102885c1 10/22/09 4:43 PM Page 1

the newsjournal of catholic opinion specialworld supplement aids day for

vol. xxx—no. 2 2009

What Catholics Want in Healthcare Reform Should we cover some people, some parts of people, or all parts of everybody? jon o’brien and sara morello We Believe in Healthcare Reform catholics for choice Placing Women in the Blind Spot barbara crossette A Catholic Archipelago of Evil Sex Abuse and the Church in Ireland eamonn mccann The Sin of Sexual Miseducation hiv/aids and the Filipino Conscience carolina s. ruiz To Act without Prejudice Understanding hiv-Related Stigma and Discrimination kevin osborne

also: Reviews of Dambisa Moyo’s Dead Aid, Michelle Goldberg’s The Means of Reproduction and Kathryn Joyce’s Quiverfull

www.catholicsforchoice.org Speak Out for Healthcare $5.00 102885c2 10/22/09 5:03 PM Page 1

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CONSCIENCE editor’s note the newsjournal of catholic opinion

Executive Editor jon o’brien Editor david j. nolan [email protected] Contributing Editor sara morello Editorial Adviser rosemary radford ruether Editorial Associate kate childs graham the chasm between what congress believes Conscience is published quarterly by Catholics for Choice. Catholics for Choice shapes and advances sexual Americans want from healthcare reform and what and reproductive ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to women’s well-being and respect and affirm the capacity of women and men to make moral decisions about their lives. Americans actually want from healthcare reform is Catholics for Choice President immense. Let me temper that, if American Catholics are to be believed—and jon o’brien they have been an excellent bellwether in recent years for what America believes Vice President sara morello on political issues—the chasm is more than immense. A prime example is Board of Directors abortion. As the country watches Congress seek a solution to the healthcare crisis, marysa navarro-aranguren, ph.d., chair sheila briggs, m.a. abortion has been a sticking point—but only in Congress. patricia carbine, b.a. barbara deconcini, ph.d. A poll we carried out in September found overwhelming support for govern- susan a. farrell, ph.d. ment and private insurance coverage for abortion in many circumstances. cheryl francisconi, b.a. eileen moran, ph.d. Large majorities of Catholic voters support health insurance coverage for ofelia garcia, m.f.a. rosemary radford ruether, ph.d. when a poses a threat to the life of a woman; in cases of rape albert george thomas, m.d. marian stewart titus, m.a. or incest; when a pregnancy threatens the pregnant woman’s health and in susan wysocki, ph.d., b.s.n., n.p. cases of severe fetal abnormality. Fully half support coverage when a woman and Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir, Buenos Aires, her doctor decide an abortion is appropriate. In addition, more than two- Argentina coca trillini thirds oppose the US ’ instruction that Catholics must oppose reform Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir, Córdoba, Argentina marta alanis if it includes coverage for abortion. Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir, Bolivia These are the opinions of church-attending Catholics. A large majority of teresa lanza monje Católicas pelo Direito de Decidir, Brasil those polled, 84 percent, attend church regularly. These figures are not within maría jose rosado nunes the realm of the debatable, nor are they anywhere near the margins of error. They Catholics for Choice, Canada rosemary ganley are, however, the views that our representatives in Congress ignore as, for example, Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir, Chile verónica díaz ramos did Senator Orrin Hatch when he claimed that “even prochoice people do not Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir, Colombia agree that tax-payer funds should be used for abortions.” Certainly, there are sandra patricia mazo some who vocally oppose any inclusion of abortion. But they are clearly a Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir, rosa gutiérrez small minority and in a representative democracy, we should pay propor- Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir, España paloma alfonso tionate attention to their beliefs. cfc president Jon O’Brien and vice president Catholics for Choice, Europe Sara Morello reflect on the healthcare debate in light of these poll figures, along- henk baars Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir, México side a lengthy explanation of the results. maría consuelo mejía Elsewhere, we have a series of articles on the hiv and aids crisis. Kevin Osborne Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir, Nicaragua mayte ochoa & magaly quintana considers the stigma that too often goes with a diagnosis of hiv; Carolina S. Ruiz Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir, Paraguay monín carrizo gives some refreshing news from the , where the bishops’ sway over Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir, Perú political debate may be waning; and Barbara Crossette reflects on the Vatican’s eliana cano seminario Design and Production influence at the UN. Finally, we review several important books, including letterforms typography & graphic design Dambisa Moyo’s Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way Design Consultants point five, ny for Africa. Catholics for Choice 1436 U St., NW • Suite 301 • Washington, DC 20009-3997 • USA • +1 (202) 986-6093 www.CatholicsForChoice.org [email protected] DAVID J. NOLAN issn 0740-6835 Editor

Do you know somebody who should be reading Conscience? Send us their name and address and we will mail them a sample copy, with an offer to subscribe.

vol. xxx—no. 2 2009 1 102885p2_3 11/2/09 9:31 PM Page 2

table of contents

“Catholics are far more progressive than their bishops, our instinct tells us that, and our poll results prove it. ”

jon o’brien and sara morello, — p12 the newsjournal of catholic opinion

departments

1 Editor’s Note 54 The Church in the World 4 Letters Ian Linden’s Global 6 In Catholic Circles Catholicism: Pluralism 50 Finding Aid that Works and Renewal in a World Church Dambisa Moyo’s Dead frans baneke Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There 51 Bookshelf Is a Better Way for Africa A list of new and cheryl francisconi, noteworthy books msw/mph 56 Postscript 52 Patriarchy: The In their own words: Glue that Holds the supporters and critics Culture War Together of the church speak Michelle Goldberg’s The Means of Reproduction: Back Cover Sex, Power and the Future Index: Latino and Latina Catholics Believe Conscience offers in-depth, cutting-edge coverage of the World and Kathryn in Healthcare Reform of vital contemporary issues, including reproductive Joyce’s Quiverfull: rights, sexuality and gender, feminism, the religious Inside the Christian right, church and state issues and US politics. Patriarchy Movement timothy a. byrnes Our readership includes national and international opinion leaders and policymakers, members of the press and leaders in the fields of theology, ethics and women’s studies.

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volume xxx—no. 2 2009

p29

features

10 What Catholics Want in Healthcare Reform 29 The Sin of Sexual Miseducation Should We Cover Some People, Some Parts of hiv/aids and the Filipino Conscience People, or All Parts of Everybody? carolina s. ruiz jon o’brien and sara morello 33 To Act without Prejudice 13 Catholic Voters’ Views on Healthcare Reform and Understanding hiv-Related Stigma Reproductive Healthcare Services and Discrimination A National Opinion Survey of Catholic Voters kevin osborne conducted by belden russonello & stewart for catholics for choice 38 aids in Mexico: Not a Disease? robert joe stout 18 We Believe in Healthcare Reform catholics for choice 42 Cameroon: Abortion, the Catholic Hierarchy and the Maputo Protocol 21 Placing Women in the Blind Spot elizabeth atemnkeng The Vatican’s Support for International Development has a Gaping Hole at Its Center 44 The Vatican’s War on Dissent barbara crossette jeannine gramick

25 A Catholic Archipelago of Evil 48 The Empty Tomb Sex Abuse and the Church in Ireland A Review of “Vows of Silence” eamonn mccann david j. nolan

cover: © Getty images/ross, 2009. above: © jon rawlinson, 2005.

vol. xxx—no. 2 2009 3 102885p4_5 10/27/09 3:50 AM Page 4

letters

1990 in Britain. Instead, they who don’t become abortion Second-Trimester Abortion began to call for the time providers as well as those limit to be reduced from 24 to who do, helping them pro- 22, 20 or 18 weeks. This is a vide compassionate care and clever tactic, as calling for all referrals to women. abortions to be illegal would Thankfully, there are other n 1990 in britain, tion up to birth in order to not be accepted. Their aim is aspects of second-trimester abortion rights activists discredit the reality of second to make second-trimester abortion that we can change. Ihad to accept reform trimester abortions and our abortions seem worse than Initiatives like the Family that reduced the upper-time support for the women who other abortions; they are not, Planning Fellowship, an aca- limit for legal abortions from needed them. Plus ça change. however. All abortions have demic training opportunity 28 to 24 weeks, excepting Susan Yanow’s article “Con- the same intention—to termi- for doctors after residency, grounds of risk to the fronting Our Ambivalence: nate the pregnancy. In 2008, are training more physicians woman’s life or health and The Need for Second- the government in Britain to offer second-trimester risk of serious fetal abnormal- Trimester Abortion Advo- rejected these calls to reduce procedures, often in hospital ity, for which there is now no cacy” (Vol. xxx, No.1, 2009) the abortion time limit fur- settings that can handle medi- upper time limit. In the concludes with that same ther, as there were no scien- cally complex cases. As the debates, both antiabortion slogan. It was picked up from tific or medical grounds to do fellowship grows, so does members of parliament and the draft title of the 2007 so. We were lucky that time. women’s access to abortion the handful of gynecologists International Consortium for However, none of us is ready care. As Yanow notes, how- who were providing second- Medical Abortion conference to defend later abortions suc- ever, we need a robust and trimester abortions after 20 on second-trimester abortion, cessfully if called upon to do up-to-date referral network to weeks of pregnancy, who but dropped as we feared so. It is time we got ready. ensure that women can find a were the source of the reform, the slogan was too radical. marge berer provider in a timely manner. supported the measure. The The constant hammering of Editor, Reproductive As a provider working in a gynecologists (as I recall there the antiabortion movement Health Matters hospital setting, I often treat were only six nationwide) felt against second-trimester Chair, International Consortium women with underlying med- they could no longer carry the abortions was gaining ground. for Medical Abortion ical problems. I recently cared burden of these abortions, and There will always be for Claire, a mother of two in any case there was no one women who need abortions as susan yanow notes, with high blood pressure who to take their place. This was after 13 weeks of pregnancy. second trimester abortion had delivered her children by before the possibility of med- Their numbers diminish can be a difficult issue for Caesarean section—both fac- ical abortion up to 24 weeks of greatly by 20 weeks of preg- patients, providers and advo- tors that made her abortion pregnancy existed, and all nancy, becoming rare after cates. Some aspects of sec- more complicated. Claire had abortions were by dilatation 24 weeks. It is not the law ond-trimester abortion are to visit three clinics before she and evacuation. that makes this happen, but beyond our power to change. made her way to my office, Previous attempts by women themselves. The tiny Some women—for psycho- delaying her abortion for a antiabortion campaigners to number of women who seek logical, social or economic month. I see many women lower the time limit, a thinly abortions after 24 weeks of reasons—will inevitably make like Claire each year, whose veiled way of attacking all pregnancy are no different the decision to abort later in abortions could have hap- abortions, had failed. In 1980, from those in the 20-24 week pregnancy, though before pened in the first trimester if the National Abortion Cam- category, just a week or two viability. These women we had a timely and accurate paign in London used the slo- later. The recommended deserve to be treated with the system for referrals. gan “As early as possible, as procedure for their abortions same empathy and compas- Women will always need late as necessary” during one is the same, and their need to sion as women who reach second-trimester abortions. of these campaigns, to express terminate their that decision quickly. Med- Physicians and advocates can our position on all abortions. as great. Criminalizing them ical students and residents work to reduce unnecessary At the time, we were would force involuntary need firsthand experience delays and provide empa- described by anti abortion motherhood upon them. with abortion care so they thetic care to our patients. activists as supporting abor- Why is that acceptable? can understand and respect anne davis, md, mph Antiabortion campaigners women’s decisions about Medical Director, Letters may be edited for clarity did not stop campaigning pregnancy. Such experiences Physicians for Reproductive and length. against late abortions after are important for students Choice and Health

4 conscience 102885p4_5 10/27/09 3:50 AM Page 5

Provider Refusal and the Secondly, out of the 52 per- occurring and being Conscience subscriber. Ethical Use of Research cent of the respondents who covered up elsewhere? However, I can not, in james o’neill, the former object to abortion due to Impartial and independ- conscience, support the principal associate deputy failed contraception, 83 per- ent Catholic authorities any longer. secretary of the Department cent of them feel that physi- should investigate, detect, I think it is a violent institu- of Health and Human Serv- cians are obliged to disclose report and punish any child tion. It is violent toward chil- ices, expressed his concern in all possible options to patients abuse by priests and any dren, women, families, the an article in USA Today (April and 60 percent feel that they cover-up of the crimes by poor, and gay men and les- 30, 2009, “Medical workers are obliged to refer the the church hierarchy. bians. There must be reform deserve robust ‘conscience patient elsewhere. Thirdly, john tomasin before renewal and I believe clause’”) regarding the likely even though a physician may West New York, N.J. the Roman Catholic church reversal of the provider object to an abortion for is simply too corrupt, too refusal rule, as proposed by failed contraception, this does every time i read about used to power and has no the Obama administration. not mean that the doctor will the sexual abuse crisis (Vol. intention of reforming. The provider refusal rule is refuse to perform legal abor- xxx, No.1, 2009) I have the I think the American an expansion of the con- tion procedures. impression that there are huge Catholic bishops and their science clause which protects Considering these issues, it gaps in the story. I do not systems bear some of the healthcare personnel from is disturbing that this study is understand Ruth Riddick’s responsibility for Americans acting against their moral or used as an expression of the comments about the portrayal not having a single-payer religious convictions. general opinion on abortion- of the mother, Mrs. Miller, in type of health insurance. In his article, O’Neill related issues among US Doubt. As a parent of a fearless, They have worked against it argues that the provider physicians and raises concern trusting son, I’m loaded with in the past and I think they refusal role should stay in about the unethical use of guilt about the inadequacy of still work against it at this force and, to support his peer-reviewed articles. I my supervision, although I time. I think they have made opinion, he refers to a study encourage Conscience to con- do not know if anything bad the issue of abortion into an published in the New Eng- tinue to address this matter in happened to him as a result idolatry which has sup- land Journal of Medicine in coming issues. of my inattention. planted the actual gospel. 2007, in which 52 percent of jeffrey v. lazarus, phd, msc I feel some sympathy for The Holy Spirit was with the physicians participating Institute of Public Health, the bishops who fail to inform the Roman Catholic protest- in the survey object to abor- University of authorities because what I’ve ers who formed the Refor- tion for failed contraception. Copenhagen, Denmark seen and heard of child abuse mation of the 16th century However, after reviewing proceedings in the United and I think the same Spirit is the original article published The Sex Abuse Crisis States reminds me of witch with reformers now. The in nejm, we learned that this the items relating to hunts and lynching. There is Catholic church insists on is actually not the case. clergy/child abuse (Vol. xxx, obviously an abundance of teaching what the majority Firstly, questionnaires for this No.1, 2009) suggest that ignorance and, worse yet, a of Catholics around the cross-sectional survey were Catholics for Choice should lot of people who think they world do not accept and sent out to 2,000 physicians. marshal support for impartial “know” things they could not many of its officials blame Only 54 percent (1,091 out of inquiries to take place into possibly know. There is a Vatican II for the fact that 2,000) responded to the ques- child abuse and any cover-up presumption of guilt instead Catholics speak out against tion of whether or not they that has occurred, especially of innocence. If you throw these teachings. object to abortion, which is a in South America and Asia. someone accused of witch- It would be better to form a very low response rate and The sexual abuse of chil- craft into deep water and she new community that would could be subject to selection dren, even if by a tiny minor- drowns, she was innocent. If not shame us. It would be bias, as physicians who feel ity of American priests, was she floats, she is obviously better to put our efforts into strongly about a topic are devastating. Equally repug- guilty and she must be burned. being part of a community often more inclined to nant was the cover-up of the dale berry that would reflect the ideals of respond to surveys than those crimes by the church hierar- Grants, N.M. love, justice and peace instead who do not. A low response chy. To their high moral of power and hierarchy. It rate coupled with selection credit, the problem was Enough Is Enough would be better to construct bias greatly reduces the exter- acknowledged and corrected i appreciate your impor- rather than work against. nal validity and thereby the by most church authorities. tant work over the years and j. mcdonnell generalizability of the study. But, are such revolting wish to continue to be a Pomfret Center, Conn.

vol. xxx—no. 2 2009 5 102885p6_9 10/28/09 9:40 PM Page 6

in catholic circles

The Church and State

US Catholics Leaving piness with church Church Due to Teachings teachings on abortion on Sex and homosexuality (56 per - late this spring, the cent), women’s equality Pew Forum on Religion & (39 percent) and birth Public Life released its find- control (48 percent). A less

ings from a study examining common reason, but still 2009. the reasons Americans prevalent, was unrest with switch or leave religious the clergy sex abuse scandal third way, third way,

affiliations. The study’s (27 percent). © findings on Catholicism In response, the United Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) at a press showed that over ten Stated Conference of Catho - conference in late July 2009 announcing the Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act. percent of American adults lic Bishops (usccb) noted that who were raised Catholic Catholics still make up 22 have left the church and percent of the US population. The Church and from ultraconservative only 2.6 percent of Amer- However, the key point of the Contraception groups such as Democrats ican adults join the Catholic Pew Forum study was that for Life of America to which church after being raised in Catholics are leaving at a Representatives DeLauro he responded, “We’re another faith tradition. much faster rate than others and Ryan Introduce working in Congress with Among the reasons are joining, largely due to a Bill to Reduce the Need groups that agree with former Catholics cited for lack of satisfaction with for Abortion preventative options while leaving the church, the church teachings on sex on july 23, representatives [the dfla] is getting left most common were unhap- and sexuality. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and behind. I can’t figure out for Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) intro- the life of me how to stop duced the “Preventing Unin- pregnancies without con- tended Pregnancies, Reducing traception. Don’t be mad Come Again? the Need for Abortion and at me for wanting to solve Supporting Parents Act,” a the problem.” In July, Pope Benedict released his long-awaited encyclical, bill that will help to reduce For the most part, advo- Caritas in Veritate. Predictably, most Catholics, including the number of unplanned cates across the spectrum are ourselves, found a lot to like in the document, but expressed pregnancies and support supporting this legislation. reservations about other sections. However, the women and men who want to Other supporters include archconservative Catholic pundit George Weigel was less have children. The bill Catholics for Choice, tolerant than most in expressing his contempt for the pope’s includes provisions on family network, Planned Parent- thoughts. In an article on the encyclical he penned for planning, contraception, hood, Rev. Jim Wallis and National Review, Weigel threw around phrases such as comprehensive sexuality Rev. Joel Hunter. The “duck-billed platypus,” “simply incomprehensible,” “naïve,” education and support for United States Conference of “dumb,” “clotted and muddled” and “warbling of an untuned new parents. Catholic Bishops is not piccolo” to describe the sections of the encyclical that he While Representatives among these supporters. disliked. [George Weigel, “Caritas in Veritate in Gold and Red,” DeLauro and Ryan are both On page 20, we reprint an National Review, July 7, 2009.] Democrats and Catholic, they ad that appeared in The Hill If this conservative Catholic is allowed to the criticize overcame many ideo logi cal newspaper. It is an open the pope with impunity, shouldn’t those of us who question and political differences to letter to the US Congress the pope’s stance on sexual and reproductive health be able forge this partner ship and from over 50 Catholic state to do the same? Weigel might demur, but then having craft this bill. For sup - legislators asking Congress double standards is standard practice for conservatives of porting this legislation, to pass the Ryan-DeLauro his ilk. Ryan has attracted criticism legislation.

