Congress themes do beginning. Young adults want to be says. “If we ever find ourselves asking — when the ORE team prayed about involved in service organizations and ‘What should we do?’ Well, look at the the Sunday readings from Congress want to engage through their pre- mission of Jesus. The call to the mar- weekend. In the Gospel reading from ferred methods of communication. gins is not new, but there’s a renewed Matthew, “Jesus says the birds of the “There’s a whole sense that we are sense of urgency about doing it.” air don’t worry about what they are being called to get out of what’s com- Pope Francis has been concerned going to eat or wear, why should you?” fortable for us and to seek out those that the Church is too inward Father Bazyouros says. “The whole people,” Father Bazyouros says. “We looking and too comfortable, Father sense of really completely putting all are being called to be the apostles of Bazyouros says. It’s not a matter of of your life into God’s hands, which today. The apostles didn’t set up shop waiting for people who are in need to is always difficult for us, especially in and wait for people to come by. They show up asking for help. difficult situations.” went where the people were. They “This call to the margin, we have to It’s difficult to embrace trust for saw what they were doing. They lis- be careful that we don’t dismiss it as many who are uncertain about the tened to their conversations and they being based on some political agenda, future of the United States or who see said, ‘I hear what you are saying, let and we have to be careful not to forget the continuing war in Syria.

4 • ANGELUS • February 23, 2017 Archbishop José H. Gomez, Sister Helen Prejan, CSJ, and Father Chris Bazyouros sit together before Sister Helen gave last year’s keynote address Feb. 27 at the Religious Education Congress.

“We want to have some sense of con- to God’s providence that we see in In ensuring daily prayers, Father Ba- trol, or at least assurance that things our Blessed Mother Mary, and then zyourus shares advice he’d received to are going to work out the way we hope ultimately all the saints and all those put down prayer like an appointment. they do,” he says. “But to fully trust wonderful witnesses of faith, they’ve “Put it on your calendar that this is that if we completely put ourselves all taught us about this complete your time for prayer, because if you in God’s hands, that how God wants abandonment in God’s hands.” look for it you’ll never have it. But things to come about will ultimately Father Bazyouros shared a couple of if you make time for it, you’ll always will be best for everyone — that’s simple prayer tips he learned in the have it there,” he says. “I look at it like tough.” seminary that can be useful for others: you have a standing time to call your Father Bazyouros keeps a saying “Pray as you can, not as you can’t,” mom — like every Wednesday night from St. Theodora Guérin, who and “Make time every day to pray.” you call your mom. You make time founded the Sisters of the Providence “If you want to engage in a prayer for prayer because it’s important for of Mary-of-the-Woods, close to his life, the idea is that you engage in a your relationship with God.” heart. “Have confidence in the prov- prayer that connects to you on a deep Prayer is an encounter and helps us idence of God that so far has never level,” he explains. “So if you enjoy carry the living God to others. failed us.” reading Scripture, read Scripture. I “Look back at the life of Jesus and In the theme “Embracing Trust,” mean, everyone should read it, but meditate on part of his life,” Father Father Bazyouros says he wasn’t inten- some enter into it more easily as a Bazyouros says. “Read a passage from tionally trying to promote a particular prayer practice. If you find great depth Scripture and see how he dealt with idea, “But I really don’t believe in in the rosary, pray that. If you’re a people. Listen to the way he treated coincidences anymore.” Trusting in morning person, then get up early and them. Ask yourself if you were to meet God’s providence is part of what the pray. If you’re a night owl, like me, someone, could you meet someone faith is all about. your time is at night or some other in the way Christ did? Can I meet “That complete abandon that we see time. Don’t pray when you’re really someone and treat them like he did?

VICTOR ALEMÁN in the life of Jesus, the abandonment not there.” And be with them like he did?” 

February 23, 2017 • ANGELUS • 5 IN EXILE BY FATHER RONALD ROLHEISER, OMI

Faith and fear

A common soldier dies without fear, his mother, in the final hours leading There’s a certain parallel to this in yet Jesus died afraid. Iris Murdoch up to her death, was seemingly in the the seeming doubts suffered by Moth- wrote this and that truth can be some- grip of some inexplicable darkness, of er Teresa. When her diaries were pub- what disconcerting. Why? If someone some deep inner disquiet and of some- lished and revealed her dark night of dies with deep faith, shouldn’t he or thing that looked like the antithesis the soul, many people were shocked she die within a certain calm and trust of faith. For Father Nouwen, this was and asked: How could this happen to drawn from that faith? Wouldn’t the very disconcerting. Why would his her? A deeper understanding of faith opposite seem more logical — that is, mother be undergoing this disquiet would, I believe, ask instead: Why if someone dies without faith shouldn’t when, for all her life, she had been a wouldn’t this happen to her, given her he or she die with more fear? woman of such strong faith? faith and her openness to enter into And perhaps the most confusing of Initially, this unsettled him deeply, Jesus’ full experience? all: Why did Jesus, the paragon of until a deeper understanding of faith But, this has still a further complica- faith, die afraid, crying out in a pain broke through: His mother had been tion: Sometimes for persons of deep that can seem like a loss of faith? a woman who every day of her adult faith it doesn’t happen this way and The problem lies in our understand- life had prayed to Jesus, asking him to instead he or she dies calm and un- ing. Sometimes we can be very naïve empower her to live as he lived and afraid, buoyed up by faith like a safe about faith and its dynamics, thinking to die as he died. Well, seemingly, ship on stormy waters. Why does this that faith in God is a ticket to earthly her prayer was heard. She did die like happen to some and not to others? We peace and joy. But faith isn’t a path to Jesus who, though having a rock-solid have no answer. Faith doesn’t put us easy calm, nor does it assure us that faith, sweated blood while contem- all on the same conveyor belt where we will exit this life in calm, and that plating his own death and then cried one dynamic fits all. Sometimes peo- can be pretty unsettling and perplex- out on the cross, anguished with the ple with deep faith die, as Jesus did, in ing at times. Here’s an example by feeling that God had forsaken him. darkness and fear; and sometimes they the renowned spiritual writer Father In brief, her prayer had been an- die in calm and peace. Henri Nouwen. swered. She had asked Jesus to let her Elizabeth Kubler-Ross submits that In a book entitled “In Memoriam,” die as he did and, given her openness each of us goes through five clear stag- he shares this story about his mother’s to it, her prayer was granted, to the es in dying — denial, anger, bargain- death: Father Nouwen, a native of the confusion of her family and friends ing, depression and acceptance. Kath- Netherlands, was teaching in the U.S. who had expected a very different leen Dowling Singh suggests that what when he received a call that his moth- scene. That is also true for the manner Kubler-Ross defines as acceptance er was dying back home in the Neth- of Jesus’ death and the reaction of his needs some further nuance. Accord- erlands. On his flight home, from family and disciples. This isn’t the way ing to Singh, the toughest part of that New York to Amsterdam, he reflected anyone naturally fantasizes the death acceptance is full surrender and, prior on his mother’s faith and virtue and of a faith-filled person. to that surrender, some people, though concluded that she was the most But a deeper understanding of faith not everyone, will undergo a deep Christian woman he had ever known. reverses that logic: Looking at the interior darkness that, on the surface, With that as a wonderfully consoling death of Father Nouwen’s mother, can look like despair. Only after that do thought, he fantasized about how she the question is not, “How could this they experience joy and ecstasy. would die, how her last hours would happen to her?” The question is All of us need to learn the lesson be filled with faith and calm, and how rather: Why wouldn’t this happen that Father Nouwen learned at his that faith and calm would be her final to her? It’s what she asked for and, mother’s deathbed: Faith, like love, faith-filled witness to her family. being a spiritual athlete who asked admits of various modalities and may But that’s not the way it played out. God to send her the ultimate test, why not be judged simplistically from the

Far from being calm and unafraid, wouldn’t God oblige? outside. 

