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Summer 2005.Pdf Summer 2005 | Volume 15 | Number 1 Religion Inside this issue Glendon The Pope’s Think Tank • Lapin & di Segni Jewish Leaders Assess John Paul II’s Pontificate • Zandstra An Ally in Defense Liberty of Freedom • Jayabalan Days of History and & Holiness • Sirico Papal Economics 101 The Pope’s ThinkTank: An Interview with Mary Ann Glendon Photo: Servizio Fotografico Professor Mary Ann Glendon of Harvard Law School is one of the world’s leading scholars on the constitutional pro- tection of human rights. Her latest book, A World Made New, tells the story of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. R&L turned to her for a somewhat different look at Pope John Paul II. She is president of the Pontifical Academy of So- cial Sciences, which was charged by the late Pope to keep the Catholic Church abreast of the latest scholarship in the social sciences—the field in which much of the Acton Institute’s work is done. continued on pg 3 Jewish Leaders Assess John Paul II’s Pontificate In this edition of Religion & Liberty, ualism and which is suffering the the great duties of the hour.” we look at the life and legacy of John bitter consequences of selfishness What follows are two articles that Paul II. In his many travels abroad, and violence, Jews and Christians offer Jewish perspectives on John some of his most stirring encounters are the trustees and witnesses of an Paul. The first is “A Rabbinic Eulogy were with leaders of the Jewish ethic marked by the Ten Command- for the Pope” by Rabbi Daniel Lapin. faith. In his historic address at the ments, in the observance of which That is followed by a 2003 interview Great Synagogue of Rome in 1986, man finds his truth and freedom. To conducted by Zenit with Riccardo di John Paul said: “In a society which is promote a common reflection and Segni, the chief rabbi of Rome. often lost in agnosticism and individ- collaboration on this point is one of continued on pg 4 Editor’s Note ment with Acton that you look forward something new here from Acton’s dis- to four times a year (yes, we’re now tinct perspective. Professor Mary Ann quarterly instead of bi-monthly). Glendon speaks about how the pope was genuinely interested in the social I’ve been around Acton from a distance sciences—our field of study. Jerry Zand- for more than a decade, and I look for- stra and Daniel Lapin illustrate that John ward to working closely with my new Paul’s influence—like Acton’s work—is colleagues, many of whom are already not limited to the Catholic faith alone. friends. And I hope you, the readers, will take the time to introduce yourselves by I had the great blessing of being in Rome dropping a note or an email. during John Paul’s funeral, along with Acton’s own Father Robert Sirico. We This first issue of the new format is un- were both doing media work, helping Welcome to the new Religion & Liberty! like any we have published before. It is tell the great story of those historic and devoted entirely to the late Pope John We have the same serious content we holy days. I consider it another blessing Paul II. He was decisive in my priestly have always had, but with a fresh, live- that this first issue of the new R&L is de- vocation (see R&L May 2001 on our lier new look. For many of you, R&L will voted to the man whose story so en- Web site) and in the lives of many oth- arrive electronically, permitting us to thralled the world—Pope John Paul II. ers. But we devote this issue to him be- reach more people at less cost—good cause he was also decisive in the work of economic stewardship! the Acton Institute. So much of what we R&L also has a new editor—me. After do at the intersection of religion and lib- years of faithful service, Stephen Wolma erty depends upon a correct understand- has left the editorship to continue his ing of the human person and of human preparations for ministerial service. We freedom. In the last generation, no per- thank him for his work and wish him son has contributed more to that under- well. standing than Pope John Paul II. You’ll notice some changes, but we trust You will have read much about the late that you will still find R&L an appoint- pope already. But I think you will find Editorial Board The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty pro- Publisher: Rev. Robert A. Sirico motes a free society characterized by individual liberty and Editor: Rev. Raymond J. de Souza sustained by religious principles. The Institute is supported by Contributing Editors: donations from foundations, corporations, and individuals and Eduardo J. Echeverria • Sacred Heart Major Seminary maintains a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Pierre Garello • Université d’Aix-Marseille III Letters and subscription requests should be directed to: Religion Megan Maloney • Criminal Justice Ministry, Archdiocese of Detroit & Liberty; Acton Institute; 161 Ottawa Ave., NW, Suite 301; Laura L. Nash • Harvard Business School Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Bishop Bernard Njoroge • Episcopal Church of Africa The views of the authors expressed in Religion & Liberty are not Rev. John Arthur Nunes • St. Paul Lutheran Church necessarily those of the Acton Institute. Scott B. Rae • Talbot School of Theology © 2005 Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. 