VOLUME* 70 NUMBER* 3 MARCH 1987 THEumhlss publication. and reuse for required Permission DFMS. / Church Episcopal the of Archives 2020. Copyright

MYTHS ABOUT DEATH Charles Meyer Letters 'Hedonism' challenged As Barbara Harris states in her fine Leadership is a difficult ministry with column on the bishop's response, "The which most of us have wrestled through Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning prophetic pastor must speak to dispel our ministry. Sometimes it does seek in his January response to WITNESS the myths (about homosexuality) so consensus where consensus is the need. letters about the homosexual issue, the truth may be known." Sometimes it is prophetic, speaking says he was intensely moved by the Fundamentalist conservatives are into a situation when the prophet feels anguish conveyed. continually reminding all of us (which the word burning like fire in her/his The bishop said that some Episco- is their God-given right) that St. Paul bones. The problem is knowing when palians must have unequivocal assur- tells us homosexuals will never be ad- is the time for each. I feel like a friend of ance that "their church will not dis- mitted to heaven. But why don't our mine who said, "It would be far easier integrate into hedonism," if homosexual bishops and priests, when occasion to begin the sermon, 'In the name of demands are satisfied. It troubles me publication. may arise, also add that Christ himself Joe, Stella and the kids,' than to say, 'In that the bishop chose to use "hedonism" never alludes to the matter, and that the name of the Father, Son and Holy and without some qualification, for the im- none of the major or minor prophets Spirit.' " How presumptive to feel that plication seems to be that hedonism have made it an issue? At least this one always speaks with the authority of reuse and homosexuality are synonymous. might bring a little balance into the the Divine Name. for Homosexuals, like everyone else, are picture. It appears to me that leadership is varied in their makeup. They, too, are that fine line between being so far business professionals, politicians, I think we all appreciate the bishop's required ahead that those whom you would lead athletes, authors and artists; yes, and sincere desire to treat all fairly. But it is can't see you, and falling back into the clergy. They too are scholars, and good within his power, and I believe it is his crowd and conforming to their life citizens and can be friends with as genu- duty to ensure (and actively encourage) the right of every sheep in his flock to style. I applaud the Presiding Bishop

Permission ine affection as that which we are told for trying to lead. existed between Daniel and Jonathan. expect unqualified acceptance and They have the same sensitivities and respect. H. Paul Osborne

DFMS. John Manola Pampa, Tex.

/ dreams common to most, and also en- joy the pleasures of this life — as we all Wilmington, Del. do — but is this necessarily hedonism? Kudos for anniversary Church Applauds PB Your January issue announcing your The bishop says he is a leader but We are in the debt of THE WITNESS 70th anniversary year was terrific. In then qualifies this by saying it is not his that the exchange of correspondence appreciation I am enclosing a check

Episcopal nature or within his right as bishop to with the Presiding Bishop on homo- for $70. You certainly have continued "yank" or "dictate." But can't he express the sexuality has taken place. Even the the courageous stance taken by the early of how he personally feels? Revelations Living Church has picked it up, and editors and people like Vida Scudder. I cautions us to be either hot or cold and recognized its value. loved the last paragraph quote from warns against being lukewarm — or a The discussion of homosexuality has Bishop Irving Peake Johnson on the Archives mugwump. Even if his honest opinion touched every city and hamlet of this back cover; I am sure that those words should come down decisively on the country. It often comes up in my pastoral still ring true. 2020. side of caution and censure where Gays calls on parishioners in their homes. Also, I did so much appreciate your in the church are concerned, at least When I am asked "Do you believe in open dialogue with the Presiding Bishop everyone would know how to proceed. ordaining homosexuals?" My reply is about lesbians and gays. Barbara

Copyright How is it that the Episcopal Church that I believe in ordaining persons who Harris' column as ususal hit the nail has spoken so boldly on such issues as feel called of God, and the church feels on the head. apartheid. Star Wars and Nicaragua, are responsible persons about their When I first read the response from and yet begs for more and more time lives and the ministry they feel led to Bishop Browning I was vaguely dis- for study and dialogue on this issue, conduct. I make it clear that we do not turbed. He "waffled" and took the safe which has been bandied about in the ordain a sexual orientation, whether it way out by not offending people. He public arena now (in psychological be hetero or homo. does not mention that 10% of our popu- studies, church conferences of all de- I did appreciate Barbara Harris' lation is gay. nominations, and TV talk shows galore) "Speaking the truth in love." However, I had the opportunity of giving a since the early 1960s? Can nothing "a leader does not seek consensus, he presentation about homosexuality at positive at all be gleaned from these? or she makes it," is a bit simplistic. the Philadelphia Board of Education

THE WITNESS recently. I spoke as the mother of a tutions have lost moral authority by be heterosexual. The gay man's or les- creative, sensitive child (now an adult) engaging in this type of activity. It has bian's suffering may include being de- who has been abused and scorned be- just been renewed by the Vatican in its nied housing, or a job, or visitation cause of her sexuality. I also spoke as a hateful document on homosexuality. rights with one's own children, and former teacher who knows how im- But it is carried out on local levels in all being cursed, or spat upon, or beaten, portant it is to help the gay child in denominations. or even murdered — all of these acts school. In addition, I spoke as one who The hope for justice, and the pas- being justified on the basis of some- has worked for years for peace, justice sionate commitment to each individual thing one did not choose — who one and understanding of all peoples. as the image of God are not likely to be is. We, as a society, and especially those found when the church as institution is But being anti-homosexual does not of us within the church, have a lot to do scrambling to recover what has been in itself produce any of these conse- to educate and sensitize the public lost. It may be that the Presiding Bishop quences, and the suffering involved is publication. about homophobia. Only then can we is correct — the only thing to hope for not related in the same way to one's and all be whole. is that we share our pain. very identity. Thus even to imply that Mary Austin Some of us, however, are tired of the anguish on the two sides is some- reuse Philadelphia, Pa. sharing pain, and staying with those how equivalent is morally inadequate. for whose high calling in life is agony. Secondly, I find it difficult to see our New church birthing Some find the divine revelation within Savior as teaching us in all cases to Once again I honor THE WITNESS the individual, and the possibility of build bridges. Christ calls oppressors required for the continuing dialogue with the celebrating that so compelling that it to judgment; he does not try to get them Presiding Bishop on the issue of homo- has to happen even as the usual forms to "enter into dialogue (with the op- sexuality. Thanks especially to Barbara are allowed to pass away. There is a pressed) for mutual understanding and new church being born at this moment acceptance." Thus, I believe that the Permission Harris for her clear and forceful analy- sis of Bishop Browning's response. — in the eddies and backwaters, out of view expressed in the Presiding Bishop's At present our church is focused on focus, out of view — that's where the letter is also theologically inadequate.

DFMS. thrill of life is and is to be found. / itself as an institution. I'm not certain I am not urging insensitivity to the that it was ever much different except Richard Kerr anguish experienced by anti-homosexual in fits and burps. It is interested in San Francisco, Cal. people; I do urge less insensitivity to Church preservation, and the Presiding Bishop the very real differences between that reflects that interest in his definition of PB fails on two scores suffering and that of gay men and les- his office. In his recent letter concerning homo- bians. We ought to oppose oppression Episcopal The prophetic and pastoral ministries sexuality, the Presiding Bishop argues and abuse in whatever circumstances the of the church are particularly narrowly that "the pain on both sides is real; it occurs, seeking not rapprochement, of conceived at this moment. neither side has cornered the market but justice. We are entering a new era, a refine- on anguish." The two sides he refers to Clyde Nabe ment of the Renaissance. Now the are gay and lesbian Episcopalians, and School of Humanities Archives image of God is, literally, in the in- Episcopalians "disillusioned and con- Southern 111. U. at Edwardsville dividual, rather than in the gathered, fused about their homosexual sisters 2020. worshiping community founded by and brothers." He says that he believes Women in sexist role Christ. It is a moment of individual that his ministry is to build bridges Re Suzanne Hiatt's December article exploration and search for dignity and between the two sides. on the consecration of women bishops: Copyright power. It is not a time, particularly, for I believe that this view is both morally It is not just the men we are fighting, strong institutions. and theologically inadequate. While it especially the bishops. It is women too. The withering controversies of the may be true that people who oppose We are not all united in the cause of past few decades have diminished the homosexuality experience pain and equality for women. Some of the strong- church's hold on individuals, primarily, anguish, their pain is not morally est opponents of ministry by women, I think, because the church gathered equivalent to that of the gay man or both lay and ordained, comes from has continued an ancient behavior, lesbian. Current study makes it plain other women who are locked into the namely, the willingness by majority that gay men and lesbians do not traditional sexist role and cannot see vote to trample a minority. Contem- choose their homosexuality, any more porary reality is such that all our insti- than heterosexual persons choose to Continued on page 22

March 1987 THE WITNESS

EDITOR itrf LII Siktr

SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Robert L De Witt

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Richard W. Glllitt Carter Heywird Jims Lewis publication. Manning Manila J. Antonio Ramos and reuse STAFF for All Hunter Susan Small Table of Contents required PUBLISHER Eleven myths about death Episcopal Church Publishing Company 6 Charles Meyer

