Pursuing the Truth in Love AMERICA ’S MISSION for the 21 ST CENTURY Matt Malone of MANY THINGS

JUNE 3-10, 2013 $3.50 THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY Pursuing the Truth in Love AMERICA ’S MISSION FOR THE 21 ST CENTURY Matt Malone OF MANY THINGS PUBLISHED BY JESUITS OF THE UNITED STATES his December marks the 50th matters concerning individuals or anniversary of “Inter Mirifica,” the community. The proper exer - EDITOR IN CHIEF the “Decree on the Means of cise of this right demands, howev - Matt Malone , S.J. T er, that the news itself that is com - MANAGING EDITOR Social Communication” promulgated by the Second Vatican Council. The municated should always be true Robert C. Collins, S.J. and complete, within the bounds decree is one of the guiding lights for DIGITAL EDITOR of justice and charity. In addition, America . The reflections on our mis - Maurice Timothy Reidy the manner in which the news is sion and identity in this issue are heavi - LITERARY EDITOR communicated should be proper Raymond A. Schroth, S.J. ly indebted to the insights contained in and decent. This means that in that landmark decree. The following are both the search for news and in POETRY EDITOR James S. Torrens, S.J. excerpts. reporting it, there must be full Matt Malone, S.J. respect for the laws of morality and ASSOCIATE EDITORS for the legitimate rights and dignity Kevin Clarke Among the wonderful technologi - of the individual. For not all Kerry Weber cal discoveries which men of talent, knowledge is helpful, but “it is Luke Hansen, S.J. especially in the present era, have charity that edifies....” EDITOR AT LARGE made with God’s help, the Church Since public opinion exercises James Martin, S.J. welcomes and promotes with spe - the greatest power and authority ART DIRECTOR cial interest those which have a today in every sphere of life, both Stephanie Ratcliffe most direct relation to men’s minds private and public, every member ASSISTANT EDITOR S and which have uncovered new of society must fulfill the demands Francis W. Turnbull, S.J. avenues of communicating most of justice and charity in this area. Olga Segura readily news, views and teachings As a result, all must strive, through COLUMNISTS of every sort. The most important these media as well, to form and Angela Alaimo-O’Donnell of these inventions are those spread sound public opinion.... Colleen Carroll Campbell media, which...can, of their very The principle moral responsibility John J. Conley, S.J. nature, reach and influence, not for the proper use of the media of Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M. only individuals, but the very mass - social communication falls on James T. Keane es and the whole of human society, newsmen, writers, actors, design - John W. Martens and thus can rightly be called the ers, producers, displayers, distribu - Bill McGarvey media of social communication.... tors, operators and sellers, as well Margot Patterson Michael Rossmann, S.J. The Catholic Church, since it as critics and all others who play wa s founded by Christ our Lord to any part in the production and WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT bear salvation to all men and thus is transmission of mass presenta - John Carr obliged to preach the Gospel, con - tions.... CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER siders it one of its duties to All the children of the Church Lisa Pope announce the Good News of salva - should join, without delay and tion also with the help of the media with the greatest effort in a com - 106 West 56th Street of social communication and to mon work to make effective use of New York, NY 10019-3803 instruct men in their proper use. It the media of social communication Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596 is, therefore, an inherent right of in various apostolic endeavors, as the Church to have at its disposal circumstances and conditions E-mail: [email protected]; and to employ any of these media demand.... [email protected] insofar as they are necessary or use - The Synod invites all men of Web site: www.americamagazine.org. Customer Service: 1-800-627-9533 ful for the instruction of Christians good will, especially those who have and all its efforts for the welfare of charge of these media, to strive to © 2013 America Press, Inc. souls…. [T]he laity especially must turn them solely to the good of soci - strive to instill a human and ety, whose fate depends more and Christian spirit into these media, so more on their proper use. Thus, as that they may fully measure up to was the case with ancient works of the great expectations of mankind art, the name of the Lord may be and to God’s design.... glorified by these new discoveries in Cover: America ’s coat of arms. The motto is from the Latin Vulgate [I]n society men have a right to accordance with those words of the translation of Eph 4:15. Background information, in accord with the cir - Apostle: “Jesus