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THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY APRIL 12-19, 2010 $3.50 VINCENT ROUGEAU ON THEA BOWMAN DAVID CORTRIGHT ON NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION OF MANY THINGS PUBLISHED BY JESUITS OF THE UNITED STATES od indeed appears in diverse catalyst. Most have ministered at Rikers places, sometimes hidden. Two Island, the huge jail and prison facility EDITOR IN CHIEF Gexamples stand out for me, in the East River. Given their firsthand Drew Christiansen, S.J. one in Manhattan, the other in the awareness of the link between incarcer- South Bronx. Both concern poverty and ation, race and poverty, it is all the more EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT prayer. The first is Pennsylvania understandable that Abraham House MANAGING EDITOR Station. Whenever I am nearby, I walk should have a live-in program for pris- Robert C. Collins, S.J. through its vast passageways to experi- oners, who also are among the low and EDITORIAL DIRECTOR ence the painful sense of disconnected- despised to whom God is close. A num- Karen Sue Smith ness they evoke. Strangers cluster ber of the local people who attend Mass together with little awareness of one or who seek food, moreover, have rela- ONLINE EDITOR another. The main concourse is crowd- tives who are in prison, so they know Maurice Timothy Reidy ed, especially at holiday times, with what prison is like, if only from the CULTURE EDITOR travelers who stare up at the huge elec- long waits and frustrations of visiting James Martin, S.J. tronic sign reporting arrivals and depar- loved ones behind bars. The prisoners, LITERARY EDITOR tures. Some might be praying, but only assigned by the courts as a rehabilitative Patricia A. Kossmann they would know. measure, help on weekends with all the POETRY EDITOR A plexiglassed area, with a section of activities, while during the week they go James S. Torrens, S.J. seating for those with more expensive to their jobs or continue a search for tickets and another for those with less them or else attend substance abuse ASSOCIATE EDITORS George M. Anderson, S.J. expensive ones, is off limits to others; programs. Peter Schineller, S.J. and many travelers sit outside this area Mass there is the Mass of “the least” Kevin Clarke on the floor or lean against the walls. among the poor, many of whom are But in cold weather, Penn Station affected by our harsh immigration laws. ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Ratcliffe also serves as a huge shelter for home- As I arrived one Sunday morning, a sis- less people. Their tattered plastic bags ter told me that the Mass would have as ASSISTANT EDITORS Francis W. Turnbull, S.J. contrast sharply with the sleek luggage a special intention an elderly woman Kerry Weber of ticketed travelers. Sometimes asleep who had died three days before in on the floor, homeless men are generally Mexico. None of her adult children ASSISTANT LITERARY EDITOR Regina Nigro left to themselves in severe weather. At here, however, could attend the funeral such a sight, the hidden God becomes because of their undocumented status. present to me as I recall Paul’s words, They brought fresh flowers as a way of BUSINESS DEPARTMENT “God chose what is low and despised in expressing their love for the one who PUBLISHER the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor had died. In New York, the sons survive Jan Attridge 1:28). on off-the-books jobs, which pay little The other place for finding God in a and in the bad economy are increasingly CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER more direct and positive way is hard to find. Lisa Pope Abraham House in the South Bronx. These two scenes—Penn Station ADVERTISING There God is front and center. No dis- and Abraham House—are reminders Julia Sosa connectedness, but a community in that seen or unseen, God is present which prayer and service act as the keys everywhere and reminders, too, of 106 West 56th Street to seeing the face of Jesus precisely in God’s special love for the world’s disen- New York, NY 10019-3803 the “low and despised of the world.” No franchised. One of the sisters said on a Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596 matter how cold the weather, inner as recent visit that it is precisely in those E-mail: [email protected]; well as physical warmth characterizes they serve, “the least,” that they find [email protected] what occurs on wintry days among the their own strength. Bolstered by an Web site: www.americamagazine.org. primarily Mexican families who gather hour’s prayer each day before the Customer Service: 1-800-627-9533 for weekend Masses as well as for vari- Blessed Sacrament in their tiny chapel, © 2010 America Press, Inc. ous forms of assistance—material and they are sustained by this awareness spiritual. A group of Little Sisters of day by