Permission Why fast for Lent — or anytime ECPC BOARD OF DIRECTORS 12 Glenda Hope DFMS. / CHAIR -i ry Holding Canterbury responsible Kwasi A. Thornell J- O Richard Mansfield Church VICE-CHAIR WITNESS memento: Unsung editor from first decade J. Antonio Rims 18 Mary Lou Suhor SECRETARY Episcopal The great American TV ad scam Gloria Brown the Bernard E. McGoldrick of TREASURER Carman SI J. Hunter

Archives ASSISTANT TREASURER Robert N. Eckersley

2020. Cover graphic Robert F. McGovern, design TSI Visuals; graphic p. 11 John H. Burt courtesy Justice for Women Working Group, National Council of Churches; graphic p. 13, Otis Charles Dana Martin; graphic p. 16, Margaret Longdon; Charles Shutt photo p. 18 courtesy St. Migdalia DeJesus-Torres Luke's parish, Des Moines; graphic p. 19 courtesy Bonekemper Typesetting, Inc., Hatfield, Copyright Steven Guerrs Pa. Nil ArriBjton Peete William W. Rankin THE WITNESS(ISSN0197-8896) is published monthly except July/ August by The Episcopal Church Chester L Talten Publishing Company. Editorial office: P.O. Box 359, Ambler, PA 19002. Telephone (215) 643-7067. Chris Weiss THE WITNESS is indexed in the American Theological Library Association's Religion Index One: Periodicals. University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, ML reproduces this publication in micro- form: microfiche and 16mmor35 mm film. Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 1987. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $15 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR per year, $1.50 per copy. Foreign subscriptions add $5 per year. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please advise of changes at least 6 weeks in advance. Include your label from the magazine and send to: Barbara C Harris Subscription Dept, THE WITNESS, P.O. Box 359, Ambler, PA 19002.

THE WITNESS Editorial

A questionable U.S. Attorney General

Our guest editorial this month is by the Rt. Rev. H. Coleman McGehee, Jr., Bishop of the Diocese of Michigan and former chair of publication. the Episcopal Church Publishing Company. and Attorney General Edwin Meese Africa or a Latin American port of such religious activities. reuse represents an alarming and dictatorship, but by the Attorney for As a religious leader, conscious dangerous approach to the legal General of the United States? Mr. of the civil and human rights of system of the United States. Meese apparently believes that all persons regardless of race, required I speak from three perspectives: only criminals become police color, creed or nationality, I am as a former law student myself; as suspects — and this belief is not shocked that Edwin Meese a former Assistant Attorney mere rhetoric, it is the basis for opposes the Voting Rights Act of everyday deeds on his part. These Permission General of the State of Virginia; 1982 which outlaws and as a religious leader. deeds are based on the dangerous discrimination; that he opposes a view that most constitutional 20-year-old executive order which

DFMS. When I was a law student, I

/ guarantees which protect the was taught in Constitutional law promotes minority employment accused are merely obstacles to in the Federal Government; and that there are three Constitutions: law enforcement. Church the Constitution as it is written; that he continues to work at the Constitution as I interpret it, As a bishop, I am appalled by slowing down civil rights and the Constitution as inter- the views advocated by Attorney enforcement.

Episcopal General Meese in the area of preted by the Supreme Court of By all of these actions, Edwin the the United States — the law of the Church and State, which our

of Meese is knowingly or land. ancestors were so careful to separate. Edwin Meese advocates unknowingly (it matters not) Attorney General Meese, how- teacher-led prayer sessions in the dismantling the fundamental Archives ever, has encouraged public public schools even though our freedoms that the Constitution officials to disobey Supreme public school children represent a and Bill of Rights guarantee each 2020. Court decisions with which they multiplicity of religious and non- one of us; the integrity and do not agree on the grounds that religious backgrounds. Their independence of the Supreme those decisions apply only to the families are assured, in our Court of the United States; the Copyright parties in the cases decided. democracy, of protection against ancient maxim of "innocent until As a former State Assistant the imposition of any particular proven guilty;" the separation of Attorney General, I am religion or religious beliefs. Ed- Church and State; freedom of astonished at a recent statement win Meese also advocates direct speech, and the hard fought gains made by Mr. Meese that, "If a governmental financial support to of the Civil Rights Movement. person is innocent of a crime, teachers in religious schools The question in my mind is: then he is not a suspect." I can although decision after decision Should such a person be serving imagine such a statement being in the courts of our land have as the Attorney General of the made by an official of South prohibited public funds in sup- United States? •

March 1987 publication. and Impediments to decision making: reuse for Eleven myths about death required by Charles Meyer

Permission M. rom Baby Doe to gerontology, medical decision mak- tells us the patient's condition is poor. They are the screens ing in the area of withholding, refusing or withdrawing life through which we hear the diagnosis of serious illness.

DFMS. support has become increasingly difficult. New technology They are the standards against which we weigh our re- / has had the most obvious impact as patients, families and sponse to a terminal prognosis. physicians are offered more and ever newer diagnostic The death myths most prominent in our culture are: Church and life-prolonging equipment. CAT scanners are being 1. Only old people die. Conversely stated, "Young people supplanted by Magnetic Resonance Imagery using no should not die." Neither assumption is true. Anyone who radiation. Lasers are treating everything from eyes to has experience in hospitals knows that death is no respecter Episcopal arteries. Twenty week fetuses that were considered untreat- of age, and there is no guarantee of lifespan given with the able are now kept alive with new respiratory equipment. of conception. But even though technology has increased our treat- Further, it is ageism at its worst to think an old person ment options for trauma and long-term illnesses, it is has "lived his/her life" and is more accepting or more

Archives usually not the determining factor in making decisions. deserving of death than a younger counterpart. In fact, it is Rather, there exist a set of subtle, extremely powerful myths entirely possible for the situation to be quite the reverse; 2020. about death which inform and direct our choices regarding the aged person may be more vital and have more to live life support. for than the youth. These myths are indicative of the collective beliefs about This myth can result in young persons being subjected Copyright life and death in U.S. culture. They are frequently used as to extraordinary efforts from intubation to chemotherapy impediments to decision making. just because they are young, or old persons prematurely Whether based on medical tradition, social obligation being denied further treatment because they are old. The or religious teaching, the death myths influencing our myth also serves to reinforce our own wish for a long life, decisions are indelibly embedded within the collective and to defend against our fear of our own death coming psyche. They flash through our minds when the doctor "prematurely." Whether we like it or not, people of all ages die. Each The Rev. Charles Meyer is Assistant Vice President, Patient Services, St. death is sad, tragic, acceptable or a relief based on the David's Community Hospital in Austin, Tex. quality of the person's life and the kinds of relationships

THE WITNESS s/he has had. Each situation, therefore, needs to be evalu- 4. Money should not be a consideration. Many people ated on those criteria, not on a myth that presumes it is believe it is crass and insensitive to give the cost of treat- "okay" for old persons to die, perhaps intimating that the ment any weight in medical decision making. In our elderly want to die or even ought to die. "bottom line" society they emotionally recoil at the prospect 2. Medicine can cure everything. Even in the face of long- of finances determining treatment, preferring to spend term illness when the patient is finally about to die, "whatever is necessary" to save the life of a loved one. panicked family members frequently ask "Can't you do But what of the young couple whose baby is dying, yet something?" This reflects a strong expectation that medi- can be kept alive a few more hours or days in our high tech cine can find and cure all illness and physicians are or Intensive Care Nurseries? Or the elderly woman main- should be omniscient. tained by a respirator in ICU whose husband is barely Most physicians do not act to reinforce this image. The subsisting on Social Security? And what of the use of myth persists because we want to believe that drugs, medical resources devoted to these dying patients (not just medical technology, and their physician purveyors can for comfort but for continuing active treatment that is prevent or cure the effects of disease, aging and self- much more than palliative) that could be used for taking publication. inflicted injury (smoking, diet, lifestyle). care of other, curable patients, for research, or for reducing and In addition, the medical community has frequently hospital costs for everyone? oversold the efficacy or advisability of a particular tech- The honest, if uncomfortable, truth is that money is reuse nical or therapeutic "breakthrough." Thus, particularly already a consideration. It will continue to play an even for Western cultures have acquired unrealistically high ex- greater role as healthcare rationing becomes a reality pectations of what technology can do. The current pro- given a limited amount of resources and a virtually un-

required motion of the artifical heart is the latest example of such a limited demand. media event. Heedless of the availability, advisability and Yet, sensitively done, consideration of the family's or ruinous financial cost of such a device, the heart is patient's financial situation is a very caring gesture, as is proffered as another example of medical technology's weighing the effect of treatment on the cost of healthcare to Permission ability to cheat death — and so this myth is reinforced. the entire community, indeed to the nation. It is more honest to be realistic with patients and our- 5. Death is evil. Death means failure. While the church is DFMS.

