THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY June 6-13, 2011 of MANY THINGS
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THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY june 6-13, 2011 OF MANY THINGS PUBLISHED BY JESUITS OF THE UNITED STATES few weeks ago I wrote in this John Paul II and Benedict XVI have space about the beatification of already declared a “martyr of faith.” The EDITOR IN CHIEF Drew Christiansen, S.J. John Paul II and talked not foot-dragging in this case is almost Aonly about his deep faith and consider - unbelievable. That man is Archbishop EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT able personal holiness but also the con - Oscar Arnulfo Romero. MANAGING EDITOR sternation in some circles over the per - It is hard to imagine a more clear- Robert C. Collins, S.J. ceived rush of his canonization process. cut case for the beatification of a “mar - EDITORIAL DIRECTOR There are many other people who I tyr of faith.” Romero was a man whose Karen Sue Smith hope are soon named as saints and to faith moved him from being a tool of ONLINE EDITOR whom I pray regularly. Pedro Arrupe, the wealthy to a champion of the poor, Maurice Timothy Reidy S.J., the charismatic superior general of a priest committed to ending violence, a CULTURE EDITOR the Society of Jesus between 1965 and church leader dedicated to reconcilia - James Martin, S.J. 1983, is one. Father Arrupe, among tion and a bishop unafraid to interpose LITERARY EDITOR other accomplishments, invited Jesuits himself between violence and his flock. Patricia A. Kossmann to redouble their efforts to attend to the In a sermon addressed to repressive ele - POETRY EDITOR needs of the poor and marginalized in ments within his country’s military, he James S. Torrens, S.J. response to the church’s “preferential said: “In the name of God, in the name ASSOCIATE EDITORS option for the poor.” Also, I would sub - of this suffering people whose cry rises Kevin Clarke mit (you can see my bias) the names of to heaven more loudly each day, I Kerry Weber the Jesuits of the University of Central implore you, I beg you, I order you: Raymond A. Schroth, S.J. America, along with their companions, stop the repression!” Edward W. Schmidt , S.J. who refused to leave the poor with The following day, March 24, 1980, ART DIRECTOR whom they ministered (in the same way while celebrating Mass at a small chapel Stephanie Ratcliffe the Algerian Trappists portrayed in the called La Divina Providencia, ASSISTANT EDITOR film “Of Gods and Men” remained at Archbishop Romero was assassinated Francis W. Turnbull, S.J. their posts) and who were killed in as he held aloft the chalice. His own ASSISTANT LITERARY EDITOR 1989. There are also the four church - blood was spilled with the blood of Regina Nigro women, Dorothy Kazel, O.S.U., Maura Christ on the altar. GUEST EDITOR Clarke, M.M., Ita Ford, M.M., and Jean In some Vatican circles Romero is Francis X. Hezel , S.J. Donovan, murdered in El Salvador as a seen, unfairly I believe, as an overly result of their advocacy for the poor, in “political” figure. But that is an odd BUSINESS DEPARTMENT 1980. More recently, there is Dorothy charge given our most recently beatified CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Stang, S.N.D.deN., who worked with cleric: John Paul II supported the Lisa Pope the landless poor in Brazil and was Solidarity movement in Poland, worked ADVERTISING killed in 2005 as she recited the with world powers to end the cold war Julia Sosa Beatitudes in the presence of her assas - and regularly conferred with political sins. Each is, I believe, already, and will leaders. Still, the delay continues. In 106 West 56th Street New York, NY 10019-3803 one day be declared, a saint. 2006, en route to Latin America, Pope In fact, a martyr does not need a Benedict told reporters, “Romero as a Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596 miracle for beatification; the Vatican person merits beatification.” But Vatican E-mail: [email protected]; can dispense with the requirement. officials later removed that phrase from [email protected] Web site: www.americamagazine.org. Thus, all those mentioned above the official transcript, retaining only the Customer Service: 1-800-627-9533 (except Servant of God Pedro Arrupe) pope’s praise of the slain prelate as a © 2011 America Press, Inc. could be declared “martyrs of faith.” Or “great witness to the faith.” the pope could use the relatively new The haste to beatify John Paul II category of “martyr of charity,” first was deemed by the journalist Michael applied to St. Maximilian Kolbe in Walsh in The Tablet of London 1982: someone who dies while admin - “unseemly.” Unseemly to me is the slow - istering Christian charity. ness of the beatification of Oscar But one “cause” outstanding for its Arnulfo Romero. Santo immediata - Cover: Composite art delay is that