Jan. 7-14,America 2008 THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY $2.75 The Conversion of Tony Blair Austen Ivereigh Defusing Tensions With Iran Alon Ben-Meir Catholics and the New Gilded Age Daniel J. Morrissey HE LOVE COMMAND, love of Iraqi Christians due to persecution is God and love of neighbor—it world news. Thus, some are reluctant to America does not get more basic than respond positively to A Common Word Published by Jesuits of the United States that. It is the heart of Jesus’ because of ongoing persecution of and Tmessage and, by Jesus’ reading, of the discrimination against Christians. That, Editor in Chief Hebrew Scriptures too: “On these,” of course, is not the strategy of the Drew Christiansen, S.J. Jesus tells the Pharisees, “hang all the Gospel, which commands, “Love your law and the prophets” (Mt 22:40). In enemies, pray for those who persecute Acting Publisher Christianity, especially Western you” (Mt 5:44). James Martin, S.J. Christianity, the unity of love of God Pope Benedict XVI has rightly and love of neighbor is axiomatic. It was insisted on reciprocity or symmetry in Managing Editor surprising, nonetheless, that 138 the matter of religious freedom between Robert C. Collins, S.J. Muslim leaders writing Pope Benedict Islamic countries and the secular (for- XVI and other Christian leaders last merly Christian) West. But reciprocity Business Manager October made the love command a cen- will have to be won country by country, Lisa Pope tral element of their letter A Common region by region, over time. Lack of Editorial Director Word Between Us and You. reciprocity in some places need not pre- On welcoming the letter, Cardinal clude a broader dialogue, especially Karen Sue Smith Jean-Louis Tauran, the president of the when the dialogue is producing an Online Editor Pontifical Council for Interreligious unprecedented affirmation of religious Dialogue, noted how remarkable it was freedom, a profession not previously Maurice Timothy Reidy that the authors of the letter were shared in public by a broad range of Associate Editors aligned with so many currents of Muslim leaders. Rather, when dialogue Islamic thought, most notably Sunni and the struggle for reciprocity go hand Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J. and Shiite. As John Borelli observed in in hand, they can be re-enforcing. George M. Anderson, S.J. The Tablet Again, Dennis M. Linehan, S.J. (10/20/07), the Pope Matt Malone, S.J. letter represent- Benedict has ed an explicit Of Many Things indicated James T. Keane, S.J. effort to build a that the Ten Literary Editor “consensus” among Islamic scholars and Commandments, that is, common religious leaders, a very unusual but human morality, could be the basis for a Patricia A. Kossmann theologically significant development Christian-Muslim exchange. Some, like Poetry Editor for Muslims, who today have no unified the well-known Jesuit Islamist Christian religious leadership. Troll, have argued that this necessarily James S. Torrens, S.J. Equally significant, it seems to me, implies moving deeper to a universal, was the letter’s effort to establish a dia- natural law philosophy. Perhaps, but it Assistant Editor logue in terms Christians can under- seems to me that each side has been Francis W. Turnbull, S.J. stand. Hence the appeal to the double exploring what kind of common ground commandment of love. Islam, with the there might be on the topic of morality: Design and Production exception of Sufism, seldom speaks of Catholics suggesting common morality Stephanie Ratcliffe love. While devotion to God is the cor- in keeping with traditional Muslim nerstone of Islam as a way of life, love practice; the 138 Muslim leaders, the Advertising of neighbor has not usually had the pre- love command in an appeal to the Julia Sosa eminent standing in Muslim thought whole Christian world. that it has in Christian ethics. Still, the In the Middle Ages, it may have 106 West 56th Street prophet says, “None of you have faith been possible to have a dialogue on New York, NY 10019-3803 until you love for your neighbor what morality in natural law terms, but for Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596. you love for yourself.” Most important the Islam of more recent centuries, E-mail: [email protected]; for interreligious relations, the letter speaking largely from the Koran is [email protected]. affirms that “justice and religious free- more usual. Likewise, it is appropriate Web site: www.americamagazine.org. dom are a crucial part of love of neigh- for Muslims speaking to Christians Customer Service: 1-800-627-9533. bor.” across denominational lines to use bibli- © 2008 America Press, Inc. For many, the denial of religious cal (New Testament) language, because, freedom in some parts of the Muslim no matter how universal Catholics world remains a major stumbling