THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY feb. 14, 2011 $3.50 OF MANY THINGS PUBLISHED BY JESUITS OF THE UNITED STATES hree years ago the time came the next few days, as I cut through pack - for a venerable Jesuit professor ing tape and unpacked, I found myself EDITOR IN CHIEF Drew Christiansen, S.J. T at Loyola University, veteran wondering, “Why did I ever bring this?” of decades of scholarship and teaching, and “Where will I ever find that?” I had EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT to move from Chicago to the Jesuit so much, but so much too was not there MANAGING EDITOR infirmary near Detroit. In distance, the anymore. And I was very tired from the Robert C. Collins, S.J. trip is only 300 miles, a couple of hours’ strain of moving, disposing of and leav - EDITORIAL DIRECTOR drive. In the imagination and in the ing behind. Karen Sue Smith heart, the trip is very, very long. I got into a familiar routine in the ONLINE EDITOR To lessen the trauma of the move, morning, drinking coffee and picking Maurice Timothy Reidy the office of the Jesuits’ Chicago up books I was working through in my CULTURE EDITOR Province asked David, a young man on old life. One of them was Rabbi James Martin, S.J. its staff, to help. David worked with Lawrence Kushner’s The Book of LITERARY EDITOR planning and office management and Words , a work on Jewish spirituality, Patricia A. Kossmann was fantastic at it. He was likewise from which I read a short chapter each POETRY EDITOR excellent at helping this older Jesuit day. Kushner reflects on returning James S. Torrens, S.J. uproot himself from things that had home and photographs, on gifts and ASSOCIATE EDITORS grounded him for a professional life - losing things and spending time. His Kevin Clarke time and move on. words hit home. On my fourth day in Kerry Weber “David, do you think I will need New York, after reading about family Raymond A. Schroth, S.J. these books in my new home?” the and images and memory, I grabbed my Edward W. Schmidt , S.J. Jesuit asked with confusion or regret, notepad and wrote simply, “Wow!” ART DIRECTOR hope or fear. “No, father, I think they I knew, of course, that the chipped Stephanie Ratcliffe have enough good books up there.” vase a friend had given me many years ASSISTANT EDITOR “Thanks, David.” ago in Cincinnati was not that friend Francis W. Turnbull, S.J. I could have used David’s help in and that my memories would endure ASSISTANT LITERARY EDITOR October, when I moved from Chicago without it. I knew that the book an Regina Nigro to New York. I was not retiring but author had signed and dated as a gift GUEST EDITOR coming to America . And I too had to was not that friend either. I knew that Francis X. Hezel , S.J. dispose of many things accumulated the champagne glass from a young cou - during my 28 years in Chicago and pack ple’s wedding I celebrated 25 years BUSINESS DEPARTMENT up the rest. I would wear my old clothes before was not their love and their com - PUBLISHER again, of course, but how many sweaters mitment, which has endured and grown Jan Attridge does one really need? I had shelves full stronger while the glass gathered dust CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER of books, and until I get a Kindle I will on a shelf. Lisa Pope actually read and consult many of them. My family are not the gifts or the ADVERTISING A Jesuit does not mov e furniture, of grade school art they have proudly pre - Julia Sosa course; but many smaller things, sou - sented me through the years. (My sis - venirs or gifts, demanded decision, to ters helped me immensely in 106 West 56th Street New York, NY 10019-3803 take or not to take. And then there September when they gave me permis - were photos. I worked for 21 years at sion to dispose of anything they had Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596 another Jesuit magazine, traveled for given me—thanks!) E-mail: [email protected]; stories and brought home hundreds of And I know that love and friendship [email protected] Web site: www.americamagazine.org. pictures to illustrate them. Starting endure when the photos have cracked Customer Service: 1-800-627-9533 slowly, leisurely, I could make good and faded, when the clothes have worn © 2011 America Press, Inc. decisions; by move day, I was tossing thin. “Don’t make idols of images of the things into boxes to sort later. Creator,” Rabbi Kushner reminds us. The boxes left Chicago on Oct. 6, God’s love and human love are greater and I followed two days later. When I than their tokens, their reflections. This Cover: Photo of Kerry A. Robinson arrived on 56th Street, a