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Rooting out Racism Rachel Lu FEBRUARY 4, 2019 THE JESUIT REVIEW OF FAITH AND CULTURE Rooting Out Racism Rachel Lu p28 In San Francisco with Richard Rodriguez p40 Bullied at a Jesuit High School p34 Reinventing Parish Schools p20 1 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORG FEBRUARY 4, 2019 AMERICA | PB 2019 CATHOLIC IMAGINATION CONFERENCE THE FUTURE OF THE CATHOLIC LITERARY IMAGINATION TOBIAS WOLFF ALICE MCDERMOTT PAUL SCHRADER RICHARD RODRIGUEZ DOROTHY FORTENBERRY KIRSTEN VALDEZ QUADE PHIL KLAY FANNY HOWE And over fty other writers, poets, lmmakers & scholars September 19-21, 2019 The Joan and Bill Hank Center Cfor the Catholic CIH Intellectual Heritage In collaboration with a host of other national co-sponsors 2 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORG FEBRUARY 4, 2019 AMERICA | 3 Statement of the President & Editor in Chief The past few months have not been such a list. The public disclosure of mation in my possession regarding easy for the editorial team at America. this information is a necessary step to- Father Ryan. No one here became a Catholic ward justice and reconciliation for the As you know, from 1962 to 2017, journalist because they wanted to victims and survivors of sexual abuse America Media owned a building lo- write about ecclesial scandals day at the hands of clergy. cated at 106 West 56th Street in New after day. That the staff have done In light of this public disclosure, York City. The building housed the ed- so with such devotion and care is a it is my sad duty to report to you the itorial and business offices of America great testament to the depth of their following: On Jan. 9, 2019, Northeast Media, as well as a community of Jesu- commitment to our readers. Province officials contacted me in my its. The community included both Je- I know, of course, that our trou- capacity as president of America Me- suits who were employed by America bles are nothing compared to the pain dia. I learned then for the first time that Media and other Jesuits who were not inflicted by the perpetrators of these the list released today would include employees of America Media. Starting crimes. Their victims and survivors the name of John T. Ryan, S.J., who was in 1984, the Jesuit community at 106 are always foremost in our hearts and an employee of America Media (then West 56th Street was the exclusive re- minds, but never more so than on Jan. America Press) from 1989 to 1994. sponsibility of the religious superior of 9, 2019, when I learned that one of the During those years, Father Ryan was the New York Province (now part of the Jesuits who has been credibly accused listed on the masthead of this magazine Northeast Province) and was not under of sexual abuse worked at this maga- as “Associate Editor for Development.” the direction of the editors and staff of zine 25 years ago. Father Ryan is the only Jesuit on America Media. America Media was not We quickly decided that we had any of the provincial lists of credibly empowered to decide who was assigned a duty to disclose this information to accused Jesuits who was an employee to reside at that location. Province offi- you, to acknowledge that this person is of America Media. cials have requested that all questions a part of our history and to renew pub- Also on Jan. 9, I was informed by unrelated to the employment history licly our commitment to do everything Northeast Province officials that Fa- of the men on these lists be directed to in our power to make certain that his- ther Ryan was dismissed from the Soci- their respective province office. tory does not repeat itself. ety of Jesus in 2002 and that, according You can find links to all the USA What follows is a slightly edited to their records, the allegations against Jesuit provinces at www.jesuits.org. version of the statement I issued on Father Ryan were received by the You can also access there links to all our digital platforms. I reproduce it Northeast Province in 2003 and 2014. of the lists of credibly accused Jesuits here for our print readers and for the In light of the grave nature of that have been released by the Society historical record. this matter, I asked the current staff of Jesus in the United States. ••• of America Media to review our files I also encourage you to read On Jan. 15, 2019, the USA Northeast and to report to me any information Michael O’Loughlin’s reporting Province of the Society of Jesus regarding Father Ryan. I also spoke on these recent developments. released a list of all Jesuits in that with the few members of our staff who You can find that reporting at ecclesiastical jurisdiction, living and might have known Father Ryan during www.americamagazine.org/ne-list. deceased, as well as any former Jesuits his five years at America Media, some At this time, the editors and staff of of the Northeast Province, who have 25 years ago. I can report to you that I America Media are most mindful of the been the subject of one or more credible have received no information that in- victims and survivors of these crimes. allegations of abuse of a minor. The list dicates that any member of the Amer- We continue to pray for them and for includes all such allegations received ica Media staff, then or now, had any the healing of the American church. by the Northeast Province since 1950. knowledge of Father Ryan’s alleged As of Jan. 15, every Jesuit prov- misconduct with minors. Matt Malone, S.J. ince in the United States has released This is the extent of the infor- Twitter: @americaeditor. 