Oblate of Mary Immaculate Father Ronald Rolheiser is a specialist in the field of spirituality and systematic theology. His website is www.ronrolheiser.com.

6 • ANGELUS • February 23, 2017 VICTOR ALEMÁN

More than 35,000 gathered for last year’s Los Angeles Reli- gious Education Congress at the Anaheim Convention Center. February 23, 2017 • ANGELUS • 7 THE CRUX

BY HEATHER KING

Takao Kawaguchi, a Tokyo-based dancer, “reimagines” the avant-garde Butoh dance works of the late Kazuo Ohno during

LAWRENCE HO / REDCAT LAWRENCE a performance at the REDCAT Theater in Downtown L.A.

8 • ANGELUS • February 23, 2017 Kazuo Ohno, Takao Kawaguchi and the art of Butoh

Recently I caught a mesmerizing blossoms, then be flower-like. Look at dark save for a clothes rack holding dance performance at the downtown trees! From the roots to the tip of their Kawaguchi’s costumes. Between REDCAT Theater: “Takao Kawagu- branches, they’re vibrantly expressive.” dances, he changed slowly, teased chi: About Kazuo Ohno - Reliving the When he was almost 70, he hap- his hair, gathered himself, applied Butoh Diva’s Masterpieces.” pened by chance upon a modern makeup. Ohno (1906-2010) was one of the painting that jarred into consciousness He opened with “The Fetus Dream” founders of the revolutionary dance the memory of having seen a perfor- sequence from “My Mother,” reprised form known as Butoh, an avant-garde mance, decades before, by the famed an episode from “Dead Sea” to a discipline, often done in white body flamenco dancer Antonia Mercé scratchy recording of what sounded makeup, that arose from the ashes of (popularly known as “La Argentina”). like a sung Latin Mass, and performed World War II. “Admiring La Argentina,” which “Dream of Love,” again from “My As defined by Ohno himself: “Basi- was developed in homage and first Mother,” to Franz Liszt’s “Liebe- cally, ‘butoh’ means to meander, or to performed in 1977, became one of his straum.” move, as it were, in twists and turns most well-known pieces. The effect was extraordinary. Slight, between the living and the dead.” In “My Mother,” another of his elfin and sharp-featured, he variously To watch a YouTube video of Ohno signature dances, he wore a thigh- evoked Charlie Chaplin, Maria Callas is to be transported to a world that is high romper with a ruffle down the and the Virgin Mary, sorrowing at the leagues apart from the aggressive, brute back and carried a paper rose that foot of the Cross. athleticism that characterizes so much functioned as an exquisitely sensitive “I wanted to learn from [Ohno] of our contemporary skating, gymnas- antenna. Far from trying to hide his the inside, the soul of the dance,” tics, modern dance and even ballet. age, if anything, Ohno showcased Kawaguchi has said. His movements “The best thing someone can say to it. Makeup clung to the crevices in tapped into the shadowy subconscious me is that while watching my perfor- his wrinkled face. His hands were memory of our time in the womb and mance they began to cry,” he once gnarled, his back stooped, his arm of that time on the other end — eter- said. “It is not important to under- skin crepey. nity — about which, for now, we can stand what I am doing; perhaps it is But there was nothing in his dance only wonder. better if they don’t understand, but of willful repulsivity. “My intention in For much of the performance, Kawa- just respond to the dance.” dressing as a woman onstage has nev- guchi wore translucent white tights. Ohno converted to Christianity as a er been to become a female imper- From the first piece, one of his knees young man and remained a fervent sonator, or to transform myself into a was bleeding. Southern Baptist for the rest of his woman. Rather, I want to trace my life That small detail — that tiny red life. During WWII, he served in the back to its most distant origins. More stain amid so much white — for me Japanese Army and was held for three so than anything else, I long to return emblemized Butoh. That this man years as a POW. For much of his to where I’ve come from.” who in his dedication to craft was professional career, he worked by day The REDCAT performance was so willing to take a back seat to the as a physical education teacher at a by Takao Kawaguchi, a Tokyo-based master, who was so willing to suffer private Christian school in Yokohama, dancer who “reimagines” Ohno’s for his audience before even reaching retiring at the age of 86. works in a way that is “itself an origi- the main stage, was tremendously “Kazuo Ohno’s World: From With- nal.” moving. out and Within,” a collection of his I arrived early with a friend to find “Before employing techniques,” essays, reflections and aphorisms, is a the lobby awash in CalArts types and Ohno observed in his later years, “the fascinating read. Kawaguchi himself, slithering silently question of mind, spirit or life must be “An authentic expression only about the floor in his underwear. I considered.” emerges when body and soul reach desperately wanted to use the ladies’ He was referring to dance, but could crisis point. Look closely at plants. room, but was terrified of traversing just as well have been speaking of When in blossom, flowers are pet- the carpet lest he grab one of my legs writing or painting or prayer. al-laden right to the very tip of their and attempt to engage in a spontane- “The more techniques are applied, limbs. But take a look at your finger- ous interpretive dance. the more they push aside what is cru- tips: they’re lifeless. If your dance is to But the performance itself was, as cial. I don’t need techniques to lead come to life in the same way a flower I said, mesmerizing. The stage was my life after death.” 

Heather King is a blogger, speaker and the author of several books.

February 23, 2017 • ANGELUS • 9 Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with 138 new bishops from around the world at the Vatican Sept. 18, 2014.

