THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY MARCH 23, 2009 $2.75

OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ALL CREATION Kate Blake OF MANY THINGS

PUBLISHED BY JESUITS OF THE UNITED STATES

EDITOR IN CHIEF ord of mouth makes for Mortenson, won over by the villagers’ Drew Christiansen, S.J. the best advertising. How hospitality, promised to return the next often have you learned of year to build a school. EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Wthe most enjoyable books or movies Mortenson attempted to scrape ANAGING DITOR M E from the reports of friends? They are together the $12,000 he needed to Robert C. Collins, S.J. all the more enjoyable for being plea- build the school by writing more than EDITORIAL DIRECTOR sures shared among friends rather than five hundred individual letters to Karen Sue Smith highly promoted, mass-market com- potential celebrity donors, but he ONLINE EDITOR modities. So it was recently for me. received little help. He lived ascetically, Maurice Timothy Reidy Barb and Lou Kuttner are two of crashing in a student apartment, stor- CULTURE EDITOR the best-read people I know. Their ing his possessions in a rental locker, James Martin, S.J. ranch house in Arizona’s Sonoran setting aside his savings for the project LITERARY EDITOR desert is brimming with books. Years and selling his mountaineering equip- Patricia A. Kossmann ago when I took vacation time with the ment to meet his goal. Even when, at POETRY EDITOR Kuttner family on North Carolina’s the last moment, he found financial James S. Torrens, S.J. Outer Banks, they took as much time backing, married and became a father, planning the books they would bring Mortenson lived on a shoestring. He ASSOCIATE EDITORS and share as in packing for the trip. practiced a kind of apostolic asceticism. Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J. A few weeks ago I took my annual He lived poorly for the sake of his mis- George M. Anderson, S.J. Dennis M. Linehan, S.J. retreat at a casita on the Kuttners’ sion—building schools, especially for Jim McDermott, S.J. “ranchette” in the mesquite landscape girls, in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Matt Malone, S.J. of the San Pedro drainage in southern The religious dimension of his story James T. Keane, S.J. Arizona. The evening before I began is understated. His parents ran Peter Schineller, S.J. the retreat, both Barb and Lou recom- Lutheran mission schools in East ASSISTANT EDITOR mended I read Three Cups of Tea, by Africa, where he spent his boyhood. Francis W. Turnbull, S.J. Greg Mortenson and David Oliver When Mother Teresa died, he hap- DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Relin. pened to be in Calcutta, and we learn Stephanie Ratcliffe It was not the first time I had heard that the saint of Calcutta was his praise for the book, but I confess I had “hero”; he talked his way into her con- BUSINESS DEPARTMENT been turned off by its marketing as vent to pray alongside her body. PUBLISHER “chick lit.” If Three Cups of Tea: One Otherwise, his spirituality is an austere Jan Attridge Man’s Mission to Promote Peace One humanitarianism, not so foreign to the CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER School at a Time (Penguin) is chick lit, children of other American Protestant Lisa Pope then I have to reconsider my views of missioners. MARKETING the category. For this book is a rip- The book is replete with stories of Eryk Krysztofiak roaring adventure story of 21st-century Mortenson’s kidnapping in Waziristan, ADVERTISING humanitarianism. of fatwas against him and his schools, Julia Sosa Greg Mortenson, a trauma nurse of warlords who are won over and oth- and a mountaineer, stumbled on the ers who meet him deep in the desert to 106 West 56th Street village of Korphe in Pakistan’s seek his help and of progressive New York, NY 10019-3803 Karakoram Range after a failed Muslims who volunteer to be his fixers. Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596 attempt to climb the notorious K-2. Everywhere he is known for his good E-mail: [email protected]; Twice on his descent he fell behind his work and fidelity to his word. [email protected] porter, lost the trail and wandered into Eight years into a deteriorating war Web site: www.americamagazine.org. Korphe. While recuperating there, he in Afghanistan, it is good to know that Customer Service: 1-800-627-9533 discovered the villagers had set aside Gen. David Petraeus has sought his © 2009 America Press, Inc. land for a school, but the government advice. Only last week there was a of Pakistan never made good on its report that militants in Pakistan’s Swat Cover: A dog waits to be blessed on the day of San Anton, Spain’s patron promises to build it, so the children did Valley had destroyed 200 schools for saint of animals, in Madrid. their lessons drawing in the sand. girls. DREW CHRISTIANSEN, S.J. Reuters/Susana Vera CONTENTS www.americamagazine.org VOL. 200 NO.10, WHOLE NO. 4850 MARCH 23, 2009

ARTICLES 13 ANIMAL WELFARE Our responsibility to all creation Kate Blake

18 TUSHAR GANDHI’S NONVIOLENT PATH A descendant of Mahatma Gandhi strives to keep his great-grandfather’s pacifist legacy alive in India. Robert Hirschfield

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

13 4 Guest Commentary Power in the Present, Hope for the Future Blase Cupich 5 Editorial Truth and Prosecution 6 Signs of the Times

10 Column A Covenant to Serve John J. DiIulio Jr.

22 Lenten Reflection A Little Patience Patricia A. Kossmann 34 Letters

38 The Word Made Perfect 22 Barbara E. Reid

BOOKS & CULTURE 25 ART A Lenten reflection on Stanley Spencer’s ‘Christ’ BOOKS Parallel Empires; Medicine, Religion, and Health; The Women

ON THE WEB ON THE WEB Michael Paul Gallagher, S.J., (right) author of The Human Poetry of Faith, talks on our podcast about how to nourish the religious imagination. Plus, Rob Weinert-Kendt reviews two religiously themed plays, and from the archives, the edi- tors on the death of Gandhi. All at americamagazine.org 24 GUEST COMMENTARY Power in the Present, Hope for the Future

he late Halford Luccock, who began teaching at birth. We are a people who have learned repeatedly Yale Divinity School a year before the Great Crash throughout our history that economic distress can help us Tof 1929, recounts in his book, Unfinished Business, a to appreciate that there are other ways to be rich that are story told by a dinner guest about the fate of Flagstaff, not financial or even material. We are a people who have Maine. When residents learned that their small town was successfully undertaken enormous tasks that would have to be flooded as part of a dam project, they stopped all daunted others. improvements and repairs to their property. Soon the town Here in my own backyard, the Black Hills of South fell into ruin. As the dinner companion observed, “What Dakota, I am reminded that we are a people who esteem was the use of painting a house if it was to be covered with genuine leadership to the point that we literally move water in six months? Why repair anything when the whole mountains to honor our heroes in stone carvings, whether village was to be wiped out?” Then he added: “Where there they be U.S. presidents or a murdered Native American is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present.” named Crazy Horse. I heard that same logic during an exchange on a recent episode of “The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer” on PBS. A Greater Sense of Solidarity Economy experts had just described the current financial It is time to recall all of that and more. I offer here a simple crisis as a crisis of trust. “Yes,” agreed the New York Times proposal as an example of how each of us can be more columnist David Brooks: “People don’t have trust in the intentional in reawakening our common heritage of trust future. And if you don’t have trust in the future, why in the future for our individual benefit as well as for the should you invest? Why should you spend?” good of our nation and the world. Surely the daily reports of criminal behavior, corruption Let us use part or all of the rebate or tax credit we will and malfeasance by money lenders, investment firms, gov- receive each pay period from the government’s economic ernment regulators and many others have created a crisis of stimulus package to benefit someone besides ourselves. trust in our institutions. Yet as Brooks insightfully noted, Give a more generous tip to the waitress, the parking valet, the lack of trust now has spilled over into our vision of the the barber. Buy a bag of groceries for a poor or elderly future, and it is paralyzing our present. neighbor. Help a teacher who may be using his or her own funds to buy school supplies for disadvantaged students, or A Spiritual Challenge help parents who cannot afford medicine for a sick child. Hope in the future is deeply rooted in our national psyche. See this money as our chance to build a greater sense of It is part of the soul of our nation. Pope Benedict XVI said solidarity in our nation, reminding us that we are all in this as much last year when he spoke at Nationals Park in together. Let our generosity say to us and to others that we Washington, D.C.: “Americans have always been a people of are confident about the future. hope: Your ancestors came to this country with the expecta- What I am suggesting here is that we turn around the tion of finding new freedom and opportunity...of being able moral of the story, and show that “where there is power in to start completely anew, building a new nation on new the present, there is faith in the future.” Let us call one anoth- foundations…. Hope for the future is very much a part of er to use creatively the power for good we each possess in the the American character.” Clearly the challenge before us is present. In doing so, we can rekindle hope for our future, and not simply economic or psychological, but spiritual. thereby bring about the kind of remaking of a nation that has This is a moment to recall who we are. We are a people always made America exceptional. BLASE CUPICH unafraid to welcome “your tired, your poor, your huddled masses,” because we measure others by the quality of their BISHOP BLASE CUPICH of Rapid City, S.D., is an occasional contribu- hopes for the future, not by the circumstances of their tor to America.

4 America March 23, 2009 EDITORIAL Truth and Prosecution he Department of Justice has begun to release doc- voking rancorous partisanship at a uments disclosing the Bush administration’s legal time when it can do the greatest harm Tjustification for setting aside existing laws in the to national economic recovery. In addi- prosecution of the so-called war on terror. The revelations tion, there may be a large measure of have included heretofore unknown claims for the discretion reluctance to admit the shameful negli- of the executive branch to violate the rights of Americans at gence by Congress through lack of home, including the military’s search, detention and trial of oversight, a supine relationship to the civilians without appeal in the United States. As Scott executive branch and the casual passage of ill-considered Horton wrote in the December 2008 issue of Harper’s, “No legislation like the Patriot Act. prior administration had been so systematically or brazenly But Congress should not continue to exempt itself lawless.” In the meantime, both House and Senate are mov- from guaranteeing and defending the rights of Americans. ing ahead on investigations of authoritarian rulings and Re-examination and judgment of policies and practices that policies of the Bush years. The chairman of the Senate seem to amount to internal subversion must be political as Judiciary Committee, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, well as judicial. It is not enough for principled civil servants has begun an effort to establish a truth commission to to recommend prosecution for the most egregious offend- examine the treatment of alleged terrorists; and the chair- ers. Political leaders must take responsibility for bringing man of the House Judiciary Committee, Congressman John the truth to light, for correcting past errors and for estab- Conyers Jr. of Michigan, has already issued a report on lishing accountability on the part of those who either vio- abuses that will serve as a basis for further probes. He has lated the rights of American citizens or conspired to do so, already succeeded in compelling the former Bush aides Karl as well as for those who chose to abuse the human rights of Rove and Harriet E. Miers by subpoena to testify on the innocent foreign nationals. role politics may have played in the firing and hiring of U.S. In conducting its inquiries, Congress faces difficult attorneys. choices over whether to grant immunity from prosecution President Obama has been wise to keep his distance to suspected wrongdoers. Such grants will entail sacrificing from this necessary process of political cleansing, allowing some measure of justice and deterrence for the sake of full longtime civil servants to release the records and make rec- disclosure. In the interest of civic peace, prosecutions ommendations for prosecution. While we are not recover- should be few, restricted to key policymakers and their pri- ing from protracted civil conflict, as are many countries that mary legal advisers. Immunity may be given to others who have conducted truth commissions, there is a public inter- can shed light on the dark secrets of the last eight years but est in refraining from inflaming partisan tensions, especial- who did not bear primary responsibility for the alleged ly when the great recession demands bipartisan unity in offenses. The Abu Ghraib trials, in which the foot soldiers restoring economic well-being to the country. For the long were punished while the commanders and policymakers term, however, there is also an undeniable public interest in escaped punishment, are the wrong model. Prosecutions, holding accountable officials who would unilaterally abro- disbarment and other mechanisms of accountability are gate civil liberties without due process and in setting obsta- needed at the top levels of government decision making. cles to tyranny of the executive in any future crisis. Only on Such accountability is needed to provide a deterrent to this course will we remain, as John Adams said, “a nation of legalized coups in the future. laws and not of men.” Finally, responsibility for the breach of Americans’ The political class as a whole, and Congress in partic- rights falls more widely, with the Congress, the media and ular, will be negligent if they fail to bring to light crimes the public. As we have done before in these pages, we rec- against liberty. There is no rush to judgment. Pundits point ommend that at an appropriate time a national commission out that no one who is president will diminish the potential be formed to assess broader responsibility for the Bush era authority of the presidency, even though in another position offenses. “If the people wish to retain sovereignty,” as Mr. he or she might regard a claim or practice abusive. Congress, Horton wrote, “they must also reclaim responsibility for for its part, is not enthusiastic. There is a proper fear of pro- actions committed in their name.”

