“YOU’RE JUST AT THE BOTTOM REACHING UP AND WONDERING, ‘NOW WHERE DO I REACH?’” —THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM’S BLIND SPOTS, P. 52 .58 P. COVID-19 CONTAINING FOR PROVISIONS NEW EARNING YOUR TRUST, EVERY DAY. 01.16.21

VOLUME 36

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40 THE BIG ENGINES THAT COULD With close margins in Congress, the Biden administration may look to Cabinet heads to drive big changes apart from legislation by Jamie Dean

46 52 58 FIRST FREEDOM AGENDAS SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS STALLING THE VIRUS Will Joe Biden build on Trump’s overseas Five decades ago the United States’ mental The two leading U.S. COVID-19 vaccines religious freedom policies? health system shifted to protect patients’ use new technology developed to avoid use by Mindy Belz civil liberties. But those protections leave of embryonic stem cells—and trial few options to help people who don’t participants hope the shots’ safety will realize they need psychiatric care encourage other Americans to get them by Sophia Lee by Emily Belz

CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES 01.16.21 WORLD DEPARTMENTS 01.16.21 VOLUME 36 NUMBER 1

5 MAILBAG 8 NOTES FROM THE CEO

23 Middle- school band teacher Joe Gardner in a scene from Soul

Dispatches Culture Notebook THE MOVIE 13 NEWS ANALYSIS 23 MOVIES & TV 65 DEATHS Congressional chaos: DOESN’T JUST Soul, Song Exploder, Notable deaths in the Stimulus checks and AVOID THE Mank, American Gospel: final month of 2020 a defense bill throw Christ Crucified, ­political alliances “PURSUE YOUR The Expanse 67 RELIGION into disarray DREAM AT ALL 28 BOOKS 68 SPORTS 15 BY THE NUMBERS COSTS” MESSAGE Taming technology before it tames you 16 HUMAN RACE WE TYPICALLY Voices GET FROM KIDS’ 30 CHILDREN'S BOOKS 17 QUOTABLES 10 Joel Belz ENTERTAINMENT. 32 Q&A 20 Janie B. Cheaney 18 QUICK TAKES Erick Erickson 38 Mindy Belz IT POSITIVELY 70 Andrée Seu Peterson REBUKES IT. 36 MUSIC 72 Marvin Olasky A composer’s faith ­propels a new ON THE COVER: oratorio and Grammy illustration by Krieg Barrie recognition

2 WORLD 01.16.21 DISNEY/PIXAR

BIBLICALLY OBJECTIVE JOURNALISM THAT INFORMS, EDUCATES, AND INSPIRES

“THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S AND THE FULLNESS THEREOF; THE WORLD AND THOSE WHO DWELL THEREIN.” —PSALM 24:1

EDITOR IN CHIEF Marvin Olasky WORLD NEWS GROUP SENIOR EDITOR Mindy Belz CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Kevin Martin CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER Nick Eicher WORLD MAGAZINE FOUNDER Joel Belz DEVELOPMENT Pierson Gerritsen, Debra Meissner, EDITOR Michael Reneau WHAT DO Andrew Belz, Sandy Barwick, MANAGING EDITOR Daniel James Devine Whitney Williams, Ambria Collins NATIONAL EDITOR Jamie Dean YOU FINANCE Bill Gibson SENIOR REPORTERS Emily Belz, Angela Lu Fulton, ADMINISTRATION Kerrie Edwards Sophia Lee WANT MARKETING Jonathan Woods REPORTERS Leah Hickman, Charissa Koh, AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Mickey McLean Harvest Prude READERS ADVERTISING John Almaguer, Kyle Crimi, STORY COACH Susan Olasky Christine Hartman, Elizabeth Kerns SENIOR WRITERS Janie B. Cheaney, Andrée Seu TO KNOW MEMBER SERVICES Amanda Beddingfield Peterson, Lynn Vincent ABOUT CORRESPONDENTS June Cheng, John Dawson, Maryrose Delahunty, Sharon Dierberger, Juliana REPORT- WORLD FOR STUDENTS Chan Erikson, Charles Horton, Arsenio Orteza, Jenny Lind Schmitt, Laura G. ING EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Rich Bishop Singleton, Russell St. John, Jae Wasson GOD’S WORLD NEWS WEBSITE gwnews.com FILM AND TV EDITOR Megan Basham SOME- MANAGING EDITOR Rebecca Cochrane REVIEWERS Sandy Barwick, Bob Brown, Jeff Koch, WORLD WATCH WEBSITE worldwatch.news Marty VanDriel TIMES PROGRAM DIRECTOR Brian Basham EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Kristin Chapman, Mary Ruth Murdoch, Elizabeth Russell SAD ART DIRECTOR David Freeland WORLD JOURNALISM INSTITUTE ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Rachel Beatty STORIES? ILLUSTRATOR Krieg Barrie WEBSITE wji.world GRAPHIC DESIGNER Arla Eicher DEAN Marvin Olasky DIGITAL PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Dan Perkins ASSOCIATE DEAN Edward Lee Pitts “Behind every 2,300- WORLD DIGITAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS word story WEBSITE wng.org are hundreds John Weiss (chairman), William Newton (vice chairman), EXECUTIVE EDITOR Timothy Lamer Mariam Bell, John Burke, Kevin Cusack, Peter Lillback, of thousands MANAGING EDITOR Lynde Langdon Edna Lopez, Howard Miller, R. Albert Mohler Jr., ASSISTANT EDITOR Rachel Lynn Aldrich of invisible Russell B. Pulliam, David Skeel, David Strassner REPORTERS Mary Jackson, Onize Ohikere, words. Just Member of the Associated Press Kyle Ziemnick for this CORRESPONDENTS Julie Borg, Laura Edghill, Collin Garbarino, Julia A. Seymour, Steve West one story on mental illness,­ I HOW TO CONTACT US WORLD RADIO visited­ about TO BECOME A WORLD MEMBER, GIVE A GIFT MEMBERSHIP, CHANGE ADDRESS, WEBSITE wng.org/radio a dozen ACCESS OTHER ­MEMBER ACCOUNT INFORMATION, OR FOR BACK ISSUES EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Paul Butler families­ and AND PERMISSION: fought back The World and Everything in It EMAIL [email protected] HOSTS Nick Eicher, Mary Reichard, tears as I ONLINE wng.org/account (members) Myrna Brown, Megan Basham listened­ to or members.wng.org (to become a member) MANAGING EDITOR Leigh Jones their often PHONE 828.435.2981 within the U.S. or 800.951.6397 outside the U.S. REPORTERS Kent Covington, Anna Johansen, Monday–Friday (except holidays), 9 a.m.–7 p.m. ET Sarah Schweinsberg heartbreak- WRITE WORLD, PO Box 20002, Asheville, NC 28802-9998 SENIOR CORRESPONDENTS Katie Gaultney, Kim Henderson, ing stories. Les Sillars BACK ISSUES, REPRINTS, PERMISSIONS 828.435.2981 or [email protected] One inter- CORRESPONDENTS Maria Baer, Ryan Bomberger, Laura FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/WNGdotorg view at a Finch, George Grant, Jill Nelson, FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @WNGdotorg Bonnie Pritchett, Jenny Rough, café lasted FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM instagram.com/WNGdotorg Cal Thomas, Emily Whitten five hours.” PRODUCERS Johnny Franklin, Carl Peetz WORLD OCCASIONALLY RENTS SUBSCRIBER NAMES TO ­CAREFULLY SCREENED, Rich Roszel, Kristen Flavin —Senior LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS. IF YOU WOULD PREFER NOT TO RECEIVE THESE Reporter PROMOTIONS, PLEASE CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ASK TO BE PLACED ON Listening In OUR DO NOT RENT LIST. Warren Cole Smith Sophia Lee,

Effective Compassion whose story WORLD (ISSN 0888-157X) (USPS 763-010) IS PUBLISHED BIWEEKLY (24 ISSUES) Anna Johansen, Charissa Koh is on p. 52 FOR $69.95 PER YEAR BY GOD’S WORLD PUBLICATIONS, (NO MAIL) 12 ALL SOULS CRESCENT, ASHEVILLE, NC 28803; 828.253.8063. PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT The Olasky Interview ASHEVILLE, NC, AND ADDITIONAL MAILING ­OFFICES. PRINTED­ IN THE USA. Jill Nelson, Marvin Olasky REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION IS PROHIB- Legal Docket ITED. © 2021 WORLD NEWS GROUP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. POSTMASTER: SEND Mary Reichard, Jenny Rough ADDRESS CHANGES TO WORLD, PO BOX 20002, ASHEVILLE, NC 28802-9998.

4 WORLD 01.16.21 MAILBAG

NEIL SLATTERY/FORT WORTH, TEXAS so that people will once again be care- I wondered why I had not heard of ful to utter words that are in keeping John Perkins before. What an amazing with God’s Word. man, and what an amazing ministry. DAVID GIBBS/TOWANDA, KAN. DAVID A. WILLIAMS/FORT WORTH, TEXAS I love Janie’s hopeful perspective. Perkins’ signing on to Evangelicals Recently, I have been thinking about for Biden severely taints his heroic the power of words and how they cre- record in the fight against bigotry and ate reality. poverty. To endorse Biden/Harris in light of their public positions to roll back the pro-life protections of the CLOSING THE INTERNET GAP unborn is a stain against Perkins, and NOV. 21, P. 44—ERNIE ZENONE SR./FOLSOM, N.J. his selection as Daniel of the Year is After reading the article, I wondered a stain against WORLD. why schools can’t send lessons by AFTER mail to overcome internet costs and JOHN MORRISON/WINCHESTER, VA. problems. Marvin Olasky’s article and Perkins’ AN ELECTION, message need broad exposure today. It is the gospel on the ground, and our RECONCILIATION? BURSTING BALLOONS OF FREEDOM country is crying for want of it. NOV. 21, P. 50—ARTHUR TAYLOR FALCH/ John Perkins is SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. so right. There is For years I have supported ministries AT HOME IN EXILE only one race: the that serve the divided people on the NOV. 21, P. 36—GENIE RAGIN/CUMMING, GA. Korean Peninsula. All we can do is Mindy Belz’s column on Michael Yerko human race. pray. Nadi moved me to tears. Coupled with NOV. 21, P. 56—JOAN WALTER/ the Daniel of the Year profile of John PLYMOUTH, IND. Perkins, I was truly overcome. Praise LOVE AT LONG DISTANCE God for people like them and like NOV. 21, P. 68—ERIN AYLOR/DARDANELLE, ARK. Mindy. Charissa Koh’s article touched my heart. Of the 26 years my husband, EMILY BOERSMA/NORTH ROYALTON, OHIO Warren, and I have been married, he’s “Of whom the world [is] not worthy worked out of state or overseas for 23 …” (Hebrews 11:38) came immediately of them. It was such a blessing to see to mind upon reading Mindy’s col- another successful couple who have umn. 15 years on us. With the Lord’s guid- ance, we can make it, too!

WIN, LOSE, OR BRAWL NOV. 21, P. 38—LARRY MARSH/COLTON, ORE. MUSIC REVIEWS I do feel sympathy for those who voted AUSTIN SMITH/CHEVERLY, MD. for a candidate who did not tell them Arsenio Orteza’s music reviews are what he would do if elected. the first section of the magazine I flip

LETTERS AND COMMENTS to. He is brilliant at translating sonic moods into black-and-white prose. EMAIL [email protected] WORDCRAFT VS. WARCRAFT MAIL WORLD Mailbag, PO Box 20002, His descriptions are eminently use- NOV. 21, P. 20—CHRIS BENNETT/QUARRYVILLE, PA. Asheville, NC 28802-9998 ful—and usually highly accurate—in WEBSITE wng.org Janie B. Cheaney’s column is timely FACEBOOK facebook.com/WNGdotorg communicating what I can expect to and much needed in our current cli- TWITTER @WNGdotorg hear when I listen to the albums he mate of human interaction. May the INSTAGRAM instagram.com/WNGdotorg reviews. PLEASE INCLUDE FULL NAME AND ADDRESS. Holy Spirit bring about a great awak- LETTERS MAY BE EDITED TO YIELD ening in our country and this world BREVITY AND CLARITY. READ MORE LETTERS AT WNG.ORG/MAILBAG

01.16.21 WORLD 5 Radio: You can take it with you.

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Is your home library lled with dusty tomes? Do you own more than one blazer with elbow patches? You might be able to keep up with the Olasky Interview.

Are you on a rst-name basis with the sta­ of your local rescue mission? Do friends and colleagues often ask you to join the boards of nonpro ts? Effective Compassion seems like a good t.

Can you name all of the Supreme Court justices? Have you thought about taking the LSAT? Listening to Legal Docket is a much more engaging way to understand the U.S. legal system.

Listen to the latest episodes on your favorite podcast app and at wng.org/radio.

WORLDradio-FP21.indd 2 12/17/20 4:15 PM Memorize more Scripture

Search for Verses in the App Store or text Verses to 31996. Available on iOS & Android. Free to download. I PLAN TO RECALL FOR Notes from the CEO KEVIN MARTIN YOU THE AMAZING INSTANCES OF GOD’S PROVIDENCE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR ORGANIZATION.

WORLD history Four decades ago, a newsman had an idea that led to this magazine—and much more

HE YEAR 2021 MEANS SO MUCH MORE than just “not 2020.” For us, 2021 marks an important milestone in the history of WORLD: It was 40 years ago—1981—that Joel Belz and istic approach. The progressive-era his assembled team published the first of thousands of weekly unmooring of reporting from objective newsmagazines. truth was the beginning of the end for That first magazine—It’s God’s World—was for students, trustworthy news journalism in Amer- not adults. We still publish that student magazine, although ica’s mainstream newsrooms. T the name and publication frequency have changed. I couldn’t We thank God that another great list all the things that have changed since that first issue. American newsman was just getting What I can try to do is remind you, and myself, of all the things that started in 1981, and that Biblically objec- haven’t changed in those 40 years. That we still are doing fundamentally tive journalism experienced a revival the same thing we started out doing four decades ago is a testament to through the work of this newsman and the power of Joel’s founding vision; God’s sustaining faithfulness; and the small organization he founded. We the support of thousands of readers, listeners, and, now, viewers. can also thank God that this small orga- What Joel proposed to do is nothing short of audacious. He set out nization is, 40 years on, still pursuing to revitalize a mostly dead form of American journalism by developing that sort of sound journalism based on a new kind of Christian journalism based on the objective truth of the facts and Biblical truth. Bible. So throughout the year in this space, I plan to recall for you the amazing instances of God’s providence in the history of our organiza- tion—both at the beginning and in the 40 years since 1981. That was the same year the much-respected Walter Cronkite retired from his anchor position at CBS Evening News. But even by then, Amer- ican journalism was deep into its slide into a fully secularized, relativ- EMAIL [email protected]

8 WORLD 01.16.21

That’s when Christians need to be clear about how we’re different. For us, the future isn’t scary. Voices JOEL BELZ Let the rest of the world conjure up every worry it can imagine. Let unbelievers stew that this globe is spinning out of control. But we are the ones whose hearts are not supposed to be troubled. We believe in God, and we believe also in Jesus, who is God come in the flesh to demonstrate how Jehovah can enter time and space and make all things certain. That is precisely what He means to do with and for His peo- ple—and we are most faithless when we act otherwise. The embarrassment is that we so regularly act otherwise. Christian bookstores spill over into the aisles with apocalyptic scare stories. Never mind that the authors and the publishers protest that they really Mainstreaming mean to comfort folks. It’s the scariness that sells. But what sells at Christian bookstores, and on Christian radio, and with mailing lists of Christian malarkey people—and alas, perhaps even with some readers A lesson from Y2K still applies of Christian magazines—may well be precisely what turns off those who are skeptical of the Christian faith. When we are portrayed as perpetual worry- Editor’s Note: As Joel Belz recovers from a broken warts, what is attractive about that which we say we femur, we’re publishing this column, a version of which believe? originally published on Jan. 15, 2000. When ABC-TV News interviewed a small band of “Christian” believers on the Mount of Olives at mid- HE ORDER FOR A CLASSIFIED AD in this night on Dec. 31, all the promises of the Bible took a issue of WORLD arrived promptly the media shellacking—just because a few confused folks morning of Jan. 1. It read: insisted their interpretation of Scripture was right, WILL SELL AT LOSS: Semi-automatic everyone else was wrong, and Christ would indeed pistol, attractive “fish” logo. Also 500 return right at that moment to that very mountaintop. rounds 99 mm expanding point ammo. When the phony prophecy didn’t come off as pre- After April 1, 2000. dicted, every one of us who points to the Bible as a T The April 1 reference was the tip that reliable source took it on the chin. the ad was tongue-in-cheek. But all joking aside, even But it isn’t just the cultish few who engage in such before the old year had run out, it had become deflat- behavior. We Christians have a tendency to main- ingly clear that the whole Y2K industry was going to stream such malarkey, perhaps partly because it have to shut down in most unceremonious fashion. proves to be such good business. Go to the exhibit Even those of us who had predicted it wouldn’t amount halls of the annual conventions of the National Reli- to much had overstated the case. gious Broadcasters, the Christian Booksellers Asso- The whole Christian community has egg on its ciation, and others, and you’ll be tempted to pray face. And that includes WORLD Magazine. Editorially, that Christ would come thundering in for a Cleansing we repeatedly expressed our doubts about the like- of the Temple, Part II. lihood of serious Y2K fallout. But we accepted dozens I don’t pretend it’s an easy issue. The ad pages of of ads that sometimes made our pages look like the our own magazine remind me how we walk a tightrope journal of some far-out cult. At that, we rejected a between inappropriate censorship on the one hand fair number of ads that would have made us look even and goofy irresponsibility on the other. wackier. But when our goofiness starts turning people off To be sure, it wasn’t even just evangelical Christians to the very truth we want to convey, something’s in general who scurried about like Chicken Little chirp- terribly amiss. The big media can afford to walk away ing about the falling sky. The secular media joined after Y2K and say, “So what? We missed it. Let’s go that chorus in a major way, and even after Jan. 1 kept on to the next big story.” But the credibility of the big trying to make themselves look good, or at least not media was already suspect. They had no ultimately quite so bad, with continued warnings about what critical message in any case. For those of us who claim might happen sometime in the scary future. to have an eternally important message, getting a story like Y2K wrong does grave damage to everything else we say.

