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T H E N AT I O N A L C AT H O L I C W E E K LY D E C . 2 3 - 3 0 , 2 013 $3.50
Plus: reactions to
mandela’s death
Of Many Things
Published by Jesuits of the United States
I
n the Nativity, St. Athanasius name of Jesus would pass their lips as 106 West 56th Street
once wrote, “mankind’s body truly they themselves passed into eternity. New York, NY 10019-3803
acquired something great through This was not pious exaggeration, nor is Ph: 212-581-4640; Fax: 212-399-3596
its communion and union with the it charming folklore. It is historical fact. Subscriptions: 1-800-627-9533
www.americamagazine.org
Word. From being mortal it has been The very name of Jesus gave the saints facebook.com/americamag
made immortal; though it was a living and martyrs the strength to live their twitter.com/americamag
body it has become a spiritual one; lives of faith.
though it was made from the earth, it Mary and Joseph could never have Editor in Chief Matt Malone, S.J.
has passed through the gates of heaven.” imagined the church of today, the Executive Editors
We should note here that Athanasius church you and I are blessed to call Robert C. Collins, S.J., Maurice Timothy Reidy
is talking not just about a human body, home: a billion people spread across Managing Editor Kerry Weber
but all human bodies, yours and mine six continents. Today, Christians Literary Editor Raymond A. Schroth, S.J.
included. Athanasius, like so many of throughout the world continue to act Senior Editor & Chief Correspondent
the church fathers, was keen to remind in his name, demanding an end to Kevin Clarke
us that the Son of God took on, not violence and injustice. In the face of Editor at Large James Martin, S.J.
just a human nature, but human nature cancer and AIDS, amid the shadows of Poetry Editor Joseph Hoover, S.J.
itself. In other words, in this one child life in a culture of death, the church of Associate Editors
resides the best of who we are, as well Jesus Christ—we sinners still called by Luke Hansen, S.J., Patrick J. Howell, S.J.
as the hope for who we might become. God—continues to reconcile, to teach, Assistant Editors Francis W. Turnbull, S.J., Olga
In the Nativity, love itself became to heal in the name of Jesus. Segura, Joseph McAuley, Ashley McKinless
incarnate; faith, hope and love beat for Mary and Joseph could not have Art Director Stephanie Ratcliffe
the many in the heart of the one. “And predicted any of this. No one had Columnists John J. Conley, S.J., Daniel P. Horan,
O.F.M., James T. Keane, John W. Martens, Bill
they named him Jesus.” even predicted the events of that first
McGarvey, Angela Alaimo O’Donnell, Margot
The name of Jesus, then, identifies Christmas. Jewish tradition had taught Patterson, Michael Rossmann, S.J.
much more than one particular human that the Messiah would emerge from Correspondents
being in the strict historical sense, much the heavens riding a chariot, not in a John Carr – Washington, D.C.
more than a single child born long ago stable among the hay and dung. The Moderator, Catholic Book Club
Kevin Spinale, S.J.
in a distant land. The name of Jesus tradition had said that God would
Editorial e-mail
signifies the highest aspiration of every make his home in the grand temple
america@americamagazine.org
human person, the deepest desire of the of Jerusalem, not in the womb of a
human heart, the lover for whom we frightened, teenage girl. Yet our God—
long and in whose absence our hearts this God who took the name of Jesus— Operations Staff
Edward Spallone, Rosa Del Saz, Chris Keller, Kerry
are restless. The name of Jesus, given is a God of surprises. Goleski, Steven Keller, Glenda Castro, Judith Felix
by the Father at the very moment of As this year comes to an end, we Advertising contact
Mary’s faithful yes is itself a scandal, might ponder anew in our own hearts, ads@americamagazine.org; 212-515-0102
a stumbling block for the no of the what surprises God has in store for Subscription contact
sinner. In the midst of war, of injustice, us. Can we allow this person named subscriptions@americamagazine.org;
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among the callously indifferent and Jesus—this God for whom love alone is
the doggedly unbelieving, the name of credible—to possess our hearts in the © 2013 America Press, Inc.
Jesus is also a scandal, a name that at year ahead? What untruths or cherished
once reveals the dignity of every human myths live within us, waiting to be
person and the futility of our this- scandalized by him? What hopes lie
worldly scheming. there, in our hearts, waiting to be born,
Jesus’ earthly parents knew he waiting for their incarnations, through
was special. They could never have him, with him and in him?
imagined, however, that in his name Most of all, what does this God of
a worldwide church would be born— surprises hope for us, for our church—
born in Bethlehem, sacrificed on itself a relatively fragile human body, yet
Calvary, made a sacrament on Easter one that still has the audacity to hope in
Cover: The Christmas Nativity is re-created out-
morning. Throughout the centuries, the name of Jesus? side St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, Conn.,
the saints and martyrs prayed that the Matt Malone, S.J. Dec. 15, 2012. CNS photo/Joshua Lott, Reuters.
www.americamagazine.org
Contents
Vol. 209 No. 19, Whole No. 5034 December 23-30, 2013
C h r i s tm a s
13 Have Faith in Joy
Are we supposed to be happy all the time?
James Martin
18 Lose Yourself
Getting past ‘me’ to ‘thee’
Ruth Burrows
21 Saving the Humanities
The liberal arts under fire
Raymond A. Schroth
13 C O L U M NS & D E PA R T M E N T S
4 Current Comment
5 Editorial A Home for Christmas
6 Reply All
8 Signs of the Times
11 Washington Front Capitol Exhortations John Carr
31 Poem From the Rough Ways Sister Mary David
38 The Word Family in Flight; Manifest Divinity
John W. Martens
18
B O O K S & C U LT U R E
26 art The Metropolitan Museum of Art explores the textile trade.
of other things Breaking the Glass Slipper BOOKS Zealot;
Offering Hospitality; A Prayer Journal
ON THE WEB
John W. Martens, offers a guide to studying and praying
with Scripture online. Plus, the editors recommend a
playlist for Advent and Christmas, and Quentin DuPont,
S.J., writes on Twitter and the values of investing.
All at americamagazine.org.