March 23, 2009 America 5 SIGNS OF THE TIMES

AFRICA Progress and Challenges As Africa Prepares for Synod fricans preparing for the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa, to be held in October 2009, are Aemphasizing the need to find concrete ways to address the problems of a continent that has made much progress since the bishops’ last synod in 1994, yet still struggles with issues of poverty, justice and reconciliation. Pope Benedict XVI is sched- uled to present the synod’s working documents on March 19 in Cameroon. A survey of some of the issues on the agenda reveals the promise and the challenges the synod will face. Globalization. Poor African countries “have become more entwined with globalization” since 1994, said Peter Henriot, S.J., of the Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection in Zambia. For example, free market programs and policies imposed on Zambia by the World Bank in return for loans “might have made the economy more efficient, but it has no social face,” Henriot said, explaining that the required cuts in government spending have had a detrimental effect on important social programs. “We have lower literacy levels, a higher AIDS rate and other health con- cerns,” Henriot said, because “curtailed budgets [have] had a neg- ative impact on hospitals and schools.” good, said the Rev. Henriot also noted that Africa is par- Belmiro Chissengueti of the Angolan Henriot. Now, says South Africa’s ticularly hard hit by the global eco- bishops’ conference. “For the first time Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban, nomic crisis. “The poor are becoming church and civil society will have a Catholic leaders from many African poorer [because] the price of basic chance to participate in the process” of countries come to South Africa for foods in African countries is affected drafting a new constitution, he said. help with setting up effective justice by skyrocketing prices in First World Yet problems remain. Despite the and peace structures, looking to the countries,” he said. country’s immense resources, most example of South Africa’s recovery Peace and Justice. The political Angolans live on less than $2 a day, from apartheid. landscape in many African countries and one in four children dies before For instance, Napier said, he and has changed greatly since the last the age of five. other Catholic leaders recently traveled synod. Since the 1994 Rwandan geno- Conflicts continue to rage in places to Burundi, which had just emerged cide, which claimed the lives of an esti- like Sudan, where intensifying fighting from years of civil war, in order to help mated 937,000 people, the country threatens the 2005 Comprehensive set up a truth and reconciliation com- has undergone a “gradual democrati- Peace Agreement that ended more mission like the South African com- zation,” said Anthony Egan, S.J., of the than two decades of civil war. There is mission that dealt with human rights Jesuit Institute–South Africa, “and its also the challenge of how Africa is to abuses under apartheid. “We share sto- infrastructure has improved dramati- deal with the accusations of genocide ries to enable the church in other coun- cally.” Yet “the hostilities and preju- in Sudan’s western region of Darfur. tries to strengthen our successes and dices still run deep” between ethnic Reconciliation. The 1994 synod eliminate our pitfalls in their own Tutsi and Hutu, he said. “opened with the tremendous tragedy work.” Interreligious dialogue, especial- In Angola, where a 27-year civil of Rwanda and ended with the miracle ly between Christians and Muslims, a war ended in 2002, the once-strained of Nelson Mandela’s inauguration as process essential to peace, “has relations between church and state are president of South Africa,” said improved enormously,” Napier said.

6 America March 23, 2009 they cause extensive environmental $300 an ounce. This year, it has traded St. Therese Catholic Church in Yaoundé, Cameroon and social damage that outweighs the above $950 an ounce and may top community investment and taxes paid $1,000. In response to the rising value by mining companies. “Mining is of gold, mining companies began to [environmentally] dangerous in explore the area and governments Central America. The methods that handed out hundreds of permits. In are used to separate gold and silver 2005 the Marlin Mine, one of the from the rest of the matter utilize largest foreign investments in cyanide, which is highly pollutant,” Guatemala, opened in San Marcos. Archbishop José Escobar Alas of San Bishop Ramazzini soon began talk- Salvador told the French news agency ing openly about the mine’s negative Agence France-Presse in mid- effects, and controversy followed. February. Local residents, who said they were In late February, Bishop Álvaro not informed about the mine before it Ramazzini Imeri of San Marcos, opened, engaged in protests that at Guatemala, whose diocese is home to times turned violent. At least two anti- that nation’s largest gold mine, led an mining activists were killed, and anti-mining rally and called for a two- Bishop Ramazzini has received death year national moratorium on mining threats. licenses, a move that has already curbed Bishops in neighboring countries investment in mines. “It’s undoubtedly followed Ramazzini’s anti-mining a major deterrent to future investment position. The church’s stance, coupled in the region. We stopped all of our with protests and an international pub- work last July and made it abundantly licity campaign, gave the issue traction. clear that we’re not moving forward,” Now governments that were once CENTRAL AMERICA said Barbara Henderson, senior vice openly welcoming mines are reconsid- president of investor relations for ering. The number of licenses for Gold Mining Canadian-based Pacific Rim Mining, exploration in Guatemala fell from 740 which has three mining sites in El in 2004 to fewer than 250 in 2007, Loses Its Luster Salvador. “I can’t imagine it’s not a according to the Ministry of Energy ive years after Central America deterrent for other mining was dubbed a “top destination companies as well.” Environmental activists Ffor gold mining,” anti-mining Gold speculators have in Costa Rica movements led by the church have long been aware of pushed governments in the region to Central American gold freeze mining permits and to consider deposits. Because the gold laws that levy heftier taxes on miners. is thinly distributed Throughout the region there is “open throughout the soil, sodi- hostility to mining from parts of the um cyanide is needed to population and from the establish- separate the gold and sil- ment, including the Catholic Church, ver ore from other, less and governments,” said Thomas valuable metals, a process Power, an economist at the University that is not environmental- of Montana. “There are public ly friendly and is very protests and ongoing political actions costly. So mining companies largely and Mines. In Honduras, one mine has to constrain mining.” avoided exploring Central America shut down, leaving the country with In several cases bishops have criti- until the price of gold began to spike. four sites. El Salvador has not seen any cized mining operations, arguing that In 2000, the metal traded for about new operations open since 2004.

March 23, 2009 America 7 SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Calls for New Colombian Policy NEWS BRIEFS Colombian community leaders urged Pope Benedict XVI has written a letter to the President Barack Obama on March 5 world’s bishops defending his decision to lift to reform U.S. policy toward the excommunications of four traditionalist Colombia to help end the destructive bishops of the Society of St. Pius X and trade in illegal drugs and more than acknowledging that the controversy was “a mis- 40 years of civil war. Speaking on adventure that was for me unforeseeable,” Capitol Hill, Msgr. Héctor Henao according to reports in the Italian media. • The Gaviria, head of Caritas Colombia, shooting of a policeman in Northern Ireland said Colombia’s civil war has had a was denounced by Bishop John McAreavey of “very grave humanitarian impact,” Dromore, a Catholic, and his Church of especially on displaced families, Ireland counterpart, who said there is “no adding that there must be a joint and Peter Bray going back” to the days of violence that killed “negotiated solution to the armed con- more than 3,500 people over 30 years. • Cardinal Justin Rigali of flict.” Philadelphia said March 9 that President Obama’s executive order Colombia is second only to Sudan reversing the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell in the number of internally displaced research represents “a sad victory of politics over science and ethics.” people, said several Colombian com- • A bill proposed in the Connecticut state legislature that would munity leaders who also participated have given laypeople financial control of their parishes in in the discussion. Participants also Connecticut was withdrawn by its sponsors on March 10 in the urged Obama to rework the U.S.- wake of heated controversy. • Peter Bray, F.S.C., assumed his posi- Colombia anti-drug policy to tion in March as the eighth vice chancellor of Bethlehem “acknowledge the principle of shared University, which is administered jointly by the Vatican and the responsibility between producer and Christian Brothers. consumer countries in facing this scourge.” Colombia is Latin America’s largest producer of coca, the main ingredient of cocaine, which is trans- tures. The pledge asks Catholics to other facilities by the Israeli govern- ported north and consumed in the pray and reflect on the duty to care ment. According to the report, Israeli United States. for God’s creation and protect the officials issued a demolition order for poor and vulnerable; to learn about all the buildings in 2002, which are Coalition Addresses and educate others on the causes and built on property owned by the Greek moral dimensions of climate change; Orthodox Church. The Israeli gov- Climate Change and to advocate for Catholic princi- ernment maintained that the land is During the Easter season, the ples and priorities in discussions and located in a zone known as Area C, Catholic Coalition on Climate decisions about climate change, espe- where Israel has complete military Change plans to unveil publicly a cially their impact on the poor and and civil control. Although the demo- “Catholic Climate Covenant,” a new vulnerable. lition orders have not been carried initiative to make U.S. Catholics out, the residents of the housing pro- more aware of what they can do to Settlement on West ject say the threat is growing. “We are stem climate change and its effects. concerned that any new [Israeli] gov- The covenant includes “The St. Bank Endangered ernment will close us in or confiscate Francis Pledge to Protect Creation Ecumenical News International our land,” one resident told the news and the Poor,” modeled after St. reports that a development housing service. “We will be in a cage if they Francis of Assisi, whose “Canticle of hundreds of Palestinian Christians in don’t demolish the complex,” he said. the Sun” praised God’s creation in the West Bank is threatened by the the form of earth, water and crea- construction of a security fence and From CNS and other sources.