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DISPATCHES

News Analysis By the Numbers Human Race Quotables Quick Takes

Congressional chaos Stimulus checks and a defense bill throw political alliances into disarray

by Michael Reneau

RESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HINGED HIS CAMPAIGNS in 2016 and 2020 on being a change President Donald agent in Washington, D.C. As the final days of 2020, Trump’s administration, and the Trump on 116th Congress waned, his war of words against last-minute legislation changed the South political alliances and battle lines. Lawn of the White Although several members said they didn’t have enough time to read the entire House bill, the House of Representatives on Dec. 21 passed a 5,500-page, $2.3 trillion spend- ing package that included funding for the government and coronavirus relief. P Despite its length (the Cato Institute noted the bill would stretch for nearly a AL DRAGO/GETTY IMAGES 01.16.21 WORLD 13 DISPATCHES News Analysis party would control the Senate in the $6.7 trillion more than when Trump took 117th Congress. office in 2017. “Generations of Ameri- Republicans such as Sens. Ted Cruz cans are already stuck with a $27 trillion and Rand Paul blasted the overall spend- national debt, and Washington politi- mile if each page were laid out end-to- ing package and its price tag. The $2.3 cians are indiscriminately adding to the end), the Senate passed the package the trillion in spending Congress passed tab,” Cruz said. next day. Among its $900 billion in coro- before Christmas comes when the While Republicans and Democrats navirus provisions: $600 relief checks national debt is already at $27 trillion, comingled in the COVID-19 relief fight, per qualifying American, weekly $300 Trump’s pre-Christmas veto of the $740 federal unemployment subsidies billion National Defense Authorization through March 14, a federal eviction Act redrew other political lines of battle, moratorium extension, and the contin- pitting the legislative branch against uation of the Paycheck Protection Pro- the executive branch. The House quickly gram to help struggling businesses. voted to override Trump’s veto, while Lawmakers from both parties and the COVID-19 relief debate complicated Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin spent McConnell’s similar effort in the Senate, months negotiating the deal, even after LAWMAKERS where Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., tried it logjammed ahead of the Nov. 3 elec- FROM BOTH to delay the override vote until McCon­ tion. But soon after it passed Congress, nell called for a separate vote on the Trump lambasted the package and PARTIES AND relief checks. The move aligned Sanders demanded $2,000 for each qualifying TREASURY and Trump against McConnell. Sanders American instead of $600. He threat- SECRETARY and Republican Hawley had previously ened a veto but eventually signed the teamed up to encourage larger relief relief bill while calling on Congress to STEVE MNUCHIN checks before Congress voted on the increase direct payments to Americans. SPENT MONTHS $600 checks. On that proposal, Democratic lead- NEGOTIATING After four years of fighting between ers like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Republicans and Democrats—with D-Calif., Senate Minority Leader Chuck THE DEAL. Republicans mostly standing with Schumer, D-N.Y., and President-elect Trump on issue after issue—the presi- Joe Biden sided with Trump—after dent’s rhetoric was jarring: “Republican spending the better part of four years leadership only wants the path of least criticizing the president at nearly every resistance. Our leaders (not me, of turn and leading impeachment pro- course!) are pathetic.” ceedings against him. “The president of the United States has put this forth as something that he wants to see,” Pelosi said from the House floor while pushing to increase the relief payments. Trump’s call to increase the $900 billion in coronavirus aid by additional hundreds of billions of dollars pitted Republicans—who historically prided themselves on fiscal conservatism— against the rising populism Trump rode to the White House in 2016 and put some GOP leaders in a tough spot. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., held up a vote on the increased checks on Dec. 29, but indicated he’d try to address Trump’s demands. By then, Republican Sens. Marco Rubio, Josh Hawley, Lindsey Graham, and Deb Fischer said they supported the bigger checks. So did Georgia Sens. Kelly Loef- fler and David Perdue, just days away from runoff elections against Demo- cratic challengers to determine which

14 WORLD 01.16.21 DISPATCHES By the Numbers VACCINE 37,586 ACCOUNTING The number of partici- pants in Pfizer’s phase 3 vaccine trial. 18,801 The number of Pfizer phase 3 participants who received the vac- cine, not a ­placebo. 30,351 The number of partici- pants in Moderna’s phase 3 vaccine trial. 15,181 The number of Moderna phase 3 ­participants who received the vaccine, not a placebo.

2.9M $6.1 BILLION The number of Pfizer vaccine doses the U.S. THE TOTAL AMOUNT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT has agreed to pay phar- government hoped to maceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna for their COVID-19 vaccines. The gov- ship to medical work- ernment provided Moderna with $955 million for initial development, then bought ers in the vaccine’s first two 100-million-dose orders for $1.53 billion and $1.68 billion respectively. The week of distribution. government bought 100 million doses from Pfizer for $1.95 billion but provided no initial funding for development.

ILLUSTRATION BY KRIEG BARRIE 01.16.21 WORLD 15 DISPATCHES Human Race DIED Investigators identified 63-year-old Anthony Quinn Warner as the only per- son who died in a bomb he detonated Christmas morning in Nashville. The explosion outside an AT&T building injured three people and knocked out AT&T network services as far away as Kentucky. Police, who said Quinn wasn’t on the radar before the explosion, didn’t immediately know Quinn’s motive. But he had recently given away a vehicle and transferred the title of his Antioch, Tenn., home of decades in exchange for no money, an official speaking on con- dition of anonymity told The Associated Press.

SENTENCED The Pudong New Area People’s Court in China’s financial hub of Shanghai on Dec. 28 sentenced Zhang Zhan to four years in prison on charges of picking fights and provoking trouble. Authori- ties arrested the former lawyer in May, saying she spread false information, granted interviews to foreign media, and “maliciously manipulated” the coro- navirus outbreak. Zhang had traveled to Wuhan, the epicenter of the pan- demic, and chronicled her findings on several social media platforms. The 37-year-old staged a hunger strike during her detention, according to her INVESTIGATED lawyer. China threatened and detained several doctors who first raised concerns Misconduct corroborated about the pandemic on social media for “rumor-mongering.” Law firm probes sexual misconduct accusations against Ravi Zacharias PARDONED Former Republican congressmen Dun- can Hunter of California and Chris Col- AVI ZACHARIAS INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES said on Dec. 23 that lins of New York received presidential claims that its late founder engaged in inappropriate sexual behav- pardons for financial crimes on Dec. 22. ior appear to be true. The group hired a law firm to probe accusations President Donald Trump pardoned 13 that surfaced in news reports, including in WORLD, in the fall. It others, including four former govern- found significant, credible evidence to substantiate the accusations. ment contractors convicted in the 2007 “Some of that misconduct is consistent with and corroborative of killings of Iraqi civilians and two people that which is reported in the news recently, and some of the conduct implicated in Robert Mueller’s Russia we have uncovered is more serious,” attorney Lynsey M. Barron investigation. He issued another round R wrote. Zacharias died of cancer in May. RZIM committed to releasing of pardons the next day. Despite spec- the full report once complete. “In the meantime, we share your ulation, the president did not extend compassion for any victims of this conduct, and we appreciate your clemency to anyone in his family, his prayers for them and also for Ravi’s family who have been devastated attorney Rudy Giuliani, or himself. It’s by this information,” the board’s executive committee said. not uncommon for presidents to issue hundreds of pardons. Trump had granted 70 by Dec. 30.

16 WORLD 01.16.21 EMANUEL TANJALA/ALAMY DISPATCHES Quotables

“My granddaughter turned 1 yesterday in California. … This is my birthday present to her. I’ve never been able to see her.” Cape Coral, Fla., resident MARY RAVIS, 69, who waited with her husband for hours in a line in Lee County in late December to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. “I really need this vaccine,” she told the Fort Myers News-Press, explaining she and her husband had underlying health conditions. “Our lives have been on hold for the past 10 months.”

“Where you’re not rich enough but you’re not poor enough, you’re stuck.” SALIM ABDOOL KARIM, an epidemiologist in South Africa, where most residents are not expected to receive COVID-19 vaccines until mid-2021. A South African factory is expected to produce millions of vaccine doses in coming months, but according to The New York Times, they are slated for use in Western nations due to global vaccine deals.

“I did something I never imagined I would ever do.” An unidentified woman, describing in a U.K. survey her decision to have an abortion because of financial pressures during the pandemic. Abortion provider British Pregnancy Advisory Service found the U.K. government’s two-child cap for social security benefits influenced many women’s abortion decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Some are taking advantage that everyone is wearing masks to commit crimes.” FERNANDO MATEO, co-founder of the United Bodegas of America, on the 222 percent increase in burglaries and 63 percent increase in shootings in front of New York City bodegas and corner stores during the pandemic.

“I told her I can’t, I am too young and I don’t want to. He is old. … She slapped me and locked me up in a room.” NEHA, a Christian Pakistani girl, who says she was 14 when an aunt forced her to marry a 45-year-old Muslim man. Neha fled one week after the wedding. Nearly 1,000 girls are forcibly converted to Islam each year in Pakistan, often to facilitate underage marriages.

01.16.21 WORLD 17 DISPATCHES Quick Takes EXCLUSIVE ISLAND After effec- 2 tively buying an Australian island, a Chinese real estate firm may be attempting to discourage Australian nationals from going there. Developer China Bloom negotiated a long-term lease for Keswick Island off the north- eastern coast of Australia in 2019. In December, Australian media reports indicated the company had closed local beaches, prohibited short-term rentals, and blocked access to the island’s air- strip. “I just don’t think they want Aus- tralians on the island,” former island resident Julie Willis told Australia’s A Current Affair television program. “I think that they want to have this island solely for the use of the Chinese tourism market.” China Bloom, which controls the island until 2096, plans to create a tourist resort there.

BEAR VS. BENHAM Quick thinking 3 and fists of fury helped a California man save his dog from the clutches of a bear. Kaleb Benham said he heard his dog Buddy growling on Nov. 25 outside his Nevada County residence. By the time he located the pit bull, a 350- pound bear had Buddy by the teeth. “I just ran down there, plowed into the bear, tackled it and grabbed it by the throat and started hitting it in the face and the eye until it let go,” Benham told CBS 13 Sacramento. After chasing the bear away, Benham rushed Buddy to a veterinary hospital in Grass Valley, 1 Calif., where the animal received stitches and staples to heal lacerations HOUSE HUNTERS from the bear attack.

HOT ITEMS One discount store has DENIZENS OF MARIETTA, PA., say they’re under attack from rowdy 4 issued a nationwide recall notice on flocks of black vultures. According to local Lancaster, Pa., newspa- candles because the products do their per LNP, the flocks of vultures with wingspans of up to 5 feet have job too well. In a Dec. 2 notice posted been pecking at roofs, porch furniture, and other soft targets in on the website of the Consumer Product Marietta. “This is the worst year,” homeowner John Enterline said. Safety Commission, Dollar Tree said its “There are many more of them.” Enterline said the birds have been Sure Scents 2-1 Peaceful Stream/Moon- so destructive, he’s had to pay thousands of dollars to repair his roof. lit Waves Candles can be dangerous Because the birds are protected under federal law, residents’ options because high flames are able to ignite are limited. Harris Glass, the Pennsylvania director of the U.S. Depart- the candles’ wax, creating a fire hazard. ment of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services, suggested harassing the No injuries have been reported due to birds in nonlethal ways to persuade them to move on. According to the candle, but the recall noted “two LNP, residents have resorted to banging pots and pans to get the reports that flame height reached above birds to leave their property alone. the glass, causing the glass to break.” The recall affects 142,000 candles exclu- sively sold at the dollar store.

18 WORLD 01.16.21 SCOTT GREEN, MODIFIED BY WORLD TO HEADLOCK A THIEF Police in cabin. Bee escaped out a hatch as the 5 Australia credit a heroic grandfa- vessel capsized, then clung to the bow ther for breaking up an attempted lar- as it bobbed above the water. Hours later ceny in a quiet neighborhood south of after sunrise on Nov. 29, Bee spotted the Sydney. Police say Dapto resident Paul container ship Angeles and was able to Robinson spotted a man breaking into draw the attention of her crew, who his neighbor’s home in the morning threw him a life ring. Bee stayed on with hours of Dec. 9. As the alleged thief was the container ship until it made port in trying to make away with his neighbor’s I JUST RAN Wilmington, Del., on Dec. 1. Ford Focus, Robinson crossed the cul- de-sac and put the suspect in a headlock DOWN THERE, A FEW GOOD TURNS A kind act by as he tried to drive away. “I tried to get PLOWED INTO 8 an Irish bus driver on Dec. 9 saved the ignition key off him and tried to THE BEAR, the day for one lost passenger looking hang on and he hit the accelerator and to spend time with her mother. When dragged me out of there,” Robinson told TACKLED IT Jacqueline Mason got on the wrong bus 9News. After dragging Robinson over AND GRABBED in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the mistake 100 feet, the car slammed into a parked IT BY THE threatened to make her late for a trailer. Authorities say the suspect then 30-minute appointment to visit her broke into another home and attempted THROAT AND aging mother at a retirement home, to flee the scene on a riding lawnmower. STARTED where family visitations were restricted Authorities apprehended the suspect in HITTING IT IN due to the pandemic. Driver Alec Bailey a nearby residential neighborhood. said he was moved by pity for the dis- Emergency workers treated Robinson THE FACE AND traught woman after she realized her for minor injuries. THE EYE UNTIL mistake. “I just said to myself, I have to IT LET GO. get this woman as close as I can to that MOUNTAIN MEASUREMENTS The home,” Bailey told the BBC. The driver 6 world’s tallest mountain is growing. asked the other passengers if they China and Nepal, resolving a long-stand- minded, and then drove Mason as near ing dispute between the two Asian to the nursing home as he could get in nations, jointly announced a newly his double-decker bus. Afterward, agreed-upon height for Mount Everest Mason told the BBC, “He’s made my that adds 3 feet to the previously Christmas and he’s made my year, I can’t accepted figure. Everest stands on the thank him enough.” border between Nepal and the Chinese region of Tibet. In 2005, a Chinese sur- vey declared the mountain to be 29,015 feet tall, contradicting the Nepalese claim of 29,029 feet. Scientists in Nepal suggested the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal in 2015 may have actu- ally added to the mountain’s height. In the ensuing years, both nations have conducted surveys of the peak and stud- ied the data together. In December, the two neighbors jointly released findings of their surveys and agreed to a height of 29,032 feet.

CLOSE CALL AT SEA A broken- 7 down watercraft led to a cold dip and a lifesaving rescue for a 62-year-old boater off the coast of Florida. Mechan- ical trouble had left Stuart Bee adrift in his 32-foot boat roughly 86 miles off Florida’s east coast. When night fell on Nov. 28, Bee fell asleep, then awoke to the sound of water rushing into the

01.16.21 WORLD 19 CHRISTIANITY CLAIMED Voices JANIE B. CHEANEY KINGS AND KINGDOMS, REWROTE LAWS, AND SPARKED REVOLUTIONS THE WORLD OVER.

World. Before Christ, it would have been inconceivable that a religion based on the sacrificial and shameful death of a god—a religion that obligated its adherents to the same kind of humility—would have made any Who has the power? inroads at all. But in time, Christianity claimed kings and kingdoms, rewrote laws, and sparked revolutions We quickly forget the world over. It planted in Western conscience the what real power is concept of human rights, obligations to the poor, and defense of the weak. Through weakness, in fact, Christ had conquered the world. ACK IN THE DAYS OF THE late Roman Empire, But what happened to power? Obviously it’s still a monk journeyed from his home in rural with us. The abuse of power is what Western civiliza- Asia Minor (now Turkey) to visit the great tion is all about, according to critical-theory scholars. city of Rome. Out of curiosity, he joined a While they’re right in much of the detail, they’re wrong crowd headed into the Coliseum. After find- in substance. Oppression is not limited to the West. ing a seat, he was horrified to see men fight- According to Nietzsche, the primal urge of all life is ing each other to the death for spectators’ to discharge its strength—the “will to power,” usually B amusement. understood as force or manipulation. He staggered down the steps and into the ring, But everyone has some measure of strength to thrust himself between the gladiators, and cried out, discharge, even if it’s only over oneself. Everyone has “Friends, for Christ’s sake, forbear!” One of the com- a degree of power, and the ability to determine how batants ran the defenseless man through with his to use it: squandered in brute force, or made perfect sword. As the little monk bled to death on the sand, the in the “weakness” of Christ? jeering crowds fell silent, stunned and shamed. First Reading Revelation this month, I was struck by the in a trickle, then in a flood, they poured out of the image of the Lamb that was slain, who alone is worthy Coliseum, whose arena was never stained with human to open the scroll of judgment (Revelation 5:6-9). With blood again. it, He receives power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, Here’s the more accurate version of the story, as glory, and blessing. recorded by Bishop Theodoret of Syria (ca. 425): An “All authority in heaven and on earth has been ascetic named Telemachus, while visiting Rome, was given to me,” He told His followers (Matthew 28:18). shocked by the gladiatorial games. His effort to put a In the interval between His departure and His return, stop to them enraged the crowd, who stoned him to that power is devoted to building His Church, as the death. It appeared that Telemachus had only enhanced Church builds His kingdom (“Therefore, go and make the entertainment that day, until Emperor Honorius disciples”). heard the story and was moved to ban the games. But afterward, His power is exercised in judgment. Even if that version of the story is not entirely true, Every murderous tyrant, every destructive war, every it’s a historical fact that gladiatorial games ended natural disaster, will pale in comparison to the havoc during the reign of Honorius, and Telemachus may brought by the gentle Lamb, crowned in John’s vision well have been the inspiration. The “little monk” rep- with seven horns symbolizing His perfect strength. resents a profound principle that entered the Western In the current chatter about white supremacy and world around a.d. 33—that raw power was not the oppression and microaggression, we’ve lost a sense controlling ethos of life on earth. of what real power is. When the weak win against the That’s the theme of historian Tom Holland’s book strong through the humility of early saints like Telema- Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the chus, Christ calls out, “For My sake, forbear!” When the script of judgment is passed to the Lamb, and the seals broken, no one will stand except by Him.