Pope Francis could face key choices on bishops in 2017

BY JOHN L. ALLEN JR. / ANGELUS

ROME — By now, we already know preside over the usual liturgies for ing his legacy and shaping culture in much of what’s on Pope Francis’ plate Holy Week, continue meeting with the Church, which is naming bishops. in 2017, including two confirmed his C9 council of cardinal advisers to As a longtime friend of mine who trips — Fatima in May, and India wrap up an overhaul of the Roman works in the Vatican likes to say, in the and Bangladesh probably later in the Curia, and so on. Catholic Church a good bishop can year — and the likelihood of a couple With Francis, however, it’s often do an enormous amount of good, and more, one to Africa (perhaps Congo what you don’t see coming that really a bad bishop can do an even greater and South Sudan) and one to Latin tells the tale. amount of harm! America (beginning with Colombia.) Trying to predict what this maverick Bishops generally enjoy wide latitude The pontiff will also make quick pope will do is a fool’s errand. Yet we to run their shops as they see fit — a stops in Milan and Genoa inside Italy, can at least say that in 2017, he’ll have point that’s been given an exclamation meet bishops from around the world the chance to continue doing some- point of late by the contrasting ways in Rome making ad limina visits, thing arguably more important than various bishops have chosen to im-

L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO/CNS L’OSSERVATORE receive dignitaries and heads of state, almost anything else in terms of fram- plement the pope’s document on the

10 • ANGELUS • February 23, 2017 family, “Amoris Laetita.” As a result, most will stay on the job. The pope › Card inal Angelo Scola, Milan; perhaps no single thing any pope ever has already openly confirmed Pell › Card inal Norberto Rivera Carrera, does is more consequential than the beyond his 75th birthday, and Coc- Mexico City; kinds of bishops he appoints. copalmiero, Stella, Ravasi, Baldisseri › Card inal André Vingt-Trois, Paris; We got another small but telling and Sánchez Sorondo are all seen as › Card inal Oscar Rodriguez Maradia- reminder on Jan. 4, when Francis his kind of guys. ga, Tegucigalpa; replaced Bishop Fred Henry of Cal- The one to watch may be Amato, who › Card inal John Ton Hon, Hong gary in Canada with Bishop William is rumored to be on his way out, and Kong; and McGrattan. who turns 79 in June. If Francis does › Archbishop Peter Okada, Tokyo. Henry is a hero to the strongly pro- replace him, that would leave only Once again, there’s no rule that says life camp in the Church, among other the Congregation for Bishops under the pope has to replace any of them, things, because of his refusal to permit Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the and in fact most seem safe bets to go a government-backed vaccination Congregation for the Doctrine of the on for a while, prominently including program against a sexually transmitted Faith under German Cardinal Gerhard Wuerl in Washington. disease in Catholic schools because Müller, and the Economy secretariat However, the drama of 2017 proba- he believed it promoted promiscuity, under Pell as major Vatican offices bly pivots on the possibility of a transi- while McGrattan is seen as a more not led by figures either appointed by tion in three places: Durban, Mexico “Pope Francis” kind of bishop whose Francis or seen as broadly on the same City and Milan. focus is generally on dialogue and page on most major issues. All three are tone-setting archdioceses cooperation over confrontation. Catholic liberals would probably for the Church on an entire continent, In keeping with Church policy, every vote for the 69-year-old Müller as the and they’re all places where the incum- one of the world’s more than 5,000 Vatican official they’d most like to see bent is conventionally seen as not quite Catholic bishops is expected to submit gone, given his track record of taking the dictionary definition of a “Francis a letter of resignation when he turns fairly tough positions on matters such bishop.” Napier was a vocal part of the 75. It’s up to the pope whether to ac- as the Amoris debate. more conservative bloc at Francis’ two cept it, but 75 is generally the thresh- On the other hand, Francis may synods, Rivera is seen as an old-school old at which thoughts of a transition think about it the way St. Pope John cleric comfortable with power and priv- begin to beckon. Paul II once thought about naming ilege, and Scola is more of an evangeli- In major Vatican positions, officials Cardinal Agostino Casaroli as his cal “JPII” sort of thinker and leader. who are already past 75, or who will Secretary of State. The Polish pope If Francis were to do in Milan, turn 75 in 2017, include: knew he was going to make a strong Durban and Mexico City what he anti-Communist push, and he wanted › Card inal Francesco Coccopalmer- recently did with his cardinal picks in a man of détente to provide balance. the U.S., meaning to elevate person- io, Pontifical Council for Legisla- Doctrinally speaking, under Francis tive Texts; alities clearly seen as in sync with his it’s sort of the other way around: He’s own outlook, it’ll likely be read as him › Card inal Angelo Amato, Congrega- a pope of détente, and maybe he tion for the Causes of Saints; nailing down his legacy in various likes having a doctrine czar around parts of the world. › Card inal Beniamino Stella, Con- inclined to be sure the baby doesn’t On the other hand, if he cuts in the gregation for Clergy; get tossed out with the bathwater. other direction and names figures seen › Card inal George Pell, Secretariat In terms of prelates in dioceses as more traditional or conservative, for the Economy; around the world, here are a few big it might be taken as a gesture toward › Card inal Gianfranco Ravasi, Coun- players already over 75 or who will unity, trying to reassure those groups he cil for Culture; cross that milestone in 2017: still wants to be their pope, too. › Card inal Lorenzo Baldisseri, Synod › Card inal Laurent Monsengwo, There’s no way of knowing when, of Bishops; and Kinshasa; or if, these choices might come in › Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, › Card inal Donald Wuerl, Washing- the next 12 months. What’s certain is Pontifical Academy of Sciences/ ton, D.C.; that whenever they do come, they’ll Social Sciences. › Card inal Wilfrid Fox Napier, Dur- matter — and, given the nature of the

Honestly, the smart money is that ban; Church, not just a little bit. 

February 23, 2017 • ANGELUS • 11 To Jesus Through Mary

Join Auxiliary Bishop David G. O’Connell and Angelus’ Kathryn Jean Lopez on a pilgrimage to Fatima and Lourdes, including a visit to Barcelona.

For more information, please visit www.bit.ly/Fatima17 or call (213) 637-7378. October 13, 2017 will mark 100 years since the final apparition of Our Lady of Fatima to Lucia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto in Portugal. The Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette Souirous in 1858.

The Virgin Mary’s continues to lead the faithful to her son, Jesus Christ. Through her intercession, we can be healed and be instruments of God to promote peace in our world.

Join us in visiting these sacred places during an unforgettable pilgrimage to Fatima and Lourdes October 1-10, 2017.

“Come see us in Booth 468 to learn more about the pilgrimage!” WORD ON FIRE By BISHOP ROBERT BARRON Go in haste! Be amazed! Treasure!