2 Religion&Liberty work were and remain very valuable to us. ences could be a two-way street, that the Social scientists, for example, need to be social teachings could not only assimilate reminded from time to time to pay atten- what these various disciplines have to con- tion to the practical implications of their tribute, but could also help them to open work! Pope John Paul II made clear to us themselves to a broader horizon. In count- that we were not to regard our secluded less ways, the Academy’s work has been meeting place in the Casina Pio IV as an influenced by his exhortations to us to ivory tower where scholars commune help insure that social science and social only with each other. As you might expect policies do not ignore the spiritual nature from the philosopher-pope who traveled of human beings—their deepest longings the world speaking truth to power for that transcend the merely biological and twenty-eight years, he frequently remind- material aspects of life. ed us that we were to bring the wisdom of Why would non-Catholic scholars of interna- the social sciences to bear on human real- tional renown accept (non-remunerated!) mem- ities “with a view to finding solutions to bership in the Academy, especially when they InterviewMary Ann Glendon people’s concrete problems, solutions are already too much in demand? based on social justice.” He always exhort- Why did Pope John Paul II found the Pontifical ed us to stretch our capacities, to be bold Glendon: Many people are surprised to Academy of Social Sciences in 1994? and creative in deploying the resources of learn that among the thirty-three mem- Glendon: By 1994, Pope John Paul II had our disciplines. bers of our academy are several non- already made several major contributions Catholics. That group includes two Ameri- to Catholic social doctrine, and was thus What did John Paul teach you about the re- acutely aware both of the need to keep sponse of religious persons to scientific research abreast of changing social and economic in the social sciences, including politics, econom- “[Pope John Paul II] conditions and of the increasing difficulty ics, and culture? observed ... that the of doing so. In 1991, he observed in Cen- Glendon: Perhaps the most important les- Church ‘needs more tesimus Annus that the Church “needs more son he taught us by word and personal ex- constant and more extensive contact with ample was to “be not afraid” in the quest constant and more the modern social sciences” if she is to for knowledge. That was his message to the extensive contact with make her own contributions effectively. original members of the Academy when he Three years later, he established the Pon- welcomed them in January 1994. He urged the modern social sci- tifical Academy of Social Sciences to serve us on that occasion to search for “all the ences’ if she is to make as a kind of think tank whose research grains of truth present in the various intel- her own contributions could offer the Church “elements which lectual and empirical approaches” of the she can use in the study and development disciplines represented in our midst. As a effectively.” of her social doctrine.” Writing about the model, he held up St. Thomas Aquinas mission of the Academy, he noted that the whose unrestricted desire to know led him can economists, Nobel-prize-winners Ken- Church had developed her social doctrine to seek dialogue with the most advanced neth Arrow and Joseph Stiglitz, who share “[in] close collaboration, on the one hand, natural and human science of his time and many of the concerns that animate the so- with Catholic social movements, and on to fearlessly engage the ideas of the great cial doctrine of the Church. I believe many the other, with experts in the social sci- minds of pagan antiquity. distinguished scholars were also drawn to ences.” The Academy gives “new expres- the Academy by their admiration for John For us, of course, the contemporary model sion” to this long-standing dialogue.
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