20 WORLD 01.16.21 EMAIL [email protected] TWITTER @jbcheaney Christian Education from Award-Winning Journalists in NYC

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Discout Alert: Provide them with a year of video news for only $63.99. Go to worldwatch.news or call 828-435-2981 to make it happen. The news is everyone’s business, but it’s none of our business how you decide to deliver this gift. Dressing up as The Big Bash is totally optional.

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Movies & TV Books Children’s Books Q&A Music

DESIGNERS: Background color should match art.

SOUL GETS LIFE RIGHT Pixar’s latest may be a bigger hit with adults than kids

by Megan Basham

HERE WAS NEVER ANY QUESTION that families were going to rush to stream Pixar’s latest release when it debuted on Disney+ on Christmas Day. But I have a hunch that, worthwhile as it is as an artistic exercise, Soul won’t be on constant repeat in minivans across the country. Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx) is a middle-school band teacher still holding on to dreams of jazz greatness. But after years of having the door slammed in his face, he’s on the verge of settling for what he considers a mediocre life. That’s the moment his big T break finally comes—a musical legend invites him to play piano with her quartet.

DISNEY/PIXAR 01.16.21 WORLD 23 CULTURE Movies & TV

A moment after that he crosses paths with an even bigger break, a mortal break. He falls down a manhole and wakes to find himself on the stairway to heaven, though here it’s more like an escalator to a blinding white light manned by a team of “administrators” who look something like cubist scribbles. Unwilling to give up the ghost on his earthly aspirations, Joe makes a detour in his journey to the Great Beyond and winds up in the Great Before, a holding station where souls who have yet to be born prepare for life on Earth. There, Joe is tasked with mentoring a fright- ened soul named 22 (Tina Fey) who has been avoiding her turn at life for ­millennia. Writer/director Pete Docter is a pro- fessing Christian, but he seems to have taken pains not to include Biblical sign- posts in his highly existential story. There’s no mention of God, only a pass- ing mention of heaven and hell, and there’s nothing angelic about the admin- istrators. But that doesn’t mean the film is bereft of any religious references. Before Joe and 22 take a journey to Earth where cross-species body-swap- ping hijinks ensue, the film leans heav- ily on New Age references. To help find a loophole in the afterlife system, Joe The movie doesn’t just avoid the “pursue and 22 seek a group of psychedelic your dream at all costs” message we pirates who all practice various forms typically get from kids’ entertainment. of Eastern meditation (though the movie It positively rebukes it. The plot also does poke fun at this idea a bit as the builds to a deeply pro-life ethic. Joe captain of the hippy-trippy band gets ultimately learns that each life is valu- into an out-of-body state by twirling able not because it offers some utilitar- signs on the corner). JOE ian purpose or because a person pursued Perhaps Docter felt that, as his story ULTIMATELY some meaningful passion. People may plays with ideas that aren’t exactly doc- live their whole lives having done noth- trinally sound in order to explore deep LEARNS ing particularly noteworthy; they may themes, it would be better not to bring THAT EACH have even suffered. Life is valuable in specific elements from Christianity. LIFE IS because it’s life. Still, believing parents may not want to Still, given that the film centers on muddy little minds with the alternate VALUABLE. a middle-aged man and a Liz Lemon– wells he draws from. style neurotic, it doesn’t seem likely to That said, Docter does use his hold great appeal to viewers who can’t brightly colored, metaphysical version even imagine a midlife crisis as a distant of It’s a Wonderful Life to a good end. dot on the horizon. But maybe Soul will be a hit with today’s little ones once they reach their 20s.

24 WORLD 01.16.21 DISNEY/PIXAR - 25 takes on takes on American Gospel:American $11.38 billion $11.38 billion $11.13 billion $10.36 billion $10.92 billion $10.82 billion $10.17 billion $10.57 $2.05 billion $2.05 billion $11.32 billion $11.89 billion $11.07

WORLD 2016: 2015: 2014: 2013: 2012: 2011: 2010: GROSS BOX OFFICE GROSS BOX OFFICE BY EARNINGS, YEAR 2020: 2019:  2018: 2017: 01.16.21 - - - - Spirit Christ Alistair Begg and John MacArthur MacArthur and John Begg Alistair takes on “progressive Christianity.” Christianity.” “progressive on takes by Emily Whitten Emily by progressive Christianity —second in the American Gospel series created by by in the American Gospel—second series created Christ Crucified RIGHTLY DIVIDED RIGHTLY , running nearly three hours, hours, three , running nearly , debuts next year. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, year. next , debuts A third American GospelAmerican film, third A With the help of theologically sound pastors and teachers like like and teachers sound pastors theologically the help of With for speak his opponents Kimber lets format, a debate-style Using “progres label The quibbles: Minor American Gospel: Christ Crucified WHAT DO CHRISTIAN PASTORS PASTORS CHRISTIAN DO WHAT and Fire they the culture impacting the films are films the say Some viewers critique. and teaching, false them out of brought publicly White Todd evangelist July, last fea errors theological several recanted film. in the first tured have in common with atheist Bart Campolo and emergent theologian theologian and emergent Bart Campolo atheist with in common have film 2019 the in together appear They Jones? Tony Christ Crucified TV. Prime and Apple on Amazon Kimber and available Brandon scru American Gospel the films help viewers and MacArthur, Begg While in American culture. gospel the Biblical of distortions tinize Faith of Word and the teaching prosperity film criticizes the first movement, a supports the film clearly although possible, when themselves include covered Topics view. Reformed and wrath) (His love attributes God’s penal substitution, of and the doctrine wrath God’s bore Christ that idea the or pre powerful a it’s Overall, sinners. for sentation. inter fit not might Christianity” sive and Bart Campolo, like viewees Crucified sitting. one for sprawling and long too is

PODCAST ROOTS Hrishikesh Hirway began Song Exploder in 2014 as a podcast, before Netflix picked it up as a television series. - - - Song

composer Lin-Manuel composer by Bob Brown by (rated TV-MA for language), language), for TV-MA (rated Hamilton own music own Facing theirFacing So, what’s the formula for a chart-topa for formula the what’s So, Hirway, himself a busy podcasterand himself a busy Hirway, “The secret sauce of the show,” Hir sauce of the show,” “The secret “You need people to tell you ‘no,’” ‘no,’” need people to tell you “You Members of the Killers groan at an an at groan of the Killers Members R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe winces as he R.E.M.’s SONG EXPLODER: NETFLIX; AMERICAN GOSPEL: CHRIST CRUCIFIED: TRANSITION STUDIOS TRANSITION CRUCIFIED: CHRIST GOSPEL: AMERICAN NETFLIX; EXPLODER: SONG jump out.” That’s it, eh? Maybe there’s a there’s Maybe it, eh? That’s jump out.” songwriter in each of us, too. per? Alicia Keys explains that she and her that explains per? Alicia Keys “words and vibe” play, “feel, collaborators diverse tastes to appreciate Nine Inch Inch Nine tastes appreciate to diverse and Nails Miranda. song’s inspiration and meaning. inspiration song’s musician, quizzes an eclectic bunch of with equally viewers artists. might take It way tells a surprised Ty Dolla Sign, is the tells a surprised Ty way with labels share audio files the record each about also inquires Hirway him. singer Brandon Flowers admits, acknowl Flowers singer Brandon co-producers. edging the band’s Were Young” demo that didn’t make the make didn’t demo that Young” Were final mix. after the song won two Grammys, says says Grammys, two after the song won hand claps. were there know he didn’t a “When We from vocalization awkward listens to his isolated vocals from “Losing “Losing from vocals isolated his to listens hearing Drummer Bill Berry, Religion.” My decades almost three the drum track instrumental tracks from their hit songs songs hit their from instrumentaltracks pretty. not always back to them. It’s Exploder Hrishikesh stars interviewer listen as rock and vocal stripped-down plays Hirway It has become fashionable for celebrities for has become fashionable It selfies—and they to post makeup-free series us. In the Netflix look just like - - - - - ? .

NETFLIX Mank Kane Citizen themes themes its script was how it peeled away the away peeled it how was script What was brilliant about the brilliant was What The strongest parts of the film—the of parts The strongest David director Unfortunately, and politicians many how Given The film’s skewering of Hollywood Hollywood of skewering The film’s and stylized, stylish Self-consciously ical movement, doesn’t look more more look doesn’t ical movement, conveniently how at closely today’s in opinion prevailing with align Tinseltown. Kane of needs deeper the us show to layers corrup and politics the behind man the Fincher David a shame director tion. It’s lead. character’s his follow didn’t beginning and end—offer a parable a parable beginning and end—offer hints get We process. about the creative and drinking the much so isn’t it that plague that living lousy all-around squan he’s that his knowledge Mank. It’s and his money on easy his talent dering will that hits out churning on time be forgotten. mostly from away Fincher turns his attention push to study this compelling character have to seems that agenda political a Mank than himself. with do to less held Jesus suggested have today pastors nov scenes where sympathies, socialist Upton candidate and gubernatorial elist the same argument Sinclair makes our of the enduring quality speak to Fincher stacks But debates. ideological (and reasonable no offering the deck, the to rebuttal Biblical) a not certainly the film, that ironic a bit It’s premise. refusal stubborn so hails Mank’s which polit any to support uncritical offer to team up with 24-year-old virtuoso Orson virtuoso 24-year-old up with team of draft the first write to Welles fun them—is good of lack ethics—or than expletives fewer comes with that (it’s rating R the from expect might you R-rated all other of free also refreshingly content). production black-and-white the of feeling in the the viewer immerses the prewar through just not era, the but accents, and affected score musical rapid-fire a never-ending, through spar many How witticisms. of exchange have “I couldn’t like, kling one-liners may A, which Mrs. myself, better put it fill the movies,” for I write be why jotting quit I eventually that Enough in this use potential for them down review.

WHO WROTE IT? “I used what I wanted of Mank’s and, rightly or wrongly, kept what I liked of my own.” —Orson Welles on who wrote Citizen Kane

pulls the pulls the the mystery of of the mystery Mank

by Megan Basham Megan by . But Netflix’s new drama drama new Netflix’s . But 01.16.21 CINEMATIC DISTRACTION WORLD The Mank in question is title character Herman Herman character is title The Mank in question peddles in politics when it should should it when in peddles politics ILM HISTORIANS MAY HAVE YET TO SOLVE TO YET HAVE MAY HISTORIANS ILM of the deep reservoir of writing talent he possesses. Most Most he possesses. talent writing of reservoir the deep of dreck pseudo-intellectual pitch to content time he’s the of it recognize to the philistines much too heads studio to against vendetta political a Eventually, is. it what for to him drives Hearst Randolph William baron newspaper curtain back on just about every other secret surrounding surrounding secret other about every just on curtain back production. the famous Oscar-worthy another (Gary Oldman, in yet Mankiewicz Mank drunk, and gambler A degenerate performance). skimming the surface barely his career, through skated has exactly who or what “Rosebud” was in Orson Welles’ great great Welles’ in Orson was “Rosebud” or what who exactly all time— of movie the greatest say would movie—some Kane Citizen Movies & TV & Movies

dive deeper into its titular its character into deeper dive Mank

26 F CULTURE SAVED BY FANS After the Syfy network canceled The Expanse in 2018, fans raised money in a campaign to resurrect it.

Corey (the pen name of authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, also two of the BOX OFFICE show’s writers) is beginning its fifth season and currently streaming on Ama- TOP 10 zon Prime after beginning its run on the Syfy network. The first four seasons

WEEKEND OF DEC. 25-27, ACCORDING TO offer several reasons to continue the BOX OFFICE MOJO. QUANTITY OF SEXUAL (S), voyage: movie-worthy sets and special VIOLENT (V), AND FOUL-LANGUAGE (L) CONTENT ON A 0-10 SCALE, WITH 10 HIGH, effects, a satisfying balance of interplan- FROM KIDS-IN-MIND.COM etary intrigue and individual dramas, and a crew of interesting characters. But S V L viewers will need to keep their deflector 1 Wonder Woman shields up for incoming expletives and 1984 PG-13 ...... 4 5 3 occasional scenes with sexual content. 2 News of the World PG-13 . . . . . 1 5 3 In the 23rd century, humans have colonized the solar system. Earth and 3 The Croods: A New Age PG . . . . 1 3 2 its moon (Luna) form the United

4 Monster Nations, and Mars is an independent Hunter PG-13 . . . . not rated military power. The inner planets 5 Promising Young depend on resources from the asteroid Woman R . . . . . not rated belt, located between the orbits of Mars 6 Fatale R ...... 6 7 7 and Jupiter. Competing for air and

7 Pinocchio PG-13 . . not rated water, Earth, Mars, and the Belt stand 8 Elf on the brink of war—at least in the (2020 rerelease) PG. .3 3 3 OUT OF show’s first season. It’s unlikely the 9 National Lampoon’s human race figures out peace by the Christmas Vacation (2020 fifth. rerelease) PG-13 . . not rated THIS WORLD Stylish sci-fi series “Wrecking things is what Earthers 10 The War With do best,” admits Jim Holden (Steven Grandpa PG. . . . . 2 4 4 The Expanse rockets *REVIEWED BY WORLD Strait), a former UN navy officer, born to critical and of eight genetic parents. popular acclaim Much of the first season’s action takes place on Ceres, the largest rock (actually by Bob Brown a dwarf planet) in the asteroid belt. There, native Belters, recognizable by their thin bone structure, work the VIEWERS CAN’T GET ENOUGH galactic docks in slavelike conditions. Joe Miller sci-fi, as the enduring popularity of the (Thomas Jane) is a wearied, Earth-born Star Wars franchise attests. The televi- police detective stationed on Ceres. His RATINGS FUMBLE sion industry’s efforts to capitalize on interest in quelling protesters’ riots this demand have produced seemingly takes a back seat to his search for a miss- Facing a 7 percent ratings more space-themed shows than chunks ing heiress. drop through the first 13 of rock in the asteroid belt. Chrisjen Avasarala (Shohreh Agh- weeks of the season, televi- Many armchair space captains (and dashloo) is a high-ranking UN official. sion networks broadcasting critics) have discovered The Expanse as She investigates the destruction of a NFL games began offering dis- habitable extraterrestrial entertain- space freighter, owned by the missing counts to companies purchas- ment. Of shows set in space, crowd- woman’s father, that was hauling a large ing air time for commercials, driven Ranker.com rates The Expanse supply of ice from Saturn’s rings to according to a report in The as the 10th best of all time, just one slot Ceres. The ice was to be melted into Wall Street Journal. Pandemic behind Star Wars spin-offThe Manda­ much-needed water. Is Mars trying to complications and politics are lorian. They’re the only two of the Top provoke war? Are Outer Planetary Alli- likely driving the drop. 10 currently in production. ance terrorists responsible? Shields up, The Expanse (some seasons rated captain’s chair reclined, I’m ready to TV-MA), based on novels by James S.A. find out.

NFL: STACY REVERE/GETTY IMAGES; THE EXPANSE: AMAZON STUDIOS 01.16.21 WORLD 27 CULTURE Books Sicker: What Screens Are Doing to Our Bodies,” “Screens = Anxiety Machines,” “How Screens Divide Us Into Warring Bookmarks Tribes,” “Swipe Left: How Screens Are Helpful Weakening Rela- tionships.” He gives suggestions—“How help books Excessive Eddie Cut Back”—and has chap- ters on how to help kids, friends, spouses, students, or parishioners addicted to screens.

Trevin Wax’s Rethink Your Self (B&H, 2020) offers a useful trichotomy: Look- Puck (1871-1918) was ing In, Looking Around, Looking Up. America’s first successful Taming technology American culture is heavy on looking humor magazine. My bath- before it tames you in—the purpose of life is to be true to room wall displays one of its yourself, do your thing, follow your colorful cartoons published in by Marvin Olasky bliss. Traditional cultures emphasize 1887, “Where They Are Most looking around: Discover yourself not Appreciated—the Arrival of by looking inside yourself but by under- Certain New York Morning John Perritt’s short A Student’s Guide standing the social ties and meeting the Papers in the Infernal to Technology (Christian Focus, 2020) expectations that sur- Regions.” The caricatures are summarizes positives of new technology round you. The Bibli- of noted editors and publish- in chapters like “One of God’s Greatest cal way is to “look up ers such as Joseph Pulitzer, Graces” and negatives in “Every Knee first because only God Charles Dana, and James Will Bow … To Some- is strong enough to Gordon Bennett (both Jr. and thing” and “Why Am withstand the weight Sr.). Their customers include I So Tired?” He cites of all our hopes and notorious villains: Henry VIII, statistics such as “we dreams, fears and Caligula, George III, Madame look at our phones anxieties. Start with de Pompadour, Lucrezia every 4.3 minutes. … yourself and you’ll collapse. Start with Borgia, Judas Iscariot—and If that’s not worship, community, and you’ll conform. Start Emperor Nero, the subject of I don’t know what is.” with God, and you’ll come into your Anthony Barrett’s Rome Is Perritt advocates own by finding your truest self in rela- Burning: Nero and the Fire thoughtful engagement: “We are to live tion to him.” That Ended a Dynasty in the times God has called us to live in. (The “look up” answer to Question (Princeton, 2020). To engage and use technology for the 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism—“What Many thought Nero had glorifying of His name. To enjoy this is your only comfort in life and death?”— started the fire, fiddled while home He has given us as we long to dwell is worth memorizing: “That I am not my the great city burned, and with Him in our true home.” own, but belong—body and soul, in life then burned alive convenient and death—to my faithful Savior Jesus scapegoats: Christians. Christ, who with his precious blood has Barrett sifts through evi- David Murrow’s Drowning in Screen fully satisfied for all my sins and deliv- dence, including writing by Time (Salem/Regnery, 2020) shows that ered me from all the power of the devil. Tacitus, Suetonius, and Dio— more screen time means less teen inter- He so preserves me that without the will but no one knows for sure, course, brawling, and boozing, but also of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall and the villainous Nero less volunteering, job-holding, church or from my head. Yea, that all things must became a fixture of opera, youth grouping, and maturing. Screens work together for my salvation, and novels and movies like Quo give adults access to more news and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he assures Vadis, and even a Puck views, but also more misinformation and me of eternal life and makes me heart- cartoon.­ —M.O. paranoia. Murrow’s chapter titles accen- ily willing and ready, henceforth, to live tuate the negative: “Sleepier, Fatter, and unto him.”)

