Tui Motu Interislands Monthly Independent Catholic Magazine August 2011 | $6

Tui Motu InterIslands monthly independent Catholic magazine August 2011 | $6 . editorial preaching amazing grace

“The survival of our planet demands William Wilberforce to parallel real Visitation . He says that we have not nothing less than the abolition of possibilities for peace . Wilberforce developed the renewed way that the war ”. This is the radical ultimatum was an ‘amazing grace’ who, over a second Vatican Council portrayed that Canon Paul Oestreicher put to lifetime of strenuous advocacy, was the person of the mother of Jesus . the International Ecumenical Peace able to change an entrenched inter- Mary is truly our sister, who strug- Convocation in Kingston, Jamaica in national viewpoint and have slavery gled to understand her son and who May . (We gratefully reprint the text abolished . came to full understanding of him of his speech over two issues .) How do we grow a generation only after his resurrection from the And at so many levels, this state- of William Wilberforces to ensure dead . The Acts of the Apostles show ment is playing itself out . The financ- the complete overturning of war? her participating so closely in the ing of war through debt has plunged How do we make war illegal, not earliest days of the post-resurrection the United States into its present just in principle, but in fact? How church that she has become known as nightmare economic conundrum . are the many existing international mother of the Church — associating The ideological appeal to violence laws of peace and peace-making to that humble face of Mary of which and its indiscriminate use in places be enforced? Certainly the use of Brother Kieran writes with his vision that have rightly prided themselves armed forces in peace-keeping roles of a more humble Church . Father on their peacefulness, e .g . Norway, is defining one tiny step on this path Pat Maloney, peeping at the future, and the massacres of Anders Behring to abolition of war . Education at has a similar hope for a “…church Breivik, have shocked the world . all levels of society is another . Jesus’ less centralized in Rome, a church Again, look at the uncontrollable call to all-embracing love of enemies less focused on power and more on way in which first world governments remains to be fulfilled . May Canon service, a church with real author- pressure governments in third world Paul’s voice continue to raise Jesus’ ity returned to diocesan bishops, a countries to buy arms, thus fostering cry — and unsettle us to work for Church in which the baptismal gifts civil wars where the arms end up the total abolition of war . of all are recognized ”. being used against their own people . There is another amazing grace These two articles put a prophetic The military-industrial complex rules . to be found in Brother Kieran Fenn’s and hope-filled view of a renewed These are a tiny handful of many portrayal of what he calls a ‘Marial’ Church, with which many readers inter-twined situations that only church: the development of a church will identify . Mary, mother of the strengthen this powerful cri de coeur . more humble and more participa- Church, pray for us . n Canon Paul uses the person of tive, wearing the face of Mary of the KT

Editorial ...... 2 Two Pauls, a cobbler and a prayer ...... 18 Glynn Cardy contents Winter Warmth ...... 3 Jack ...... 19 Letters to the Editor ...... 4 Anonymous Come you masters of war ...... 5 A war of words ...... 20-21 Ron Sharp Robert Mickens A new world is possible ...... 6-7 Your money or your life? ...... 22-23 Canon Paul Oestreicher Fr Neil Vaney sm The Madonna of Stalingrad ...... 8 A peep into the future ...... 24-25 Ron O’Grady Fr Pat Maloney The Virgin of Pelagonitissa ...... 9 Matthew 15: 21-28 - “But she said…” a female Sr Mary Horn op genealogy ...... 26-27 Is the Catholic Church faithful to Mary? . . . . . 10-11 Sr Kathleen Rushton rsm Bro Keiran Fenn fms Poem ...... 27 Poem: Still ...... 11 Pen Whitaker Hayden Williams Book and film reviews ...... 28-29 The politics of good health ...... 12-13 Cross Currents ...... 30 Michael Fitzsimons Jim Elliston We are all disciples ...... 14-15 The price of milk ...... 31 Interview: Fr Michael Hill ic Robert Consedine Should I speak of love? ...... 16-17 Learning from snails ...... 32 Clarice Stewart Robin Kearns front cover illustration: Donald Moorhead 2 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 . from the chair winter warmth

erhaps we can thank the weather! After all, the forecast- ers and reporters have been Tui Motu Tui Motu InterIslands monthly independent Catholic magazine InterIslands March 2011 | $6 monthly independent Catholic mag July Pwaxing lyrically on the heaviest snow- 2011 | $6 azine falls, the largest number of lightning strikes, the wildest winds and giant sea swells… . Perhaps in winter we all like to hunker down a little more often with some good reading matter .

Whatever the reason, we at Tui Motu T here’s a time for every season have been encouraged over the last under heaven… month or two by warm comments Did not our hearts burn… from readers new and old . We’ll share just a few samples . magazine. May God bless the work.” “Last year when working in — 1 July from a new subscriber in Christchurch… I came across and New Zealand So we seek your help in introduc- secured a copy of your excellent magazine ing this highly praised magazine to Tui Motu. I congratulate you and staff “I assure you I am most certainly re-sub- your friends and family and parish . for such a fine production. The Catholic scribing and eagerly await being reunited If every reader could enlist one more community urgently needs such a maga- with Tui Motu, for which I have a great subscriber, the longer term future of zine which is open to exploring different affection, as a publication which is not, as Tui Motu would be secured . It sounds perspectives on the Christian story.” some Catholic publications are, an insult so simple when put in those terms . to the intelligence.” — 27 June, from an Australian So perhaps each of us could take up educator, trainer and consultant. —13 July from an Australian the challenge as a winter-time project? subscriber Let’s use the praise received to encour- age others to try Tui Motu while the “The Tui Motu issue arrived and the We were further reminded of the nights are still long enough to encour- article is really stunning. In fact, the overall excellence of the magazine age extra reading . whole magazine is quite stunning. It’s when we were asked to return to Then in the spring we can thank how our own Catholic paper used to be Australia the Gutenberg Trophy which the weather not only for appreciative in better days…..and better than that, Tui Motu has held for the past year . words but for new and appreciative even!” This was awarded for general excel- subscribers . n — 5 July from a North American lence in religious journalism . contributor to the magazine It is always great to be appreciated . Elizabeth Mackie OP, Interim Chair, But appreciation in itself is not enough “Please find enclosed a cheque in pay- Tui Motu Board to keep Tui Motu flourishing . For that ment for the next issues of your excellent we need subscribers .

Tui Motu-InterIslands is an independent, address: Independent Catholic Magazine Ltd, Catholic, monthly magazine. It invites its read- P O Box 6404, Dunedin North, 9059 ers to question, challenge and contribute to its phone: (03) 477 1449 discussion of spiritual and social issues in the fax: (03) 477 8149 light of gospel values, and in the interests of a email: [email protected] more just and peaceful society. Inter-church website: www.tuimotu.org and inter-faith dialogue is welcomed. editor: Kevin Toomey OP The name Tui Motu was given by Pa Henare Tate. It literally assistant editor: Elizabeth Mackie OP means “stitching the islands together...”, bringing the dif- illustrator: Don Moorhead ferent races and peoples and faiths together to create one directors: Rita Cahill RSJ, Philip Casey, Neil Darragh, Paul Pacific people of God. Divergence of opinion is expected Ferris, Robin Kearns, Elizabeth Mackie OP (interim chair), and will normally be published, although that does not Peter Murnane OP necessarily imply editorial commitment to the viewpoint typesetting: Greg Hings expressed. ISSM 1174-8931 printers: Southern Colour Print, 1 Turakina Road, Dunedin Issue number 152 South, 9012

3 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 letters

Fracking eco-system, should energize us into letters to the editor action . As citizens, consumers and Nicky Chapman is ‘on the button’ those called to reverence creation, with her challenge to take seriously We welcome comment, fracking needs to enter our personal the environmental impacts of pro- discussion, argument, debate. and communal lexicons . We must posed energy exploration in New But please keep letters under protest against proposed shale gas Zealand . While she focuses on lignite 200 words. The editor reserves fracking . Indeed, we need to talk and mining in Southland, other exploita- the right to abridge, while act! (www .frackaction .com) tive mining is also planned for NZ . not changing the meaning. Jacqui Ryan OP, Auckland Having recently returned from New Response articles (up to a York where FRACKING — hydrau- page) are welcome — but Carbon dioxide lic fracturing — is making headlines please, by negotiation. at all levels, I was deeply concerned With regard to the article Democracy, to learn in our media that the petro- climate change and southland lignite the site, it’s because this now has also chemical industry is preparing to by Nicky Chapman (TM, July), I am been silenced .) unleash this highly exploitative saddened to see once again the buy The CO issue is a geo political process here . Fracking is likely to be in to the man-made climate change 2 control tool and an essential part of sold to citizens as an act of patriot- and Green House gas theory . the new world order globalisation ism — for the future economic CO is an essential part of life 2 plan . The forces at work are geno- growth and good of the country, and on the planet and not a toxic gas cidal . Watch Bill Gates presentation as a way of providing employment, that’s going to kill us all, as the main at the last TED conference as just especially in low-income communi- stream media and lobbyists are push- one example of where this is all head- ties . While the petrochemical indus- ing so hard to make everyone believe . ing (see youtube) . try and, no doubt, government, will This now includes scare tactics in the While they talk about the green promise a bright future concerning schools from an early age . house effect, the same powers are the perceived reservoirs of natural All we hear, whenever anyone geo-engineering the atmosphere with gas trapped in underground shale challenges the issue is “there is an chem-trailing, a process where clouds strata, citizens will be duped into overwhelming consensus from scien- are formed by spraying barium believing that extraction is safe and tists that CO is causing” etc . This is 2 and aluminum sulphites into the straightforward . Nothing could be just not true . The truth is that there atmosphere, they don’t show this on further from the truth . are many scientists firmly opposed to CNN or BBC . (See http://www . The drilling necessary to reach what is now proven to be a fraud . thebiggestsecret .org/home/index . the gas pockets pierces fresh water Climate change is natural, driven php/articles/34-nwo-general/129- aquifers . Toxic chemicals, part of the mostly by the sun, always has been chemtrails-best-evidence) extractive process, frequently leak and always will be . Study history and No one can deny that there is a into other substrata including the you will see this . Any scientist who big pollution problem in the world, water aquifers . Fracking has become tries to speak out is silenced . They are but that is a completely different a moral issue . There is nothing not allowed to be heard on TV or in issue . more basic than water . Its abuse and the press . See www .friendsofscience . David Sale, Canterbury contamination, in addition to the org if you want to see the other side destruction and degradation of our of the debate . (If you cannot get into

A prayer of a modern English mystic fits as the whole world struggles with the Anders Behring Breivik massacre in Norway…