ALWAYS By now most of you are probably that energy, verve, enthusiasm and a aware of the depressing statistics sense of mission come precisely from FORWARD regarding the “nones,” that is to say, a good that is perceived to be both those in this country who claim no objective and transcendent to the religious affiliation. The most recent ego. If I might borrow the language survey showed that now fully one- of Dietrich von Hildebrand, it is only fourth of Americans belong to no the objectively valuable — as opposed religion at all — that’s approximately to the merely subjectively satisfying 80 million people. And among those — that fills the mind and soul with in the 18-29 age group, the percent- passion and purpose. age of nones goes up to 40! When the sense of objective and This increase has been alarmingly transcendent value is attenuated — as precipitous. Fifty years ago, only a it necessarily is within the context fraction of the country would have of a secularist worldview — passion identified as unreligious, and even a and mission fade away. Cardinal John decade ago, the number was only at Henry Newman said that what gives a 14 percent. What makes this situation river verve and movement is precisely even more distressing is that fully 64 the firmness of its banks. When those percent of young adult “nones” were banks are broken down, in the interest indeed raised religious but have taken of a supposed freedom, the once the conscious and active decision to energetic body of water spreads out abandon their churches. Houston, we into a great lazy lake. What we have definitely have a problem. in our secularist culture, which denies I have written frequently regarding the transcendent good, is a subjectiv- practical steps that religious leaders ism that gives rise to the “whatever” ought to be taking to confront this attitude. Toleration and self-assertion Know and understand rising tide of secularist ideology, and I reign supreme; but no one goes news related to the faith. will continue to do so. But for the mo- anywhere in haste. Rather, we all rest ment, I would like to reflect on a pas- on our individual air mattresses in the Encounter a variety sage from the Gospel of Luke, which midst of the placid but tedious lake. of perspectives. was featured on the solemnity of Mary The second word I want to empha- Grow in prayer. the Mother of God, and which sheds size is “astonished.” Luke tells us that considerable light on this issue. It has those who heard the shepherds’ testi- Sign up for our free daily digital to do with the visit of the shepherds mony were “astonished” at the news. newsletter, “Always Forward,” to Mary and the Christ Child in the The King James Version renders this at www.angelusnews.com. stable at Bethlehem, and it hinges as “they wondered at” the message. on three words: haste, astonished and Wonder, amazement and astonish- treasured. ment happen when the properly We hear that, upon receiving the transcendent power breaks into our or- angel’s message, the shepherds “went dinary experience. The findings of the in haste” to visit the holy family. This sciences delight and inform us, but echoes a passage from a bit earlier they don’t astonish us, and the reason in Luke’s Gospel: having heard the for this is that we are finally in control news of her own pregnancy and that of the deliverances of the scientific 14 • ANGELUSANGELUS • December 23, 2016 of Elizabeth, Mary, we are told, “went method. We observe, we form hypoth- in haste” to the hill country of Judah eses, we make experiments, and we to help her cousin. The spiritual truth draw conclusions. 14 • ANGELUS • February 23, 2017 that both of these pericopes disclose is Again, this is all to the good, but it I’d press it further. She is the real sym- bol of the Church in its entire func- tion as the custodian of revelation. What is the Sistine Chapel? What is Notre Dame Cathedral? What is The Divine Comedy of Dante? What is the “Summa Contra Gentiles” of Thomas Aquinas? What are the ser- mons of John Chrysostom? What are the teachings of the great ecumenical councils? What is the liturgy in all of its complexity and beauty? These are all means by which the Church stubbornly, century in and century out, treasures the astonishing events of God’s self-manifestation. A bas-relief Nativity scene made of wood from Lombardy, Up and down the ages, the Church Italy, by artist Antonio Sandrini, is displayed in the Interna- ponders what God has done so that tional Nativity Museum in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. the memory of these mighty deeds might never be lost. As such, she doesn’t produce amazement. Doro- they alone can satisfy the deepest performs an indispensable service on thy Day witnessed to the astonishing longing of the heart. A secularist behalf of the world — though the when she said, upon the birth of her ideology — the worldview embraced world might not have any sense of it. first child, that she felt a gratitude so by the “nones” — produces the clean, She keeps holding up the light against enormous that it would correspond well-lighted space of what we can the darkness. to nothing or no one in this world. know and control. But it precludes So to the “nones” and to those who Mother Teresa was properly amazed true astonishment, and this leaves the are tempted to move into secularism, I when, on a lengthy train journey to soul impoverished. say, don’t float on the lazy lake; rather, Darjeeling, she heard a voice calling The final word from Luke upon go in haste! Don’t settle for something her to minister to the poorest of the which I’d like to reflect is “treasured.” less than astonishment; be amazed! poor. The apostles of Jesus fell into The evangelist tells us that Mary Don’t fall into spiritual amnesia;

wonder when they saw, alive again, “treasured these things, pondering treasure!  their master who had been cruci- upon them in her heart.” Cardinal fied and buried. These are the most Newman said that Mary, precisely in Bishop Robert Barron is an auxiliary bishop precious kinds of experiences that we this contemplative, ruminative frame of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the CNS can have, and if St. Augustine is right, of mind, is the model of all theology. founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries. Prison on parole RENDERING BY ANDREW NORMAN SPECIAL REPORT Prison on parole Juvenile halls, mental illness, harsh sentences: A closer look at overcrowded penitentiaries in California

BY R.W. DELLINGER / ANGELUS

an, it was cold in this stinking holding tank, right off a yard. Barely 9 a.m., and it already reeked of urine. Goose bumps were popping up through the tattoos running down his arms. Still, Iron- Mwood in 2012 was nothing like the 15 freakin’ years he spent in solitary in the secure housing unit hellhole, that damn SHU, at Pelican Bay. David Amaya was telling himself to stay focused. This was his third parole hearing after serving 20-plus of his 15-to-life for what the news people called “gang-related” crimes. He had to calm down, and fast, waiting for another turn before the parole board. Which wasn’t no board by any definition. Just one commissioner and his deputy. OK, those two’s rec- ommendation had to be approved by the 12-member full board in Sacramento, and then the governor, right? But still, it was in their hands whether he went home to his wife and three daughters or stayed behind bars. Jerry Brown and his people liked to point out on TV how they were trying like hell to meet that federal mandate of reducing California’s prison population. Although, they also scoffed at the notion that triple-bunking in hallways constituted cruel and unusual punishment. These were state prisons, they liked to point out, not Holiday Inns! David Amaya served 25 years Yeah, OK, so they didn’t have guys, in California prisons. you know, sleeping in shifts anymore. At least not at Ironwood. But what those restorative justice folks and civil rights lawyers referred to as “mass incarceration” was still happening. Guys like him serving hard time were being denied parole every time it came up. And juvenile halls were still serving as bush leagues, you know, to places like Folsom, San Quentin and Pelican Bay. Pipelines to the bigtime. Damn! The corrections officer was opening the door now and his palms were sweating. Not like at the first two hearings, but … David Amaya spent 15 years in solitary confinement at Pelican Bay’s SHU (Secure Housing Unit).

He told himself to man up. But don’t Right off, they wanted to know if he show no body language that could killed those three guys. Did he intend be misinterpreted. At least he wasn’t The lifer told himself to? Why? What were the reasons wearing shackles or hand-ties like they behind his actions? made some of those poor bastards do. to walk into the parole He said he did two members of Walk in there straight and tall. Show hearing like the changed his own gang for doing stuff they them you were a changed person like shouldn’t have been doing. The other you knew you were. And, man, watch person he really was. guy was a whole different thing. He’d your mouth. Don’t say nothin’ wrong. been giving him a look right on the A wood table and chairs. Can’t-see- street while he was driving by with his through mirror there on the wall, lies’ members here this morning. Iron- homies. So he jumped out, got in his with more guards behind it checking wood was so freakin’ isolated out here face. out every time you picked your nose. in the Sonoran Desert, no wonder. “Are you sorry? What does remorse Don’t stare into it! Stay focused, man. Made him wonder how they were mean to you? How do you show Tell them what you’ve told yourself doing. Years before he’d seen 9/11 on remorse? And what would you say to a hundred times. You weren’t the television, the stupid newsmen inter- the victims if you had the opportunity same person who did all that violence. viewing families after the towers fell. to talk to them or their families?” the ILLUSTRATION BY BERTICA GARCIA DUBUS Hadn’t you found God? Wasn’t that Kinda got to him, seeing how deep commissioners asked, coming at him changing everything? they were hurting. But, hey, hadn’t pretty hard, like always. He sat down beside his lawyer, he caused the same pain to families? “Yes, I’m very sorry, especially for half-smiling, not overdoing it, shaking Something he never gave any thought that guy on the street. He didn’t hands. The commissioner and his to before. deserve that. I was just a coward back

deputy right across from them, practi- After stating for the record, and then. I couldn’t accept the fact that TAMARA TIRADO cally face-to-face. They wanted to see recorder, who was present and their ti- somebody was standing up to me. into your eyes, right down to your very tles, they listed his crimes: manslaugh- And I was more concerned about soul. Was that possible? ter, attempted manslaughter and great what everybody was gonna think, my Also just like before, no victim fami- bodily harm. homies. I felt, you know, disrespected.

