
OF MANY THINGS stute observers of this page will in chief of Conversations on Jesuit 106 West 56th Street New York, NY 10019-3803 have noted by now the change Higher Education. Russell Pollitt, S.J., Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596 at the top of the masthead to and Anthony Egan, S.J., have joined Subscriptions: 1-800-627-9533 A www.americamagazine.org your right. America Press, the publisher America’s team as our Johannesburg, facebook.com/americamag of America magazine, has a new name: South Africa, correspondents. Father twitter.com/americamag America Media. Many of you may Pollitt is the director of the Jesuit be wondering what it all means. It’s Institute South Africa and Father Egan PRESIDENT AND EDITOR IN CHIEF Matt Malone, S.J. really quite simple: Our new name teaches at St. Augustine College there. EXECUTIVE EDITORS reflects the reality thatAmerica now America Films was also launched Robert C. Collins, S.J., Maurice Timothy Reidy produces content on multiple platforms last month by Executive Editor Jeremy MANAGING EDITOR Kerry Weber in addition to print, including the Zipple, S.J., a former producer at LITERARY EDITOR Raymond A. Schroth, S.J. web, video and social media. It also National Geographic. Look for original SENIOR EDITOR AND CHIEF CORRESPONDENT conveys better the essence of who we video content that will include editor Kevin Clarke are: a media ministry sponsored by interviews, promo pieces and mini- EDITOR AT LARGE James Martin, S.J. the Society of Jesus, a collaboration of documentary films, all available through EXECUTIVE EDITOR, AMERICA FIlmS Jeremy Zipple, S.J. Jesuits and laypeople, guided by the our website: americamagazine.org. POETRY EDITOR Joseph Hoover, S.J. Catholic faith and the spirituality of St. Lastly, though America was born before ASSOCIATE EDITOR AND VATICAN CORRESPONDENT Ignatius Loyola. radio, we finally have a radio show. You Gerard O’Connell Let me also be clear about what this can hear “America This Week” at 1 p.m. SENIOR EDITOR Edward W. Schmidt, S.J. change does not mean. There are no Eastern Time, only on The Catholic ENGAGEMENT AND COmmUNITY EDITOR plans to stop printing the magazine, Channel, Sirius XM 129. If you are not Elizabeth Tenety ASSOCIATE EDITORS Ashley McKinless, Olga Segura nor are there any plans to print fewer a Sirius subscriber, you can still listen ASSISTANT EDITORS Francis W. Turnbull, S.J., issues. We know who we are, and we to extended excerpts from the shows at Joseph McAuley know where we come from. This weekly our website. ART DIRECTOR Sonja Kodiak Wilder print magazine is the foundation and The media world is rapidly changing COLUMNISTS Helen Alvaré, John J. Conley, S.J., flagship of our work, as it has been since and the recent changes at America Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M., James T. Keane, John W. Martens, Bill McGarvey, Angela Alaimo O’Donnell, 1909. In fact, our print circulation is Media reflect that. But you will still Margot Patterson, Nathan Schneider, Robert David growing and we are putting in place new find here in these pages and on every Sullivan programs and technologies to expand one of our media platforms the spirit of CORRESPONDENTS John Carr (Washington), Antho- ny Egan, S.J. (Johannesburg), Jim McDermott, S.J. our print circulation even more. America that has guided us for more (Los Angeles), Timothy Padgett (Miami), Steven More important, in this uncertain than a century. As Thurston N. Davis, Schwankert (Beijing), David Stewart, S.J. (London), era, you should know that America S.J., editor in chief of this review from Judith Valente (Chicago), Mary Ann Walsh, R.S.M. (U.S. Church) 1955-1968, once wrote: “Within these magazine will continue to be what it has MODERATOR, CATHOLIC BOOK CLUB always been: a smart Catholic take on pages, a reader will find a hundred paths Kevin Spinale, S.J. faith and culture. We will not dilute or that crisscross the complicated world EDITORIAL E-MAIL dumb down our standards of excellence. of contemporary affairs. But through [email protected] At the same time, I invite you to take it all, and written between every line, advantage of all of the additional high- is the conviction that in all its diversity PUblISHER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Edward Spallone. DEPUTY PUblISHER Rosa Del Saz. VICE quality content we now offer, most of and change, the world of man is God’s PRESIDENT/ADVANCEMENT Daniel Pawlus. DEVEL- which is included in your subscription. world and that he who does not labor OpmENT COORDINATOR Kerry Goleski. OPERATIONS America is available on mobile devices, to return it to God redeemed in some STAFF Chris Keller, Glenda Castro. ADVERTISING CONTACT [email protected]; 212-515-0102. and you will also find us on social media small measure by his tears and worry SUBSCRIPTION CONTACT/ADDITIONAL COPIES platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, and dedication has missed the meaning [email protected]; as well as SiriusXM radio and through of man’s job on Earth.” 