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July 2-9, 2007AmericaTHE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY $2.75 American and Catholic William Bole on David O’Brien Donald W. Shriver on honest patriotism International Authority and Iraq by Cornelius F. Murphy Jr. Israel’s Rebel Rabbi by Robert Hirschfield UST AS THIS TIME of the year On to the next day, for some native air involves picnics and beaches, so May in the Philadelphia suburbs. This time the America seems to be the time for installations occasion was a baptism for Hayden Pedro Published by Jesuits of the United States and things, things like graduations, Kelly, in from Chicago with his entourage J first Communions, confirmations, to be greeted by an even larger local one, Editor in Chief even retirements. All of these figured in members of St. Philip Neri parish in Drew Christiansen, S.J. my family’s doings this year. Being part of Lafayette Hill, Montgomery County. these celebrations provided a welcome There we were welcomed by Msgr. Managing Editor respite from the streams of bad news Charles Vance, who might have been a Robert C. Collins, S.J. globally. Two of them stand out in my clone of Msgr. Thomas Kelly in his gra- mind and memory because of what they ciousness and efficiency—and in his pride Business Manager evoked. in his own “living parish” and delight in Lisa Pope The first was at St. Gabriel’s Church his parishioners. It is no secret that the in Riverdale, in New York City’s borough feeling is mutual. My brother and sister- Editorial Director of The Bronx. I had been there before, in-law were the godparents and assumed Karen Sue Smith often, since confirmation comes some the obligation of looking after older years after baptism and first Communion. brother Declan Pablo Kelly during the Online Editor This time Michael Eugene Patrick proceedings. Then we all repaired to an Maurice Timothy Reidy McSweeney was being confirmed with his inn, also named Lafayette, where our school class of 30. The proceedings were server’s name was Kelly! Associate Editors conducted with the precision of a 1950’s After a weekend of “enough religion to Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J. May procession, but with none of the last until Labor Day,” as someone said, I George M. Anderson, S.J. attendant anxiety of those days. The was taken to ponder the words of whole mood was the perfect mixture of Deborah Pitula at the graduation that our Dennis M. Linehan, S.J. seriousness and joy, in no little part thanks task is handing on our faith, and to reflect James Martin, S.J. to the cele- on the role of James P. McDermott, S.J. brant, Bishop the two exem- Dominick Of Many Things plary pastors Literary Editor Lagonegro, a I’d been with. Patricia A. Kossmann fellow semi- As in all narian of the pastor, Msgr. Thomas Kelly. cases, grace builds on nature, and I Poetry Editor His personality is as expansive as his piety thought of the vocation and formation of is genuine. It was clear that he considered both men: St. Joseph’s Seminary, James S. Torrens, S.J. this day to be as much a “big deal” as the Dunwoodie, N.Y., for Tom Kelly and St. Assistant Editor kids did. All elements of the liturgies for Charles Seminary, Overbrook, Pa., for both sacraments were conducted with care Charlie Vance. War stories about both Francis W. Turnbull, S.J. and very engaged empathy with each stu- places are common clerical currency, per- dent. Afterward, the bishop was in no rush haps especially among the most faithful Design and Production and sat for pictures for an hour. Little alumni. They and their classmates were Stephanie Ratcliffe brother Liam Dennis McSweeney can be formed in an atmosphere of intellectual seen in one holding the crozier like a rigor and love for the church—not for the Advertising hurler. This confirmation took place dur- church as an abstract concept, but for the Julia Sosa ing a regular Saturday evening Mass, and church of the people whom they were the influx of admiring relatives and more preparing to serve. Now, as they perform than usual length seemed not to disturb the service for which they were prepared, 106 West 56th Street the parishioners. Quite the opposite: most their inborn courtesy and humility have New York, NY 10019-3803 of them stayed on for the reception. Many led them to gather around them willing Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596. of those who spoke to me bragged—I and enthusiastic partners in the task of E-mail: [email protected]; have to call it that—about the parish, the handing on our faith. [email protected]. school, the pastor and the principal. This Both parishes have vibrant schools and came as no surprise. The principal, religious education programs; parishioners Web site: www.americamagazine.org. Deborah