18 • ANGELUS • February 23, 2017 gang members, which only makes it people who go to Harvard and go The pipeline worse,” he points out. “So proba- to Princeton,” he says. “The people bly the hardest place to change is who live in barrios and ghettos and Jesuit Father Mike Kennedy is really in juvenile hall and many never have a first chance, they’re co-chaplain of Barry J. Nidorf Juve- wind up eventually in state prison. disposable and invisible. nile Hall in Sylmar. He also found- So basically that’s the paradigm.” “Our criminal justice system is ed and directs the Jesuit Restorative Father Kennedy acknowledges punitive: ‘You deserve it! You are Justice Initiative. The team ministers how conditions have recently a bad person! We don’t believe in to inmates in state and federal pris- improved in the prisons his team redemption! We’re going to treat ons, while advocating for systemic visits up and down the state. He you bad because you should be changes in criminal justice. remembers how even six years ago punished! We can’t trust you!’ The 68-year-old Jesuit believes inmates were sleeping in gyms. But “Yeah, it’s pretty much all those the school-to-juvenile-hall-to-prison he also reports that many — espe- things,” he sums up. “And as a “pipeline” continues to feed mostly cially Level IV or maximum security result, it’s a self-fulfilling prophesy. young, poor minorities into Califor- institutions — are still overcrowded, They see themselves after a while nia’s 34 penal institutions. with inmates waiting for weeks or as that. They don’t see themselves “Our urban public schools are jun- months to enroll in self-help pro- as good people.” gles because they’re all gang and grams and education courses. But the Church says they are. drug infested,” says Father Ken- The priest agrees with Russian “You know, Jesus said the people nedy. “Very few get to be juniors writer and philosopher Fyodor who had been forgiven the most, or seniors in high school because Dostoyevsky that a society’s civiliza- love the most,” reminds Father they’re now on crystal meth or tion can be judged by entering its Kennedy. “It’s true! Because Jesus is something else. So they don’t go to prisons. “The important people are right. They’re the locus, the place of school and then they drop out.” God. I mean, that’s the crucifixion. And many start hanging with their The darkest place in history had the neighborhood gang for self-protec- most light. That is our basic faith. tion, with their next life stop being a But we kind of skip over that. Los Angeles County juvenile camp “No, you just meet amazing or hall. people inside, and some of them “We put them together with other have done very horrible things,” he

adds. “I never underplay that.” 

— R.W. Dellinger TAMARA TIRADO

Putting gang members together in juvenile halls “only makes things worse,” says Father Mike Kennedy. CALIFORNIA’S 10 MOST CROWDED PRISONS*

INSTITUTION INMATES DESIGN CAPACITY PERCENT OVER

Valley State Prison 3,413 1,980 172.4%

Wasco State Prison 4,942 2,984 165.6%

Calipatria State Prison 3,762 2,308 163.0%

High Desert State Prison 3,724 2,324 160.2%

Kern Valley State Prison 3,910 2,448 159.7%

Centinela State Prison 3,636 2,308 157.5%

California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility 5,345 3,424 156.1%

North Kern State Prison 4,153 2,694 154.2%

Correctional Training Facility 5,084 3,312 153.5%

California State Prison, Los Angeles County 3,503 2,300 152.3%

*Weekly report of population as of midnight July 27, 2016. Data Analysis Unit, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, State of California. In 2011, a U.S. appellate court ruled that California’s prisons house no more than 137.5 percent of the number of inmates they were designed to hold. Anything above this figure, according to the federal panel, violates the eighth amendment’s prohibition against “cruel and unusual punishment.”

Because in my mind, at the time, you’re gonna fear me and you’re gonna respect me. But he was just a The commissioners Prop. 57 regular guy.” needed to know Amaya The California Catholic Con- After catching his breath, he said, “What would I tell victims and their wasn’t blowing smoke ference of Bishops came out in families? I’d tell them, you know, I — that when they full support of Proposition 57: really regretted what happened. They The Public Safety and Rehabili- didn’t deserve to die that way. Nobody released him, he was tation Act, calling the measure does.” going to go straight. a “much needed first step,” Amaya was sent back to the which would create a “bal- foul-smelling holding tank while they anced approach to the criminal deliberated. justice system.” “Of course I wanted to come home, “And now they were actually saying, The proposition appeared on you know, and I thought I did a good ‘You know what? We see the change the November 2016 ballot. in you. We know you’re not the same job,” he told me at the Southern Cal- Voters in California approved person. But we need to know you’re ifornia transitional house he’d been Prop 57 by a margin of 64 living at for a year, working steady not blowing smoke. We need to understand and see that when we release percent vs. 36 percent. at a flooring warehouse. “But in all Proponents said the meas- honesty, I realized I still needed more you, you’re not going to go out there ure will offer alternatives for work in myself. I just needed a little and get involved in the same kind of dealing with crime, including more time.” activity.’ When he was called back into the “I took it as constructive criticism; I increasing public safety as a hearing room after 30 minutes, the wasn’t really mad,” he recalled. “No, I preventative measure, offering commissioner and his deputy agreed. was more concerned for my family — rehabilitation programs and Yet, at the same time, they seemed my wife, my kids. What was it gonna placing more decisions in the supportive, which really caught him do to them? How would it impact hands of impartial judges. The off guard. them? The denial.” measure also increases the “They saw it was still too early, but After a moment, Amaya added, “I chance of parole for nonviolent they were actually good to me,” he knew I had ruined so many lives. I offenders. said. “Where before they’d called me knew I had hurt a lot of people. And I In addition, the initiative al- a monster, which I was. I looked at looked at it as, ‘OK, this is something lows the juvenile court — those it like I became that person that was I have to go through right now.’ And who best understand young very violent when I started [gang] I couldn’t allow myself to get pissed people — to decide if a minor bangin’. I was terrorizing the street, or turn it into anything else. I had should be tried as an adult. you know. And my interpretation of my daughters to think about. Our  respect was ‘fear me!’ visits were always behind glass. And I