26
CURRENT COMMENT
Father of a Nation in the government’s campaign against gays. The Anglican
Church has been more vocal in its criticism of the legislation,
When Nelson Mandela walked out of his prison cell on Feb. though some divisions remain among local leaders.
11, 1990, America’s editors described it as a “Teilhardian” mo- A unique opportunity exists, therefore, for Catholic leaders
ment. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J., the religious thinker to organize against the proposed law. Christian leaders exert
and paleontologist, “was convinced that the human family is unique influence in Uganda, and the centralized nature of the
evolving toward greater unity—its strands converging, not di- church allows for Catholic leaders to speak with one voice.
verging,” the editors wrote. “And just as racial segregation is a Archbishop Cyprian Lwanga of Kampala spoke against the
brutal form of divergence, so the recent events in South Africa bill in 2009, calling it “unnecessary” and “at odds with the
point toward a society more like what God intends—more core values” of Christianity, but a more sustained and full-
mature, more humane, more unified.” throated criticism of the bill is warranted. The Holy See,
Mr. Mandela’s life was a lesson in convergence. As a prison- which has a good relationship with Uganda, can also play a
er on Robben Island, he struck up a friendship with the guard more active role. Vatican diplomats should make it very clear
in charge of his care. As the first president of a post-apart- that the continued persecution of homosexuals in Uganda is
heid South Africa, he brought whites and blacks together in unconscionable and un-Christian.
government. He reached out to his fellow white citizens who
were unsure of their place in the new society. And he was a
steadfast advocate of the country’s Truth and Reconciliation
Island Fever Pitch
Commission, setting a model for peace-building for genera- Called the Senkaku in Japan, the Diaoyu in China and
tions. He guided his country along the arc of history, a slow an “uninhabitable pile of rocks” by many observers of
journey toward unity and justice. geopolitics, a small chain of disputed islands is at the
Though former President Mandela was largely absent from center of the latest round of brinkmanship over the East
the public square in the last years of his life, his very existence China Sea. On Nov. 23, China unilaterally declared the
was a source of consolation for people in South Africa and international airspace above the islands part of its Air
beyond. Sadly, he leaves behind a world torn by the wounds Defense Identification Zone, demanding that all aircraft
of division. Democracy in South Africa suffers from growing that enter the area notify Chinese authorities of flight plans
pains. The absence of unifying leaders in Egypt and Iraq is or face “defensive emergency measures.” Though China’s
achingly evident. Civil war in Syria raises a nagging question: move is within the bounds of international law, it is seen by
Is the human family really evolving toward greater unity? Yet its neighbors to the East as a provocative bid to strengthen its
Mandela’s name, like those of Mohandas Gandhi and Martin territorial claim to the contested islands.
Luther King Jr., offers hope that with God’s help, we may con- While the United States takes no sides in the territorial
tinue forward on our pilgrim path, waiting for another trans- dispute, it has made clear that if China were to use force, U.S.
formational leader to speed our march. treaty obligations with Japan would require it to defend the
islands, which fall under Tokyo’s administrative control. The
United States signaled its resolve to maintain the status quo
Persecuted in Uganda in the region by flying unarmed B-52 bombers through the
Despite international pressure, the government campaign zone unannounced, and its ally Japan followed suit, sending in
against gays and lesbians in Uganda continues; a law that patrol planes in defiance of the new rules.
would impose the death penalty for certain homosexual acts This situation calls for serious pre-emptive diplomacy—
and levy heavy fines on groups that support gay rights remains not one-upmanship. Strong populist nationalism and deep
on the legislative agenda. Meanwhile, gays living in Uganda historic grievances on both sides increase the risk of military
must live in constant fear of discovery and prosecution. A miscalculations that could drag the United States into an
British man and his Ugandan partner are now facing jail time unwelcome conflict with China. Vice President Biden has
after they were outed in a particularly cruel fashion. rightly called for “confidence-building measures, including
Condemnation from Western governments and media emergency communications channels” to prevent such
outlets have had limited effect. Local leaders in Uganda see escalation. Both the White House and President Xi Jinping
homosexuality as a “scourge” exported from the West and of China have embraced the idea of pursuing a new type of
greet international censure as confirmation of a larger pro-gay “great powers relations.” Navigating these troubled waters will
agenda. Sadly, some Christian pastors have been instrumental be the first major test of this commitment.
4 America December 23-30, 2013
EDITORIAL
A Home for Christmas
W
end your way through the streets of any large people in the United States on
city, teeming with Christmas shoppers, where any given night, with two-thirds
store windows glisten with expensive watches living in shelters and the rest
and handbags, and it is all too easy to avert your eyes from on sidewalks, benches and in
those dehumanized shapes in doorways or sprawled on cars. The number has fallen 9
the steps or stretched out in the pews of open churches. percent since 2007, and housing
Swathed in blankets, they peer out with blank eyes from vouchers to veterans have helped
between scarves and wool hats as they display their lower the number of homeless
cardboard manifestos: House burned down. Wounded Vet. veterans by 24 percent since
Hungry. Pregnant. Jobless. Help. The message is sobering: 2009. This progress is significant,
We are helpless, abandoned and dependent on your seasonal yet much work remains.
generosity. In some places the problem is escalating. The Chicago
In the Spiritual Exercises, the classic spiritual guidebook Coalition for the Homeless reports the homeless rate in
for retreat directors, St. Ignatius Loyola invites the retreatant Chicago rose 10 percent to 116,042 in 2013. Chicago
to contemplate the great mysteries of the Incarnation and Public Schools reports 18,669 are students, 98.3 percent of
the Nativity. The starting point for these exercises, however, whom are children of color and 2,512 are “unaccompanied,”
is not the grandeur of the Trinity, “seated, so to speak, on the living without a parent or guardian. Meanwhile, as new
royal canopied throne,” as Ignatius writes. Instead, he first skyscrapers rise in America’s most expensive city, New
invites the retreatant to see and consider the various persons York, the Coalition for the Homeless there reports that
on the earth, “so diverse in dress and behavior...some in peace one child out of every 100 has no home, and the number of
and others at war, some weeping and others laughing, some homeless families went up 73 percent during the Bloomberg
healthy and others sick, some being born and others dying.” administration. The causes of homelessness vary: domestic
St. Ignatius then describes God’s compassionate violence, untreated mental illness, joblessness, drug and
response to so much blindness, suffering and death in the alcohol addiction, H.I.V./AIDS, foreclosure and eviction.