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The Church room around the country, shown.” However, as 93 per - cases, they are not telling the and Abortion what must we do, see her cent of voters in the District truth. There is a risk that all die to protect ourselves from of Columbia voted for the of the rest will follow and the New Dominican Republic the repercussions that pro choice presidential candi- worst is to be feared because Constitution Influenced Article 30 stipulates?” date in the 2008 election, the they will not stop trying to by Vatican cardinal’s assertion is likely conform Monaco to the the new constitution in House Bill Allows inaccurate, at least in the lowest ethical standards.” the Dominican Republic is DC Abortion Funding, region this bill affects. Ireland and Malta, coun- set to be the first to incorpo- USCCB Protests tries where a majority of rate key Vatican policies. Two under a spending bill Catholic Monaco politicians seem to be articles define the family as the passed by the House of Legalizes Abortion beholden to the Catholic fundamental unit of society Representatives in early after a five-year debate, hierarchy, are the only two and marriage as the union June, the District of Colum- Monaco has joined most of countries left in Europe between a man and woman. bia government could fund Europe and liberalized its which completely prohibit The third states, “The right to abortions for low-income abortion . Monaco’s abortion. life is inviolable from concep- tion to natural death.” A backroom deal between the president and a leader of the opposition assured passage of these amend- ments on their second reading and they will be nearly impossible to change in the near future. Their deal eliminates consecutive terms for the president but allows a president to run for office again for non- 2009. consecutive terms. kessler, kessler, Advocates in the Domini- / can Republic and around the

world have protested these reuters © amendments. On the day of Judges of the European Court of Human Rights attend the official opening ceremony of the 2009 judicial year—a year in which the first vote, hundreds of the court will hear a key Irish abortion case in its Grand Chamber. women stood in front of the Senate with signs reading, women. The measure passed official religion is Roman Irish Women Take “No Rosaries on My Ovaries.” by a narrow margin, 219-208. Catholicism and the popula- Abortion Ban to EU Court The College of Physicians The United States Con - tion is over 90 percent this july, the european and the Dominican Gyne- ference of Catholic Bishops Catholic. Court of Human Rights cology and Obstetrics was quick to protest. In a That notwithstanding, in decided to move a key Irish Society have also spoken letter to the House Appropri- April Monaco’s government abortion case to its Grand against the amendments. ations Committee, Cardinal passed a new law permitting Chamber. Three Irish Aldrian Almonte, presi- asserted that “no abortion in the cases of rape, women, known as A, B and C, dent of the Dominican lawmaker or Administration fetal deformity or illness, or are challenging Ireland’s Gynecology and Obstetrics can support such a policy danger to the life of a preg- restrictions on abortion, Society, stated, “I would like change and still claim to nant woman. claiming that these restrictions the honorable legislators to support ‘reducing abortions.’” The church hierarchy was violate their human rights. tell me what are we going to The cardinal went on to say less than pleased with the The hierarchy of the do before the presence of a that “public funding of abor- legislation. Archbishop Catholic church in Ireland is woman with severe pre- tion is rejected by the Amer- Pernard Barsi stated, “When one of the main opponents of eclamp sia or eclampsia, ican people, as numerous they say that the text [of the abortion rights in Ireland. convulsing in any emergency surveys of public opinion have law] only concerns extreme Another antichoice propo-

vol. xxx—no. 2 2009 7 102885p6_9 10/28/09 9:40 PM Page 8

nent, the Alliance Defense underlying crisis of faith at the University of Notre versy. During his speech, he Fund, has been granted inter- among young people that Dame. Almost immediately, stated, “Maybe we won’t vention status and will be able is not being adequately Catholics and non-Catholics agree on abortion, but we to submit briefs and opinions. addressed even by of every political leaning can still agree that this is a If the court rules in favor Catholic educators.” weighed in on what grew heart-wrenching decision for of the women, the decision Adamczyk, however, into a major controversy. any woman to make, with would be binding on all noted that the reasons for The church hierarchy and both moral and spiritual member states, including having an abortion are much conservative allies spoke out dimensions.” Ireland. As of now, the case more complex. She stated, against the invitation, stating is only in the first stages “This research suggests that that as Notre Dame is a Vatican Newspaper Draws and hearings will start young, unmarried women Catholic institution it should Criticism from the Right in December. are confronted with a not honor a prochoice in april, an article in number of social, financial proponent. And while these L’Osservatore Romano, the Women at Catholic and health-related factors groups claimed otherwise, a Vatican newspaper, by Schools More Likely to that can make it difficult for poll of Catholics by the Pew Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Have Abortions them to act according to Research Center showed the head of the Pontifical a new study showed that religious values when that, of those expressing an Academy for Life, garnered young women who attend deciding whether to keep or opinion, 64 percent favored criticism from conservative Catholic colleges and univer- abort a pregnancy.” the invitation. Catholics. sities are more likely to have For all of the press in the The article criticized the an abortion than those who Obama Visits Notre lead-up to the event, the actions of the church hier- attend public schools. Dame, Garners speech went relatively archy in Brazil for excommu- The study, carried out by Widespread Reactions smoothly. One protestor nicating the doctor and Professor Amy Adamczyk of this spring, president caused a brief stir, but cheers family of the nine-year-old the City University of New Barack Obama was invited from the crowd quickly girl who had an abortion York, examines how reli- to speak and receive an drowned him out. after being raped by her gious involvement and honorary degree at the President Obama did not stepfather. In the article, school type affected the rate commencement ceremony shy away from the contro- Archbishop Fisichella stated of abortion. It found that the rate of abortion did not vary between Catholic and secular schools. The only religious group that was reported to have fewer abortions were conservative Protestants. Conservative Catholics were quick to condemn not the study, the findings from which were echoed in a Catholic News Service study, but Catholic institu- tions themselves. Patrick Reilly of the Cardinal Newman Society—the ultraconservative Catholic organization which moni- tors Catholic colleges— . stated, “This dangerous 2009

anti-life trend at Catholic gress, / educational institutions confirms what Pope Bene- reuters

dict xvi has reiterated many © times, that there is an US President Barack Obama addresses commencement ceremonies at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.

8 conscience 102885p6_9 10/28/09 9:40 PM Page 9

in catholic circles

Maciel Degollado and the Legionaries, read David J. Nolan’s review of “Vows of Silence” on page 48.

Irish Abuse Scandal Comes to a Head at the end of may, the Irish government released a

. 2,600-page report on the

2009 nine-year investigation of Catholic schools and refor- matories. The report, headed by Justice Sean Ryan and mcnaughton, mcnaughton, / known as the Ryan Report, confirms that thousands of reuters

© children were physically and Justice Sean Ryan releases the findings of a government report on child abuse to media in Dublin. sexually abused by priests and nuns over the past 65 years. that the decision by the controversy over this article in the Legion are outraged Eamonn McCann takes an bishops was “hasty” and suggests that, even at the about the deceit.” in-depth look into the Irish implied that the abortion was highest ranks of the church For more on Fr. Marcial sex abuse scandal on page 25. ■ justified. hierarchy, disagreement Antichoice Catholics on the prohibition of abor- launched a letter and petition tion persists. campaign to the newspaper. LET US KNOW In addition 27 members of the The Church WHAT YOU THINK Pontifical Academy for Life . wrote the archbishop asking and the Sex Send in your letter to the editor and receive a free copy him to correct his so-called Abuse Crisis of Catholic for Choice’s recent investigative report on “mistakes.” Fisichella refused. Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, a young but After the letter made its Vatican to Investigate vehemently antichoice organization. way to Pope Benedict, Legionaries L’Osservatore Romano printed directly following the a clarification. The clarifica- news that the late founder tion was, however, unclear. of the Legionaries of Christ It stated that a distinction fathered a child while in needs to be made in the case the priesthood, Vatican of abortion to save the life of Secretary of State Cardinal the woman: “On the one hand, a procedure that announced that the directly causes the death of Legionaries will be subject the …can never be to a Vatican “visitation,” licit…on the other hand, a or papal investigation. procedure not abortive in Fr. James Farfalia, a itself…can have, as a collat- former Legion priest, stated, eral consequence, the death “A civil war is starting to of a child.” emerge in the order. Maciel In the case of the girl in set up a Mexican oligarchy to Brazil, many agree with run the Legion. The people Fisichella’s characterization around Maciel all those years of the bishops’ actions as had to know [about the Please e-mail letters to: hasty and distasteful. The daughter]…Many Americans [email protected]

vol. xxx—no. 2 2009 9 102885p10_12 10/27/09 3:54 AM Page 10 . 2009 steve rhodes, steve © 10 conscience 102885p10_12 10/27/09 3:54 AM Page 11

What Catholics Want in Healthcare Reform should we cover some people, some parts of people, or all parts of everybody?

By Jon O’Brien and Sara Morello

he united states is embroiled American Catholics, provide are not reflec- in a debate over healthcare. Ideo- tive of what Catholics in the United States logical divides over and believe. We know, because rather than simply money are front and center, and relying on those who seem to have the best threatening to derail any real public relations, we asked nearly a thousand Tprogress on what has become a major crisis. American Catholics what they believe about There is a curious divide in the national healthcare and healthcare insurance. If you’ve conversation we are having about what exactly relied on the newspapers, bloggers and tele- healthcare is or what it should be. More often vision news, the answers might surprise you. than not, it’s about who or what should be Most American Catholics think providing left out of the final plan. Some say that it should healthcare to all people who need it is a matter only be about providing care to some people; of social justice. As Catholics, we understand others say it should be only about covering that social justice means we are obliged to be some parts of people. Proponents of these concerned about and care for people who are positions claim the moral high ground while poorer than we are, or marginalized, or those seeking to leave out undocumented residents who don’t have a voice in decisions that have or restrict access to reproductive healthcare. an impact on their lives and the lives of their What they are really doing is projecting their families. When we asked Catholics, they said own vision of what is moral onto those who that their understanding of social justice will be most affected by this distortion: the includes extending healthcare to the whole taxpayers who will fund and use whatever person, not just some parts of people. As a system emerges. result, a majority of American Catholics think Coming on the heels of the economic crisis, that reproductive healthcare services should it is no wonder that many focus on the ques- be covered in any eventual reform of the US tions, “what can we afford?” or more precisely, healthcare system—including pre- and post- “what are we willing to pay for?” They are natal care for women, contraception, condom not unreasonable questions. But the answers provision as part of hiv/aids prevention, and, that some people, who claim to speak for yes, even abortion. American Catholics don’t want to be denied jon o’brien is president and sara morello is vice the healthcare services they need at hospitals president of Catholics for Choice. and clinics that receive their tax dollars. Two-

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what catholics want in healthcare reform SUPPORT US thirds (65 percent) of Catholics polled percent agree with us, and when the ques- think that these hospitals and clinics tion really comes down to respecting a should not be allowed to claim a reli- woman’s conscience in regard to her own Catholic or not, gious exemption to providing procedures health, a full half (50 percent) of Catholics the Catholic or medicines. Perhaps they understand polled agree that abortion should be better than many that the right to object covered whenever a woman and her hierarchy’s role to providing healthcare belongs to doctors, doctor decide she needs it. Catholics are in influencing nurses and pharmacists, actual people far more progressive than their bishops, who have a conscience. These people our instinct tells us that, and our poll public policy affects have the right to exercise their conscience results prove it. YOU through to act—or not act—in a way their internal This conversation about healthcare moral compass prescribes. They under- and what Catholics think about it is, limiting the stand that it does not make sense to however, bigger than reforming health- availability of suggest that an insurance company, hmo, care and health insurance in the United hospital system, pharmacy or clinic has a States. US commitments to improve the reproductive health conscience or a religion. American health of people around the world, espe- services. Catholics can picture themselves as cially for women and girls, have been patients, and want to be able to get birth neglected for many years. Unfortunately, control and condoms when they go to this neglect is compounded by the power Help us their doctor. They trust in patients to of the Catholic hierarchy and other decide, in good conscience and with the conservatives to do exactly what we are fight back. advice of their doctors, on their best trying to avoid in the healthcare reform options. They don’t want yet another process. We cannot allow the voices of a Make a obstacle placed in the way of receiving small, well-funded and politically powerful contribution healthcare they’re paying for—especially group without much personal stake in one that’s based on a false premise. the outcome to decide what parts of people today. American Catholics also think they are worthy of care, to decide from afar can speak for themselves. While most what women and men need to live healthy are not strongly opposed to the US lives. Catholic bishops taking a stand on the At Catholics for Choice, we believe in issue of healthcare reform legislation, a world where women and men are trusted they certainly do not want the bishops to make important, moral decisions about telling Catholics that they should oppose their lives. Perhaps no issue is more central healthcare reform if it includes coverage to people’s lives than their health. Using for abortion that they themselves, their the status of political or religious leader- wives, sisters or daughters might need. ship to promote an agenda to which one’s And despite his historic election with community does not subscribe does a support from 52 percent of Catholic voters, disservice to that community. It is not a the Catholics we polled don’t think Pres- social justice agenda. Social justice does ident Obama—or the Democratic Party— not mean telling people what would be are well representing their interests. best for them, and then seeing to it that Catholics for Choice is clear about those who disagree do not have the means what we believe. We believe that all people to do otherwise. We believe it means This seal is awarded by should have access to the healthcare they making sure everyone has a chance to Independent Charities of America need. Nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) make the most of their lives, trusting to charities that demonstrate they meet the highest standards of American Catholics polled agree. We people to make the decisions they need of public accountability and believe contraception should be avail- to make for themselves and their fami- cost effectiveness. Fewer than able and covered by insurance. More than lies. That means giving them a hand up 2,000 of the 1,000,000 charities 60 percent of American Catholics agree. when they need it—whether we are of operating in the US have been We believe that abortion should be the same nation, political party, faith or awarded this seal. covered by insurance—whether private family. We believe the conversations or government subsidized. Depending on healthcare should focus on social on the circumstances, as many as 84 justice and doing the right thing. ■ www.CatholicsForChoice.org

12 conscience 102885p13_17 10/28/09 4:04 AM Page 13

Catholic Voters’ Views on Healthcare Reform and Reproductive Healthcare Services a national opinion survey of catholic voters

Conducted by Belden Russonello & Stewart for Catholics for Choice, September 2009

these voters, 84 percent of whom attend catholic mass regularly, strongly support the creation of a government health insurance option for those who do not already have insurance. Catholic voters also want broad coverage—under either private insurance or government insurance—for a number of controversial procedures, including abortion. Unlike the leadership of the Catholic church, most Catholic voters firmly disagree with the arguments being made by some US Catholic bishops that healthcare reform must be blocked entirely if abortion coverage is included as part of reform.

Calling Healthcare a Social Justice Issue

Q30. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Providing healthcare for people who need it is important because it is a matter of social justice.

vol. xxx—no. 2 2009 13 102885p13_17 10/28/09 4:04 AM Page 14

While they give high Support for New Government Health Insurance Plan priority to reforming healthcare and strongly support a key element of Obama’s plan—a govern- ment health insurance plan—Catholic voters generally are not sold on what they perceive to be President Obama’s overall healthcare reform agenda. Q13. Would you favor or oppose a new government plan that would make health insurance available to people who do not already have it? reducing healthcare costs is a top priority for catholic voters. Healthcare is among the Hospitals and Clinics that Take Taxpayer Dollars… top priorities for Catholic voters, second only to improving the economy (56 percent saying highest priority) and closely followed by resolving the war in Afghanistan (33 per - cent). Reducing costs is Catholics’ top healthcare priority for Obama (37 per - cent highest priority), followed by ensuring that Q31. Do you think that hospitals and clinics that take taxpayer dollars should or should everyone in the country is not be allowed to refuse to provide certain procedures or medications based on religious covered by health insur- beliefs? Q32. Do you think hospitals and clinics that take taxpayer dollars should or ance (28 percent). should not be required to include condoms as part of AIDS prevention. Social justice is an important concept for Catholic voters in the healthcare reform debate. Nearly three-quarters Legality of Abortion: Abortion Should Be… (73 percent) believe that reforming healthcare— “providing healthcare for people who need it”—is important because it is a matter of “social justice.”

catholics take an expansive view of what healthcare reform and insurance should cover. The poll reveals Catholic Q33. Thinking about abortion in general, do you think abortion should be legal in all voters would like health- cases, legal in most cases, legal in just a few cases, or never legal? care reform to include a government health insur-

14 conscience 102885p13_17 10/28/09 4:04 AM Page 15

catholic voters’ views on healthcare reform and reproductive healthcare services

ance option and they also ■ An abortion when a or incest (76 percent); ■ Condoms to prevent support insurance coverage pregnancy poses a threat to ■ An abortion when a hiv/aids for a broad array of serv- the life of a woman pregnancy poses long-term (51 percent); and ices. These views are more (84 percent); health risks for a woman ■ An abortion whenever a progressive than the views ■ The hpv vaccine, described (73 percent); women and her doctor of Catholic bishops, and to in the poll as “the hpv ■ An abortion when test decide it is appropriate some extent, the Obama vaccine, which is given to results show a fetus has a (50 percent). administration. girls to prevent them from severe, abnormal condition Three-quarters (73 per- getting cervical cancer” (66 percent); Even Catholic voters cent) of Catholics support (81 percent); ■ Contraception, such as who oppose the govern- “a new government plan ■ An abortion when a pills ment offering a health that would make health pregnancy is due to rape (63 percent); insurance plan are in insurance available to people who do not already have it.” Should Health Insurance Policies— When tax dollars are Government or Private—Cover Services involved, Catholic voters believe that caring for % saying “Yes” people in need should take precedence over allowing medical institutions to deny certain types of care based on religious objec- tions. Two-thirds (65 per- cent) believe that hospitals or health clinics that receive taxpayer dollars should not be allowed to refuse patients certain medical procedures or medications based on reli- gious beliefs related to the institution. Catholics see many serv- ices related to reproductive health, including abortion, as basic healthcare services that should be covered by insurance. Half or more support health insurance coverage—whether it is private or government insurance—for: Q14-21. Do you think health insurance policies – whether they are private or government ■ Routine check-ups for – should cover each of the following? Q20. Routine check-ups for children Q21. Routine children (97 percent) and check-ups for adults Q16. Care for pregnant women and follow-up care after the baby is adults (96 percent); born Q19. HIV/AIDS testing Q17. The HPV vaccine, which is given to girls to prevent ■ Care for pregnant women them from getting cervical cancer Q14. Contraception, such as birth control pills Q18. and follow-up care after the Condoms to prevent HIV/AIDS Q15. Emergency contraception, also known as the baby is born (95 percent); morning after pill. ■ hiv/aids testing (86 percent);

vol. xxx—no. 2 2009 15 102885p13_17 10/28/09 4:04 AM Page 16

support of health insurance Should Health Insurance Policies— coverage—government or Government or Private—Cover Abortions When…. private—for abortions in many circumstances, as % saying “Yes” well as for hiv/aids testing and the hpv vaccine.

catholics part company with catholic bishops, rejecting arguments that healthcare reforms including abortion coverage should be opposed. Catholic voters reject the argument being made by some US Catholic bishops that Catholics are obligated to entirely oppose any healthcare reform plan that allows for the coverage of abortions. Sixty-eight percent of Catholics reject this argument, including Q22-26. Do you think health insurance policies – whether they are private or government 37 percent strongly. Even – should cover abortions under each of the following circumstances? Q24. When a those who oppose Obama’s pregnancy poses a threat to the life of a woman Q22. When a pregnancy is due to rape healthcare reform agenda or incest Q23. When a pregnancy poses long-term health risks for a woman Q25. When (53 percent) or oppose test results show a fetus has a severe abnormal condition Q26. Whenever a woman and creation of a government her doctor decide it is appropriate health insurance plan (46 percent) largely reject the bishops’ argument that they are obligated to Opposing Healthcare Reform Entirely oppose healthcare reform If It Includes Coverage for Abortions entirely if coverage for abortion is included.

president obama has not made a strong case for his ideas on healthcare reform. As national polls have shown, the general public is increasingly disapproving of President Obama’s handling of the healthcare Q29. Do you approve or disapprove of US Catholic Bishops saying that all Catholics issue. Indeed, 48 percent should oppose the entire healthcare reform plan if it includes coverage for abortions? disapprove and 48 percent Q27. Do you agree or disagree with people who say that, as a Catholic, you should approve of Obama’s oppose the entire healthcare reform plan if it includes coverage for abortions? handling of healthcare in a September 2009 abc

16 conscience 102885p13_17 10/28/09 4:05 AM Page 17

catholic voters’ views on healthcare reform and reproductive healthcare services

News/Washington Post poll. Catholic voters Priorities for President Obama reflect this national ambivalence as they split 52 percent to 48 percent over whether they agree or disagree with President Obama’s ideas on changing the nation’s healthcare system. While confidence is lagging for Obama’s general ideas on healthcare reform, polling shows broad support for many of the policies that are part of the president’s plan for healthcare reform. For example, in this survey 73 percent of Catholic voters support the creation of a government health insurance plan. Recent polls of the general public show similar trends, with majorities of Americans Q2-10. Using this 1 to 7 scale, how high a priority do you think each of the following in favor of creating a should be for President Barack Obama? ONE means the lowest priority and SEVEN government health insur- means highest priority. Use any number from one to seven. Q4. Improving the economy ance plan. Q2. Lowering healthcare costs Q9. Resolving the war in Afghanistan Q3. Making sure This seems to be a that everyone in the country is covered by health insurance Q5. Improving public case of Obama failing to education Q6. Cutting taxes Q7. Promoting moral values Q10. Stopping global warming make an effective argument Q8. Protecting a woman’s right to choose abortion for the American public, including Catholics, about his ideas on healthcare reform. Data from this survey underlines the gap President Obama’s Ideas on between support for key Changing the Healthcare System elements of Obama’s plan and overall disagreement with the president’s ideas: over half of Catholic voters who favor a government health insurance plan (54 percent) still disagree with Obama’s ideas on how to change health- care, even though a Q12. Do you agree or disagree with President Obama’s ideas about how we should government health insur- change the nation’s healthcare system? ance option is a part of Obama’s agenda. ■

vol. xxx—no. 2 2009 17 102885p18_19 10/29/09 4:41 AM Page 18

We Believe in Healthcare Reform

The healthcare system in the United States is broken. Forty-seven contraception to people living in poverty through Title X and million people are uninsured and 30 million more are Medicaid, it saves over four dollars. It’s not just good for the soul; underinsured. With the current state of the economy, men and it is good for the pocketbooks of the American people. women around the country are struggling to make ends meet. Currently, healthcare reform plans include provisions that would They are making the tough decisions between putting food on the allow states to use federal funds to provide birth control assistance table and going to the doctor. Now, more than ever, we need a to women who do not qualify for Medicaid. Otherwise, the system that works for everyone. We need healthcare reform. coverage of contraception remains the same—good but not great. As Catholics, we believe that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. As access to free contraception provides men and women with the Keeping in mind Catholic social teaching which calls for a preferential resources they need to lead happy and healthy lives and saves option for the poor and knowing that those living in poverty are the money, including provisions for free contraception ought to be most adversely affected by our healthcare system, we believe in a obvious to the architects of healthcare reform. universal healthcare system that provides comprehensive healthcare to every person living in the United States. We believe that abortion should be federally funded and covered by all insurance companies. As President Barack Obama, his Administration and Congress work to repair and rebuild our healthcare system, the Catholic bishops Abortion has emerged, not surprisingly given the myopic mindset and their conservative allies are undermining this work by seeking of social conservatives, as a key issue in the healthcare reform to obliterate any sexual and reproductive healthcare services from debate. Fear mongering has become all too common, with the the plan, mainly through spreading myths about the nature of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and others healthcare reform proposals. demanding that any mention of abortion be stripped from the healthcare reform plan. While it is important to debunk these myths, we also cannot risk missing the forest for the trees. Not only must we debunk any The bishops’ protest to the inclusion of abortion in healthcare myths about healthcare reform, we must also speak out in favor of reform is particularly disturbing given their peculiar view on sexual including sexual and reproductive healthcare in any healthcare and reproductive health—a view that is not generally shared by reform plan. Catholics or the American public. The bishops would do well to remind themselves of the declarations of the Second Vatican We believe that contraception should not just be Council on religious freedom for all. It goes against these affordable, it should be free. principles for the bishops to require healthcare reform proposals Oftentimes, women and men living in poverty choose less-costly that will affect all Americans—Catholic and non-Catholic—to contraceptive options, if they choose to use contraceptives at all. conform to the minority outlook of the church hierarchy on sexual When contraception is not free and when insurance only covers and reproductive health. certain contraceptives, the freedom to choose which contraceptive Some antichoice groups have suggested that the president’s best fits one’s lifestyle is taken away. We believe that everyone, healthcare reform plan will overturn the Hyde Amendment, which regardless of their socioeconomic status, should have that choice. restricts federal funding of abortion, and force all insurance Providing contraceptives free of charge will save taxpayer money. companies to cover the procedure. Although this is blatantly For every one dollar spent by the federal government to provide untrue, we believe that the healthcare reform plan should indeed 102885p18_19 10/29/09 4:41 AM Page 19

include federal funding for abortion and require insurance not enough. Healthcare reform proposals should also improve companies to cover this vital procedure. the quality of pre- and postnatal care.