crew had just love outlasts our every move. by Robert A. Lisak. Photo of William moved them into my new room. Over EDWARD W. SCHMIDT, S.J. F. Baker courtesy of Mr. Baker. CONTENTS www.americamagazine.org Vol. 204 No. 4, Whole No. 4921 february 14, 2011 VOCATIONS 11 CATHOLICS AT WORK Broadcasting Faith William F. Baker Business Plan Kerry A. Robinson 18 JORDAN’S SISTERHOOD Three communities of sisters offer solace and support in troubled times . Kevin Clarke COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 4 Current Comment 11 5 Editorial The Reckoning 6 Signs of the Times 9 Column Faith and Freedom Maryann Cusimano Love 24 Faith in Focus Putting on the Apron Thomas P. Sweetser 28 Poem A Look in the Cave Donald Bell 35 Letters 38 The Word Having No Enemies Barbara E. Reid 18 BOOKS & CULTURE 27 IDEAS Marie Ponsot and the rediscovery of language BOOKS The Witch of Hebron; Nemesis ON THE WEB ON THE WEB Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, right, reflects on ministering to shooting victims in Tucson . Plus, William F. Baker is inter - viewed on our podcast, and Raymond A. Schroth, S.J., reviews the film “The Rite.” All at americamagazine.org. 27 CURRENT COMMENT the growing number of Catholic legislators, Republicans What’s the Rush? and Democrats, that faith is not just a source of personal On May 1, Pope Benedict XVI will beatify Pope John solace, but a rigorous way of life that sometimes demands Paul II during a Mass in Rome that is expected to attract public action. His career also stands as a challenge to those two million people. Perhaps some of these pilgrims were who would shut themselves off from the secular world for among those who filled St. Peter’s Square on the day of fear of being morally compromised. Speaking in 1979, Mr. John Paul’s funeral shouting, “Santo Subito!” If all goes as Shriver hailed the election of Pope John Paul II because he planned, Karol Wojtyla’s beatification will have happened believed the pope would not turn his back on the problems in near-record time. Benedict waived the standard five-year of the world but would engage them. This was the duty of waiting period required before a person’s cause for canon - every Christian, Shriver said: “Christians are needed in ization can begin. And recently the Congregation for the politics, in the law, in medicine, in the marketplace….” Causes of Saints accepted as miraculous the cure of a Maintaining a Christian identity begins by reflecting on French religious sister from Parkinson’s disease, clearing another question favored by Sargent Shriver: Am I living the way for the Polish pope’s beatification. my life as Christ would want me to? But does it make sense to rush John Paul, or anyone, to sainthood? For millions, John Paul already is a saint, and The Arab Revolt perhaps Benedict is responding to the sensus fidelium , the The popular uprising begun in Tunisia has raced across wisdom of the faithful, by moving his former boss to the North Africa and the Arab world, especially Egypt. Egypt’s head of the line. But in addition to his towering accom - President Hosni Mubarak has announced he will not run plishments and personal piety, John Paul’s worldwide pop - for re-election; so has Yemeni President Ali Abdullah ularity could also be a result of his extensive travels and Saleh; Jordan’s King Abdullah II has appointed a new cab - frequent media appearances. Does that make him holier inet; and the Palestinian Authority has announced local than other, less well-known candidates? And is it seemly to elections. The whole region is in upheaval. The movement have Vatican officials who owe their positions to John Paul arose not from militant Islam but from popular discontent examining his cause? In centuries to come, will Catholics over political repression and deteriorating economic condi - wonder if the rush meant that corners were cut? Cardinal tions, and is led by largely secular forces. Angelo Amato, head of the congregation, denies this, say - The future is by no means decided. It is unclear ing the case has undergone “particularly careful scrutiny.” whether the protestors will accept promises to decline re- Many think John Paul should be canonized. (Apparently election in the place of immediate resignations. What the so does God: a miracle is taken as evidence that a person is impact of political Islam will be on the transition to in heaven.) But John Paul will be just as much a saint if the democracy and the formation of new governments is normal procedures are followed. unclear. Except perhaps in Yemen, Americans should not fret yet about any Islamist hegemony sweeping the region.