world. He counsels us to hear what the Trinity says, “Let us Because of local, private, volunteer and public initiatives
work the redemption of the human race,” and to see what over the past 40 years, we now know what must be done to
the Trinity does, “bringing about the most holy Incarnation.” solve the problem of homelessness. In New York State alone,
Ignatius says the Lord was born “in the greatest poverty” and over 200 public, nonsectarian, not-for-profit and religious
art: Father William H. McNichols. Photo: CNS/courtesy of St. Andrei Rublev Icons
experienced “many hardships of hunger, thirst, heat, cold, agencies have worked to develop policies that can effectively
injuries, and insults.” Though appropriately regarded as serve the weak and poor. Congress must maintain funding
royalty by the angels in heaven and the visiting Magi, Jesus for initiatives like these. St. Francis Residence, directed by
was born in a manger, and the family was displaced by the Franciscan friars in New York City, houses nearly 300 men
threat of violence. and women in three locations. Its award-winning methods
Those living on the street and in shelters share in the have been imitated throughout the country. They start by
Holy Family’s experience of transience and insecurity. But recognizing the worth of every human being and provide
how often are they welcomed with reverence and joy? Years support services typical of a good family: a private room,
ago our culture referred to these persons as “down and out” staff doctors, including a psychiatrist, exhaustive records
or “Bowery bums,” distinguished from the “deserving poor” on every guest, a nurse who prepares medications, financial
who had “pulled themselves together” and were thus worthy advice, an art workshop, cultural trips, breakfast and a hot
of concern. The Christmas message, however, reminds us lunch.
that those who are without homes are human beings and The main point, often overlooked, of the feast of the
deserve care. Do we see them that way? Incarnation, is that when God entered the world in the
According to a nationwide survey conducted in person of Jesus, the whole of humanity was transformed.
January 2013 by the Department of Housing and Urban Every person, including that huddled person in the gutter, is
Development, there are approximately 610,000 homeless Jesus inviting—daring—us to love.
December 23-30, 2013 America 5
RE P LY ALL patriarchal understanding of women. many examples to justify my propos-
John Paul II’s theology of the body had al. What the C.I.A. did in Bolivia and
To Heal the Suffering the insight into humans as “body per- Guatemala is justification enough. It
Re “Healing Communities” (Editorial, sons.” Finally, an authentically Christian is wrong for the United States to use
12/2): Bravo. While we still have more (and Catholic and pro-life) feminism agents to help overthrow legally elect-
questions than answers, the science be- will remain incomprehensible as long as ed governments and then help replace
hind the causes of mental illness has the issue of an exclusively male priest- them with dictators.
come a long way in the last 30 years. hood is avoided. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold,
Understanding the chemistry of the Looking ahead to the synod on the by John le Carré (1963), ends with the
brain and its disorders is many orders family, perhaps it is time to recognize protagonist, Alec Leamas, going back
of magnitude more difficult than other that a patriarchal family is a dysfunc- down his escape ladder to join Liz Gold
less complex and more observable parts tional family and a patriarchal church in death. I have always liked to believe
of the body. is a dysfunctional church. A patriarchal that le Carré was trying to pronounce
It is tragic that as a society our at- family and church may have been un- the death knoll for spying. But that was
titudes toward mental illness have not derstandable in the past, but not any- written 50 years ago. Look where we are
made similar strides. The voices that more, now that the patriarchal culture today.
is passing away and restoring the origi- John Toohey
say, “They are lazy,” remind me of the Red Bank, N.J.
reactions of upper-class English to the nal unity of man and woman is becom-
famine in Ireland: the Irish were starv- ing a “sign of the times.”
Luis T. Gutierrez Who Was Kennedy?
ing because they were lazy drunks. Montgomery Village, Md. Re “A President for Peace,” by James W.
The church should not stay on the Douglass (11/18): As one who grew
sidelines here. Jesus did not come to Get Rid of Spying up with two photos on the living room
heal the healthy. The suffering of the “Good Intelligence” (Editorial, 11/18) wall—one of Jack and Jackie Kennedy
mentally ill and those who love them is quoted Pope John XXIII, who said “true and the other of the pope—it was very
too great to continue to ignore. and lasting peace among nations” must sad to read about Kennedy’s patholog-
John O’Neil
Online comment consist in “mutual trust.” But the editors ical personal life, which completely un-
did not take this quotation far enough. dermined the hagiography Mr. Douglass
Patriarchy No More You wrote that there should not be “ex- seems bent on reviving and expanding.
“Feminism at Fifty,” by Professor cessive reliance on espionage” among na- Kennedy was a hawk on Vietnam
Sidney Callahan (12/2), is a very in- tions. What should be called for is the and against the Communists. He shared
sightful and refreshing contribution total elimination of both the Central his family’s long-standing anti-Commu-
to Christian feminism in our beloved Intelligence Agency and the National nism. If he had survived the assassina-
Catholic Church. Security Agency. I don’t suggest this cav- tion, it is likely he would have been more
I wonder why a few things were not alierly. aggressive than Lyndon B. Johnson.
mentioned. Carl Jung started the pro- How can any nation that spies be Mr. Douglass believes in a massive
cess of overcoming Sigmund Freud’s practicing “mutual trust”? There are conspiracy of all the people in the U.S.
