A Wall Rises in Bethlehem Austen Ivereigh
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Sept. 1, 2008AmericaTHE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY $2.75 A Wall Rises in Bethlehem Austen Ivereigh Also in this issue: Why Unions Still Matter Amata Miller Mother Seton and the U.S. Church Regina Bechtle ARINAS WITH SAILBOATS under the school. “We ran the beds up two and a blue sky over the Hudson three flights of stairs,” he said, recalling River—that peaceful view one apartment in particular. “A little girl America from the train stood in looked up and said, ‘Is that a bed for me?’ Published by Jesuits of the United States Mmarked contrast to my destination, I realized she’d never slept in a bed, but Newburgh, N.Y., a city long suffering on some blankets on the floor in the cor- from economic downturns. A year had ner.” At times the academy helps with Editor in Chief passed since my first visit there to a rent payments. Initially, Father Connell Drew Christiansen, S.J. school for girls from low-income fami- and Sister Lois said, they thought they lies, based on the NativityMiguel model were educating children. But soon, they EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT that includes small class sizes and an realized “we were taking on the whole Managing Editor extended day. Now my destination was a family.” Robert C. Collins, S.J. similar school for boys, the new San Even with only two grades in place at Editorial Director Miguel Academy. the time of my visit (there will eventually The Rev. Mark Connell, the acade- be four in all, grades five through eight), Karen Sue Smith my’s president who met me at the sta- in just two years test scores have risen by Online Editor tion, spoke of Newburgh as one of the almost two grade levels. Sister Lois Maurice Timothy Reidy four poorest urban centers in the nation. spread the score reports out on the table Associate Editors In the midst of such a scene, I was soon where we sat together in the assembly Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J. to learn, was a haven in which boys from room by the kitchen. “When I’m feeling George M. Anderson, S.J. 11 to 14 could have a learning experience tired at the end of a long day,” Sister Lois Dennis M. Linehan, S.J. aimed at developing gifts that might oth- said, “I look at these scores and think, James Martin, S.J. erwise remain buried. ‘It’s all worth it.’” Matt Malone, S.J. Minutes after I entered the school, As in other schools around the coun- James T. Keane, S.J. housed in space rented from a Methodist try that follow the NativityMiguel model, Peter Schineller, S.J. church, a Latino the extended student stepped day is long Literary Editor forward with a indeed, to Patricia A. Kossmann firm handshake Of Many Things ensure maxi- Poetry Editor and, introducing mum possi- James S. Torrens, S.J. himself, said, “Welcome to the San bilities for learning in its widest sense. It Miguel Academy.” His poise was one begins at 8 a.m. with breakfast and con- Assistant Editor benefit of an education that includes tinues till 5 p.m., with lunch and a Francis W. Turnbull, S.J. instilling a self-confidence that many lack healthy snack along the way. Design and Production when they begin their first year. Two LaSallian volunteers, and a de la Stephanie Ratcliffe The student body is roughly two- Salle brother who is a master teacher, thirds Latino and one-third African- along with other staff members, create BUSINESS DEPARTMENT American. Although the school is named not only a fertile learning environment, Publisher after a 19th-century Ecuadoran saint-edu- but also one through which, as Sister Jan Attridge cator, Miguel Febres Cordero—a de la Lois put it, the close relationships make Salle Christian brother—both Father clear to all in the building that “we are a Chief Financial Officer Connell and the principal, Lois Dee, family.” The school year actually begins Lisa Pope O.P., try to dispel the mistaken percep- with a five-week summer school, in part Marketing tion of the academy as a “Spanish school.” to prepare incoming fifth graders for Eryk Krysztofiak Outreach efforts to the African-American their new experience. community make it clear that the school What pays for the special features that Advertising is open to all so long as their incomes are distinguish NativityMiguel schools? Julia Sosa low enough to meet federal guidelines for Funding is a constant challenge, since the free or reduced price lunches. per-student cost is $10,000 a year. In 106 West 56th Street As with all NativityMiguel schools, addition to grants from foundations, the New York, NY 10019-3803 tuition is low, and inability to pay is never lay board of trustees plays a major role in Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596. an impediment