Other groups have suggested that abortion should be left out We believe that access to HIV prevention, care and of the debate because it is too divisive. Here, they are wrong. treatment should be covered. A poll by the bishops themselves found that 89 percent of Nearly half of people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States American adults believe that abortion should be provided in lack access to the healthcare services they need. Many living some or all cases. with HIV are considered “too healthy” to obtain Medicaid benefits All of these groups, however, neglect to mention that abortion is a but cannot afford or are denied private insurance coverage. legal medical procedure in the United States and should be Because private insurers often refuse to cover people with covered in healthcare reform. Women’s lives depend on it. HIV, only one in five people living with HIV have private insurance coverage. We believe that all men and women should be able to access affordable assisted reproductive technology Healthcare reform efforts must include ways to provide coverage services. for all people living with HIV and also include strong provisions on prevention. With nearly 60,000 people newly infected with HIV Just as men and women need access to services in each year in the United States, the rate of new HIV infections order to choose when and if they have children, those who are remains disturbingly high. unable to conceive but wish to have children must also be supported. Luckily, the healthcare reform plan does include provisions on HIV/AIDS. The plan will allow states to extend Medicaid coverage Currently, assisted reproductive technology (ART) services are to thousands of low-income people living with HIV who are generally reserved for only those of means due to high costs and currently “too healthy” to obtain coverage and also increase the limited insurance coverage for these procedures. In states that number of people who benefit from the AIDS Drug Assistance mandate insurance coverage for ART procedures, however, the program. Finally, the plan contains several prevention and wellness rate of utilization is nearly three times that in states that do not provisions that will increase access to voluntary HIV testing and mandate coverage. other prevention methods. More can always be done, but this is a good start. In addition to helping men and women expand their families, covering ART is also economically advantageous for the country. We believe in healthcare reform. For instance, the cost of in vitro fertilization comes back seven-fold Surely, the church hierarchy and their conservative allies will once the child enters the workforce and pays taxes. continue to wave their flags against any inclusion of sexual and Income level should never be a determinate of who does and does reproductive health in healthcare reform. However, bowing to the not receive treatment for infertility. cries of this minority will be gravely harmful to men and women throughout the country. We believe that women who choose to continue their pregnancy should have access to quality pre- and An overwhelming 71 percent of Americans support provisions postnatal care. for sexual and reproductive health in healthcare reform, according to a poll by the National Women’s Law Center. Last November, a Every year, nearly one million pregnant women from the United majority of Catholics voted for the prochoice presidential States do not receive adequate medical attention before or after candidate knowing that he maintains common sense values on giving birth. Maternity and childbirth costs far outweigh costs for sexual and reproductive health. Catholics for Choice stands with any other medical procedure. Due to the high costs of these President Obama and this majority who understand the procedures, pregnant women across the country have found that fundamental need for sexual and reproductive healthcare services the services are profit-driven rather than compelled by evidence in the United States. about quality maternity care. Sexual and reproductive healthcare is a vital part of the well-being All pregnant women should have access to quality maternity care of our society. When men and women have access to high-quality and we are pleased that currently healthcare reform proposals will sexual and reproductive healthcare, our country is healthier and cover all pre- and postnatal care. However, the quality of care stronger. And without a doubt, we can all agree that a stronger currently administered under private insurers and Medicaid plans country is better for everyone. also needs to be vastly improved. Your voice as a Catholic who believes in more choices for your Just as women who choose to end a pregnancy should be fellow Americans is critical. Do not let a handful of bishops and supported, so too must women who choose to continue a their antichoice allies speak for you. Tell your congressional pregnancy. Merely covering the costs of pre- and postnatal care is representative today that Catholics want choice in healthcare. n 102885p20 10/28/09 4:12 AM Page 20

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This is a different kind of “Dear Colleague” letter. We, Catholic state We are also representative of Catholics across the nation who support legislators from across the country, are writing to you, our fellow policies that enable women to make decisions about whether to legislators in Washington, DC, to do the right thing for American become pregnant, or whether to continue a pregnancy. As Catholics, families and support H.R. 3312, the Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, we also strive to support parents who find themselves facing hard times, Reducing the Need for Abortion, and Supporting Parents Act. giving them access to the resources they need to provide for their families.

Families in our districts are facing unprecedented challenges. Factories are The Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for closing, homes are being foreclosed on, jobs eliminated, small businesses Abortion, and Supporting Parents Act does this in many ways that shutting their doors. Parents are facing choices between groceries or uphold the right of our constituents, and yours, to support their families education; between healthcare for them or for their children. And in ways that make the most sense for them. It helps end a cycle of those of us elected to make things right—or at least possible—for these poverty for families that are already struggling by providing funding families are facing our own challenges. Budgets are tight and the endless for pregnancy prevention programs, including the federal Title X program partisan and ideological battles continue to get in the way of passing and expanded Medicaid coverage. It funds programs that provide legislation that could make a difference. age-appropriate, evidence-based sexuality education to help teach young people about avoiding unplanned pregnancies. Too often, these You have the opportunity in this 111th Congress to make a change, to help pregnancies result in young women and men leaving school to seek jobs people have real choices and real prospects for the future. H.R. 3312, the that are scarce, at best, and pay barely enough to afford the basics for them Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion, and and their children. Supporting Parents Act cosponsored by Representatives Tim Ryan (OH) and Rosa DeLauro (CT) is designed to meet some of the most basic needs We are your fellow legislators and your constituents. We will do our of American families. part in the states, and urge you, our colleagues in the US House of Representatives, to do yours. This is an opportunity to show that the This legislation speaks to many concerns we have both as elected public cynicism about government is not well-founded, to show that we can stand servants and as Catholics. Our faith tradition calls us to have a preferential together despite economic hurdles and partisan differences to deliver real option for the poor. As do you, we represent a range of people from different help to people across the nation. economic conditions with a range of faith beliefs or no religious belief. However, we do believe we have a special responsibility to speak for those Help the American people with common sense legislation, like the who have little or no voice in the political process. They are the families who Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion, are the hardest hit by the economic crisis, who have the least resources to and Supporting Parents Act, that realizes the promises we all made draw upon as we wait for the better times we know are ahead. when we were elected.

REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE SENATOR REPRESENTATIVE JOHN LESCH (DFL) JOHN DEJOIE (D) MARY LOU MARZIAN (D) MARY BETH WALZ (D) TIM SHAUGHNESSY (D) DAVID M. LUJAN (D) 66A – Minnesota Merrimack 11 – New Hampshire 34 – Kentucky Merrimack 13 – New Hampshire 19 – Kentucky 15 – Arizona REPRESENTATIVE SENATOR REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE SUZANNE H. BASSI (R) D. SCOTT DIBBLE (DFL) CORY MASON (D) DEBORAH H. WHEELER (D) ALMA WHEELER SMITH (D) LUIS R. GARCIA Jr. (D) 54 – Illinois 60 – Minnesota 62 – Wisconsin Merrimack 6 – New Hampshire 54 – Michigan 107 – Florida REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLYMEMBER REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE SENATOR REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE J. BENEFIELD (D) PATRICIA A. EDDINGTON, LCSW PATRICIA M. MCMAHON (D) KELLI LINVILLE (D) MICHAEL N. SWITALSKI (D) JOHN W. THOMPSON (D) 29 – Colorado 3 – New York Merrimack 3 – New Hampshire 42 – Washington 10 – Michigan 13 – Connecticut SENATOR REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE SENATOR REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD BROWNING (D) RAYMOND GAGNON (D) JOE MULLERY (DFL) ROBERT J. GARAGIOLA (D) TRICIA ANN COTHAM (D) JESSICA FARRAR (D) 9 – West Virginia Sullivan 4 – New Hampshire 58A – Minnesota 15 – Maryland 100 – North Carolina 148 – Texas ASSEMBLYMEMBER REPRESENTATIVE SENATOR REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE DANIEL J. O’DONNELL (D) MARIA ANTONIA BERRIOS (D) AMANDA AGUIRRE (D) THOMAS J. BURCH (D) MARGARET ANDERSON RAFAEL ANCHIA (D) 69 – New York 39 – Illinois 24 – Arizona 30 – Kentucky KELLIHER (DFL) 103 – Texas 60A – Minnesota SENATOR REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE GERALD P. ORTIZ Y PINO (D) MARY J. BRANDENBURG (D) CANDACE C.W. BOUCHARD (D) REPRESENTATIVE OLIVIA CAJERO BEDFORD (D) REPRESENTATIVE 12 – New Mexico 89 – Florida Merrimack 11 – New Hampshire JEB BARDON (D) 27 – New Mexico BARBARA A. L’ITALIEN (D) 25 – Indiana 18 Essex – Massachusetts REPRESENTATIVE DELEGATE REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE AL PARK (D) HEATHER R. MIZEUR (D) KEITH FITZGERALD (D) SENATOR GAIL CHASEY (D) SENATOR 26 – New Mexico 20 – Maryland 69 – Florida LINDA M. LOPEZ (D) 18 – New Mexico GARY D. LEBEAU (D) 11 – New Mexico 3 – Connecticut REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTINE M. SINICKI (D) AUSTIN J. BADON Jr. (D) MARY E. GRANT (D) REPRESENTATIVE JOHN R. CLOUTIER (D) REPRESENTATIVE 20 – Wisconsin 100 – Louisiana 6 Essex – Massachusetts DIANNE PRIMAVERA (D) Sullivan 4 – New Hampshire ANTONIO “MOE” MAESTAS (D) 33 – Colorado ASSEMBLYMEMBER REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVE 16 – New Mexico REPRESENTATIVE ALBERT A. STIRPE Jr. (D) SALLY KELLY (D) CHRISTINE SCANLAN (D) NATHAN P. COTE (D) SENATOR 121 – New York Merrimack 7 – New Hampshire 56 – Colorado 53 – New Mexico IRIS Y. MARTINEZ (D) REPRESENTATIVE SENATOR REPRESENTATIVE 20 – Illinois ROBERT L. THEBERGE (D) REBECCA RIOS (D) ROSEMARY E. MULLIGAN (R) Coos 4 – New Hampshire 23 – Arizona 65 – Illinois

Sponsored by: Catholics for Choice, 1436 U Street NW, # 301, Washington DC 20009 www.CatholicsForChoice.org O (202) 986-6093

This open letter from state legislators was sent to members of the House of Representatives. It appeared as a full-page ad in The Hill on September 8, 2009. 20 conscience 102885p21_24 10/28/09 4:25 AM Page 21

Placing Women in the Blind Spot the vatican’s support for international development has a gaping hole at its center

By Barbara Crossette

hey were once seen as separate crises: climate change, environmental degradation, precarious food stocks, a persistent hiv/aids epidemic Tand intractable poverty. No longer. Development experts in once-disparate fields are on converging paths toward a shared reality: the denial of reproduc- tive choices to the world’s neediest people, often in the name of religion, is entrench- ing poverty, easing the spread of disease and fueling the multitude of pressures that are the hallmarks of failed states. At the same time, however, the global economic crisis rippling across both industrial nations and the developing world is putting a strain on funding from secular donors, government and private, presenting new opportunities for faith- based charities with conservative agendas to expand their influence in develop- mental work. It is at this fork in the road that both the Vatican and its critics now stand. Will the strictures of Roman Catholic

dogma prevail against the tide of new .

development thinking across the United 1994 Nations system and beyond, or will secu- larists in national governments, private reuters,

agencies and international organizations © be able to curtail the spreading influ- ence of faith-based groups that refuse to Where Pope Benedict xvi stands was message is repeated tirelessly in every accept new realities? Where will the made quite clear in Cameroon in May, forum and in testimony United States, which everyone watches when he told an African audience that to national governments. The pope’s for clues, come down in this debate? condoms not only do not stop the spread remarks underline concerns about how of hiv, they may also actually make the much influence the church hierarchy, a contagion worse by facilitating promis- major player in the distribution and barbara crossette is the United Nations correspondent for The Nation and a former cuous behavior. The Vatican continues management of development assistance foreign and United Nations correspondent for to oppose all modern family planning around the world, can exert on programs the New York Times. methods, whatever the human cost. The in poor countries.

vol. xxx—no. 2 2009 21 102885p21_24 10/28/09 4:25 AM Page 22

Although the pope made an effort to sensitivity is not limited to religiously- discriminates against half its population, welcome President Obama to the Vatican based aid organizations, and that this phrase he wrote. in July, there is a wariness among some of is often used as a smokescreen to hide very Catholic relief and development organ- the church’s followers about the Amer- insensitive attitudes, especially toward izations do much good work worldwide. ican president’s plans, since the US is now women. In Rome in July, Pope Benedict But as the shift in development thinking reviewing or redrawing its most impor- issued the encyclical Caritas in Veritate, moves toward more reproductive services tant policies on programs to fight hiv/aids (Charity in Truth) ostensibly a call for more to empower the neediest people, major and strengthen projects to help women. humane economic development. “Only in Catholic aid agencies continue to adhere That there are new openings for those truth does charity shine forth,” he wrote. to the old rules. Caritas, the international who would make aid delivery conform to But it was his version of truth, and his Catholic relief network, with branches in religious beliefs was demonstrated at a version of development, not that of the 162 countries and a headquarters in the summit of “faith and development” leaders experts. Vatican, works with a number of UN agen- in Ghana in July. A World Bank official “The pope fails to show a true compas- cies. Yet its guidelines on dealing with suggested there that a financial crisis should sion for women, who often are the last to hiv/aids, devastating maternal health statis- prompt national governments and aid agen- benefit from development aid,” Jon O’Brien, tics and other issues, avoid mentioning cies to “strengthen their links with faith- president of Catholics for Choice, wrote contemporary family planning tools in tack- based organizations to make the most of in a commentary on Caritas. “He rightly ling family economic stress, sexually trans- their development expertise and grass roots decries infant mortality, but never mentions mitted disease or mounting population organization.” maternal mortality. He fails to fully address pressures. The Bank official, Graeme Wheeler, the impact of hiv and aids on developing The world’s population, now at 6.8 managing director for human develop- economies, and neglects to support a holistic billion, will continue to grow in this century

Cultural sensitivity is not limited to religiously-based aid organizations, and this phrase is often used as a smokescreen to hide very insensitive attitudes, especially toward women.

ment, told the audience, which included approach to hiv-prevention that includes almost entirely in poor nations, where food representatives of unaids, the World Health the provision of condoms.” is already scarce and environmental Organization and the United Nations No other church has the global social resources under severe stress. Yet global Development Program, that faith-based reach, in hospitals, schools and field serv- funding for reproductive services has been groups already provide between 30 and 70 ices, to block programs such as compre- declining sharply since the mid-1990s, by percent of the health services in poor coun- hensive sexuality education, reproductive as much as 30 percent in real terms tries. “You have enormous influence on aid for vulnerable teenagers, modern forms according to some estimates. family and individual’s beliefs, attitudes of family planning, the wide distribution With a 2015 deadline fast approaching and perceptions,” he said. Among those at of male or female condoms to prevent hiv for meeting the UN’s Millennium Devel- the meeting was Cardinal Theodore infection and, of course, abortion and emer- opment Goals, most of them—but espe- McCarrick, a doctrinal conservative who gency contraception. Though the Catholic cially improving maternal health by is archbishop emeritus of Washington, church is the largest and richest player, it providing universal reproductive health DC. is not alone in blindsiding women. services, and enhancing prevention of To underline this trend, Thoraya Ahmed “The truth is that male religious leaders hiv/aids—are in trouble. The London- Obaid, the executive director of the UN have had—and still have—an option to based International Planned Parenthood Population Fund (unfpa), told a round- interpret holy teachings either to exalt or Federation, whose affiliates in more than table of representatives from faith-based subjugate women,” the former American 100 countries form the largest secular organizations in August that it was crucial president Jimmy Carter wrote in July in a nongovernmental network of family plan- to build “systematic, deliberate and focused” commentary in the Australian newspaper ning aid, issued this warning in July 2009 engagement with them, in part because the Age, explaining why he had broken in a new report, “Contraception at a Cross- they can carry out “culturally sensitive” with the Southern Baptist Convention. roads.” development work. “They have, for their own selfish ends, “The world is stumbling toward a contra- If development experts have learned overwhelmingly chosen the latter.” ceptive crisis,” the ippf said. “Today, and anything in decades of work it is that cultural Everyone pays a price when a country every day, we are failing to meet the

22 conscience 102885p21_24 10/28/09 4:25 AM Page 23

placing women in the blind spot . 2009 osservatore romano, romano, osservatore / reuters © US President Barack Obama arrives for a meeting with Pope Benedict at the Vatican.

contraceptive needs and desires of over reason the pope’s comments were made of antiretroviral medications. A month 200 million women around the world, a in Cameroon—the ippf found that later, the archbishop told the Commis- situation that will only intensify as the between a quarter and a third of sexually sion on Population and Development that largest cohort of young people the world active women have an unmet need for high birthrates could be a good thing for has ever seen—some 1.5 billion strong— contraception, and half the world’s abor- Africa, which would be spared the labor become sexually active.” unaids adds that tion deaths are African. shortages of the aging industrial coun- young men and women aged 15–24 account At the United Nations, where inter- tries. Apparently the church is not asking for 45 percent of all new hiv infections national policy on reproductive health African women if this is what they want in adults. A denial of condoms amounts is debated, the Roman Catholic church for themselves and their families. to a death sentence for many. has a diplomatic observer mission led by Pope Benedict has allies at the UN. “At a time when the world is more a papal . This unique position, Islamic conservatives and some Amer- focused on global poverty reduction than denied to other , is based largely ican evangelical Protestants, who enjoyed ever before,” the ippf report said, “one on the Holy See’s minuscule piece of outsized influence under the Bush admin- of the most trusted, most cost effective territory in Rome. Vatican diplomats istration, formed a loose front against and proven poverty reduction interven- take part in UN conferences and interact in the first decade of tions is being marginalized and with UN agencies. this century that experts in UN agencies neglected.” The ippf called the global The current chief of mission, Arch- say cost a precious eight years of progress. shortage of condoms “alarming.” Celestino Migliore, hews consis- But the high point—or nadir, depending In Africa, where the Roman Catholic tently to a rigid Vatican line. In March on where one stands—of the Vatican’s church, the Anglican communion and 2009, at the Commission on the Status of attempt to steer international social poli- numerous Protestant churches and sects Women, his remarks on the hiv/aids cies its way came at the 1994 International are all experiencing swings toward conser- pandemic focused almost entirely on pallia- Conference on Population and Devel- vative social doctrines—thus perhaps the tives such as care giving and the provision opment in Cairo.