8 America March 23, 2009 JOHN J. DIIULIO JR. A Covenant to Serve

s I write this, I am two weeks lation. Even in these bad financial Thereafter, in communications away from making my 14th times, its economy is jazzy and grow- with me and other Penn colleagues, Atrip to post-Hurricane ing. Its natives’ infectiously warm hos- Jim Kelly, C.E.O. of Catholic Charities Katrina New Orleans. I am reflecting pitality and inimitable civic spirit have of New Orleans, laid down a civic on how in late August 2005, four- been revived. Its struggling Hispanic marker: If Penn would make a five- fifths of that city was flooded when residents have given the historic city’s year commitment to service-learning three poorly-built levees broke demographic gumbo its first mighty in the city, Catholic Charities would beneath Katrina’s blows. The resulting 21st-century stirring. Volunteer-saints co-sponsor internships and other ini- death and devastation made grim from all across the United States still tiatives with Penn there. headlines worldwide. go marching in to help. An elite secular university located So did official Washington’s shame- As on my previous post-Katrina 1,100 miles away working in tandem ful, almost surreal failure to rush trips, I will not be alone. with a Catholic nonprof- resources to the rescue. The disaster’s Over 100 spring break stu- The it? Kelly termed the predominantly African-American, low- dent-volunteers from the inimitable improbable secular-reli- income victims were not treated as fel- University of Pennsylvania gious civic partnership “a low citizens. Some politicians and jour- will be with me. Though civic spirit covenant to serve.” Its nalists even took to calling these sud- Penn is a proudly nonsectar- early fruits are captured denly homeless Americans “refugees.” ian Ivy League university, of New in a video with that title Were it not for heroics by the U.S. founded by Benjamin Orleans on a Penn Web site Coast Guard, Katrina’s initial human, Franklin, it boasts under- (www.foxleadership.org). property and financial toll would have graduate student religious life has been As Kelly has so elo- been much worse. And were it not for organizations that make for a revived. quently stated, the nonprofit organizations, ranging from marvelous faith-based mosa- covenant is not between little local congregations to citywide ic: Jewish students with the Hillel secular Penn and its Catholic partners, operations like Catholic Charities of Center, Catholic students with the but between both of them and the New Orleans, the post-Katrina recovery Newman Center and over a dozen other people whose lives were shattered and process would have moved even slower. groups. I am proud that since September shuttered by the floods, people who It has been three-and-a-half years 2005, these groups and other Penn now seek to rebuild their city and since biblical-sized floods blanketed undergraduates and recent graduates reclaim their communities. the Big Easy. Poverty, crime and other have dedicated over 1,000 weeks of ser- The covenant continues. Starting ills that were bad before are bad or vice in post-Katrina New Orleans. this summer, five recent Penn gradu- worse there today. Affordable housing, But my Penn pride here also directly ates will be working full time in New health care and other basic human touches my Catholic identity. Speaking Orleans on various Catholic Charities needs are far from well met. Many at Penn’s Wharton School of Business community-serving projects. Hispanic immigrants involved in haz- on Oct. 14, 2005, Archbishop Alfred Maybe the partnership is not so ardous clean-up or construction jobs C. Hughes of New Orleans energized improbable after all. Franklin started continue to be exploited by unscrupu- the predominantly non-Catholic crowd Philadelphia’s first library company, lous employers. by telling how the archdiocese was giving it a Latin motto that translates Still, New Orleans now has about opening its arms and its schools to poor thus: “To pour forth benefits for the three-fourths of its pre-Katrina popu- children of every faith and of no faith. common good is divine.” Penn’s Non-Catholic colleagues who have founder emphasized deeds over words. JOHN J. DIIULIO JR. is the author of Godly never held a brief for the church were He was also for supporting any faith Republic: A Centrist Blueprint for America's Faith-Based Future (Univ. of moved (in several cases to tears) by the that forged good works. California Press, 2007). soft-spoken archbishop. Sound familiar?

10 America March 23, 2009 PHOTO: REUTERS/DARIO PIGNATELLI

12 America March 23, 2009 OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ALL CREATION Animal Welfare

BY KATE BLAKE

hen it comes to animal welfare, the average Christian often displays a staggering lack of Christian values. Most Christians will say they love animals and wish them no ill; yet when addressing basic questions of animal Wwelfare, they do not give the answer that Christian faith demands, but rather an answer born of the disordered, excessive culture in which we live, one shockingly unimpeded by the checks of religion: I’m at the top of the food chain. I’ll eat what I want to eat. What do I care if they live in cages? They’re just pigs. A majority of Christians may even suspect that concern for animals as a part of God’s cre- ation is akin to idolatry and that to care for creation is somehow to displace God. It is not, however, a displacement of God to concern oneself with the just treatment of what the Creator has made. In fact, it dishonors the Creator when one ignores the welfare of what has been created. In taking the time to fashion every last being in its rightful place and in attending to detail in placing each one just so, God demands that we who are blessed with a capacity to harness the earth’s resources do so responsibly. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it, “Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives.” Yet few Americans acknowledge any moral imperative beyond the maximum economic value of a resource. Rather, the feeling is that all of creation is ordered to our use, and that the only question we need consider is what that chicken or calf or rabbit can do for me. Creation, then, is seen as having no purpose beyond the serving of our needs. We

Cardinal Angelo Comastri blesses a lamb in St. Peter’s Square on St. Anthony’s feast day 2008. KATE BLAKE is a senior at the University of Alabama at Huntsville.

March 23, 2009 America 13 forget we ourselves are a part of creation. So we do our best Down on the Farm to keep it from encroaching on our mechanized lives. In all likelihood, though, we seldom give a thought to the means by which Sunday dinner arrives at our table. One Who Is the Master? Web site (www.factoryfarm.org) explains: “While many of Few want to be reminded that we live within nature. We the techniques utilized on factory farms were developed to shield ourselves from the things that nature does, harboring make production more profitable, other techniques were the feeling that when nature implemented to increase does what it is supposed to do, efficiency and safety. such as rain or snow, it is Church Writings on Nature However, these practices inconveniencing our civilized Oh, God, enlarge within us the sense of fellowship often cause discomfort, way of life. Yet our place in with all living things, our brothers the animals to pain, and stress to animals, creation is not that of master. whom Thou gavest the earth in common with us. We remember with shame that in the past we while inhibiting their natu- The natural world is given to have exercised the high dominion of man with ral, instinctual behaviors.” us by God in exchange for our ruthless cruelty so that the voice of the earth, According to the Web responsible occupation of it. which should have gone up to thee in song, has site, pigs, weighing 500 As the catechism puts it: been a groan of travail. pounds fully grown, are “Man’s dominion over inani- —St. Basil of Caesarea born and raised in spaces mate and other living beings In this desire to have and to enjoy rather than to only 20 inches across. They granted by the Creator is not be and to grow, man consumes the resources of have no room to turn or lie absolute...it requires a reli- the earth and his own life in an excessive and dis- down. They are forced to gious respect for the integrity ordered way. At the root of the senseless destruc- defecate in this same space; of creation.” Creation owes us tion of the natural environment lies an anthropo- and contrary to expectation, nothing. Rather, we owe cre- logical error, which unfortunately is widespread in animals do not defecate our day. Man, who discovers his capacity to trans- ation reparation. where they eat and sleep form and in a certain sense create the world What many Christians fail through his own work, forgets that this is always when they have a choice. to recognize is that most vio- based on God’s prior and original gift of the things In nature, pigs root, for- lations of the integrity of cre- that are. Man thinks that he can make arbitrary age and build nests; in the ation stem from a continuing use of the earth, subjecting it without restraint to modern factory farm, they desire to reorder creation in his will, as though it did not have its own requi- have nothing but a concrete the way we would like it to be. sites and a prior God-given purpose, which man floor. Tumors, sores and can indeed develop but must not betray. Instead So we genetically engineer legs fractured from lack of of carrying out his role as a cooperator with God crops to operate according to in the work of creation, man sets himself up in movement are common. our demands, and we treat place of God and thus ends up provoking a rebel- Chickens face a similar fate. animals as if they have no lion on the part of nature, which is more tyran- They are crammed into right to fresh air and grass. In nized than governed by him. cages so small they cannot winking at questions of ani- —Pope John Paul II, Centesimus Annus, No. 37 extend their wings and are mal welfare, in stating that we If you have people who will exclude any of God’s housed in buildings with- are masters and that animals creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, out windows, depriving are at our disposal, we contin- you will have people who deal likewise with their them of sunlight. ue egregiously and willfully to fellow human beings. Such conditions are commit that same first sin. —St. Francis of Assisi widespread. In a paper enti- It is not the consumption or tled “Farm Animal Health God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those use of animals that constitutes whom he created in his own image. and Well-Being,” prepared the problem but the methods —Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2417 for the Minnesota Planning used to treat them. In his book Agency Environmental Love and Responsibility, Pope Quality Board, Marlene K. John Paul II wrote: “Intelligent human beings are not only Halverson relates: “All farm animals except pastured species required not to squander or destroy…natural resources, but to and those in enriched, extensive confinement are denied the use them with restraint.... In his treatment of animals in par- possibility of performing species-specific natural behaviors, ticular, since they are beings endowed with feeling and sensi- such as dustbathing (an important grooming activity for tive to pain, man is required to ensure that the use of these chickens) or nest-building (an important maternal activity creatures is never attended by suffering or physical torture.” for sows).”

14 America March 23, 2009 When an animal is denied an opportunity to act or behave in the ways God created it to do, it is no longer liv- ing in natural conditions. That is a violation of the harmo- Our future ny of creation. Our attempt to circumvent nature and God’s creation is nothing less than the sin of pride. depends on you. Our Christian Duty Though it should be evident that none of this activity is in keeping with God’s intentions for creation, for many Please remember Christians it remains a nonissue. Why? If, as the Bible tells us, not even a sparrow falls to the ground without America God’s knowledge, how can we justify contempt for that in your will. sparrow? Animal welfare and questions of ethical farming practices cannot be dismissed with charges of idolatry. More to the point, when one person chooses to abstain from meat derived from animals raised in unnatural con- ditions, while a second demands to be served only the ten- derest, juiciest cuts of sirloin, it is not the first who is rais- ing up idols. As Pope John Paul II stated in his encyclical Centesimus Annus: “Instead of carrying out his role as a cooperator with Our legal title is: God in the work of creation, man sets himself up in place of America Press Inc. God and thus ends up provoking a rebellion on the part of 106 West 56th Street nature....” That stark observation should prompt in us a renewed sense of commitment to God’s creation and a soul- New York, NY 10019 ful consideration of our relationship to it. A