28 WORLD 01.16.21 whether from crippling trials or the daily inconveniences of life in a fallen world. Biblical prescriptions Everyone is also sinning and being sinned Counsel for loving God and others more against. But these messes should not intim- idate Christians. “God loves using messy by Charissa Koh people to minister to messy people,” Mehl writes. “If he used clean and shiny people, they would receive all the glory.” Besides offering encouragement, he outlines how love should look within Christian friend- ships. This practical, Biblical, and readable book is an excellent starting place for a Christian who wants to counsel or love ­others better.

Letters to a Romantic: First Years of Marriage by Sean Perron and Spencer Harmon: The first years of marriage are known as the “honeymoon phase.” But instead of coasting until things get tough, couples should seize those years to establish important habits and set the course for a lifelong, godly marriage. Perron and Har- mon cover practical topics like choosing a church and getting along with in-laws, plus address common questions like “Have we fallen out of love?” The book handles tough topics like sexual difficulty and impurity (though not in depth), and its emphasis on the authority of Scripture and the impor- tance of discipleship in a local church is especially valuable. Newly married couples would benefit from reading this book together and talking through the discussion questions after each chapter.

Finding Hope in Hard Things: A Positive Take on Suffering by Pierce Taylor Hibbs: This book’s simple thesis: “Hard things are The End of Anxiety: The Biblical Pre- going to shape us in ways easy things can’t.” Hibbs writes vividly scription for Overcoming Fear, Worry, about three hard things in his life—his father’s death (while Hibbs and Panic by Josh Weidmann: Anxious was in college), his anxiety disorder, and his constant self-doubt—and people cannot know if their anxiety will how each has shaped him in positive ways. Hibbs communicates end in this life, but they can know the pur- honestly about the pain and shows sympathy to other sufferers while pose in their struggle, writes Weidmann. keeping God in the picture. The final chapters remind readers of Knowing and glorifying God are a Chris- God’s love and the sufferings of Christ, who can sympathize with us tian’s life goals, and those goals still apply in every trial. Trusting God to work through trials brings hope in during the struggle with anxiety. Instead hard times. The book’s blend of teaching and personal narrative is of seeking only relief, Christians fighting perfect for someone who needs hope fast. anxiety should work to grow more like Jesus and glorify God. The author shares about his own anxiety over the years and what Loving Messy People: The Messy Art of Helping One Another has helped him along the way. Some of Become More Like Jesus by Scott Mehl: Loving other Christians those practical tips come at the end of each is not complicated, but it requires intentional effort, writes Pastor chapter, with Bible passages for meditation. Scott Mehl. One difficulty: People are messy. Everyone is suffering, Weidmann writes that anxiety can be a physical and spiritual problem, but his book only addresses the spiritual side.

01.16.21 WORLD 29 CULTURE Children’s Books Afterword Ways of seeing Four recent picture books by Susan Olasky

Blueberry Man by Christina E. Petrides: This lovely picture book offers a fond remembrance of the author’s granddaddy, a blueberry farmer. He provided blueberries for family, friends, and young blueberry pickers, earning the nickname “Blueberry Man.” The berries’ color spurs memories of Granddaddy’s naval uniform and his stories of adventures at sea. Beautiful watercolor illustrations suggest details of those stories (sharks and palm trees encroach on a warm scene of children listening around the grandfather’s chair). The book ends with a new generation living on the farm and carrying out Granddaddy’s traditions. Two new books display ­picture book artistry. The Beautiful Shades of Brown: The Art of Laura Wheeler War- Invisible Alphabet by ing by Nancy Churnin: Laura Wheeler loved the color brown: Joshua David Stein (Rise X “Brown WAS a rainbow, with orange and blue, red and green Penguin Workshop, 2020) tucked inside, playing hide and seek.” As a child she experi- uses the conventions of an mented endlessly to capture the color of her parents’ skin. Her ABC book to illustrate goal: One day her portraits would hang on museum walls. Large, things that are hard to visu- painterly illustrations in the artist’s style show her at work in alize. “A is for Air” offers a Paris and Philadelphia. She persisted, painting portraits of simple ink drawing of a flap- famous African Americans, including singer Marian Anderson ping curtain in front of an and W.E.B. Du Bois. Today her paintings hang in the National Portrait Gallery. open window. “B is for Bare” shows a bathtub, a stack of orange and white water Hello, Little One: A Monarch Butterfly Story by Zeena toys, and the simple outline M. Pliska: When Orange lands on a flower, she describes of the backside of a naked to Caterpillar the big, glorious world beyond. Caterpil- boy ready for bath time. lar can’t wait to “flit, flutter, and fly” with Orange. Orange In the wordless One promises that one day Caterpillar will fly but Orange Little Bag: An Amazing won’t be there. Butterfly emerges from her cocoon. Her Journey (Scholastic Press, wings dry. She flies away. And just like Orange, she spots 2020), Henry Cole uses a tiny caterpillar below: “I swoop down and land on a detailed ink drawings to tell nearby flower. ‘Hello, little one,’ I say.” Bold, mixed-media illustrations accompany a story of a simple paper this simple explanation of a monarch’s life cycle. lunch bag from forest to store, where a boy acquires it. That’s all backstory. The Night Wishes ed. Lee Bennett Hopkins: Thirteen poets following poignant narra- contribute to this collection of 14 poems about sleep. tive shows every stage of “Bed” by Rebecca Kai Dotlich invites a child to “Cuddle that boy’s life—childhood, into thoughts of things you did today.” “Bed Again” urges college, engagement, mar- a child to get up: “Rub eyes, yawn, stretch. Roll out from riage, fatherhood—accom­ my warm place.” In the first poem, the illustration shows panied by the beloved bag. the dog, the cat, and the girl asleep. In the second, they It ends as the container for a are awake and ready to go. “Angel” by Nikki Grimes offers seedling his family plants to reassurance: “Sleep, child. Sleep. No need to fear the dark while I stand guard.” honor his father. —S.O.

30 WORLD 01.16.21

CULTURE Q&A

GOSPEL-CENTERED POLITICS The Bible gives us models for ensuring our politics conform to our faith, especially under a new presidential administration

ONE OF WORLD MAGAZINE’S SLOGANS SINCE THE 1990S has been “Sensational facts, understated prose.” Many publications, though, MARVIN practice angry overstatement—and, starting in 2005, Erick Woods OLASKY Erickson became known as a master of the form. He was editor in INTERVIEWS chief of RedState and then a political contributor to CNN and Fox ERICK News. At age 45 Erickson, still lively but less militant, concentrates ERICKSON on his popular Atlanta talk show: This month brings his 10th anni- versary on radio station WSB. Here are edited excerpts of our Dec. 9 interview.

32 WORLD 01.16.21 ILLUSTRATION BY MATTHEW COOK How has taking one course per semester what they’re saying, but feel they’ve got at Reformed Theological Seminary to do it for themselves, their income, affected your theology?I realized in their access to power. seminary how much I have been twisting my faith to conform to politics instead Who do you think is acting responsibly of turning my politics toward where my now, and perhaps helping people turn a faith is. For example, when Jesus tells penitent heart toward God? Not a ton of the Apostles to pick up swords, I always people out there right now. [Georgia read it as a perfect defense of the Second officials] Geoff Duncan, Brad Raffen- Amendment. It was actually a fulfillment sperger, and Brian Kemp are willing to of prophecy. say the election wasn’t stolen. David French. Ben Sasse in Washington is Overall, what’s the most important thing speaking a lot of truth. He is unques- you’ve learned? God has a detailed plan tionably conservative and authentically we only get glimpses of. It’s hard to sink I HAVE TO REMIND Christian, and he can use that pulpit to into despair over world events when you MYSELF WE’RE ALL improve lives and share truths with peo- realize all of these things are part of the SINNERS AND SEE ple who don’t want to hear them. plan, and everything’s going to be OK. THE WORLD IN It’s important to debate, but how do we What about verbal swords? You built DIFFERENT WAYS. keep from turning opponents into ene- RedState and left it in 2015, so you’re not THOSE WITH mies? I sometimes fall down on this— responsible for the warfare headlines in sometimes it’s easy to give in to hating today’s issue: “Parler Shoots Down More DIFFERENT someone. I have to remind myself we’re Lies …” “Michigan Secretary of State … VALUES AND all sinners and see the world in different Snivels …,” and “Joe Biden Shows 47 PRESUPPOSITIONS ways. Those with different values and Years in Washington Doesn’t Protect You presuppositions are not my enemy, nor from Dementia”? You did establish the ARE NOT MY do they want to destroy the country. pattern, though. A lot of websites are ENEMY, NOR DO dependent on clickbait, and I’ve been THEY WANT TO To be big-time successful in the national guilty. A lot of media companies depend talk show world, what do you need to do? on tribal, “gotcha” stories to rally the DESTROY THE A lot of people on talk radio now are base. It’s a click-and-revenue business, COUNTRY. essentially doing bad impressions of so I can’t blame them, but I’m a bad Rush Limbaugh. He told me the secret businessman. to radio is you’re not there to save the world, you’re there to be entertaining. Is all this shooting down rhetoric playing A lot of people in conservative talk radio with fire? Crazy doesn’t just exist on one have misunderstood that to be bombast side of the aisle. When Republicans talk and hysteria. We’re getting so angry, so about a stolen election, and attack other, us versus them, that it even wears out “traitorous” Republicans, that inspires people who agree with you. violence among unstable people. Do you expect to see much repentance? What do you make of the “stolen elec- I don’t expect a lot. Until Donald Trump tion” claims and claimants? I talked to is off the stage, I don’t think anything enough of them immediately after the will change. Then you’ll see Republican election that I really believe a lot don’t politicians moving forward who try to believe it. When you look at their legal embrace whatever they define as filings around the country, they would happy. Some will run for office, and they Trumpism without Trump—essentially not have done such a terrible, haphazard want to say what they did for the pres- saying, “I’m just like him on all these job if they really believed this stuff. ident. They’re willing to embarrass things, except I’m not someone who’s themselves for the guy these voters love. going to turn off suburbia.” Are many in it for power and money? Some want to stay on the gravy train. Has politics become a new religion? Yes, What’s the likelihood of Trump running Some want book deals, cable TV access, there is that element. A lot of these will again? He’ll be 78. If you get adjusted to or shows of their own. A lot of it is per- seriously need to work on some repen- a post-presidential life where you still formance theater to keep Donald Trump tance after all of this is done—knowing have the Secret Service and a lot of the happy, but also to keep his supporters many of them don’t actually believe trappings of power without having

01.16.21 WORLD 33 CULTURE Q&A you’ll see your life improved, regardless of what happens in Washington.

I gather your health is better, and your the day job, and you make more money— wife’s three-month cancer checkups are you may not want to run again. going OK? Yes, she has an incurable form of genetic lung cancer. She goes every Would you want him to run again? I don’t three months for a check. She takes a think so. I still think character matters small pill every day that keeps the greatly. He brought out the worst in a tumors from growing. She’s four years lot of people who decided they could into a pill that’s only supposed to work behave just like him. A lot of them hav- A LOT OF YOUNG two years, and it’s still working. I’ve still en’t gotten away with it. FACES ON THE got some clots in my lungs from four years ago, but I’m actually healing. Who would you like to see running in RIGHT, MANY OF 2024? I’m intrigued by Tom Cotton, Josh WHOM ARE Last question is the tombstone one: What Hawley, and Nikki Haley. I suspect none SYMPATHETIC do you want people to remember you for of them will be the nominee because when you’re gone? I want to be remem- we’ll get a wild card, whether it’s a Ron WITH HIM ON bered as a guy who was willing to share DeSantis from Florida or a Doug Ducey POLICIES, WILL BE the gospel even if it cost me. from Arizona. A lot of young faces on OVERSHADOWED the right, many of whom are sympa- My friend Warren Smith in an interview thetic with him on policies, will be over- BY TRUMP IF HE five years ago asked you that question. shadowed by Trump if he runs again. RUNS AGAIN. You said, “Here lies Erick Erickson, who said what needed to be said, even when Who are some of those faces? I’m not people didn’t like it.” You’ve become sure Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are via- more specific about the gospel. I have ble presidential candidates, but they’re been told more in the last six months leaders. Ben Sasse from Nebraska, than in my previous nine years on radio, although he’s alienated himself from the You can’t do that if you want to be suc- base by standing up to the president. cessful nationally. But I know we’ve got Kristi Noem in South Dakota is an a God, and He is coming back. If it costs up-and-coming governor. Lt. Govs. Geoff me, that’s fine, because I know where Duncan in Georgia and Matt Pinnell in I’m headed. Oklahoma. House Reps. Dan Crenshaw and Chip Roy, both from Texas.

How should we reorient our perspective about politics? Let’s think about these 12 guys who never got involved in politics. They were all friends with another guy, and none had real power except for their friend—and He died and conquered death. These 12 after He was gone went out and changed the world for Him with the help of the Holy Spirit. They never cast a vote, they never ran for office—but they Cartoon improved the lives of the whole world.

Many WORLD readers are not looking forward to an administration run by peo- ple who don’t share their values. They should remember this: Lots of people in your community are suffering, and that guy in Washington is not going to help them, but you actually can—and if you help them and improve their lives,

34 WORLD 01.16.21 WM0121_CHM_CHI 12/16/20 10:18 AM Page 1

Know your story, embrace the journey.

Uncover your faith heritage CHRISTIAN HISTORY one story at a time. magazine

Please enjoy a FREE one-year subscription! * Mention source code WM0121 For more than 30 years, Christian History magazine has been telling the story of the church to help guide each of us on our journey. Christian History magazine is made possible by generous donations from our readers. ChristianHistoryMagazine.org • 1-800-468-0458 * Free one-year subscription to U.S. and Canada. A free sample issue to all other international destinations. ------The The , that that , In using the the In using SUSAN TUSA/KRT/NEWSCOM SUSAN entire range of the of range entire spectrum to stereo oper six balance the soloists, atic UCLA 35-voice Singers, Chamber ’s scope, it may be this may it scope, ’s The Passion of Yeshua of The Passion “After many years of living with the with living of years many “After With The final category is “best contempo is “best The final category most the project’s one of Ironically, The second category is “best choral choral is “best The second category composed the oratorio in the first place. in the first the oratorio composed in the liner he writes Jesus,” of question and head in accept, to began “I notes, of the culmination was Jesus heart, that that and prophets Jewish of years 4,000 the long-awaited-for indeed he was ­Messiah.” even thrilling. The articulation alone of alone articulation The thrilling. even Overton Kenneth the soloists—baritones and (Caiaphas), Bass K. James (Jesus), Timo tenor (Narrator); Worth Matthew mezzo-soprano Pilate); (Peter, Fallon thy Hila (Mary); and soprano J’Nai Bridges (Mary Magdalene)—reflects Plittman Dan of demands the to sensitivity their and content. form ielpour’s Given composition.” classical rary Yeshua of Passion First, suited. best it’s which for award and theologically Danielpour’s there’s Old of blending insightful dramatically Second, there’s texts. Testament New and the and English, Hebrew both of his use Standard the Revised from sourced latter Bible Jewish and the Complete Version coming is a emerges What turns. by and sensi cultures of only not together and present. past of but also bilities with do to nothing has aspects striking construction or singing, engineering, its Danielpour why with do to and everything the more-than-140-voice Buffalo Phil Buffalo the more-than-140-voice Phil Buffalo and the harmonic Chorus, the direction under harmonic Orchestra certainly is Gottinger Falletta, JoAnn of Academy Recording competition. stiff him after against vote who members the cho of the explosiveness to listening in “Scene release Barabbas’ for cries rus’s seri some have will Man” the Behold XI: do. to explaining ous chorus the two Falletta, for performance” aforementioned the of all and masters, superb, put, the singing is Simply singers. acceptance would seem to be complete. be complete. seem to would acceptance

DANIELPOUR: “One of my aims in writing this work was to bring the story of the last day of the life of Jesus of Nazareth back to its Jewish origins.” - - A Dramatic A Dramatic ’s multileveled multileveled ’s , it immerses listeners in a in a listeners immerses it ,

a needle of hope in the hay hope of a needle (Naxos). Subtitled Subtitled (Naxos). The Passion of Yeshua of Passion The 01.16.21 WORLD Contending for three awards is Richard Danielpour’s Danielpour’s is Richard awards three for Contending engi is “best appears it which in category The first HRISTIANS SEARCHING FOR SEARCHING HRISTIANS neering.” Should it win, the award would go to Bernd Bernd to go would win, the award Should it neering.” Technology the Sound of Recording the head Gottinger, for responsible man the and Fredonia SUNY at program to justice sonic doing dynamics. The Passion of Yeshua of The Passion in FourteenOratorio Scenes Supper the Last begins with that journey two-hour nearly on the cross. death Christ’s with and culminates stack of disappointment that was 2020 need look no no need look 2020 was that disappointment of stack nominees. Grammy classical-music 2021 the than further Music

36 oratorio and Grammy recognition Orteza Arsenio by the Passion a new propels faith A composer’s