/ selves about the limits of tests, treatments, medications, responsible for promoting the former myth, the medical/ and prognoses. healthcare profession is responsible for the persistence of 3. life is always the highest value. The initial presumption the latter. Church in nearly any accident or illness is always in favor of Many people, desperately attempting to make some preserving life. But once the patient is stabilized and the kind of logical sense out of their illness, have been told by prognosis is clear, other considerations take effect. It is at the religious community that good is always rewarded and Episcopal this point that the meaning and quality of life as the patient evil is always punished. They then extrapolate that since the

of experiences them are of the highest value in making the they are sick or dying, they must have done something bad hard decisions of treatment and life support. to incur the punishment of a wrathful God. However, most family members or friends do not know In fact, sickness and death are amoral occurrences. They Archives what the patient values because they've never talked about have nothing to do with good/bad, right/wrong, punish- what the patient wants done in terms of life support, organ ment/reward. We get sick. We die. Welcome to Earth. The 2020. donations, or experimental treatments. It is almost as death rate here is 100%. One out of one dies. The only thing though people hear this myth as a religious command — "good" or "bad" about death is the manner in which one an injunction from God to keep breathing. responds to it. Death, like any other amoral occurrence is Copyright In fact, in nearly every religious system, while longevity merely an occasion for good or evil to become manifest. is highly prized, it is not nearly as valued as the virtues of That manifestation is shown in our response to the event, love, faithfulness, forgiveness and compasssion. It is the not in the event itself. ability of the patient to participate in these quality activi- Likewise death has nothing to do with failure. Assuming ties that ought to be the standard for life support decision one has done everything necessary (not possible, but making. necessary) and the patient's condition is said to be "in- To presume that life is of the highest value supports our compatible with life," it is understandable that the person own refusal to see death as an acceptable outcome for the dies. The death has nothing to do with the ability of the patient — and for ourselves. physician or nursing staff. In fact, it seems the height of

March 1987 arrogance to assume that we (patient, family or physician) redemption, for the healing of memories, relationships, have "failed" when death, a natural process, has followed hurts, fears or guilts. Pain and illness often are the pre- its normal route. cipitators of change in behavior or perspective on the This does not imply that death is not often sad, angering, person's lifestyle. But suffering is also quite often the oc- relieving, unfair, or crushing. It is all this and more in casion for unquenchable bitterness, debilitating despair, emotional terms. The problem arises in treating death as collapse of faith and disintegration of personhood. though it should not happen, denying it as a logical, even Once again, in an attempt to make sense of an illness, acceptable outcome of the patient's illness. people want to believe there is some purpose, some plan, Death might more easily be tolerated if we saw it as a some reason for the horrible suffering they or their loved form of healing. Death as healing transposes its symbolic ones are enduring. But suffering as related to illness in the meaning from that of evil enemy to that of an acceptable, hospital is as amoral as the virus, bacteria or bodily con- and at times even welcomed, friend. dition that is its cause. 6. Where there's life there's hope. This myth is patently 8. You don't die until your number conies up. This myth untrue. Where there's life there is quite often the opposite reduces God to the clerk in the deli section of the local publication. of hope — agony, fear, excruciating pain, anger, frus- supermarket. The implication, of course, is that God per- and tration, loneliness and despair. The sentiment really ex- sonally decides the time of death for each individual based pressed here is that where there is biological activity there on some unknown formula having something vaguely to reuse is reason for optimism that the person may recover, even do with guilt, suffering, retribution and, only occasionally, for against all odds. with mercy. Thus it is thought to be inappropriate to make The questions to be asked are: "What is life?" and "What life support decisions because the person will die when

required is hope?" Is life merely the exchange of air being forced God is ready. into stiffening lungs, or blood being pumped inside a The truth is that people largely choose their time of human cavity? Is it biological activity mechanically pro- death. People die around anniversaries, birthdays, holi- duced or substantially supported? Again, the quality of life days, meaningful days for them; and they often wait to die Permission standard (as judged by the patient if competent or by the until their loved ones leave the room. To believe this myth patient's significant others if incompetent) applies. In- is to posit an all-controlling, capricious God, and to avoid DFMS.

/ creasing numbers of people believe that life is not life if responsibility for life support decisions. there is no quality of relating, of experiencing and en- 9. It is God's will. This myth covers everything from birth joying, of being. defects to hemorrhoids. It assumes powerlessness and Church "Hope," also, is quite often confused with "optimism." futility on the part of patients and families to decide life Optimism demands the patient get well (not just better) support issues. Yet people would rather believe it than to accept personal responsibility for illness or the capricious-

Episcopal and return to the former state of health. The meaning of hope, on the other hand, was expressed by a cancer patient ness of disease. This myth is not only a convenient method the

of who commented: "It's okay with me if I live and it's okay of avoiding the life support issues, but also reinforces a with me if I die. Because either place I'm loved." Hope system of healthcare that leaves all decisions in the hands implies that death is as acceptable an outcome to one's of the medical practitioners. Archives condition as life. Hope embraces and affirms both life and In fact, it is theologically inconsistent to believe that a death as parts of a greater whole of existence. Hope sees life loving, compassionate God wants people sick or dead. 2020. not as a problem to be solved but as a mystery to be lived, and death as a part of that mystery. 7. Suffering is redemptive. Some people will refuse pain Copyright medication, withhold the palliative measures needed to increase comfort, or deny the existence of pain because they see the suffering as cleansing, deserved, or redemptive. Usually based on a conservative theological or philo- sophical tradition, followers of this myth conquer their own helplessness in the face of illness and death by as- suming discomfort and pain are spiritually or psychologi- cally helpful to the patient. It is sometimes true that suffering can be an occasion for

THE WITNESS Probably the best discussion of this myth is found in Leslie cepts of life, death and medicine. As these concepts are Weatherhead's book entitled, appropriately enough, "The revised in light of even newer treatment options, we will Will of God." need to develop a different, more flexible set of "death 10. Pulling the plug is suicide/murder. Many people re- myths" to guide our decisions. fuse to make a decision to withdraw hydration, nutrition or Different from the old, the following guidelines facili- respiratory maintenance because they believe such an act tate, rather than impede, decision making in the area of constitutes murder. Likewise, to designate a personal direc- withdrawing, withholding, or refusing life support. tive such as a Living Will may seem tantamount to suicide. • Aggressively seek information. Good decisions begin The underlying presupposition is that it is improper to with good facts. Patients and families need to talk to the take any control over one's own death. To do so is to usurp physician, and listen actively, critically when s/he answers. the power and prerogative of an all-controlling God. Many families complain that their physician did not tell In fact, not to decide is to decide. Not to make a Living them everything, when in fact they themselves did not Will or withdraw artificial support mechanisms is to de- want to hear and did not listen. cide to abdicate responsibility. It is to relegate the burden They need to ask as many questions as necessary. The publication. of decision making to someone (physician, hospital, com- physician works for them and they have a right to know all and mittee, court) less qualified to make it, and refuse to accept of the information gathered. They are also free to get a our ability and responsibility as "co-creators with God" to second opinion, or even a third given the time constraints. reuse share in the rational determination of our destiny. Many physicians will request or encourage another opinion for One could just as easily argue that not to "pull the plug" anyway. Having heard their best experienced conclusions or make a Living Will designation is to stand in the way of as to diagnosis and prognosis, the decision regarding treat- required Nature, God or the normal procession of life to death. ment and life support is then up to the patient/family. 11. To die of dehydration or starvation in a hospital is • Aim for a balance. If the patient is competent, one inhumane, cruel and immoral. When many people think of ought to consider first what s/he wants done. If the patient food and drink they imagine sitting down at a table with

Permission is incompetent it will be up to the significant other to barbecue and beer (at least in Texas we do.) But that image determine what the patient would want done. In every is vastly different from the reality of the dying patient, or situation the wishes of the patient should be given priority DFMS.

/ even the vegetative non-dying patient, who is maintained and honored wherever possible. by artificial nutrition and artificial hydration. Next, balance off the wants and needs of the patient with

Church Instead, picture blue humming boxes sucking high those of the family. It is important that no unilateral de- calorie pastel liquid from bags and bottles and forcing it cisions be made. Both the desires of the patient and the through clear plastic tubing into the patient's nose or desires of the family/significant other need to be con-

Episcopal directly into the stomach or intestine. This artificial sup- sidered and a consensus carefully reached. Sometimes it is

the port is parallel to the use of a respirator that artificially appropriate to consider the needs of the larger community of pumps air in and out of failing lungs. as well: e.g. Will this expenditure of healthcare (respirator, For increasing numbers of people, to die of dehydration neonatal or ICU bed space, dialysis, heart surgery) limit or starvation while being kept comfortable with the large the available resources for less catastrophically ill patients? Archives array of palliative drugs is far preferable and much more • Consider the ethic of love and the ethic of need. Jesus' humane than the prolonged dying by incessant medical

2020. suggestion that we love our neighbor as we love ourselves intervention that is demanded of patients by misinformed implies putting ourselves in the position of the person relatives and practitioners. from whom life support is about to be withdrawn. What is

Copyright It is clear that these death myths at one time served a the most loving thing to do (for the patient, family, com- proper and meaningful role in medical decision making. munity) in this situation? As a part of our previous presuppositions about life, death Another major ethical premise of the Old and New and medicine, these myths stood to call all the available Testaments is always to come down on the side of the resources to the service of life at any cost. At a time when needy, dispossessed and helpless. It may, of course, be the technological armamentarium was minimal and the difficult to determine who is the most needy in the par- major courses of treatment were palliative, the myths pre- ticular situation. (Is it the dying infant, the grieving family, scribed and underscored the medical/legal/theological the respirator-bound adult, the anguishing spouse?) But, ethical system of their day. But current technology has combined with the ethic of love, the ethic of need can be a changed the perspective about and meaning of the con- helpful tool for clarifying decisions.