3UMMER2ETREATS

For more information or to register for a scheduled retreat, visit www.mariandale.org or contact Linda Rivers, OP Wasting Time Creatively: A Retreat From Religion to Faith at 914-941-4455 or in the Spiritual Tradition of Anthony de Mello Presenter: Barbara Fiand, SND [email protected]. Presenter: Joseph Currie, SJ Sunday, July 26 – Saturday, August 1 Monday June 8 – Saturday, June 13 Private Retreatants Solid Ground for a 21st Century Spirituality are welcome Artists’ Contemplative Retreat Presenter: Michael Morwood when other retreats Coordinator: Lucianne Siers, OP Sunday, August 2 – Saturday, August 8 are in progress, Sunday, June 14 – Saturday, June 20 space permitting. Directed Retreat Please contact Woman’s Wisdom – The Heart of Matter Directors: Diane Carlson, RSM; Mary Kay Flannery, SSJ; Linda Rivers, OP Presenter: Anne L. Simmonds, D. Min. Francis Gargani, CSsR; Justine Lyons, RSCJ; Julia Masseo; 914-941-4455 or Beverly Musgrave; Nancy Pluta; Anne L. Simmonds, D. Min. Sunday, June 21 – Wednesday, June 24 [email protected]. Sunday, August 9 – Sunday, August 16 Deepening the Contemplative Attitude Presenter: Don Bisson, FMS An Encounter with the Word through Thursday, June 25 – Sunday, June 28 the Life and Writings of St. Paul Presenters: John Burchill, OP; Barbara Metz, SNDdeN Directed Retreat Sunday, August 16 – Sunday, August 23 Directors: Nancy Erts, OP; Ron Henery, OP; Bob Vaughn, OP; additional directors A Sacred Celebration: The River that Flows Wednesday, July 1 – Wednesday, July 8 Both Ways & the Land Along its Shores Presenters: Nancy Erts, OP; Carol DeAngelo Directed Retreat Monday, August 24 – Friday, August 28 Directors: Ron Henery, OP; Bob Vaughn, OP; additional directors Sunday, July 19 – Sunday, July 26 299 North Highland Avenue Ossining, NY 10562-2327 (914) 941-4455 , www.mariandale.org

March 23, 2009 America 15 Tushar Gandhi’s

Nonviolent Path BY ROBERT HIRSCHFIELD

or a long time, I admired John Wayne more In the post-9/11 world of terrorism, Tushar Gandhi is than Gandhi.” Mahatma Gandhi’s great- met with robust skepticism. Young Indians ask him how he grandson Tushar, 48, a burly man with a would disarm a suicide bomber nonviolently. short, neat, salt-and-pepper beard, was sit- “They don’t ask, ‘What turns a human being into a sui- ting in his kitchen, with its yellow painting of cide bomber? What is the cause?’ They see the suicide ‘FKasturba at her spinning wheel, in a rundown residential bomber as the problem, Islam as the problem. I tell them it area of Santa Cruz in Mumbai. He was trying to dispel the is glib to say Islam promises heaven for martyrs and just notion that there was any inherited magic in the Gandhi leave it at that. Would any of them agree to swap his or her name that helped frame his belief in nonviolence. life with all its troubles for a death that allegedly brings with “I felt that the quick draw was the solution to every prob- it all sorts of wonderful rewards? Of course not.” lem,” said Tushar. “Violence seemed a much more glam- As a thought experiment, Tushar asks young people to orous option than nonviolence.” reflect on a reality where death is considered preferable to Mahatma Gandhi may be central to India’s independence life. What would such a reality be like? Clotted with anger story. His wrinkly face may appear on all its money. But in and resentment, probably. Ripe for exploitation. “It gets India in the 21st century there are few true Gandhians left. them thinking. I say to them, ‘You can stop a terrorist with His message has been exiled in laurel leaves. To his people a bullet, but you can’t stop terrorism with a bullet.’” he has become an intimate stranger. Speaking on Behalf of Muslims Reclaiming Nonviolence On the Muslim question, he is satisfied to stand where his “When the constitution was being adopted,” recalls Tushar, great-grandfather stood: squarely on the margins. “With “Gandhi was very keen that an adherence to nonviolence be Partition,” Tushar says, “and later with the demolition of included in the preamble itself. Also, in the manifesto of the Babri Masjid by Hindus [December 1992], and the Muslim Congress Party.” Party leaders balked at the idea. “For them, riots that followed, there has been a silent resentment [nonviolence] had been just a convenient method of getting against Muslims in India.” independence. It was like a medicine that had passed its use- In 1947 British India was split into the independent by date.” countries of India and Pakistan. In the process, as Muslims As director of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Tushar is fled north from India to Pakistan and Hindus fled in the trying to apply Gandhi’s medicine to the body of India. He opposite direction, at least a million people were slaugh- administers different doses. In 2005, on the occasion of the tered, slashing open a crevasse between the two communi- 75th anniversary of the Salt March, Tushar re-enacted the ties that has never been bridged. 235-mile march from his great-grandfather’s ashram in Tushar says that the Muslims “are treated with prejudice Gujarat to the sea at Dandi. It was staged to “awaken the and suspicion, and a little bit of hatred mixed in. When I say people of the world to stand up for peace ‘a little bit,’ I am talking about the so- and nonviolence and reaffirm the power ON THE WEB called moderates, not the fanatics, of of right over might.” The march included From the archives, the editors course, who hate Muslims a lot. This is on the death of Mahatma Gandhi. Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi. americamagazine.org/pages very tragic because our land depends on Mainly, though, Tushar goes out to speak Hindu-Muslim unity.” to the young. “We have lost our today,” he Once, at an Indian film festival whose laments, despairing of his own generation, “but we haven’t theme was nonviolence, he was astonished by a standing lost our tomorrow.” ovation lavished on the Israeli consul general when he arrived. An outspoken critic of Israel’s occupation of the ROBERT HIRSCHFIELD is a freelance journalist based in New York. West Bank, Tushar Gandhi rose to challenge the audience:

18 America March 23, 2009 Tushar Gandhi

“What has Israel done to warrant such a great reception for organization like Congress.” He adds ruefully, “Congress is its consul general? What am I missing?” He was told, “Here unappreciative of my support.” is a person whose country gives tit for tat.” Likewise, while he belongs to a Palestinian support “Regrettably, wherever in the world there is a conflict group, its two-tiered approach toward the use of violence is involving Muslims,” Tushar explains, “many Hindus sym- a point of contention. Most see the violence of the pathize with the other side whether it is justified or not. Palestinians as justifiable, the violence of the Israelis as These are the people who believe that had Mahatma deplorable. “I say all violence must be condemned. That Gandhi not reassured Muslims that they should stay in puts me on the losing side.” To him, the choice is not India, that India was their land, all the Muslims would between caving in or converting. He has his view and he will have fled during Partition, and India would be rid of them. express it, even if his allies will eat him up for it. The anger he stirred up over this was one of the reasons he The young Gandhi does not compare himself to the old; was killed.” he is not, he admits, “a totally nonviolent person.” There are times he says he slips and finds himself wondering whether A Voice in the Wilderness violence is perhaps more suitable in a given situation than Tushar finds himself throttled by uneasy alliances. As much nonviolence. as he loathes the Congress Party for its bloody suppression “I am still traveling on my journey of nonviolence. I have of Kashmir and its embrace of a nuclear India, he supports a long way to go. It’s like an expedition to Mt. Everest; even it against the Bharatiya Janata Party. “The B.J.P.’s castist, reaching the base camp is an achievement. For me, the base

religion-based ideology can only be countered by a powerful camp is not even in sight at the moment.” A REUTERS/SHERWIN CRASTO

March 23, 2009 America 19 LENTEN REFLECTION A Little Patience The fifth in a series for Lent BY PATRICIA A. KOSSMANN

or those of us with a “Type A” congregants toward her. Clearly she Augustine. It is a truism that good personality, keeping anger and was not a well woman. (I later learned things come to those who wait. F impatience under wraps poses a she was off her medications, and her We also should not forget those continual challenge. The season of mother had brought her to church but persons, living or deceased, who are Lent, though, gives us a chance to turn did not stay with her.) unique to each of us: things around. We A’s can attempt to While some individuals parents, teachers, men- replace wrath, one of the seven deadly were shushing her (and tors, siblings and others sins, with its counterpart, the cardinal worse), I prayed for this who have demonstrated virtue of patience. And if we pay atten- obviously tortured soul a patient spirit through- tion and remain open, opportunities and also for tolerance out their lives. I think of to do so present themselves not just and patience, the kind of people who taught by during this season but also throughout patience the good Lord example the importance the year. The trick is to recognize these shows to us. of retaining calm and a moments when they come along. In his letter to the sense of equanimity Patience is the will to “bear provo- Colossians, St. Paul amid times of stress. cation with calmness and self-control.” exhorts them to give up Still, in today’s busy, An opportunity to do just that arose “getting angry, being fast-paced world, impa- for me last Christmas Eve. I was bad-tempered” and tience abounds. (Is the attending Mass at an out-of-town instead to “be clothed in sincere com- A population taking over? I wonder.) parish. Seated behind me was an passion…gentleness and patience.” We simply cannot wait. We need a attractive, well-dressed young woman “Bear with one another,” he insists quick solution. As a result we see more with a lovely singing voice. (3:8, 12-13). And Thomas à Kempis, and more road rage and crowd conflict. Unexpectedly she broke into loud, in The Imitation of Christ, advises: “Be In New York last Black Friday, a clerk uncontrollable laughter. This created a patient, my soul; await the fulfillment about to open a store was stampeded to stir in the congregation, particularly of God’s promise, and you shall enjoy death by hordes of early-morning bar- among those in the rear of the church the abundance of His goodness in gain hunters who had waited for hours where she sat (one row behind me). Heaven.” I have no doubt that God’s in the parking lot. So fixated were they Then silence. Later on, she began promise and God’s patience extend in on getting in that they stepped on or shouting and swinging her arms. I felt full measure to that young woman as over the young man and never looked anger welling up within me at these much as to anyone else. back. interruptions and outbursts during the Most of us need help to develop As Christians, we are called to be tol- liturgy. How disrespectful, I thought. greater patience. Fortunately, there are erant and understanding. Jesus com- Finally, during Communion, she leapt many persons to whom we can turn mands us to love one another, to be in from her pew and ran up an aisle and and from whom we can learn and grow, harmony with one another. And onto the altar platform before she like those who embody the virtue. A although the pursuit of virtue is a life- could be subdued and assisted. great Old Testament example is Job— time endeavor, we have the power of the For days I could not stop thinking a good and upright man tested by suf- Spirit at our disposal—through the about her, replaying in my mind’s eye fering and misfortune, yet unwavering sacraments, prayer, Scripture reading the actions and harsh words of some in his faith. We can also enlist the and meditation. If these are not our daily intercession of St. Monica, a model of companions, we tread a rocky path. PATRICIA A. KOSSMANN is literary editor of patience, who for years prayed quietly Thank God we have time this Lent America. for the conversion of her dissolute son, to grow in patience. Why not use it? A ART: JULIE LONNEMAN