BLOG TALK
The following is an excerpt from “Women fourth. Something was going on.... America’s editors confessed their
in the Church,” by Julie Hanlon Rubio, on Every single feature was written by failures in inclusivity and pledged to do
the Catholic Moral Theology blog (11/22). a woman. I can’t describe the feeling better: “It is important for America to
The post is a response to “Women in the of seeing women inhabiting the famil- add more women to its roster of con-
Life of the Church,” the special issue of iar features of a beloved magazine that tributors and to increase our coverage of
America (10/28). usually includes only one or two female issues that affect women in the church.”
voices. I can only say that I will remem- Yes, it is. Not because women will always
As an online subscriber, I opened the ber this moment, as I remember when I want to talk about mothering (though
e-mail containing the table of contents first saw altar girls, when I first received sometimes they will, and that’s a good
without looking at the title. I noticed that Communion from an Episcopal woman thing), but because they will bring con-
the first article was written by a woman, priest, and when I took my first course cerns and perspectives that would be
and so was the second. That’s strange, I from a theologian who was also a moth- missing if their voices were absent.
thought. Then I saw the third and the er (Lisa Sowle Cahill). Julie Hanlon Rubio
6 America December 23-30, 2013
government he doesn’t like—the C.I.A., relate to others face to face instead of good case in point. He discusses the gap
F.B.I. and military generals, but we hav- according to some legally-based poli- between economics and theology, but
en’t had a single, credible whistleblower cies of engagement. Through this mode resolves nothing, largely because of his
in 50 years. The factual evidence remains of spirituality he imagines himself “un- naïve assumption that the foundation
strong that a Cuban Communist sympa- der the gaze of Christ.” of economics is “egoism and greed.” Not
thizer acted alone in this tragedy. This may appear radical to us in the much to reconcile here with a religion
Tim O’Leary 21st century, but it was the same model of love for all mankind, including those
Online comment
of spirituality that endeared St. Thérèse who are rich.
of Lisieux to people around the world a Michael Bunyar
Blame Government Contrecoeur, Quebec, Canada
century ago. The young Carmelite took
In “Too Big to Prosecute?” (11/11), the
her name, Thérèse of the Child Jesus
editors buy whole hog the false narra- The Right Questions
and the Holy Face, partly in devotion to
tive that greed and wrongdoers on Wall Your issue on women was superb, but I
a treasured image of the face of Jesus on
Street caused the financial crisis, and want to compliment especially “Leading
Veronica’s shroud, which energized her
they call for scalps from “the world of by Example,” Kerry Weber’s interview
prayer.
U.S. high finance.” with Carmen Cervantes (10/28). Your
For St. Thérèse, this image drew
There have always been greedy and questions were right on target.
her closer to her Beloved. Now Francis
unscrupulous bankers, just as there have This past February, Ms. Cervantes
teaches us that mindfulness of the gaze
always been priests not as pure as Caesar’s and some of her pastoral staff came to
of Christ helps orient us to engage with
wife. The problem was system-wide. The our Marist parish in Atlanta for a week-
the other souls with whom we interact in
housing and subprime mortgage bub- end workshop. A combined event with
fuller realization of our shared humanity.
bles, and the collapse and consequent fi- Daniel Otero six parishes, there were close to 130
nancial crisis and Great Recession, were Online comment Hispanic young people. In these work-
caused by government gutting and polit- shops with the Instituto Fe y Vida, as
icizing credit standards, plus easy money Ms. Weber wrote, young Latinos are
Mind the Gap?
from the Federal Reserve Bank. being empowered to be leaders in their
There is an annoying increase in recent
From 1996 to 2006, Standard & parishes and schools.
issues of America in the number of
Poor’s national composite home price in- This past summer, I had a close-up
times that the gap between rich and poor
dex increased an unprecedented 129 per- look at this the content and methodolo-
is cited as if it were an intrinsic moral
cent. The mother of all housing bubbles gy at a national institute with Fe y Vida.
evil. Can the authors who condemn this
was blown by government. The Federal The program is producing very good
situation with such passion provide any
Reserve kept its real funds rate at or be- fruit, nationally and internationally, in
justification—religious or otherwise—
low zero from 2001 to 2005. great part thanks to Ms. Cervantes, who
for their position? Are there biblical
The Federal Housing Administration leads by example.
injunctions against income disparity? If
recklessly ratcheted up Fannie Mae’s and I look forward to anything else
fortunes were made honestly and legally,
Freddie Mac’s affordable-housing goals America may publish on Hispanic/
why are they considered immoral?
for more than a decade. The mortgage Latino ministry.
What percentage of large fortunes is Paul Frechette, S.M.
goliaths exceeded them through 2007,
retained for personal use compared with Boston, Mass.
when a jaw-dropping 56 percent of their
what is paid in tax-
mortgages went to borrowers at or below
es, used for creating
median income in a given area.
jobs, funding char-
While America thirsts for pri-
itable works and
vate-sector heads to roll, Washington is
so on? How would
brewing the next crisis.
Eric Grover our unprecedented
Minden, Nev. levels of social aid
programs be possi-
The Gaze of Christ ble without income
In “An Autumn Triptych” (11/11), disparity and sur-
cartoon: bob eckstein
John J. Conley, S.J., points out a key pluses?
element of Pope Francis’ refreshing ap- “Why Mystery
peal: his “spirituality…of human faces.” Matters,” by John
This way of proceeding directs him to Savant (11/4), is a “The studio wants you to do your own stunts.”
December 23-30, 2013 America 7
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Nelson Mandela
The World Remembering
Mandela. Children hold
World Acclaims the Father of a candles in a tribute to
the former South African
Democratic South Africa president in Karachi,
Pakistan, on Dec. 6.
A
s South Africans prepared for the memorial service for Nelson Mandela
on Dec. 10, tributes from around the world poured in, acclaiming a man
who steered South Africa away from certain conflict and through a slow,
sometimes painful process of reconciliation—one that is in many ways ongoing.
Describing the remarkable achievements of a historic leader of the strug-
gle against apartheid and the first president of a democratic South Africa,
Archbishop Stephen Brislin, president of the Southern African Catholic
Bishops’ Conference, said the nation owed a huge debt to Mandela. “If it wasn’t
for Mandela, I don’t know what would have happened to this country, because
we were certainly on the brink of civil war,” he said. “He stood up to people, very
angry” over the repression of apartheid rule, people “who didn’t see the point
of a negotiated settlement...and it must have taken enormous courage.” He said
history would have taken a very different turn if Mandela “had allowed anger and
hatred to rule his life.”
In a condolence message to Mandela’s family, Archbishop Brislin wrote that
Mandela, who died on Dec. 5 at the age of 95, “never compromised on his prin-
ciples and vision for a democratic and just South Africa where all have equal
opportunities, even at the great cost to his own freedom.