God and Father of all human beings, in your love you have made all the nations of the world to be one family Help those of different races and religions to love and understand one another better. Take away hatred, jealousy and prejudice, So that loving you more deeply we may work together for the coming of your kingdom of righteousness and peace. We ask this through your son, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen 4 Tui Motu InterIslandsEvelyn Underhill August 2011 comment come you masters of war Ron Sharp

he most passionate Catholic conscientious objection to war . peace conscience-raiser of Come you masters of war Finally, in 1944, before the our time was the Trappist You that build all the guns H-bomb, and after all the years of Tmonk, Thomas Merton (1915–69) . devastation under the just war theory, You that build the death planes He spent his years of reflective silence Cardinal Ottaviani said “Modern wars trumpeting peace through 40 books You that build the big bombs can never fulfill the conditions which and many articles in Catholic papers . You that hide behind walls govern a just and lawful war ”. Pope Merton held that the root of all wars Pius XII, followed this up when he You that hide behind desks is fear — not only of other people but asserted that “the theory of war as an even of ourselves, who can be easily I just want you to know apt and proportionate means of solv- led into convincing ourselves that I can see through your masks. ing international conflicts is now out “God is on our side ”. You fasten the triggers of date ”. Good Pope John came out In the first four centuries the even strongly than his predecessors Christian communities took Jesus’s For the others to fire when he said: “Therefore, in this age of “Love your enemies” seriously . Then you sit back and watch ours, which prides itself on its atomic Origen’s writings opposing Christian When the death count gets power, it is irrational to believe that involvement in war became the offi- higher war is still an apt means of vindicating cial position of the Church – with violated rights ”. The Second Vatican You hide in your mansion support from Clement of Alexandria, Council clearly allows the Christian’s Justin Martyr, St . Cyprian, and As young people’s blood right to refuse bearing arms for reasons Tertullian, who said that when Jesus Flows out of their bodies of conscience . took away Peter’s sword, he disarmed And is buried in the mud. So is the Holy Spirit leading us every soldier . This position was humans slowly but surely into an age backed up by Christian action, as the – Bob Dylan 1963 of settling conflicts by reason and arbi- non-Christian, Celsus, makes clear in tration? Are we humans growing out his complaint: “Because he perversely of our violent mindset? refuses to fight, everyone else is threat- Why do the few lay stalwarts of ened with destruction ”. Pax Christi in our Church of Aotearoa In the century and a half between word about purifying their intentions . and throughout the world find it so Origen and Augustine, Christianity Since then our world has experi- hard to be heard in these times when became the official religion of the enced horrific wars in the Americas, war should be outlawed? At least, the Roman Empire and in 411 the Russia, Europe, the Middle East, perpetrators of atrocities are being Goths marched on Rome and Africa et alia . We have experienced brought before international law soon the Vandals were at the gates nuclear holocausts, chemical defo- courts . of Hippo, Augustine’s bishopric . liation, ethnic cleansings and brutal Thomas Merton challenges us: “If This brought Augustine — former abuses of powers and, above all, mass the task of building a peaceful world is Origenist — to develop the new Just civilian murderings . We have also seen the most important task of our time, it War Theory . Augustine made the majestic individual responses from Te is also the most difficult . It will require distinction between the intention in Whiti-o-Rongomai and Mohandas far more discipline, sacrifice, planning, the Christian’s mind and the external Gandhi, with their approach of non- thought, cooperation and heroism deed that could lead to violence . violent resistance; and from Dietrich than war ever demanded ”. n Violence is sanctioned through purity Bonhoeffer and Franz Jagerstatter, who of intention . were murdered for refusing to take up Of course, for centuries ever since, arms with the German Armies . Here Ron Sharpe is a Motueka organic farmer we have heard kings and presidents, in New Zealand Archibald Baxter and with a lifelong interest in issues of peace prime ministers and priests urging the founding members of the Nelson and peace making. men to take up arms out of love and Riverside Community, still a beacon mercifully slay their enemies without a of peace, were imprisoned for their

5 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 world peace a new world is possible Paul Oestreicher

Canon Paul Oestreicher was the keynote speaker at the Opening Plenary of the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation held in Kingston, Jamaica on 18 May 2011. The convocation ended the World Council of Churches’ “Decade to Overcome Violence.” We reprint this memorable address in two parts. In this first part, Canon Paul asks for a radical move away from just war theory, to stand for the unique ethical contribution of Jesus: ‘love your enemies’, by paralleling William Wilberforce’s campaign to abolish slavery.

herever you come from, bowed down deeply to empire and moves to the margins and becomes whatever your church nation, rather than to the single new the alternative society that uncondi- tradition, you may be humanity into which we are born . We tionally says ‘no’ to war, ‘no’ to the OrthodoxW or Catholic, Protestant or have made a pact with Caesar, with collective murder that every embattled Charismatic, Evangelical or Liberal, power, the very pact that the early nation or tribe, every warring alliance, Conservative or Radical, all of us Christians called idolatry . Because the every violent liberation movement, have come here because we wish to newly converted ruler declared it to every fundamentalist cause, and now be friends of Jesus, rabbi, prophet and be our duty, we have squared it with the War on Terror declares to be just, more than a prophet . To each one of our conscience to kill the Emperor’s until we throw this justification of us he says: “You are my friends, if enemies, and to do this with Jesus on war, this ‘just war’ theology into the you do what I command you . . This our lips . dustbin of history, unless we do that, I command you, to love one another Under the sign of the Cross we will have thrown away the one as I have loved you ”. Is anyone, any- Christian nations have conquered unique ethical contribution that the where, excluded from that love? Here and massacred the children of Islam . teaching of Jesus could make both to is the answer that Jesus gave to his In 1914, my German father went to the survival of humanity and to the friends: “It is said, ‘you shall love your war with the words ‘God with Us’ triumph of compassion . neighbour and hate your enemy’; but I engraved on his belt buckle . The say to you, love your enemies and pray British soldiers, whom he was trained charter of compassion for those who persecute you ”. to kill, had no doubt that the same I commend to you Karen Armstrong’s That is how the Man in whom we God was on their side . highly significant Charter of Com- see the face of God spoke, lived and passion . The Hindu prophet Mahatma died . As his enemies were killing him, hiroshima Gandhi thought that Christianity he prayed for them to be forgiven . When in 1945, a bomber set out, would be a good idea — if only Jesus was not only speaking to each of loaded with the world’s first nuclear Christians practised it . If we were to us individually, he was addressing the weapon, a single weapon which was show compassion for those whom people of God as a holy community . about to kill one hundred thousand we have good reason to fear, the new The prophets of Israel spoke to their women and children and men in the world that Jesus called the Kingdom nation . Often the nation did not want city of Hiroshima, the aircraft’s crew would have come a little closer . That to hear . were sent on their way with Christian is within our power . Albert Schweitzer prayers . The war memorials in the in his philosophy of civilisation simply jesus speaks now cathedrals and cities of Christendom called it: reverence for life . Gathered together in Kingston from all attest to the fact that we, like our broth- This Convocation will not yet corners of the earth, Jesus speaks to us ers and sisters in Islam, regard those be the Universal Christian Peace now, to us, a small cross section of his who have died in battle for the nation Council of which Dietrich Bonhoeffer sanctified people . Do we want to hear as having secured their place in heaven, dreamed, long before Hitler’s obedi- him? Our record suggests that we do and that now includes those in the ent servants hanged him . But we not . Most of our theologians, pastors coffins arriving from Afghanistan and could help to pave the way to such a and assemblies, Orthodox, Catholic, draped in the ‘sacred’ Stars and Stripes . Council, a Council speaking with the and Protestant, have bowed down authority of the whole Church, if, here ever since the time of the Emperor no to collective murder and now in Kingston, we were ready Constantine in the third century, Unless we change, unless the Church to say: it is impossible both to love our

6 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 enemies and to kill them, it is impossible both to reverence life and to be in league with the military-industrial complex, the killing-machine that rapaciously consumes levels of wealth that are beyond our mathematical imagination . war is the crime War and the arms trade that feeds it cannot make life for the people on our small planet more just or more secure . It is not simply that crimes are committed by all sides in every war . War itself is the crime . Its preparation alone, globally consumes more than L to R: Canon Paul Oestreicher, his wife Barbara Einhorn and the Otago University a hundred times the resources that Chaplain Gregory Hughson in Jamaica. could provide clean water to every child on this planet . Even before withered away . That needs to become shows that if we prepare for war, war the latest perversions of science and the fate of war . If the churches of the is eventually what we get . Jesus put it technology are put to their lethal use, world fail to embark on such a cam- quite simply: Those who live by the thousands of children die unnecessar- paign, we will have nothing of unique sword, will die by the sword . ily for lack of clean water . significance to say on the subject of world peace . signs of spiritual maturity jesus was a realist Unless we learn to resolve our con- Jesus was not an idealistic dreamer . He what chance winning? flicts — and conflicts there will always was and remains the ultimate realist . What are our chances of winning this be — unless we learn to resolve them The survival of our planet demands battle? Some will say: slavery, exploita- without militarised violence, our nothing less than the abolition of war . tion, and trafficking in human beings children’s children may no longer have Albert Einstein, the great physicist and still goes on . Yes, but it is universally a future . Love of those who threaten humanist, already knew that early in acknowledged as both morally wrong, us, care for the welfare of those whom the last century . He repeated it often and illegal . Passing legislation to abol- we fear, is not only a sign of spiritual with a clarity and credibility that few ish war will not immediately eliminate maturity, but also of wordly wisdom . Christian pacifists have matched . armed violence . What it will do is to It is enlightened self-interest . Military make absolutely clear that to resolve strategists glimpsed that when, in the abolition of war is possible conflicts by military means is illegal, Cold War they spoke of common The abolition of war is possible . It is as with its perpetrators brought before security . If my potential enemy has no possible as was the abolition of slavery, an International Court of Justice . reason to fear me, I am safer too . the slavery that still haunts the history Will we then remain in bondage So, it is time for the still small of this nation of Jamaica . Wilberforce to the principalities and powers, or voices of the historic peace churches, and his evangelical friends who cam- will we wrestle with them and thereby hitherto respected but ignored, to paigned to end it, were thought to be enter into the glorious liberty of the be taken seriously . That is the main unrealistic dreamers . Slavery surely children of God? reason why, as an Anglican priest, I was part of our DNA, necessary to have also chosen to be a Quaker, a every society’s economic survival . example of wilberforce member of the Religious Society of The churches were up to their necks This struggle, if we embrace it, Friends . Quaker history, often a story in maintaining slavery, the bishops of will be at least as tough as that of of suffering, witnesses to the biblical the Church of England unanimously Wilberforce . Devotion to and respect insight that love casts out fear . n upheld it . In the same way, many for every nation’s military tradition is Christians are wedded to a society as undiminished in church as in state . Canon Paul Oestreicher is a former that cannot let go of the cult of the The Roman dictum si vis pacem, para Director of the Centre for International good soldier or even the holy war- bellum — if you want peace, prepare Reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral. rior . Wilberforce and his determined for war — holds sway . It is a powerful Paul has been a life long campaigner for friends triumphed against all odds . lie . Yet those who believe it are neither peace and nuclear disarmement. Slavery was made illegal . Its defenders stupid nor evil . History, however,

7 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 faith and art the madonna of stalingrad Ron O’Grady

inter 1942: German soldiers advancing on Stalingrad had been Wheld up by a bitterly cold winter and trapped by the surrounding Soviet forces . Cut off from their supplies the Germans closed ranks and prayed for a miracle . Among the beleaguered troops was a German doctor and clergy- man named Kurt Reuber . He wrote: “Christmas week has come and gone . It has been a week of watching and waiting, of deliberate resignation and confidence . The days were filled with the noise of battle and there were many wounded to be attended to ”. On Christmas Eve, a stick of Russian bombs hit the Germans’ main shelter and Reuber spent the evening trying to comfort the wounded and dying soldiers . In his last letter home he wrote: “It is late now, but it is Christmas night still . And so much sadness everywhere ”. Dr Reuber called on all his religious memories to help him through this dangerous time and suddenly felt urged to paint an image of the Madonna and child . Drawing on the back of a Russian map (the fold lines can be seen on the painting) he used a stick of charcoal to portray the Virgin Mary shielding the baby Jesus in her arms and sheltering him with her cloak . He wrote: “I have turned my hole in the frozen mud into a studio . infant Jesus in the shelter of her robe Eventually, the Stalingrad The space is too small for me to be with their heads leaning toward each Madonna was preserved and his able to see the picture properly, so I other . Reuber said that while paint- family gave it to the Kaiser Wilhelm climb on to a stool and look down ing, he was continually reminded of Memorial Church in central Berlin, at it from above, to get the perspec- the three words of St . John: light, life, where it still occupies a central place tive right . Everything is repeatedly and love . (These are the three words and numerous pilgrims come to stand knocked over, and my pencils vanish in German on the right hand side of before it in silence . Even in our dark- into the mud . I wish I could tell you the painting .) est moments the Madonna is always how absorbed I have been painting In the last days of fighting Reuber with us . n my Madonna, and how much it was killed . The last German plane to means to me ”. fly out of Stalingrad left soon after Ron O’Grady is a minister in a Union Despite the limitations of his situ- and fortunately one of the passengers parish in Auckland. He is the author of ation he completed a deeply moving remembered the painting and took it several books on art and human rights image of Mother Mary nursing the with him .