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placing women in the blind spot

The Holy See’s delegation worked hard A tactical maneuver? Yes, say European Scandinavian diplomat said. One can only to derail a growing consensus on a new diplomats, who have seen strongly Catholic wonder if anyone there is listening to belea- way to address population issues, giving countries such as Poland, Malta and Ireland guered village women in poor countries. the lead to women and families, not “front” for the Vatican, preventing or shat- Joseph Chamie, a former head of the governments or other institutions. The tering European Union consensus on social UN’s population division and now research Vatican’s disciples raised the pitch of issues. Because of the Holy See’s standing director at the Center for Migration Studies dissent, accusing national delegations of at the UN, the pope’s voice is always heard, in New York, argues that the public message falling for a “feminist” agenda that masked directly or indirectly. Without US support of unfpa must be more on contraception abortion and lesbianism, among other in recent years, the Europeans had to work and attendant health services for women things. The same language and less on reproductive was later used to attack UN rights, a rich-world concept agencies, as unicef discov- that can raise hackles among ered when it began to use conservatives in all religions, the phrase “rights of the girl and has led some to assume, child.” wrongly, that promoting The Vatican, however, family planning for its own lost across the board sake is not a high priority. in Cairo. “Checkmate, Vatican,” “They utterly failed in Chamie says. their objectives,” said Adri- Money talks within the enne Germain, executive UN. Nations that are big director of the International donors to agencies like unfpa Women’s Health Coalition, or unicef sit on their which played a large part in governing boards. In this

setting the agenda and . environment Washington is

changing the parameters of 2007 infinitely more powerful than debate at Cairo. “They failed the Vatican. The US is the

to form an effective political ferrari, UN’s largest contributor, / alliance with the strict Islamic including to unaids, a multi- states. They failed to prevent agency body. It also leads in reuters

language explicitly related © funding the Global Fund to to safe abortion. They failed UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon meets Pope Benedict xvi at the Vatican. Fight aids, Tuberculosis and in regard to their goal of Malaria. restricting the rights of adolescents to sexual double-time to counter it. The Obama administration may say that and reproductive health education and serv- At the UN, Germain sees the most the advancement of women globally is a ices. Did they make our lives miserable? aggressive opposition to reproductive health priority, and that will be reflected at the Well, a little bit, yes. Have services coming from Islamic nations led UN. But given President Obama’s sympa- they continued to make it miserable? To by the Syrians, Egyptians and Iranians. thetic view of faith-based organizations, some extent.” Iran is an interesting case, however. how much he will engage with them or Germain is among those optimists who Working with the United Nations Popu- parcel out to them large development proj- believe that the Vatican and its supporters lation Fund (unfpa) it has created a very ects will be a bellwether of US leadership never really recovered at the UN, even successful family planning program. Contra- in the population and reproductive health during the friendlier Bush years. She sees ception is accepted; expanded rights for fields internationally. that representatives of the Holy See often women and gay men and lesbians is another If they successfully apply pressure in take a back seat in negotiations, most issue altogether. Washington, the Catholic bishops and recently at the Commission on Popula- Behind the scenes there are other divi- organizations like Catholic Relief Serv- tion and Development, where Germain sions that can play into the Vatican’s influ- ices, could have a significant impact on was a member of the official US delega- ence. In the Nordic and some other hiv/aids and population programs world- tion. Instead, country delegations (in that northern European countries that are signif- wide, greater than the Holy See alone could case, St. Lucia) appeared to be reading the icant contributors to the UN Population achieve directly within the more fragmented Vatican script. On other occasions, diplo- Fund, there has been a great reluctance to and complex UN system. Should the mats from some of the newer European promote contraception because it could Vatican prevail in Washington, the message Union member countries play that role. be interpreted as a cultural intrusion, a will reverberate everywhere. ■

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A Catholic Archipelago of Evil sex abuse and the church in ireland By Eamonn McCann . 2009 mcnaughton, mcnaughton, / reuters ©

A crow flies past the Papal Cross in Dublin, Ireland.

he suffering of the inmates bors might murmur a variation on the Donegal in the Republic of Ireland (the of Termonbacca Home run by rosary imprecation. “There’s the Home South) as well as Derry in Northern the Sisters of Nazareth was Boys, God’s pity on them.” Ireland. The sectarian regime in the well-known in the area but Everybody knew. We may not have North had as little interest as their spoken of only in whispers. known the full extent or intensity of their Southern counterparts—if for different TWe’d see them in procession in the morn- suffering. But the Nazareth nuns and reasons—in standing up for tortured ings and afternoon, walking in silence the Christian Brothers did. And it beggars Catholic children. two by two, to and from the Brow of the belief that the bishop didn’t know, too. Soon after the establishment of the two Hill school run by the Christian Brothers, Or the civic authorities North and South States in 1921, the Unionists handed control where they’d be brutalised again. Neigh- as well. of the education and welfare of Catholic The Derry diocese spans the border. children to the church in return for the eamonn mccann is a journalist in Ireland. The Home Boys were drawn from church agreeing to use its power to

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discourage Catholics from rebelling. This abuse by members of the De La Salle of secularism in the 1970s forced cracks isn’t a long-past arrangement. In the 1980s, Order at their home in Kircubbin, Co. in the surface of society through which the diocese which covers Belfast, Down Down. The abuse had begun literally the truth has begun oozing out into the and Connor, in the person of Bishop, later within minutes of him being handed over mainstream. Cardinal, Cathal Daly, warned British to the brothers by a social worker who As I write, publication is imminent of ministers that if they proceeded with a had driven him the 100 miles from Derry. a report into child abuse in the Dublin plan to merge Catholic and Protestant The decision to consign him to Kircubbin diocese over the last 60 years. In a pre- teacher training, such would be the anger had been taken at a “case conference” by emptive strike in April, in his Holy of the Catholic people the church would three social care officials working for the Thursday homily, Archbishop Diarmuid be unable to restrain them from supporting Northern Irish government. Martin warned that the revelations “will the Irish Republican Army’s armed In neither case did the civil authori- shock us all”—the formulation implying struggle. The British, having a great deal ties, North or South, show any willing- that he would share in the shock. The of experience in these matters, under- ness to investigate until after the scandals report, compiled by a commission under stood, and backed down, sharpish. had been exposed in the media. Justice Yvonne Murphy, will tell of specific There was cross-border abuse by In the Republic, state collusion in child allegations against 140 priests and suspi- diocesan priests as well as by brothers torture has largely been put down to the cions raised against another 32. Settle- and nuns. Here’s one example. A priest obeisance of politicians toward the bishops, ment of 120 cases against 35 priests has is transferred from the South to a parish which is half of the truth. The other half cost e12.4 million (about $17.8 million) so in the North. The night before he arrives, is that in the Republic too, the church far, with 26 other cases currently being other priests of the parish are visited by was doing the state some reciprocal service. processed.

The notion that the Irish bishops have been shocked by revelations of clerical child abuse would be laughable if it weren’t that the detail would take tears from a stone.

an emissary of the bishop who tells them Colonial oppression in Ireland had been At the beginning of June, Archbishop generally to “keep an eye” on their new expressed for three centuries in anti- Martin and Cardinal Sean Brady returned colleague and specifically to ensure that Catholic practice and laws. To an extent, from a visit to Rome to brief Benedict he is not left alone with children. But he freedom from Britain came to be seen as xvi on the details of Dublin abuse about eludes the surveillance, such as it was, freedom to be Catholic. Church bosses to be made public. The pope, the pair and rapes two little girls. The family of were not slow to take advantage. The announced, had been “distressed” to one of the victims, eight years old at the nationalist movement which arose in the “learn” the facts. time, tells the bishop. He does nothing. aftermath of the Easter Rising of 1916 was This is very strange. The Vatican can The family writes to the cardinal, telling steeped in Catholicism, as, naturally, was have had little to learn about clerical child him in stark terms what has happened the state which emerged alongside the abuse, given the steady flow of scandal and describing the shattering effect on North in 1921. In the Republic, the church from five continents with which it has the child and her extended family. The didn’t have to struggle to assert its ideo- had to contend in recent years. More perti- cardinal acknowledges the letter, assuring logical dominance: it was built in from nently, it is just over three years since the family that he will have them in mind the beginning, the church operating from Benedict met with Bishop Denis Brennan in his prayers. The rapist is moved out a position of already-entrenched power of Ferns to be briefed on a report on child of the parish to a monastery in the to assert control over its “own” people abuse in his diocese. Republic. When he is traced there and and to denounce and marginalize any The 271-page Ferns Report by retired exposed, the bishop lies in public that threatened eruption of radicalism. Supreme Court Judge Frank Murphy the church had earlier informed the civil It may not be putting it too highly to detailed 100 cases of abuse by 21 priests authorities of the allegations. say that the shaky stability of both Irish over a 40-year period. One priest had sexu- Or again: a friend of mine, a native of states in their formative and following ally abused 10 young girls on the altar, Donegal, hanged himself from the fire years would not have been possible without seemingly fancying action in front of the escape outside his flat in Derry a few years the deployment of church influence. This tabernacle. Another had regularly taken back after futile years trying to persuade is one of the reasons there was denial for children to the beach where he plied them church or state to properly investigate decades in the highest reaches of the state with alcohol and cannabis before abusing his story of prolonged physical and sexual as well as of the church, before the spurt them. And so on. Benedict, according

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a catholic archipelago of evil

to Bishop Brennan, had felt “distress” over…Every time it ended with a beating. victims, leaving taxpayers to pick up and “personal anguish and horror” at When I told a priest in confession he almost the entire tab. Just as Ryan began learning of these “incomprehensible” called me a liar.” formal hearings in May 2002 the orders events which, he allowed, “had devas- The effect of the Ryan Report has been and the Fianna Fail-led government tated human lives and profoundly betrayed to shatter any comforting assumption agreed that the orders would be fully the trust of children.” It is somewhat that the horrors many were locally aware indemnified in return for payment of puzzling therefore that in light of those of had been peculiar to a particular order a128 million. There had been a general revelations that he was to be so taken aback or institution. The brothers and nuns understanding that the damages would by the news from Dublin. had been running an island-wide network be split evenly between church and state. The quotes from Benedict retold by of child-torture centers, a Catholic archi- At this stage, no one could be certain Bishop Brennan included no reference pelago of evil. what the final bill would be. A number to Judge Murphy’s finding “that the Throughout his inquiries, the orders of opposition members of parliament Church had lied, deceived and covered adopted a truculent, uncooperative and newspaper columnists made the up to protect the offending priests” and approach to Ryan. Solicitor Eugene obvious point that striking a deal now that in behaving so had been following Murphy spoke for representatives of made no sense and might well lead to standard operating procedure as recom- mended by Rome. The Dublin and Ferns reports focused on diocesan clergy. But the biggest splurge of scandal so far concerns abuse in Indus- trial Schools (for practical purposes, youth prisons) and other homes in the Republic run by religious orders. They operated from the inception of the state until the 1970s. May 5 saw publication of a report by Judge Sean Ryan into abuse in these institutions. His inquiry had been set up

following broadcast in 1999 on rte (Irish .

State television) of a chilling documen- 2009 tary, “States of Fear,” by journalist Mary Raftery.

Judge Ryan conducted a more thor- mcnaughton, / oughgoing investigation than many had anticipated. He took evidence from more reuters

than 1,700 people, including 1,000 former © inmates. Some inmates were the chil- John Kelly, an abuse victim who attended the Daingean Industrial School between 1965 and 1967, holds a copy of dren of unmarried parents, considered the government report on child abuse in Ireland. unfit for outside society. Some had been convicted of juvenile offenses. A few were former residents of a number of the Indus- taxpayers being massively ripped off. But orphans. A very few had been abandoned. trial Schools. “All solicitors and there was no debate in parliament, and The biggest category comprised chil- clients…are greatly hampered insofar as the issue didn’t blossom into a serious dren of poor parents deemed incapable certain religious Orders are flatly refusing public controversy. Only Education of bringing them up, most commonly to furnish us with our clients’ records Minister Michael Woods and one civil on account of truancy. Thousands of chil- until such times as a High Court writ is servant had been involved in the negoti- dren were sentenced into the care of issued. These Orders have, through their ations. Both the Minister of Finance and various religious orders for such reasons. lawyers, also indicated that, should a writ the Attorney General had been kept The investigation covered 216 institu- issue and be served, they will immedi- entirely in the dark. The deal was rubber tions and around 800 brothers and nuns. ately apply to have these proceedings stamped by Woods on the government’s Ninety percent of the ex-inmates alleged struck out for reasons of, inter alia, delay.” last day of office, as parliamentarians scat- physical abuse. Fifty percent, mainly boys, Outrage at Ryan’s findings was exac- tered to their constituencies and public reported sexual abuse. One boy said that erbated by the largely successful efforts attention shifted to the election campaign. “One Brother kept watch while the other of the orders to slough off most of the It’s clear now that the compensation [sexually] abused me…Then they changed responsibility for compensating their bill will come to around a1.2 billion. That

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a catholic archipelago of evil

is, the orders will pay about 10 percent loan from the diocese to Payne so Payne sible, then we are dealing not with a stain in respect of abuse which was 100 percent could personally compensate Madden. upon the image of an institution but with perpetrated by their members; taxpayers Thus, Connell continued to insist, the its deep-dyed and defining coloration. will be compelled to come up with the pay-off money hadn’t come from the More and more Irish Catholics are remaining 90 percent. Spokesmen for diocese, but from Payne himself. drawing this sensible conclusion. the orders have scoffed at suggestions Investigations into other dioceses are Just a couple of hundred yards from that they might voluntarily cough up a under way. It is impossible to say with the path the Home Boys used to take from little more. A deal’s a deal…even if it is any precision how many Irish children Termonbacca to Brow of the Hill stands a deal with the devil. have been abused by priests and religious one of the best-known modern icons of The dioceses have had a similarly over the years but, certainly, the roll call Irish struggle, Free Derry Wall. The back shrewd attitude to compensation. Ten of suffering runs to thousands. The of the wall operates as a community notice years ago, Fr. Ivan Payne of the Dublin number of abusers very likely tops a thou- board. In June, it was used to announce archdiocese pleaded guilty to nine charges sand. a visit by the papal legate to preside over of child sex abuse. It emerged during the Despite all, the mindless mantra still celebrations marking the centenary of case that the archdiocese had been aware sounds across the land that only a tiny the Long Tower parish: “Welcome to for years that Payne had been named as minority of priests and religious has been the Papal Legate.” But on the morning

In the Bogside in Derry in the 1950s my mother would offer up a decade of the family rosary every night for “the Home Boys, God help them.”

a sex abuser by former altar boy Andrew involved, that the vast majority are them- of Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s arrival, it Madden. (Despite this, the archdiocese selves victims in that their reputations— was discovered that the inscription had appointed Payne a judge in the Catholic and that of the church—have been unfairly been altered: “(No) Welcome to the Marriage Tribunal and retained him in tarnished. But if despicable behavior Papal Legate (until true contrition for this position even after the police had persists over decades within an organi- child abuse).” informed Archbishop Desmond Connell zation of some thousands of people who Opinion in the area seemed evenly split that Payne was being investigated for live and work closely together and exhibit as to whether the graffiti writers were further incidents of child violation.) In an unusually high degree of internal cohe- vandals or making a valid point. One caller 1995, Dr. Connell denied point-blank sion and solidarity, and if this behavior to a local radio station suggested that, ever having used church money to pay is known in detail to the leadership of “True contrition isn’t enough. We’ll need off an abuse victim. Now, faced with a the organization, which responds by inter- a firm purpose of amendment as well.” newly emboldened Andrew Madden, he vening to prevent the extirpation of the At least we don’t talk about the Home con ceded that he had sanctioned a a35,000 behavior and to protect those respon- Boys in whispers any more. ■

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28 conscience 102885p29_32 10/30/09 3:21 AM Page 29

Special Supplement for World aids Day 2009 . 2009 ranoco, ranoco, / reuters © Catholic religious groups, government employees and students hold candles during the 26th International aids Candlelight Memorial in Manila to commemorate those who died as a result of hiv/aids. The Sin of Sexual Miseducation hiv/aids and the filipino conscience By Carolina S. Ruiz

n the philippines, when Code, railing against children’s books Geri Halliwell for preaching the safe sex Catholic bishops have something to mentioning magic, chiding married couples message on a visit to the Philippines. say about sexual morality, the media about their “lack of control” or condemning Monsignor Pedro Quitorio compared listens. Whether preaching against condom use and sex education, the Catholic sending the Spice Girl as ambassador to a the negative effects of a pop song on hierarchy’s views get top billing for the Catholic country to sending Salman Isociety, calling for a ban of The Da Vinci controversy they generate. Rushdie as ambassador of goodwill to a In 1999, the international press took Muslim country. Bishop Teodoro Bacani carolina s. ruiz is a senior lecturer in the notice when local bishops blasted the unfpa (who was later charged with sexual harass- College of Law at the University of the Philippines. and Spice-Girl-turned-UN-ambassador ment of a female church worker in 2003)

vol. xxx—no. 2 2009 29 102885p29_32 10/30/09 3:22 AM Page 30

Special Supplement for World aids Day 2009

even questioned Halliwell’s authority to was typically described as “low and slow.” school curriculum. Advocates remain preach about condom use when two of Yet even health experts warn that counting hopeful, but opposition from the Catholic her former band members supposedly only “reported cases” gives a dangerous hierarchy has been relentless and even got pregnant “out of wedlock.” impression that hiv treatment and preven- during the interpellation, opponents of Coverage like this usually gets explained tion does not merit much attention. After the bill insisted on more consultations as the dominance of Roman Catholicism all, with only one testing facility in the with the Catholic church over the proposed in the Philippines, an explanation that even country, and a highly mobile migrant measure. the Catholic Bishops Conference of the worker population, hiv/aids prevalence According to most of the accounts in Philippines (cbcp) banks on to explain the in the country is more accurately described the media, the debacle on reproductive relatively low hiv/aids prevalence rates in as hidden and growing. Since 2007 a health seems to be stuck in the same place the country. Father Melvin Castro who dramatic leap in the number of reported it has been for a long time. The battle is heads the cbcp Commission on Family cases has been noted. Likewise one in every between the Catholic hierarchy’s sexual and Life once speculated that “culture and three persons reportedly living with hiv morality and modernity, the East and the man’s outlook in life may have been respon- in the Philippines is a former overseas West, the conservative and the liberal, the sible for keeping the number of hiv/aids Filipino worker where, notably, migrant antiabortion and the prochoice, the victims in the Philippines relatively low.” workers are routinely screened and regu- population control agenda and the In the Philippines, when the church and larly receive information on hiv/aids. Many reproductive justice model. Unfortunately, conservatives invoke culture, they often believe that this explains why most reported while these categories do represent posi- do so in the context of claiming “tradi- cases are among migrant workers. tions and agendas very much in conflict

Tagging the issue as a clash between population control advocates on one side and the Roman Catholic hierarchy on the other side misrepresents the views of those who are both Catholic and pro-human rights.

tional Catholicism.” Such claims have The 2006-2007 report of the Philip- to date, framing the debate this way also often stood in the way of opening up the pine National aids Council reflects that tends to oversimplify the issues at stake discussion on issues ranging from abor- one of the major challenges to hiv/aids for many Filipino Catholics. For instance, tion and women’s rights to lesbian, gay, prevention and education programs in the tagging the issue as a clash between popu- bisexual and transgender equality and country lies in the lack of system-wide lation control advocates on one side and divorce. and institution-based interventions. A the Roman Catholic hierarchy on the other Similarly, comments invoking a supe- majority of the reported projects cite part- side misrepresents the views of those who rior culture are clearly more hype and nerships with mostly private, nongovern- are both Catholic and pro-human rights. hyperbole than reality-based. Surveys have mental organizations (ngos) and Human rights advocates from femi- consistently shown that much like their associations. And while there are successful nists to environmentalists were respon- Catholic counterparts elsewhere in the school partnerships with ngos, the struggle sible for challenging the population control world, Filipinos rarely accept the views of to adopt hiv/aids education in Philippine framework that was the premise behind the church without question on most schools runs parallel to the uphill battle most state policies and programs in the matters related to sex, particularly when to establish comprehensive sexuality educa- 1970s and 1980s, and the International it comes to contraception and sex educa- tion. Conference on Population and Develop- tion. Much like Catholics in other coun- ment. This struggle culminated in the adop- tries, Filipinos agree on the importance s this article goes to print, tion of the language of rights and the of sexuality education for youth and think pending legislation on reproduc- recognition of reproductive health in the that reproductive healthcare should be A tive health in the Philippines intro- icpd Programme of Action in 1994. The available. duced in 2001 is still awaiting final approval Vatican actively opposed the adoption of By comparison and in relation to its in Congress. The bill standardizes the avail- the document and continues to do so neighboring countries, the number of ability of reproductive health services at because of its opposition to all abortion reported hiv/aids cases in the Philippines the primary healthcare level and integrates and its belief that the icpd agreement seems relatively low, falling under 0.1 sexuality education including information promotes access to abortion. And while percent. Until recently, the prevalence on hiv/aids in the primary and secondary contested, the icpd Programme of Action

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Special Supplement for World aids Day 2009

and the 1995 Beijing Platform of Action supporting pending legislation on repro- development, as provided by the RH Bill. both reflect how the human rights ductive health. We also believe that the provisions of the community began redefining the way By 2008, a group of leading academics bill adhere to core principles of Catholic citizens’ rights and the obligations of from the Roman Catholic Ateneo de social teaching: the sanctity of human life, states were originally conceived in inter- Manila University issued a 16-page posi- the dignity of the human person, the national human rights law. The newfound tion paper, expressing not only their preferential option for the poor and emphasis on the social, economic and support for reproductive health as a right vulnerable, integral human development, cultural as the enabling conditions of but also extensively discussing the ethical human rights, and the primacy of the exercise of rights also brought a focus basis of their position in Catholic thought. conscience. on socio-economic inequality, something The university was quick to distance itself that ironically, Catholic church teaching The current Secretary of the Depart- has a lot to say about. ment of Social Welfare and Development, When the current Philippine Presi- Esperanza Cabral, has likewise become dent, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, took one of the most vocal supporters of the office in 2001, she took a stance against measure. By September 2008, seven other “reproductive health” and literally toed national agency heads and cabinet members the hierarchy’s line in equating the term joined her and threw their support behind with legalizing abortion. Ironically, the bill. Arroyo, claiming to be a traditional Despite these gains, however, the Roman Catholic, admitted to having using Catholic hierarchy in the Philippines the contraceptive pill when she was continues to influence and pressure politi- younger. Apart from opposing all manner cians against the passage of RH legisla- of spending and budget allocations for tion. They have, for the moment, also modern family planning methods, she also chosen to ignore the positions taken by

vowed to veto the RH bill during her 2001 . Catholics in support of reproductive health