Pitula, had told a similar crowd are active in the ministries, and they have Customer Service: 1-800-627-9533. at a kindergarten graduation some years a palpable sense of ownership in the com- © 2007 America Press, Inc. ago, “We believe that our most important munity. I thought of the 1950’s May pro- task is handing on our faith.” cessions, when the church seemed power- It used to be said with respect that this ful even though it was, in some places, or that religious was a “living rule,” mean- glacial and remote. And I decided that I Cover photo Luke Petersen of Virginia ing that if the rule of the order were to be like this incarnation more, with thanks to prays the rosary in St. Peter's Square with lost, it could be rewritten by observing Tom, Charlie and all like them who labor the U.S. flag on April 19, 2005, awaiting that woman or man. I’d have to assert that tirelessly in the vineyard to hand on our results of the papal election. CNS photo St. Gabriel’s is a “living parish.” faith. Dennis M. Linehan, S.J. by Nancy Wiechec. www.americamagazine.org Vol. 197 No. 1, Whole No. 4779 July 2-9, 2007 Articles 10 American and Catholic 10 William Bole David O’Brien, Catholic historian and social analyst, reconsiders “Americanism.” Honest Patriotism 14 Donald W. Shriver Jr. A Protestant theologian reflects on the spirit of liberty. The Role of International Moral 18 Authority in Iraq Cornelius F. Murphy Jr. Suggestions for a way out of the impasse Current Comment 4 14 Editorial Independence Day 5 Signs of the Times 6 Ethics Notebook 9 Three Amigos John F. Kavanaugh Of Other Things Behind the ‘Security Wall’ 21 Maria Leonard Israel’s Rebel Rabbi 23 Robert Hirschfield Poem 24 Writing on Air Paul Martin Book Reviews 25 Echoing Silence; The View From Castle Rock; Zoli Letters 29 The Word 30 Follow the Leader; Who Is Your Neighbor? Daniel J. Harrington Current Comment modified soya has caused concerns. The Pope and the President Paulo Adario, director of Greenpeace’s Amazon cam- The first meeting between President George W. Bush and paign, has pointed to agribusiness and illegal logging as Pope Benedict XVI on June 9 in Vatican City was one of mainly responsible for the ongoing deforestation. He con- many photo opportunities on the president’s quick trip to tends that the government should restrict soya plantations Europe on the occasion of the G-8 meeting in Germany. to areas already deforested, combat illegal logging more Predictably, the president sought to highlight the issues on aggressively and “implement its own anti-deforestation which his administration supports Catholic positions on plan.” Like Dorothy Stang, the American-born member of life and family matters, as well as the important initiatives the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur who, as a defender the Bush administration has taken to address the of the indigenous people of the Amazon, was murdered in H.I.V./AIDS epidemic in Africa. In a private meeting, the 2005 at the instigation of a rancher, Mr. Adario has also pope and the president also discussed issues of internation- received death threats. Bishop Krautler made his com- al concern, including the continuing conflicts in the ments at the press conference just a week after the sen- Middle East, the fighting in Lebanon and the prospect of tencing of the rancher to 30 years in prison for Sister genocide in Darfur. Stang’s murder. The bishop noted that on his arrival in the It is understandable that the president would want to area 42 years ago, the Amazon rain forest was still relative- emphasize those issues on which his administration ly intact. But now, he emphasized, “it’s five minutes to appears to be supportive of Catholic positions on marriage midnight,” meaning that without strong intervention, the and abortion, although these discussions never touch on rain forest is doomed. the fact that the steady decline in the rate of abortions during the pro-choice Clinton administration seems to have reached a plateau under the pro-life Bush. But the people of the United States, as well as the international Injustice to Workers community, would be well served if the president listened In quick succession, the Supreme Court has delivered two more carefully to the Vatican’s concerns about the present harsh blows to American workers, and in both cases the violence in Iraq and the dangers of future war-making in weight of the decisions fell heavily on women. First, in a Iran. The world would be a much safer place today if the 5-to-4 decision, the court ruled that suits against pay dis- United States had heeded the warnings of the Vatican crimination must be brought within 180 days of the first before the pre-emptive invasion of Iraq in 2003, an unnec- payment, not 180 days from suspicion of discrimination.