8 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 the virgin of pelagonitissa Mary Horn

he copy I painted of this ikon creates a little magic in my room . Sometimes it is dark andT brooding and at other times the gold leaf glows . But if one moves to see better it fades . At other times if it catches the reflected rising sun it has a different radiance, a red gold blush . Ikons are from the East and the earliest were before human repre- sentations began to be created . So often they seem strange to us who have become anaesthetized by the mass produced sentimental images of the 19th century . The ikon says something other than sentiment, something beyond – about deeper emotions . The first feeling, in this Madonna and child, is one of intimacy . The mother holds the child protectively with her left hand, and then, one becomes aware of the right hand, almost clutching — a different gesture . What is this gesture about? The whole picture brings to mind the presentation in the Temple (Luke 2: 23-25) . Mary is not looking at the child but gazing out into the future, The Virgin of Pelagonitissa, painted by Michiel Astrapas and a future fraught with contradictions . Entychios, working in Serbia. Right wing of the altar screen, He is to be a light, a revelation but 1316-1318 From the church of St. George, Stara Nagoricino, near Kumanova, Macedonia. destined for falling, rising and opposition . Mary seems by this strong holding to want to protect her child great unknown about it, so we want The very angle of the figure suggests from this, but her eyes tell another to move in to see better . But when we the taking down of the dead Christ story . She sees clearly what is to do, we lose what we just saw . We are on Good Friday . This is no child . He come, the reality not only for Jesus left a little bewildered and uncertain . seems to be already mature, a figure her child, but for herself and us . She And what of the child? There is of wisdom, yet needing the security is looking out towards us, but not at the intimacy between the pair, but he is finding in the closeness of the us . This looking suggests she knows the child, although resting against mother . They share secrets that they that we too must partake in the his mother, is not looking at her . are unfolding for us . sorrow that will pierce her own soul . He seems to be looking up and out The gold background and the gold The darkness that sometimes invades the painting is to be part of towards a greater mystery of which on the garments give a luminosity to the journey towards God that we all he is aware . His gaze is on God or the whole and add to the greater mys- make . Mary would like to protect us perhaps the place whence he leapt tery we are invited to contemplate too, as she is protecting her child . down from the royal throne (Wisdom and join, by living the light and the But she knows that we all must face 18:14) . There is again a pathos, as if darkness . n adversity, contradiction and pain . he is wondering what this coming We see here the effect of the sword down would mean for him, and he Mary Horn is a Dominican Sister and thrust into her that will also touch seems to pick up something from his artist, who lives at Teschemakers near the whole of humanity . There is a mother — her concern, her distress . Oamaru.

9 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 theology of mary is the catholic church faithful

to mary? Kieran Fenn

How would the Church look if it were to wear a more humble and participative face — more in accord with the way Mary was in her time? In this time of transition within the Church, how might the Church take up these possibilities and reflect Mary’s face and attitudes?

a midwife generation The new Superior General of the Marist Brothers, Emili Turu, is a much respected figure in the Union of Major Superiors General . I was privileged to hear him on the topic of Mary in the Church . It began with his asking me to read the following extract: “I believe that a new Church is coming. It will be browner and poorer, more sensuous and feminine, less clerical and more collegial, less concerned about charity and more conscious of justice and more multilingual and polycentric than the one we know now. That Church will better reflect the diversity of God’s Trinitarian life. It will be a new Church… yet it can only come with the passing of this one. I dare to suggest that it is our task to facilitate the present Church’s passing in order to assist in the birthing of the new. Paradoxically, hospice workers are also the midwives of new life. The prophetic vocation is to help the community to accept a loss they cannot admit and to embrace a hope they cannot dare to believe. Prophets do this by attending to the present groans of the people and positing an alternative future vision. This, I believe, is the essence of being a spiritual leader in the Church during the time of transition.” (Fr. Bryan Massingale, Archdiocese of Milwaukee)

a new pentecost! a new church! There is so much in this passage that is Marist and in accord with the vision of the early Marists on build- completely free in the area of devotion to Mary . ing a new Church . Do we believe a new Church is Only when we face the truth contained in the coming? Not only is it coming; it has to come! One above statement can we accept the truth that God with a Marial face? Pope John Paul II spoke clearly is doing something new in history, either with us, on this issue when he reminded the Curia that the without us, or against us, can we become part of the Church was Marial before it was Petrine . solution — or remain part of the problem . Rahner Certainly we have to wonder what happened was quite right in his statement that the Christian of to Mary in the post-Vatican II church . It was not the future will either be a mystic… or will cease to because of the loss of sound writing in Mariology, an be . The other dimension is the risk to be a prophet, enriched area with papal documents such as Marialis or better to accept prophetic mysticism, the call to Cultus and Redemptoris Mater and the balanced writ- live prophetically . ing of a host of scholars, but it has not been getting through to the people in the pews, let alone some let go! let live! religious who carry her name . I am not referring to When Pope Benedict recently spoke to the gathered Marian devotions, which are perhaps the main area group of new Cardinals he reminded them that their of visible crisis . Paul VI wisely stated that we are to be position was one of service and not of power . This is

10 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 an important reminder that a Marial Church wears the face of the three ‘Nos!’ — no to power, no to Still prestige, and no to position . The humble role of service, the face of the Mary of the Visitation, fits well into such a call . Back in 1970 a German theologian We scry the lazy, undisturbed air. named Josef Ratzinger spoke the following words: What’s an ear “Today the Church has become for many the main obstacle to faith; in it can be seen only the struggle for human power, but a clot of flesh? the poor theatre of those who, by their observations, want to absolutise official Christianity and paralyse the true spirit of Christianity. We may well ask if the situation is any different We want to understand the silence here, today from then? Any mother faces the challenge of letting go of to sense what it contains, her children . Mary had this experience in her life . In learn the science of its shape. Luke’s gospel, Simeon speaks of a sword of sorrow piercing Mary’s heart . Luke does not place her at the foot of the Cross but quickly brings her into Something claims it can be understood; Pentecost . It is John’s gospel alone that places Mary at the Cross with the Beloved Disciple . The sword some underlying instinct of sorrow in Luke contains a different focus . It is the already has insight pain of separation for the mission of her Son and the consequent rejection that he suffers in it . into the quiet’s holding something, a presence not an absence. john paul’s challenge A number of years ago, Pope John Paul II in speaking to the Marist major superiors put to them the We stand under the skylight’s lens, challenge of building a Marial church . Br . Emili has picked up this challenge and has placed it within his under the moon’s searchlight. letter to the International Marist Youth Meeting to We are this spirit’s understudies, take place in Madrid this year . To go with Mary in haste to a new land must also include a new way rolling, if only for a moment, of being church, ‘together, with enthusiasm, hand in the snowballing peace. in hand with Mary ’. The hope in the letter is the concrete task of going towards a Marial Church, discovering its Marial face and making it obvious It was there, too, through their lives . Bro Emili says: “There are many young people who perceive the Church as when we stood under the stars, authoritarian, clerical, masculine, negative and remote. and listened in those thin slices of time John Paul II invited us as Marists some years ago to work towards building a ‘Marial’ Church, or it may be, a Church when waves pause before falling – which reflected Mary’s face and attitudes, and therefore manifested itself in a communion which is fraternal, participative and close to us. It seems to me a beautiful thing to silence pulsing through the surf. offer ourselves to this challenge: to work together to offer our world and our Church the attractive face of Mary, woman It is sturdy, and mother; it would be a great contribution, with a great undermining what the curve presents, prophetic dimension.” n gifting us our present understanding.

Kieran Fenn is a Marist Brother involved in adult But we remain, as it were, education and lay formation. He lives in Lower Hutt. sightless – unable to describe this still. Hayden Williams 11 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 religion and politics the politics of good health

With a $14 billion annual price tag, health is sure to be a strongly contested election issue come November. Peter Glensor has worked at the grassroots in community health and has also had extensive governance experience at District Health Board level. Michael Fitzsimons catches up with him for a progress report on how our health system is faring.

t is so common to hear of the losing our sought-after health profes- shortcomings of New Zealand’s “…economic growth sionals to other countries, by failing health system that it comes as to compete with overseas remunera- Isomething of a surprise to hear Peter should not be viewed tion rates, by the continually rising Glensor, long-time health worker as the sole measure costs of new technology and expen- and administrator, deliver a different of a country’s success sive pharmaceuticals that are coming verdict . onto the market all the time . A lot “New Zealand has a good place … the fair distribution of us are worried about the current internationally in terms of health of health, well-being threat to Pharmac, a world-renowned outcomes . We have some of the best and environmental and drug-purchasing agency which has maternity figures in the world in social sustainability held our drug costs much more terms of child and maternal mortal- effectively than other countries . If ity and a very good maternity system . are equally important Pharmac’s future comes under threat We have good stats in terms of death goals.” by some kind of free-trade nego- rates and life expectancy — we are – New Zealand Medical tiations, that would be a very serious right up there in the wealthy world ”. issue for us as a country ”. A paper Peter delivered at the Association, 2011 Another area of concern is the Australian Health Summit earlier this “serious inequalities within our year expands on the positive message . work — where price increases, population which can’t be neglected . According to a 2009 survey, 89 .7 legislative changes, personal health If they are, they will come back to percent of New Zealanders report interventions and social marketing bite us . In times of economic pres- themselves to be in good health, a campaigns work together to achieve sure, the inequalities are likely to get rate that tops international rankings . a real health gain ”. worse . We have achieved immunisation On the health workforce front, the Says Peter: “The rich-poor divide rates of 88 percent for children . Our levels of job satisfaction among New and the racial divide are reflected in emergency department processing Zealand physicians rate very highly, all sorts of health conditions, not times have steadily improved, with a fact at odds with the perception just the obvious ones . Ethnicity is 87 percent of patients being seen of dissatisfaction among our health a compounding factor so that even within six hours — a rise of seven specialists . A 2009 Commonwealth when you correct for socio-economic percent between September 2009 Fund survey of primary care physi- status, being Maori, for example, and March 2010 . cian work satisfaction has New means you are more likely to suffer New Zealand’s rate of daily Zealand right at the top, alongside poorer outcomes . Rich or middle smoking of 18 percent in 2007 is Norway . Interestingly, our wealthy class Maori are worse off than rich or the fourth lowest in the OECD, and neighbour Australia comes 10th of middle class Pakeha ”. we have close to the highest rate of the 11 countries surveyed . New Zealand’s health inequalities decline between 1995 and 2007 . So all in all there is a lot to take are also on the mind of the tradi- “This exciting data [on smok- satisfaction in “but these are all tionally conservative New Zealand ing],” says Peter, “is the fruit of matters that can be easily undone,” Medical Association (NZMA) . In a years of intersectoral work, and a warns Peter . strong statement issued in March, classic example of good public health “They can be easily undone by the NZMA calls on the Government

12 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 to “urgently address the inequi- ties in health status experienced by Maori, Pacific Island peoples, refugees, migrants and other vul- nerable groups ”. It says a whole-of- government approach is required . In particular policies addressing education, employment, poverty, housing, taxation and social security should be assessed for their health impact . The NZMA goes on to say “that economic growth should not be viewed as the sole measure of a country’s success and that the fair distribution of health, well-being and environmental and social sustainability are equally important goals ”. With a background in community health, Peter Glensor is well aware of the health disparities facing people on low incomes . He was a Methodist minister for 20 years before working as a community worker in a poor community in the Hutt Valley . “As a community worker, health was a presenting issue from day one . In 1991, having tried other ways first, we began a general practice called the Hutt Union and Community Health Service . In time I became its manager and it quickly expanded – commu- Peter Glensor nity-owned with salaried staff serving a very high-needs community . In the in the Labour Government’s primary community and public health sectors . 90s a group of union health services health strategy and the new Primary “The political spotlight is on hos- around New Zealand, plus Maori Health Organisation structure . Peter pitals and surgery waiting lists, but and community health groups, came was appointed to the board for the the reality is that the health gains, together to form a national network transitional Hutt Valley Distrcit as opposed to correcting things that of community-owned primary health Health Board (DHB) and has been are wrong, happen out in the com- services in the face of a very hostile on the Hutt DHB since then . These munity, in the public and primary Government ”. days he is also an appointed member health fields ”. The network was called Health of the Capital and Coast DHB and A focus on the whole community Care Aotearoa and in 1997 Peter represents Lower Hutt on the Greater needs to be at the heart of our health became its fulltime coordinator . Wellington Regional Council . planning, says Peter, and that’s always “We became very involved in Peter’s appointment to sev- a challenge . health policy development . Bill eral DHBs reflects the current “Are we able to look at the good English, the Minister of Health of Government’s move to achieve greater of the whole nation? That means the day, took a shine to us, giving us regional collaboration between addressing health disparities because some money to expand our model of DHBs . A restructuring of DHBs to having an underclass which is sicker primary health care around different achieve this is likely in the future . and dies earlier has all sorts of nega- places ”. From his governance vantage tive impacts on the whole nation . Elements of the Health Care point, he sees a constant tension We must ensure that the health pro- Aotearoa model — for example, between ensuring that our hospital grammes we have in place are acces- capitation funding, a focus on multi- services are as efficient and produc- sible and appropriate for everyone ”. n disciplinary teams and greater com- tive as possible while ensuring there munity engagement – were picked up is adequate funding to support the

13 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 episcopal ordination we are all disciples Father Michael Hill interviewed Bishop Charles Drennan, the new co-adjutor bishop of Palmerston North, after his ordination in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.