State of the Nation address. The Depart- 2009 policy. ment of Health, which until 2000 had a ranoco, ranoco,

policy on reproductive healthcare and / n 1999, luis h. francia, writing for universal access to modern family plan- Poz, observed how during his interviews

ning methods, also started focusing on reuters with Filipino clerics, the mere mention

© I natural family planning (nfp) and even of the condom was the proverbial “monkey Fenny Tatad (R), head of a church-sponsored lobby awarded a 50 mil lion peso grant to a Roman group, answers questions about contraception during wrench” that caused his conversations with Catholic organization, Couples for Christ, a news conference in Manila. them to break down: to run the nfp program. from the position of its faculty members This thin protective sheath assumed n the past, once the catholic hier- but the professors never claimed theirs enormous proportions. I wasn’t surprised. archy launches its standard diatribe was the university’s official position in the In the continuing interplay between sexual Iagainst reproductive health, particu- first place. What they were clear on, repression and illicit pleasure, the condom larly contraception and sexuality educa- however, was that theirs was dissent has been perversely fetishized by the tion, it became predictable for the target founded on Catholic teaching on the exer- church. The hierarchy may downplay its government agency or official to back down cise of conscience: importance, yet they focus most of a from pursuing a program and imple- pastoral letter on it. Emblematic of the menting a policy. These days, however, We, individual faculty of the Ateneo de male body, the condom provokes the most the bishops are no longer the only Catholics Manila University, call for the immediate fervent of responses from the church speaking out and making a stand on matters passage of House Bill 5043 on faithful. like reproductive health. In 2007, Filipino “Reproductive Health and Population Catholics became vocal about their support Development” (hereafter RH Bill) in Much of Francia’s observation remains for reproductive healthcare. One group Congress. After examining it in the light of true to this day because of the hierarchy’s calling themselves the Catholics for RH Philippine social realities, and informed by opposition to the contraceptive aspects of Movement, a group of Catholics mostly our Christian faith, we have reached the the condom, as well as its disease-preven- working on health-related issues, women’s conclusion that our country urgently needs tion function. Even the much-lauded rights and in the broader human rights a comprehensive and integrated policy on Philippine hiv/aids law which promotes movement, came out with a position reproductive health and population the principles of voluntary and informed

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consent, patient confidentiality and rights by surprise when they came out with a Just days before, in a parade commem- reflects the traces of this debacle. Advo- position allowing condom use among orating the anniversary of Humanae Vitae, cates who pushed for the bill noted how married couples as a method to prevent Cardinal also chided as the passage of the bill neared, compro- the transmission of hiv. Edwin Corros, married couples for “not exercising self- mises were made to placate the Roman Executive Director of the ecpc explained control and discipline in bed,” prompting Catholic opposition and this resulted in the position taken by the Commission: a strong reaction from feminists who crit- the insertion of “provisos” in the section “We have to think of ways [to address icized the bishop for dismissing the use on hiv/aids education: the problem], because it is not only the of contraception by couples (especially life of the victim that we have to consider women wanting to avoid pregnancy) as section 4. hiv/aids Education in but his or her family as well. This is how “lack of discipline.” Schools. - The Department of Education, we look at the pastoral side.” This same Indeed, in the context of the broader Culture and Sports (decs), the position is reflected in the Training Catholic community, the difference of Commission on Higher Education Manual on hiv and aids for Catholic Church views on condom use and hiv/aids preven- (ched), and the Technical Education Pastoral Workers, a unaids project carried tion is not surprising. Condom use and and Skill Development Authority out in conjunction with the Catholic hiv/aids is one of the most debated issues (tesda), utilizing official information charity, Caritas Manila. within Catholic circles and bishops all provided by the Department of Health, The Commission’s position was clearly over the world have come out in the open shall integrate instruction on the causes, different from the one Caritas Manila with dissenting views often expressing a modes of transmission and ways of took in line with the official church posi- concern for vulnerable groups like

The Catholic Bishops Conference Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant People took the public by surprise when they came out with a position allowing condom use among married couples as a method to prevent the transmission of hiv.

preventing hiv/aids and other sexually tion only two years earlier when it began women who are exposed both to transmitted diseases in subjects taught in collaborating with the doh on the unaids and infection from their partners. Like- public and private schools at intermediate project. The Commission’s position on wise, dissenting bishops believe it is the grades, secondary and tertiary levels, condom use in this case, even “as a last duty of an infected person who wants to including non-formal and indigenous resort,” was a breakthrough for the engage in sexual relations to prevent harm. learning systems: Provided, That if the Filipino faithful but before the month In the Philippine context, the differing integration of hiv/aids education is not was over, Catholic bishops were again positions from the cbcp also reflect the appropriate or feasible, the decs and railing against the doh for promoting classic difference between the views tesda shall design special modules on condom use in their hiv/aids prevention expressed by those in positions of authority hiv/aids prevention and control: programs. Archbishop , and those directly engaged in active Provided, further, That it shall not be this time the chairperson of the Catholic ministry with the Catholic faithful. The used as an excuse to propagate birth Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ head of the Episcopal Commission for control or the sale or distribution of birth Commission on Family and Life, said that Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant control devices: Provided, finally, That it promoting the use of condoms in the doh People is a priest but the most vocal oppo- does not utilize sexually explicit materials. hiv/aids prevention and education sition of RH policy which includes hiv/aids programs was “dangerous and ineffec- prevention and sexuality education has However, by July 2008 different posi- tive.” Father Percival Bacani who served come from bishops. Clerics and lay persons tions were being taken by the Philippine as one of the advisers for Caritas Manila’s engaged in direct service provision and Catholic church hierarchy, especially unaids Training Manual also acknowl- often in contact with people living with pertaining to hiv/aids. The Catholic edged that “all the dioceses in the Philip- hiv are not caught up in the abstract and Bishops Conference Episcopal Commis- pines have been mobilized to speak against are more able to profoundly engage faith sion for Pastoral Care for Migrants and the bill and they have conducted a signa- and beliefs in concrete terms and with Itinerant People (ecpc) took the public ture campaign against the bill.” real people’s welfare in mind. n

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Special Supplement for World aids Day 2009 To Act without Prejudice understanding hiv-related stigma and discrimination By Kevin Osborne

ddressing and proactively dealing with hiv requires an unprecedented level of honesty. Honesty about the lack of real political and insti- tutionalA commitment to address the driving forces of this most human of epidemics. Honesty about the way in which we ensure that young people have access to comprehensive sexuality educa- tion programs. Honesty about how we have allowed an ‘us’ and ‘them’ approach to form a large part of our global response. Honesty about how our individual and collective actions or inaction have allowed the fertile breeding ground for hiv to . grow unchecked. And honesty about the 2005 fact that we have all in some way stigma- tized people living with hiv (plhiv). Stigma and discrimination against people rawlinson, rawlinson,

associated with or living with hiv is often © cited as one of the primary hurdles in Educational sign posted in the Simonga village in Zambia. addressing prevention and care issues, and is a stumbling block in ensuring access of justice and compassion. The vast In the face of this history, we need to be to essential services. Despite all we have majority of this epidemic is largely based brave, strong and courageous and begin learned over the past 28 years about hiv- on ignorance, prejudice and shame. People modeling compassion. If we are compas- related stigma, it continues to thrive— on their deathbeds have been told—and sionate, we will not let children pass fuelling the continued expansion of the still are—that they deserve their condi- through our lives too ignorant to protect epidemic. It is imperative that we find tion; that it is God’s punishment for their their own. If we are compassionate we innovative and personal ways to translate behavior. Children have been barred from will not teach others—by our own behav- the seemingly ever-growing rhetoric on schools and perhaps, more painfully, from iors—to practice discrimination and false stigma and discrimination into real action playing with other children. hiv- positive ignorance. If we are compassionate, we that makes a tangible difference in the women have been denied the opportu- will not go quietly into the night while lives of people most affected by the nity of fully realizing their sexual and repro- others die by the score. If we are compas- epidemic. ductive health and rights. Men who have sionate we will raise not only our conscious- Our brief hiv history indicates that two sex with other men, sex workers and people ness, but our voices and our hearts. We of the most important concepts are those who use drugs are prosecuted and system- will learn to act without prejudice. atically denied access to life-saving infor- All too frequently stigma and discrim- kevin osborne is Senior aids Advisor at the mation and services. Public policy and ination are grouped together as one International Planned Parenthood Federation in private practice have both been forged concept. While they are related and inter- London. from pure ignorance and ugly prejudice. linked, the actions to understand and

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address each of the individual elements often face a double stigma. This double For too long we have feared rather than are as different and multifaceted as the stigma is exacerbated by the absence of embraced this reality. For hiv is not only epidemic itself. policies that protect their rights, making about the perception of personal risk and Stigma is often seen as a sign of access to services a greater challenge. This vulnerability, but also about how to express disgrace or shame and is described as a kind of intolerance is a mobile force. It love and sexuality in the midst of this process of devaluation. A person who is attaches new fears to old forms. And that epidemic. As prevalence levels rise, the stigmatized is seen as having less value is precisely what makes it so hard to pin chances of meeting and falling in love with or worth than other people. This deval- down and to resist with rational argument— someone who is hiv positive will increase. uation is an attitude about how people the grounds of racism and intolerance keep Discordant relationships are increasingly are viewed or even view themselves. hiv- shifting. hiv discrimination attaches itself becoming part of the rich fabric of our global related stigma is not the sole domain of to pre-existing stigmas—to racial stereo- society and the challenge of expressing people who are not hiv positive. Because of years of systematic prejudice about hiv, people living with hiv often inter- nalize or assume that stigma should be an inevitable part of their journey. This ‘felt’ or ‘self-stigmatization’ has an impact on how many people living with hiv view themselves, on the kinds of relationships they form and about their own sense of worth. This feeling of being less worthy is often deep-rooted and may take many years (if at all) to be acknowledged. Discrimination involves treating someone in a different and unjust, unfair or prejudicial way—often on the basis of their actual or perceived belonging to a . particular group. It consists of actions or 2008 omissions that are a result of stigma and directed towards those individuals who are trygve, trygve,

stigmatized. In other words, discrimina- © tion is enacted stigma. However, a person In Armenia, stickers that say, “This is what an hiv-positive person looks like” are being posted on public mirrors may feel stigma towards another but may during major events. decide not to act in a way that is unfair or types or to stigma against sexual minori- love in this age of aids will provide the discriminatory. Discrimination can occur ties. A key priority in addressing the stigma opportunity to confront the subtle nuances at different levels: individual, family, felt by people living with hiv is listening of personal stigma and learnt prejudices. community or national. hiv-related discrim- to, acknowledging and responding mean- The social discourse has to move away from ination is frequently addressed through ingfully to our voices and invaluable expe- a single focus on disease avoidance to one the creation of policies to safeguard and riences. which challenges us all—irrespective of protect the rights of plhiv. However, a Stigma and discrimination are associ- hiv status—to find ways of expressing our policy is only as strong as its accessibility ated with lower uptake of preventive serv- sexuality in the presence of hiv. Commu- to those at the forefront of the epidemic. ices, testing and counseling, reduced and nities of faith, the media, policymakers, Stigma often builds upon and reinforces delayed disclosure of hiv status, and post- healthcare professionals and in- and out- other existing prejudices, such as those poning or rejecting care or seeking health- of-school educational facilities are key related to gender, sexual orientation, care services outside one’s community for avenues for building, shaping and empow- behavior and race. The devaluing power fear of breach of confidentiality. Stigma ering individuals to redefine a new way for of stigma results in acts of overt discrimi- and discrimination affect more severely us to view this epidemic. nation and hampers access to vital serv- women and girls, and vulnerable popula- Communities too will have to move away ices. It is often assumed that stigma is directly tions including sex workers, widows, pris- from complacency towards transforma- related only to the hiv-positive status of oners and TB patients. tion—especially as it relates to gender. No an individual, but key vulnerable popula- At the individual level one of the most longer should culture, religion and tradition be tions such as sex workers, men who have critical challenges is to individualize and used as convenient vehicles to explain away hiv sex with men and people who use drugs internalize the realities of a world with hiv. lethargy. Largely patriarchal societies will need

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to shift to those in which women are truly collaboration with unaids, the Global related stigma and discrimination. empowered and men are viewed as equal Network of People living with hiv/aids Ten things to do to address hiv-related partners in the solution. Many current (gnp+) and the International Community stigma and discrimination: interventions have sought to empower of Women with hiv/aids (icw)—have young women and girls, further placing developed The People Living with hiv 1. Remain updated on the latest the onus for action on them. This is Stigma Index which aims to complement developments around hiv. All despite the fact that the social structures our global understanding of stigma by spiritual communities and leaders are and cultural norms continue to reinforce ensuring that responses deal with the most perfectly placed to deal with both the the superiority and dominance of men. pressing issues facing the hiv-positive preventative and care components of However empowered women may be, community. Roll-out of this index, which hiv and need to remain aware of the they are still often unable to make deci- has as its core the involvement of people salient developments in the sions about how, when and with whom epidemic. The treatment as to have sex. Gender transformation begins prevention paradigm has the ability in communities where social and cultural to transform the way we not only factors that define masculinity and shape manage hiv but how we view those men’s role in hiv and the implications who are living with hiv. Building on of these factors for their sexual partners their role to educate, inform and (male and/or female) need to be addressed. advise, leaders of faith need to be Faith leaders in every community have a familiar with the latest trends and vital role to play in these conversations if developments in hiv. Listening and we hope to shape a new world order for acting without prejudice is a science tomorrow’s generation. we must perfect. It had always been assumed that knowl- 2. Practice what we preach. A few years edge alone will ensure that instances of ago I attended an Easter service hiv stigma and discrimination will be conducted by Dean Rowan Smith at reduced. However, in many countries the cathedral in Cape Town, South where levels of hiv awareness are high, Africa. Amongst all the Easter . there is no clear pattern that this neces- paraphernalia I found a simple 2007 sarily translates into acceptance. Since its message with a universal ring: a debut in 1981, the face of hiv-related stigma message not of years gone by or one leroyer, leroyer,

and discrimination has undergone a subtle © relegated to the dusty verses of a shift. In many countries it is no longer An event organized by Médecins Sans Frontières in Bible or Torah or Koran. It was a the visible signs of Karposi’s sarcoma or Rostock, Germany, demonstrated the high price of message of our modern times that anti-retroviral drugs by showing people jumping to wasted bodies that spur discrimination. catch a pill and then falling into the sea. forms the basis for addressing hiv Many people will now more readily say stigma. Neatly and expertly that they will buy fruit from a fruit vendor living with hiv, has commenced in a interwoven into the age-old Easter who is hiv positive or perhaps even share number of countries and gives us an impor- ritual was the connection of all of our an embrace with someone who is openly tant tool to gauge how successful our spiritual teachings to hiv—a message hiv positive. But in many communities collective advocacy efforts to reduce stigma of life and love, of care and we are still not ready to have our food have been. The People Living with hiv compassion. The dean of the cooked by a chef who is living with hiv Stigma Index will build an evidence base cathedral challenged all his or have our children taught by someone to inform policy and practice. Guided by parishioners to accept the challenges who is openly living with hiv—or have a trained facilitator, people living with that hiv has placed in front of us. them become intimately involved with hiv will complete a questionnaire about And he challenged his very cathedral someone who is hiv positive. Or perhaps their perceptions of stigma. One researcher to assume a more visible role in the it’s the tell-tale signs of lipodystrophy from the pilot work on the plhiv Stigma epidemic. For hiv is sitting in the that many people can more easily recog- Index stated: “Being interviewed by pews of every church, in the halls of nize. Whatever the reason, hiv stigma another person living with hiv does make every synagogue and mosque. The has not decreased. a difference—as you feel they really would dean came up with a rather All too often, the experiences of stigma understand more about how you feel about wonderful idea that a board should and discrimination felt by plhiv are things related to being hiv positive.” In be put up prominently in the deemed anecdotal. The International ways like this, we will sharpen both our cathedral as there was in the days of Planned Parenthood Federation—in understanding of and response to hiv- apartheid. But the message on this

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Special Supplement for World aids Day 2009

board would be a little different. services or sympathy. hiv-positive acceptance without reservation or It should simply and unequivocally people can and do play a pivotal role judgment. Every parent should have state: “This Cathedral has aids.” in shaping the attitudes of every the fortitude to have an open 3. Acknowledge and address the workplace and place of worship. conversation with their children stigmatizing attitudes we may But for many, they can only fulfill about their attitudes towards hiv. harbor about some behaviors or this role when a supportive and Lethargic inaction is fatal. people who are particularly nurturing environment has been 6. Work in partnership. Finding your vulnerable to hiv. Spiritual created. Simple steps make a niche in addressing hiv-related communities will have to face up to difference. Workplaces and stigma should include the creation their own prejudices on a variety of institutions should ensure that all of core partnerships—for these will issues that are so intimately wrapped prospective job vacancies in the help sustain momentum. Working up in dealing with hiv: issues organization indicate that hiv- with the media to ensure that around homosexuality, sex before positive people with the requisite sensationalist stories about so-called marriage, fidelity and faithfulness, skills and experience are encouraged innocent victims have no place in disclosure, poverty, sex work, gender to apply. Implementing the gipa helping document cases of discrimi- inequality, ethnicity, drug use and (Greater Involvement of People nation will pave the way for increased race. Because the roots of hiv- Living with hiv/aids) principle societal understanding of the impact related stigma and discrimination recognizes that the personal of stigma on the lives of people living with and affected by hiv. 7. Sensitize all health and social service workers to discrimination and act against it. In India, the Lawyers Collective in Mumbai has not only been raising awareness among people with hiv about their legal rights, including those as patients, they have also been sensitizing doctors and other healthcare workers to hiv- related legal and ethical issues. For protective laws and policies to have an impact people living with hiv must have ready access to mechanisms to redress discrimination. 8. Become an active citizen through . involvement in a campaign to protect 2009 and safeguard the rights of plhiv.

flickr, flickr, There are a number of active © campaigns that aim to address Stop signs against stigma. various aspects related to stigma and discrimination. From national run deep, we need to create spaces experiences of people living with hiv campaigns to address the criminal- to confront and talk openly about can, and should, be used to shape ization of hiv transmission or our feelings and attitudes about our response to and attitudes about exposure to those that aim to remove issues and behaviors that are all too the epidemic. travel restrictions for plhiv, one of often silenced or taboo. Move 5. Challenge personal complacency and the most important ways to beyond awareness to unlock those fight like hell for the living. No understand our own feelings about a deeprooted prejudices that may longer should we hide behind number of sensitive issues is to silently lurk within each one of us. ignorance and silence—because that become actively engaged. 4. Meaningfully engage with people alone is reason enough for 9. Ensure that a supportive legislative living with hiv to better understand condemnation. It is the responsibility environment exists so that discrimi- and change attitudes. People living of every individual, of every spiritual nation can be tackled. Protection with hiv should no longer be viewed leader to help shape compassion and from discrimination should be merely as recipients of either care; to foster support and everyone’s task. The International

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Special Supplement for World aids Day 2009

Labour Organization has developed a helps employees living with hiv to the chains that link hiv to racism and code of practice on hiv and the world understand the support and care inequality can be broken and the hiv of work. Workplace and institutional available to them. Simple, practical epidemic can be turned back. The fight hiv discrimination has been a focus steps, such as the implementation against hiv will be won by a unique combi- in many countries. In South Africa of policies to protect rights help nation of increased political commitment, the Employment Equity Act has ensure that respect and support are adequate resources, sound policies and made it illegal for the majority of formalized in contexts where, robust health systems. This much we government departments to carry out previously, many people faced know. But fundamentally, however, the pre-employment hiv testing. discrimination or chose to fight must be won at the personal level. 10. Develop and implement a robust remain silent. The real battle must be fought by ensuring and innovative workplace policy and individuals—be they policymakers or the program. A workplace policy, by Stigma begins and ends with each one poor; presidents or patients—have the bringing hiv out into the open, of us. As the triple combination of igno- ability and skills to live, love and find the reduces stigma and discrimination rance, prejudice and fear creates a light that glows in the very shadows of as it lays down a standard of nurturing avenue for hiv’s continued this epidemic. That is where the real battle behavior for all employees (whether spread, so openness, acceptance and acces- is. For in truly embracing hiv we can infected or not). It gives guidance sible services are the key to its contain- begin the journey of honest reflection to supervisors and managers and ment. Shame and fear can be defeated, and concerted action. ■

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vol. xxx—no. 2 2009 37 102885p38_39 10/30/09 3:29 AM Page 38

Special Supplement for World aids Day 2009

AIDS in Mexico: Not a Disease? By Robert Joe Stout

n mexico, aids is not a disease.” insists Dr. José Antonio Izazola, the director The smile creasing the young of Mexico’s hiv/aids treatment and preven- “ mother’s face seems more of a tion program, because traditional gender grimace than a statement motivated differences still prevalent in Mexico hamper by humor as she peers through the many women’s ability to control personal Iwindow that overlooks a narrow cobble- risks with sexual partners. He insists that stone street in the city of Oaxaca barrio gender equality is a major component in of Xochimilco. Turning back towards controlling the spread of aids and that me, she states unequivocally, “It is a sin.” reform in this area is vital. Her name is Josefina. She would not Although many states and Mexico’s allow me to use her last name because, Federal District provide free or low-cost she explained, in the small town in the medical treatment for people living with

state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico where hiv, it is widely considered a disease that .