22 America March 23, 2009 BOOKS &CULTURE

ART | LEO J. O’DONOVAN children, Spencer was educated at home in Fernlea, the house his grand- THE EVERYDAY CROSS father had built in Cookham. There he experienced a kind of Edenic child- A Lenten reflection on Stanley Spencer’s ‘Christ’ hood. Having commuted daily to London to study at the Slade School hen St. Paul writes to the Georges Rouault, no artist of the 20th from 1908 to 1912, he set most of his Galatians about the world century seems to have experienced this notable early pictures, which had reli- Whaving been crucified to confession, and indeed the whole gious themes, in Cookham and its sur- him and he to the world (6:14), he is Christian story, as so closely following rounding landscape. speaking of his death to all that is the patterns of his own life as Stanley The serenity and even sanctity he opposed to God. His life, by contrast, Spencer (1891-1959). found there were ruptured when he comes from faith and baptism in the Born at Cookham on Thames, enlisted in the Royal Army Medical paschal mystery of Christ. Apart from Berkshire, as the youngest of eight Corps in 1915 and was posted to Macedonia. He returned home only in December 1918. The rest of his life would be a search for his former sense of whole- ness, “a project of remem- brance and reconstruc- tion,” as one critic has put it. In his painting “Christ Carrying the Cross” (1920), we find a major statement of that theme. With his mother’s grief at his departure for the war still haunting his soul, Spencer shows a determined Christ (with the profile of his father), accompanied by four sol- diers in winged helmets, just as he passes Fernlea, with its adjacent ivy-cov- ered cottage, The Nest, to the right. Behind the cross, two workers carry ladders that will be used to raise it. (They form a St. Andrew’s cross.) In the lower left corner, “Ma” has been metamor- phosed into the grieving Mary. Through a fence that seems made of

“CHRIST CARRYING THE CROSS,” BY STANLEY SPENCER PHOTO: TATE GALLERY, LONDON / ART RESOURCE, NY spears, she is observed by

March 23, 2009 America 25 five white-faced, agonized men who oˆž’š›–•ŒŒGoˆ“““G represent at once Stanley and the five Spencer sons gone to war. yŒ‹Œ”—›–™š››Gp•›Œ™•ˆ›–•ˆ““Gwˆš›–™ˆ““GjŒ•›™ŒŒG A throng of figures (the artist’s fam- ily and friends) peers at the spectacle from Fernlea and The Nest; they are given angels’ wings by the lace curtains that blow out of the windows on the warm summer afternoon. (Residents of Cookham would recognize the low July sun casting the light of evening.) With its pale, chalky color harmonies, flattened figures and distorted space, the painting recalls the Italian primi- tives Spencer had loved as a young man. The scene is at once ordinary and mysterious, realistic and visionary, a {ŒŒG{™ŒŒŒGt–•›GyŒ•Œžˆ““Gj–œ™šŒŒG tableau of deep emotion from which zœ””Œ™™Gj–œ™šŒŒGY^^Gh—™““GˀˀGYZZGqœ“ GYWW``GG the viewer is nevertheless distanced. hœ›œ”••Gj–œ™šŒŒGY^^GzŒ—››GˀˀGZZGkŒŠŠGYWW``GG (The trio of young men in the bottom center represents Stanley and two z—™•ŽŽGj–œ™šŒŒG^^Gqˆ••GˀˀGX__Gtˆ™ŠGYWXWWG friends as onlookers, not participants.) zœ””Œ™™Gj–œ™šŒŒGX``Gh—™““GˀˀGX\\Gqœ“ GYWXWWG Spencer’s career went through signif- icant reversals and revivals after the cel- hœ›œ”••Gj–œ™šŒŒG]]GzŒ—››GˀˀGYYGkŒŠŠGYWXWWG ebrated postwar paintings of the 1920s. “The Resurrection, Cookham” of 1924- vŒ™Œ‹GZG›”ŒšGˆG Œˆ™Gš•ŠŒGX`^\S 27, largely a celebration of the sexuality –Œ™G\WWWGž–”Œ•Gˆ•‹G”Œ•G•G”•š›™ GGGGGGGG he discovered through his marriage to ˆŒG—ˆ™›Š—ˆ›Œ‹GG Hilda Carlin, and his “Sandham ƒ yŒ•Œžˆ“ •Gˆ• •›Œ™•ˆ›–•ˆ“ Š–””œ•› Memorial Chapel at Burghclere” of ƒ ~ŒŒ’“ G“ŒŠ›œ™ŒG—™–Ž™ˆ””ŒGž›G 1930-32 were particular successes. ™Œ•–ž•Œ‹Gz—Œˆ’Œ™šGG Involved in marital difficulties and an ƒ yŒš‹Œ•›Gwˆš›–™ˆ“G{Œˆ”G obsession with a fellow artist, Patricia ƒ kˆ“ GlœŠˆ™š›SGw™ˆ Œ™G Preece, in the later 1930s, Spencer expe- ƒ j–ŠŒG–G~–™’š–—šGG rienced a restoration of his finances and ƒ z—™›œˆ“Gk™ŒŠ›–•G reputation through his monumental ƒ wŒ™š–•ˆ“G{”ŒG series, “Shipbuilding on the Clyde.” In 1955 he enjoyed a major retrospective at ƒ v—›–•ˆ“Gw“Ž™”ˆŽŒšGGG the Tate Britain. ‹œ™•ŽGj–œ™šŒG‰™Œˆ’G ƒ In this Lenten season, “Christ iŒˆœ›œ“Go–œšŒGˆ•‹GGG Carrying the Cross” may seem to nˆ™‹Œ•šG transcend its origin and time. Spencer’s biographer, Kenneth Pople, u–žžGŒŒ••G”–™ŒŒGˆ››™ˆŠ›ŒŒGž›G›ŒŒGˆ–œ™ˆ‰“ŒŒGŒŸŠˆ•ŽŒŒG™ˆ›ŒšG wrote that the cross “represented for m–™™Gœ™›Œ™™G‹Œ›ˆ“ššG–Gˆ“““G–œ™™Gj–œ™šŒššGMMGv›Œ™™GlŒ•›ššGG Stanley, as he assumed it represented w“ŒˆšŒŒGŠ–•›ˆŠ›aaG{ŒŒGzŒŠ™Œ›ˆ™ SSGGoˆž’š›–•ŒŒGoˆ““SSGGG for all, a necessary submission to the perpetual confusions and frustrations tˆ™Šˆ”“Œ SSGz™Œžš‰œ™ SSGGz€[[G\snSSGGl•Ž“ˆ•‹‹G of existence from which it is our pur- {Œ““GGR[[[GX]ZWWG]_\\GY[Y GGGGGmˆŸŸGGGR[[[GX]ZWWG]_\\G\]\ GGGGG pose to seek redemptive meaning.” Œ”ˆ“aaGGˆž’ˆ““gˆ–“UŠ–””G What Christian does not sometimes }š››GœššG›–‹ˆ Gˆ››GžžžUˆž’š›–•ŒTˆ““UŠ–””G reduce Calvary to a conundrum or to something we may accept but despair

26 America March 23, 2009 of ever understanding? borne by other members of the human in time for John XXIII’s funeral. He But what if we take these words of family, echo the depths of a humanity concludes his presentation with a Jesus not as an obscure vision but as a that the incarnate and crucified Word chapter on “three presidents in Saint redeeming reality: “If any man would shared with us—and shares still. Peter’s Square,” in which he notes the come after me, let him deny himself In Lent, approaching once more the groundbreaking action of an evangeli- and take up his celebration of our cal president in declaring a national cross and follow ON THE WEB paschal mystery, we period of mourning for the deceased me” (Mk 8:34)? Rob Weinert-Kendt reviews two new journey not simply pontiff, complete with flags flown at What if the sor- plays with religious themes. toward acceptance of half-staff and the speculation in the americamagazine.org rows and agonies of what is unintelligible Iranian press that Bush was meeting life are not simply on human terms. We with the American cardinals to influ- challenges we must accept and ascribe journey with Jesus toward Absolute ence the conclave. to the all-encompassing mercy of the Acceptance itself, which invites us into In between the first and last chap- Crucified? What if we are meant not acceptance, the Father of Jesus whose ters on presidential participation in simply to accept our redeemed mortal- Spirit sings daily to each and all of us: the papal funeral, Franco offers a series ity, but dimly to discern that in all suf- “Yes, here is my love. Take it. It is yours.” of vignettes to illustrate the earlier ten- fering we are truly one with our sion and efforts at rapport between the wounded Lord? All those wounds, our LEO J. O’DONOVAN, S.J., is emeritus presi- United States and the Vatican. In own and those far more fearful ones dent of Georgetown University. 1846 the United States established ministerial relations with the papal states in recognition of Pius IX’s BOOKS | GERALD P. FOGARTY reputed liberalism. Incidentally, the rank of minister rather than ambas- TWO POLES OF sador was not a slight, as the author implies, because the United States did WESTERN CIVILIZATION not have ambassadors until the 1890s. He recounts the trip of Archbishop PARALLEL EMPIRES Franco’s journalistic eye, however, is Gaetano Bedini to the United States The Vatican and the United better than his historical one. His first in the winter of 1853-1854 amid States—Two Centuries of and last chapters focus on the United protests, some of them violent, for his Alliance and Conflict States’ participation in the funeral of role in repressing the rebellion against By Massimo Franco, translated by Pope John Paul II. For papal rule in Bologna, Roland Flamini the first time in histo- but he omits the neg- Doubleday. 240p $26 ry, an American presi- ative reaction to ISBN 9780385518932 dent attended a papal Bedini’s visit by the funeral. In fact, not American bishops. Massimo Franco, a distinguished only was George W. Franco also reports columnist for the Corriere della Sera Bush present, but also that the U.S. of Milan, presents an interesting thesis Bill Clinton and Congress ended fund- in this book, which he states in the George H. W. Bush. ing for the mission to introduction: “In probing the relation- Jimmy Carter would the papal states in ship between these two extremities of also have liked to be 1867, but fails to Western civilization—the United included, but the mention that the mis- States at one end and the papacy at the American entourage sion to Portugal also other, it is also possible to find some was limited to five and lost its funding lateral answers to other aspects of the room had to be left for because the American equation involving Europe, and the Laura Bush and minister was critical very essence of the West itself.” The Condoleezza Rice. of Radical Recon- book’s 16 chapters are a sweeping sur- Franco contrasts the struction, the Repub- vey of relations between the United scene of three presidents in St. Peter’s lican Congress’ policy of treating the States and the Holy See over the past with John F. Kennedy’s reluctance to former Confederate states as con- 220 years. arrive in Rome in the summer of 1963 quered territories subject to numerous