In my childhood the visit of the Gospel . The Church is not a big picture which for the Church is a Bishop to the parish was club . We are disciples . I sometimes nothing less than universal . We can’t accompanied by a rush of wonder if the internal tension which be all things to all people . Delegation rubric. The style of exercising can mark the Church would lessen if is imperative . That’s why the Church, the office of Bishop has we stopped applying political terms contrary to many people’s percep- changed. You have seen to ourselves — like liberal and con- tion, is highly decentralized . Canon many examples of Bishops servative — and instead focused on Law requires very few decisions to be at work during your years in the meaning of discipleship . In this flicked upstairs . Creativity needs to Rome. What’s the core? way we keep our hearts and minds be applied to being who we are not Each generation contributes insight on Jesus while experiencing the com- grappling to be something else . into the understanding of any office prehensiveness — the all-embracing The term pontifex — bridge- and a part of that will include what we nature — of our faith . builder — also indicates the ‘how’ might call in the church purification of fostering unity . It’s a great image or getting back to the basics . High On a practical level what but one which can easily morph pomp always runs the risk of turn- does that fostering of unity into a piecemeal ‘Mr fix-it’ model; ing liturgy into pantomime; giving mean? again a kiwi tendency . The strong expression to a particular aesthetic The Greek word episcopos means over- pragmatist streak in our culture which has become disconnected seer . A bishop has to stand tall and certainly produces results, but does from Jesus of Nazareth . The fact that stand back . This has nothing to do it engender ideals? Christians know Bishops are remembered by what with pedestals . It has much to do with that we can transcend our natural they wore is itself a cause for concern! appraising strengths and weaknesses . limitations and let ourselves be Bishops aren’t liturgical ornaments . In NZ perhaps because of the ‘do it drawn into another plane; the realm The essence of the role of the yourself’ aspect to our culture I think of ideals and grace and insight . What Bishop is serving the unity we find there is a risk that Bishops end up our society urgently needs is voices in Jesus Christ . This means building doing too much just as Parish Priests of wisdom, voices of grounded up the communion of all the indi- can too . Bishops need to think, pray, hope, voices prepared to discern viduals and families and institutions observe, reflect, propose, tilt, encour- and name the causes of wounds or of the diocese in union with the age and sometimes correct or insist . dysfunctions in society rather than universal Church in order to spread That requires a profound sense of the remain satisfied with rearranging the symptoms . In this way we find cohesion both as individuals and as a society . The solutions of political correctness have in the main been a sham . Of course it is not just Bishops who should try to echo the call of wisdom . We need to speak out in unison with school principals and teachers, with health care professionals, with parents, and with like-minded citizens in order that the truths about being human are respected by society and can flourish in our homes and communities .

God’s providence shapes us in different ways. Looking back on your life, do you

14 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 see the trace of God’s hand preparing you for your new mission? That’s a tough question; I wouldn’t want to presume anything! I didn’t grow up in a period of ‘social catholicism’ and the pre- and post-Vatican II comparisons I find a bit tedious . My lifespan has been one in which the Christian voice in NZ society has grown steadily weaker though that is now changing mainly due to our recent migrant communities and the growing importance of inter-religious dialogue on the international stage . So, my generation is concerned about identity – Maori renaissance would be another example . We don’t see being specific about Christianity and Catholicism as being predatory . Bishop Peter Cullinane entrusts the Book of the Gospels to the We are passionate about contributing newly ordained Bishop Drennan. to our society by offering our faith to it . And we are convinced that, as so. Where are the challenges hearts and minds, countering the disciples of Christ who is the way the and the signs of hope? garbage formation with which much truth and the life, this contribution popular TV invades our homes . Every leader grapples with difficul- will be of benefit to all people, will Recently I have been with St Peter’s ties, real or perceived . That’s normal . serve the common good . college students in Palmerton North, In 384 St Augustine shifted from How does that answer your Hato Paora boys in Fielding, and girls Rome to Milan because he found the question? We are products of our from Sacred Heart in New Plymouth . Roman youth too yobbish to teach! time which is always sacred as God’s It’s been a wonderful encounter of Undoubtedly the secular nature of method of revelation occurs in time . engaging, friendly and considerate contemporary NZ society disturbs But the task of reading the signs of young people . On my last working believers of any faith and, we claim, the times is not easy . On a popular day in the Christchurch Diocese I is deflating the soul of all New cultural level generational change led a voluntary benediction with Zealanders . That’s a pervasive chal- occurs about every ten years . That’s a over 100 boys and staff at St Bede’s lenge for every parent, teacher, and major test for evangelization . I believe College, and then heard confessions believer . An insidious and widespread that having a wide cross-section at the request of the boys themselves . example of secular thinking is pitting of friends, having pursued various Later the same day I wrote a letter truth as the enemy of tolerance . It’s a branches of study, having taught and of recommendation for a beautiful natural consequence of placing God travelled, coming from a family with young woman from the Cathedral out of sight and out of mind . To be a strong sense of service and little parish about to enter formation with asked to tolerate something that is interest in materialism, have all been the Nazareth Sisters . These are exam- false or inappropriate or offensive is a great preparation and support for ples of happenings which many have nonsensical intolerance, as Blessed priesthood and now the episcopacy . thought were extinct . Such occasions Antonio Rosmini pointed out . Yet Perhaps I should share with you what and such young people don’t just give NZ is fast becoming a society where a Cluny Sister who was my standard us hope for the future; they remind us everything has to be tolerated except one teacher wrote in a card for my who we all are today . smoking and Chinese multinationals . episcopal ordination: “the flowering Therein lies the great challenge Having said that, there is much we all rejoice in now, I saw as a seed which is at the same time our source which is very good about our culture . in you as a young boy — and so the of joy: for each of us to live the voca- Our young people are so often filled man” . tion that comes from baptism . n with generosity and inquisitiveness . Leadership is complex in any And many of our Catholic schools Father Michael Hill is founding organization today. In the are becoming increasingly proactive editor of Tui Motu. Church perhaps particularly in forming them with Christian

15 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 SHOULD I SPEAK OF LOVE? Mary of Magdala: a Panorama

The writer, after seeing a Wellington art exhibition that explores falling in and out of love, reflects on the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalen, a relationship which she sees as deep, loving and life-giving.

n July 22 each year Mass is celebrated, worldwide, in memory of St . Mary of Magdala . On that day I honour my patron Osaint . It’s a solemnity to me . However, it is a less auspicious day, a memoria, on the official church calendar . Magdalen has always provided me with generous subject matter on which to meditate . I can lose myself in her vision as my own insights become entwined with hers . Yet, historically it seems, for many clergy she is an awkward, uncomfortable and quietly burdensome type . Mary of Magdala was ‘in love’ . In the east wing of the Wellington City Art Gallery, currently, visitors are invited to contemplate “…a desiring but interrogative gaze…” in the col- laborative exhibition Tender is the Night . Here, art explores the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of falling in love . While the east might raise the bar of discomfort in its viewers, the west wing tries to show that courtships and pairings can survive . In-loveness, I sense, is like Dignity, cannot be in lust . Desire, yes; desider- a kinetic, layered and texturized sphere orbiting a are — to long for, to desire, to consider . So desiring luminous hope of ‘physical encounter’ . is like “…an interrogative gaze”, contemplative and The only thing which feeds and sustains in- reasoned . loveness is reciprocity . God understands the physical Mary of Magdala was in love with the son of God . nature of love so much that God becomes physical Jesus did not have to read her heart because her for us . God comes to touch us and to be touched . love could be interpreted directly in the openness God rejects remoteness from experience close up, of her actions and her unabashed abandonment of and from love which God not only created but is . In self . There was no shame in her longing to be always the infinite possibilities of God’s unlimited will it is near him; to need to encounter him physically, pub- wholly possible for God to pre-determine (through licly — wherever . She had, after all, fulfilled God’s God’s son) an encounter of in-loveness while in the first commandment to love God — utterly . world . Jesus loved all, of course, yet we know some were No this is not another ‘Jesus and Magdalen’ favoured . In John’s gospel account, at one point, fictionalized account of a love-affair . It is, however, three disciples were present at the tomb . Two would about desire . Essentially in-loveness and desire are depart: John (clearly favoured) and Peter who would the same thing . What they are not are monikers for be called to lead the new church . One remains: a lust . Dignity is absent from lust so God, as supreme woman . Logic suggests she was also favoured, even

16 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 SHOULD I SPEAK OF LOVE? Mary of Magdala: a Panorama Clarice Stewart

Every word the beloved utters is credible to the one caught up in in-loveness, no matter how incredible it might sound . Love and Truth are inextricably woven . Magdalen was heroic in her love for she showed no fear . Her love was outstanding in her resolute determination to follow her beloved wherever it might lead her . Without doubt, she believed he was the son of God yet in her tenderness she was in love with a man called Jesus . By loving the man, it followed naturally, she was in love with his divinity . Magdalen, truly tender, feels deeply the touch of Jesus . She searches for more . She stays close, as close as she can get to experience the brush of his fingers, his personal love just for her . Jesus is, of course, a personal God and Magdalen is, personally, in love with him . Tender was the night, the night of Mary of Magdala’s lonely Sabbath . Here, poignantly, surface the “…emotional and psychological underpinnings of…physical encounters ”. As in art we have to imagine what it was really like for her, Magdalen, whose scant tale has made bones for many an artist to flesh out . And so having watched her beloved die, slowly, gruesomely, watched the hands that touched her torn apart, now she is physically incarcerated by the confines of Mosaic law . Wracked by grief, robbed of sleep and raw with tears, she is drifting now in pre-ordained (as were the companions who deserted a chasm of separation . All she has to cling to is the her) for something truly great . We know Jesus had luminous hope of a parting caress by anointing the dispossessed Magdalen of some, seemingly, psycho- body of her beloved . logical malaise . At the apex of her healing we can see The fact that Mary of Magdala never comes to how her gaze (now unencumbered) might peer into encounter that final caress is due ultimately and the soul of her healer and how her nascent desire to exquisitely to her beloved’s altered physical body . The follow him could have been a divine call to a unique star she faithfully orbited had now moved into a brand in-loveness . new dimension . She reached out, as she had always In Jesus’ mercy her gratitude was ignited . His done in their history of touch, but touch is reserved physical encounter with Magdalen invites a future of now for doubters . His radiant touch expressly for touch between them . In his generosity he responds to her, his fresh caress, has been transformed into the her need for him in the most tangible way her tender most sublime message ever trusted to a human being soul can comprehend: touch . And being in love is all in the spectrum of time . about gratitude . Every gesture, regardless of how insig- Should I speak of Love? Yes, Mary of Magdala, nificant it might appear to an outsider, is amplified by always speak of love . n the need to express thanks and by an ever-present urge Clarice Stewart is a writer presently living in Wellington, to communicate — even one’s breath to the beloved . having been displaced from Christchurch by earthquakes. As the psalmist cries out, My body pines for you .