March 1987 • Can does not imply ought. This clearly revolutionary than the evil enemy to be battled at any cost, death can be maxim is nearly anti-Western. The West was built on "can seen as a form of healing; a logical, even welcome alternative implies ought." If we could build a railroad across the to a debilitating life. To view death in this manner requires country, we ought to do so. If we can put a person on the a broader perspective on life, and assumes an attitude of moon, in a space station, on another planet, we ought to do acceptance of both life and death as a part of a larger it. Our new medical technology, however, is permitting us existence. The more we view death as an acceptable form to do things that in some cases we ought not to do. of healing, the more we will treat our terminally ill patients Boundaries will have to be carefully drawn using this with the respect and dignity that their dying demands. statement as a guide, particularly in the realm of life sup- • The Bible is not a model for morality. It is a mirror for port decision making. When faced at the bedside with a identity. There is not much information about respirators decision about withdrawing, withholding or refusing in Genesis, Leviticus, or Revelation. It is clearly inappro- machines, I.V.'s or CPR, this maxim may assist many priate to look to the Bible to tell us specifically what to do. It persons in allowing death to take its natural course. is, however, important to look into the Bible as a mirror to • Be there. Continuity and support are vital. Whether see who we are, to determine what kind of covenant people publication. you are the caregiver or the significant other, don't just we are with our peculiar God, to watch how we interact

and make the decision and leave. Often families decide to with God and one another, and to use that information to withdraw treatment and then quickly absent themselves make our ethical decisions more in line with that historical reuse from the scene. Likewise caregivers participate as helpers tradition and reality. for in the high drama of the decision making and then find • Examine your own death. How many people reading other things to do. this article have: a legal, binding will? A durable power of

required While the decision is itself important, it is of equal attorney? A Living Will? Made their funeral arrangements import to support that decision with contact and constant and paid for them? Made a decision regarding organ support. Be by the bedside of the dying patient, or the donation? Are registered with an organ bank or procure- patient who has made a withdrawal or withholding of ment agency so that donation is likely to happen? Permission treatment decision. Agonize with them, cry with them, Often those persons who claim to be on the forefront of remember with them as they lay dying. Of course it is assisting others in ethical decision making have done little

DFMS. difficult to be present as the wishes of the patient or family / regarding their own death. Studies have shown that if are carried out, respirators removed, dialysis stopped. But people have not faced these issues in their own lives, they for all involved — patient, family and staff — it will help are much less likely to even hear persons who are in crisis Church preserve the dignity and love with which the decision was or dying allude to them. made. If we are to be truly helpful to others in exploring the • What is medically or legally right may not be ethically ethical implications of life support decision making, it Episcopal right. Just because a procedure is medically "indicated" or would be well for each of us to make our own decisions the

of legally "propitious" does not mean it is the procedure or first. action of ethical choice. Such decisions are frequently rele- The issues discussed here are not theoretical or rhetorical. gated by default to medical and legal personnel on the The question is not "if we will have to make these de-

Archives assumption that these persons have some expertise in cisions, especially about life support, but "when?" Some determining the appropriateness of a particular action. 70% of American deaths now occur in healthcare insti- 2020. Patients and families, especially in a crisis, may turn first tutions. That means that death is frequently medically to external guidelines from physicians or attorneys hoping assisted and decisional, rather than spontaneous or to find some solid ground on which to base their opinion of "natural." As this medicalization of death continues to Copyright what is "right." Often it is only after some confusing, dis- grow, we will be forced to make life support decisions more appointing or conflicting medico-legal advice that they often, either at the time of the dying, or in an advanced begin to ask what is "right" for this person, given who s/he directive such as a Living Will. is and what s/he wanted. Preparation, especially at the parish level, through edu- It seems clear that the basis for moral decision making cation, dialogue, and decision making now will facilitate must be primarily other than legal and medical, though our decision. If we do not make our choices and prefer- those disciplines may offer helpful information. The place ences known now, then others will make the decisions for to start is with the desire of the patient. us, and we will deserve the kind of technocratic terminal • Death is a form of healing. As stated earlier, rather healthcare we will get. •

10 THE WITNESS Short Takes

1 'New poor unique Two views of life A major Catholic relief agency reported re- If we look at our life as some precious treasure cently that during the past three years it we must hoard, the demands made by others has awarded more than $2 million in grants of our life are like losses. And death is a final to two groups — industrial workers and loss, a final failure to hold on to our life. But if farmers — that it classifies as the "new we look at our life as a treasure we must poor." share, every service we give to others is a According to the report by the Campaign fulfillment of our life's purpose. And death is for Human Development, adjustments in the final giving, the total giving. the U.S. economy — a shift from an indus- The Rev. Edicio de la Torre, trial-based economy to one with more ser- Catholic priest imprisoned by Marcos vice orientation — and a major agricultural Quoted in The Other Side

publication. crisis have left formerly productive workers unemployed. The industrial workers, said and the report, have formed organizations "to Quote of note protect their jobs or obtain new ones." They People generally quarrel because they don't reuse seek such measures as job training, plant know how to argue. for buy-outs and a halt to home mortgage fore- G. K. Chesterton closures. Family farmers have formed or- ganizations to achieve moratoriums on required bank foreclosures, change commodity mar- Slim compensation ket practices and form buyer-seller co-ops. Aids for prison ministry The U.S. Department of Labor is rewriting Did you know that the laws of physiology and anatomy, man- The two groups of "new poor" are unique, • the majority of women in prison are dating which of our body parts are essential said the report, in that factory workers have young, poor, unskilled, women of color, sin- and which, in the long run, don't count. Permission accumulated some "capital" in the form of gle and mothers of dependent children; Civilian federal employees injured on the job work skills, good work habits and home • the arrest and incarceration of women recurrently receive medical benefits and equity. Similarly, farmers have acquired

DFMS. has nearly doubled since 1974; reimbursement for missed work time when

/ "capital" in farm land and equipment. Cur- • property-related, not violent, crimes ac- they lose any of about a dozen body parts, rent economic conditions, however, have count for virtually the entire increase; such as legs or eyes — plus a lump sum to rendered the factory workers "unemploy- • nearly 20% of all persons arrested in the compensate for the lost part. According to Church able." Farmers are "income-poor" and "are United States are female? anonymous sources within the government, likely to be forced off the land." These facts are included in an excellent the DOL is considering axing the lump sum Religious News Service 3/11/86 pamphlet providing guidelines for those in- for those organs deemed "not necessary for

Episcopal volved in ministry to incarcerated and post- the production of income." The targeted Hold that tiger the release women, published by the Justice for parts? Lungs, penis, testicles, tongue, breasts, A scholar, resting beside a roadside, awoke of Women Working Group, National Council of and larynx. Nothing an ordinary worker to see the tail of a large tiger protruding Churches. It includes tips on how to start a couldn't do without. between the rocks beside him. He screamed, ministry, how to help women in the pre- waking the tiger, who growled, as he grabbed Dollars & Sense 3/86

Archives sentencing, incarceration, and post-incar- its tail and held on fiercely until help came in ceration phase, and tips on training volunteers. the form of a passing Buddhist priest with a Prepaid price for the 6-page brochure (1 to 2020. Famous last words? heavy stick. 24) is 20

March 1987 11 Why fast for Lent — or anytime by Glenda Hope

-T asting is a spiritual discipline com- Fasting undertaken in the context of mand it or take it unthinkingly. Fasting mon to every major religion and many prayer and reflection — not just as a may help us restore some sense of smaller ones. Yet it is considered for- grim act of will or a pious exercise — is wonder, of thankfulness, of delight for eign, even weird, to many of us. But a means to greater freedom. That is even the simplest food. publication. fasting is a way to raise questions about what was happening with Jesus in the Again, on one fast day, I went to the wilderness during his long fast. John of and what we take for granted. Properly ap- supermarket. There surged within me proached, it can help us expose those the Cross said that it matters not whether an almost irresistible impulse to go up reuse phony hungers we now experience as the sparrow is held by a chain or a and down the aisles grabbing things for so real and urgent that we feed them to thread. Whatever the restraint, it keeps and piling them into my basket, eating the neglect of our real hungers. the sparrow from flying. And so with some in the process. Everything — in- A religious fast is not the same as us. Fasting can be training for flight, an cluding things I have neverbought and required dieting or weight watching, as admir- exercise for liberation. probably never will — looked not just able or necessary as that may be. The Let me give a few examples — cer- appealing but essential. What well- fast as a spiritual discipline is always tainly not of the depth experienced by schooled, mindless consumers we are Permission undertaken in the context of prayer Jesus after 40 days, but perhaps closer — captives to an economy geared to and reflection, and for most of us, is to the life experience of most of us. glut and hedonism. Fasting, if it helps