March 23, 2009 America 27 restrictions before they could be read- nuncio to the United States was shab- mitted to the union. bily treated. Although Laghi narrated The School of While Franco successfully places his experience to an Italian journalist, Theology and Ministry the relations between the United this is the first time, to my knowledge, States and the Holy See against the that the story has appeared in English. background of American anti- Yet the ease with which the Holy See Christian Leadership Catholicism, he (or his translator) shifted from criticism of American in a becomes sloppy in presenting histori- policy in Iraq to what Franco sees as cal facts. He states, for example, that support of Bush over Senator John Secular World in 1939 Franklin Roosevelt “resumed Kerry, a Catholic, remains problemat- the tradition of sending a personal rep- ic. Did the Vatican support Bush in resentative” to the pope. In fact, the 2004 presidential election because Roosevelt invented the title for Myron of a coinciding interest or because C. Taylor as a substitute for establish- leading bishops supported him—or ing diplomatic relations that would opposed Kerry? have required Senate approval. The Unfortunately, Franco relied for author likewise says nothing about the much of his historical information on rude way in which Taylor’s “mission” the unreliable work of Jim Nicholson, was ended in 1950 without any notifi- former chairman of the Republican cation to the Vatican. Nor does the National Committee, President author note the actual “resumption” of George W. Bush’s ambassador to the the personal representative to the pope Holy See and then secretary of veter- The Master by Richard Nixon in 1970 at the ans’ affairs. For instance, Franco of Divinity Degree height of the Vietnam War, a practice accepts Nicholson’s statement that the continued by subsequent presidents Holy See consulted George until Ronald Reagan established full Washington in 1788 to see if he had diplomatic relations. any objection to the pope naming a One of the major drawbacks of bishop in the United States. What The Master of Divinity Franco’s study is his virtual neglect of actually happened? In 1783, at the the American church, its people and time of the signing of the Treaty of (MDiv) is the classic hierarchy. In discussing the establish- Paris recognizing American indepen- ministerial degree for ment of American-Vatican diplomatic dence, the cardinal prefect of leadership positions in relations in 1984, for example, he says Propaganda, the missionary arm of the nothing of Reagan’s motivation to rein pope, instructed the nuncio to Paris to the church. It in the American bishops, who had ask the American minister, Benjamin develops the pastoral issued their pastoral letter The Franklin, if his government had any minister’s capacity for Challenge of Peace in May 1983, con- objection to the appointment of a theological reflection. demning the first use of nuclear arms; bishop. Franklin replied that religious it said deterrence was tolerable only if matters were beyond the competence it was leading to negotiations for disar- of his government, then operating mament. Some treatment of the under the Articles of Confederation. American church is necessary, since He nevertheless forwarded the request most Europeans know that Catholics to the Congress, the president of are a minority within the American which was James Madison, who sec- population but are not aware that they onded Franklin’s opinion. The (206) 296-5330 still number 65 million in almost 200 American clergy then obtained per- (800) 778-3118 dioceses. mission to elect their bishop and chose [email protected] eu One of Franco’s most informative John Carroll, who gained papal www.seattleu.edu/stm chapters concerns Cardinal Pio Laghi’s approval in 1789, the same year mission to President Bush in 2003 to Washington took office. present the papal arguments against Another error occurs on the mean- invading Iraq, when the former pro- ing of “Holy See.” When treating the

28 America March 23, 2009 establishment of ministerial relations, other ambassadors to the Holy See, review of the scientific literature, is Franco notes that the State was accredited to the pope as head of methodical and careful in presenting Department instructed its diplomats the Catholic Church. his findings. He introduces the topic that they were accredited to the pope Despite these reservations, which by defining spirituality and religion as head of the Papal States and not as might be due to the translation, and considering how the definitions head of the church. He then para- Parallel Empires provides an important are important in research but perhaps phrases Nicholson’s argument that “to analysis and interpretation of Vatican- a bit less important in day-to-day this day a fundamental distinction is American relations from the view- practice. In preparing to relate the made between the Holy See and the point of a distinguished European results of research, Koenig stresses Roman Catholic Church to avoid con- observer. For most Americans, includ- that in our current aging society, where fusion” that would arise if he had been ing many Catholics, the Vatican is a health care costs are skyrocketing, accredited to the pope as the head of negligible, if not completely unknown, carefully considering new approaches the Catholic Church. The Vatican, player on the world stage. This book to health care interventions, like the however, states: “The expression Holy furnishes a necessary corrective to that impact of spirituality and religion, is See refers to the supreme authority of view. not simply intrinsically interesting but the Church, and thus the Pope as could provide major savings and Bishop of Rome and head of the improvements in health care delivery. GERALD P. FOGARTY, S.J., holds currently College of Bishops.” Whether the Loyola Chair of History at Fordham Having provided definitions and a Nicholson knew it or not, he, like University in New York City. compelling reason for interest in the results, he then reviews the topic of known and potential mechanisms by MYLES N. SHEEHAN which the mind influences the body. Then comes a series of chapters that CAN PRAYER TRUMP PAIN? look at specific areas where research has been conducted on the links MEDICINE, RELIGION, sensational and a bit weird, Harold between religion and health. AND HEALTH Koenig’s book will be a disappoint- Koenig gives evidence of beneficial ment. For those who are intrigued by outcomes where religion is a factor in Where Science and Spirituality Meet the potential connections between general health, longevity, mental By Harold G. Koenig, M.D. religious faith, maintaining health and health, endocrine and immune func- Templeton Foundation Press. 240p recovery from illness, Medicine, tion, cardiovascular disease and dis- $17.95 Religion, and Health provides a down- eases related to stress and behavior. ISBN 9781599471419 to-earth, matter-of-fact and carefully What I find attractive about Koenig’s reasoned review of the review is that he is not mak- As a Jesuit priest who practices topic. Koenig’s explicit ing an argument on exactly medicine, I must say that some of the goal “is to explore and how religion influences more tiresome moments in my career make sense of some of these health-related out- have been encounters with reporters the recent research on comes, but is looking at the who want to do a “little story” on spir- religion, spirituality, and evidence that health out- ituality and medicine. Some go well, health.” In focusing on comes are influenced. with insightful questions and good this goal, he is not ask- Especially useful for those dialogue. Too often, however, the cam- ing about the theological who might question the era does a close-up on the reporter dimensions of the link strength of the connections who, in a breathy voice and with way between spirituality and that Koenig presents is the too much facial expression, asks: “And health; that task will be careful explanation of con- now, Dr. Sheehan, tell me: How many covered in a volume on founding and explanatory people have you cured by your prayer?” which he is currently working. Koenig variables in determining causality in I have not been smart enough to is focusing on a review of research and scientific studies. If the good outcomes answer: “More than you and I will looking at links between faith and are simply the result of confounding know.” health outcomes. variables, then it is not faith or religion For those people who, like the The author, as would be expected that makes the difference. If, however, reporter, are hoping for something in a book that is meant as a popular there is something associated with

March 23, 2009 America 29 religious belief or faith that explains value. It makes me understand that my another to their health and well-being. the result, then there is a causal link. personal experience has been con- Learning to respect the power of these Koenig argues well that much of the firmed in a number of studies, that the beliefs and utilize them to speed the criticism of results that he highlights is research is not explaining exactly what patient’s healing and recovery of based on a lack of attention to what is happening, that there is plenty of wholeness…should be a priority for may be an explanatory variable versus not so good research, but that this area modern medicine and health care.” a confounding variable. needs further attention. Keonig’s final As might be expected, much of this word sums up what I felt on complet- MYLES N. SHEEHAN, S.J., M.D., is Ralph P. book is fairly detailed. It is written at ing this book. “Thus, both a solid Leischner Professor of Medical Education, the level of an intelligent non-scientist research base and common sense argue director of the Ralph P. Leischner Institute for Medical Education and senior associate dean reader: it makes some demands on the that the religious and spiritual beliefs for education programs at Loyola University reader and provides good instruction of patients are linked in one way or Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine. in return. For a more casual reader, I would recommend the final chapter on clinical applications of the research ANGELA O’DONNELL that has been presented. Once again, Koenig continues his no-nonsense HATING FRANK style in listing seven common-sense reasons why clinicians should pay THE WOMEN alliances, his five-year adulterous liai- attention to the links between religion son with Martha “Mamah” Borthwick and health. He then discusses appro- A Novel By T. C. Boyle Cheney, which ended tragically in her priate ways to work with patients that Viking. 464p $27.95 brutal murder at the hands of a servant engage their beliefs while not alienat- ISBN 9780670020416 at Taliesin, the almost mythic rural ing individuals who do not believe or retreat Wright built for whose beliefs differ from the clinician. T. C. Boyle’s big, brilliant her in Wisconsin. Especially important is his discussion novel The Women tells the Boyle’s novel is much for clinicians about the importance of story of a larger-than-life more ambitious, as it engaging the faith community and rec- man’s larger-than-life attempts to chronicle four ognizing the skills and talents that loves. This account of the complex relationships trained hospital chaplains can bring to architect Frank Lloyd with four radically differ- bear. A physician referral for a patient Wright’s relationships ent women: Catherine to a chaplain can be a crucial move in with the women who “Kitty” Tobin Wright, his facilitating the patient’s well-being. devoted themselves to him wife of 20 years and As someone who has felt that reli- in the course of his long mother to his six children, gious faith and a person’s spirituality life is the second novel in whom he leaves for influence people’s approach to illness two years to depict Mamah Cheney; Mamah and health, but who has been under- Wright’s love affairs. herself, a gifted intellectu- whelmed by the research with which I Nancy Horan’s Loving Frank (2007) al inspired by the ideals of feminism was familiar, this book is of great focused on the most sensational of his and free love to leave her own mar- riage; Maude Miriam Noel, Wright’s Celebrating Six Decades of Spirituality, Education and the Arts second wife, a sculptor and Southern dilettante who is as vain as she is beau- Join us! tiful and cruel; and Olgivanna March 28 - Simplify Your Life, Susan Lovallo, CPA Lazovich Milanoff, the young April 3 - Taizé Evening Prayer, Helen Falcone Montenegrin dancer, his third wife, to 60 April 4 - Women Lawyers' Retreat Day, whom he remains married until his Rosemarie Greco, DW & Jo-Ann Iannotti, OP April 18 - Prayer in the Jewish Tradition, death in 1959. These women have one Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener thing in common: an unaccountable love for a singularly unlovable man. Visit www.wisdomhouse.org The unresolved mystery at the heart of WISDOM HOUSE [email protected] • 860-567-3163 this novel—a book that reads more WISDOM HOUSE RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTER, LITCHFIELD, CT like a tell-all memoir than a work of