17 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 spirituality two pauls, a cobbler and a prayer

Glynn Cardy

The writer reflects on St Paul’s statements on prayer in the Letter to the Romans. He looks at the dynamic nature of the Trinity which intertwines us ever more closely to God.

aul Tillich, the great German- our conscious utterances grow . poor folk who have only one pair of American theologian of the This way of speaking about God shoes . I pick up their shoes late in the 20th century, once reflected is difficult if one understands God’s evening and work on them most of Pon a passage by his namesake, Paul of ‘body’ or ‘person/s’ literally rather the night; at dawn there is still work to Tarsus . Romans 8:26 reads, “Likewise than metaphorically . God is not an be done if they are to have their shoes the Spirit helps us in our weakness; object which we can observe from before they go to work . Now the ques- for we do not know how to pray as afar . Rather we are immersed in tion is: What should I do about my we ought, but the Spirit intercedes for God . We participate in God . In God morning prayer?” us with sighs too deep for words ”. It subject and object are not split and “What have you been doing till expresses, as Tillich says, the experi- neither are we . The descriptors of now?” the Rabbi asked . ence of a man who knew how to pray God as ‘Father’, ‘Son’, or ‘Spirit’ are “Sometimes I rush through the and who, because he knew how to helpful when they point to divinity- prayer quickly and get back to my pray, said that he did not know how moving-in-relatedness and unhelpful work — but then I feel bad about it . to pray . when they become static independent At other times I let the hour of prayer Most Christians are familiar with objects of devotion . go by . Then too I feel a sense of loss two types of spoken prayer: the liturgi- There is something about prayer and every now and then, as I raise my cal kind and the spontaneous kind . The that makes words redundant . Words, hammer from the shoes, I can almost former runs the risk of being reduced created by and used in our conscious hear my heart sigh, “What an unlucky to formulaic incantations containing life, are not the essence of prayer . man am I, that I am not able to make words that either only theologians can Rather prayer’s essence is a leaning, a my morning prayer ””. explain or when they do have little longing, expressed at a deep level . Joy Said the Rabbi, “If I were God I resonance with our lives . The latter Cowley calls prayer ‘a leaning of the would value that sigh more than the runs the risk of turning prayer into an heart’ . Such spirited prayer is part of prayer ”. ordinary conversation with somebody us, yet more than us, part of God, yet The essence of prayer is the act of who is called “God,” but who is actu- part of us . God is known in and yet godness of which and in which we are ally another human being to whom beyond words and beings . intertwined . Godness is an act of love we tell things, often at great length, to St Paul says, “The Spirit intercedes towards all, including ourselves . This whom we give thanks and of whom we for us with sighs too deep for words ”. is the deeper truth of the Trinity: it is ask favours . Paul uses the title ‘the Spirit’ - a fluid, not the connectivity, movement, and How then can we pray? According active, and elusive descriptor – rather love between the three but the connec- to the Pauls it is humanly impos- than the word God . It seems his use of tivity, movement, and love between sible . We speak to ‘somebody’ who is language is a way of saying that God the many, including you and me . It is neither some body nor somebody else within [the Spirit] is praying to God a dynamic model of God . yet is nearer to us than we ourselves beyond [the Father?], without saying And prayer is recognizing that we are . We address ‘somebody’ who there is division in God . God within are inside not outside of that dynamic . can never become an object of our is an intertwining of the conscious For such prayer we can try to use words address because that some/it/she/he and subconscious expressed in our but it is essentially beyond words . It is is always subject, always creating, and vulnerability and receptivity . better to use silence or let out a sigh . n always dynamic . We tell things to that The following is an old Hassidic some-without-a-body who knows, as tale of the prayer of the sigh: the Pauls say, not only what we utter A cobbler came to Rabbi Isaac and Archdeacon Glynn Cardy is the pastor of and are going to utter but also all the said, “Tell me what to do about my St Matthew-in-the-City, Auckland, and unconscious tendencies out of which morning prayer . My customers are a much published spiritual writer

18 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 spirituality jack

This is a eulogy given at a recent funeral. It speaks of the relationship between two people of differing age and the grace that flowed from their honesty and their ability to relate in trust and to speak freely of God.

knew Jack for 13 years only . a mask . I didn’t need to impress and made sure I kept in regular I met him on my first day at him or lie to him . contact with God . Alcoholics Anonymous . We I spoke at my mother’s funeral Jack often said in relation to wereI at a Southern Area Assembly in Cromwell back in 1999 . As I was Heaven that if it is so good up there, at Hanmer Springs on 31 October speaking I looked up through the why do we have to hang around 1997 . I was only one day sober, so crowd and saw Jack looking back here for so long? We laughed and I don’t remember much . But this at me . I knew then that everything agreed that there is more forgive- elderly gentleman in a blazer with was going to be OK . I didn’t even ness needed in this world and more a walking stick came up to me and know that Jack was going to be alcoholics suffering who may need said, “Good to see you again, Paul . there . But he had driven his little our help . Keep coming back ”. I thought, Lada all the way to Cromwell from well, I have never met this old guy I am sure that as Jack approaches Dunedin stopping only twice for before . I must have been here too his creator at the pearly gates there cat-naps along the way . long, as I thought Queen Mary won’t be a judgment interview, Hospital was full of fruitcakes and Jack always put others before there will be a red carpet as he delusional people . himself . He had shown me the arrives home . meaning of unconditional love . My I said to Mike who was walking Jack, I love you . I miss you . I am memories include his gentle but beside me, “How did he know my sad but so, so blessed to have had deep spiritual faith — that noth- name?” Mike informed me that you in my life . ing happens by mistake; that with it was on my name tag and that God all things are possible; that God grant me the serenity I was the fruitcake . He then told we need to thank God that people To accept the things me that Jack had been sober for 39 and all things are exactly the way I cannot change years . I laughed and thought, yep, God means them to be; to pray for The courage to change delusional, how could anyone be others and to see the good in them . the things I can 39 years sober? I was only 31 years Jack often told me he thought God And the wisdom old . was an alcoholic because God did to know the difference. n Not long after that Jack become not like being told what to do . my sponsor . He became my inspi- Then I did not know about ration, the genuine humble and serenity and humility but now I serene person I wanted to be . Jack The anonymity of the eulogist is think of Jack and I understand . We taught me how to pray, how to for- preserved in line with the traditions of spent many hours together at meet- give, how to serve others and most Alcoholics Anonymous and at the request ings, in the car, at assemblies and at of all how to love . I never knew of Jack’s family his home . And when I left Dunedin what love was then, but today I do . four years ago for Hokitika I I had told so many I loved them in missed the regular contact with a blithering state in the early hours Jack . But our relationship didn’t after some big night out . But sober, end, it changed . We spoke every I only ever said it to one man . That Wednesday night, sometimes about was Jack . I really did love him, and a problem, sometimes about the he allowed me to tell him . cricket but always about God . Jack Jack was the only person that I had given me the most incredible could be myself with . I didn’t need gift — he introduced me to God

19 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 the new roman missal a war of words Robert Mickens

This article details the tortuous process by which Rome has moved with measured determination to take over control of the translation of the new English Missal from the 11 English-speaking bishops’ conferences. This is the story of the politics behind the translation. The writer tells of an astonishing final twist in the tale: many more changes were made to texts, after final approval had been already given to them.

ate in April 2010, one sunny invited to the luncheon . a man fiercely opposed to inclusive afternoon, Pope Benedict XVI It would be extraordinary if these language, was appointed Vox Clara’s was presented with a hand- were signs of disfavour, because Icel chairman . English Cardinal Cormac Lsomely bound volume of the new had already been re-shaped so that Murphy-O’Connor became secretary, English translation of the Roman it answered directly to Rome and while US Cardinal Justin Rigali was Missal . The ceremony took place translated the Missal according to named as treasurer . He fulfilled eve- during a luncheon in his honour at principles it laid down . Icel is a mixed ryone’s expectations by ensuring Vox a Renaissance villa in the Vatican commission, established in 1963 by Clara’s funding through the generos- Gardens . It was hosted by mem- the major English-speaking episcopal ity of the Knights of Columbus . bers of Vox Clara (“clear voice”), conferences to produce the official a commission of a dozen senior translations of the Church’s prayer ever pressure applied English-speaking bishops that the since the liturgy was put into the ver- Just before retiring in October Congregation for Divine Worship nacular following the Second Vatican 2002, Cardinal Medina pressurised and the Discipline of the Sacraments Council . It has been the body through the Icel bishops into drastically (CDW) had handpicked back in which the bishops have sought to fulfil overhauling the commission’s 2001 to help it gain greater control their rightful authority — explicitly Washington-based operations . Key over the translation process . recognised by the Council — over personnel changes were made at “This has been a truly collegial liturgical translations . But the Missal a meeting in late July of that year enterprise,” Pope Benedict said of translation saga shows how the CDW in Ottawa, including the forced the nine-year effort to translate the succeeded in taking away the bishops’ retirement of Dr John Page . The Missale Romanum from Latin into conferences’ power . And, ironically, American, a church historian and English . “I want you to know how they did so with the help of English- scholar of John Henry Newman, much I appreciate the great collabo- speaking bishops who were appointed had been the commission’s execu- rative endeavour to which you have to Vox Clara . tive secretary since 1980 and a contributed,” he told the Vox Clara senior staff member for many years bishops, their priest-collaborators icel revamped prior to that . and top officials from the CDW . Cardinal Jorge Medina Estévez, the Chilean who headed the CDW new secretary omission of mention of icel from 1996 to 2002, led the way in The Icel bishops replaced him with Fr Astonishingly, the Pope never men- reshaping Icel . Long dissatisfied with Bruce Harbert, a former Anglican and tioned the group that actually did the its work, in 1999 he formally ordered a Birmingham priest who had studied translations, Icel (the International its episcopal board to re-draft the classics at Oxford and patristics in Commission on English in the commission statutes . As the bishops Rome . Though he had been an Icel Liturgy) . Many saw this as a deliberate dragged their feet to comply, the car- collaborator, he was a vocal critic of slight by those who had drafted the dinal worked to reverse the Vatican’s the commission and a proponent of Pope’s speech, members of Vox Clara old guidelines and principles for more literal translations . Upon his or the CDW . Even by the most benign translations by publishing the 2001 appointment he was given the new interpretation, it was an oversight . instruction, Liturgiam Authenticam title of executive director . Bishop And one that was shamefully magni- (LA) . He also set up Vox Clara, Maurice Taylor of Aberdeen, ill with fied by the fact that Icel’s chairman, which would hold its first meeting cancer, stepped down as chairman of Bishop Arthur Roche of Leeds, was in the spring of 2002 . The future the episcopal board and Bishop Roche in Rome that day, but had not been Cardinal George Pell of Australia, of Leeds was elected to replace him .