CULTURE take on A new C arating reboot. Bypass their liner essays. Encore Concentrate instead on their heterodox Spiritual willingness to take this formerly acous- tic music beyond the walls of a “church” it was never supposed to belong to any- spins way. Noteworthy new or recent releases Merry Christmas by Roger McGuinn: by Arsenio Orteza In the 40-plus years since he became a Christian, Roger McGuinn has recorded only one musical testament to his faith, an original called “Light Up the Dark- Hey Clockface by Elvis Costello: Don’t ness.” He didn’t Hey Clockface isn’t the be put off by the opening recitation or exactly keep it only fascinating new the electronically clattery “No Flag” under a bushel—by release by an Elvis. that follows thereupon. The former goes the time it finally There’s also From Elvis by quickly, the latter reveals itself to be appeared on 2018’s in Nashville (RCA/ an incisively satirical and insidiously Sweet Memories, Legacy), a four-disc box hooky indictment of what pollsters call he’d performed it compiling highlights of the “nones,” and both signal how far live hundreds if not thousands of times. the all-night Nashville beyond his many previous comfort Still, hearing him sing song after song sessions that Elvis zones Costello will about Jesus as he does on this album Presley undertook in wander before he feels special. With his gentle way with June 1970 with James winds down 12 stringed instruments honed by a trou- Burton, Charlie McCoy, tracks later with the badour’s commitment to keeping tradi- Norbert Putnam, David slow-motion, vor- tion alive, he delivers these carols and Briggs, Jerry Carrigan, tex-like melancholy Christ-based folk tunes with a stirring and Chip Young. Many of of “Byline.” “No simplicity entirely appropriate to the the results would surface Flag,” meanwhile, keeps resonating, birth of his Savior. with postproduction most notably in “We Are All Cowards accretions on various Now,” in which belief in nothing culmi- nondescript Presley nates in surrender to tyranny, and Gospel by Mica Paris: Paris, known in albums. These new, “Radio Is Everything,” in which an some quarters as the “U.K. Queen of accretion-free remixes Orwellian “sole of a jackboot in a broken Soul,” has a big, almost brawny voice, remind us how riveting brace” ends up “poised above a human and she knows how to use it. She also Presley could be when face forever and ever.” Amen. knows gospel music, having grown up he bore down and tried. Pentecostal. Stylistically, she can be The musicians were conservative. Her focused too. At one A Love Supreme Electric: A Love “Amazing Grace,” point, Presley sponta- Supreme & Meditations by Vinny “Oh Happy Day,” neously sings a line from Golia, John Hanrahan, Henry Kaiser, and “Take My Hand, Ernie K-Doe’s “Mother-in- Wayne Peet, Mike Watt: Like the Oh Precious Lord” Law,” and the band falls Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, John Col- sound pretty much right in. “It doesn’t take trane’s A Love Supreme is a landmark as you’d expect. much to spark you guys recording. But its most zealous propo- Somehow, though, neither they nor the off,” he chuckles. “A cou- nents oversell its spirituals “Go Down Moses” and “Moth- ple of words, and you’re “spiritual” proper- erless Child” come off atavistic, not even off and runnin’.” The ties. They implicitly with U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What energy, in other words, equate those slow to I’m Looking For” and Foreigner’s “I flowed both ways. No “get it” with the Want To Know What Love Is” for com- wonder the country kinds of Christians pany. The two that she wrote herself songs feel as immediate whom some charis- aren’t bad either. One advocates the as the rock ’n’ roll and matics disparage for not speaking in power of positive thinking. The other the rock ’n’ roll as tongues. Three of those advocates dives headlong into the reasons that invested with genuine belong to the sax-drums-guitar-organ- people need such power in the first feeling as the gospel. bass collective responsible for this exhil- place. —A.O.

01.16.21 WORLD 37 Union. It had a robust economy and prided itself on being a secular state in the Muslim world. Under Pres- Voices MINDY BELZ ident Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it’s devolved over the past decade into an authoritarian state that has shut- tered a free press, turned historic churches into mosques, and lent support to Islamic terror groups. The Obama administration didn’t challenge Erdo- gan’s support for Islamic fighters entering Syria through Turkey, or of smuggling rings transporting refugees to Europe. The Trump administration has imposed limited sanctions but avoided lasting pushback. Sanctions in 2018 helped to win the release of American Pastor Andrew Brunson, and December’s sanctions over Tur- key’s purchase of a Russian-made air defense system New Year’s test come more than a year after that transaction was complete. Turkey presents new Meanwhile, Trump himself rebuffed congressional challenges a new president efforts to suspend Turkey’s membership in NATO and can’t overlook actually welcomed Erdogan’s invasion of Syria in 2019. He calls Erdogan “my friend”—including at a UN-­ related gathering for which the then-freed Brunson OMESTIC ISSUES DOMINATED the presiden- was present. Turkey wrongfully had convicted Brun- tial campaign season, but global leaders son of aiding terrorists when he actually was helping will be eyeing the first steps of President-elect war victims and planting churches. Joe Biden overseas. A wider-angle grasp All this opens the door for a reset, should Biden may help Americans understand too the make the effort. Turkey under Erdogan has flouted its new administration’s intents. NATO obligations, and there are dire reasons to recal­ Will Biden’s team focus on special inter- ibrate U.S.-Turkey relations. D ests, like global climate change initiatives In northeast Syria Turkish forces have emptied key and restoring abortion-related funding overseas? That towns, forcing Muslim and Christian families from would suggest a presidency captive to special interests their homes, all in an area where war had eased until on the left, less interested in wider goals like resolv- Turkey’s late 2019 invasion. Last month Partners Relief, ing conflict and spreading democracy. Or will the a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization, discov- Biden team refocus U.S. leadership in areas where it ered a camp with nearly 1,550 Syrian families whom has been lacking and reinstate global alliances in ways the ongoing Turkish shelling has newly displaced. The that rely on new energy rather than old bureaucracies, families had tents but no mattresses or heat as tem- ways that protect U.S. interests while also benefiting peratures dipped below freezing. others? In Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey’s military has been An overreliance on alphabet-soup groups (the the fuel reigniting a conflict between Armenia and NATO-led war in Libya, UN-led efforts to counter ISIS) Azerbaijan. In December Erdogan flew to Baku, the characterized Obama-era foreign policy. The Trump Azerbaijan capital, to take part in a military victory administration has been bolder in forging new direc- parade. He gave a speech—little noted in the United tions (linking Israel and Arab nations, leading on pro- States—warning Turkey could invade Armenia. tecting religious liberty, see p. 46) but weak on building Analysts and officials I’ve spoken to over the past alliances to make such initiatives stick. month say Turkey will be an important place for tak- If the new administration reads a divided elector- ing the measure of Biden’s commitment to shoring up ate correctly, and if Biden himself is sincere about the global alliances, human rights, and religious freedom. need to “heal this nation,” he may attempt a middle Here on the home front in this new year, I will be course between these two ends of the spectrum: reen- sharing this space with colleagues Jamie Dean and gaging allies without kowtowing to them. That can Sophia Lee. Jamie working from Charlotte has just rebuild trust abroad, something also needed at home. completed coverage of her fourth presidential cam- A unique place to watch how Biden’s overseas paign, while Sophia has had her hands full covering engagement emerges is Turkey. Turkey is a NATO ally protests and life during the pandemic from Los Ange- once determined to become a member of the European les. Both are invested reporters who bring perspectives that are at the same time fresh and seasoned. Happy New Year!

38 WORLD 01.16.21 EMAIL [email protected] TWITTER @mcbelz CAN YOU HELP FEED HUNGRY CHRISTIANS?

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THE

BIG

ENGINES

With close margins in Congress, the Biden adminis- THAT tration may look to Cabinet heads to drive big changes apart from legislation

BY JAMIE DEAN PHOTO BY SUSAN WALSH/AP COULD 01.16.21 WORLD 41 BECERRA’S PICK as the HHS nominee surprised even some of Biden’s advisers. Officials at medical associations had urged the pres- ident-elect to tap a physician for the post, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Becerra isn’t a doctor, and though he’s litigated to defend the Affordable Care Act, he doesn’t have direct experience in healthcare. He served 12 terms in Congress before taking over as the top justice official in his home state of California when Vice President–elect Kamala Harris left the post to take a Senate seat in 2017. EP. CEDRIC RICHMOND, D-La., isn’t Becerra also took over a notable case from Harris: the highest profile­ name among the claims against pro-life activist David Daleiden for ­President-elect Joe Biden’s new his undercover investigation exposing Planned Parent- hires, but he might have one of the hood’s sale of aborted baby parts. Harris’ office green- toughest jobs: Reach out to “peo- lighted the raid on Daleiden’s apartment. Becerra filed ple who didn’t vote for us.” 15 felony charges against him. That’s a wide spectrum: The Even the Los Angeles Times opined in 2017 the people who didn’t vote for Biden charges were “disturbingly aggressive.” The paper noted include a chunk of Donald Trump Becerra’s office hadn’t filed similar charges against -ani supporters who contested the mal rights groups for making secret recordings during presidential election into late undercover investigations that drew praise for exposing 2020, but it also includes Repub- animal cruelty. lican congressmen and senators Daleiden’s case is one example in a litany of pro-abor- whom Democrats need in order to tion battles Becerra has waged as attorney general that pass any major legislation in 2021. offer a glimpse of how he might use an even more pow- Richmond, who announced erful federal post at HHS. he’d resign his congressional seat Last April, Becerra led a coalition of 22 state attor- to direct the White House Office neys general in challenging a Mississippi law prohibiting of Public Engagement, mentioned abortions after 15 weeks. Becerra called the ban “unjust, infrastructure as a possible start- unlawful, and unfair.” ing point: “The famous words are, In 2018, Becerra defended the California FACT Act, there’s no such thing as a Demo- a law requiring pregnancy care centers to post infor- cratic bridge or a Republican mation telling expectant mothers how to obtain abor- bridge.” tions. Pro-life advocates said the measure violated their Other bridges will be harder to build. With close rights to free speech. Becerra argued for a “professional margins in Congress, Democrats likely won’t be able to speech” category that the state could regulate. pass major legislation like the Equality Act—a proposed The Supreme Court ruled against the measure in law addressing sexual orientation and gender identity 2018, with Justice Anthony Kennedy chiding California that many conservatives view as a threat to religious lawmakers for claiming the requirement was “forward-­ liberty. thinking.” But Biden won’t have to build big bridges to make big Kennedy warned that history shows “how relentless changes. Instead, he could look to Cabinet officials across authoritarian regimes are in their attempts to stifle free federal departments to change agency rules and regula- speech.” tions in ways that could have sweeping effects on public In 2017, Becerra filed suit to strip conscience protec- policy—and on religious groups that serve populations tions from Little Sisters of the Poor—a Catholic group in need. One of the primary engines that could drive such providing nursing home services to low-income elderly change: Xavier Becerra—Biden’s pick for secretary of residents. Health and Human Services (HHS). In a protracted legal battle, the nuns had sought a It’s a high-profile position, and Becerra is likely to religious exemption from federal requirements to pro- draw high-level scrutiny in Senate confirmation hearings vide contraceptives and abortifacients in healthcare for a simple reason: His record shows a politician more plans for employees. Under the Trump administration, culture warrior than bridge builder, and it raises signif- officials at HHS issued a rule granting protection for the icant questions about how he’d drive one of the most Little Sisters and religious nonprofits. Becerra and oth- powerful agencies in the country. ers sued to strike down the exemption.

42 WORLD 01.16.21 Xavier Becerra

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Little Sisters of the Poor in 2020, but Becerra would have the power to rescind conscience protections at HHS and send the nuns back to court. Kim Colby of the Christian Legal Society thinks the BECERRA’S RECORD RAISES Little Sisters likely would prevail in future court cases SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS because of protections provided in the Religious Free- dom Restoration Act (RFRA). But she says rescinding ABOUT HOW HE’D DRIVE the conscience rule “just creates more litigation for ONE OF THE MOST religious groups trying to do good things.” Colby noted Biden reportedly had argued during the POWERFUL AGENCIES Obama administration to offer protections for the Cath- IN THE COUNTRY. olic group: “The question is … has he abandoned those instincts in order to become president?” Whether Biden has abandoned his instincts, he’s made clear he’d peel back at least some conscience protections. After the Supreme Court ruled in favor of

RICH PEDRONCELLI/AP 01.16.21 WORLD 43 Becerra speaks to reporters outside the U.S. Supreme Becerra’s role at HHS would be key to Biden’s plans Court on Nov. 12 following arguments in a case about the and highlights the agency’s sweeping power. HHS over- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. sees issues related to Medicaid, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Office of Refugee Resettle- ment (ORR), some adoption and foster care agencies, the Little Sisters last summer, Biden said he was “dis- and other areas of governance. appointed” and promised, “If I am elected, I will restore Activist organizations have big ambitions for many the Obama-Biden policy that existed before the Hobby of them. Lobby ruling: providing an exemption for houses of worship and an accommodation for nonprofit organi- IN DECEMBER, A COALITION of 80 pro-abortion organi- zations with religious missions.” zations released a “detailed punch list,” outlining what The Little Sisters say that won’t work. The “accom- they expect from the Biden administration. (The groups modation” means the group may use a third party to included Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice Amer- facilitate contraceptives and abortifacients for employ- ica, and the ACLU.) ees, but the nuns say that still violates their religious The Blueprint for Sexual and Reproductive Health, convictions. Rights, and Justice calls for a range of services, includ- Another rule at HHS on the chopping block: restric- ing abortion “at no or low cost and without exception tions on Title X funding. The Trump administration for all people, including immigrants, incarcerated indi- decided any group or organization that refers women viduals, and young people under the age of 18.” for abortions is ineligible for Title X family planning While Biden already has promised to reinstate Title funds. Biden called the rule “a direct attack on Planned X family planning funds to groups that refer women for Parenthood” and promised, “It’s wrong, and as president abortions, the “blueprint” ups the ante for the HHS I will reverse it.” program that usually doles out some $280 million a

44 WORLD 01.16.21 CHIP SOMODEVILLA/GETTY IMAGES year: The report calls for $954 million instead. On refugees, the report calls for issuing new guidance to ensure facilities provide refugee minors with “infor- A CABINET OF FIRSTS mation about and access to” abortion and contraception. The document also calls for repealing conscience pro- When President-elect Joe Biden described a tections and getting rid of the HHS Conscience and slate of his Cabinet nominees at a Dec. 16 press Religious Freedom Division. conference, the word first played a prominent Meanwhile, the Human Rights Campaign produced role: “The first ever black secretary of its own report with action items for each Cabinet depart- defense”—Lloyd Austin. “The first ever Latino” ment, including a specific recommendation to HHS: head of the Department of Homeland Security— “revoke waiver to South Carolina.” That request appar- Alejandro Mayorkas. “The first woman and South ently refers to a waiver HHS granted to allow Miracle Asian American” to lead the Office of Hill, a Christian ministry in South Carolina, to continue Management and Budget—Neera Tanden. using religious criteria in recruiting families to pursue On this day, Biden announced his ninth foster care through the state system. Cabinet pick: “The first ever openly gay nominee Miracle Hill asks families to affirm a statement of to lead a Cabinet department.” That’s former faith as they guide them through the foster care process South Bend mayor and presidential candidate and provide training and support for foster care families Pete Buttigieg—tapped to lead the Department licensed by the state. of Transportation (though Richard Grenell, who The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on a separate case is also openly gay, served as President Donald that may settle whether religious foster care groups may Trump’s acting director of national security in obtain exemptions to rules requiring them to place 2020, also a Cabinet-level position). children in same-sex homes or other arrangements Some of Biden’s choices for top spots were contrary to their faith. familiar names from the Obama administration Ryan Duerk, president and CEO of Miracle Hill, didn’t who drew little public protest from Republican speculate on what might happen if HHS revokes his politicians tasked with nomination hearings. group’s waiver, but he said the organization would “serve But another feature was notable in some and love all people … as long as we can and for as many cases: It would be the first time the nominee as we can.” worked in the specific area assigned by Biden. His choice for secretary of veterans affairs, CHANGING AGENCY RULES usually takes time, so it may Denis McDonough, served as President Barack take months to see how some overhauls will unfold. Obama’s chief of staff but never in the armed For now, Becerra and other Cabinet nominees still services. Buttigieg, who is a veteran, hasn’t face a Senate confirmation process. worked directly in transportation, apart from his Some conservatives called for Republicans to vote experience as mayor. no on Becerra, though formally rejecting a president’s Confirmation hearings can shed light on their Cabinet nomination is rare: The Heritage Foundation qualifications, and other presidents have picked reports it’s happened three times in the past 100 years. nominees who weren’t direct experts in their Nominees have had their names withdrawn 13 times. respective departments. Meanwhile, notable Democrats expressed enthusiasm But it appears Biden’s determination to build for the pick, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the most diverse Cabinet ever trickled down to D-Calif., and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. political appointments too. An online job appli- A year ago, Newsom joined Becerra in blasting the cation at Biden’s transition website included Office for Civil Rights in the Trump administration. The questions about gender identity. office had issued a violation to the state of California “What is your gender?” There were five for requiring some religious groups to provide abortion choices: “Male, Female, Non-binary/third in their healthcare coverage. The pair released a state- ­gender, Another gender, Prefer not to say.” ment saying they hadn’t violated the law and declared “What is your sexual orientation?” Another the state has “a sovereign right to protect women’s five choices: “Straight/heterosexual, Gay or reproductive rights” ­lesbian, Bisexual, Another orientation, Prefer not After Biden announced Becerra’s nomination to HHS to say.” in December, Newsom called the pick “a game changer.” “Do you identify as transgender?” Only three “We’ve had our eye on some big reforms,” he told The choices: “Yes, No, Prefer not to say.” New York Times. “We’ve been looking for a great part- For political appointments in a presidential ner. And we’ve found one.” administration, at least some of those questions are likely a first. —J.D.

EMAIL [email protected] TWITTER @deanworldmag 01.16.21 WORLD 45 First freedom agendas WILL JOE BIDEN BUILD ON TRUMP’S OVERSEAS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM POLICIES? by Mindy Belz With weeks to go before the U.S. ­presidential election, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo traveled to Rome to attend a symposium on religious freedom. The secretary planned to meet with top Vat- ican officials, and he requested an audi- ence with Pope Francis. As the September event drew near, Pompeo published in the religious jour- nal First Things an article arguing the Vatican risked losing its “moral witness and authority” over its pending renewal of a provisional agreement with China’s Communist Party leadership. The Communist Party has cracked down on religious believers, including by closing more than 100 Catholic places of worship, and Pompeo wanted the Catholic Church to take a stand. “The Holy See has a unique capacity and duty to focus the world’s attention on human rights violations, especially those perpetrated by totalitarian regimes like Beijing’s,” he wrote. Pompeo’s full-court diplomatic press continued in Rome. In his keynote speech at the symposium attended by Vatican figures and British and Ameri- can officials, Pompeo highlighted Chi- na’s threats to Catholic and Protestant Christians, Uighur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and others. He challenged Catholic leaders to be “a Church per- manently in defense of basic human rights, a Church permanently in oppo- sition to tyrannical regimes.”