to acceptance. Parents fundraising, Father Connell said. Other E-mail: [email protected]; generally work in factories or in the schools based on this model may lie in [email protected]. area’s apple orchards. Both Father the future for the mid-Hudson Valley. Web site: www.americamagazine.org. Connell and Sister Lois were dramatical- Both he and Sister Lois envisage the pos- Customer Service: 1-800-627-9533. ly reminded of the city’s poverty when sibility of two more, in the nearby cities © 2008 America Press, Inc. nearby Mount St. Mary College offered a of Poughkeepsie and Kingston, forming gift of beds in mint condition. Father “a triangle” of NativityMiguel schools. Cover photo A Palestinian woman carries a Connell, who is the chaplain and campus Fulfillment of that dream may lie far in baby as she walks beside Israel's contro- minister as well as a faculty member, the future, but at least one corner of the versial security barrier near the West rounded up students, loaded a truck with triangle is off to a promising start. Bank town of Bethlehem. Reuters/Yannis the beds and drove through streets near George M. Anderson, S.J. Behrakis. www.americamagazine.org Vol. 199 No. 5, Whole No. 4824 September 1, 2008 Articles 11 Organizing Principles 11 Amata Miller Unions are still needed in the global marketplace. Bethlehem’s Wall 15 Austen Ivereigh Can U.S. Christians help revive the sacred city? An American Daughter 18 Regina Bechtle Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton and the birth of the church in the United States Bad Neighbor, Good Neighbor 21 David Paul Deavel They lived in a real estate zone, not a neighborhood. Current Comment 4 21 Editorial 2008 Voting Challenges 5 Signs of the Times 6 Reflection Place 10 The Best-Laid Plans... Margaret Silf Poem 20 In a Cedar Tub Edward A. Dougherty Book Reviews 23 Left at the Altar; Diary of a Bad Year; Lincoln and Douglas Letters 29 The Word 31 Forgiven and Reconciled Daniel J. Harrington This week @ Matt Malone, S.J., and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend discuss the Democrats and religion, and two theology students review "The Dark Knight." Plus, an audio America Connects interview with Regina Bechtle, S.C. All at americamagazine.org. Current Comment colored in shades of gray, liked Mr. Obama’s appreciation Who Lost Russia? for nuance and complexity. Did the Russian invasion of Georgia succeed because the For the most part, Pastor Warren did a better job than American president was preoccupied with the Beijing most television interviewers, asking clear and direct ques- Olympics? So suggested a Wall Street Journal editorial tions about a range of policy issues. He also asked both that elicited a sharp response from the White House, men a number of questions about their theological views which in turn was the subject of a Washington Post story and personal faith. Such questions are not new in the 2008 about divisions among neoconservatives. campaign. Both Democrats and Republicans have been But the Bush administration, like its predecessors, has asked similar questions on everything from the inerrancy long been tone deaf to Russian trends. The Russian attack of Scripture to the power of prayer. Yet it is not obvious was as predictable as the Georgian move against the that such questions are relevant or even appropriate. The Ossetian separatists was injudicious. In the face of Russian public clearly has a right to know the views of the presi- opposition, the administration recognized the indepen- dential candidates on all matters of public policy, many of dence of Kosovo—a bad precedent for unilateral recogni- which also involve profoundly moral questions. But do we tion of breakaway states; and within days of Georgia’s need to know, as Pastor Warren asked, what their greatest attack on South Ossetia and Russia’s intervention, the personal moral failings are or how they view the salvific administration signed a controversial antimissile treaty character of Jesus Christ? with Poland. The Bush I, Clinton and Bush II administrations all failed to deal wisely with the emergence of a post-com- Harbinger Penguins munist Russia. They failed to heed Churchill’s maxim: “In Some of God’s creatures are so endowed that they easily war, resolution; In defeat, defiance; In victory, magnanimi- capture the human imagination. Dogs, cats and horses ty; In peace, good will.” Each administration confused come immediately to mind. So too do bears. Smokey Bear, Russia’s interests with American dominance. Russian the fire-prevention icon, is a revered national symbol. feelings of loss and shame following the failure of commu- Knut, an abandoned polar bear cub, made for a successful nism, the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the ensuing season at the Berlin Zoo.