20 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 defence of old icel One thing is for sure, the Americans approved the Missal texts in November A week after resigning Bishop Taylor 2009 and that seems to have been the issued a letter defending the old Icel clincher for Vox Clara and the CDW . against “attacks” that had been lev- The Holy See granted the recognitio elled at it by, among others, Cardinal on 25 March 2010 . Medina’s congregation . “The impres- But the story does not end there . sion is given, and indeed is seemingly The translators and officials of the fostered by some, that Icel is a recalci- revamped Icel, mostly under the direc- trant group of people, uncooperative, tion of Mgr Harbert (replaced by Mgr even disobedient,” the bishop wrote . Andrew Wadsworth of Westminster “This is mistaken and untrue ”. He in 2009), were pleased with their also denounced the CDW’s treatment efforts . Some of them indiscreetly of Dr Page, saying he had been “pil- boasted that their texts were superior loried, sometimes by name, often by to those of the old Icel . However, they, title, occasionally by inference” . It was too, would soon feel the same bitter a final defence of the work Icel had sting of rejection . In January 2010, tried to achieve . But it was too late . Vox Clara announced that it had made undisclosed changes to the Icel approval of new icel statutes new Icel to impose oaths of loyalty, text, even though the conferences had The Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze confidentiality and anonymity . already canonically approved it . took over from Medina as CDW new translations prefect in autumn 2002 and would real shock preside over the final approval of Between 2003 and 2008 it guard- But the real shock came in November Icel’s revised statutes . The presidents edly began translating the order of 2010 when a scathing report, written of the 11 episcopal conferences of Mass and the rest of the prayers and anonymously, produced extensive Icel and representatives of the 15 blessings in the Missal . As each suc- evidence that last-minute changes associate conferences met Cardinal cessive draft went before the various had been made to the English Missal Arinze in the Vatican Synod Hall . English-speaking conferences, heated without the knowledge or approval of Astonishingly, they acquiesced to discussions emerged . Nowhere the competent conferences and in vio- the CDW’s claim that the Holy See were these more intense than in the lation of the Vatican’s own translation alone had the right to create mixed US, the largest of the Icel member- rules . This was six months after Pope commissions . This was spelled out conferences . But Chicago’s Cardinal Benedict XVI had received the CDW- in Liturgiam Authenticam but it was George, a Vox Clara member and approved final version of the Missal . also a direct contradiction of the the conference president, made sure Vatican II constitution on the liturgy, Icel’s literalist translations garnered bitter irony Sacrosanctum Concilium. Not a single enough votes for approval . At one So it was a bitter irony that the offi- bishop raised his voice in protest . “At point in the long process, he and cials of the revamped Icel should also least they could have had the decency some other conservative members be fed a poison similar to the one they to change its name,” said Mgr Fred of the conference warned the US had dished out to their predecessors . McManus, one of Icel’s pioneers, bishops to approve the translations They believed their Missal, which before dying in 2005 . or Rome would impose its own . had been given the Vatican’s recogni- Apparently, there was similar friction tio, was a done deal, only to discover answer direct to rome now in other conferences . that Vox Clara and/or the CDW had The 2003 statutes meant that, for all revised it . Some estimate that 10,000 practical purposes, Icel would now approval of order of mass changes were made . n answer directly to Rome and Vox The first item to be approved was the Clara, not to the bishops’ confer- order of the Mass . The CDW gave it Robert Mickens, an American layman, is ences . The restructured body began its its recognitio in June 2008 . By early the Rome correspondent of appointed task of producing a brand 2010 it appears that all of the 11 the London Tablet new translation of the Roman Missal Icel member-conferences had given in great secrecy under the strict con- final approval to the entire English This slightly edited article is reprinted trol of Vox Clara. Whereas the former Missal, although the process has been by generous permission of the London commission prided itself on being so lacking in transparency that the Tablet: www.thetablet.co.uk transparent the Vatican obliged the exact timeline is not completely clear .

21 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 religion and politics your money or your life? Neil Vaney

The author reflects on questions of health care related to euthanasia, looks to the experience of other countries, and asks pertinent questions about the values and politics linked with the forthcoming general election

n 1883 Bishop Moran asked economy, they do not contribute . In ways . They also carry the tradi- Dunedin Catholics to vote for the last six months of their lives they tions, memories and values of the him in parliamentary elections . will run up medical costs the equal past, giving stability and security in IHe lost — clearly many Catholics of the rest of their lives . Secondly, society . did not vote for him . Clerics who many elderly are sick and depressed; Though it is almost impossible tell Catholics just whom they should they endure chronic pain and would to place monetary values on such vote for step out of their competency . gladly pass away if the law allowed roles, welfare agencies can and do them a quick and painless death, one However, some people may now be put sums on the effects of lack of with dignity . tempted to vote on a single issue such such structures, in alimony pay- as abortion or civil marriages since These ideas sound plausible, ments, youth crime, and lack of these seem to be clear-cut issues . This even compassionate . It does not basic literacy and numeracy . These, may overlook the way in which many take much thought to see the fal- too, run into the multimillions . moral questions are interconnected; lacies behind them, however . First, Detailed research by advocates they are like Pacific atolls which are what is elderly today? Many out- for the elderly and disabled espe- simply the visible part of the same standing citizens well into their 70s cially in Holland and Belgium volcanic ridge . We are reminded of and 80s still live vigorous, happy where euthanasia is common, the late Cardinal Bernardin’s vision of and productive lives . Many of them points to the greatest fear of the a seamless garment of life; to protect in the informal economy do volun- elderly: not death itself or even the a value coherently required a vision tary work, caring for grandchildren, pain of it but the thought of dying of seeing how many issues such as educating immigrants and relations alone, or of imposing great trouble abortion, arms control, a living wage, in ways that subsidize the formal and expense on their families . Such are intertwined and interdependent . economy in multimillion dollar fears, though not groundless, are Nevertheless I would like to put not without solutions . Technically, before you one area in which the the answers are simple . Palliative Church may have some wisdom care is now an advanced science . to share about giving one’s vote . It There are few medical disorders the rests on the insight that legislation pain of which cannot be treated opening the gate to euthanasia with a huge measure of success . often flows out of a profoundly Yet few doctors get trained in anti-Christian judgment: that this art . In many residential the value of people is equated homes 30%–70% of inmates with their capacity to be part show signs of depressions . Few of the process of producing and are diagnosed; fewer are treated, consuming goods . though the medication and treatment regimes for this are well why spend money on the known and not difficult . elderly? Advocates of euthanasia tend to rely the heart of the problem heavily on two arguments . The first Underlying such pro-euthanasia views is that the elderly are a burden to the is a very narrow theory of economics,

22 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 that the economic health of a nation enlightened law and moral prec- allow elderly to acquire new is most accurately measured by its edents to build and sustain . Thirty skills? capacity to produce and consume years of permissive attitude and • Could not government give more goods . An assumption common to legal tolerance of euthanasia in public recognition and financial such views is that economics is an Holland have brought a relatively assistance to the superb role that exact predictive science akin to phys- swift change from a situation where hospices play in society? ics or chemistry . This is just not true . ‘mercy killing’ was to be allowed • Could not government encour- simply for the elderly chronically age more trainees in medical pained and depressed to thousands schools to learn the arts of pal- Where national of cases of children, defective, and liative care and assistance for the economic decisions non-consenting adults having their elderly depressed? are justified as value lives taken at the initiative of a rela- • What guarantees can individual tive or care-giver . pro-euthanasia candidates give free, with no moral How ironic it is that numer- that any tolerance for individual context, the price is ous elderly Dutch people are ‘mercy killings’ does not lead always paid by those migrating to Germany to avoid an to the sort of numerous non- unexpected and final visit from the consensual killings that have who are most at risk. doctor . Germany under the Nazi been documented in Holland? regime gave birth to a philosophy I have no wish to emulate of death based on eugenics (which Bishop Moran in directing people Economics has much more in many Dutch resisted with great how to vote (futile anyway!) . But I common with sociology or politi- courage) . Now it is the Dutch who do suggest that if candidates want cal science . It cannot and does not are espousing a death-embracing to canonise economic processes allow for human greed and panic . culture driven by largely economic as inviolable and sacrosanct, you That is why it has never been able considerations . might want to consider whether fully to predict the swings of the you would entrust your life or stock market, to predict the mas- ageing, death and elections the life of your parents into their sive collapse of the late 1920s nor Think about raising these issues hands . n to correct the profound suffering with candidates and parties: it brought about . Nor does it have • Could not government create any response to the massive goug- Neil Vaney is a Marist priest, who new schemes or part subsidize ing and grossly unethical invest- specializes in moral theology. He is the current schemes to train will- ment policies of the huge corporate director of the Catholic Discipleship ing elderly people for volunteer banks that helped bring about the College, Auckland. work, or allow tax breaks to collapses of 2008 and wiped out the savings of millions of hard-working people . A classical defence of such practices is to say these are simply The United Nations has laws of the market that cannot be described this crisis as overridden without the destruction ‘a human tragedy of unimaginable proportions, of the health of a nation . How the worst in human history.’ hollow this is, stands revealed in Currently over 12 million people times of war or national disaster . require emergency assistance.

Such ‘unthinkable’ changes then Can I really make a difference? become routine and are ushered in YES! With your help Caritas is able to work with its partner with phrases such as, for the sake of agencies and bring hope to the national security, or, in such times lives of families like this one. we all must make sacrifices . A pastoralpastoral family family struggling struggling for survival for in survivalthe drought in affected the drought-affected Madera District Kenya Medera - July 2011. District Photo Kenyacredit: Cordaid – July 2011 So please join us - Photo credit: Cordaid because together we can Where national economic deci- Please donate today by: make a difference! sions are justified as value free, with • visiting our website www.caritas.org.nz • phoning 0800 221 022 during office hours no moral context, the price is always to donate by credit card paid by those who are most at risk . • phoning 0900 411 11 for an automatic $20 donation from your phone bill The vision and value of human • or by posting a cheque to Freepost 689 (no stamp reqd) uniqueness has taken centuries of Caritas, PO Box 12193, Thorndon, Wellington 6144

23 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 church renewal a peep into the future Pat Maloney

A priest of the Diocese of Dunedin looks at some facts surrounding the present state of the Catholic Church in New Zealand, and proposes a vision of hope.

t was time to respond to the congratulatory help solve the problem . Clearly all these measures address for achieving 50 years of ordained and others have achieved much . Archbishop John priesthood, along with several other priests Dew had earlier signaled that it was inevitable that celebratingI various ordination anniversaries . I there would have to be merging of schools and addressed my words in a particular way to the parishes . It was all brave, generous talk, but we Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Balvo, who also remembered figures that Archbishop John had graciously attended the function . I drew atten- quoted earlier . Computer projections indicated tion to the large number of grey heads among the that ten years hence there would be only 16 active many priests present at the function and asked priests available for the whole Archdiocese . His Excellency whether he realised that during his watch, he must be able to see that the Church in the question how? New Zealand, as we now know it, was dying . We He put the question of how this would work out are slowly but surely running out of priests . I fur- in ten years time when only one or two priests ther asked him whether or not he had advised the would be available for the South Island portion Holy Father of the situation . I sat down to a rather of the Archdiocese . This is territory stretching stunned silence . It was a little unfair, I suppose, in from Blenheim to Takaka and from Kaikoura that His Excellency had no formal opportunity to to Westport, a huge area . I was brave or foolish reply . In fairness to him, in later correspondence he enough to suggest that the challenge would be little informed me that he did report back to Rome the different from that faced by early pioneer priests situation of the New Zealand Church . in the area who travelled vast distances between these various centres by horseback and any other rome’s viewpoint means of transport available . Today or tomorrow, One thing is clear to me, at least, that Rome does we would use light aircraft and other rapid means not feel inclined to take any steps which point to of transport to get around . Just as importantly alleviating the growing crisis . Some years back we would use modern communication tools such when I was talking to Bishop Colin Campbell of as tele-conferencing . You could well imagine Dunedin, he spoke of his first visit to Rome after Mass being televised every Sunday to these scat- being ordained bishop . When he told Pope John tered centres at which people could receive Holy Paul II of the critical shortage of priests in his Communion . It may not meet the full criteria for diocese, all the Pope could say was, “Pray for voca- full sacramental participation at Mass, but I’m sure tions ”. I’m sure Bishop Colin was much uplifted these would be deeply graced occasions . and encouraged by the advice . A lot of water has More importantly, faith centres or Church flowed down the Tiber since then, but the situation centres would need to be formed all over the place in Dunedin, as elsewhere in New Zealand, has only which would be headed by some local lay person . gotten worse . Formation of such people would be a top prior- ity for the Bishop . It’s not hard to picture vibrant pondering and reflecting faith communities thriving under such challenging I recently attended an assembly of priests for the circumstances . Archdiocese of Wellington, where for two days we pondered and reflected on the ever-deepening reality of mass attendance crisis . There was much talk about cooperation Along with these dramatic figures, there is the real- between pastoral areas, about lay pastoral workers ity that numbers of people attending Mass are also and the importation of priests from overseas to steadily decreasing . There seem to be exceptions in

