The Joseph and Rose Kennedy The Kennedy Institute Georgetown University Institute of Ethics Quarterly Report W ashington, D .C. 20057 Volume 5, Number 2 Fall 1979 Sargent Shriver and When we left for China no one in our significant the human, affective, Richard A. McCormick, S.J. 18-member delegation knew what to nonacademic experiences. An expect. When we returned everyone adequate explanation for these knew the unexpected had surpassed surprising responses probably doesn’t the planned. exist, but a few rather simple observations might help. Some members of our group may have The thought they knew what was going to Our scholars learned about the happen, since each had been given a tortures, banishments and humiliations detailed itinerary. Some had prepared inflicted upon their academic China speeches for audiences they expected counterparts over the last 20 years in to address. The leader of our party China, from the lips of professors who Trip had assured and reassured everyone had actually undergone the banishments that everything would work out , trials and tribulations. Personal according to schedule. But, like most stories about the national assault upon other leaders, past and present, he was learning and on the learned by the proceeding on intuition and faith as “know-nothings” of the Cultural well as on facts and circumstantial Revolution would have shocked, if evidence. He was himself uncertain not traumatized, the most dedicated how we would be received, and by enthusiast of Chairman Mao. The whom; what audiences we would effect of this assault penetrates more address; what questions we could ask, deeply perhaps, to academics like the and what responses if any we would members of our delegation. They receive. could easily see themselves in the faces of their fellow, albeit Chinese, Before we departed no one anticipated professors. th at nothing in the travel brochures, nothing in the physical, Reading about re-education programs environmental reality of China, or is one thing. Meeting and talking for nothing in the books we had read hours with distinguished professors about China, would even be who had been ridiculed and made to mentioned at our dinner together grovel simply because they were back in Washington, when each of professors brought the reality to life. us was called upon to describe “that one most unforgettable experience” How could the Catholic priests in our of our journey from the U.S.A. to group not fail to be stirred by their Japan, to Hong Kong and to China. meetings and lengthy conversations Neither did our independent, with Chinese priests, fellow followers objective scholars mention the of Christ, who had been imprisoned universities or medical schools, nor and tortured for 25 years condemned, the discussions with political leaders, some of them, to five consecutive diplomats, lawyers or students. years of solitary imprisonment? Copyright © The Kennedy Institute Instead, they all recalled as most Fall 1979 How could Protestant ministers universities, medical schools, scientific China, but not the freedom to experience, without being touched to centers and elsewhere. Religion in propagate one’s faith. their very depths, the first open China was one of these, and we were Sunday church service in Shanghai in told repeatedly how “it did not count The heart of our stay in Beijing 13 years, when the congregation for much.” Yet whenever it came up (which included visits to the Great began singing Christian hymns as tears in discussions, the opposite seemed to Wall, the Ming Tombs, an exhibition of joy ran openly down their cheeks be the case as interest immediately game by the Washington Bullets, an at the chance once again to worship sharpened. interview with Vice Premier Yao Ilin, God. a discussion/reception with Ambassador Our group visited the Catholic Leonard Woodcock, and a How could anyone atheist, secularist cathedral in Beijing (now under the discussion with the former president or religionist ever forget a gifted jurisdiction of the “Patriotic Catholic” of the Chinese Medical Association) pianist’s performance as he tried to Bishop) with the intention of celebrating was August 27th and 28th. On these play Chopin, Vivaldi and Schubert Mass there. After numerous put- two days the Chinese made their (with fingers which had been broken offs, we were eventually treated to tea presentations and we held our by the Red Guards with the intent and an hour’s discussion of religious seminars with the National Academy that he never play again) on a battered affairs in China. As was explained to of Social Sciences (described in old piano, while bats, entering us, there is so-called freedom of further detail elsewhere in this issue). through giant holes in the theatre’s religion (practice or worship) in ceiling, swooped over the stage and The seminar was opened with a orchestra? welcome by Vice President Huan Xiang, with a return address by Every day we saw evidence of the Sargent Shriver, Richard