“The greatest way we can acknowl-
edge the life of Nelson Mandela is to in flames” in the wake of Mandela’s past.... Today, people all around the
strive for the ideals he cherished— death, saying such talk discredits the world who yearn for democracy look
freedom, equality and democracy— late president’s legacy. “The sun will to Mandela’s nation and its democratic
and to defend these ideals from those rise tomorrow, and the next day and constitution as a hopeful example of
who would corrupt them.” the next,” he said. “It may not appear as what is possible.”
In a telegram to South Africa’s bright as yesterday, but life will carry Anthony Egan, S.J., a member of
President Jacob Zuma, Pope Francis on.” the Jesuit Institute of South Africa, in a
wrote, “Paying tribute to the stead- Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of remembrance published on America’s
fast commitment shown by Nelson Louisville, Ky., president of the U.S. website on Dec. 5, said Mandela had
Mandela in promoting the human Conference of Catholic Bishops, said: been “both revolutionary and reconcil-
dignity of all the nation’s citizens and “In his struggle against apartheid er.” Even as he started the military wing
in forging a new South Africa built on rule, Nelson Mandela was a light for of the African National Congress, he
the firm foundations of nonviolence, peace and equality in his country and writes, Mandela “was willing to negoti-
reconciliation and truth, I pray that for the whole world.... As president ate with the regime.”
the late president’s example will inspire of South Africa, Mandela sought to “And in the 1990s, as he led the
generations of South Africans to put undo the structures that marginalized A.N.C. in the negotiated transition, he
justice and the common good at the and impoverished people—work Pope was nothing if not stubborn and reso-
forefront of their political aspirations.” Francis is now challenging the entire lute.” Father Egan adds, “His commit-
The retired Anglican Archbishop world to imitate.” ment to reconciliation was driven by
Desmond Tutu memorialized his U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry his realistic assessment of the nation’s
fellow Nobel laureate as a man who said in a statement that Mandela “re- special circumstances. The A.N.C. had
showed a deeply divided nation how jected recrimination in favor of rec- not seized power, but had negotiated
to come together. He downplayed ru- onciliation and knew the future de- a transition to democracy.... All South
mors that South Africa would “go up mands [that] we move beyond the Africans had to find a way to coexist.”
8 America December 23-30, 2013
despite the seriousness of her condi- nity of all their patients. This lawsuit
tion and the pain she was suffering. argues that it is legally ‘negligent’ for the
“Because of the Directives,” the suit Catholic bishops to proclaim this core
charges, “M.H.P. did not inform Ms. teaching of our faith. Thus, the suit
Means that, due to her condition, the urges the government to punish that
fetus she was carrying had virtually no proclamation with civil liability, a clear
chance of surviving, and continuing her violation of the First Amendment.”
pregnancy would pose a serious risk to Kary Moss, the executive director of
her health. Nor did M.H.P. tell Ms. the Michigan A.C.L.U. office, said the
Means that the safest treatment option decision to pursue the bishops rath-
was to induce labor and terminate the er than Mercy Health Partners was
pregnancy. M.H.P also did not tell Ms. partly the result of the statute of lim-
Means that it would not terminate her itations (the incident in question took
pregnancy, even if necessary for her place in 2010) and partly because “this
health, because it was prohibited from is not a medical malpractice suit,” but a
doing so by the Directives.” case of negligence. Moss explained the
All Catholic hospitals in the United A.C.L.U.’s reasoning in a phone inter-
States are required to adhere to the view with America and by e-mail.
directives. They guide Catholic health “M.H.P. has stated that it adheres
care facilities in addressing a wide to the directives,” Moss said. “When
range of ethical questions, such as Ms. Means went to M.H.P., she did
abortion, euthanasia, care for the poor, not receive necessary treatment, infor-
medical research, treatment of rape mation about treatment options or in-
victims and other issues. formation about risks to her health if
Religious Freedom In a statement released on Dec. 6, the pregnancy continued. The lawsuit
Archbishop Kurtz said, “The church alleges that the directives are respon-
A.C.L.U. Suit holds that all human life, both before sible for M.H.P. not providing treat-
Targets U.S. and after birth, has inherent dignity,
and that health care providers have the
ment to Ms. Means and not providing
her with information about her health
Bishops corresponding duty to respect the dig- risk and treatment options.”
A
Moss said that the A.C.L.U. did
rchbishop Joseph E. Kurtz,
not object in principle to the use of
president of the U.S.
the directives in Catholic institutions
Conference of Catholic
except when it meant the “subjugation
Bishops, called a lawsuit filed by the
of women’s care” to the directives. She
American Civil Liberties Union “mis-
said, “The A.C.L.U. believes that al-
guided” and “baseless.” The suit, filed
though everyone has the right to their
on Nov. 29, targets the U.S. bishops’
religious beliefs, decisions about med-
“Ethical and Religious Directives,” ar-
ical care should be made by patients
guing that the alleged mistreatment
and their physicians.”
of a patient suffering a miscarriage at
According to Moss, “When a pa-
a Catholic medical center in Michigan
tient in Ms. Means’s condition goes to
was attributable to the directives.
the hospital, decisions about the type
The A.C.L.U.’s client, Tamesha
of care that should be provided and the
Means, had been 18 weeks pregnant
type of information that is necessary
when she sought assistance at Mercy
for a patient, whether at a Catholic or
Health Partners in Muskegon, Mich.,
“Baseless”: Archbishop Kurtz non-Catholic health facility, should be
after her water broke. According to the
responds to A.C.L.U. suit. based on a physician’s medical judg-
suit, the hospital sent her home twice
December 23-30, 2013 America 9
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
ment.” Asked if it was the judgment of
the A.C.L.U. that U.S. health care facil- N E W S B RI E FS
ities should not be allowed to operate
unless they were willing to refer or per- Church leaders in the Central African
form emergency termination of preg- Republic are hoping the arrival of U.N.
nancies, Ms. Moss replied, “Health care troops will end bloodshed in Bangui,
facilities, whether secular or religious, where at least 16 people were killed
should be held to the same standard— on Dec. 5 after the city was attacked
doing what is best for the patient.” by supporters of former President
She said, “A patient should not be François Bozizé. • At a hearing on cap-
prevented from obtaining medically itol hill on Dec. 5, Rev. Larry Snyder, Running for cover in Bangui
accurate information and medically president of Catholic Charities USA,
necessary treatment, including a medi- urged Congress to extend jobless benefits—due to expire just af-
cally necessary pregnancy termination, ter Christmas—noting that C.C.U.S.A. will continue to help out,
at a hospital simply because of the hos- but cannot come close to meeting all the needs of struggling U.S.
pital’s religious affiliation.” families. • Flights were cancelled and schools were closed on Dec.