24 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 places like Auckland city and other urban areas where Mass attendances are supported by large numbers of immigrants from Asia and Polynesia . I believe that is the case too in large urban parishes in Australia . Even so, it’s hard to avoid the “The Word of God is alive conclusion that if present trends continue and the and active” Heb 4:12 Church fails to look at new models of ordained priesthood, the gradual decline of the Church as we Invitation to be nourished now know it in New Zealand will continue . Lots of good things are happening and will continue to by the Word of God at a happen, but the long term result will be the same . Dominican Retreat We could well be reduced to the Church being little more than a lonely witness to the faith, rather September 2011 much like the primitive Church of Jerusalem . But Retreat Team: that is part of the Church’s nature — being a sign, Angela Campion op (Ireland) even though a not very large one . Donagh O’Shea op (Ireland) a vision of the future Judith Anne O’Sullivan op (NZ)* Joan Hardiman op (NZ)† But is that the end? Of course not! The Lord’s Mike Kelly opl (NZ) promise to be with her till the end of the world still *Auckland only †Dunedin only holds good . I believe that what will happen will be the emergence of a Church purified and humbled . Auckland A grain of wheat has first to die before it bears St Francis Retreat Centre, 50 Hillsborough Road, Mt Roskill fruit . It is only then that the Spirit of God will be Sunday 4 September (6pm) to Saturday 10 September (5pm) free to operate properly . God always works best when we are weak, as St . Paul constantly reminds Dunedin us . What emerges will be a Church less centralised Holy Cross Centre, 89 Church Street, Mosgiel in Rome, a Church less focused on power and Sunday 18 September (6pm) to Saturday 24 September (5pm) more on service, a Church with real authority returned to diocesan bishops, a Church in which For further information or to request an application form the baptismal gifts of all, laity and the ordained (which details cost) please contact are recognised . We will see a Church humming [email protected] or (03) 477 7577 with prayer and the active faith of innumerable This retreat is being sponsored by the -New Zealand Dominican Sisters small groups bringing their faith and their love into their communities . Thus renewed and purified, there will be an explosion of missionary zeal and a whole new hunger for contemplative prayer . It will all happen, but something has to die first . Exploring the Presence: good reason for hope More Faith Patches Now is a time for hope, a living strong hope . We by Trish McBride carry on through difficult, challenging times, but ... this sequel to Faith Evolving there is good reason for hope . God is at God’s best honours the presence of the Holy when the situation seems impossible . There have One in All that Is, however we may been plenty of times in the past when the Church name Her/Him... poetry, theology, myth, pilgrimages, articles. has sunk to a very low ebb and been reinvigor- RRP $39.95. ated . God has a way at such times of raising up ‘Passionate, rich and honest ... continuity with the essence of a Francis or a Dominic or a Bernard, charismatic Catholic Christian tradition, while people who single-handedly have turned history exploring far and wide beyond.’ around . Personally, I’m praying for a Pope John XXIV and soon! n Discount for direct orders to [email protected] p&p $5.00. Pat Maloney is a diocesan priest living in active retirement in Motueka.

25 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 scripture “but she said…” a female genealogy (Matthew 15:21-28) Kathleen Rushton

“Each of us has a female family tree: we have a mother, a maternal grandmother and great-grandmothers, we have daughters …” So wrote the Belgian born philosopher, Luce Irigaray, who continues: “Let us try to situate ourselves within that female genealogy so that we can win and hold on to our identity. Let us not forget, moreover, that we already have a history, that certain women, despite all the cultural obstacles, have made their mark upon history and all too often have been forgotten by us…”

Among them are a genealogy of saints: Catherine of Siena, Hildegarde of Bingen, Catherine McAuley; a genealogy of “unknown” women who have gone before me: my nana Katie Histen, Pat Matheson, Sr Mary Germaine Bade; and a genealogy of biblical women: the prophet Anna, the Woman of Samaria, and Justa…

Justa – Who is she? An early tradition calls the first woman given voice in Matthew’s gospel Justa . She “cried out” (Mt 15: 22) . The Greek verb used indicates “crying out in prayer” to gods/God . This is a very different sense from the common translation of “shouting out ”. She prays from the psalms, “Have mercy on me, Lord ”. She calls Jesus by the Jewish title, “Son of David ”. These words would be surprising on the lips of one called “a Canaanite”, for this was the name for Israel’s ancient enemy . Therefore, it is probably an anachronism . Such a people did not exist in the time of Jesus . In this gospel, Justa is a nameless woman, a mother alone with a sick daughter, an outsider from “that region” of the great Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon . She is from “that region,” not the cities themselves . She is probably poor . In Matthew’s gospel narrative, there is tension between the centre, Jerusalem and the outer regions . There is A Female Genealogy also a tension over whether Jesus “…was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (15:24) or I recovered my female genealogy after reading whether he is sent to all nations (Mt 28:19) . an article by Aotearoa New Zealand Josephite As a Gentile, Justa stands in the line of Tamar, theologian, Ann Gilroy . She was responding to a Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba (named only as the demeaning account she had heard given by a tour wife of Uriah), the foreign foremothers in Jesus’ guide about St Radegund, the abbess of the former genealogy . She is one of the foreigners, such as the convent on which Jesus College Cambridge now Magi and the Roman centurion, who recognise stands . Some of the images of my female geneal- Jesus in significant ways . Indeed, Justa’s encounter ogy are on my shelves . I see myself as standing with Jesus is often seen as widening his mission to on their shoulders . They are with me constantly . include all .

26 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 Context The best way to understand a gospel pericope, literally “a cutting,” as we have seen above, is to place it A Meditation within the context of the wider gospel . Great light, too, is thrown on a particular story by placing it in The soft gong sounds. its near context . Jesus’ words, “Woman, great is your Silence, stillness quietly hold faith!” contrast with his words to Peter, “You of little faith” (14:31), and again to the disciples, “You of little This moment only. faith” (16:8) . These same disciples ask Jesus to send Wholely in the moment. Now. this troublesome woman away, as they did with the Only being in the slow breath, crowd of five thousand “plus women and children ”. The words of Jesus about throwing the children’s Surrounded and upheld in the living silence. food to the dogs, and the woman’s reply that “even Present only in the moment, the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s Peace flowing through the stillness, table” (v .27), are placed between accounts of the feeding of the five thousand with loaves of bread Gathered in the quietness, (14:13-21) and the feeding of the four thousand Being in the breathing (15:32-39) . Jesus also warned against the yeast of the Until the gong sounds. Pharisees and Sadducees (16:6) .

But She Said Pen Whitaker Many find this story hard to cope with because it gives a picture of Jesus which is the opposite of what we imagine him to be . He does not answer the woman . He appears even rude and ignores her at first . Some find this persistent woman hard to cope with, too . The robustness of the conversa- Adult Education Trust tion between her and Jesus is shown when the Is delighted to host first Greek word of five consecutive verses is Edwina Gateley translated literally: “But he did not answer her a in Christchurch in March 2012. word ”. (v . 23) . “But he answered…” (v .24) . “But she came …” (v .25) . “But he answered …” (v .26) . ‘Edwina is a woman of faith, vision, conviction and “But she said …” (v .27) . This mother persists in tenacity: a rare combination that is not always moving beyond accepted boundaries – all for the equally palatable to everyone. But those who well-being of her daughter . listen, and think, and assess will find treasure in Justa’s story in Matthew 15:21-28 is heard her words and insights.’ Anthony Gittins CSSp on 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time (14 August) and on the Wednesday of 18th Week of Ordinary Saturday 17th March 2012 Time (3 August) . Such a Wednesday, a number of A day with Edwina Gateley - will be a review of her years ago, was the first time I had attended Mass Faith journey, facing the challenges regarding the in our now shattered Christchurch Cathedral call to Justice and Discipleship. after several years’ absence studying Sacred Scripture . On that occasion and often since, this Monday 19th – Sunday 25th March 2012 woman Justa who is part of my female geneal- Soul Sisters Retreat: Women called to connect, ogy both assures and questions me: Who is “my bond and heal in a broken world. During this daughter?” For whom do I cry out in prayer to retreat, we explore the Feminine Divine, Women God advocating persistently in word and action? in Scripture and the significant role women have to “But she came…” When does this need to be my play in bringing balance and healing to our world. stance? “But she said …” When are these to be (This Retreat will be held in Hanmer.) my words? Would Jesus’ words to me be “you of Details about each event and registration will be little faith” or “great is your faith”? n available on the AET website www.aet.net.nz in August. Kathleen Rushton RSM of Christchurch is currently at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. Inquiries: 03 960 7670 or 03 942 7954

27 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 book review pilgrim pieces

Exploring the Presence: times to come . These three patches are made More Faith Patches of cloth of gold embroidered with loose threads for readers to pick up Trish McBride and explore for themselves . I imagine the earlier pieces in this Published by Patricia McBride, book are there to help build the pic- Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand . ture of Trish’s journey, but some of (mcbride@paradise .net .nz ) these failed to grip me . A few of the reports of events and travels were so Reviewer: Mary Woods summarised that they left me feeling that I didn’t quite get the message . his collection of short pieces The metaphors were probably very of Trish McBride’s writing experience of traumatised victims, powerful tools in self-reflection and over the years is indeed a mark an increase in pastoral wisdom therapy but they fulfil their purpose patchworkT made up of stories, reports and usefulness?” for the writer in the process of writ- of events and activities, poetry, In the other article she seeks ing and don’t translate well for the metaphor and academic essays . It is to validate the feminine images of general reader . She says in her pref- Trish’s reflection on her life and her God . Christian Scriptures as well as ace “As with traditional quilts, some exploration of the nature of God . other traditions contain no shortage patches are older unused fragments, She builds a picture of the Church of feminine images of the Divine, others are fabric collected more of her childhood, and of the breadth but they are usually overwhelmed by recently ”. I think this would have of her spiritual involvement through the metaphor of a male hierarchical been a better book if the patches adulthood . She takes us through God . The underlying impression had been selected more carefully leaving the Church and finding that I got from this article was that the and some had been expanded to give “God is in the other place ”. exclusion of the feminine in God more information to the reader . I found Trish at her best as had left Trish feeling rejected by Despite this, Trish’s book pilgrim . She talks of a pilgrimage the Church that she had been born expresses eloquently the deep hurt being “…a journey with spiritual into, been shaped by and worked experienced by many women who intent, ideally communal, taking for . Many Catholic women resonate cannot relate to the concept of us outside our comfort zones” . Her with this feeling . Some like Trish being made in the image of a pow- Goddess Pilgrimage in Crete was have left their Church, others are erful male God . These voices must such a journey . As she travelled, she still in the pews hoping for better be heard . n explored the relationship between the ancient Cretan understanding of the Goddess and her understand- TRILOGY PILGRIM TOURS ing of the feminine in the Christian God . She was left with questions to MARIAN SHRINES OF be explored and pondered: Is Mary EUROPE Goddess? Dept Aug or Sept 2011– 12 Days The two articles with most depth Visit LISBON-FATIMA- in them were written for the Catholic FOOTSTEPS OF ST PAUL SANTIAGO DE COMPOS- Institute of Theology . One explores 10 Day Escorted Tour Dept:23 Oct TELA-BURGOS-LOURDES forgiveness and examines the effect Visit Athens, Thessalonika, and -SARAGOSSA-MADRID- of the expectation to forgive in more plus Cruise the Greek Islands, PARIS plus many more. including Patmos, Santorini. Call our situations where people are margin- Travel professionals for itinerary. alised, traumatised or are victims of continuing abuse . She concludes this www.nztourism.net.nz NZ Agents For Harvest Tours with the challenging question: “Can moving from simplistic and univer- TRILOGY TRAVEL-TOURS & SHUTTLES sal recommendations to forgive, to (A Division of NZ International Tour Co. Ltd) Phone: 04 902 5476 E: [email protected] a greater understanding of the lived

28 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 film review shabbiness overcome by grace?