Christ, yesterday image: Shutterstock.com/Jason cumstances in each case, about and today, and the same forever.” Winter. CONTENTS www.americamagazine.org VOL. 208 NO. 19, WHOLE NO. 5014 JUNE 3-10, 2013 ARTICLES 12 PURSUING THE TRUTH IN LOVE The mission of ‘America’ in a 21st-century church Matt Malone COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 4 Current Comment 5 editorial Food Aid for Whom? 6 Signs of the times 12 10 Washington Front Dear Prudence John Carr 19 Faith in Focus Love Aflame Silas Henderson 35 Reply all 37 the Word Rise Up!; A Woman Beloved by God John W. Martens BOOKS & CULTURE 19 22 FILM “The Great Gatsby” POETRY The 2013 Foley poetry contest winner COLUMN Thumbs Way Up! BOOKS Pope Francis: The Pope From the End of the Earth; Pope Francis: From the End of the Earth to Rome; The Unwinding; From the Jaws of Victory ON THE WEB ON THE WEB Select articles on the mission and history of America . Plus, an interview with theater reviewer Rob Weinert-Kendt. All at americamagazine.org. 22 CuRRent CoMMent General Ríos Montt was acquitted of the same charges. Big and Little Wars International human rights organizations lauded the A Congolese battalion trained by the U.S. military com - landmark conviction. This time, it is not just the poor and mitted mass rapes and other atrocities last year, according powerless held accountable for criminal activity, but a for - to a newly released United Nations report. Soldiers from mer head of state—whose friends are still in power. No one the unit joined with other Congolese soldiers to rape 97 should be above the law. While America has supported women and 33 girls in eastern Congo. This represents a forums like the International Criminal Court for trying setback for the U.S. military’s little-known efforts to train such cases, this unprecedented case shows there are addi - troops in third-world countries. tional options for bringing about long-delayed justice. Consider another story from two years ago. In October Other countries could follow Guatemala’s example, provid - 2011 the United States sent a small combat unit of 100 ing a warning to the powerful everywhere: If you commit special forces troops to Central Africa to track down and genocide or torture or other serious crimes, you will be held “remove” Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance accountable. Army, which has murdered and raped tens of thousands of In delivering the verdict and sentence, Judge Yasmín men, women and children in Uganda and the surrounding Barrios mandated the attorney general to investigate and countries over two decades. prosecute all others implicated in these crimes. Some wonder If you were not aware of U.S. military action against whether Otto Pérez Molina, the current president of Mr. Kony, then perhaps you have not read Instances of Use Guatemala, could be subject to prosecution once he leaves of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-2013, pub - office. President Molina served as a military field commander lished on May 3 by the Congressional Research Service. under General Ríos Montt. Questions also remain about The report describes every deployment of the U.S. mili - whether U.S. officials might face accountability for support - tary, from the undeclared naval war with France in the ing General Ríos Montt. The United States provided the Dominican Republic in 1798 to Defense Secretary Chuck Guatemalan military, as an ally in the fight against Hagel’s deployment of up to 200 additional troops to Communism, with money, weapons and intelligence. This Jordan on April 17 of this year. The list includes five kind of support carries with it a moral responsibility to declared wars, eight undeclared wars and recent deploy - understand its consequences. As Guatemala has exemplified, ments as part of NATO or the United Nations. it must also involve accountability for crimes committed. The sheer volume of interventions comes as something of a shock. Just zoom in on the 21st century. The United States Last Words deployed troops 70 times in 23 countries, including Niger, The graduation ceremonies at universities in the United the Philippines, Libya, East Timor, Kosovo, Haiti, Liberia, States are more and more in danger of becoming battle - Iraq and Afghanistan. Some of these interventions seem war - grounds. The administrations, faculties and student bodies ranted—peace missions, disaster responses, assisting the still are split on what commencement means and how to cele - unsuccessful pursuit of Joseph Kony, saving a U.S. citizen brate it. At Swarthmore College near Philadelphia the stu - from Somali pirates. Some appear less justifiable, and a dents opposed as a speaker the former president of the handful have proved disastrous. But they all suggest how World Bank, an alumnus, who had supported the invasion grave the responsibility and how well-measured the decision of Iraq.

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