McCormick despoliation and ignorance which had explained the nature, purpose and ravaged China. But even more activities of the Kennedy Institute. frequently, each day our spirits were The Chinese members of the National touched and elevated by the tenderness Academy (which is the equivalent in , the hospitality, the courage, and China of cabinet level in this country) the will to rise above hardship and then presented a series of topical poverty. One billion Chinese discussions including: ethical displayed, better than books or problems in a socialist society (Professor television or billboard advertising, Li Ji, Deputy Director of the the indomitable qualities of human Institute of Philosophy); population nature and the classic qualities of problems and ethics (Professor Fei Chinese civilization which have seen Xiaotong, Chairman of the Chinese and survived numerous attempts by Sociology Association); law and ethics foreigners at subjugation. (Professor Rui Mo, Deputy Director of the Institute of Law); and religious Many subjects were discussed in the thought in China (Professor Zhao course of our meetings with the Fusan, Deputy Director of the faculty members of the Academy of Institute of World Religion). Professor the Social Sciences in Beijing, and Zhao Fusan made one of the most with administrators and professors in 3 courageous statements we heard. Scholars who spend two weeks in When asked about the inequality China do not thereby become experts involved in the lack of freedom to on China, but they do form some propagate anything but atheism, he instant, even if corrigible impressions. stated simply: “I feel unequal.” The other articles in this issue of the Kennedy Institute Quarterly Report The next day the Kennedy Institute describe some of the personal impressions made its presentation. Dr. Conrad from a variety of perspectives. Taeuber discussed “Ethics and Popula- tion,” Dr. John Collins Harvey Certainly the contact between the " Ethics and Medicine,” and Dr. H. Kennedy Institute of Ethics and The Tristram Engelhardt “Ethics and Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Research.” Later in the day shorter will not be restricted to the events presentations were made on law, described herein. On Saturday, the economics, and health by Professors 10th of November, Vice President Patricia King, Thomas Beauchamp, and of the Academy of Social Sciences, Ruth Faden, which completed the Huan Xiang, visited the scholars of dialogue. One of the highlights of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics in these two days was Hans Kung’s Washington. In a happy reunion lecture on “Science and Religion” in atmosphere it was agreed that plans which he argued that the God- would be made for a joint seminar question must be viewed as an open between the two Institutes in question-not a closed one as official Washington in 1980. Chinese policy would present it. Kung Beijing University. stated pointedly that both religion Four possible subjects were suggested and revolution can be opiates to the overtures were strengthened socially for consideration at this seminar. people. during two banquets hosted successively These topics will be developed in a by the Academy of Social preliminary way by scholars at the These two days deserve at least a foot- Sciences and the Kennedy Institute. Kennedy Institute and then submitted note in the history of the People’s R epeated Mao Tais, a wicked rice to their counterparts in the Academy Republic. It was the first time in liquor used traditionally in Chinese of Social Sciences for review, criticism thirty years that ethics and religion toasts, intensified a cordiality and and discussion. One subject will be had been discussed at a public forum good will that we found abundant in chosen for the joint seminar and a by an outside group, at a seminar China. mutually agreeable date selected, so approved or at least tolerated by the that the “Opening to the Far East” Chinese government. Whatever the The Chinese segment of the trip concluded which was inaugurated in the waning results, that in itself is a breakthrough, with a visit to Q o Fu (Confucius’ months of the Summer of ’79 will be furthermore, the Chinese seem to birthplace) and three days in Shanghai, remembered as the beginning of a long want to continue the contact. And so where conversations with medical and and fruitful scholarly relationship do we. We have already invited legal experts reinforced what we had between East and West. In these days Professor Zhao Fusan to join us for a been learning all along: that Marxist- and years ahead the twain will meet. sabbatical as a Kennedy Institute Leninist analyses lead to a distinct set research scholar. These initial over- of problems, attitudes, and practices in the professions. 4 Dr. Tristram Engelhardt It is important that one not under- ethics is not undertaken as a primarily estimate the expanse of the gulf intellectual enterprise, but much involved.