Barney’s Version Director: Richard Lewis

Reviewer: Mike Riddell

an obnoxious people still find love and dignity? Is there a form of human Cgrace that can finally overcome a life marked by shabbiness and self-obses- sion? The story of Barney Panofsky, located vividly in Montreal’s Jewish community, explores such themes with both humour and dignity . An adaptation of a novel of the same name by Mordecai Richler, Barney’s Version is a delightful misfit of Totally Unnecessary Productions . Jewish retired cop who dies trium- a film . Paul Giamatti (Sideways) pulls In a classic tragedy, Barney is phantly in a brothel . The love between off a difficult feat in portraying Barney; finally undone by his own faults, and Izzy and his son is a robust and com- a man it’s hard to feel sympathy for, loses that which is most precious to passionate view of fatherhood . yet possessing enough heart that a gor- him — his beloved Miriam . The Barney’s Version should make us give geous woman (Rosamind Pike) would pain brings a final clarity that ena- thanks for Canadian filmmakers . On fall in love with him . bles him to understand what a life paper the movie shouldn’t work, and The film is a thinly veiled reflec- full of betrayal, manipulation and Hollywood would never have touched tion on Richler’s own life, which in selfishness he has led . In this broken it . It’s overpopulated with characters the novel is neatly divided into three honesty, it becomes at last possible to and laden with so many themes that sections to coincide with each of his feel some genuine empathy for him . it’s impossible to slot . marriages . The first is to a bohemian This is a film that revels in beauti- But that of course is the genius and siren who taunts Barney by sleeping fully portrayed idiosyncratic characters, originality of the film . It’s a story that’s with all his friends . Next up is a Jewish and helps us both to realise the limits difficult to come away from without socialite from a good family, neurotic of our humanity and yet rejoice in the feeling more forgiving of your own as hell and living to shop . beauty of it at the same time . Dustin foibles, and recognising the need for Unfortunately for the hapless Hoffman, as Barney’s father Izzy, is being both known and loved . n Barney, it’s at the wedding party fol- a marvellous mix — an outlandish lowing his second marriage that he falls head over heels for Miriam, a guest of the bride . As we see her across the Now over 10,000 items online room through his eyes, she has a simply including the latest release from Pleroma Press dazzling beauty . Barney pursues her relentlessly, and after finally entrapping “A Grandmother Prays...” his second wife into adultery with a for herself, woefully addicted friend of his, is clear for others, to marry Miriam . for her grandchildren We discover that she is not only beautiful on the outside, but a person By Rosemary Atkins $22.50 ea of sweet and forgiving temperament . Barney is rude, prejudiced, jealous and 0508 988 988 unreliable – covering these faults with [email protected] a sharp tongue and a great sense of 38 Higginson Street, Otane Central Hawkes Bay humour . Suffice it to say that his televi- www.christiansupplies.co.nz sion production company is known as

29 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 comment

Jim Elliston Crosscurrents

World gone Gaga? Israel’s Ambassador Afghanistan (accused of hosting What attributes do Mother Teresa Stumbles the leaders of Al Qaeda) he made it and Lady Gaga share, and why are While presenting a medal of easier to defend right wing accusa- they role models for corporate lead- Righteous Among Nations in tions that he was “weakening the ers? A June Economist article, based memory of a priest for his out- US in the eyes of the world” . on two recent books by business standing assistance to Jews in Nazi- Like the Russians before them, academics, outlines three compo- occupied Rome, Israel’s Ambassador a majority of Americans have now nents: they developed clear brands to the Holy See, Mordechai Lewy, realized that US adventurism is identifying them with ‘outsiders’, said: “From the day of the round-up not without huge financial cost, they worked hard, they were brilliant in the Rome ghetto on October 16, so the political tide is turning . communicators . 1943, and the days that followed, Withdrawal from Afghanistan is Teresa cast her lot with those monasteries and orphanages run about to begin . rejected by society, Gaga describes by religious orders opened their There is a basic structural prob- herself as a freak, a lost soul, and doors to Jews and we have reason lem that must be addressed before assures her fans it’s OK to be odd (e .g . to believe that this happened under real lasting progress can be made . reassuring to those of minority sexual the supervision of the highest levels Military action cannot achieve this, orientations — and teenagers) . Both of the Vatican, who were therefore and creates a negative context for are noted for spending long hours informed of these actions; it would humanitarian assistance . Our troops pursuing their widely divergent goals . therefore be a mistake to state that have done very productive work Teresa was noted for her ability to the Catholic Church, the Vatican there, but to me it seems rather like speak to people at all levels of society and the Pope himself opposed efforts refurbishing an office in a condemned in an easily understood manner, while to save the Jews” . building in Christchurch’s red zone . Gaga is one of the first pop stars to The Israeli line has always been Sabotage is a realistic prospect once have built her career through the that it was individual Catholics, they leave . internet and social media . acting independently of the Vatican, Lady Gaga “possesses leadership who gave assistance . A Cardinal Stumbles projection, or charisma, because she The following day Lewy issued The Bishop of Toowoomba was tells three universal stories” . First, the following clarification: “Praising recently deposed, in part it seems, a personal one: who am I? (a misfit the good deeds of Don Piccinini because he was open to the idea of at school); second, a group one: was embedded in a larger historical ordaining women “provided that it who are we? (the marginalized); context . Given the fact that this became Church policy” . (Pope John third, a collective mission: where context is still under the subject of Paul II had decreed that the matter are we going? (to be an equal part ongoing and future research, passing must not be discussed .) of society) . my personal historical judgement on In an interview at the end of June In May the Jesuit magazine it was premature ”. the Patriarch of Lisbon, Cardinal America published several comments Policarpo, said that there is no fun- from Master of Theology students US and Afghanistan damental theological obstacle; it is regarding their take on Lady Gaga . A Barack Obama, well before a matter of Church tradition since typical example: “While the church declaring his intention to run for the time of Jesus . However, he said, claims a tradition of unconditional President, declared in 2002 he it is not the opportune time to raise love and integrated ritual practice, opposed the war in Iraq . However, the matter . But it will be settled “in the explosive fandom of Lady Gaga he went on: “I am not opposed God’s good time” . reveals a big pastoral deficit in the to all wars; I’m opposed to dumb Although he has reached the usual way we practice love and accept- wars ”. Internal politics made it retirement age for bishops, Benedict ance, especially for those continually impossible for him as President XVI recently confirmed Polycarpo marginalized by church and society . to withdraw from Iraq because in office for another two years . He One would hope our efforts to under- of a widespread belief that a is regarded as a moderating influ- stand, celebrate and love would be so pre-emptive strike is a legitimate ence between progressives and con- provocative” . defence — in this case, against servatives . He subsequently issued a It is not only corporate leaders Iraq’s supposed intention to attack clarification: “I am not in favour of who should take note . the US . By switching attention to ordaining women” . n

30 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 comment the price of milk Robert Consedine

n 1 April 1823 my ances- 1846, stated: ‘Even limited interfer- clearly not interested . Governments tor Thomas Sweeney ence by the Government would no longer act on behalf of the people was sentenced to hang disturb the natural balance of supply who elect them . The price of milk Oin Tipperary for being active in a and demand . The natural adjustments symbolizes this indifference . guerrilla group engaged in a strug- which take place under a system of Fonterra Chief Executive Andrew gle against the payments of tithes perfectly free trade are always more Ferrier, echoing Trevelyan, says by poor farmers through striking at than sufficient to counteract any “Government intervention would landlords or their agents . His execu- inconvenience arising from such a be an astonishing back step for New tion was subsequently commuted to system ’. Zealand . Every aspect of our inter- transportation for life . Ireland lost about 2 .8 million national trade policies is around free Ireland is known historically as people over 15 years through starva- markets . It would be a massive step the cradle of colonisation . Absentee tion or emigration . Over one million back to the dark ages ”. He is in no English landlords colonised Ireland, starved to death . danger . The National Government imposed vicious taxes and ruthlessly The very same economic system and Labour opposition are wedded to stole the land from the common which condemned millions of Irish to this inequitable system . people . death by starvation in the 19th cen- These dysfunctional free markets By the 1840s, despite a history of tury was inflicted on New Zealanders have been a disaster for the world . uprisings, Ireland was controlled by by a Labour Government from 1984 . Millions have lost their jobs and life the English colonisers who regulated The price of the food we pro- savings and many starve as benefits every aspect of Irish life . The Irish duce and purchase in New Zealand, are cut while taxpayers bail out banks, had no rights and were about to including milk, cheese, fruit and finance companies and the corporate experience one of the greatest man- vegetables, is set by the world market . world . made humanitarian crimes in history Tens of thousands of New Zealanders Yet all is well with the business – the Irish potato famine . can no longer afford the basic pro- elite and their political friends who While the people starved in the duce grown in this country while it have kept their religious belief in the name of political economy, Ireland is exported to the dinner tables of the ‘free market’ intact . Poverty is not on exported massive amounts of grain, elite around the world . their radar, nor do they take personal pork, bacon, butter, ham, sheep, In the last 20 years the growth of responsibility for the consequences of wheat and oats to England . Ships inequality in New Zealand has been their policies . full of food for export were leaving greater than in any other developed Dorothy Day, founder of the Ireland under armed guard alongside country . A recent OECD report Catholic Worker Movement, said ships full of starving refugees . Free shows that New Zealand is one of the decades ago ‘all our problems come trade was sacrosanct . The British most unequal nations in the OECD from our acceptance of this filthy Government refused to intervene . with an income gap wider than 21 rotten system ’. Charles Trevelyan, Permanent of the 30 developed countries . The We ignore the lessons of history Secretary of the British Treasury in social consequences are horrendous . at our peril . Yet the only thing we The business and political elites are appear to learn from history is that we learn nothing from history . n Robert Consedine Robert@waitangi .co .nz

31 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011 postscript

Learning from snails Robin Kearns

A few years back I was leading our local ‘walking the snail’s eating gave me a distinct feeling of compan- school bus’ one morning . Two boys were holding ionship and shared space . . the snail and I were both up proceedings, leaning into overhanging bushes living in altered landscapes not of our choosing” . and reluctant to walk on . “Come on guys…we need Not long after finishing this book, I found myself to get to school, what’s with the bushes?” I called . in hospital . Nothing serious, but serious enough to “We’re looking at snails” said one . “We never knew be immobilised by discomfort . The funny thing is, I snails could climb trees”, said the other . Today’s kids, thought of snails . And while tied down by tubes and tomorrow’s civil engineers! Lesson: slow down when medical routines it occurred to me: you must be patient there are snails around . to be a patient . To be anything but what you’re called I’ve been stopped in my tracks by snails again to be in life just doesn’t work . Just like the snail . It must recently . Mid-winter is snail heaven at our place . On be what it must be: a slow achiever in a world of speed . damp nights, they’re out socialising on the weath- I’ve since decided I never liked cabbages much erboard walls . During long dark nights they carve anyway, and certainly not served as they are in hospi- a lattice of holes through the cabbage leaves in our tal . So down in the garden, I’m now sharing neat rows vegetable garden . I even found a snail inside the house of cabbages with snails, seeing what patterns they recently . Over dinner I asked . The answer was ‘no’, carve into my attempts at order . I may feel differently no one let it in . A mystery! Perhaps the visit was for by spring . But for now, like Elisabeth Tova Bailey, a reason? snails are teaching me: And then I was at home one morning and heard • Wonder (growing mystical spirals on their backs) . an interview on Nine to Noon with Elisabeth Tova • Mystery (many underfoot teeth, magically extend- Bailey . She was talking about snails . On the day, I ing eyes) . didn’t catch why, but it had something to do with her • Stillness (waiting through sunny days in vigil for being very sick and watching one . So I ordered a copy rain) . of her book and a few snail sightings later, it arrived . • Self-sufficiency (no expensive real estate for them: The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating is an engaging just a back-pack’s worth of protection from the sun) . read that is part memoir of being seriously ill and part • The value of legacy (treading lightly, but leaving a appreciation of a much-maligned creature . Most of shimmering path others can follow) . all it celebrates a relationship between the author and This winter, I shall pray for forgiveness if there’s a snail that arrives into her room, within view of her the crunch of a snail beneath my shoe . And I will sickbed . Of course it’s doubtful that the snail was aware never again be dismissive of someone who moves “at of the author, but to her there was a connection . She a snail’s pace” . n was intrigued by its beauty, felt a sense of wonder at its abilities, and found consolation in the knowledge she Kaaren Mathias is on holiday this month. was not alone . To Bailey, “the tiny, intimate sound of j If you know a friend who might Subscribe to Tui Motu InterIslands enjoy reading — and maybe $28 for five issues (unwaged $24) subscribing to Tui Motu — fill in Name their details below and send it to us at: Address $56 for a one-year subscription 11 issues (unwaged $48) Freepost 97407 Overseas

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32 Tui Motu InterIslands August 2011