Archbishop Kurtz said, “A robust 6 in Shanghai as record levels of air pollution shrouded the city in
Catholic presence in health care helps smog. • European officials met Ukrainian opposition leaders in the
build a society where medical provid- capital, Kiev, on Dec. 5 in talks seen as a snub to President Viktor
ers show a fierce devotion to the life Yanukovich, who triggered mass street demonstrations by refusing
and health of each patient, including to sign a key European Union trade deal and seeking closer ties with
those most marginalized and in need. neighboring Russia. • Pope Francis has requested prayers for 12
It witnesses against a utilitarian calcu- nuns and three young women taken away from their convent north
lus about the relative value of different of the Syrian capital of Damascus by Islamist rebels on Dec. 2.
human lives. And it provides a haven
for pregnant women and their unborn
children regardless of their financial Protestants (89 percent), Catholics of Cardinals, announced the decision
resources.” (78 percent), religiously unaffiliated at a Vatican briefing for reporters
Americans (77 percent), white main- on Dec. 5. The cardinal said the new
line Protestants (69 percent) and commission would “study the present
Nationwide Protest white evangelical Protestants (61 per- programs in place for the protection
For Better Wages cent). Support for a minimum wage of children” and “come up with sug-
Workers around the country stepped hike also crosses partisan lines, though gestions for new initiatives” by the
away from their jobs at fast-food Americans who identify with the Tea Vatican, in collaboration with nation-
restaurants and other low-wage sites Party movement stand out for their al bishops’ conferences and religious
on Dec. 4 in protests demanding im- significant opposition to the measure. orders around the world. Cardinal
proved wages. Workers and supporters O’Malley said the Vatican’s focus so
say their wages are too low to support far had been on legal procedures and
New Vatican that the new body would represent a
their families and that many as a result
are forced to rely on government assis- Commission more pastoral approach. The cardinal
tance. Rep. George Miller of California on Sexual Abuse said the commission would study a
and Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, both Pope Francis accepted a proposal to number of areas, including programs
Democrats, have introduced legisla- set up a special commission on the to educate pastoral workers in signs of
tion to raise the minimum wage na- sexual abuse of children that will ad- abuse, psychological testing and other
tionally to $10.10. According to the vise him on ways to prevent abuse ways of screening candidates for the
Public Religion Research Institute, a and provide pastoral care for victims priesthood and the church’s “coopera-
solid majority of Americans from all and their families. Cardinal Sean P. tion with the civil authorities, the re-
major religious groups favor raising O’Malley, O.F.M.Cap., of Boston, a porting of crimes.”
the minimum wage, including black member of the pope’s advisory Council From CNS and other sources.
10 America December 23-30, 2013W ASHIN G TON F RONT
Capitol Exhortations
I
n a “Washington read,” people scan Democrats are working to protect sive” to try to resolve problems by elimi-
the index of a book and then read the safety net. House Republicans nating a human life [No. 214].
only the pages involving them- are seeking major cuts in food stamps No “obsession,” but no change in
selves. Here is a Washington read of over reductions in agricultural sub- teaching because this involves the inter-
some of the political challenges in sidies, practicing priority for the rich nal consistency of our message about the
Pope Francis’ exhortation “The Joy of and well-connected. Until the pope’s value of the human person [No. 214].
the Gospel.” (The pope’s words are ital- challenge, Washington had been silent Francis insists Catholic commitment to
icized.) about pervasive poverty and its struc- human life begins with unborn life and
tural causes, with apparent acceptance includes protection of the very young
Politics. I ask God to give us more pol- of high joblessness, stagnant wages and and very old, migrants and the poor
iticians capable of sincere and effective destructive pressures on families. and victims of war and trafficking. We
dialogue.... Politics...remains a lofty vo- can call this the Gospel
cation... as it seeks the common good. I
beg the Lord to grant us more politicians
Health Care. Pope Francis
calls for access to health care
There is of life or the consistent
life ethic or just faithful
who are genuinely disturbed by the state [Nos. 192, 205]. He warns not much Catholic teaching.
of society...the lives of the poor! It is vital
that government leaders...working to en-
against privatizing religion,
reducing it to the quiet ob-
‘sincere and Immigration. Francis
sure that all citizens have dignified work, scurity of the individual’s con- effective calls all countries to a
education and health care [No. 205]. science or...the enclosed pre- generous openness which,
There is not much “sincere and ef- cincts of churches [No. 255]. dialogue’ rather than fearing the
fective dialogue” or seeking the “com- Health care reform is in loss of local identity will
mon good” in Washington. This “lofty being undermined by web- overcome paralyzing mis-
vocation” is undermined by public dis- site failures, waivers for em- Washington. trust, integrate those who
appointment and anger. Washington is ployer mandates, refusal by are different [No. 210].
paralyzed by partisanship and ideolo- states to expand Medicaid The bishops’ pleas for
gy, moved more by contributions of the and overreaching by the Department House action on immigration have been
rich than “the lives of the poor.” of Health and Human Services man- ignored. So far, the Republican Party
date into religious ministries. For refuses to bring legislation to the floor
Economic Policy. Pope Francis de- Republicans, “repeal and replace” has because it could lead to bipartisan agree-
plores an economy of exclusion and in- yielded to “repeal and ignore,” combin- ment on a constructive way forward.