1-800-627-9533 video and live events. On behalf of the Jesuits and our © 2015 America Press, Inc. You may have noticed a few other lay colleagues, thank you for your changes to that masthead: America is continued support of this media pleased to welcome Edward Schmidt, ministry. With your help, America will S.J., as senior editor. Father Schmidt is continue to lead the conversation about Cover: A FoodCorps volunteer teaches a child about growing food at the South Lawn of the a former editor of Company magazine. faith and culture for years to come. White House in 2014. Photo: Corporation for He also currently serves as editor MATT MALONE, S.J. National and Community Service. Contents www.americamagazine.org VOL. 212 NO. 7, WHOLE NO. 5080 MARCH 2, 2015 ARTICLES 16 A RITE OF PASSAGE Should young people be required to do a year of service? William J. Byron COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 4 Current Comment 5 Editorial Jailing Families 6 Reply All 16 9 Signs of the Times 14 Column The Law and Children Helen Alvaré 19 The Church Visible A Year in Vocations Mary Ann Walsh 21 Associates Roll Call 31 Vatican Dispatch Francis and Congress Gerard O’Connell 32 Faith in Focus The Monk and Me Kaya Oakes 34 Philosopher’s Notebook On Paying Attention John J. Conley, 47 The Word God’s Word for Us John W. Martens 32 BOOKS & CULTURE 38 IDEAS Podcast People BOOKS Mercy In The City; The Many Sides of Peace; Health Care as a Social Good; The Liar’s Wife POEM They Build a Hogan in Coal Canyon, Arizona ON THE WEB Jim McDermott, S.J., interviews 18 of the 20 new cardinals chosen by Pope Francis to lead the church, including Soane Patita, Mafi of Tonga, right. Full digital highlights on page 13 and at americamagazine.org/webfeatures. 38 CURRENT COMMENT screening companies are overselling the precision of their Off Balance in Ukraine results; and doctors lacking genetic expertise may struggle If the recent peace summit in Belarus does not lead to to communicate the limitations of the tests to patients. an effective cease-fire, the Obama administration will be The accuracy of the tests ranges from just 40 percent to 90 under even more pressure to do “something”” to stand up percent, which is why a traditional diagnostic test is strongly to a barely disguised Russian campaign of aggression that recommended to confirm any positive screening result. has violated Ukraine’s sovereignty. The trouble is that any Some women who learn that their child is at high risk for a course of action is deeply perilous. Standing down while chromosomal condition are having abortions without first Russian nationalists seize chunks of eastern Ukraine may having a confirmation test. In at least three cases, the babies only encourage Vladimir Putin’s reckless campaign. But a were later found to have been completely healthy. too-aggressive effort to shore up Ukrainian defenses may The proliferation of prenatal screening for an ever- heighten the confrontation between two nuclear-armed growing list of identifiable genetic abnormalities presents an powers caught in a stare-down on the outskirts of Europe. ethical challenge to health care providers. It is alarming that There will be much talk of Munich and appeasement if as many as 90 percent of parents who receive a diagnosis of the Obama administration seeks to finesse a way around Down syndrome choose to terminate the pregnancy. Parents this dangerous confrontation. But not every attempt to who receive the heart-wrenching news that their child may avoid a potentially catastrophic military engagement live for just a few painful days, or who face the challenge of represents appeasement. Sometimes it is merely the wisest raising a child with special needs, deserve the full support course of action. The Obama administration must not and accompaniment of the entire community not only in allow itself to be goaded into an injudicious decision. It has their choice to bring this fragile life into the world but also in to methodically build the foundation for a strategy against the joys and sorrows that will surely follow. Putin that will last longer than the next U.S. presidential election cycle. It could be that the best course of action is to allow Putin to follow his worst instincts. His regime Rainless in Rio may eventually choke on its costly appetite for separatist Think of Brazil, and lush rainforests, pristine beaches and enclaves, but that will not happen quickly. happy scenes of Carnival likely come to mind. But thanks In the meantime, Ukraine is entitled to defend itself.
Details
-
File Typepdf
-
Upload Time-
-
Content LanguagesEnglish
-
Upload UserAnonymous/Not logged-in
-
File Pages48 Page
-
File Size-