DFMS. best done in community. When I know I am part of a covenant community to free us from that consumer captivity, / that there is at least one other person which corporately undertakes bi-weekly is training toward liberation. abstaining from food or drink, except fasting. The first day, I rather quickly Another reflection that came to me Church water, for 24 hours, it helps me resist began to argue with myself about its after the supermarket experience was the temptation to focus on the un- validity, even its rationality. Why was I this: What must it be like to know all pleasant feeling in my stomach. doing this? I don't really eat that much, those tempting foods are there and that Episcopal Neither does fasting have anything nor do I spend much money on food. you will never be able to buy them, the to do with spiritual pride. There is a Even if I gave the money to the poor, it knowthatyourchildren are never filled, of danger in doing it just for the act of wouldn't help much. I work hard and are being stunted by malnutrition? achievement. Nor is it a sign of greater need to be nourished, etc., etc. Day after day you may only look at

Archives spiritual strength over those who are What suddenly came clear was the those shelves, not touch. Fasting is a not fasting. Rather, it is undertaken in strong feeling that I was entitled to eat way to help us establish some small

2020. a spirit of repentance, of knowing that whenever the least bit hungry. Clearly, empathy with the hungry of the world, there are many phony layers of hunger it would not endanger my health to go to imagine what is their daily despair. and false satiation that I need to cut 24 hours without food; and it would Consider El Salvador: According to Copyright through before I can be in touch with improve my health to go that many statistics, almost 75% of Salvadoran my genuine hungers. hours without coffee. No, the feeling of children under age 5 suffer from mal- entitlement was the key. For most of us, nutrition. At heart of the misery is an immediately available food is not re- extremely inequitable distribution of The Rev. Glenda Hope is a co-director of San garded as a gift but as a right, even land. More than 40% of the nation's Francisco Network Ministries, an urban based while others starve. We have lost the peasants are landless, and some 63% of ecumenical ministry focusing on low-income, sense of wonder and the gift of grati- families lack water; 33% live in one elderly, young adults, homeless and AIDS- tude. We no longer honestly pray, "Give impacted of the city. She is also pastor of Seventh room shacks. Avenue Presbyterian Church. us this day our daily bread." We de- "We must seek ways to make the dis-

12 THE WITNESS tant sufferings of hunger concrete chase? Is it something I want or need or ness. He was tempted to lesser ways enough in our own lives to make us will even use? Or am I behaving as a than the way of self-giving love. He was know our world includes the suffering well-trained captive consumer? Why tempted to use his power to dazzle, to poor," Edward Farrell counsels in Dis- am I watching this TV show, really? establish himself securely, to operate ciples and Other Strangers. "The world What is my genuine hunger? within the world's accepted hierarchical of the suffering poor includes us, the A sensitive man told a wonderful order with himself at the pinnacle and suffering rich. Fasting is not a matter of story recently in our church. For a others subject to him, rather than to our helping or loving those who are period of time he regularly went to the live and work toward the egalitarian needy. It is a matter of knowing how movies, never questioning that. It be- peaceable commonwealth of God. He each of us is needy. The slave-making came a habit. Then he got involved was tempted to comfort rather than forces at work in our world exempt no with some people who were interested courage, to reasonableness rather than one. Fasting is an act of resistance in knowing his thoughts, in calling forth risk, security rather than total self- against our own slavery. It is not a good his creativity, in sharing his warmth giving love. deed, but an act of self-interest in its and love. He saw that his real hunger He refused. It was not a once-for-all publication. most profound sense." was not for watching someone else's refusal. It never is. He would spend and Which leads me to note that fasting fantasy projected on a movie or TV much time in fasting and prayer through- may reveal how much of our eating screen, but for interacting with others out his life, because he knew how easy reuse and drinking is nothing more than — thinking, creating, questioning, it is to lose awareness and find a false for habit, not a necessary intake of nour- growing, giving, living, loving. Now if hunger with spiritually empty calories. ishment. Which of us does not worry he goes to a movie it is because he His answers show he knew that our required about weight? Neither is eating neces- chooses to do so, not because he un- deepest hunger is the hunger for God. sarily relished, savored as sensual consciously expects it to satisfy some Food did not rule him, nor comfort, pleasure; nor is it necessarily a source deeper hunger. nor the temptation to dominance, nor of thankful prayer, of sharing with Each of us has that same sort of story ease, because he knew clearly what his Permission those we love or those in need. Just an to discover, that hunger to touch, that real hunger was. Farrell has said it well: unthinking habit which has taken us restraint to break. Fasting is a means to "When something or someone greater DFMS.

/ captive. Paul notes that as a Christian, discover the restraints which keep us is present, we forget food. Lovers grow "there are no forbidden things for me, from flying. thin. Fasting is a sign of someone,

Church but I am not going to let anything Fasting, carried out with prayerful something greater in our psychic cen- dominate me." reflection, in some inexplicable way ter and consciousness. It uncovers our What does dominate me? Moving may allow us to touch the deepest hidden capacities for greater strength,

Episcopal beyond eating and drinking as habit I hunger of all, to become more aware of greater freedom. Fasting creates room

the can begin to ask, where else in life have the false gods we substitute for the within, enabling Christ to fill us with of I abdicated thoughtfulness and con- Living God. I believe this is what was his hunger, his thirst." trol? Why am I about to make this pur- happening with Jesus in the wilder- Our world is hungry for Christians Archives 2020. Copyright

March 1987 13 who develop enough imagination to be able to put themselves in the places of those who are hungry for food and pure water and who cry, "Give us this day our daily bread." Our world is hungry for free people, willing to join together in regular, sustained, reflective Pearls spiritual disciplines which issue in purposeful action for the liberation of To women aware others. The world is not hungry for any in male institutions more religious people willing to sit tied to a perch, chirping. Fasting is not an end, it is a way. It is You are pearls: And you did not go away. you began publication. not a goal, it is a vehicle for getting as Irritants. In time there. It is not an act of heroism nor you grew and self-deprivation. Fasting is a way to The ocean pushed so large, your small, nearly an internal reuse experience our own frailty and mor- invisible luminescence, for tality in a culture which denies that rough body that the shell death is a reality. "Now that we know through an undetected could contain howto fly planes the size of mountains, crack in the shell. required neither you nor itself, You got inside. it is time to learn to walk again. Now and because of you that we know how to prolong life in- Happy to have a home the shed opened Itself definitely, it is time to learn to die at last to the world.

Permission again," James Carroll suggests in his you grew close Then your beauty to the host, book, Contemplation. Only then will we was seen nuzzling up

DFMS. be truly free. Fasting is a way to help us and prized, / confront our mortality without flinching, to the larger body. your variety valued: You became to look at the nothingness of death and precious, precious,

Church a subject know that God is in the center of it. a hard bubble of light: for diagnosis: silver, white, ivory, invader, tumor. And it is a way of experiencing in our or baroque. bodies some solidarity with the last, the Episcopal Perhaps your parents If you are a specially least, and the lost. Clearly, this hap- were the true invaders the Irregular and rough

of and you were born pened for Jesus. Having embarked on pearl, named baroque the way of genuine discipline, he came in the shell — no difference — (for broke), "armed with the power of the Spirit," called an outsider then you reveal Archives proclaiming: "The Spirit of the Lord is still. in your own upon me, because he has anointed me amazed/amazing 2020. You were a representative body of light to preach good news to the poor; God of the whole all the colors has sent me to proclaim release to the outside world, of the universe. captives and recovering of sight to the a grain of sand, Copyright blind, to set at liberty those who are particle of the Universe, — Alia Bozarth-Campbell oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable part of Earth. year of the Lord." You were a growth. Such a clarity, such a calling, are the dangers of prayer and fasting. To be "armed with the power of the Spirit" is to be unable any longer to sit around chirping, tied down. Once you have flown, there is no turning back. •

14 THE WITNESS — the struggle ALutaContinua continues by Barbara C. Harris

Self-fulfillment: with a little help

elf-fulfilling" is defined as "at- opposition to women bishops in some would prevent consecration from taking taining fulfillment by virtue of having quarters, just as there is continuing op- place. That sounds to me like over-

publication. been predicted or assumed beforehand." position to women priests and deacons whelming support for anyone elected Why is it, then, that some folk find it some 12 years and 700 or so ordained — male or female. and necessary to work so hard at helping females later. However, these particular Secondly, divided opinion through- reuse self-fulfilling prophecy along? opponents of women in the episcopate out the Anglican Communion on the for The question is prompted by a recent need to bear in mind a couple, three role and place of women in the min- spate ofminiscule ads that appear with realities. istry of the church already has been regularity in a popular church journal. No matter how many opponents required evidenced by the decision of several For the past several months, insertions register, formally or otherwise, any provinces to ordain women and others, have warned: "The election of women election and subsequent consecration notably the Church of England, to de- as bishops threatens to split the Anglican that take place will express the clear cline to do so. Refraining from electing Permission Communion. Remind your bishop of desire of a majority. Given the election women as bishops is not likely to heal his duty to bind us together, not divide, and concurrence process by which this these existing divisions as more and