30 America March 23, 2009 fiction—is why they fall so utterly, latter sometimes serve as a species of home burns, a searing reminder of the insanely and obsessively in love with a savage marginalia in which he passes first fire set years ago by the servant man the reader cannot stand. judgment on Wrieto-San, while at who killed Mamah and her children. To further emphasize Wright’s other times they bring to the fore- The narrator questions whether the magnetism, Boyle assembles a galaxy ground the minute and multitudinous vengeful “God of Isaiah” was “striking of characters who are irresistibly ironies-within-ironies that characterize at him again for his hubris, his too-per- drawn into his orbit. Among these is Wright’s life. fect creation, the spark that made him the novel’s fictional narrator, Tadashi One arresting instance of this godlike himself.” Within this grand, Sato, a young Japanese architecture occurs in Part I as the narrator tragic context, the narrator poses an student apprenticed to Wright (whom recounts, in thrilling detail, the fire almost comical question in a paren- he refers to deferentially as “Wrieto- that destroys Taliesin for the second thetical remark embedded in a foot- San”). Along with a number of other time. Wright grieves as his magnificent note some pages later: “(And what is it apprentices, Tadashi lives at Taliesin from 1932 until 1941 as part of Wright’s household until the bombing Poetry Contest of Pearl Harbor leads to his arrest and Poems are being accepted eventual internment in a prison camp in Northern California. Tadashi’s for the 2009 Foley Poetry Award removal from Wright’s presence, Each entrant is asked to submit only one typed, rather than his imprisonment, causes unpublished poem of 30 lines or fewer that is not him the deepest grief: “I didn’t care under consideration elsewhere. Include contact what became of me. I’d lost Taliesin. information on the same page as the poem. Lost Wrieto-San.” His devotion to his Poems will not be returned. Please do not sub- master is unwavering despite the fact mit poems by e-mail or fax. that Wright does some rather despica- ble things to Tadashi, including break- Submissions must be post- ing up his love affair with Daisy, one of marked between Jan. the other architecture students, 1 and March 31. because he objects to miscegenation. Poems received outside the designated period will be treated as regular poetry In another instance, Wright the teeto- submissions, and are not eligible for the prize. taler unjustly accuses the ordinarily ascetic Tadashi of being an alcoholic The winning poem will be published in the June 8-15 issue of America. Three because he takes some of the new runner-up poems will be published in subsequent issues. apprentices to the local watering hole one night to celebrate their arrival. Cash prize: $1,000 Not only is Wright portrayed as a Send poems to: Foley Poetry Contest racist; he is a Puritan, and a hypocriti- America, 106 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019 cal one at that, given the fact that he often takes the moral high ground even as he is violating his marriage vows and living openly as an adulterer. What to Collegeville, Minnesota do with such a man? “Love him,” seems http://www.csbsju.edu/sot/ to be the answer. And love him they do—both men and women alike. Director of Admission - Saint John's University, School of Theology•Seminary Yet their devotion does not prevent invites applications for the position of Director of Admission. The Director of Tadashi or Wright’s wives and mis- Admission is responsible for recruiting students for graduate theological study, tresses from acknowledging his faults. facilitating the admissions process, and working collaboratively with other staff to One of the most engaging aspects of coordinate data collection processes, student billing, and admission reports. For the narrative is Tadashi’s tendency to more information visit: www.csbsju.edu/humanresources/employment- editorialize, particularly in his intro- opportunities/. Women and people of diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds are ductions to each of the novel’s three encouraged to apply. Saint John's University is an EEO/AA employer. parts and in his many footnotes. The

March 23, 2009 America 31 with this man and fire?)” Indeed, the ly less, and Wright remains a riddle. narrator nudges us, Wright’s life is Wright—and to a certain extent, NAPRC haunted by conflagration, both literal his greatest creation, Taliesin—is the CONFERENCE and figurative, some deliberately set by Rorschach test through which we Wrieto-San himself. The Promethean come to understand each woman and National Alliance of Parishes demigod is deflated even as the narra- what she sees in this troubled—and Restructuring Into Communities tor looks on admir- troubling—man. ingly—and sympa- ON THE WEB Yet, he serves as no NEW WINE IN thetically. Michael Paul Gallagher, S.J., on passive object of This is a nervy nourishing the religious imagination. contemplation. NEW WINESKINS americamagazine.org/podcast Small Church Communities thing for Boyle to do. Rather, he figures Doing Things Differently The reader could as a potent force, a Whole Community Catechesis easily be carried along on the sheer maker who relentlessly reshapes reality Bringing new vision to the Church momentum of his exuberant story- to suit his mastering vision, and his Keynoter: WILLIAM HUEBSCH telling as he recounts Catherine’s stal- women figure among his works of art wart opposition, Mamah’s renuncia- as surely as his buildings. As Our Lady of Mercy Parish tion of respectability, Miriam’s mad Catherine muses, “Everything was his. Harborcreek, PA obsession and Olgivanna’s poignant He’d put his stamp on inanimate (Diocese of Erie, PA) desire for security and stasis, but Boyle things and people alike.” Though the July 23-25, 2009 refuses to allow it. Tadashi’s interpola- novel may be titled The Women, let the tions detach and distance us from the reader make no mistake: it’s all about For more info & registration form: story’s events in much the same way as Frank. Visit:www.naprc.faithweb.com Call: 937-256-3600 the predatory press tantalized Wright’s Email:[email protected] contemporaries with reports of his ANGELA O’DONNELL (Registration Deadline: July 1) teaches English, cre- marital upheavals and yet kept them at ative writing and Catholic studies at Fordham a voyeur’s safe remove. More is strange- University in New York City.

America cordially invites you to the Mass of Thanksgiving and Reception Celebrating America’s Centennial Saturday, April 18, 2009, at 2 p.m.

Saint Ignatius Loyola Church 980 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y.

For more information, contact: [email protected]; (212) 515-0115.

32 America March 23, 2009 CLASSIFIED vice and sisterhood in students. The successful The senior director, sponsor services, reports to candidate will have a strong commitment to the vice president of mission services and partici- Catholic education, experience in instructional and pates in C.H.A.’s senior management activities. Education administrative leadership, familiarity with Interested applicants should call Maureen OBLATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY offers an M.A. advancement, boards, governance and organiza- Gallagher, Search Consultant, The Reid Group; degree in spirituality. Regular semester and inter- tional development. A willingness to build rela- Ph: (800) 916-3472 or (262) 646-4209. Deadline session courses. Visit www.ost.edu. tionships on behalf of the school, both internally March 25, 2009. and with the community at large, is required. Parish Missions Qualifications for the position include a master's Retreats INSPIRING, DYNAMIC PREACHING: parish mis- degree in education or administration, five years BETHANY RETREAT HOUSE, East Chicago, Ind., sions, retreats, days of recollection; www.sab- previous administrative experience and a desire to offers private and individually directed silent retreats, bathretreats.org. educate women in the Catholic tradition. The including Ignatian 30 days, year-round in a prayerful Principal must be an active, practicing Catholic. home setting. Contact Joyce Diltz, P.H.J.C.; (219) 398- SEEKING PARISH GROWTH DIRECTOR to con- Please send a letter of interest and résumé to: 5047; [email protected]; www.bethanyre- duct R.C.I.A. and evangelization programs, includ- Catherine P. Weaver, Catholic Schools Office, treathouse.org. ing home visitation, “Come Home for Christmas” 1626 North Union Street, Wilmington, DE and other outreach efforts. Applicants should be 19806; e-mail: [email protected]. knowledgeable in theology and experienced in com- Seminars CARMELITE SUMMER SEMINAR. The annual munity organization and recruiting, training and SENIOR DIRECTOR, SPONSOR SERVICES nurturing volunteers. Master’s degree in pastoral summer seminar on Carmelite spirituality will take Catholic Health Association, St. Louis, Mo., is place at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., theology desirable but not required. Salary nego- seeking a senior director, sponsor services, to be tiable. Applications may be sent: Attn: Pastor, St. 46556, June 14-20, 2009, with the theme “Carmel’s responsible for the development, implementation Search for Wisdom: Prayer and Contemplation.” Thomas the Apostle Parish, 24 Westminster and evaluation of programs, services and products Road, West Hempstead, NY 11552. For brochure: Ph: (574) 284-4636 or Kathy designed to support leaders of religious institutes, Guthrie at [email protected]. Speakers: religious and lay sponsors, boards of trustees, other Chowning, Culligan, Egan, Frohlich, Kavanaugh, Positions laity and bishops who sponsor Catholic health care McMahon, Seelaus and Welch. PRINCIPAL, Catholic Schools Office. The in the United States. Candidates must have knowl- Catholic Diocese of Wilmington invites applica- edge of canon law, the organization of religious Wills tions for the position of Principal at Padua institutes and the evolving role of laity in leader- Please remember America in your will. Our legal title Academy, a Catholic high school serving 600 ship positions within Catholic health care ministry is: America Press Inc., 106 West 56th Street, New young women in grades 9-12. Padua Academy is and the universal church. Knowledge of religious York, NY 10019. rooted in the Gospel, modeled on the values of St. life, sponsorship and governance models, as well as Francis de Sales and St. Francis of Assisi, and seeks research and development, education, facilitation, AMERICA CLASSIFIED. For more information, visit to instill the values of spirituality, scholarship, ser- collaboration and consultation skills are essential. www.americamagazine.org or call 212-515-0102. International Institute for Clergy Formation Providing 22 Years of Renewal and Fraternity for Priests Announcing our 2009 Summer Institute for Clergy June 21—July 17 At San Alfonso Retreat Center ō Long Branch, New Jersey Some Highlights include: Week 1: Preached Retreat offered by Reverend Joseph Henchey, C.S.S. Pastors’ Workshop on developing Mission and Ministry Sean Patrick Cardinal O’Malley, O.F.M., Cap.- “Handing on the Faith” Week 2: Bioethics Workshop offered by Dr. Marie Hilliard, J.C.L., Ph.D., R.N. Week 3: Spiritual Direction Seminar Week 4: Archbishop Timothy Broglio, J.C.D. on the Church and International Relations Redemptorist Preaching Institute Participants can attend one, two, three or four weeks. For detailed information or a brochure please contact our office: Phone: 973-761-9739 ~ Email: [email protected] ~ Website: http://clergy.shu.edu

March 23, 2009 America 33 LETTERS

New Wineskins Thank you for “Exceptional Pastoring,” by Mary M. Foley (3/9). My parish priest is running three parishes spread over two towns, the parish priest next door is running two other parishes in two other towns— and so it goes. Here in England, we have far fewer priests than in the United States (I am often amazed at the number of Sunday Masses and priests in some U.S. parishes), and we are coming to realize that we need much more lay involvement—and the majority of involved lay people are women. We need more training for pastoral leadership and more acceptance of women “up at the front” if we expect the church not only to survive but to grow and to flourish. EILEEN SAGAR Burnley, U.K.

Role Models In “Exceptional Pastoring,” Mary M. Foley is correct in saying “We are not the givers of religious vocations, nor can we choose what gifts will be given.” But it is important to remember that a call to a religious vocation is not often a direct “call” (as St. Francis or St. Paul were called), but rather is mediated by the surrounding community and the broader culture. Therefore, it is not only important for a pastor (or anyone in pastoral leadership) to talk about and encourage vocations, but also to recognize how their milieu shapes the understanding of vocation in those being called. If we want to encourage young men to enter the priesthood, we have to give some thought as to whether the model of lay pastoral leadership might not move young men (and women) in another direction. This is not an objec- tion to lay pastoral leadership; when done well, it is a great gift to the church.