20 • ANGELUS • February 23, 2017 grandmother visited her daughter, hug his mother. He had visited A family visit Terese, in Folsom Prison for the her at other places, but she was first time in 2 1/2 years. With her always behind glass.” Two years ago the Prison Policy was her 18-year-old grandson, The yearly trips offer healing to Initiative reported that less than a Ta’Reek, her daughter’s son whom both kids and their incarcerated third of people in U.S. state pris- she has raised. The eight-hour dads and moms, according to Get ons got a visit from a loved one in overnight journey from South L.A. On The Bus’ executive director. a typical month. was made possible by “Get On “Despite the breadth of research “It’s crucial because the children The Bus,” which brings children, need to know that parents love showing that visits and maintain- along with their guardians, from them, they don’t feel abandoned, ing family ties are among the best throughout California to visit their they don’t feel neglected,” ex- ways to reduce recidivism, the re- parents in prison. ality of having a loved one behind “It means a lot to families who plained Amalia Molina. “That’s bars is that visits are unnecessarily cannot afford any type of transpor- very important. And the parents grueling and frustrating,” wrote tation to these faraway prisons,” know that they have children and the authors of “Separation by Sheridan pointed out. “This was they want to change for the best. Bars and Miles: Visitation in state the first time we’ve seen her in “So Get On The Bus heals the prisons.” over two years. It was awesome children, heals the parents. It com- Sandra Sheridan can attest to for my grandson to spend time municates love.”  that. with her. Because, see, that was On June 25, the 70-year-old the first time he got to touch and — R.W. Dellinger SISTER TERESA LYNCH, CSJ

Sandra Sheridan, right, and her grandson, Ta’Reek, visit his mother, Terese, at Folsom State Prison. How many people are locked up in California and where?

242,000 people in California are locked up in various Local Jails kinds of facilities 84,000

Youth 8,100 PRISON POLICY INITIATIVE 07/20/2016

State Prisons Civil Commitment 930 136,000 Federal Prisons 13,000

remember it was specifically October inmates had died when they didn’t get causing cruel and unusual punishment. of 2005. Adriana was 15 and she asked, proper medical treatment. Along with “It was a big milestone,” Bien, the ‘Dad, are your ever gonna hold me?’ the lack of psychological help mental- San Francisco lawyer, acknowledged “So that was the fork in the road ly ill inmates were receiving. about reaching the cap. “But it doesn’t where I had to make a decision,” said “In these overcrowded conditions, in- mean everything is fixed. What’s im- the 48-year-old with the Mr. Clean mate-on-inmate violence is almost important is to realize that they’re barely shaved head and shoulder muscles. possible to prevent, infectious diseases there. [137.2 percent then vs 137.5 “But it didn’t happen overnight.” spread more easily and lockdowns are percent mandated] sometimes the only means by which “Moreover, many individual institu- n August 2009, a three-judge court to maintain control,” the panel had tions are still way above that average. Iaddressed the triple-bunking over- concluded. “In short, California’s [see California’s 10 Most Crowded crowding David Amaya was referring prisons are busting at the seams and Prisons chart, page 14]. And the Cali- to. That’s when the federal jurists are impossible to manage.” fornia Department of Corrections and ordered the California prison system The original ruling had legs all the Rehabilitation has ‘population projec- to reduce the inmate population of way to the highest court in the land. tions’ showing prison populations are 150,000 by 40,000 within two years. And on Jan. 29, 2015, a local newspa- starting to go up again.” On May 23, 2011, in Brown v. Plata, per headline proclaimed, “California When the federal court granted the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed prisons dip below court-ordered popu- its last extension to the state, it also that decision to cut the state prison lation cap.” The story’s lead sentence called for a “durable remedy.” This population to 137.5 percent of design reported that the Golden State’s could be an automatic release of capacity — what the institutions were beleaguered penal system fell under prisoners or some other mechanism in built to hold. the federal courts’ mandatory inmate place to keep the inmate count under Michael Bien was co-lead counsel count for the first time. But the last the 137.5 percent benchmark. And in lawsuits to force the state to lessen 15 words contained the real rub: “a by the way, he cautioned, that figure overcrowding in its prisons. Not only benchmark the state will have to be didn’t fall from heaven. It wasn’t even did he describe in court a chaotic maintained to satisfy judges oversee- a real compromise. system where prisoners were sleeping ing the agency.” It was just the appellate court’s in gyms, hallways and day rooms with And 17 prisons, including most of the best guess of how much overcrowd- single guards trying to monitor them. Level IV maximum security facilities, ing constitutes “cruel and unusual He also pointed out cases where sick were still overcrowded to the point of punishment” according to the eighth

22 • ANGELUS • February 23, 2017 HARING/CNS PAUL ‘Scapegoats’ oners with respect and mercy. In 2014, addressing the Interna- “Any society, any family, which tional Association of Penal Law, cannot share or take seriously the Pope Francis warned against pain of its children and views that the modern practice of locking pain as something normal or to be members of society up for lengthy expected is a society ‘condemned’ periods. to remain a hostage to itself, prey “A widespread conviction has to the very things which cause that taken root in recent decades that pain.” public punishment can resolve the In September 2015, Pope Francis most disparate social problems, spoke those words to inmates as if completely different diseases during his visit to the Curran-From- could be treated with the same hold Correctional Facility in Phil- medicine,” he pointed out. adelphia. In Spanish, he told the The pope added, “Scapegoats are captive congregation, “I am here not only sought to pay, with their as a pastor but, above all, as a freedom and with their life, for all brother to share your situation and social ills such as was typical in to make it my own.” primitive societies, but over and In doing so, the pope addressed beyond this, there is at times a the issue of mass incarceration, tendency to deliberately fabricate a topic he hasn’t shied away enemies — stereotyped figures who from. Through words and actions, represent all the characteristics that he has often declared that it’s a society perceives or interprets as

sacred Christian belief to treat pris- threatening.” 

Pope Francis has pointed out that prisoners are not to be made “scapegoats” for society’s ills. He’s seen here blessing a prisoner as he visits the Curran-Fromhold

PAUL HARING/CNS PAUL Correctional Facility in Philadelphia Sept. 27, 2015. How many people are locked up in the United States? The United States locks up more people, per capita, than any other nation. But grappling with why requires us to first consider the many types of correctional facilities and the reasons that 2.3 million people are confined there.