DFMS. by sending him a piece of string." Episcopal Church operates, it would

/ more churches struggle with and seek Alternate insertions have called atten- be well nigh impossible to impose the to resolve the question in light of their tion "to the fact that the election of will of any minority on the larger body. own clergy needs. The Anglican Com- Church women as bishops may happen soon For those of you who have just joined munion continues to hold together in and a registry of those who oppose us for the umpteenth singing of this its loose confederation of branches. such a step, clerical and lay, is being refrain, the election of a bishop in the

Episcopal Lambeth 1988 will, in all likelihood, be compiled. The sponsoring organization Episcopal Church in the United States a replay of previous once-a-decade the then requests support for its work. requires concurrent majorities on four of conferences as regards reaffirming the The tone of the ads would suggest levels. Within a diocese the person inviolate autonomy of each church that they are only part of an overall elected must receive the majority vote within the communion to govern its Archives campaign to whip up sentiment against on the same ballot of the clergy of that own internal affairs and to determine the natural elevation of women to the diocese as well as the lay deputies from who is to be its ordained clergy. 2020. episcopate, which is implicit in the all the congregations of that diocese. In now neutered canons governing ordi- some dioceses a two-thirds majority in All of which leads me back to the nation. A mere $20 will get you a sub- both orders is required by local canons. Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral. That Copyright scription to the organization's news- The candidate must then receive the four point resolution, now intact 100 letter which, I am sure, gives the full majority vote of the priests and lay peo- years, specifically upholds "The His- "scoop" on the "dangers and evils" in- ple who make up the Standing Com- toric Episcopate, locally adapted in the herent in such elections. The ads, mittees of all the dioceses of the Episcopal methods of its administration to the however, remind me of the flogging to Church. Finally, a majority of all the varying needs of the nations and peoples keep alive such controversies as use of bishops with jurisdiction must give called of God into the unity of His (sic) the 1928 Prayer Book. their approval. Failure to achieve Church." Anybody care to mess with Now I am aware that there is real majority support on any of these levels that? •

March 1987 15 A believe that the Church of England's implications of the decision demand a refusal to allow women priests of the call to solidarity with our sisters. Anglican Communion, ordained For example, I received a note re- abroad, to celebrate the sacraments in cently from a priest-friend in England, English churches is a momentous de- mentioning that he would like to ar- cision with far-reaching implications. range a clergy exchange with a priest in publication. This is the first time, to my knowledge, our church for a couple of months. and that a province of the Anglican Com- Actually I had been thinking of such munion has officially voted not to an arrangement for myself. I have been reuse accept the legitimate sacramental min- granted a three-month refresher leave for istry of ordained clergy from another by my parish and diocese to do some province of the communion. writing and I wanted to spend some of required Ironically, at the very time the Church that time in Europe. of England and other Anglican Church- An exchange with a Church of Eng- es are negotiating with the Roman land priest would prove a worthwhile

Permission Catholic Church for acceptance of our experience and make this financially orders, our "Mother Church" is now feasible as well. But I cannot. And I am saying that the orders of some of the going to write my friend and say to him DFMS. / people in other Anglican Churches that as much as I would like to be help- will not be accepted within its juris- ful, I cannot be involved in finding him

Church diction. Just when the Anglican Com- an exchange. In fact, I will encourage munion is trying to sponsor substantive him not to come to the United States. Holding ecumenical agreements with other If my sisters cannot avail themselves

Episcopal communions, our own communion of such an exchange neither can I. It the Canterbury has now sustained a major division would be like patronizing a lunch of within its own house. counter or belonging to a group or club accountable How can we witness to Christian that only serves or accepts White Anglo-

Archives unity in general and the acceptance of Saxon persons and excludes Blacks each church's orders in particular and Jews. Therefore, I cannot promote

2020. by Richard Mansfield when we have this basic disunity and or accept any invitation to perform my division in our own communion? The sacramental ministry in the Church of England when it refuses to accept the

Copyright sacramental ministry of my sisters. The Rev. Richard H. Mansfield, Jr., is a Canon The decision actually raises questions of Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, Conn, and about whether any of us in the Epis- former Dean of Bexley Hall Seminary. copal Church should invite Church of

16 THE WITNESS Back Issues Available: • Central America: Major stories on Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rica. Bishop Sturdie Downs of Nica- ragua tells WITNESS readers, "If you only knewabout the interventions by the United States, how your country England priests to perform their sacra- created a National Guard and how communion with the Church of Eng- the multinationals exploited us, you mental ministries in any of our churches. land if our sisters' orders in this church would be in the streets protesting" This saddens me greatly. This de- are not accepted. and analyzes the economic interests cision also might have implications for The Church of England has a per- behind his statement. Jim Levinson Lambeth Conference a year and a half adds a Jewish perspective on Nica- fect right to decide for itself whether it ragua. Jim Lewis gives an eyewitness from now. Should our bishops go? If will ordain women. And it has decided report on the militarization of Hon- publication. they do, should they practice their to ordain women as deacons. But its duras. Anna Grant Sibley describes and sacramental ministries while there? If Synod cannot say that it is in com- the de-neutralizing of Costa Rica. not, should Lambeth take place? A munion with us if it does not accept • AIDS: The plague that lays waste reuse number of years ago the General Con- some of our order by not accepting at noon, plus articles on the rights of for vention of our church had to change its some of our ordained priests. They gays and lesbians in church and soci- site when it was learned that many of cannot have it both ways. There will be ety. Authors include John Fortunato, Zalmon Sherwood, Anne Gilson, required the original location's hotels would not some who will argue that we broke Domenic Ciannella, Madeline Ligam- accept Blacks. Our church, in effect, communion with the Church of Eng- mare. said we are not going to meet in a place land by breaking with tradition and • Capital Punishment: Articles by that will not accept all of our people. It ordaining women. Or they will argue, Mary Miller, Joe M. Doss, Marie Deans, Permission is not an identical analogy, but in prin- probably wisely, that if members of the Thomas Shepherd examining how cipal, is it all that different? There are Church of England permit women the death penalty is symptomatic of a violent society; what it means when a DFMS. / no women bishops (yet) but a bishop priests from other Anglican churches prison chaplain loses a friend to the celebrates Holy Communion by the to practice their sacramental ministry electric chair; the morality of capital fact he is ordained a presbyter as well it will force them to ordain women. But punishment; a survivor's view of mur- Church as a bishop. Should our bishops be none of these arguments change the der; and a model church ministry to meeting in a province of our church fact that the Church of England has prisoners. that refuses to accept some of our pres- To order, fill in coupon below and Episcopal disrupted the ecclesiastical order, byters because they are female? mail to THE WITNESS, P.O. Box

the communion and unity of the Anglican 359, Ambler, PA 19002. of This is the issue of ecclesiastical in- Communion. tegrity and moral conscience that has I hope that the Church of England Yes, please send me the back unfortunately been thrust upon us by can somehow reverse this unfortunate issues I have checked at $1.00 each. Archives the General Synod of the Church of action. And until it does, I hope that (Prepaid orders only.)

2020. England. It threatens the very existence every member of our church, especially D Central America of the Anglican Communion. Howcan male presbyters, no matter how they D AIDS, Gay and Lesbian Rights we say that we are in communion with personally feel about the ordination of D Capital Punishment Copyright each other if we do not accept each women, will stand in solidarity with others orders? There is, in fact, no order our ordained sisters to protect the in- as well as no communion. And we in tegrity of our church's orders and its this church must not think we have full moral conscience. • Name Address

City

March 1987 17 THE WITNESS CELEBRATES

Unheralded editor YEARS

A HE WITNESS, now celebrating its 70th year, might have died in Chicago in 1918 had it not been for the Rev. Charles J. Shutt, who kept the publica- tion alive even as his own health was

publication. deteriorating. Shutt, who served as managing editor <•' and under Bishop Irving Peake Johnson,

reuse was the only professional journalist on

for staff at the time, having worked on newspapers in New Orleans and as editor of the Iowa Churchman. In the required first years of THE WITNESS, Shutt did all the editorial work from his rectory at St. John's Church, Mankato,

Permission Minn. THE WITNESS was then sent to Hobart, Indiana to be published in tabloid form. Charles J. Shutt Philip L. Shutt DFMS. / When THE WITNESS combined its editorial and publishing operation and journalist. The younger Shutt worked Phil Shutt's own career with THE Church moved to Chicago, Shutt went with it, on the magazine under William Spof- WITNESS as News Editor under BilJ even though he was suffering from a ford's term as editor. Spofford began ingloriously when he rheumatic condition which was affecting Now historiographer for the Diocese arrived late for work the first day. At Episcopal his voice. The managerial and mech- of Springfield, Phil Shutt told THE that point THE WITNESS had moved the anical areas became Shutt's responsi- WITNESS in a telephone interview, to New York. "I got lost on the subway," of bility and he held the paper together "I've always been a little nonplussed he said. "The office then consisted of during the Johnson years. To meet about my father's contribution to THE two rooms in a second story loft on