equality [53], trickle-down theories [54] ing the illusion of killing Obamacare Pope Francis acknowledges it is
and corruption [60]. The need to resolve with evasion on how to cover those irksome when the question of ethics is
the structural causes of poverty cannot be without care. Administration ineptness raised...global solidarity...the distribution
delayed [188, 202]. We can no longer and Republican indifference under- of goods...protecting labor and defending
trust in the...invisible hand of the mar- mine the moral imperative of health the dignity of the powerless...a God who
ket. Growth in justice requires more than care for all. demands a commitment to justice. At
economic growth.... It requires decisions, other times these issues are exploited by
programs...geared to a better distribution Human Life and Dignity. The dignity a rhetoric which cheapens them. Casual
of income, the creation of sources of em- of each human person and the pursuit indifference in the face of such questions
ployment and an integral promotion of of the common good...ought to shape all empties our lives and our words of all
the poor which goes beyond a simple wel- economic policies [No. 203]. Francis de- meaning [No. 203].
fare mentality [204]. fends unborn children, the most defense-
less and innocent among us and links Turning away from these questions
John Carr is director of the Initiative on
Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at this to the defense of each and every other empties politics of moral purpose as
Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. human right [No. 213]. It is not “progres- well. John Carr
December 23-30, 2013 America 1112 America December 23-30, 2013
The ultimate
response to
the good news
Photo: shutterstock/artfamily
Have Faith in Joy
By James Martin
W
henever I speak to groups on the spirituality of joy, I am usually asked
some excellent questions afterward. These questions always prompt me
to think more deeply about the topic, so I thought I might share the most
common query with you: Does Christian joy, which flows from believing
in the good news, mean that I am supposed to be happy all the time?
Short answer: No.
This is a concept particularly important for an understanding of Christian joy. First, let
me distinguish joy from happiness. Unlike happiness, joy is not simply a fleeting feeling or
an evanescent emotion, it is a permanent result of one’s connection to God. While the more
secular definition of joy may be simply an intense form of happiness, religious joy is always
about a relationship. Joy has an object and that object is God. The ultimate response to the
James Martin, S.J., is editor at large of America. This essay is adapted from his book Between Heaven and
Mirth: Why Joy, Humor and Laughter are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life (HarperOne).
December 23-30, 2013 America 13good news is joy, one that is lasting and can endure even in the idea of focusing on death instead of the resurrection.)
the midst of difficulties. But even the saints, those avatars of belief, grew sad from
But this does not mean that the Christian is always happy. time to time. Like Jesus, they were occasionally sad because
Sadness is a natural response to pain, suffering and tragedy they were human.
in life. It is human, natural and even, in a way, desirable: sad- Nor do I believe in what is known as the “Prosperity
ness in response to a tragic event shows that you are emo- Gospel,” which tells people that if they believe in Jesus
tionally alive. If you were Christ, their lives will be
not sad from time to time, one of constant success.
you would be something If you were not sad This is demonstrably
less than human. William false. The Twelve Apostles
A. Barry, a Jesuit priest from time to time, believed in Christ, to take
and clinical psychologist,
echoes this. “If you’re not
you would be one obvious example, and
many of them met with
saddened by certain things, something less than human. difficult, painful, even trag-
you’re not normal,” he said. ic ends. Does anyone think
“For example, when a loved that St. Peter, who was
one dies or in response to natural disasters. Sadness is part crucified, had insufficient faith? The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
of life.” King Jr., one of the great religious figures of our time, suf-
fered greatly, was jailed and was assassinated. Did he not
Jesus Began to Weep have sufficient faith? Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, toward the
Jesus was surely a joyful person who laughed. How do we end of her life, was often in terrible physical pain. She even
know this? For one thing, his parables and sayings are clever suffered from a great interior darkness, a “dark night of the
and often amusing. Indeed, Scripture scholars tell us that we soul.” Was she unfaithful? Suffering—interior and exteri-
may be missing much of Jesus’ sense of humor in the New or—is the lot of all people, including believers, even devout
Testament, since we no longer understand the context. And believers and including those who strive to lead joyful lives.
we know that as a fully human person, Jesus experienced the While the Prosperity Gospel has a number of important
full range of human emotions, so Jesus must have laughed. highlights—its focus on joy is a needed corrective in many
But we do not have to do so much surmising when it Christian circles; its emphasis on a rock-ribbed faith in God
comes to the question of whether he was sad. The New is essential; its encouragement to believe in a God who de-
Testament tells us outright—without having to read be- sires your ultimate joy is an antidote to so many terrifying
tween the lines—that Jesus broke down after the death of images of God. But its denial of suffering means that it
one of his friends. When Lazarus, the brother of his friends does not fully embrace the human condition. This may be
Mary and Martha, died after a brief illness, Jesus traveled one reason why some of its adherents shy away from Good
to the tomb and, we are told, “began to weep” ( Jn 11:1–45). Friday services.
Jesus’ weeping is seen as proof of his compassion, of his hu- Nor do I believe that people who encounter suffering or
manity. “See how he loved him!” said those in the crowd. illnesses have somehow failed to “think positively.” The so-
Later, the New Testament writers use some of the stron- cial critic Barbara Ehrenreich takes aim at that idea in her
gest words imaginable to describe his anguish in the Garden piquant book Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of
of Gethsemane. “He began to be greatly distressed [ektham- Positive Thinking Has Undermined America. While it is often
beisthai] and troubled [ademonein],” writes Mark (14:33). helpful to look on the bright side of life and salutary to strive
Raymond E. Brown, S.S., in his magisterial book The Death to be cheerful, the belief that the sick have failed to “think
of the Messiah, translates that first word as “greatly dis- positively” is monstrous. Such a belief finds its ultimate end
traught.” The Gospel of Luke, speaking of the garden expe- in the notion that cancer patients, to take but one example,
rience, uses the word agonia and says that Jesus’ tears fell on are somehow “responsible” for their illness because of their
the ground “as if drops of blood”—that is, his tears flowed as faulty thinking patterns. That approach can compound the
copiously as if it were a flow of blood (22:44). misery of the sick. Ehrenreich, a cancer survivor herself,
If Jesus was sad, surely we can be sad. writes, “Clearly, the failure to think positively can weigh on
Also, the notion that you must be cheerful at all times in a cancer patient like a second disease.” Illness is not a moral
order to demonstrate belief in God is ridiculous. But it is fault or a failure of will. Illness is simply a reflection of our
common. “Get out of the tomb!” one otherwise well-mean- humanity.
ing woman told me when I told her that I was sad over my On the other hand, a culture of carping and general com-
father’s death. “Aren’t you a believer?” (She was referring to plaining predominates in some quarters. Everyone knows
14 America December 23-30, 2013someone who seems to be a champion complainer, always
lamenting some new fate that has just befallen him, com-
plaining endlessly about his latest malady, reminding you
about the next terrible turn of events that he is sure will hap-
pen and in general worrying everyone around him. Typically
these people are self-centered. And typically they are un-
pleasant to be around. I used to know someone who was
a full-time hypochondriac (something I am prone to). You
knew better than to ask, “How are you?” lest you find out, in
numbing detail, his latest scourge.