they lived before coming to the city her affects only homosexuals, drug abusers 2005 neighbors had refused to allow their and sex workers. Health workers and children to associate with her young son human rights organizations cite instances aguilar, aguilar, and daughter after Josefina had confirmed where employers have fired hiv-positive / that she was hiv positive. Unlike workers, where hiv-positive children or reuters

many who postpone getting diagnosed children of mothers being treated anti- © and treated, she sought medical retrovirally are denied school attendance A Mexican aids activist participates in the March of help as soon as she learned that and where doctors and healthcare workers Silence in Mexico City. she had contracted hiv. refuse to treat hiv-positive patients, even “The only man I ever was with was my for non-hiv-involved emergencies. the state give them a six-pack and chit for husband,” she looks away again and shakes Politically, historically and geographi- a motel room as well?” Like current Pres- her head. “It is from him that I became cally Mexico is a divided country. The ident Felipe Calderón a member of the infected.” Like nearly a million other Oaxa- sprawling Federal District, which encom- conservative National Action Party, cans, she explains, her husband migrated passes Mexico City and several of its larger González forced the state’s health secre- to the United States to work, returning suburbs and includes approximately one- tary who had established a hiv-preven- only for a few months each winter. “When fourth of the nation’s population, is the tion program to resign, although he I told him what had happened he called center of “government, , corrup- conceded that Guadalajara would continue me a puta (prostitute) and hit me and left tion, culture and intellectuality,” according to distribute condoms to homosexuals since me. I have not seen him since.” to a local journalist, while the outlying “they are the ones most at risk of Although Mexico’s National Council regions are more conservative politically contracting the disease.” for Prevention and Control of aids and socially as well as being less likely to But many gay people, like many living (conasida) has officially identified challenge the church hierarchy. For the with hiv, refuse to disclose their status to hiv/aids as an epidemic, Mexico has one past 15 years Mexico City has been governed anybody connected to the government, of the lowest hiv-prevalence rates in Latin by a liberal majority while the rest of the thus inhibiting hiv-prevention programs America. However, the rate of hetero- nation has remained in the hands of conser- and making it difficult to obtain accurate sexual infection has increased substan- vative governors and supported the poli- statistics. Both conasida and the US tially. Women are increasingly vulnerable, cies of conservative presidents. Centers for Disease Control and Preven- “Make condoms available to teenagers?” tion concede that the number of people robert joe stout is a journalist working in the governor of Guadalajara, Emilio living with hiv is probably much higher Mexico City. González, scoffed in 2008, “why not have than the 174,000-200,000 figure indicated

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by official statistics. Mexico registers an year in non-urban areas. A large percentage countered discussions about hiv and aids average of 5,000 new cases of hiv a year of those affected were, like Josefina, the prevention with homilies about family and 6,000 aids deaths a year. The wives of men who returned from long values, heterosexuality and sexual absten- majority of infections occur in the 25-44 periods of time working in the United tion. Cardinal Norberto Rivera repeated -year-old age group; aids is the third- States or in the border cities. Pope Benedict xvi’s dictum, “The aids leading cause of death for men and sixth- To counter the spread of cases being problem cannot be resolved with the distri- leading cause of death in women among reported rurally, the federal government bution of condoms. They only exacerbate people between the ages of 25 and 44. in conjunction with state governments the problem…the only efficient way to The strong stance taken by President created ambulatory centers for patients fight the epidemic is by spiritual renova- Calderón against abortion and his insis- with aids and sexually transmitted diseases. tion.” The Conference of Mexican Bishops tence on family values as a deterrent not These centers, called capasits for the recently endorsed this stance, insisting only for aids but for addiction and crime initials in Spanish, focus on patient care that the fight against aids had to concen- as well has shifted funding away from and monitoring the use of the antiretro- trate on education in “the use of sexuality public health programs. The federal viral drugs, particularly for patients who and the reaffirmation of the role of marriage Department of Health’s legal authority, otherwise might interrupt or stop treat- and the family” without mentioning who was also the former attorney for the ment. Despite these efforts, which are poverty, migration or lack of employment archdiocese of Mexico, pocket vetoed focused on treatment rather than preven- as factors in the breakup of so many tradi- updating aids medications and treat- tion, an unknown number of people post- tional Mexican families. President Calderón ments because he claimed to have found pone seeking help until their situations echoed the conference’s assertion when he errors in the paperwork. In addition, a become desperate, a factor in the higher announced publicly that youth criminality federal congressman from the state of percentages of hiv-related deaths in Mexico resulted from a “failure to believe in God.” Colima proposed that jail sentences be compared to many other countries. These attitudes contrast with church levied against any person who infects conasida reported in 2008 that during support at the parish level of capacits and another with a sexually transmitted disease. the previous year only 57 percent of those other aids education and treatment By contrast in Mexico’s Federal needing antiretroviral drugs were receiving programs. Catholic private schools District liberal administrations have legal- them and less than one percent of women throughout Mexico provide sex educa- ized abortion through the first twelve living with hiv were receiving antiretro- tion classes in junior high school that weeks of pregnancy, validated same-sex viral therapy for prevention of mother- conform with federal regulations although unions and facilitated the financing of to-child transmission. (as in public schools) the quality of pres- hiv medication and identification of those Both the federal government and the entation varies greatly. most at risk. Nearly half of those identi- government of the Federal District have Although both international and local fied as hiv positive live there. sponsored educational and informational hiv/aids statistics indicate that the When aids first appeared in Mexico campaigns concerning hiv and aids but “epidemic” is controlled with the number in 1981 the only reported cases occurred Dr. Izazola doubts that a person’s reac- of deaths more or less equal to the number in Mexico City and in cities along the tion to “a spectacular announcement” in of new cases, there are danger signs on Mexico-US border. Health authorities a microbus or newspaper is going to the horizon. Calderón insists that the identified men who have sex with men as increase his or her condom use. Informa- country’s financial collapse that began in the group most affected. The outbreak tion about safe sex and hiv prevention is 2008 has bottomed out. Nevertheless, remained confined until 1988 when, often confusing and controversial, partic- the federal government has made exten- according to statistics from the US Centers ularly since the hierarchy of the Catholic sive budget cuts in funds destined for for Disease Control and Prevention, it church has taken a strong stance against health and education. Although part of spread beyond that demographic and condom use, homosexuality and same-sex hiv/aids funding comes from private geographic area until it stabilized in 1996 unions. In 2003, two bishops condemned sources (foundations, etc.) cutbacks could at between 4,000 and 5,000 new cases a President Vicente Fox’s wife Marta severely affect current research projects year. Sahagún who urged people to have the and capasits’ ability to identify and treat Infection through blood transfusions “moral courage” to fight aids through people with hiv. In addition, the dramatic dropped dramatically after the first years safe sex education. The bishop of the increase in drug use within Mexico and of the epidemic. Injected drug use was central state of Tlaxcala, Jacinto Guer- the government’s failure to fund preven- uncommon in Mexico and not a major rero, claimed that “millions of people are tion and rehabilitation programs threatens source of transmission. But the rate of infected with aids because of the propa- to increase the propagation of hiv/aids heterosexual infection increased substan- ganda surrounding condom use.” and stimulate the popular belief that the tially every year after 1996, primarily among Bishop Guerrero’s appraisal echoes that disease is retribution for addiction or women and in greater proportions every of Mexico’s Catholic hierarchy which has “immoral” sexual practices. n

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vol. xxx—no. 2 2009 41 102885p42_43 10/28/09 5:05 AM Page 42

Cameroon: Abortion, the Catholic Hierarchy and the Maputo Protocol By Elizabeth Atemnkeng

n cameroon, the situation for women is bleak: only 29 percent of sexually active women are using contraceptives and just 32 percent of young women have a compre- Ihensive knowledge of how to prevent the spread of hiv. As prevention options are slim, it is not surprising that 35 percent of reported pregnancies in Cameroon end in abortion, a great majority of these performed using unsafe methods. One in 24 Cameroonian women risks maternal mortality during her lifetime. While the law in Cameroon permits abortion in the cases of rape or if the woman’s health is in danger, abortion services are still widely inaccessible and women who seek out the option are often stigmatized. As evidenced in Pope Benedict’s recent trip to the country (in which he made the now-infamous remarks denouncing condom use as a means of preventing the transmission of hiv), Cameroon has a burgeoning Catholic population. More than a quarter, 26.7 percent, of Cameroon’s population identifies as Catholic. . elizabeth atemnkeng 2009 is senior counsel at the Supreme Court of Cameroon and secretary general of the Cameroon chapter of the bianchi, / International Federation of Women Lawyers. She worked at Catholics for Choice as part of the

reuters Fellowship Program at Georgetown University

© Law Center’s Leadership and Advocacy for Pope Benedict xvi waves at the crowd as he arrives to say Mass in Yaounde, Cameroon. Women in Africa (lawa).

42 conscience 102885p42_43 10/28/09 5:05 AM Page 43

The Catholic church in Cameroon on May 28, 2009, any observations or nition of the health of a woman. The maintains 28 hospitals and nearly 235 clinics. protests ought to have been raised within Maputo Protocol adopts the World Health According to an interview conducted with the last three years. Therefore, the current Organization’s definition of health as “a a physician at a Catholic hospital, contra- protests from the church hierarchy come state of complete physical, mental and ceptives are not accessible and abortion a bit too late. It seems though that the social well-being and not merely the and emergency contraception are not real aim of the hierarchy is not to debate absence of disease or infirmity.” Custom- provided, even in cases of rape. In cases domestic versus international law but rather arily, Cameroonian law on abortion has where the rape victim is unwilling to to stifle reproductive health and rights in taken only physical health into consider- continue the pregnancy, the victim is Cameroon. ation. advised to continue the pregnancy and As previously stated, section 337 of the For years, the Cameroonian govern- upon giving birth, place the child in the Cameroonian penal code allows for abor- ment has ratified a myriad of international care of one of the 15 Catholic orphanages. tion in only two instances: when the preg- instruments which protect the rights of As some Catholics in Cameroon try nancy results from rape or when it threatens women and reproductive rights including to adhere to the church hierarchy’s the health of the pregnant woman. The the International Covenant of Economic, mandates on sexual and reproductive Maputo Protocol, on the other hand, deals Social and Cultural Rights and the health and rights, the potential impact extensively with reproductive health and Convention on the Elimination of of the hierarchy is great. Thankfully, the rights in Article 14 (see box). Discrimination against Women as well as Cameroonian government has stifled this Article 14 also specifies the measures the African Charter on Human and impact and enhanced its commitments to be carried out by state parties to achieve Peoples’ Rights. And so, the church to women’s rights by ratifying the Protocol its objectives. These include the provi- hierarchy should be reminded that to the African Charter on Women sion of adequate, affordable and acces- the Maputo Protocol is not the first (Maputo Protocol) on May 28, 2009. sible health services. They also include international instrument which the However, as the protocol deals exten- the “establishment and strengthening of Cameroonian government has ratified sively with reproductive rights, the rati- existing pre-natal, delivery and post-natal that protects women’s reproductive fication has been met with protests from health and nutritional services for women rights—nor should it be the last. Even the Catholic hierarchy. during pregnancy and while they are more so, the women of Cameroon ought In a resolution marking the close of breast-feeding” and the “protection of not to rest with these international protec- the 34th assembly of the National Epis- the reproductive rights of women by tions in place; they should be constantly copal Conference of Cameroon, the authorizing medical abortion in cases of working to overturn the prohibitions on bishops condemned the Cameroonian sexual assault, rape, incest, and where the abortion that still exist in Cameroonian government for ratifying the Maputo continued pregnancy endangers the mental law. With the sad realities of maternal Protocol on the grounds that it violated and physical health of the mother or the mortality, not to mention sexual violence Cameroonian laws by permitting abortion. life of the mother or the fetus.” and lack of preventative measures in Following the bishops’ resolution, conser- Upon first look, the provisions for abor- Cameroon, the need to repeal the law and vative allies of the hierarchy started a petition tion in the Maputo Protocol seem quite change cultural attitudes criminalizing and held a protest in the Douala archdiocese. similar to that of Cameroonian law. and stigmatizing The Maputo Protocol is an interna- However, the difference lies in the defi- is imperative. ■ tional human rights instrument that seeks to protect and promote women’s human rights in the African region. According to The Maputo Protocol Article 45 of Cameroon’s constitution, upon ratification and being made public, Article 14 grants women the following rights: international treaties have primacy over ■ the right to control their fertility; every domestic law. It is up to legislators ■ the right to decide whether to have children, the number of children and the to ensure that, prior to ratification, no spacing of children; provisions of an international convention ■ the right to choose any method of contraception; conflict with existing national laws. If the ■ the right to be able to protect oneself against sexually transmitted infections, treaty does contain some contradictions including hiv; with domestic laws, parliament must either ■ the right to be informed about one’s own health status and about the health make reservations while ratifying or modify status of one’s partner, particularly information about sexually transmitted domestic laws before ratification. infections, in accordance with internationally recognized standards and best As Cameroon signed the Maputo practices; Protocol on July 25, 2006, and ratified it ■ the right to have family planning education.

vol. xxx—no. 2 2009 43 102885p44_47 10/28/09 5:10 AM Page 44

The Vatican’s War on Dissent By Jeannine Gramick

s a young girl growing up in the 1940s and 1950s in Phila- delphia, a culturally conser- vative city whose population was more than 50 percent ACatholic, I believed unquestioningly in what the Catholic church taught. Nurtured on the Baltimore Catechism and able to recite questions and answers on demand, I respected and followed legitimate authority. I loved school, the nuns and my church. My maturation into physical and moral . 2005 adulthood coincided with the Second Vatican Council. In refining my concept polich, of church, I distinguished between the / faithful church and the institutional reuters

church. The people of God, as the faithful © church, nourish, support and challenge Cardinal William Levada (L) shakes hands with Cardinal Francis George of Chicago. Cardinal Levada, head of the me to grow in my relationship with God. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, ordered an investigation of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious while Cardinal George recently reprimanded a sister who is serving as a clinic escort. The Vatican, the bishops, the priesthood and Catholic organizations, provide a framework or structure for my relation- rather than as a structure enabling the censures of Leonardo Boff, John McNeill, ship with God. While I am proud of all Holy Spirit to come alive in the faithful. Ivone Gebara, Hans Kung, Charles the good works done locally, nationally In the course of history, religious Curran and Roger Haight to name but a and globally by the institutional church authorities have silenced dissent in order few. through such agencies as Catholic Char- to enforce orthodoxy. So too in the Roman Some contemporary cases in the United ities, Catholic Relief Services, Cor Unum Catholic church, we have seen dissenters’ States show that the tradition of dissent and various other Catholic organizations, works placed on an index of forbidden by the faithful is still strong and the hier- I have too often experienced my institu- books. We have seen suspected dissenters archy still punitive. tional church as a repressive government tried secretly in the Spanish and Roman inquisitions. We have seen the condem- rosemary radford ruether nation of scientific dissenters like Galileo The first situation involves Rosemary jeannine gramick is a Roman Catholic nun, a co-founder of the activist organization New and theological ones like the early 20th Radford Ruether, one of the leading US Ways Ministry and coordinator of the National century European modernists. In the latter ecofeminist theologians. In January 2008, Coalition of American Nuns. part of the 20th century, we have seen the University of San Diego (usd) invited

44 conscience 102885p44_47 10/28/09 5:10 AM Page 45

Professor Ruether to occupy the Monsi- whose theology was consistent with that Kolpack to denounce it, make a profes- gnor John R. Portman Chair in Roman of the Catholic hierarchy. Despite protests sion of faith and take a loyalty oath in Catholic Systematic Theology for the from faculty and others who signed a peti- order to keep her job. Kolpack responded fall 2009 semester. The appointment tion criticizing the decision as an insult that she could profess her faith and take included her availability on campus to to Ruether and a detriment to academic an oath, but could not renounce her thesis counsel and encourage theology faculty, freedom, usd administrators reaffirmed without compromising her integrity as a delivering a public lecture and conducting their decision to cancel the appointment. scholar. She was given no opportunity to seminars and colloquia for the faculty. The How was dissent involved in this situ- discuss the thesis, nor any of the original Theology and Religious Studies Depart- ation? usd, a Catholic university with a accusations against her, but was summarily ment called Ruether a “leading Church reputation for fostering academic and theo- fired within 10 minutes. historian and pioneering figure in Chris- logical development, was obviously willing Within days of the meeting between tian feminist theology.” Ruether received and eager to hire a progressive and inno- Kolpack and Morlino, Kolpack’s sup- an official confirmation three months later. vative theologian. But the university porters held protests. Morlino responded After the university publicly announced administration, despite support for a free- that Kolpack’s firing was a “personnel the appointment in June, a conservative thinking theologian from faculty and matter.” Her thesis was not the sole issue, internet news service with a focus on abor- outside forces, bowed to the pressure of he said. She had a “certain mentality” that

Morlino said he had not read her thesis in its entirety; nevertheless, he asked Kolpack to denounce it, make a profession of faith and take a loyalty oath in order to keep her job.

tion and other sexual issues contacted the other outside forces that see themselves was “troublesome.” Morlino maintained university for comment about the reasons as watchdogs to marginalize dissenters. that he respected her fine pastoral work for Ruether’s selection. The news service at St. Thomas and did not want to “hurt subsequently reported the decision and ruth kolpack her good name.” He discouraged hopes published an article about what it consid- The second situation involves Ruth that she would be reinstated, but agreed ered to be Ruether’s history of anti-Catholic Kolpack, a laywoman who was fired from to come to the parish and speak with the teaching, stating that she calls God “Gaia,” her position as a pastoral associate at St. parishioners. has served as a board member of Catholics Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in In early April, Morlino met with for Choice and supports abortion, contra- Beloit, Wisc., in March 2009. She had between 300 and 400 St. Thomas parish- ception, women’s ordination and a host been a pastoral associate for more than a ioners. He listened to their pleas and of other views that “put her in conflict dozen years and had served the parish in received written petitions from her sup - with essential Catholic beliefs.” It also various capacities for the past 38 years. porters to reinstate Kolpack. However, published the university’s contact infor- After a brief meeting with Bishop Robert in May Kolpack was notified that she would mation, urging concerned readers to advise Morlino of the Catholic Diocese of not be reinstated and could not serve in usd not to honor Ruether. The univer- Madison, Kolpack lost her job. any leadership role in her parish. Details sity received calls from Catholics urging Morlino stated that her views on the on what led to her dismissal were not a reversal of the decision or threatening teachings of Jesus were “off base.” He disclosed although a statement on the action against the university if a reversal referred to Kolpack’s thesis entitled, diocese’s Web site said that Morlino could was not forthcoming. “Inclusive Language for Naming God: A not trust her to teach authentic Catholic In mid-July, the university provost Challenge for the Church,” written for doctrine. called Ruether to cancel the offer, saying her masters of divinity degree from St. In this case, there was no evidence, only that the donor funding the chair had a Francis seminary. The main theme of her a presumption of dissent. Once again, “certain vision” of whom she wanted for thesis is inclusiveness and the patriarchal there had been complaints made by church the chair. In response to press inquiries, tone of the church’s liturgy, especially traditionalists to a traditionalist bishop, the university maintained it was not influ- because of the exclusion of women from who acknowledged that “external forces” enced by outside groups, but that the key roles, such as the priesthood. played a part in the dismissal. Tens of anonymous donor expected that the Morlino said he had not read her thesis thousands of Catholic church personnel appointment would be given to someone in its entirety; nevertheless, he asked can be fired arbitrarily without appeal to

vol. xxx—no. 2 2009 45 102885p44_47 10/28/09 5:10 AM Page 46

any neutral party when charges of dissent In the second investigation, Cardinal gations and objected to the fact that the are levelled against them, despite the fact Levada, the head of the cdf, stated that reports will be kept secret. that the US Catholic bishops’ pastoral the doctrinal evaluation was warranted Is the issue of dissent an underlying letter, “Economic Justice For All,” argues because three issues discussed at a 2001 motivation of the community visitations? against such injustice. Increasingly during meeting had not been resolved, as indi- Remarks by Cardinal Franc Rodé, the the last two pontificates, we have witnessed cated by various addresses given at the Vatican official who initiated the visita- little tolerance for dissent and a rise in organization’s annual assemblies in the tions, certainly seem to suggest so. At a self-nominated enforcers of orthodoxy. intervening years. The three areas were symposium on religious life at Stonehill the ordination of women priests, the College in North Easton, Mass., in women religious and the vatican primacy of the Roman Catholic church September 2008, Cardinal Rodé spoke The third situation involves women reli- among the world’s religions and homo- about individual women religious or entire gious and the Vatican. In January 2009, sexuality. Officers of lcwr had one communities that “have opted for ways the Vatican’s Congregation for Insti- meeting in late May with the investiga- that take them outside communion with tutes of Consecrated Life and Societies tors, Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo Christ in the Catholic Church, although of Apostolic Life announced it would and Msgr. Charles Brown from the cdf they themselves may have opted to ‘stay’ conduct an apostolic visitation of US who presented the Vatican’s concerns. At in the Church physically.” This is an evident women religious in order to examine their a second meeting in the fall of 2009, lcwr reference to those communities that are quality of life. A month later, came news will respond. pushing the boundaries of traditional of a second Vatican probe. This one, from What is the role of dissent in these inter- Catholicism.