Archives deadlines he frequently went to the WITNESS. I have often felt his jour- Liberty Street near the Wall Street area. plant to set type. nalistic skills were not remembered or My duties covered not only writing but

2020. Shutt was 57 years old when he died valued. When we moved to Chicago, also handling subscriptions and ad- of pneumonia in 1920. He had been a World War I was still going on and I vertising. member of the Board of Editors of was only 10 or 11 years old, but I re- "In addition, I served as surrogate Copyright THE WITNESS from its inception in member how pressured my father was. for Spofford on occasion at meetings 1917. And certainly my mother's memories of the Church League for Industrial These facts came to light when corroborated this." Democracy. It was my first experience Charles Shutt's son, Philip, wrote THE Shutt said that he had sent the only with an alleged communist group," he WITNESS recently to say that at 79- photo of his father to St. Luke's, Des laughed. "Coming from the conserva- years-old he might be "the only living Moines, where his father was second tive biretta belt in the Midwest, which contact with the early history of the rector. Thanks to Ginger O'Keefe, parish was so anti-communist, it was an eye magazine." secretary, the photo was made available opener for me." Phil Shutt was to follow in his father's for this issue that we might celebrate Was he ever fearful of being harassed footsteps, both in the ministry and as a the unsung editor's life and ministry. by the government because he attended

18 THE WITNESS

I comes to light through son

CLID meetings? Catholics. I thought, as a Nashotah — the hallmark of the bishop." "Never," he said. "I was probably graduate, I would be welcome. But "I remember a story told about when rather naive. This group's activities when I attempted to get in, I was per- he went to apply for his auto license, might have been described as left-wing, emptorily dismissed by Clifford More- accompanied by a priest-aide who was but I didn't see anything bad about it. house, who was editor of The Living wearing a collar. The Roman Catholic But there was a spasm of red-baiting at Church at the time. policeman motioned the priest to the publication. the time, and Bill was called before the "That made me mad. So I found a front of the line, saying, This way, and McCarthy committee." window from which I was able to look Father.' But the priest demurred. 'I'm into their smoke-filled room. There was sorry, but I'm with the Bishop of Mis-

reuse Several other incidents stand out for Bishop Wallace Conkling of Chicago souri,' he said, pointing to Scarlett in for the former WITNESS news editor, most connected to the Episcopal expounding some argument, and I his red tie, 'and I can't leave him.' " Church General Convention in Phila- knew some of the clergy and laity. So I After Shutt left THE WITNESS, he required delphia in 1946. They reveal that the wrote a WITNESS article including returned to his Midwestern roots, dis- social gospel message of the magazine names of the principals involved. The enchanted by "the aridity of the Eastern was not appreciated in all church circles. story created a mild sensation." establishment." In his working career, Shutt has also served as reading clerk Permission Shutt also recalled bumping into "I had been graduated from Nash- Bishop William Scarlett, for whom an in the Iowa House of Representatives otah the year before I signed on with Episcopal Church Publishing Com- and as chair of the Young Democrats

DFMS. THE WITNESS, and I remember at- / pany award is named, sitting on the of Iowa during the Roosevelt years. He tending a dinner meeting of the Alumni steps at the Bellevue Stratford hotel. served in the Episcopal church as a at General Convention. During intro- priest for eight years, and before he Church He was in "a sandy suit and his red tie ductions I stood up and said I was news retired in 1973 he had pursued a career editor of THE WITNESS. That was in teaching. Until last year, he was followed by groans and cat-calls — a warden of St. Andrew's Church, Paris, Episcopal rather uncharitable reaction, I felt. 111. "I'm a perpetual acolyte," he said. the of "I was officially assigned to cover the What does he think of THE WIT- House of Bishops, but I had also made NESS today? a crude sign to take with me to display Shutt candidly admits he does not Archives samples of the magazine. We had not always agree with the editorial policy. made formal exhibit arrangements, and "I can accept women priests pragma- 2020. we were finally granted a space in a tically, but not theologically," he says, dim hallway near the bishops' meet- and adds "I'm sure it's because I am ap- ing place. There we set up shop, my proaching 80 and doubt I can change Copyright sign prominently displayed. But I don't my opinions. recall having many visitors there," he "However, while I don't agree totally, laughed. I believe THE WITNESS has a func- "Another experience was even more tion in our national church to nudge telling. Two meetings of a partisan na- our social conscience and this it does ture were scheduled, one of the so-called admirably. I enjoy reading the maga- Anglo-Catholics and the other of evan- zine, and I wish you the very best for gelicals. Because I knew my editor was the years which lie ahead." at the latter I opted for the Anglo- — Mary Lou Suhor

March 1987 19 On liberating the middle class: The great American TV ad scam

.Liberation theology is not confined merely to Christian as are hostages to captors. For countless millions, the Big reflection on the poor of Latin America or Africa, nor only Brother of TV — even perversely enough, the ads — is a on women and minorities in the United States. It is a call welcome moment of total passivity after a hard day of for liberation of that vague but real mass called the working for the very corporations who throttle the public American middle class. at night and through the entire weekend. Working America

publication. Clearly, by comparison with Third World peoples and labors to earn enough money to buy the products that pay those nearly destitute populations of the United States, the for the ads that push those same products on behalf of the and various segments of the middle class are not poor. samecorporate masters for whom America works. A tread-

reuse But even Latin American liberation theologians go mill like that would be the envy of any dictator. for beyond material considerations to unmask the deeper The techniques are no secret. They are aimed shame- meaning of poverty: continuing deprivation of human lessly at working on the viewer's guilt, sense of shame, dignity. It is here that one could legitimately maintain that anxiety, desire for superiority, sexual fantasies, vanity and required the masses of American people are held in de-humanizing natural tendencies to admire and emulate celebrities from poverty. the sports and entertainment worlds. The ads also nag The list of major areas of organized life in the United away at the public's hang-ups about socio-economic status. Permission States that carry out the agenda of oppression is too The pitch and pace of many ads is frenetic to the point of lengthy for discussion here. Only one will be singled out hysteria. There are booms, bangs, smashes, crashes and

DFMS. for elaboration — TV advertising and its role in institu- explosions reminiscent of the battlefield. Frantic voices / tionalized injustice and cultural impoverishment. command captive audiences that they must buy the product TV advertising symbolizes most of the things that need now or forever be consigned to the netherworld of the out- Church to be said about technology, education, business, corpora- of-step — the worse thing that can happen to a middle- tism, predominant values, national goals and priorities, class American. government and the political process. The same crude Most ads are in the form of endlessly repeated com- Episcopal techniques which we piously deplore when used by facist mands. "Buy it, America;" "Fix it, America;" "Look out, the

of regimes to inculcate ideology and myth into the psyche of America, you're losing your competitive edge." The com- the masses are employed daily and with impunity by mands are frequently sugared over with catchy tunes and Madison Avenue's ad hucksters. childish slogans. They are drummed into the memory,

Archives The worst form of political-cultural brainwashing is not sometimes year in and year out, until they become an to know the full extent of one's own predicament, or not to integral part of the millions of brainwashed robots who, 2020. know it to any extent at all. The U.S. people, especially sooner or later, do exactly what the marketeers have com- those still too young to remember a time without TV, have manded. By now the viewers do it spontaneously and been pummeled mercilessly into submission by advertise- willingly. Copyright ment for almost 40 years, about the same length of time it Further, TV ads are a microcosm of similar assaults on takes a totalitarian regime to get its message across so that human dignity in major areas of American social life. it will stick. Cloaking themselves in the pious mantle of First Amend- Permanently turning off their TV sets is not a viable ment freedoms while hammering the public with mindless option for the vast majority. They are as dependent upon it slogans like "We do it all for you;" "You're in good hands. America;" "We bring good things to life;" "Winning is everything;" and "Free enterprise," the corporate pushers and their Madison Avenue con artists have succeeded in Bernard E. McGoldrick is professor of political science at California State creating a new generation of narcissists. The millions of University, Fresno. obedient souls do what they are programmed to do —

20 THE WITNESS •-*' -

human person that is incompatible with the gospel of human freedom. In place of the sweet balm of community, the suburban middle class has bought into a mythic social contract that turns people into objects to be bought and sold in the by Bernard E. McGoldrick market. And even child abuse is not confined to physical battering. Taking advantage of small children to hawk diapers and soda pop on TV is thought "cute." consume things. From Vancouver to Miami, Bangor to Another dimension to TV advertising appears to have Galveston and Duluth to New Orleans the hucksters and escaped much criticism: The depressing spectacle of the their bank-rollers have created an American Gulag of prostitution of artistic talent. The advertising industry has languishing shoppers dying slowly of consumption. No almost completely taken over recruitment and advance- value is too sacred, no human relationship too personal or ment of talent in popular music, song writing, dancing and poetic to be pressed into the service of the commercial basic acting. Aspiring young artists in America, with years publication. culture to "reach out and touch someone." of self-sacrificing discipline, training and dedication be- and hind them, must now serve an indentured servantship, if they are among the few "lucky" ones, in shoving everything reuse

for "The U.S. people have been pummeled merci- from soup to nuts down the ever-consuming throats of the lessly into submission by advertisement for almost American people. Things have degenerated to the point 40 years, about the same length of time it takes a that the level of talent and performance in the ads is fre- required totalitarian regime to get its message across so that it quently higher than what one finds in the main shows will stick." squeezed in between. Even old and respected artists have succumbed to the allurement of big bucks. The artistic and

Permission entertainment communities have hired themselves out to the new class of pimps, the TV ad executives.