President Donald Trump listens to ambassador- at-large for international religious freedom Sam Brownback (standing right center) as he meets with survivors of religious persecution in the Oval Office of the White House in July 2019.

ALEX BRANDON/AP

01.16.21 WORLD 47 High-level confrontation between a It represents a religious-liberty empha- Pompeo delivers his speech during the Presbyterian Sunday school teacher and sis needed in secularized diplomatic symposium in Rome on Sept. 30. Rome’s Catholic hierarchy isn’t business circles, yet in the hands of a polarizing as usual in traditional U.S. diplomacy. president, it sometimes backfired. The events in Rome underscore how the Now, as the Trump administration believers who oppose abortion in under- Trump administration went outside the heads into its final weeks in office, long- developed countries. diplomatic box, prioritizing religious time religious freedom advocates say Biden also over the years has accu- freedom abroad. President Donald they want to build on that emphasis mulated weighty critics for his bad for- Trump himself in 2020 issued an exec- while moving past the partisanship. They eign-policy instincts. He once argued utive order calling religious freedom believe the record assembled under for carving Iraq into sectarian states, “America’s first freedom” and making Trump is noteworthy. The question is, and he opposed the raid that killed it a guiding principle of U.S. foreign will President-elect Joe Biden continue Osama bin Laden. Secretary of Defense policy. that emphasis, or run from it? Robert Gates, who served under Presi- Vatican officials seemed caught off It’s not an easy question. Already dents George W. Bush and Barack guard by Pompeo’s aggressive diplo- Biden has indicated one of his first Obama, said in his 2014 memoir that macy. Nevertheless, Pope Francis actions in office will be to rescind the Biden “has been wrong on nearly every declined to meet with Pompeo. Three Mexico City policy, a rule Trump rein- major foreign policy and national secu- weeks later the Vatican announced it stated after the Obama years prohibiting rity issue over the past four decades.” would again renew its agreement with U.S. foreign aid to groups that provide On the other hand, the 78-year-old China for two years. abortions or abortion referrals. The Biden brings more experience to the The Trump team’s unorthodox move will alienate many Christians and foreign-policy arena than nearly any approach has cut both ways, say insiders. shift protections away from religious president elected since perhaps George

48 WORLD 01.16.21 ANDREW MEDICHINI/AP The vice president and secretary of state have looked also to Sam Brown- back, the former U.S. senator and gov- ernor of Kansas whom Trump named his ambassador-at-large running the State Department’s Office of Interna- THE TRUMP TEAM’S tional Religious Freedom. IRF hatched the idea of hosting large-scale annual UNORTHODOX ministerial events aimed at advancing APPROACH HAS religious freedom globally. CUT BOTH WAYS, The first, convened in 2018, was the highest-level gathering to date on the SAY INSIDERS. IT issue. Eighty nations sent official repre- REPRESENTS A sentatives. The three-day event at State RELIGIOUS-LIBERTY Department headquarters in Washing- ton brought together top government EMPHASIS NEEDED officials, the world’s top religious lead- IN SECULARIZED ers, human rights advocates, and faith- DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES, based international aid groups. At an opening ceremony at the U.S. Holocaust YET IN THE HANDS Memorial Museum, Jewish survivors of OF A POLARIZING Nazi camps joined recent victims of reli- PRESIDENT, gious-driven oppression—among them, escaped Chinese house church leaders; IT SOMETIMES Rohingya Muslims from Burma; and BACKFIRED. Yazidi activist Nadia Murad, who escaped ISIS captivity in 2014 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018. “Nothing of that scope and scale had been attempted before, or even imag- ined,” said Knox Thames, then the State Department special adviser for religious minorities. Thames served two years at State under Obama before working for Brownback under Trump, where he H.W. Bush. He joined the Senate Foreign When Sen. Bernie Sanders holdovers tried steered the idea of hosting a ministerial. Relations Committee during the Cold to insert language condemning Israel, The event grew in 2019, with more than War, became its ranking minority mem- Biden stepped in personally to edit it out. 100 nations attending. In 2020 the Pol- ber in 1997 and chairman from 2001 to ish government hosted the event in 2003—years marked by 9/11 attacks, two Intent on writing his own presidential Warsaw (mostly virtually due to COVID- wars begun by the United States, and chapter, Biden will have to contend with 19 restrictions). Brazil will host the 2021 the rise of Islamic terrorism. a formidable momentum on interna- ministerial, suggesting the events will Biden is the second Catholic elected tional religious freedom the Trump have a life beyond the Trump adminis- president in American history, one administration created. tration. whom friends and associates describe The president relied on Vice Presi- Out of the annual gatherings has as a practicing adherent who carries a dent Mike Pence as a liaison with reli- grown an International Religious Free- rosary in his pocket and attends Mass gious freedom advocates and a dom Alliance of senior government every Sunday. An Easter campaign video spokesman for their causes. Diplomacy representatives, along with numerous in 2020 depicted the former vice pres- driven by the State Department under roundtables in the United States and ident praying with church leaders, and Pompeo came with Pence’s endorsement. abroad to address similar issues. it quoted philosopher-theologian Søren Following the defeat of ISIS in Iraq, when During the Trump years, a Washing- Kierkegaard: “Faith sees best in the the State Department bureaucracy failed ton-based roundtable grew from 15 dark.” to move forward with rebuilding plans attendees to 75, then mushroomed to Democrats in their 2020 platform for decimated Christian and Yazidi areas, 150 after Brownback began showing up explicitly addressed the importance of Pence personally dispatched a team to to the meetings. advocating for religious freedom around Iraq and pressured USAID to distribute “These are good things that can be the world, while Republicans did not. funds via faith-based groups. carried forward,” said Thames. “The

01.16.21 WORLD 49 Trump administration led on them, and they approached them holistically, with religious freedom for everyone. We spoke about Christians when they were persecuted, Muslims when they were persecuted, Baha’is when they were persecuted.” “THERE IS NO Thames, who resigned in September DAYLIGHT to become a visiting expert at the U.S. BETWEEN Institute of Peace, said insiders didn’t know what kind of response to expect COMMISSIONERS in launching the ministerial gatherings. APPOINTED BY But they elevated international religious REPUBLICANS AND freedom to an “unprecedented height,” he said, adding, “It’s safe to say the THOSE APPOINTED Trump team did more than any other BY DEMOCRATS— administration has.” WE HAVE WORKED Those successes allowed the United States to play a critical role helping TOGETHER AS A once-pariah nations like Uzbekistan and UNIFIED TEAM, Sudan improve their record on equal AND IT’S AN ISSUE treatment for religious minorities. But there were setbacks, too. BOTH PARTIES CAN Overseas on strategic policy areas, SUPPORT UNDER like China and Turkey, the Trump THE BIDEN administration would leave the religious freedom quotient out of high-level dis- ADMINISTRATION cussions. Trump could be inconsistent, AS WELL.” his bullying style undermining a cam- paign to improve treatment for minority religious groups. He mocked asy- lum-seekers, comparing them to UFC fighters with face tattoos at a 2019 event in Las Vegas. And he called the U.S. asy- lum program a “scam.” Administration officials didn’t con- sult advisers like Brownback on refugee terms in the U.S. political space,” said next year to 125,000 refugees from its and asylum policy, Thames said. Slash- Elizabeth Prodromou, a professor at current 15,000—a move that appeals to ing refugee admissions and targeting Tufts University who served as vice-chair an array of Christian and other religious Muslims with travel bans made it diffi- of the U.S. Commission on International groups. It’s a return to more traditional cult to promote religious freedom: For- Religious Freedom (USCIRF). “That’s to levels of refugee resettlement after four eign leaders saw the United States the detriment of our domestic politics years of drastic Trump cuts, and higher talking about religious liberty and at and to the detriment of our capacity to than most years under Obama. the same time turning away those feel- accomplish the protection of religious In similar ways, Biden’s early for- ing persecution. freedom around the world.” eign-policy picks lean traditionally lib- “There was a disconnect between eral as opposed to progressively liberal. this green light we’d been given to push Biden, who described his campaign as Antony Blinken, his longtime adviser hard and run fast on promoting reli- a “battle for the soul of the nation,” will and secretary of state–designate, has gious freedom internationally, versus be under pressure to continue a policy advocated for use of force when called these very restrictive and problematic advocating for persecuted religious for. Some associates have described him policies on refugees,” said Thames. believers, even with pushback from his as a hawk. “When I would travel, I’d be asked about far-left contingent. Blinken has reflected on Obama’s it, everywhere. It was disappointing.” The question is how high a priority “failed” policy in Syria, and said President The inconsistency is something advo- it will be and whether it will be inte- Trump should be “rightly applauded” for cates right and left told me they want to grated into national security and other “striking back smartly” against the Assad correct. “Religious freedom has unfor- concerns. Already Biden has pledged to regime in Syria after a deadly chemical tunately become understood in partisan raise the U.S. refugee resettlement cap weapons attack in 2017.

50 WORLD 01.16.21 CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES American lawyer currently serving as a USCIRF commissioner. As a child Turkel survived a reeducation camp in China. He arrived in the United States as a stu- dent in 1995 and gained asylum three years later. Nominated to serve on USCIRF by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., last May, he’d represent hard experience on the ground but less expe- rience in Washington bureaucracy, and could become the first Muslim to fill the post.

Republicans and Democrats, despite many recent divisions, have maintained bipartisanship on international religious freedom. Brownback at the 2019 minis- terial invited Pelosi to a panel discussion on persecution in China with longtime freedom fighter Frank Wolf, a former House Republican, just as Pelosi pre- pared to take up the House impeach- ment inquiry. Nadine Maenza, a Trump-appointed USCIRF commissioner, said, “There is no daylight between commissioners appointed by Republicans and those appointed by Democrats—we have worked together as a unified team, and it’s an issue both parties can support under the Biden administration as well.” Both sides of the political divide are motivated by the reality that reli- gious-led violence and persecution of believers is on the rise. The latest Pew report, released Nov. 10, shows govern- President-elect Joe Biden listens after Advocates next will follow Biden’s ment restrictions on religious freedom introducing his secretary of state nominee, appointment to succeed Brownback, the worldwide at their highest levels since Tony Blinken, on Nov. 24. international religious freedom ambas- 2007. sador. Though Biden and Brownback “This violence that we see around served together in the Senate, Brown- the world against religious minorities, Thames, who worked with Blinken back received no votes from Democrats whether within traditions or across tra- when he served as Obama’s deputy sec- during his 2017 confirmation and isn’t ditions, really comes down to a rejection retary of state, said religious freedom expected to stay on under Biden. of religious pluralism and instead an issues resonate with the 58-year-old Top candidates to replace him abrasive will to dominate,” said Prodro- career diplomat in a personal way. “He include Rabbi David Saperstein, who mou. cares about persecution, about religious held the post under Obama and earned Where she sees most promise coming minorities, and was always an ally.” respect from Republicans and Demo- out of the Trump years, ironically, is in Blinken at the announcement of his crats. Others are Katrina Lantos Swett, the Middle East, often seen as the seat appointment in November paid tribute the former chair of USCIRF and daugh- of religious strife. The movement of to his Holocaust-surviving parents. His ter of the late House Democrat and Arab states to normalize relations with stepfather, escaping a death march in human rights advocate Tom Lantos; and Israel is “an incremental move in the Bavaria after four years in a concentra- Gayle Manchin, the current chair of direction of accepting the reality of reli- tion camp, met up with a tank and was USCIRF and wife of Sen. Joe Manchin, gious diversity and pluralism.” That’s a greeted by an African American GI. D-W.Va. late-term development a Biden foreign “That’s what America represents to the The Biden transition team also is policy team can build on. world, however imperfectly,” he said. considering Nury Turkel, a Uighur —with reporting by Harvest Prude

EMAIL [email protected] TWITTER @mcbelz 01.16.21 WORLD 51 Five decades ago the United States’ mental health system shifted to protect patients’ civil liberties. But those protections leave few options to help people who don’t realize they need psychiatric care

BY SOPHIA LEE in Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Vacaville, Calif.

ART BY JONATHAN TWINGLEY SLIPPING THROUGH THE

52 WORLD 01.16.21

ATTI AGUIRRE would have driven right past her daugh- ter if someone hadn’t cried out, “There’s Kelly!” Aguirre turned around, and there she was—her then-30-year-old P daughter Kelly Alatorre, standing in a food line at Skid Row in Los Angeles. It was December 2015, and Aguirre had not seen her daughter for two years. For months she had driven downtown LA looking for her, peering into alleyways and parks. Aguirre yelled out, “Kelly! Kelly!” She jumped out of the car and held her daughter and wept, from both relief and a broken heart: She couldn’t recognize her own child. Alatorre had butchered her once-beautiful auburn waves into uneven clumps. Her scrawny frame drowned in a man-size track jacket and sweats. Her face had shriveled beyond her age. with you—you know that, right? This Aguirre knew something was wrong isn’t me.” Using drugs has only exacer- with her daughter since she was a teen- bated her mental illness. ager. It wasn’t just the behavioral prob- The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual lems or crystal meth and crack cocaine. of Mental Disorders (DSM) considers PEOPLE WHO She once explained to counselors: “I’m schizophrenia, along with severe bipolar telling you, there’s something inside this disorder and severe major depression, SUFFER FROM little girl. This is not my Kelly.” When a “serious mental illness” (SMI) because UNTREATED she looks into her daughter’s eyes, she of how it debilitates normal functions, SERIOUS MENTAL sees the same empty daze she sees in such as holding a job or housing. Accord- her two brothers: All three suffer from ing to the National Institute of Mental ILLNESS ARE schizophrenia. Health, SMI affects about 4.5 percent of EXTREMELY For Alatorre, that means hearing the U.S. population (about 11 million VULNERABLE. voices and spinning through paranoid adults). Most SMI is treatable with early delusions that send her fleeing to the intervention. But the Treatment Advo- streets. She says bizarre things: “I’m cacy Center found that about 40 percent sitting here with you, but I’m not really of people with SMI don’t get treatment

54 WORLD 01.16.21 better, nor does she want help. Aguirre tion can be inconsistent or inadequate, has run out of options: “You’re just at and AOT critics say it violates civil lib- the bottom reaching up and wondering, erties and leads to heavy use of psychi- ‘Now where do I reach?’” atric drugs. Meanwhile, family members tell me ELLY ALATORRE IS the prod- they feel unheard, unprioritized, mis- uct of the nation’s broken guided, and even blamed for a loved mental health system. People one’s disintegration. They run into who suffer from untreated HIPAA complications, lack of psychiat- serious mental illness are ric beds and mental health profession- extremely vulnerable to pre- als, and state laws that make it hard to K mature death, suicide, and get their loved ones professional care. abuse, but state laws err on the side of protecting civil liberties. People like ORE THAN 150,000 people Alatorre can refuse services and treat- experience homelessness ment when they have little capability to on any given day in Cali- help themselves. They often land in jail fornia. In Los Angeles, or on the streets. about three homeless peo- What’s happening to Alatorre is hap- ple die on the streets each pening across the nation. Many police M day. Most leaders and department heads throughout the coun- advocates focus on poverty and the lack try advocate reforming the country’s of affordable housing, both vital issues. mental health system because law But addressing those issues doesn’t enforcement officers usually respond first address the mental illness component of to psychiatric emergencies. Many depart- homelessness. Official statistics say about ments now train their officers in crisis one-third of the homeless have SMI and/ intervention—recognizing signs of men- or report substance abuse, but a Los tal illness and de-escalating tension. Angeles Times analysis found that figure One of the most significant changes to be underreported: The paper’s analy- taking place nationwide is the expansion sis determined that about 51 percent of of assisted outpatient treatment (AOT), those living on the streets in LA County a court-ordered, community-based currently suffer from mental illness. treatment for certain seriously mentally The spike in homelessness dates sev- ill individuals who have already experi- eral decades back to the late 1950s when enced multiple episodes of homeless- California, in the name of compassion, ness, arrest, incarceration, or led the national movement to push men- hospitalization. Currently 47 states, tally ill patients out of state mental hos- including California, allow AOT, thanks pitals. By the time Ronald Reagan in any given year. About half of those to federal grants and studies that show became governor, California had already with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder high rates of success. But implementa- drained half its hospitals. Then in 1967, also have a symptom called anosognosia, Reagan signed into law the landmark which impairs their ability to understand Lanterman–Petris–Short (LPS) Act, that they have a mental illness. which prohibited involuntary hospital- Anosognosia is why, when Aguirre ization except under certain extreme begged her daughter to come home, she circumstances. The LPS Act’s goal was responded, “But Mom, I am home”— to release patients into more humane, even though she had cigarette-butt less restrictive “community care,” which burns on her arms and has suffered never fully materialized. beatings while on the streets. Even The LPS Act recognized that individ- though she has rotated in and out of uals have the right to determine their jails, hospitals, and shelters for the last own lives. But problems arise when they 10 years. lack the mental competency to do so. Aguirre can’t force her daughter into Under the LPS Act, a patient can only treatment. She has exhausted every be involuntarily hospitalized for up to means to help her, but she’s not getting 72 hours. If doctors say the patient is