34 America March 23, 2009 But it is a concern that needs to be acknowledged and addressed by those in pastoral leadership roles. DAVID CRUZ-URIBE, S.F.O. West Hartford, Conn. Denial Re Mary M. Foley’s reflections on women in parish leadership: We have been talking about alternative forms of SUMMER INSTITUTE 2009 parish leadership for over 20 years, but bishops, priests and laity are all still Come to Chicago this summer! sailing down that river in Egypt. We invite beginners to theology and more experienced students to come I once had a conversation with a spend a day, a week or more in Chicago at Catholic Theological Union’s group of churchwomen gathered to Summer Institute – June 8-12; June 15-19; and June 22-26. facilitate a parish task. “If this were Two blocks from Lake Michigan and just minutes from all the sights in downtown really important,” one sniffed, “Father Chicago, CTU’s summer continuing education program is the perfect way to would be here.” “Father’s not here,” I have some fun and deepen your faith. responded, “because he trusts that we For more information go to www.ctu.edu or can get the job done.” Contact: Keiren O’Kelly at 773.371.5442 or [email protected] This is a novel idea to most bishops, priests and parishioners, so let’s stop wasting trees on articles about things www.ctu.edu that are not happening. Maybe in 20 5401 S Cornell Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60615 more years, the Catholic community The Largest Roman Catholic Graduate School will be desperate enough to consider of Theology and Ministry in the U.S. changing. KRISTEEN BRUUN North Richland Hills, Tex. Experience late summer flavor of New Mexico and dialogue with laity and church leaders Fresh Air In 90 years of life on this good earth, I Collaboration and Transformation have rarely written a letter to the edi- ... Forming a Catholic Future tor. However, the recent article by Mary M. Foley caught my attention. It was beautifully articulated and Presenting Fr. Allan White, OP expressed, far beyond my ability to do August 13 - 15, 2009 so, my feelings about the potential of Sr. Katarina Schuth, OSF Dr. Marti Jewell Albuquerque, NM women in parish leadership. This is an issue that has long been neglected in Learn more and register today: d-e-i.org/dialogues official Catholic media. It is a welcome breath of fresh air. JOHN R. FRIANT TWO-WEEK COURSES IN CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY Berryville, Va. JUNE 2009 Fellow Traveler Divine Kenosis and Christian Spirituality Fr. David Power, OMI - June 1-12, 6:30-9:30 PM I loved Karen Sue Smith’s “The World by Chair” (3/2). It really resonated with Foundation & Expressions of Christian Prayer my experience. I have been working on Fr. Joseph LaBelle, OMI - June 15-26, 6:30-9:30 PM putting together a trip to Australia, Courses may be taken for three M.A.-level credit hours (with pre- and post-course assignments) returning via South Africa, and have or may be Audited (only reading required). Registration deadline is May 22, 2009. been using a Web site where one can For more information, contact the Office of the Registrar. plot out a trip on a map and pick the OBLATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY flights. Great fun. I’ve gone around the 285 Oblate Drive · San Antonio, Texas 78216 · (210) 341-1366 · www.ost.edu

March 23, 2009 America 35 world many times now...and never left Saint Michael’s College my desk! GRADUATE THEOLOGY AND PASTORAL MINISTRY SUZANNE ELSESSER Larchmont, N.Y.

Strong-Arm Tactics I agree with Thomas Massaro, S.J.,

Graduate Theology and about the need for “free and fair col- Pastoral Ministry lective bargaining” in the workplace One Winooski Park, Box 252 Colchester, Vermont 05439 (“More Perfect Unions,” 3/9). But I fail to see how denying workers access to secret balloting helps achieve that goal. By all means, we should prevent unfair practices by employers, but we must also prevent unfair practices by union organizers. Allowing strong-arm tactics by

June 29 - July 10 July 6-July 17 July 20 - August 7 union organizers to secure “majority A Catholic Theology of God and Human Johannine Literature sign-up” after denying workers a right Interreligious Dialogue Transformation: Four Wilfrid Harrington, O.P. Dermot Lane Traditions of Spirituality to a secret ballot will not enhance work- Ecclesiology Philip Sheldrake June 29 - July 17 John Dadosky ers’ rights. What’s next, “majority sign- Retreat The Wisdom Literature Theology For Ministry up” in our national elections? Joseph Wimmer July 12 - July 17 Margaret Lavin BILL LATTA Centering Prayer Foundations of Theology Carl Arico Exploring the Mystics Napoleon, Ohio Jack Dick Richard Hardy Faith Formation #ONTACT%DWARD-AHONEYATsE MAILEMAHONEY SMCVTEDUsWWWSMCVTEDUTHEOLOGY One issue in Daniel P. Sulmasy’s report on the unraveling of Catholic health care in New York (“Then There Was One,” 3/16) that I would like to underscore is the dire need for substantial formation programs for Catholics On Call is a program for Catholic health care leaders. I have young adult men and women who are seeking insight into life and seen poorly formed leaders selected wondering what God has to say. for their competence, and yes, I have Be sure to check out our Web site. seen that competence result in better www.catholicsoncall.org bottom lines. But I have also observed the moral and ethical limitations of some such leaders and have been Apply today for Summer 2009! appalled that Catholic health care 773.371.5431 boards would make such a tradeoff. [email protected] Is it any more appropriate to allow a supremely competent but poorly formed leader to head a Catholic health care institution than it would be to allow an unformed leader to

FREE Summer Conferences: America (ISSN 0002-7049) is published weekly (except for13 com- bined issues: Jan. 5-12, 19-26, March 30-April 6, April 20-27, May Thursday, June 4 – Sunday, June 7 (extended weekend program) 25-June 1, June 8-15, 22-29, July 6-13, 20-27, Aug. 3-10, 17-24, 2009 Sunday, August 9 – Friday, August 14 (week long program) Aug. 31-Sept. 7, Dec. 21-28) by America Press, Inc., 106 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019. Periodicals postage is paid at New York, N.Y., and additional mailing offices. Business Manager: Lisa Pope; Circulation: Judith Palmer, (212) 581-4640. Subscriptions: United States, $48 per year; add U.S. $22 postage and GST (#131870719) for Canada; or add U.S. $32 per year for overseas Catholics On Call is a program of The Bernardin Center at surface postage. For overseas airmail delivery, please call for rates. Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. Postmaster: Send address changes to: America, 106 West 56th St. New York, NY 10019. Printed in the U.S.A.

36 America March 23, 2009 head any other Catholic mission? Would we select an unformed leader as the president of Notre Dame, or allow an unformed leader to preside at Mass? A. CRAIG EDDY, M.D. Missoula, Mont.

An Ailing Industry Re Daniel P. Sulmasy’s “Then There Was One” (3/16): It is indeed sad that the Catholic health care tradition of delivering witness to the value of life must come to an end because of the fiscal realities and market disincentives that have come to bear on what has To send a letter to the editor we recommend using the now become more of a business than a link that appears below articles on America’s Web ministry. Perhaps it is time to shake site, www.americamagazine.org. This allows us to the dust from our feet at these ven- tures and place our energies and consider your letter for publication in both print and resources where they may be employed online versions of the magazine. Letters may also be to proclaim Gospel values more effec- sent to America’s editorial office (address on page 2) tively. or by e-mail to: [email protected]. They DAN CALLAHAN, S.A. Toronto, Ont. should be brief and include the writer’s name, postal address and daytime phone number. Letters may be Correction: The cartoon in the edited for length and clarity. 3/16/09 issue was incorrectly credit- ed. The cartoon was by Dave London.

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March 23, 2009 America 37 THE WORD

as Jesus was shown in the Synoptic Gospels to have done in Gethsemane. Made Perfect Similarly, the psalms of lament, like FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT (B), MARCH 29, 2009 today’s responsorial psalm, supply a pattern. No human being, including Readings: Jer 31:31-34; Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15; Heb 5:7-9; Jn 12:20-33 Jesus, wants to suffer and die, and God “He learned obedience from what he suffered” (Heb 5:8) hears such pleas. At the same time, Jesus approaches God with “rever- ence,” eulabeia (Heb 5:7), that is, awe here is a troublesome asser- knows that the earthly Jesus was not a before the power of God. He knows tion in today’s second reading: priest (Heb 7:14); he speaks that God hears him, and at the same “Son though he was, he metaphorically, arguing that Jesus’ suf- time he hears God and knows the cost T fering and death have the saving effects of being obedient to the divine mission learned obedience from what he suf- fered.” This verse conjures up an image that the temple sacrifices had, of extending salvific love to all. This is of God as a disgruntled parent, who which were offered by the what the author of Hebrews wants us inflicts punishment on a disobedient high priest. The author to emulate: obedience as faithfulness child to teach the wayward one a les- asserts that Jesus’ sacrifice to God’s desire for life to the full for son. Such an explanation for Jesus’ put an end to all need for all, and a willingness to embrace Passion is highly problematic, both further sacrifices (7:27). In the suffering the mission entails. theologically and pastorally. What was the section we hear in We can learn this kind of obedi- it that Jesus needed to learn? What today’s reading, the ence by imitating (“obeying”) needed to be “made perfect” in him? emphasis is that in Jesus Jesus (Heb 5:9). Does Jesus then treat us this way, who we have a “high priest” are called to “obey him” (Heb 5:9)? able to sympathize with us PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE The notion of obedience being in every way. learned through the imposition of suf- Jesus is not removed from humani- • In what ways has something you have suf- fered brought love to greater fullness in you? fering can be misused by persons in ty in some inaccessible sacred sphere; authority as justification for abusive he experienced everything that we do, • How does it affect our treatment of one behavior toward those who depend on except sin. The author of Hebrews is another if we understand obedience as faith- them. In homes where there is domes- saying that the earthly Jesus, like all fulness to the demands of a love relationship? tic abuse, husbands beat their wives to human beings, grew in consciousness • What does Jeremiah’s image of the teach them obedience and submission. of what his mission was and learned demands of love being written on the heart Some parents use physical punish- through experience the full meaning say to you? ment to teach their children to respect of what it is to be obedient to God. In ART: TAD DUNNE their authority; there is an ugly history v. 9, the verb teleiotheis, “made perfect,” This paradox is expressed with of slave-owners doing the same. Surely does not refer to moral perfection, but another image in today’s Gospel: that this is not how we should understand has at its root a sense of “complete- of a grain of wheat that is planted and today’s readings. ness,” “wholeness.” Thus, it is Jesus’ dies, so as to produce much fruit. It is important to understand the process of coming to a full understand- Death, in this metaphor, is not the end context of this passage from Hebrews, ing of his mission and its cost to him of life, but a transformation by which both within the whole of the docu- that the author speaks of as Jesus’ one is “made perfect,” that is, reaches ment, and in the broader biblical and becoming “perfected.” the full flowering of God’s design. God liturgical context. Today’s second read- The whole purpose of this exposi- is not intent on teaching us obedience ing is part of an elaborate exposition tion in Hebrews is to exhort the hear- by imposing suffering, but leads us to on Jesus’ high priesthood. The author ers to imitate Jesus’ attitude toward follow Jesus, trusting that God accom- God. As this Christian community panies us and strengthens us through experiences suffering, its members are experiences of suffering and death, BARBARA E. REID, O.P., is a professor of New Testament studies at Catholic Theological directed to do as Jesus did. First, they which bring the full flourishing of life. Union in Chicago, Ill. should pour out their hearts to God, BARBARA E. REID

38 America March 23, 2009