DFMS. Nor does there seem to be any difference or consequence It is beyond the limited scope and purpose of this article / between advertising toothpaste and advertising the latest to discuss what passes for news and entertainment on body count each night as newscasters solemnly describe American TV. This wasteland has been traversed by critics Church the murdered and the mangled. We now have Wall Street for many years. It is clear, for example, that many TV Business Briefs which interrupt and pre-empt other equally shows are propaganda pieces aimed at winning favorable unimportant fare on TV. After all, we must know, what the public reaction to the police and medical professions. The Episcopal high rollers are winning or losing in that peculiar Wall military also buys more than its fair share of prime-time the Street ritual which we are to believe decides our fate not entertainment hours in its efforts to identify itself with the of only in the marketplace but in life itself. very best in American manhood and womanhood. Even politics is seen as an extension of the advertising The American people are not "mad as hell" at TV ads or Archives business. This is the case not only during campaigns; day- the TV industry and they are beyond shouting from the to-day governmental policymaking and debate is geared roof tops "we won't take it any more." 2020. toward "selling a program or a decision." The images of If this state of affairs — summed up for encapsulation political parties, programs and policymakers have become purposes in TV ads as a symbol of political and cultural more powerful than those parties, programs or persons impoverishment and oppression of the masses of the Copyright themselves. American people — does not qualify the United States for Even fantasies like Star Wars are described by political liberation, then nothing ever could. What is held in bondage con-artists in such ad-world hype as a "selling point" in the by the corporations and their TV lackeys and the faculties Administration's efforts to intimidate the Russians into of Business Administration is the dignity of the human buying more time on this planet. person. It is also the same human dignity which American Whether it be TV ads or shows or news — they are all the propagandists ceaselessly remind us is held captive under same money-making fantasy acted out by the same people. communist regimes. But since our bondage is protected by Whether it be the nuclear terror or the robotization of a Bill of Rights, it is viewed as freedom — the freedom to education, medicine, government and politics, there is a die of an overdose of consumerism and high tech chips. common thread running through — a definition of the The worst of all illusions is to live and die never having

March 1987 21 known what it might mean to be a human being. courteous, constructive, cooperative and patriotic. A good It is necessary but insufficient for the organized churches Christian is a good Boy or Girl Scout. If not, then Christian to issue pronunciamentos on the evils of nuclear weapons prophecy soon learns that the velvet glove of open-market and of laissez-faire capitalism. It is helpful and encourag- pluralism contains the iron fist of authoritarian and, thus ing to know that similar missives are in the works on the of anti-democratic self-interest. The mainline liberal evils of sexism. But such admirable preachments never churches, like their right-wing fundamentalist brethren, confront the situation at its foundations. Church assem- stop at the water's edge when it comes to talk of Chris- blies and conventions in the United States, especially those tianity defined as liberation from cultural oppression. of more liberal persuasion, are playing the pluralism game. This stands to reason. They are an integral part of that They appeal to that very process which guarantees that the oppression. vested interests will continue to control and perpetuate the The church is always an Exodus church. It cannot ac- functions of the great un-culture. For that process is not commodate itself, as it has in America and the rest of the democratic to begin with. It is a process that ostensibly West, to a phoney pluralism that forever protects the invites all viewpoints and philosophies but which at the powerful from the masses of the weak and culturally de- publication. same time systematically excludes a radical Christian prived. A place to begin might be a national preaching and challenge. campaign against TV ads! Merely symbolic? Well, isn't Christian challenge in America must be muffled, polite. symbolism what it's all about? • reuse for Letters ... Continued from page 3 with push carts, etc. — become able to life (even in adverse situations) rather

required enter our buildings! than be content to merely wear it on their Partnering, collegiality, working to- sleeves. Maria and Steven are living beyond it. These women are still in gether — this is the name of the game! proof of this. God bless them both! positions of power in our parishes and Harold Wilke Cliff Nyberg

Permission dioceses, exercising their ministry as Healing Community Seattle, Wash. they view it. And their ministry does not White Plains, N.Y. include sexual equality at all! DFMS.

/ This lack of unanimity needs to be Towards authentic lives addressed when talking about feminine Women priests praised Thank you for the discussion of issues support for ordained ministry for Increasingly the Episcopal women and ideas facing us as Christians try- Church women, especially consecration to the priests are making a difference in the ing to live authentic lives in today's bishopric. Women are not a united block U.S. prisons. Two of our peace activists complex and, in many ways, confusing (nor are the men united against us). who were sentenced to federal prisons world. Two basic premises were ad- Episcopal Marsha Ziegler in West Virginia and Texas wrote, "The dressed in the October issue. In "Con- the Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y. very first full day we were in prison, we templation: not for mystics only," of were invited by Episcopal women Glenda Hope directs our attention to Accessibility to aid all priests to join their prayer groups." the relationship between the psyche You can imagine what news like this and the transcendent God; and in Archives Your December guest editorialist, Cyndi means to the family and friends of Jones, makes a good point. Too many "Apocalyptic theology and the Right," newly incarcerated residents. Praise Peter Stiglin reminds us of historical 2020. still assume that the Tiny Tims of our God for the 750 Episcopal women and social facts that we must face as society are relatively easy to carry priests and for the church that risked around and they probably won't sur- responsible members of the commun- prophecy! ity of God's people. Copyright vive anyhow. So why go for accessible Sr. Margaret Ellen Traxler public transportation? Carolyn W. Reynolds Institute for Women Today Santa Rosa, Cal. Of course, there was no public trans- Chicago, 111. portation in Tiny Tim's day. Maybe if Bob Cratchit had advocated for such, a 'Looked forward to' benefit to the whole of society could Lauds Cueto, Guerra This is my "most looked forward to" have come about while striving to help I was very happy to learn in a recent magazine. The superb writing and one segment. This must be part of our WITNESS of the release of Maria Cueto clear thinking on the great contem- current campaign, to help all segments and Steven Guerra from prison It is most porary issues are much appreciated. of society — the infirm elderly, mothers gratifying to know that there are still peo- Lois Waller and fathers with strollers, hale men ple around who truly live the Christian N. Little Rock, Ark.

22 THE WITNESS A STUDY PACKET

THE CASE FOR DIVESTMENT

Prepared by The Episcopal Church Publishing Company publication. and reuse study about whether some investments "The Case for Divestment1' by Manning

for Lpartheid is a sacrilege and the church can be a tremendous power are morally intolerable, the Episcopal Marable; the exchange of correspondence in destroying it. That was a central Church Publishing Company has pre- between a reluctant Church Pension required theme running through Desmond pared a study packet entitled The Case Fund and the Diocese of Newark, com- Tutu's sermon during his enthrone- for Divestment mitted to divestment; backgrounders on ment as first Black Anglican Arch- Its contents supply a wealth of testi- the situation in South Africa, and a rich Permission bishop of Capetown. mony to pray and think about, including a supply of resources. The packet was de- summary of the South African Kairos signed for study and action. Our spiritual To a congregation which reflected document, by William Johnston; a status health is imperiled by investments in DFMS. / the multiracial, multinational char- report on apartheid and an article on South Africa. • acter of the Anglican communion,

Church Archbishop Tutu's moral challenge I I rang out: God demands that the faithful help "crush the oppressor," THE CASE FOR DIVESTMENT Episcopal he said. the The primary course of action One — Four Copies $3.00 each of taken by churches responding seri- Five — Nine Copies $2.25 each ously to the Nobel prizewinner's Ten and Over $1.75 each Archives words has been to divest in firms doing business in South Africa — Please send copies of THE CASE FOR DIVESTMENT Study 2020. to renounce their complicity in "the Packet at $ each. Enclosed is a check in the amount of _. Prepaid orders only abomination that is apartheid."

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March 1987 23 CLOSEOUT OFFER e • Yes, I want to take cv* SPECIAL OFFER * advantage of your closeout. Please send TO WITNESS READERS me Must We Choose Sides and Which Side Order Must We Choose Sides and Which Side Are We On, two of the Are We On for only best-selling Study Action Guides on the market — dealing with Christian $5.00. Payment is Commitment for the 1980s — for only $5.00, or either volume alone for enclosed. $2.50. • Send Must We Choose Sides only. I am enclosing $2.50. Must We Choose Sides? • Send Which Side Are 1979, 127pp. $5.95 We On only. I am Explores the role of working people in enclosing $2.50. our economic system. Investigates harsh realities of everyday life. Who owns publication. America? Who pays the price? Six

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