The investigation, from the Vatican’s vantage point, has already had some limited success because it has instilled fear and self-silencing in some women religious.

the Vatican’s Congregation for the ventions into the lives of US women reli- A document entitled Instrumentum Doctrine of the Faith (cdf), would be a gious? Clearly, the doctrinal investigation Laboris, given to the communities by doctrinal assessment of the Leadership of lcwr is being conducted because the Mother Millea, delineates the scope of of Conference of Women Religious Vatican, concerned at least about three the visitation and shows that dissent is one (lcwr), an umbrella organization of 1,500 named areas, is attempting to stifle any of the Vatican’s core concerns. The visi- leaders representing 95 percent of approx- future dissent. The investigation, from tors will examine “the soundness of doctrine imately 59,000 US sisters. the Vatican’s vantage point, has already held and taught by the religious.” Commu- In the first investigation, the Vatican had some limited success because it has nity leaders will be asked what process appointed Mother Mary Clare Millea, instilled fear and self-silencing in some they use to respond to sisters who “dissent who lives in Rome and is the superior women religious. For example, some publicly or privately from the authorita- general of a traditional teaching order, communities denied or reconsidered tive teaching of the Church” or “from to head the visitation. The first phase hosting progressive groups in their facili- congregational decisions, especially consisted of meetings, phone calls or ties because of repercussions that might regarding matters of Church authority.” correspondence between Mother Millea materialize. Others defeated proposals at Team members involved in the visita- and about 175 leaders of approximately their annual assemblies because of poten- tions will be asked to make a profession 340 communities. In the second phase, tial Vatican feedback. These actions are of faith and an oath of fidelity to the insti- each leader will receive a questionnaire deemed necessary to be free of Vatican tutional church. In the past, church author- about their community’s life and ministry. control, but the religious have already lost ities used loyalty oaths and professions of After studying the results, Mother Millea some of their freedom by altering their faith to suppress dissent. About 100 years will select various communities to receive usual manner of acting. Although many ago, Pope Pius X’s “Oath against an on-site visit during 2010 from a team religious are being cautious about future Modernism” instilled fear and impeded of investigators. The communities are actions, approximately 800 leaders in lcwr theological development for decades until asked to pay for the accommodations expressed their thinking about the two the works of many modernist theologians and travel of those who will be investi- investigations. In a public statement at became the foundations for the Second gating them. By mid-2011, Mother Millea their assembly in New Orleans, August Vatican Council. Pope Paul VI abolished will send a confidential report to the 11-14, 2009, they questioned the motiva- the oath, but within two decades, Pope Vatican with her recommendations. tion and funding sources for the investi- John Paul II restored it. Sadly, we are

46 conscience 102885p44_47 10/28/09 5:10 AM Page 47

the vatican’s war on dissent

witnessing an attempt to return to a mono- to block women from entering the clinic. tions the Vatican will try to impose on lithic church where voices, other than the Sister Quinn closed her letter by stating US sisters. Listening to different posi- approved ones, are muted. A monolithic that she would do all she could to make tions, with a discussion of their merits church fails to see that persuasive argu- sure women seeking medical assistance and drawbacks, is needed in the life of ments and the witness of one’s life, not have safe passage to a facility. Cardinal any dynamic organization. Dissent can professions of faith and loyalty oaths, are George responded that it was “interesting benefit the whole community when it is the authentic safeguards of truth. to receive your perspective on events that public and when it leads to communal were reported to my office” and that the discernment. Without the benefit of donna quinn situation should be resolved between Sister dissenting voices, the church would still One further incident illustrates the attempt Quinn and her prioress. be sanctioning slavery, religious intoler- to rein in dissent among US nuns. In July Once again, self-appointed informants ance and torture as it once did. 2009, Donna Quinn, a Dominican sister, used the hierarchy to enforce their brand Not all dissent will lead to truth, but received a letter from the Vicar for Reli- of doctrine. Once again church leaders the community’s search for truth needs gious of the Chicago Archdiocese, on behalf of Cardinal Francis George, stating that her “dissent with the Church is widely known.” Specifically, Sister Quinn was chastised for being an escort at the acu Health Center in Hinsdale, Ill., and was asked to cease her “pro-abortion” activity. Because she was a Catholic religious sister, the letter stated, her involvement was a “cause for serious public scandal.” Sister Quinn responded that the clinic is not an , but rather a licensed facility which provides treatment

for a host of health issues, such as preg- .

nancy testing, counseling, sexually trans- 2008 mitted diseases, hpv and cancer, abortion, hiv testing, family medicine and urology. appeton, appeton, Each month, her role at the clinic is to / act as a peacekeeper to ensure safe passage reuters

for women from their cars to the clinic © entrance. She went on to state that she Women religious wait for Pope Benedict xvi to arrive at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. witnessed “mostly men (led by a priest in his black priestly outfit) come to harass used their authority to clamp down on to allow for dissent because there is much women who enter these clinics. These any actions perceived to be in dissent from to be learned in the process. Like Jesus’ men get up very early, run over to the the Vatican position. parable about the weeds that should not clinic and leer at, or ogle, the women who As I mentioned at the outset, I am proud be pulled up and destroyed to protect the attempt to go into the clinic for health of all the good works effected by my wheat, traditional and dissenting views reasons known only to them. Then these church, but too often I feel embarrassed need to grow together until the harvest same men, joined by some women, shout by repressive measures or statements from (Matthew 13:30). If we sincerely trust the obscenities at the women who become the hierarchy. I want to feel proud again Spirit of God, we will be confident that embarrassed and angry as they try to enter of the institutional church, as I felt during the testing of time will separate what is the clinic.” She then asked, “Is this not the years following the Second Vatican false from what is true. another form of sexual abuse?” Council. Faithful and respectful dissent is vital Sister Quinn reminded Cardinal A change in worldview can come about to the life of the church. It enables George and his representative that clinic only if more Catholics voice their dissent. the church community to think, to delib- workers have been threatened, a peace- Speaking up requires courage because it erate, to debate and to grow in relation- keeper murdered, and Dr. George Tiller may cost a job, as in the case of Ruth ship to one another and in relationship recently killed while serving as an usher Kolpack, or the sacrifice of an appoint- to God. We cannot to afford let our at his church. She herself has been harassed ment, as in the case of Rosemary Radford dissenters be silenced. They are a gift to and followed to her car by those attempting Ruether. We do not yet know what restric- our church. ■

vol. xxx—no. 2 2009 47 102885p48_49 10/28/09 10:31 PM Page 48

opinionmovie review

us with an anatomy of the Vatican’s The Empty Tomb system of (in)justice. In a useful reminder of the accusations against Maciel, we a review of “vows of silence” see repeated images of Maciel with young boys and girls and adoring seminarians By David J. Nolan interspersed with pictures of him with the rich and powerful men and women who enabled his crimes. These enablers reached the pinnacle of society. From conservative ideologues n rome, a tomb in the basilica conservative order that developed into through political figures and into the of Guadalupe lies empty. Its a cult to worship its leader. Those who papal palace itself, Maciel’s charisma intended occupant, Fr. Marciel wanted to join had to swear an oath to charmed money and influence from Maciel, died in January 2008. He is never speak ill of him. He proved to be almost everybody he met. Funders buried several thousand miles away an adroit fundraiser and by the mid- included Carlos Slim of Mexico, one of Iin Cotija, his remote hometown in 1940s was already offering immense sums the world’s richest men, who hosted a Mexico. There are no public plans to of money as gifts to leading church move his body to Rome. figures. For example, in 1946 Maciel

For many, the esteem they had for gave $10,000 to the of .

Maciel vanished after accusations that Rome, Cardinal Clemente Micara, then 2008 , he sexually abused seminarians were all living in a city decimated by the war. but confirmed by the Vatican in 2006. It was a considerable sum of money, Others deserted him after his death when but a useful investment in the future. it was revealed he had fathered a child In 1956, Pope Pius xii suspended VOWS OF SILENCE LLC

two decades previously. While a few Maciel as leader of the Legionaries after © still revere him, rehabilitation is now allegations of drug abuse and sexual Fr. Marciel Maciel prays with Legionnaire seminarians. unlikely. Previously declared plans to abuse in a seminary. Maciel was rein- initiate the process to declare Maciel a stated under dubious circumstances $725,000 fundraiser for Maciel in 2004; saint are most definitely on hold. in 1959 during the hiatus between the Flora Barragán de Garza, the Monter- Maciel’s fall from grace should death of Pope Pius and the installa- rey widow of one of the wealthiest men surprise nobody who was paying atten- tion of Pope John xxiii—by Cardinal in Mexico who donated the land for the tion. Sadly, it is clear that many were Clemente Micara. order’s first school, the Instituto Cumbres either not paying attention, or did not Despite many accusations, Maciel in 1952 (and gave Maciel a Mercedes- believe the evidence before their eyes. never looked back after his reinstate- Benz) and the enormously wealthy Oriol They include his many wealthy sup- ment until an investigation by the family from . In fact, some critics porters, fellow priests, bishops, cardi- Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine refer derisively to the Legionaries of nals and even some popes. of the Faith concluded in 2006 with Christ as the “Millionaires of Christ.” Maciel revealed right from the start him being instructed to discontinue all On the political front, advocates include that he was a danger to those around public ministries and lead “a life of William Bennett, a former US drug czar him. Despite the fact that he had four prayer and penitence.” and Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida uncles who were bishops in Mexico, he “Vows of Silence” is a powerful and brother of President George W. was expelled from two seminaries and documentary by investigative reporter Bush, both of whom spoke at fundraisers. refused entry to several others. A Jesuit Jason Berry based on the 2004 book of Jeb Bush addressed the same meeting seminary in New Mexico also expelled the same name. (The book was as Cardinal Franc Rodé who concluded him, giving him 30 minutes to leave the co-authored with the late Gerald his trip to the Americas with a property. No details were ever made Renner.) Berry broke the story of Legionaries-paid vacation in Cancun.` public, but one can reasonably assume Maciel’s abuses in 1997, in an article in The ideologues included the late Father that his were not minor transgressions. the Hartford Courant, also co-authored Richard John Neuhaus, publisher of First After he was ordained by one of with Renner. Things, who called the accusations against his uncles, he founded the Legionaries Using on-screen interviews with Maciel “scurrilous.” George Weigel, of Christ in 1941—his own, ultra- several victims, archival still and video senior fellow of the Ethics and Public footage of Maciel, and his immense Policy Center and conservative Catholic david j. nolan is the editor of Conscience. knowledge of the case, Berry provides intellectual, Bill Donohue of the Catholic

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League, and Mary Ann Glendon, former government has sought to exonerate itself at least 30 witnesses who said that Maciel US ambassador to the Holy See, also from its role in permitting and perpetu- had abused them. However, when the denounced the accusations. Within the ating the abuse by i) signing an open- ax finally fell in 2006, the Vatican’s order Vatican, Cardinal , the ended deal that put Irish taxpayers on punishing Maciel failed to say why he Secretary of State under John Paul II, the hook for almost 90 percent of the had been banished to a life of “prayer obstructed and stymied the investiga- compensation due to victims of abuse and penitence,” let alone express tions against Maciel at every turn. When and ii) placing the blame on the victims. any concern about those he the abuse was first reported in 1997, The Irish Children’s Minister Barry had harmed. Pope John Paul II became Maciel’s papal Andrews recently claimed that progress Since “Vows of Silence” was made, protector. Passive in the face of the had been made because the Irish “defer- further revelations have emerged, charges of abuse, the pope’s inactivity ence [to the church] that was at the core including the fact that Maciel had a did immense damage to the church. of the problem is no longer there.” This mistress and daughter in Madrid. A The pope was ably assisted in this deference, he claimed, allowed institu- spokesperson for the Legionaries of obstruction by Cardinal Joseph tional child abuse to thrive for decades. Christ acknowledged that he was guilty Ratzinger, head of the Congregation The problem, in Andrews’ eyes, is not of conduct that is “surprising, difficult for the Doctrine of the Faith—the that the church hierarchy attracted and to understand, and inappropriate for a department responsible for investigating enabled abusers, or that the Irish govern- Catholic priest.” Indeed.

Ratzinger’s desire to protect the institutional church knew few bounds. On one occasion, Ratzinger said to a reporter, “One can’t put on trial such a close friend of the pope as Marcial Maciel.”

allegations of abuse. Ratzinger’s desire ment ignored blatant evidence of abuse, Berry presents a compelling case— to protect the institutional church but that the Irish people were too and few would deny that the reality of knew few bounds. On one occasion, deferent to the church when confronted Maciel’s life was a hideous distortion of Ratzinger said to a reporter, “One can’t with reports of abuse to do anything what he claimed it to be. Sadly the put on trial such a close friend of the about it. (Full disclosure: I knew Andrews few who do deny the reality of Maciel’s pope as Marcial Maciel.” socially while I was a student in Dublin life retain significant power to impede The Catholic hierarchy has been in the 1980s.) the path to whatever form of justice remarkably consistent in its response to Not everyone had the wool pulled may remain. the sexual abuse crisis. As reports emerge over his eyes about the Legionaries of Earlier this year, Benedict appointed (again) about the extent of the abuse Christ. Some bishops in the United States five bishops from the US, Italy, Mexico, scandal in Ireland, the church hierarchy have banned them from acting in their Spain and Chile to investigate the continues to insist that it is shocked by dioceses. Most recently, in 2008, Balti- Legionaries. However, Maciel’s reputa- the extent of the abuse. However, several more Archbishop Edwin O’Brien banned tion, and the future of the Legion, may commentators, including Eamonn the Legionaries and Regnum Christi rely on two senior Vatican officials who McCann in these pages and Michael Fitz- from his archdiocese, all but calling them have a history of blind obeisance to patrick on Spiked Online, have noted a cult. Maciel. Cardinal Angelo Sodano—dean that every decade since at least the 1930s The final and decisive complaint of the and someone has had its whistleblowers and accusa- against Maciel was made in 1997 by nine with a history of obstructing complaints tions, yet each one is greeted with shock men (one of whom later withdrew his against Maciel—and Cardinal Franc and horror as if the hierarchy had never name). One of the complainants, Jose Rodé—who spoke at fundraisers for the imagined it could be so bad. Barba, admitted to having lied to inves- Legionaries and currently oversees reli- The hierarchy is ably assisted by docile tigators during the investigation in the gious congregations for the Vatican— political leaders who either turned a blind mid-1950s. Despite assurances and both occupy key Vatican oversight eye or actively defended the church. To continued requests, nothing happened positions. Jason Berry may still have some a man, all those involved seek to place until 2004, when Cardinal Ratzinger use for his formidable reporting skills if the blame elsewhere. A recent example ordered Msgr. Charles Scicluna to inves- they become entangled in this illustrates this perfectly. The Irish tigate the matter. Scicluna interviewed latest investigation.■

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Under the Marshall Plan, the US govern- Finding Aid that Works ment transferred approximately $20 billion to 14 countries. Through this aid, Europe By Cheryl Francisconi, msw/mph recovered economically, was able to rebuild its infrastructure and regain political stability. The US won allies in Western Europe and influenced foreign policy. Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa The success of the Marshall Plan in the Dambisa Moyo 1950s prompted the US and other donor (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009, 208pp) countries to look to Africa for replica- 978-0374139568, $24.00 tion. Many African countries were gaining independence from colonial powers during this period and it was in the best interest, hy is it that after are troubling. Instead of showing posi- Moyo says, of Western governments to sixty years and over tive economic growth, there has been an influence African countries, especially in $1 trillion dollars in aid, average annual growth rate of –0.2 per- light of the Cold War. Aid became a tool sub-Saharan Africa is cent in the most aid-dependent countries. to ensure that countries would ally with still the poorest region In addition, over the last 13 years, there the West rather than the Soviet Union. Win the world? According have been civil wars in Moyo skillfully guides us through five to Dambisa Moyo the 11 countries, and over 50 decades and a changing focus of aid, high- culprit, fundamentally, percent of countries across lighting the 1960s as the decade of building is aid itself. Moyo adds the continent are under infrastructure, shifting in the 1970s to a new voice to the debate nondemocratic rule. poverty alleviation in the form of invest- about aid to Africa and, Moyo defines three ments in rural agriculture and social serv- interestingly, a voice that types of aid: 1) humani- ices such as education, housing and health. is not from a western tarian aid, 2) aid that comes By the end of the 1970s over $36 billion in economist or celebrity. through charitable organ- aid had made its way across the conti- Moyo is a Zambian izations and 3) sys temic aid. nent. woman who holds a It is not all aid with which Moyo presents the 1980s as the “lost master’s degree from she takes issue. It is prima- age of development,” where, as the debt Harvard and a PhD in rily systemic aid, defined crisis emerged, recipient countries began economics from Oxford. as the billions of loan and defaulting on loan payments. In response, Her previous tenure as grant payments, either the imf restructured debt, and more money both a consultant to the World Bank and from donor governments or institutions was lent to help defaulting nations pay an economist for Goldman Sachs makes like the World Bank, that are made directly what they owed. This served to create her well-positioned to enter the debate. to recipient governments. more dependency on aid, and pushed coun- In her provocative new book Dead Aid: To help the reader understand the tries deeper into debt. The total debt owed Why Aid is Not Working and How There Is genesis of aid, Moyo gives a brief and by emerging market countries was over $1 a Better Way for Africa, she calls for the important history. In 1944, at the end of trillion at the beginning of the 1990s. end to aid, making the case that aid fosters World War II, representatives from 34 After almost 40 years of colossal invest- dependency, corruption and conflict, and countries met in Bretton Woods, N.H., ment, there was little success to speak stands in the way of entrepreneurship and to establish a global system of monetary of, forcing the donor community to fault the development of free enterprise. management. It was at this meeting that poor political leadership and weak insti- Moyo divides her treatise into two. In the World Bank, the International Mone- tutions. The focus in the 1990s turned to Part One, “A World of Aid,” she paints tary Fund and the International Trade good governance which became a deter- an overall picture of the African conti- Organization were established. The World mining factor for aid. Moyo ends her nent at present: poverty is on the rise, life Bank’s primary responsibility was to facil- historical look at aid with a description of expectancy is low and health indicators itate postwar reconstruction investments the 2000s as the era of “glamour aid,” to Europe. Initial reconstruction loans marked by the rise of campaigns led by cheryl francisconi, msw/mph is Program were instrumental in Europe’s long-term celebrities like Bob Geldof and Bono. Director of the Leadership Development for Mobilizing Reproductive Health Program at the recovery. Moyo is critical of the move toward Institute of International Education and a Later, in 1947, the first government- elevating celebrities as the spokespersons board member of Catholics for Choice. to-government transfers were made. for what is best for Africa. “It would

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appear,” she says, “despondent with their Financing development goals could microlending, encouraging savings to record of failure, that Western donors be done several ways. Moyo lays out a strengthen banking systems, and easing are increasingly looking to anyone for multitiered approach for countries to the high cost on remittances sent from guidance on how best to tackle Africa’s stimulate their economic growth. African Africans living abroad, a potential source predicament. Scarcely does one see governments could enter the interna- of between $1 and $3 billion. Africa’s (elected) officials or those African tional bond markets, as Ghana and All of this assumes commitment on policymakers charged with the develop- Gabon have previously done, to raise the part of both donors and recipients ment portfolio offer an opinion on what capital for development needs. They to change a deeply entrenched system— should be done…” could attract more foreign direct invest- the business of giving aid employs thou- So, why is aid not working? ment. Moyo includes an entire chapter sands of people throughout the world. highlighting the investment is Moyo’s critique has triggered much n her view, unlike the marshall currently making in Africa, which has criticism in return from economists such Plan which was finite and targeted few conditions attached and tangible as Jeffrey Sachs who continue to argue Itoward reconstruction, aid to Africa economic benefits. Encouraging better that aid is making a difference. Certainly has reached into every nook and cranny trade policies, in both rich and poor there are aid programs that work. But it of government, creating a greater depend- countries, would be an important step. is not difficult to see that the system needs ency on aid. In addition, while many condi- Finally, improving people’s access to an overhaul and Dambisa Moyo is at least tions have been placed on the use of aid the market could come through increased asking the right questions. ■ over the years, she cites a World Bank study indicating that 85 percent of aid was diverted to uses other than originally intended and, despite this, there have been Bookshelf no consequences imposed upon recip- ient governments. Zimbabwe’s Robert From the Pews in the Back: Young Women and Catholicism Mugabe, who some consider to be among Kate Dugan and Jennifer Owens (eds.) (Liturgical Press, 2009, 237pp) the most corrupt of world leaders, is a Kate Dugan and Jennifer Owens, former classmates at Harvard Divinity School, set case in point; over $300 million in aid was out to gather a sense of what it means to be a young Catholic woman in today’s given as recently as 2006. Is it possible world. Their collection of stories penned by an assortment of young Catholic women that aid fosters corruption and, if so, why does just that. The heartfelt stories cover growing up Catholic, putting faith in keep giving it? Perhaps, Moyo suggests, action, vocation, spirituality and identifying as a Catholic woman. the system has made it next to impossible for donors to stop the vicious cycle since An Irish Tragedy: How Sex Abuse by Irish Priests aid has become tied to countries’ ability Helped Cripple the Catholic Church to pay back what they owe, ultimately Joe Rigert (Crossland Press, 2008, 177pp) affecting the financial lending markets. Rigert, an investigative journalist, reveals the truth about the Irish sex abuse Throughout the first half of the book, scandal in the same way the Boston Globe documented the crisis in the United it is clear that Moyo has done her research. States. Because Ireland has a history of exporting its priests accused of abuse to the Her arguments are articulately made and, US, he asserts that the roots of the sex abuse scandals are in Ireland. Rigert blames while it may not be possible to causally sexual repression both in Irish society and the priesthood for the scandals but link the failure of aid to the issues she demonstrates how the hierarchy in the United States and the Vatican itself are to cites, her case is compelling. blame for the extent of the scandal. In Part Two, “A World without Aid,” options for development not tied to aid The Making and Unmaking of the are laid out. These options are not neces- English Catholic Intellectual Community 1910-1950 sarily new and Moyo leaves the reader James R. Lothian (University of Notre Dame Press, 2009, 487pp) wondering what would motivate recip- Lothian, a history professor at the University of Binghamton in New York, presents a ient governments to move away from the comprehensive history of English Catholic thinkers such as Hilaire Belloc, GK Chesterton, easy cash they have come to depend on. Eric Gill and Evelyn Waugh. These intellectuals and others formed a Catholic It is not until the final chapter that she counterculture of sorts that produced what is now known as “political Catholicism.” suggests that it might be up to the donors Lothian examines this counterculture, its members’ struggle with Catholicism’s negative themselves. What if, she postulates, donors attitude towards modernity and their desire to engage with contemporary society. give five years to recipient countries to wean themselves off of aid…permanently? (continued on page 53)