Status 600 Violent Other 122,000 Property Technical 10,000 112,000 Violations 6,600 Driving Under the Influence 26,000 Drug Drug 1,900 115,000 Drug trafficking 300 Other Public Order 71,000 Other drug 1,600 Person Robbery 3,700 Weapons 52,000 Not Convicted 13,600 Public order Sexual assault 2,500 451,000 Homicide 600 Drug possession 48,000 Public Order 79,000 149,000 Aggravated assault 3,000 Simple assault 2,600 Other 2,000 Other personal crime 1,000 Other drugs Property Burglary 3,500 Arson 300 164,000 Violent 42,000 8,100 Drug Theft 1,700 Auto theft 1,100 212,000 Local Jails Other property crime 1,600 Property 48,000 Convicted Public order Other public order 2,200 646,000 3,700 Weapons 1,400 Fraud 195,000 28,000 Public order 59,000 Territorial Other 1,000 Prisons 14,000 Burglary Youth 34,000 142,000 Property 261,000 State Prisons Federal Prisons Public Immigration 19,000 Order Theft 51,000 1,351,000 Weapons 33,000 211,000 76,000 Immigration Car theft 1,000 Other public order 23,000 Detention Violent 15,000 33,000 Other property Drug Property 13,000 29,000 105,000

Other violent 42,000 PRISON POLICY INITIATIVE

Other 1,000

Assault 135,000 Violent 718,000 Murder 169,000 Civil Commitment 5,500 Manslaughter Indian Country 2,400 Robbery 18,000 Military 1,400 185,000 Rape/sexual assault 169,000

amendment. court class action trials that exposed “We argued that it should be less,” “cruel and unusual” mistreatment of Bien reported. “We had experts who The population of individuals with mental illness. Three argued it should be 130 percent. mentally ill prisoners abuses that had gone on for years were Best, of course, would be 100 percent hasn’t gone down brought to light: denial of psychiatric because that’s what the prisons were hospital services; use of force, in- built for. But 137.5 percent is good. in California’s penal cluding pepper spray; and overuse of I’m not complaining that they got institutions. It’s gone up. solitary confinement. there. It’s great that they got there.” The clients of Rosen Bien Galvan & He says the biggest factor bringing Grunfeld LLP of San Francisco pre- down the prison population was Prop. vailed in all three trials. Reforms are 47, passed by California voters in 2014. the Three Strikes Law. currently being carried out, including It reclassified some crimes — notably All of these lowered California’s the obvious — reducing the mentally certain drug possession and petty theft prison population to 113,483 men and ill population in state prisons. charges — from felonies to misdemea- women, or 134.6 percent of design “Now we’re finding out it’s not work- nors. And it allowed those serving for capacity for its prisons. ing as we expected. There’s a prob- these crimes to petition for reduced sen- “So that’s where they are now, a little lem. The problem is the population tences. Moreover, fewer convicts would below their goal,” he said. “Now we of prisoners with mental illness has be sent to prison in the first place. have to evaluate it: Is it enough and is not gone down,” reported Bien. “So Bien pointed out another factor was it durable? But that still hasn’t really there’s actually right now more pris- Gov. Brown’s much touted realign- been done.” oners with mental illness than there ment policy started in October 2011. The attorney said there’s one ele- were at the time that the three-judge Certain nonviolent, nonsexual, nonse- phant in the room still driving mass court gave its order. And the percent rious offenders were sent to county jails incarceration in California, an issue has gone way up, from the 20s to now instead of state prisons. And then there that hasn’t been talked about much it’s more than 30 percent. So you need was Prop. 36, which reduced some of — mentally ill prisoners. In 2013, a higher level of care, more hospital the harsh life-sentencing measures of he was lead counsel in three federal beds, more mental health workers.”

24 • ANGELUS • February 23, 2017 How many people are locked up in the United States? ‘Acting out my anger’ The United States locks up more people, per capita, than any other nation. But grappling with why requires us to first consider the many types of correctional facilities and the reasons that 2.3 million people are confined there. Bobby Garcia says he’s been through the “whole gam- ut” in California’s penal system — from juvenile hall to Status 600 maximum security prisons like Corcoran Security Housing Unit, Kern Valley, Mule Creek to Ironwood, where he was paroled from in 2014. Drug trafficking 300 “They were just moving us around every two years in the Other drug 1,600 Robbery 3,700 ‘90s and 2000s because they were opening up so many Sexual assault 2,500 new facilities,” he explains. “They were mostly all crowded. Homicide 600 Aggravated assault 3,000 It looked like a big can of sardines, putting us in three-high Simple assault 2,600 Other personal crime 1,000 bunk beds in gyms and even classrooms. The system was Burglary 3,500 busting at the seams. Arson 300 Theft 1,700 “There was a lot of, like, frustrations, a lot of emotions Auto theft 1,100 Other property crime 1,600 raging, a lot of people on waiting lists to go to school and Other public order 2,200 Weapons 1,400 jobs. People were catching staph infections and Valley Fever. You couldn’t get away from others. You could never feel like you were in a human environment.” Garcia was tried as an adult at 16 and sentenced to 25 years to life for being in a fight where a co-defendant stabbed and killed a rival gang member in Burbank. After serving 21 years, he got a parole hearing under a new state law, SB 260, and was released at age 38. “I was actually fortunate that I was paroled on my first try,” he notes. “What happened was 260 had just passed.

PRISON POLICY INITIATIVE And I went in with a lot of recommendations, like, from staff. And I had earned two college associate degrees from taking correspondence courses paid for by my wife. “So I had all that good stuff, and they used the language that was in 260 to grant me parole. They said that I was Civil Commitment 5,500 susceptible to peer pressure with all the hallmarks of youth. Indian Country 2,400 Military 1,400 So it worked in my favor.” For the last couple of years, the now 41-year-old man who grew up in Hollywood has been part of the Jesuit Restor- ative Justice Initiative team, running the Culver City office plus sharing his personal story with advocates, legislators and others. How he grew up angry in an alcoholic home with a missing dad. “So I channeled all that anger into violence,” he says. “And the only violence that meant something was being a gang member. So I was just acting out my anger: delin- quency, truancy, getting bad grades, smoking pot and all that stuff. I just didn’t know how to cope with what was going on around me.” Garcia says the “draconian days” in California prisons seem to have passed. But the institutions still don’t resemble “Disneyland” and long waiting lists for self-help programs and education classes — heavy factors for being granted parole — remain. When asked why California and the U.S. continue to lock up so many of its citizens — more than any other nation or state — he has a ready reply: drugs! “What’s happening now is we’re still dealing with substance abuse problems,” he points out. “Instead of treating the problem, we’re locking them up. Because we are still refusing to see this as a disease and more as a choice. You know, ‘They made their choice, so this is the consequence.’

And because of that, they just incarcerate everybody. TAMARA TIRADO “And then the fear tactics of get tough on crime,” adds Garcia. “People from a different stratosphere in the eco-

nomic system don’t want to be victimized, so they pass all CREDIT these harsh laws. It kind of shows that we’re desensitized

where we want quick solutions.”  By a federal court ruling, California prisons must not exceed 137.5 percent of their designed capacity. — R.W. Dellinger February 23, 2017 • ANGELUS • 25 KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/GETTY IMAGES

Inmates at Chino State Prison, which houses 5,500 inmates, crowd around the double and triple bunk beds in a gymnasium that was modified to house 213 prisoners on Dec. 10, 2010 in Chino, California. By a federal court ruling in 2011, California prisons must not exceed 137.5 percent of their designed capacity.