day and by their faith. Cover: Thea Bowman. Photo: the Gospel and an elderly priest are the GEORGE M. ANDERSON, S.J. Patricia Tekippe, F.S.P.A. CONTENTS www.americamagazine.org VOL. 202 NO. 12, WHOLE NO. 4890 APRIL 12-19, 2010 ARTICLES 10 COUNTDOWN? Reviving the nuclear nonproliferation agenda David Cortright 17 THE PASTOR’S TOOLBOX An innovative management program for parish leaders Thomas J. Healey and John Eriksen COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 4 Current Comment 10 5 Editorial The Millstone 6 Signs of the Times 9 Column Baselines of Faith John J. DiIulio Jr. 28 Letters 30 The Word Arms Outstretched; Washed in the Blood Barbara E. Reid 17 BOOKS & CULTURE 20 THEATER Star turns on Broadway BOOKS Thea’s Song; The Sabbath World; Wild Child ON THE WEB ON THE WEB Scott Korb discusses life in first-century Palestine on our pod- cast, and from 1945, the editors on the dropping of the atomic bomb. Plus, John P. McCarthy reviews “The Eclipse,” starring Iben Hjejle, right. All at americamagazine.org. 20 CURRENT COMMENT How Compelling? Smile for the Camera The administrative committee of the U.S. Conference of This year’s U.S. Census form is the shortest in history, Catholic Bishops gave a half-hearted welcome to news of with just 10 questions, but that has not stopped it from the passage of the Obama administration’s health care stirring up controversy. The constitutionally mandated reform bill. “We applaud,” wrote Cardinal Francis survey has occurred every 10 years since 1790, but the George, the conference president, “the effort to expand type of information it gathers has evolved, much to the health care to all.” “Many elements of the health care chagrin of some conservative pundits and politicians. reform measure signed into law by the president,” he The census counts the population of the United States, noted, “...help to fulfill the duty we have to each other for but it also contains questions about race and gender. the common good.” The radio and television host Glenn Beck has stated Praise was muted, however. The bishops had opposed that he and others “don’t want to give the government all passage of the centerpiece Senate bill that failed to meet all this kind of information.” A fellow objector, their expectations. They cited in particular provisions for Representative Michele Bachmann, Republican of protection of the conscience of health professionals, the Minnesota, urged a boycott. coverage of undocumented immigrants and possible fund- But U.S. residents have many reasons to complete the ing for abortions. All merit further legislative and legal census—aside from the fact that failing to do so is ille- action as health care reform is implemented. The law's gal. The information it collects will be used to determine imperfections are many, but with the reform in place these how $400 billion in federal aid is distributed. This pop- priorities provide a platform to address its shortcomings in ulation count also ensures that each district is accurately the months and years ahead. represented in the House of Representatives, in state The great stumbling block to endorsing the bill was legislatures and at county seats. Representative the fear that under the terms of the core Senate bill, Bachmann should take note: A Minnesota newspaper financing might seep out through community health clin- pointed out that if her state loses a Congressional seat ics to fund abortions. The evidence, the bishops argue, because of a low response to the census, her district was “compelling.” Certainly compelling for the bishops, would likely be the one carved up. Privacy is protected. and for some others who have made extraordinary efforts The Census Bureau is legally bound to refrain from to examine the legislative language and weigh legal sce- divulging any personal information gathered, so neither narios for possible future court suits, but not compelling Beck nor undocumented immigrants need worry about for many other legal analysts. Tenuous legal arguments completing the form. somehow hardened into matters of principle. (While the Accurate information about a neighborhood’s popula- conference’s general counsel later disclosed his legal rea- tion and demographics helps government and nonprofit soning, the bishops’ reasons for drawing their conclusion organizations determine which areas are in need of such were not available for others to probe during the debate resources as additional roads, schools or hospitals. But on the bill.) participation is key to the census’ success. The desire to make the prohibition on abortion funding The Census Bureau has increased its efforts to reach airtight is admirable, but the argument for doing so seems out to all residents, especially minority populations, which to have been built on a tissue of hypotheticals that was far often are underrepresented, and even aired an ad during from conclusive.