01.16.21 WORLD 55 “still a danger to others or themselves, conservatorship to more people. Those or is gravely disabled,” the LPS Act allows bills faced fierce criticisms from pow- an additional 14-day hold and, if still nec- erful organizations such as the ACLU essary, a 30-day hold. Schizophrenia can’t and Disability Rights California, which be fixed in three or 30 days. Families tell say the bills violate civil liberties. So far, me they’ve seen doctors, citing the LPS only the city of San Francisco has Act, discharge someone who’s still delu- decided to implement the program, but sional and treatment-resistant. conditions to qualify for conservator- That’s what happened to Alatorre: ship are still so narrow that it only In 2015 alone, she was involuntarily applies to about 50 people in San Fran- placed in a hospital 15 times. The day cisco (out of more than 8,000 homeless they met in Skid Row, Aguirre convinced in the city). her daughter to check herself into a While under the 14-day hold, Ala- behavioral health facility that had just torre made a noose out of bedsheets and opened a 32-bed voluntary inpatient tried to hang herself. Doctors trans- unit. Alatorre stayed for two weeks. She ferred her to another facility, where she was diagnosed with schizoaffective dis- sat on a gurney in the hallway waiting order (schizophrenia with a mood dis- for two hours. Finally, a psychiatrist order). discharged her that day. Back to Skid Meanwhile, Aguirre sought to get Row she went. her daughter conservatorship, a legal Aguirre receives phone calls from arrangement in which a judge appoints strangers telling her things like: “I saw a responsible adult (often the county’s her at Seventh and Central. She’s really public guardian) to manage the personal going nuts. She needs help.” Friends care or financial matters of an impaired sometimes text photos of her daughter adult. If Alatorre is conserved, the roaming the streets, asking, “Is this guardian can force her into long-term Kelly?” treatment. Aguirre reads those texts over and The LPS Act imposes very strict cri- over and wonders, “What do I do with teria for conservatorship: An individual this?” The last time someone texted her with SMI must first undergo both an saying her daughter needed help, she initial involuntary hold and a 14-day texted back, “I’ve tried.” Each day, she hold. Next, a treating psychiatrist must checks the LA County Sheriff’s Depart- sign a conservatorship request to the ment website to see if her daughter’s in Public Guardian office. For her to be jail. conserved, doctors and the county must The last time Aguirre heard about determine that Alatorre is “gravely dis- Alatorre was in early December, when abled,” which state law defines as some- a health official told her Alatorre was in one no longer able to provide for her a hospital again after testing positive roamed for four hours before giving up. own food, clothing, or shelter because for COVID-19. At the time, Alatorre was Sometimes she doesn’t find him for sev- of a mental health disorder. But the law still recovering from a muscle and blood eral weeks. also says an individual is not considered infection that left her weighing 65 But that cold winter afternoon we gravely disabled if a willing third par- pounds. That’s all Aguirre knows— found him curled on the sidewalk at a ty—a family member, a kind stranger, HIPAA prevented her from getting more strip mall. He was bundled under two or shelters—are providing food, cloth- information. jackets, a black beanie, and ripped jeans ing, or housing. Psychotic behaviors or She used to pray many things for her soiled with dried mud. His hands and delusions are not enough to prove some- daughter. Today, her prayer is simpler: beard were smeared with grime and one is “gravely disabled.” “Please, God, keep her safe.” dirt. One eye socket caved into a pinch What’s more, each of California’s 58 of flesh, while the other held a roving counties interprets the definition of HAT’S ALSO A PRAYER Linda glass eyeball. Rippee is completely blind. “gravely disabled” differently. Given that Privatte mutters for her “Hi Mark,” Privatte called out. Rippee counties will bear much of the treatment brother James Mark Rippee roused, then called back, “Hi, Linda.” costs—and many lack the necessary each time she goes searching Privatte knelt next to him and poured services—most counties are reluctant for him. I could feel her steaming coffee into a plastic foam cup. to pursue conservatorship. In 2019, Cal- apprehension when I accom- “Want some hot coffee? Half sugar, half ifornia passed two bills creating pilot T panied her in early 2020 in coffee, the way you like it.” She steered programs in three counties to grant Vacaville, Calif. The time before, she the cup into his hand. “I heard that you

56 WORLD 01.16.21 cancer and other health issues. For the last three years they’ve been asking their county, Solano County, for help to get public conservatorship. Gerald Huber, director of Health and Social Services in Solano County, said Rippee’s primary diagnosis of TBI disqualifies him from most traditional services. Solano County’s “hands are tied” because Rippee has consistently turned down help, he said. There’s also hesitation to grant conservatorship. “We don’t want to get into a pattern of taking away a person’s rights just because that person doesn’t meet our idea of taking care of themselves,” Huber told me. “For quite a few home- less people, somehow they’re able to take care of themselves in a way that’s not traditional for you or me.” In February, Rippee walked into traf- fic. A car knocked him 5 feet into the air, and he landed on the windshield. Rippee was hospitalized at a long-term post-acute care facility in Napa for eight months. For once, he had three hot meals a day, a bed, antipsychotic med- ication, and 24-hour supervision. His sisters once again requested con- servatorship, but Solano County again refused. But even if Rippee were to be conserved, Solano County has only 12 beds in its crisis stabilization unit, which isn’t suited for long-term care and is always filled. At the end of the day, resources are scarce, Huber said: “We have no suitable placements.” It’s not just Solano County. California’s state got robbed again. So you don’t have have access to his medical records. But mental hospitals have an 800-plus anything anymore?” they learned of his diagnosis one of the patient waitlist. “Yeah,” Rippee said, noisily slurping few times he signed a release of infor- In October, after 258 days at the his uber-sweet coffee. All he had with mation. facility, a van dropped Rippee back on him was a rusty rod, which he uses as a Rippee once qualified for subsidized the streets with nothing but a cane, a cane. Privatte sighed. This happens every housing, but he couldn’t keep his hous- few sets of clothes, and a couple of time: She stuffs a backpack full of clothes ing or caretakers because of violent months’ worth of medications rolling and supplies for him, and the next time behavior. The last time he had housing around in a plastic bag. He lost all that she sees him, everything’s gone. was in 2007, when he set a fire on his within days on the streets. Two weeks Rippee has been homeless for 13 porch. Rippee lost his Section 8 voucher before Thanksgiving, Rippee finally years. His sisters say he’s been beaten, for good then and has been homeless agreed to go to a special residential care robbed, cheated, and sexually assaulted since. No shelters will take him because home. The sisters celebrated, knowing on the streets. He has suffered from a they’re not equipped for a mentally ill, Rippee may likely walk back out into traumatic brain injury (TBI) and schizo- blind man. the streets as he has before. phrenia for the past three decades after Neither is his family: Rippee’s mother When we drove away from our early a motorcycle crash wrecked his life. But is 80 and widowed. Privatte is legally 2020 visit with Rippee, Privatte told me, like Alatorre, Rippee denies he has a blind—others have to drive her around “Can you see why I feel bad leaving him? mental illness and refuses treatment. to search for Rippee—and has heart I live with that guilt. But I can’t take him Because of HIPAA, his family doesn’t problems. Her twin is bedridden from home. He needs professional help.”

EMAIL [email protected] TWITTER @sophialeehyun 01.16.21 WORLD 57 STALLING THE VIRUS The two leading U.S. COVID-19 vaccines use new technology developed to avoid use of embryonic stem cells—and trial participants hope the shots’ safety will encourage other Americans to get them by Emily Belz

58 WORLD 01.16.21 Spc. Angel Laureano holds five doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

MANUEL BALCE CENETA/AP R. AMY GIVLER, 62, a family medicine after receiving doses, the volunteers are doctor in Monroe, La., decided early in hopeful about how these mRNA vaccines the COVID-19 pandemic that she wanted could minimize loss of life in future pan- to participate in a vaccine trial if one demics. was nearby. She and her husband, also Messenger RNA, or mRNA, forms the a family medicine doctor, regularly treat basis of two COVID-19 vaccines leading patients with the coronavirus. the pack, from Pfizer and Moderna. She learned a hospital in Shreveport They’re the first FDA-approved mRNA would host the Pfizer/BioNTech phase vaccines. Both received U.S. funding 3 trial. She signed up and heard right through Operation Warp Speed and boast away that the organizers wanted her in about 95 percent effectiveness, though the trial. Then came a sinking feeling: questions remain about long-term effects “I said, ‘What have I done?’ That’s when and effectiveness. Scientists developed I did a deep dive into mRNA vaccines.” mRNA technology over the last 30 years Vaccine trial participants like Givler, to find an alternative to embryonic stem a member of the Christian Medical & cells. And it might lead to more medical Dental Associations, were nervous about breakthroughs (see sidebar). trying a new kind of vaccine. But these volunteers were willing to put their GIVLER ALREADY KNEW A LOT about health on the line to provide trials that vaccines. She describes herself as “one were double the size of a normal vaccine of those boring people” who watch the trial, according to Peter Marks, who meetings of the Centers for Disease Con- oversees vaccine safety at the Food and trol and Prevention’s Advisory Commit- Drug Administration (FDA). Months tee on Immunization Practices. But if she was going to be among the first Americans to take an mRNA vaccine, she wanted to know what she was getting into. She dug into the medical literature. MRNA tells cells what proteins to make, and in these vaccines it gives cells the recipe for the spike protein that the coronavirus uses to enter cells. The cells then raise an immune response to the spike protein, so when a coronavirus enters the body, cells already have an immune defense and the virus can’t enter. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines do not contain the virus, nor is it chem- ically possible for mRNA to enter a cell’s nucleus and alter a cell’s DNA. It only gives instructions for the one spike pro- tein. “The people who are making the vaccine, they don’t have to be in a spe- cial-level lab, because they’re not han- dling the virus,” Givler said. A single protein from the virus is less likely to cause the reactions some people expe- rience with vaccines containing a ver- sion of a virus itself, she said. Her research made her confident in going forward with the trial, which is a two-year commitment. She can drop out

India Medley, chief nursing officer at Howard University Hospital, receives the COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 15.

60 WORLD 01.16.21 NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES People walk past a poster in a low fever. She knows the placebo effect ABOUT HALF OF AMERICANS said they front of the Pfizer headquarters is strong, but she surmised she would would take the coronavirus vaccine, in New York City. have had placebo side effects on the first according to a recent survey from the dose, not the second. She was sure she Associated Press-NORC Center for Pub- at any point but wants to stay in to pro- had gotten the vaccine. lic Affairs Research. Forty percent of vide long-term data on the vaccine. Later she “cheated” and took an anti- black respondents and 33 percent of all Givler drove the hour and a half to body test that showed she had strong adults under the age of 45 said they Shreveport for her first dose of the Pfizer antibodies to the virus. would not take the vaccine. Experts vaccine in September. She prayed she Since getting the vaccine, she’s estimate the disease will start to come would get the vaccine, not the placebo. shared her experience with patients, under control when 60 percent to 80 The trials are typically a “double blind” encouraging them to plan to take a day percent of the population is immunized. study: Organizers and participants don’t off after getting the second dose in case AP’s survey found that about half of know who has the vaccine and who has they have reactions like hers. those who said they would not take the the placebo. Doctors and staff adminis- “I say, ‘As soon as you get offered a vaccine worried it would infect them. tering the trial interviewed her in detail, vaccine, please get it.’ A lot of people just But that’s impossible for the first two took her vital signs, then gave her the need to hear from their family doctor,” vaccines to hit the U.S. market, since first dose. She was hoping for a sore she said. mRNA vaccines do not contain the virus. arm—a sign that she had gotten the vac- “To me it’s perfectly reasonable for During the summer, Dr. Reynold cine—but only felt soreness from rub- someone to say in June, ‘No I wouldn’t Verret, the president of Xavier Univer- bing her arm so much to see if it hurt. get it if it was offered today. Let’s hear sity, the only historically black Catholic The second shot came a few weeks about it.’ [Dr. Anthony] Fauci was saying university, heard from his doctor that later, and Givler was suddenly fatigued. that,” Givler said. But now, she said, “it’s the Pfizer trial didn’t include many Afri- She lay on her couch a whole day with been tested.” can Americans.

JOHN NACION/SOPA IMAGES/SIPA VIA AP 01.16.21 WORLD 61 Verret, an immunologist, joined the “I hate the lockdowns,” he said. “The “I work at a company that sells video phase 3 trial publicly, wanting to change vaccine for me is the way out of that.” game merchandise, not the most socially that 40 percent of black Americans who He and his wife, who are Catholic, hav- critical mission, so it’s good to feel I did say they won’t take the vaccine. Some of en’t been to Mass in about eight months, something of some value,” he said with that mistrust is based on a long history his baby daughter hasn’t been baptized, a laugh. “Selfishly, I want to watch of medical experiments performed on nor have his or his wife’s grandmothers sports, I want to go to concerts, I want African Americans. The most well known met their great-granddaughter. to sit inside a Wendy’s and read a book.” is the Tuskegee study, a 40-year study on several hundred African American men. Researchers told them they’d receive medical treatment for syphilis, but they received placebos instead. Many died from illnesses that the researchers “They should win a Nobel Prize” intentionally left untreated. Verret mostly joined to see the vac- The Charlotte Lozier Institute’s Dr. erna vaccine used fetal abortion-­ cine’s efficacy, which varies more based David Prentice, an expert on stem derived cell lines during develop- on genetic background, he explained. cells, said the mRNA technology at ment or production, but both used Most people at Xavier know someone the heart of the two main COVID-19 abortion-derived cell lines in some who has died of the virus, said Verret. He vaccines is “a big deal” in the world “confirmatory lab tests.” also lost family members to the virus: “I of alternatives to embryonic stem Derrick Rossi, one of the found- understood it was worth the risk.” cells. Prentice has long advocated ers of Moderna who has since left, Dan Moore, 33, is a copywriter for a for alternatives to embryonic stem started the company a decade ago video game merchandise company in cells. (WORLD has published several with the idea that mRNA (Get it? Tucson, Ariz. When the pandemic articles detailing the use of fetal cell Modified RNA, or Moderna) tech- began, he thought experts overblew its lines in vaccine research, and the nology could make imitation stem severity. He began following the excess Charlotte Lozier Institute has an cells, what scientists call induced mortality statistics to prove his point. explanation on each vaccine.) pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. He The numbers sobered him instead. In Neither the Pfizer nor the Mod­ thought the technology could help June he signed up for Moderna’s phase 3 trial in Tucson.

62 WORLD 01.16.21 CHEYENNE BOONE/ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH VIA AP Mercy Hospital South staffers cheer of Catholic Bishops’ panel to consider from the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, after watching a doctor receive the Pfizer- the pro-life implications of the new vac- other than what’s typical of vaccines BioNTech vaccine in St. Louis. cines. He examined the data and found that stimulate the immune system: the rate of Guillain-Barré was no higher fatigue, a low-grade fever, or soreness But before he took the doses he than before the swine flu epidemic. at the jab site. Some small number of needed to do research. Moore’s uncle “This association by coincidence is recipients, like two recipients of the had a swine flu vaccine in 1976 when something we have to look out for as COVID-19 vaccine in the United King- there was a rush to vaccinate the nation. well,” he said. “God bless [skeptics] for dom, will have allergic reactions as with He had a Guillain-Barré reaction, in asking questions … [but] I don’t think any vaccine or drug like ibuprofen. which the immune system attacks the we’re wrong. There are enough checks Marks acknowledges researchers don’t nervous system, but recovered. Moore and balances in the approval process. have long-term safety data on the vac- also looked up the “Cutter incident,” People in the FDA, DEA [Drug Enforce- cines yet, but said “we’re not going to where the first batches of the polio vac- ment Administration], and the CDC, let something out there that we aren’t cine accidentally contained the live they’ve been in this rodeo before.” comfortable taking ourselves.” virus. He concluded an mRNA vaccine Much of the U.S. safety regimen for wouldn’t have such problems: “You get PEOPLE LIKE THE FDA’S MARKS and Dr. vaccines deals with ensuring production cold feet after you sign up for something Peter Hotez, whose team at Baylor Col- quality, according to Hotez. Part of the like that, naturally.” lege of Medicine is working on a COVID- reason for extra months of delay in the He went forward with the two doses 19 vaccine in trials in India, are still AstraZeneca and Sanofi vaccines is in the summer, and none of his vac- waiting for data on several fronts: because of quality issues in the supply cine-skeptical family members criticized whether the vaccines prevent asymp- lines that created dosing errors during his participation in the trial: “Because tomatic transmission (the 95 percent the trials. I made this decision myself it’s, ‘Oh, effectiveness of the vaccine is in pre- “We’ve known for years the spike that’s a cool thing you’re doing.’” He venting COVID-19 symptoms, not nec- protein was the weak link for coronavi- thinks skepticism about a new vaccine essarily the coronavirus’ infectiousness), ruses in general,” Hotez said in an event will melt away as people gradually see how long the vaccine is effective before about the new vaccines at the Baker others around them getting the vaccine. more doses are necessary, and whether Institute. “It was never a heroic scientific Dr. Tim Millea, in Davenport, Iowa, the coronavirus will mutate in such a accomplishment. The hard part was was working in a hospital during the way as to require a new vaccine each doing all of this with quality control, 1976 swine flu outbreak and remem- year like the flu. Later studies will exam- quality assurance, good clinical trials … bered seeing several patients with the ine the effects of the vaccine on children, that’s the differentiator with vaccines Guillain-Barré reaction to the vaccine. pregnant women, and the immunocom- coming out of the United States versus He is a member of the Catholic Medical promised. Russia … and that’s what the U.S. taxpay- Association and on the U.S. Conference Trials show no serious side effects ers have been paying for all along.”

scientists avoid the controversy of a way to slip custom mRNA into cells. cially approved treatments with its embryonic stem cells. “MRNA has a lot of uses other mRNA technology, but Prentice said Previous iPS technology altered than that, but that was its first big hit, he thinks there is a good chance that genetic material directly in cells, to make these ethically derived stem the research on these mRNA vac- creating threats inside the cell later cells,” said Prentice. “They look and cines might lead to more break- on, like cancer. Using mRNA solves act like an embryonic stem cell. No throughs for other mRNA uses, “not that problem because it doesn’t one has to die to get this stem cell. just for a future pandemic.” alter DNA. MRNA is fragile (partly This was a big deal.” Prentice said celebrating scien- why the vaccines have to be kept at The mRNA technology is just now tists and companies who move away such low temperatures) and, when “coming into its own,” said Prentice, from using embryonic cell lines for introduced from the outside, can be but he sees many therapeutic uses. research and treatment “puts pressure destroyed by a cell’s defense sys- That’s what Rossi envisioned too: an on those not using the ethical tools.” tems before it gets a chance to do entirely new genre of treatment for “At some point in time I think its work. But Rossi, building on sim- every illness from heart disease to Rossi and the other scientists who ilar research from other scientists cancer. came up with this way … should win like Katalin Karikó, who now oversees Before its COVID-19 vaccine, a Nobel Prize for that kind of work,” mRNA research at BioNTech, found Moderna had not produced any offi- he said. —E.B.