of a man whom both Pope mente! JAMES MARTIN, S.J. Shutterstock.com/America CONTENTS www.americamagazine.org Vol. 204 no. 19, Whole no. 4936 june 6-13, 2011 ARTICLES 13 WHAT CAUSED THE CRISIS? Key findings of the John Jay College Study on clergy sexual abuse Kathleen McChesney 17 CATHOLICS AT WORK Faith Healing Allan Woods COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 4 Current Comment 5 Editorial Arab Spring 17 6 Signs of the Times 10 Column Dangerous Minds Thomas Massaro 19 America Associates Roll Call 30 Poetry The Foley Feast 2011 James S. Torrens 31 2011 Foley Award Poem Things I Didn’t Know I Loved Mara Faulkner 35 Letters 37 The Word Unleashing Inner Power; A Dance of Love 28 Barbara E. Reid BOOKS & CULTURE 28 FILM Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” BOOKS The New Spiritual Exercises; Already There; God’s Voice Within ON THE WEB ON THE WEB Joyce Rupp, O.S.M. , right, talks on our podcast about the many names for God. Plus, an archive of past Foley Poetry Contest winners and a video reflection for Pentecost . All at americamagazine.org. 30 CURRENT COMMENT Catholic University of America. Their purpose was not to A Middle-Class Cut disinvite him but to point out to him that this Republican- Unlike Medicare, which covers Americans age 65 and over, supported budget, which cuts Medicare and grants tax cuts Medicaid was established to serve the poorest Americans, to the rich, was “at variance from one of the Church’s particularly low-income mothers and children. It does this, ancient moral teachings...that those in power are morally but few people realize that the program also serves many obliged to preference the needs of the poor.” seniors. Currently seven out of ten nursing home residents Another letter from 83 students to the university’s pres - are on Medicaid. Some of these persons have long been ident, John Garvey, said Mr. Boehner was an inappropriate indigent. But many others lived middle-class lives for choice because he had championed cuts in food for the decades until they outlived their pensions, savings and poor and homeless. Did the administration “really believe” home equity and signed over to the federal government this was “an example of Catholic leadership”? their remaining assets so that Medicaid would pay for their In his talk Mr. Boehner dwelt on how his parents taught nursing home care in certified facilities. This care is expen - him to “do the right thing for the right reason” and, dabbing sive, more than $200 a day by a 2009 estimate. One year of at his tears, recounted that his high school football coach care costs more than most Americans earn in a year of full- had called when he became House speaker to say, “You can time employment. do it.” He endorsed “humility, patience and faith.” President The restructuring of Medicaid espoused by Garvey told the press, “He represents the church well.” Representative Paul D. Ryan (Republican of Wisconsin), chairman of the House Budget Committee, would turn Medicaid into a block grant program administered by the Cruel Beauty states. Payments would increase only at the rate of inflation, Every year cosmetics companies in the United States kill not at the much faster rate of increasing health care costs. millions of animals while testing their products. According As a result, many experts think the states would soon have to statistics from the American Society for the Prevention to downsize both the program and its benefits. Any cut - of Cruelty to Animals, almost a million feel excruciating back of services would harm not only mothers and children pain during these experiments. but also the disabled and the elderly, who currently benefit Among the wretched examples of inhumane practices is from nearly two-thirds of all Medicaid spending. Even the injection of caustic substances into the eyes of living though Mr. Ryan’s proposal for Medicaid would reduce fed - rabbits (to test for levels of skin irritation) while they eral outlays, it would merely hand over the responsibility squirm and scream until they break their necks or backs. for providing essential services to the states—and to the The Food and Drug Administration does not require very Americans who cannot afford the bill. It would be bet - testing on animals. The European Union banned animal ter to find other ways to stretch the federal Medicaid dollar testing in 2009. There are alternatives. Santosh Krinsky, than by cutting senior services like nursing home care. chief executive officer of Beauty Without Cruelty, points to less expensive and more reliable tests, based on computer models that use, for example, “cell and skin tissue cultures A Graduation Debate and corneas from eye banks.” A university commencement, with its honorary degrees American consumers must step up the pressure and and speakers, is the last chance to teach the graduates what boycott companies that test on animals.