United States 716

United Kingdom 147

Portugal 136

Luxembourg 122

Canada 118 Belgium 108 INCARCERATION RATES Italy 105 AMONG FOUNDING NATO MEMBERS

France 98 (per 100,000 population) Netherlands 82

Denmak Violent73 718,000 Norway 72

26 • ANGELUS • February 23, 2017 He believes “something is going on” that isn’t necessarily intentional. Prosecutors and judges are well aware that inmates suffering from mental illness do really poorly in prison. Staff and other inmates perceive them as being dangerous by definition. They can also just be harder to handle. “Are DAs and judges making sure that someone who’s mentally ill is going to CDCR [California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation] — prison — rather than stay in county jail? Cause they’re a pain in the butt to have in county jail. And they’re expensive,” he noted. “It’s not necessarily wrong that they’re doing this. It’s within their discretion. They can perceive them as more dangerous.” He said once in prison they stay there longer. It’s a big circle. They get into trouble and wind up in maximum security institutions where there’s very few activities and self-help programs. “And that tends to make people who are mentally ill worse,” Bien pointed out, “because of isolation and exclusion, you know. And they have even more be-

havior problems. So they literally serve ILLUSTRATION BY BERTICA GARCIA DUBUS longer sentences. So this is a real chal- David Amaya said the commissioners that decided on his parole would look into his eyes, down into his very soul. lenge. Their numbers are not dropping. concede. If God hadn’t come into his had no feelings for anyone. You …” This, and not having a durable remedy life, it would have been different. He’d He put his head down on the table, to make sure the prison population have tried to defend his gang behavior, stopped listening. Going on 25 years be- stays below the federal mandate, are the all the violence he did to others. He’d hind bars. Would he ever be free again? reasons we think the case isn’t over. And have tried to minimize or make excus- After a while, he thought he was hav- overcrowding makes everything impossi- es or justify it. But, yeah, in his heart, ing one of those freakin’ out-of-body ble for everybody in prison.” absolutely, he had been a monster. experiences: “But the man in front of And they kept coming at him about us today isn’t that person. We believe n the holding tank this time at his past. “Did you do this?” “Why?” you’re a changed man. And we are ICalipatria State Prison in Imperial “Were you a follower or a leader?” going to grant you parole.” County, March 2015, it wasn’t as “I was a leader. I was striving to be “I couldn’t believe it hearing these cold. David Amaya was praying this that leader. I was doing the things for words,” he told me. “And it was just morning for God to comfort his family my own selfish gain.” He was never a like everything I needed to hear from and to allow him to show the commis- shot caller, yeah, but he’d desperately my Father and my God. They were sioner and his deputy who he really wanted to be. saying, ‘You know, you’re compassion- was, you know, inside. He walked into It went on like this, back and forth, ate, you’re caring, you’re insightful. the parole hearing room way more for 5 1/2 straight hours. We believe you’re going to succeed calm, feeling peace in his heart. Yeah, During deliberations this time, out there in society.’ They were telling he still wanted to come home. But it INCARCERATION RATES they let him sit with his lawyer in me this. It was like a long confession. was more about being able to right the the attorney room. She said if it was “Even before I went into that room I AMONG FOUNDING NATO MEMBERS wrongs he’d done. Be a good father, quick, they’d be back in 15 minutes was following God, but my past was still, a good friend. Somebody that people with a release date. So when a half- like, picking at me,” he confided. “And (per 100,000 population) would trust. Hurt no one else. hour went by, no way he was getting when I walked out of that room, it was “Amaya, we spent all night in your one. So he asked her to do him a like, ‘OK, I’m no longer that person. I file, and we have never seen anybody favor. Call his wife and explain what see it. I get it. I understand. My past is with as many victims or who was happened. If he called, they’d just get my past.’ It was like a clearing. Just hear- as violent as you were,” scolded the into another argument. ing them words, it just gave me another commissioner. “You were a monster. After 45 minutes, a guard finally sense: ‘This is who I am now.’” Do you agree?” came to get them.  “Absolutely.” Again, the commissioner started This article, which has been updated, It was a simple point the man was with, “Amaya, you were a very violent. first appeared in the Aug. 12, 2016 making, of course, so he had to … You were, in fact, a monster. You issue of Angelus.

February 23, 2017 • ANGELUS • 27 Why Angelus? ANGELUS

February 23, 2017 | Vol.2 • No. 7S We believe in God the Father, in Jesus 3424 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010 • (213) 637-7360 • FAX (213) 637-6360 — Published by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles by The Christ, his only begotten son, and in the Tidings (a corporation), established 1895. Holy Spirit. We believe in the Catholic Publisher ARCHBISHOP JOSÉ H. GOMEZ Church, and we believe that we participate Editor-In-Chief JOHN DAVID LONG-GARCÍA [email protected] in her mission of the salvation of souls. We

Associate Editor believe that in-depth journalism, photojour- MARIA LUISA TORRES [email protected] nalism and thought-provoking commentary Features Editor R.W. DELLINGER [email protected] can help our readers deepen their faith.

Production Coordinator OSVALDO CISTERNAS We do not believe in preaching to California missionary whom Pope [email protected] the choir. We do not believe in re- Francis canonized during his apos- Photo Editor porting only what our readers want tolic visit to the United States. We VICTOR ALEMÁN [email protected] to hear. We believe that the call of are inspired by Father Serra’s motto, Jesus Christ is a challenge. “Always forward, never back.” Circulation We report on the life of the Church Our weekly magazine, our website CHRIS KRAUSE [email protected] in Los Angeles, in the United States and our daily newsletter are designed and across the world. We feature the to be companions for Catholics who Proofreader RICHARD G. BEEMER arts, spiritual reflections and narra- seek to be authentic in their faith. tive storytelling. We report on the That means keeping up with the Sales Coordinator OVIDIO TORRES marginalized — from the unborn to news, engaging in the arts and know- [email protected] the undocumented, to the homeless, ing about ongoing injustices. We are to the prison inmate, to the elderly a tool for evangelization. Sales PATTY BROOKS and the dying, to those who have We are rooted in the traditions of [email protected] been trafficked — all of those forgot- the Church and strive to live out MARY CASARES ten by society. We believe in being a the challenge of the Second Vatican [email protected] voice for the voiceless. Council. We want to be in conversa- JOE MANZA Our reporting often makes our tion with everyone, including those [email protected] readers uncomfortable. But being a who are not Catholic. We engage follower of Jesus Christ is not meant with others through our social NELY TINGTING GO [email protected] to be comfortable. The journey of media channels, including Twitter, faith is lifelong. We are not called to Facebook and Instagram. CHUCK MILAN [email protected] be complacent. We are called to go We believe that the Angelus News out, to engage contemporary society platform can help us be better and share the good news. Catholics. ANGELUS is published weekly except at Eas- ter, Thanksgiving and Christmas by The Tidings We began our mission on July 1, We hope that you will join us. (a corporation), established 1895. Periodicals the feast of St. Junípero Serra, the Subscribe today. postage paid at Los Angeles, California. Mail  subscriptions $30.00; single copies, $1.00 © 2016 ANGELUS (2473-2699). No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written per- mission of the publisher. Events and products advertised in ANGELUS do not carry the implicit endorsement of FOLLOW US The Tidings Corporation or the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: ANGELUS, facebook.com/ info@ Angelus @Angelus @Angelus PO Box 306, Congers, NY 10920-0306. For Sub- AngelusNews angelusnews.com News News News scription and Delivery information, please call (844) 245-6630 (Mon - Fri, 7 am-4 pm PT). www.angelusnews.com www.la-archdiocese.org

28 • ANGELUS • February 23, 2017