2 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORG FEBRUARY 4, 2019 AMERICA | 3 THE ISSUE GIVE AND TAKE DISPATCHES FEATURES 6 12 20 YOUR TAKE DEATH TOLL REMAINS CATHOLIC SCHOOLS What is the greatest challenge HIGH FOR WORLD’S REIMAGINED facing religious education programs? MIGRANT PEOPLE Running a parish school has become too much for pastor or 8 Infographic: Mortal moves principal to handle OUR TAKE Betsy Shirley Litmus tests in politics; New Congress, new religious diversity population control for cars 28 High-tech maps help the church THE REALITY OF RACISM 10 respond to climate change and more I genuinely believed that racism SHORT TAKE was not a significant problem in the Put away your cellphone and GoodNews: Catholic groups step up United States. I was wrong. find God when government shuts down Rachel Lu Ryan Duns 4 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORG AP Photo/Gregory Bull AP Photo/Gregory Ileze Dariel, of Tijuana, Mexico, reaches for the hand of her daughter, Jimena, while taking family pictures on the beach next to the border wall, Jan. 9. THE ISSUE Cover: iStock FAITH IN FOCUS IDEAS IN REVIEW THE WORD 34 40 50 ENDURING PAIN RICHARD RODRIGUEZ, Can your word to someone be an Facing up to cruelty and racism at CONTRARIAN encounter with grace? a Jesuit high school A visit with the Catholic essayist in Anonymous San Francisco Do you carry around any false Olga Segura notions of righteousness? 38 Michael Simone A POPE AND A RABBI’S BOOKS INTERFAITH FRIENDSHIP Making Oscar Wilde; Interior States; Abraham Skorka Stumbling in Holiness; On Thomas LAST TAKE Merton POEM 54 CULTURE MIGUEL H. DÍAZ 43 Andy Warhol at the Whitney; Greatness comes from looking A TRAJECTORY OF STARLINGS Paul Schrader on ‘First Reformed’ beyond our borders Richard Schiffman FEBRUARY 4, 2019 VOL. 220 NO. 3 WHOLE NO. 5210 YOUR TAKE What is the greatest challenge facing religious education programs for children? In response to this question, 54 percent of respondents said draw from.” a lack of parental involvement poses the greatest challenge And Emese Hasznos, a parent and parishioner in to religious education programs for children. Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., said she favors a “play-based” Many readers suggested that formation begins at approach that centers on environmental literacy, cul- home. Leah Ramsdell, a parish staff member in Norwood, ture and includes “no testing, no homework.” Mass., wrote, “We can offer great programs, but if it’s not Respondents made a number of suggestions to improve reinforced at home, it’s not going to stick.” Readers also religious education programs at their parishes. Jeanne Du- cited other challenges. Fifteen percent of respondents said ell, a teacher in Fairborn, Ohio, recommends “changing the conflicting schedules with other youth activities present Sunday Mass time to make it easier for families to attend the greatest challenge, and 15 percent pointed to problems Mass and then the religious education program.” with the curriculum or pedagogy. Maura Sweeney, a parish staff member in Fitchburg, Patrick Higgins, a parishioner in Pasadena, Calif., Mass., agrees that family formation is important, but she was among those with concerns about pedagogy. “When thinks outreach efforts should start with adults. “Young I was in C.C.D. as a kid, religious education consisted of parents rarely have integrated faith lives that connect them making collages out of magazine clippings and learning to the church in general, or their parish in particular,” she hand gestures to church songs,” he wrote. “Now we’re wrote. “Without those connections, their children are like- the catechists, and we don’t have a strong background to wise disconnected.” What is the greatest challenge facing religious education programs for children? Lack of participation by parents or home formation 54% Classes should be right Problems with curriculum or pedagogy 18% after school and run by paid teachers. It would be Conflicting schedules with other youth activities 15% the afterschool program for working parents and Lack of interest 6% not have to encroach on from students evening time with family.
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