block intend appeals to natural law to be, for to deeper Christian-Muslim engage- Orthodox, evangelicals and most ment. In recent months, for example, 45 Protestants as well, natural law is in Cover photo: British Prime Minister Tony staffers of the national and diocesan jus- practice an alien, peculiarly Catholic Blair looks upward during the funeral for tice and peace commission in Pakistan mode of thought. the late Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s have been arrested. The forced exile of Drew Christiansen, S.J. Square. Reuters/Yves Herman. www.americamagazine.org Vol. 198 No. 1, Whole No. 4800 January 7-14, 2008 Articles 10 Iran and the Bomb: Defusing Tensions 10 Alon Ben-Meir A proposal to promote regional stability From Thames to Tiber 17 Austen Ivereigh Tony Blair and the politics of conversion American Catholics 22 in the New Gilded Age Daniel J. Morrissey Can Catholics be a positive force against the gross economic inequities of our time? An Appreciation 4 Gordon Zahn, Prophet of Peace Thomas A. Shannon 24 Editorial Migration, the Larger Picture 5 Signs of the Times 6 Reflection Place 9 Sacred Space for Transformation Margaret Silf Index to Volume 197 20a Faith in Focus 24 Advent 6: At Journey’s End Maurice Timothy Reidy Film 25 25 Byzantium, Texas Richard A. Blake Book Reviews 29 Treacherous Alliance; The Road to Emmaus; Supercapitalism Letters 36 The Word 38 Jesus Goes Public; What John Saw Daniel J. Harrington This week @ Gordon Zahn on the draft, and James T. Keane, S.J., reviews "The Golden Compass." Plus, on our podcast, Maureen O'Connell reflects on the power America Connects of religious street murals. An Appreciation Gordon Zahn, Prophet of Peace BY THOMAS A. SHANNON HEN GORDON ZAHN (1918-2007) zen could not be began his own journey to pacifism, a conscientious he was convinced of two things: first, objector. that had he been educated in the tra- Second, and ditional Catholic schools of his time, perhaps more Whe would never have heard of pacifism; second—and he important, was given rather strong encouragement to think this Gordon discov- way—that he was on the lunatic fringe of the church. But ered the story of he was also convinced that the path of the early church Franz Jägerstätter, was the correct one and that pacifism was the normative the Austrian peasant who refused to serve in Hitler’s army Christian position and that the just war theory was at best in any capacity because he was convinced of the immorali- an attempt to justify what Realpolitik had already decided ty of the war. Franz, married and the father of three was necessary. For many a decade, Gordon followed the daughters, was beheaded for his convictions. Gordon came lonely road of preaching pacifism in the company of others upon this story while doing research on the role of on the edges of mainstream Christianity. But this was a Catholics in Hitler’s Germany, and then sought out Franz’s determined lot, and Gordon, who despised meetings to widow and interviewed many of the townspeople and some the depth of his being, continued to show up whenever clergy. The resulting book, In Solitary Witness, celebrated asked, attended meeting after meeting and was eventually Franz’s life and became a major contribution to the successful in efforts with others to resurrect Pax Christi Catholic peace movement. One of Gordon’s proudest USA, establishing it as a premier American peace organi- moments came when he was at yet another antiwar rally zation. and heard someone say that he was burning his draft card Gordon’s witness to peace was accomplished in the in memory of Franz Jägerstätter. One flame had led to classroom, on the lecture circuit, writing at his desk or another. attending endless meetings for the cause; but develop- But surely the proudest moment would have been the ments gave special luster to his contributions. First, during beatification ceremony of Franz last month in Austria. discussions at the Second Vatican Council on the draft of Unfortunately, Gordon suffered from Alzheimer’s disease Gaudium et Spes, then known as Schema XIII, about war during the past several years and was unable to attend. One and the just war theory, he met Archbishop Thomas of Gordon’s relatives reported that she read the letter of Roberts, S.J., of Bombay and members of the British hier- invitation to him and, though he had been unresponsive, he archy in England and began a correspondence with opened his eyes, sat up and took a deep breath. Perhaps he Archbishop Roberts. Gordon gave a major briefing to was aware of the ultimate fruit that his story bore. members of the British hierarchy in Rome and was instru- Gordon was not a flashy person and was rather modest mental in persuading them to support the insertion of a in his personal way of living, but day in and day out he positive statement on conscientious objection.