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where female sexuality is explicitly defined Patriarchy: The Glue that as submission, and where female aspira- tion is exclusively defined as motherhood. Holds the Culture War Together They have returned to write disquieting books that ought, at the very least, to chal- By Timothy A. Byrnes lenge the most complacent among patri- archy’s opponents. Of the two books, Joyce’s Quiverfull focuses more directly on the United States. The Means of Reproduction: Sex, Power, and the Future of the World The title refers to the Quiverfull move- Michelle Goldberg ment, a relatively loosely organized set of (Penguin Press, 2009, 259 pp) communities that believes that women 978-1594202087, $25.95 have the responsibility to produce a quiv- erfull of children who can serve as “arrows” Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement in the “war” against feminism, or against Kathryn Joyce any notion of family or societal structure (Beacon Press, 2009, 258 pp) that is not defined by the supremacy of 978-0807010709, $25.95 male power. Kathryn Joyce is a freelance writer rather than an academic, so she is never really explicit about her method. he means of reproduction: as battleground.” Patriarchy, Goldberg But more than anything else, her book is Sex, Power, and the Future of the and Joyce both believe, serves as the indis- an account of her anthropological field- World, by Michelle Goldberg, pensable glue for a powerful intersection work conducted in and among segments and Quiverfull: Inside the Chris- of three complex phenomena: religion, of the Reformed Christian churches, and tian Patriarchy Movement, by reproductive politics and the globaliza- the homeschooling movement. She was TKathryn Joyce, are very a participant observer in the Quiverfull different books in many community, and observed some pretty ways. But at the core of awful ideas being purveyed and some pretty their arguments they are distasteful practices being advanced, actually quite similar to including early arranged marriages; each other. Both authors constant pregnancy and childbirth; set out to detail (and I do absolute female submission to male mean detail) the count- authority, whether in the person of a father, less ways in which, in a brother, a husband or most cringe- Goldberg’s words, inducing, a self-appointed pastor. Joyce “conflicts between tradi- recounts story after story of girls being tion and modernity are raised for submission, “Jezebels” being being fought on the shunned by their communities and men terrain of women’s equating their own power in their fami- bodies.” And both books lies with God’s power in his kingdom. convincingly establish that aggressive and tion of the American culture war. And The worldview she is trying to convey is relentless attacks on female sexuality and that intersection, they also both believe, captured perhaps most clearly in the quiv- reproductive freedom reside, as Joyce puts is not only disastrous for millions of girls erfull notion that a woman’s constant sexual it, at the very heart of “a new cold war, a and women whose aspirations for indi- availability to her husband is not only her ‘clash of civilizations’ to be fought through viduality and equality are being snuffed wifely “duty,” but also at the heart of her women’s bodies, with the maternity ward out by their religious and political oppres- “ministry” as a believing Christian. Oh sors from Sierra Leone to San Antonio; my. timothy a. byrnes is professor of political that intersection is also the place where a Joyce does an excellent job of describing science at Colgate University. He has authored clearly defined worldview has emerged these familial and societal dynamics, and several books on religion and Catholicism, that aims to determine what Goldberg’s she had no trouble convincing me that including Transnational Catholicism in Postcommunist Europe (Rowman and provocative but appropriate subtitle defines the Quiverfull movement is distasteful Littlefield) and Catholic Bishops in American as “the future of the world.” Goldberg and deeply damaging to the daughters Politics (Princeton). and Joyce have ventured forth into worlds who are born into it. What she was a little

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less successful at was convincing me that ican power are having on women across is between two overarching worldviews, this subculture, regardless of how the world. It is an ugly tale, and Goldberg neither of which is housed exclusively unnerving she and I might find it, poses doesn’t shrink from depicting the ugliness in any particular religion or culture, and a danger to the values and future choices graphically. She touches all of the woeful both of which are based largely on of American society, and American bases: the anti-contraception policies of notions of the role women ought to be women, at large. The communities that the United States; the expedient alliance playing in society, and in directing their she visits are sometimes quite small (300 between the Vatican and Islamic states at own individual lives. “One” of these families in one case), and as she puts it: UN conferences on population and on worldviews, she argues, “saw women as “the number of families who have women; genital mutilation; female infan- ends in themselves, human beings with committed themselves wholly to the ticide; feminism’s purported (but utterly dignity and autonomy. The other treated Quiverfull path doesn’t represent any poll- bogus) role in Europe’s demographic crisis; them as the means of group cohesion ster’s idea of a key demographic.” For me, and the general and unavoidable conclu- and identity whose primary value lay in then, the least compelling parts of Joyce’s sion that many powerful men, both here their relation to men.” Michelle Gold- book were the concluding chapters where in the US and abroad, are really, really berg is not responding here to the mere she tries to connect these communities afraid of women, and of the threat that words of repugnant pastors, or even to and their practices to larger forces in society, women’s sexuality ostensibly poses to male the machinations of ambitious politi- where she argues that the marginal Quiv- dominance of religious and political insti- cians. She is, instead, reporting on a erfull movement is “nonetheless signifi- tutions. titanic global struggle over the status of cant for representing an ideal family Beyond presenting that catalogue of female bodies and the possibilities of structure that many conservatives refer- abuse, however, Goldberg goes much female lives, and she is arguing that no ence as a counterexample when they further in her analysis of “sex and power,” less than the “future of the world,” for condemn modern society.” Well, maybe. and tries to do for “the globalization of all of us, is riding on its outcome. Based But at times, Kathryn Joyce reminded me the culture war” what Robert Wuthnow on the evidence that she presents in this a bit in this book of Michelle Goldberg’s did years ago for American religion: she elegant and persuasive book, neither previous book, Kingdom Coming, another endeavors to “restructure” it. The real clash that outcome, nor our future, is anywhere warning flare that may have oversold its in today’s world, she writes, is not between near assured. The Means of Reproduction in dangers just a bit (as I argued in a review different religious traditions or between that crucial sense, is a call to arms from in these pages). I don’t doubt the need for competing cultures. Rather, the real battle a raging battlefield. ■ vigilance in the face of patriarchal move- ments that have marbled themselves into American culture, and that have some- (continued from page 51) times secured for themselves powerful allies Bookshelf in political and other institutional venues. I hope I am not the complacent reader, Monkey Trials and Gorilla Sermons: Evolution and Christianity from the complacent male reader, to whom I Darwin to Intelligent Design referred a couple of paragraphs ago. But Peter J. Bowler (Harvard University Press, 2007, 256pp) sometimes subcultures, no matter how Charles Darwin’s ideas have been and continue to be condemned by some religious troubling they might be, remain just that, leaders. However, what is less recognized is the long history of liberal theologians subcultures. Such communities do not trying to reconcile their beliefs with Darwin’s theory of evolution. In this book, always morph into significant threats to Bowler sets out to highlight these progressive thinkers and show how evolution and the nation as a whole. Christianity are compatible.

n the means of reproduction,however, A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim Church: Memoirs of a Catholic Bishop Michelle Goldberg is after much larger Rembert G. Weakland, OSB (Eerdsman Publishing, 2009, 429pp) Iprey than she was after a couple of years Archbishop Weakland, beloved for his progressive leanings and infamous for ago in Kingdom Coming, or for that matter scandals around the sex abuse crisis and his own sexuality, tells his side of the story than Kathryn Joyce is after in Quiverfull. in this lengthy autobiography. Throughout the book, Weakland candidly describes This time, taking an explicitly global and his growth as a gay man and how that affected and continues to affect his ministry. long-term view, Goldberg’s arguments Apart from addressing the scandal and his sexuality, this book tells the story of one and warnings hit the mark exactly. Every man’s lifelong struggle in recognizing and confronting the strengths and weaknesses single page of The Means of Reproduction of the Catholic church. conveys the tragic effects that a toxic mix of misogyny, religious zealotry and Amer- (continued on page 55)

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with rows and rows of bishops. Linden’s The Church in the World book makes me realize how revolutionary the Council was. Imagine honest voting By Frans Baneke in a staunchly authoritarian and even antidemocratic church and documents prepared by the Vatican being rejected by clear majorities. Delegates from Latin Global Catholicism: Pluralism and Renewal in a World Church America came with their liberation Ian Linden theology and found allies among French (Columbia University Press, 2009, 282pp) theologians and labor priests. The pope 978-0231154161, $27.50 accepted the concept of a welfare state with social policies. Brazilian bishop Helder Camara pleaded for a church of the poor that addressed injustice. One as the catholic church draws a few clear lines. We see, for of the key documents that came out of become a globalized insti- example, how obsessions with commu- Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes, recog- tution comparable to the nism, sexuality and celibacy have created nized the need for solidarity; human world’s largest conglomer- havoc with otherwise pious intentions. rights were mentioned for the first time. ates? While the globaliza- His authority on the subject allows him Cultural diversity was accepted. Even Htion of the last 50 years to use strong language, communism was addressed in a manner has changed the church such as “spectacular that understood some of its aspirations. from a Eurocentric insti- blunder,” “flagrantly Encouraged by the Council, Basic tution to one with rapidly biased” and “vagaries of Christian Communities emerged in increasing leadership in bishops’ control.” Neither Latin America to address poverty and Latin America, Africa and does he avoid criticizing injustice at ground level and liberation Asia, Ian Linden’s latest papal actions. This makes theology became more widespread. book makes it clear that it easier to digest the Unfortunately for the Vatican, the the church is, in fact, immense quantity of church was not the homogeneous theo- much more complex than information and, for lay logical construct that it wished it to be. any megacorporation. people such as myself, Part of the hierarchy shared the concerns In a compact 300 understand the often- of Latin America’s mostly dictatorial pages, Linden describes dense Catholic jargon. It governments and feudal landlords about the antinomy between the also helps that Linden the rise of communism. This led these church as it wishes to be, never takes sides but members of the hierarchy—and the a theological construct, and the church always remains objective. Vatican which was always afraid of as it is, ridden by the human frailty The undisputed starting point for communism—to oppose liberation inherent in an institution with 1.3 billion the most recent expansion of the church theology and consequent actions from baptized followers. After all, the church was Vatican II, which took place between bishops, priests and nuns on the ground. does not simply sell its theology as a 1962 and 1965. The preceding period is The situation in the Philippines had product; it must also act in accordance described as a “time of enforced some resemblance with that of Latin with its teachings. With these complex- silence…dominated by Europeans” and America: an authoritarian regime under ities in mind, Linden describes the controlled by an “inveterately secretive President Ferdinand Marcos, feudal worldwide interplay between central- Curial government in Rome.” In this landlords, fear of a communist uprising, ized Vatican structures and localized period, some theologians developed a a unique brand of liberation theology parishes and dioceses as well as between progressive approach to theological under Father Ed de la Torre and bishops evolving theology and the worldly chal- thought and labor priests stood in soli- who were torn between their interests lenges the church faces. darity with exploited laborers. However, in the status quo and the increasing call Linden, pulling together his vast inter- the church’s response to poverty for social justice. The church arrived national knowledge of Catholicism, continued to be charity, not social late but was in the end effective in reform. opposing the regime, playing a major frans baneke recently retired as president of the World Population Foundation in the At the time of the Council, I was a role in bringing Marcos down in 1986. Netherlands. He is a former member of the student. I remember those spectacular Linden proceeds with a fascinating Catholics for Choice European Advisory Group. images of Saint Peter’s Church filled insight in the role of the Catholic church

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in South Africa’s struggle against of emerging women religious movements, of control that remains in the hands of apartheid. The mainly white Catholic but notes that Rome has yet to accept the Vatican—as it is in any multinational church was very slow to grasp the oppor- this form of feminism. It also has yet to company. Where I live, in the Nether- tunity to take moral leadership and has, develop a “theological ecology” to exer- lands, a series of nominations that local as a result, continued to play a minor cise leadership in matters of the climate Catholics opposed has speeded up the role in South African society. It wasn’t and the environment. And, according to flight from the church. It may be very until 1985 that it developed a brand of Linden, it will never be able to develop a hard to gain insight into the Vatican’s contextual or liberation theology in the universal theology for war and peace personnel policies, but it is a key factor Kairos Document, reflecting Latin because national sentiments will always in the future of the church. American influences. prevail, while noting that churches will How will increasing leadership from “dutifully cater to the pastoral needs of other continents impact the Vatican’s ut south africa was isolated from our troops.” obsession with sexuality and celibacy? other countries in Africa. Initially, I hope that Linden and others will We look forward to Linden’s next book. Bthe church in these countries was a continue to deepen our knowledge and For now, this book can be recommended missionary, white church, providing look to the future. If the church is compa- for anyone looking for a compact, compre- charity and Catholic social teaching. The rable to a multinational conglomerate, hensive and well-informed analysis of latter was not deaf to the call of libera- what of the Vatican’s personnel policies? the process of globalization of the Catholic tion theology and this contributed to the The nomination of bishops is a key tool church in the last 50 years. ■ awakening of African elites, including priests and nuns. In Rhodesia, today’s Zimbabwe, led by the courageous Bishop Donal Lamont, the church played a strong Bookshelf (continued from page 53) role opposing the racist Smith regime; many rebel leaders had received A Quarter Century on the Firing Line missionary education. In Malawi, the Edd Doerr and Albert J. Menendez (eds.) bishops were late in resisting the oppres- (Americans for Religious Liberty, 2009, 211pp) sive regime of President for Life Hast- For over 25 years, Americans for Religious Liberty has been at the center of the ings Banda. separation of church and state debate. arl’s quarterly journal, Voice of Reason, Asia provided the church with another contains an excellent summary of the latest topics and developments related to challenge: the relationship between Chris- church and state issues. This anthology comprises the best writing from the journal, tianity and culture in an age of global- eight chapters of articles from the early 1980s until the present. A good overview of ization. The churches in India, China the highs and lows of the debate over the last 25 years, the book includes chapters and Japan developed their own brands on trends, polls and court cases among others. of theology. Asia, however, resisted Rome’s perennial policing. The Racket: How Abortion Became Legal in Australia In Europe, the main challenge is secu- Gideon Haigh (Melbourne University Press, 2008, 245pp) larism. Relevant for readers of Conscience Haigh, an Australian journalist, uncovers the fascinating story of how abortion came is a passage that notes: “A doctrinaire to be legal in Australia. He follows closely the life and work of Bertram Wainer, a attitude returned to all aspects of sexual doctor, who pushed the movement for reproductive rights forward. Written like a ethics, most calamitously to contracep- novel, Haigh’s book is a riveting tale of , corruption and courtroom drama tion. The flight from the institutional leading to the legalization of abortion in 1969. Church was hastened while widespread rejection of teaching on sexuality under- Reproductive Health and Human Rights: The Way Forward mined authority irrevocably.” Maura Reichenbach and Mindy Jane Roseman (eds.) Finally, Linden considers the crises (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2009, 292pp) and opportunities facing the church. The Especially pertinent as we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the United Nations former includes the estimated 100,000 International Conference on Population and Development (icpd), this collection of priests who have left the church and about essays by leading scholars and practitioners looks back on the efforts made during double that number of religious sisters. the time since icpd to improve reproductive health and human rights. On top of The sexual abuse scandal and Rome’s that, the collection addresses the challenges to icpd, demonstrates how social and tone deaf response have also exacerbated political contexts impact work on reproductive health and provides the low ebb at which the church finds recommendations for responding to conservative agendas. itself. In contrast, Linden sings the praises

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letterspostscript

“The Irish report suffers from conflating minor instances of abuse with serious ones, thus demeaning the latter. When most people hear of the term abuse, they do not think about being slapped, being chilly, being ignored or, “It’s my publisher, the owner, who is for that matter, having someone stare at you in the shower. infallible, not me.” They think about rape.” —Catholic League president Bill Donohue belittles the experiences of Irish victims, who he notes are mostly “delinquents,” of physical and sexual abuse after publication of a report from the Commission — Gian Maria Vian, editor of the Vatican newspaper 4 L’Osservatore Romano, responds to questions about the to Inquire on Child Abuse. recent controversies over the editorial line taken by the publication. 1 “My dears, we have a Negro here—my God, you haven’t washed yourself!” —Father Tadeusz Rydzyk, the Polish priest who heads Radio Maryja, 5 mocking a black African priest at the Jasna Gora national shrine.

“I am not alone in thinking that bishops who rule by threat and condemnation erode their pastoral effectiveness… We don’t need Catholic versions of Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney dividing us; we need bishops who bring us “A commitment to the primacy of conscience calls us to together.” strive for moral integrity and an undivided conscience. It —Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo, Washington Post On Faith columnist, 6 demands that we dedicate ourselves to a life-long process lays out his vision for the episcopate. of conscience formation, rooted in a commitment to truth, and carefully attending to the teaching of the church and “If the most ardent supporters of the antiabortion the insights of human reason as we strive to form for movement are having only one or two children, then there ourselves right and true judgments of conscience.” is no stronger argument against being prolife.” —Father Gregory A. Kalscheur, associate professor at Boston College —Kerrie Hendrickson, a homeschooling mother of seven, urges 2 7 Law School, concludes his article on conscience and citizenship. antichoicers to “practice what you preach.”

“In life, he was about as likely a Catholic hero as Pontius “Madonna, the singer, is perverse. She wants to be Pilate. Now, more than a century after his death, Oscar scandalous, show off her body, her eroticism. We can Wilde has been claimed by the Vatican as one of its own.” expect to see all this during the concert. She might well —Times journalist Richard Owen remarks on an article printed in the masturbate on the stage if she's under the influence of Vatican newspaper which hailed Wilde as “a man who behind a mask narcotics…Madonna is an anti-icon of the Virgin Mary, she of amorality asked himself what was just and what was mistaken, 3 has proven it many times by mocking the Catholic faith.” what was true and what was false.” —Marian Brudzynski, Catholic head of the Pro Polonia Committee for the Defence of the Faith, expresses his anger that Madonna’s Sweet and Sticky tour comes to Poland on the same date as the 8 Feast of the Assumption.

1 John Hooper, “I’m not infallible. But my boss is,” Guardian, July 20, 2009. 2 Gregory A. Kalscheur, “Conscience and Citizenship: The Primacy of Conscience for Catholics in Public Life,” Journal of Catholic Social Thought, No. 2, Summer 2009. 3 Richard Owen, “You will, Benedict, you will. Vatican claims Oscar Wilde as one of its own,” Times (UK), July 17, 2009. 4 The Catholic League, “Hysteria over Irish clergy abuse,” press release, May 20, 2009. 5 Tablet (UK), “Racist slur by Radio Maryja chief ‘in poor taste’,” July 25, 2009. 6 Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo, “The Bishops We Need,” Washington Post: On Faith, May 12, 2009. 7 Kerrie Hendrickson, “Prolifers: Practice what you preach!” New Oxford Review, May 2009. 8 AFP, “Polish Catholic group crusades against Madonna concert,” August 5, 2009.

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Index: Latino and Latina Catholics Believe in Healthcare Reform

Overall, US Catholics overwhelmingly support healthcare reform. However, Latinos and Latinas have even more progressive views on many aspects of that reform. Latino/Latina Catholics All Catholics

Catholics in favor of a government health insurance plan 83% 73%

Catholics in favor of government or private insurance coverage for reproductive healthcare services Pre- and postnatal care 97% 95% hiv/aids testing 92% 86% Contraception 67% 63% Condoms to prevent hiv/aids 57% 51%

Catholics in favor of private or government insurance coverage for abortion When a pregnancy threatens the life of the woman 87% 84% When a pregnancy results from rape or incest 80% 76% When a pregnancy poses long-term health risks to the woman 77% 73% When test results show the fetus has a severe abnormal condition 71% 66% Whenever a woman and her doctor decide it is appropriate 53% 50%

Source: Catholics for Choice. Catholic Voters’ Views on Healthcare Reform and Reproductive Healthcare Services. Washington, DC, 2009.