One of my friends describes it as searching for the drop
of red paint in a can of white paint. It is a powerful image:
the red represents your one problem. You have an entire can
of white paint—let’s say, a job, a roof over your head, a lov-
ing family, and you choose instead to concentrate on the one
tiny red drop—the one thing wrong in your life. Suddenly
the whole can turns red; that is all you can see.
That is where choice comes into play. Sometimes, when
presented with the mixed bag of life, we can choose to focus
on what makes us happy, on what more readily connects us
to joy in our life.
The form of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral
therapy is also helpful here. This school of psychology starts
from the assumption that since our thoughts shape our ex-
perience of the world, unhealthy and inaccurate thinking
can lead to an incorrect evaluation of one’s life and therefore
to unhappiness.
For example, if you are the type of person who thinks you
are “always” facing some sort of misfortune, when in reality
your life is a mixed bag of good and bad, you might end up
miserable—not because of your situation, but because of
the way you think about it. Once again, I am not speaking
here of a person in the midst of a great tragedy or experienc-
ing real pain. Nor am I denying the occasional need for psy-
chotherapy or counseling to deal with serious psychological
problems like depression. Rather, I am speaking about the
person who chooses to focus only on the negative side of life
despite the preponderance of evidence for the positive.
What are the signs that one is doing this? “Global” words
are one tip-off. “I never get what I want!” “I’m always sick!”
“Everyone hates me!” “I’m the only one who has it this bad!”
“No one ever calls me!” “My boss always picks on me!” Those
are tip-offs that you are probably not thinking as clearly as
you should.
For some, it can be as simple as deciding, hard as it may
be, to focus more frequently on the positive aspects of life.
For others, visiting a counselor or therapist will enable them
to see things more clearly. But, once again, this does not
mean that tragedy will never happen or that you will never
be sad. It simply means taking a more realistic look at one’s
blessings in life.
A few years ago, for example, I was lamenting to my spir-
December 23-30, 2013 America 15itual director how difficult my life was. So many struggles! of illusory religion is: “Fear not; trust in God and He will see
So much work to do! So many physical difficulties! And that none of the things you fear will happen to you.”
on and on. I told him I had expressed all of this to God in Real religion, said Macmurray, has a different maxim:
prayer, and it just made me sad. “Fear not; the things that you are afraid of are quite likely to
“Are you being honest with God?” he asked. happen to you, but they are nothing to be afraid of.”
“Of course I am,” I said. “I’m sharing all of my difficulties Macmurray’s sage observation illustrates the contrast be-
with God.” tween deep-down joy and evanescent happiness.
“Ah,” he said. “But honesty means being truly honest with Joy can even creep into our lives and catch us unaware,
God about reality. Are you looking at the totality of your in the midst of dark times. Kathleen Norris, author of The
life? Both the good and the bad? Are you honestly present- Cloister Walk and Acedia & Me, told me that while visiting
ing your whole life to God or focusing exclusively on the her sister in a hospital, joy crept in. “I was anxiously watch-
problems?” That helped me to see how negative I was being, ing an oxygen monitor in my sister’s hospital room, when a
in my prayer and in my life. janitor came in with a mop. In a low voice, barely perceptible,
she was singing a song I recognized, a love
Real and False Religion On the Web song from a Broadway musical. I com-
The believer must navigate between grin- John W. Martens writes on mented on it, she began to sing louder, in
praying with new media.
ning, idiotic, false happiness and carping, americamagazine.org/abs
a voice more enthusiastic and polished.
caterwauling, complaining mopyness. But small matter. By the time she left the
(Notice again that I am also not speaking room, my sister and I had been treated to
of clinical depression here, which is more of a psychological three songs and a significant portion of her life story. Joy is
issue.) Overall, the believer will be happy and sad at differ- powerful medicine.”
ent points of his life; but joy is possible in the midst of trag- Norris concluded, “I am convinced that joy is a fruit, be-
edy, since joy depends on one’s faith and confidence in God. cause it tastes so sweet.” (What a wonderful way of under-
To that end, one of my favorite quotations about religion standing one of St. Paul’s “fruits of the Spirit.”)
comes from the Scottish philosopher John Macmurray, who Likewise, a person in a difficult situation can still find hu-
contrasted “illusory” religion with “real religion.” The maxim mor in his or her life and still laugh. Moreover, he can choose
to be cheerful around others, not in a masochistic way but
rather as a way of not unduly burdening everyone with his
latest complaint. This is not to say that one should never talk
about one’s struggles or burdens with anyone. As St. Paul
would say, “By no means!” It is important during times of
struggle to speak to a close friend, family member, a priest or
minister, or a therapist when things are very difficult. And
it is important to share those struggles with God in prayer.
What I am arguing against is the kind of round-the-clock
complaining that many people—including me at times—
sometimes engage in.
Lately, I have been trying to be more silent about some
of my struggles, that is, not to share too many personal
burdens with people whose lives are already difficult. Once
again, this is not to say that I do not share my struggles with
my friends, my spiritual director or with God in prayer.
Rather, it is a gift to give people your cheerfulness even in
the midst of pain. This may be something of what Mother
Teresa meant when she said, “Every time you smile at some-
one, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful
thing.” The ability to do that comes from a deep-down sense
of joy even in the midst of pain.
So does the Christian have to be happy all the time? No.
But is the Christian invited to experience lasting joy, which
can stand unshaken in the midst of troubles? Just ask the
disciples on Easter Sunday morning. A
16 America December 23-30, 2013You can also read