EMAIL [email protected] TWITTER @emlybelz 01.16.21 WORLD 63 THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE MEAN WHEN THEY SAY “REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE.”

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WJI21-fp-ad.indd 1 12/8/20 3:21 PM NOTEBOOK

Deaths Religion Sports

12/12 CHARLEY PRIDE, 86 / Country music’s first black star, he played baseball in the Negro leagues before moving to Nashville, where he had 52 Top 10 hits, including “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone?”

DECEMBER DEATHS A News of the Year addendum: Notable deaths in the final month of 2020

by Susan Olasky

PAUL NATKIN/GETTY IMAGES 01.16.21 WORLD 65 NOTEBOOK Deaths she helped organize child care and transportation for participants.

12/17 MICHAEL CUSACK, 64 / An ath- 12/1 WALTER E. WILLIAMS, 84 / An letic child with Down syndrome, his economics professor at George Mason enthusiasm in a Chicago-area program University and guest host for Rush for children with disabilities led the Limbaugh, he challenged liberal organizer to hold the first Special orthodoxies about the best way to Olympics in 1968, at which 12-year-old improve the economic condition of Cusack won a gold medal. black Americans. 12/17 ALFRED THOMAS FARRAR, 99 / 12/2 RAFER JOHNSON, 86 / The first A former Tuskegee airman who died Rafer Johnson black captain of a U.S. Olympic team, a few days before his 100th birthday, the 1960 decathlon gold medalist he was an engineer with the Federal became a friend of the Kennedy ­Aviation Administration after WWII. ­family and helped subdue Bobby ­Kennedy’s assassin in 1968. 12/18 ROGER BERLIND, 90 / A pro- ducer of more than 100 plays who 12/4 DAVID L. LANDER, 73 / The actor won 25 Tony Awards, he produced or who played Squiggy on the 1970s co-produced Amadeus and revivals of ­sitcom Laverne and Shirley. Oklahoma; Kiss Me, Kate; and Hello Dolly. He quit his first career on Wall 12/7 WALTER HOOPER, 89 / A writer Street after his wife and three of four and the literary trustee for the C.S. children died in an airline crash. Lewis estate, he edited and kept in print Lewis’ books for more than 50 12/20 CHAD STUART, 79 / Part of the years after the author’s death. Charles “Chuck” Yeager 1960s pop/folk duo Chad & Jeremy, he crafted hits including “A Summer 12/7 CHARLES “CHUCK” YEAGER, 97 / Song” and “Willow Weep for Me.” A test pilot who broke the sound ­barrier, he lacked the college educa- 12/21 K.T. OSLIN, 78 / A singer and tion to qualify as an astronaut but songwriter, she was the first woman to conquered frontiers of flight with a receive Song of the Year honors from blue-collar work ethic. the Country Music Association for her hit song “80’s Ladies,” which also 12/12 JOHN LE CARRÉ, 89 / Spy turned earned a Grammy. spy novelist, he created memorable characters such as George Smiley who 12/25 K.C. JONES, 88 / A member of navigated morally murky territory the Basketball Hall of Fame, he won during the Cold War. eight consecutive NBA championships as a player with the Boston Celtics in Ann Reinking 12/12 ANN REINKING, 71 / A dancer the 1950s and ’60s, then coached the and choreographer, she starred on team to two championships in the ’80s. Broadway in Chicago and Fosse and in the movie All That Jazz. 12/26 GEORGE BLAKE, 98 / A British intelligence officer who became a spy 12/14 JESSE TAKEN ALIVE, 65 / A for the Soviet Union, he betrayed former­ leader of the Standing Rock hundreds of Western agents before his Sioux tribe, he advocated the return arrest in 1961. He escaped from jail of human remains and artifacts taken and fled to the Soviet Union, where from tribal graves. he received a pension and honors.

12/16 JEAN GRAETZ, 90 / A white 12/26 PHIL NIEKRO, 81 / A knuckle- ­supporter of the Montgomery bus baller who pitched until he was 48 boycott, along with her Lutheran pas- years old, he won 318 games, earning tor husband (who died in September), Phil Niekro a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

66 WORLD 01.16.21 JOHNSON: AP; YEAGER: DAVID MADISON/GETTY IMAGES; REINKING: RICHARD DREW/AP; NIEKRO: RICH PILLING/MLB PHOTOS VIA GETTY IMAGES NOTEBOOK Religion PASSION AND PLODDING Early zeal for evangelism propelled Brad Evans into pastoral ministry, but 38 years of shepherding a congregation through disagreements taught him steadiness

by Charissa Koh / FIFTH IN A SERIES ON LONG MINISTRY

RAD EVANS GREW UP in western Pennsylvania in a family pastor, Evans accepted. He found the that attended church only at Christmas and Easter. At age 80 members of Presbyterian Church of 16, Evans professed faith in Christ after hearing John 6:37 Coventry welcoming, genuine, and hos- at a summer youth retreat: “Whoever comes to me I will pitable when he arrived in 1980. But in never cast out.” the ensuing years, disagreements and Back home, he shared the verse with his mother. A few criticism would challenge his ability to days later, she told him she had given her life to Christ, lead graciously and trust the Lord with too. Not all his efforts were as successful: When his friend the outcome. B Bob said Jesus must have been insane, Evans shouted to In 1982, for example, the Reformed Bob that he would go to hell if he didn’t repent. “In my Presbyterian Church (RPC)—the early days, I didn’t have thoughtful conversations,” Evans denomination of Evans’ new church— admits. “I had pretty loud arguments.” merged with the Presbyterian Church After college, Evans got married, and his passion for in America (PCA). Evans worried: Some ministry propelled him to serve in campus ministry, attend members of his congregation had threat- seminary, and serve for two years as an assistant pastor. ened to leave over the merger. They When a church in Coventry, Conn., asked him to be its preferred the smaller, more informal RPC over the larger PCA. When the dust settled, Evans says, the change

HANDOUT 01.16.21 WORLD 67 opened up more resources for his small NOTEBOOK Sports church, like a Christian education cur- riculum and topical seminars from the denomination. Evans enjoyed fellowship with a wider network of pastors. He doesn’t remember anyone actually leav- ing the church over the merger, though 2021 SPORTS he knows some people were unhappy with the decision. OUTLOOK Another challenge: Congregants dis- From Super Bowl attendance agreed about how to educate their chil- to team nicknames, here are five sports dren. Some families wanted the elders to endorse homeschooling, and tensions predictions for the New Year grew between those families and others by Ray Hacke who used Christian or public schools. Evans focused on caring for the mem- bers and preaching the Bible. Though Evans and his wife, Patsy, educated their two children at both Christian and pub- lic schools, he avoided picking sides and simply told parents, “The Bible says you’re to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. That’s the parent’s responsibility, and you really can’t delegate that.” He was encouraged when one mom told him, “I feel sup- ported and loved by you as my pastor,” even though he was not endorsing homeschooling as she wanted. Others criticized his style. “I’m not really a visionary,” Evans says. “I’m really a plodder.” Sometimes people urged him to lead the church to formally participate in certain outreach events or ministries like Operation Rescue. But Evans felt it was important to keep the church focused on its main Biblical pri- orities. “I preach and teach and take care of the people and shepherd the flock and do my duty,” he says. Patsy supported him through those years of ministry, patiently enduring nights of O ONE COULD HAVE PREDICTED 2020’s crazy sports season. long meetings and putting up with the Governing bodies at all levels of sports truncated, feeling their family was “in a fishbowl canceled, or postponed events and even entire seasons … always on display.” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Teams competed for The Evanses remained at the church championships before mostly empty venues. Separately, for 38 years, by which time it had grown athletes protested and teams dropped controversial nick- to 220 congregants. Brad, 69, retired in names in the name of social justice. 2018, weary of administrative duties. Against that backdrop, here are five sports predictions But he still enjoys filling the pulpit reg- N for 2021: ularly at other churches nearby, coun- Expect the lowest attendance and television ratings in seling, and doing work for the Super Bowl history. Tampa will host the National Football presbytery. League’s signature event this February. While Florida is He’s staying busy, but he admits among the few states whose economy is completely open, there’s one thing he misses about being the NFL isn’t likely to allow a packed house at Raymond a pastor: “Seeing those people every week.”

68 WORLD 01.16.21 AL DRAGO/AP James Stadium—not with the surge in dent-elect Kamala Harris casting a COVID-19 cases in late 2020. tie-breaking vote. The NFL’s decision to let players pro- Even if the Equality Act doesn’t pass test racism and police brutality by immediately, Biden will likely reinstate kneeling during “The Star-Spangled the Obama administration’s educational Banner” has alienated many fans. The protections for transgender students, website Deadline in December blamed, which Trump withdrew. in part, “backlash from some fans over ANY SPORTS TEAM Federal judges in Idaho and Con- the league’s social justice efforts” for necticut, meanwhile, have signaled they the NFL’s struggling ratings, down 7 THAT REFUSES are likely to uphold biologically male percent through the season’s first 13 TO CHANGE A athletes’ ability to compete as “women” weeks. In an October Rasmussen survey, NICKNAME in women’s sports. Such rulings would 32 percent of U.S. adults said they were fly in the face of scientific evidence prov- less likely to watch NFL games due to DEEMED ing the unfair advantages that male players’ Black Lives Matter protests. INSENSITIVE WILL athletes possess when competing against COVID-19 will continue to impact FACE INTENSE women—even male athletes who have sports beyond the Super Bowl. The undergone “transitioning.” NCAA is already considering hosting PRESSURE. Look for teams with nicknames the 2021 March Madness men’s basket- deemed insensitive to rebrand or ball tournament in a single “bubble” announce their intention to do so. Base- city, as the NBA did with its playoffs. ball’s Cleveland Indians have already Indianapolis, home of the NCAA’s head- announced that their nickname will offi- quarters, is a leading candidate. cially change after the 2021 season. Other The Summer Olympics, meanwhile, teams with Native American–themed are scheduled to start July 23 in Tokyo mine federal protections for female monikers, and perhaps those with Con- after being postponed due to the pan- athletes at high schools and colleges, federate-themed names—like the Rebels demic. Both the International Olympic during his first 100 days in office. With of the universities of Mississippi and Committee and Japanese officials have Democrats retaining a majority in the Nevada–Las Vegas—may soon follow. expressed confidence the games will House of Representatives and possibly As Washington’s NFL team proved take place as planned. matching Republicans’ numbers in the last summer, any sports team that Still, if the pandemic does not sub- Senate (pending the outcome of Geor- refuses to change a nickname deemed side in early 2021, expect the committee gia’s Jan. 5 runoff election), that could insensitive will face intense pressure to move the Summer Games to 2022— be doable, especially with Vice Presi- until it does so. after the Winter Games take place in Beijing. With President-elect Joe Biden in office, championship teams will start visiting the White House again. In recent years, multiple teams have skipped the traditional photo op due to their stars’ vehement dislike of President Donald Trump: The Golden State Warriors unanimously declined to meet Trump after winning the 2017 NBA title. The U.S. women’s soccer team did likewise after clinching the 2019 Women’s World Cup. Some Christian and conservative athletes may refuse to meet with Biden, as happened with former President Barack Obama. But such snubs will be rarer with Biden than with Trump. Transgender athletes will likely score big victories before Congress and court- rooms as well as on the field. Biden has vowed to pass the Equality Act, an LGBT-friendly bill that would under-

01.16.21 WORLD 69 I AM DONE WITH PIDDLING Voices ANDRÉE SEU PETERSON FAITH. I AM GOING TO LIVE LIKE HE’S THE SOVEREIGN LORD OR I AM NOT.

had served well enough for mastering sheets of Greek vocabulary in seminary days. Car 54, The mnemonic device was “Jesus Will Reign.” Or something like that. Hmm. Maybe “God Reigns For- where are you? ever.” And the cue for the digits was the ages of two of my children, though I was not now sure which two, Do we trust God and whether the numbers were old ages or current in all things? ages. (I here cut to the chase, out of respect for the reader, then circle back to the important part.) LOST MY CAR IN BROOKLYN. It’s not a long story: A lightbulb in my head told me to phone my hus- I forgot where I parked it. band. He could pull the insurance file for the photo of “I could have sworn” (a sentence-starter the back of my car, snapped at an E-ZPass toll booth that gets a workout nowadays) it was on Pros- I accidentally went through and got fined for. The plate pect Place between Franklin and Bedford. But inscription thus retrieved (the mnemonic device, turns when I arrived in the general vicinity a half out, was “Love Christ Forever”), my daughter checked mile or so from my daughter’s brownstone, as to see if my vehicle had been towed. It had not. I hard as hope tried to conjure a Pennsylvania That trail cold, she sagely decided there was noth- plate in the chorus line of gold New York tags, there ing for it but to call 911 and report a stolen vehicle (a was none. theory I was by now leaning toward anyway)—surely I wasn’t as freaked out as you might think: Though the best way to locate a missing vehicle. Still slowly I had amnesia of where I did park, I was more certain cruising the streets, she spotted the prodigal out-of- of where I didn’t park. There was a flashback of it state wheels the same time the cops did. Praise the being north and east of the address I have become Lord! skilled in orbiting in tight circles till I snag the spot Trouble is (now for the important part), though I most plausibly walkable with a suitcase and carry bag. had prayed with my husband during our brief phone Daunting infinity was nicely shrunk to a manageable contact, I had not told my daughter we prayed, just in city square of two or three blocks. case we didn’t find the car and God seemed to have I had to expand that targeted search as minutes of failed—to say nothing of my own shame. Once the car fruitless Malibu-hunting stretched into an hour, then was recovered, it seemed lame to boast after the fact two. Further precious time was forfeited by making in having prayed, so I did not. second and third passes over ground I had thoroughly But I made a decision in the aftermath, which I plan scoured before—as when you start by looking for your to keep forever. I am done with piddling faith. Either keys in the most likely places, then under duress aban- God is the Living God or He is not. Either I am going don all logic and start looking in the unlikely places, to live like He’s the sovereign Lord or I am not. In like the refrigerator. future dire circumstances I will never again hold back At some point my daughter joined the expedition, from praying boldly before an unbeliever. What God inquiring about my license plate. That particular com- does with the outcome is His business and not mine. bination of letters and numbers I could not recall with He can defend His own name without my help. He says, sufficient exactness, even though I had long ago devised “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again” (John a mnemonic device for this purpose, a technique that 12:28). We now enter 2021. You’re either all in or you’re out. Mark the date: From this time forward, I’m all in.

70 WORLD 01.16.21 EMAIL [email protected]

NEITHER SIDE WILL Voices MARVIN OLASKY ACCOMPLISH MUCH, THOUGH, BY FEELING SELF-RIGHTEOUS.

country’s planted thick with laws from coast to coast— man’s laws, not God’s—and if you cut them down … d’you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then?” So let’s be thankful we have a process for appealing election results. Trump supporters have followed it and failed to convince judges. It’s time to look forward. Avoiding We’ve seen that the farther we move away from one- day-only, in-person voting, the easier we make it for unscrupulous people to cheat because of the chain- martial law of-custody problem. Both losers in the last two pres- Can we find common ground? idential elections have declared them stolen. We have a crisis in confidence that will get worse unless we get control of the chain of custody. OR 30 YEARS I’ve criticized left-wing journal- We also have a dispute about the Electoral College, ists for some of their outrageous statements. with Democrats often wanting to abolish it and Repub- I now have to acknowledge that some on the licans standing for the status quo. If Democrats get right have caught up. their way and the total national vote decides the win- After Joe Biden on Dec. 14 received a ning candidate, imagine in a close election how com- majority of Electoral College votes, Donald bative a national recount would be! Maintaining the Trump said, “This Fake Election can no lon- current system, though, does leave candidates neglect- F ger stand: Get moving Democrats.” Most ing most states and focusing only on the battlegrounds. people understood that as bluster, but Gen. Michael Why not follow Maine and Nebraska and allocate a Flynn and assorted Republican politicians urged state’s electoral votes by congressional district instead Trump to declare martial law. The Epoch Times edi- of winner-take-all? Republicans could win some elec- torialized that Donald Trump should call out military toral votes from California and upstate New York. forces that would “safeguard the future of our Repub- Democrats could pluck electoral votes from the Rio lic and arrest those who have conspired to deprive Grande Valley of Texas and other blue domains. people of their rights.” Neither side will accomplish much, though, by Take away rights to restore rights? Trump support- feeling self-righteous and looking upon the other as ers spent most of November and December peering evil personified. WORLD will keep a vigilant eye on through smoke and trying to spot fires, but were unable the Biden administration, but we’ll also remember to convince 50-plus judges or the Supreme Court—so Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s adage: “The line separating use the Army to safeguard the Republic? And what good and evil passes not through states, nor between kind of republic will we have left? Edmund Burke classes, nor between political parties either—but right wrote in his Reflections on the Revolution in France, through every human heart.” “In the groves of their academy, at the end of every George W. Bush tried to “reach across the aisle” vista, you see nothing but the gallows.” That’s now and failed. Biden is unlikely to be more successful, but true of the far right as well as the left. he could start by emulating what Abraham Lincoln The depiction of Thomas More in the 1966 filmA did on April 10, 1865, the day after Confederate sur- Man for All Seasons is historically inaccurate, but the render at Appomattox. Lincoln saw a band amid a exchange between him and son-in-law William Roper celebrating crowd and asked it to play “Dixie.” The is worth remembering amid calls for martial law. When musicians complied, and added “Yankee Doodle.” Since Roper says he’s “cut down every law in England” to the Republican conventions in 1984 and 1988 popu- fight the Devil, More says, “And when the last law was larized Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.,” and down, and the Devil turned around on you—where Trump made it the entrance tune at his rallies, maybe would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This Biden can request that it be played at an inauguration event: “I’m proud to be an American / Where at least I know I’m free.”

72 WORLD 01.16.21 EMAIL [email protected] TWITTER @MarvinOlasky What happens when your daughter encounters a Sold-Out Humanist?

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