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JUNE 2021 THE JESUIT REVIEW OF FAITH AND CULTURE
The Crisis in
Catholic
Theology
HOW IT DEVELOPED,
HOW IT CAN BE ADDRESSED
Grant Kaplan and respondents
The Conversation Starts on Page 26
PLUS:
Robert W. McElroy: Eve Tushnet: Prince Albert of Monaco:
Do Not Weaponize the Catholics and Conversion Together We Can Save
Eucharist Therapy the Earth
p42 p30 p46
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The Conversation
The British government announced years we have hosted a wide range of down there near lawyers in terms of
in May a new initiative aimed at authors across our platforms. In the popularity. What does take some cour-
protecting free speech on university area of economics, for example, we age is defending the bishops when we
campuses, a move that follows have published capitalists, communi- think they’re right. And it does take
several high-profile instances of tarians, social democrats, libertarians, some courage to buck the prevailing
de-platforming and cancellation of even a communist. In the area of the- establishment ethos on matters of hu-
controversial speakers and opinions. ology, just this month, America pub- man sexuality or economics. And it
Predictably, the political left and right lished an article by one Catholic bishop took courage for America to say, on
disagree, not only about the nature who argued that pro-choice politicians the precious few occasions when it was
and scope of the threat, but whether should not be admitted to Commu- true, that Donald Trump was right.
it is even real. Mercifully, we are not nion—we then published an article by America should have the cour-
likely to address this sort of problem a different Catholic bishop saying just age to pay less attention to the mob
in the United States through national the opposite. And in between, we pub- and more attention to you. Here, Pope
legislation. But that doesn’t mean that lished hundreds of your comments Francis is showing us the way. The
the same social forces—polarization about this important question. pope believes in God, but he dialogues
and ideological partisanship—are not America’s answers to such ques- with atheists; he believes in a commu-
at work here. tions, of course, are contained in our nitarian approach to economics, but
America has attempted to meet unsigned editorials. But offering you he meets with capitalists; he has spo-
the challenge by publishing diverse our corporate opinion is but one, rel- ken out against “ideologies of gender,”
opinions, an approach we have formal- atively small part of what we do. Our but he has known and met with trans-
ized in a new editorial initiative, “The main task is to host opinions, to ex- gender people. You should hold us to
Conversation.” (The conversation we pose you to a variety of individuals and a standard that requires that kind of
initiate in this issue centers on the fu- groups, all within the broad spectrum courage.
ture of Catholic theology.) The choice of Catholic opinion. Some people say that this edito-
to showcase diverse viewpoints stems That inclusive approach is not, rial approach is nothing but an ide-
not only from the fact that ideological admittedly, a widely popular choice. alist’s fantasy. But those who think
partisanship is this editor in chief’s In the present polarized climate, voic- that do not know you as I have come
well-known bugbear, but also that this ing contrary opinions requires cour- to know you. For nearly nine years, I
has been America’s approach from age, which is sometimes described as have traveled the length and breadth
the start. “True to its name and to its “speaking truth to power.” But context of this country, meeting thousands of
character as a Catholic review,” the counts for a lot here. The most pow- you. I trust you. I trust the education
editors wrote in our first editorial in erful force in the public, ecclesial dis- most of you received from the Society
1909, “America will be cosmopolitan course isn’t the secular media or the of Jesus. I know that you are not afraid
not only in contents but also in spirit.” U.S. bishops, but the elite foot soldiers of argument, not afraid of different
Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., the tenth edi- on social media and elsewhere who viewpoints; that you are suspicious of
tor in chief, put it this way: “A Catho- police the boundaries of ideological dogmas not thought through to their
lic journal of opinion should be rea- orthodoxy, both left and right, often consequences; that you value intelli-
sonably catholic in the opinions it is with cynical, brute force. gence, diversity and charity.
willing to consider. Which is not to say It doesn’t take a lot of courage, for For which I say: Thanks be to God.
that catholic means indiscriminate. It example, for us to publish someone Once again, welcome to the con-
does mean, however, that we will pub- who is denouncing racism. Our audi- versation.
lish views contrary to our own, as long ence wholeheartedly agrees. It doesn’t
as we think they deserve the attention take courage to publish an editorial
of thoughtful Catholics.” criticizing the U.S. bishops—they are Matt Malone, S.J.
Accordingly, over the last several not that popular to start with, ranking Twitter: @americaeditor.
JUNE 2021 AMERICA |3
THE ISSUE
GIVE AND TAKE
6
DISPATCHES
12
FEATURES
20
YOUR TAKE CANADA’S DEVELOPMENT A CRISIS IN CATHOLIC
Forum: The conviction of & PEACE SEEKS REPAIR OF THEOLOGY
Derek Chauvin DAMAGED RELATIONSHIPS The uncertain future of theology in
the U.S. academy
8 Calls for vaccine equity in race to Grant Kaplan
OUR TAKE tamp down next Covid-19 outbreak
President Biden and the politics 26
of refugee resettlement Brazil’s elderly rely on church The Conversation: Responses from
outreach as Covid-19 crisis continues Ligita Ryliskyte, Ty Monroe, Carolyn
10 Weir Herman and Christopher
SHORT TAKE After Biden policy shift, sisters Mooney
The free market is not fast enough. race to the U.S. border to help
Vaccinate the world now. asylum seekers 30
Mary Beth Powers CATHOLICS AND CONVERSION
Hard hit by pandemic, Africa’s THERAPY
rural priests turn to unorthodox How a controversial practice shapes
fundraising what many L.G.B.T. Catholics hear
from the church
Eve Tushnet
4 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORG
AP Photo/Amit Sharma
A man runs to escape the
heat from multiple funeral
pyres of Covid-19 victims at a
crematorium in the outskirts of
New Delhi, India, April 29.
Cover: America
FAITH & REASON JESUIT SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT THE WORD
42 56 70
DO NOT WEAPONIZE THE POWER OF AN INVITATION Reflections for Sundays
THE EUCHARIST Jesuit High School Tampa welcomes June 6, 13, 20 and 27
The Eucharist is being used for 22 students into the Catholic Church Jaime L. Waters
political ends. This must not happen. Sean Salai
Robert W. McElroy
LAST TAKE
46 IDEAS IN REVIEW
TOGETHER WE CAN SAVE OUR 74
COMMON HOME 58 JAMES MARTIN, S.J.
The environmental crisis is an MY FATHER, THE PENTAGON Daniel Berrigan: A Jesuit for the
opportunity for a new beginning PAPERS AND ME long haul
Albert II My father’s story has inspired other
whistleblowers
Robert Ellsberg POEM
FAITH IN FOCUS
BOOKS 63
50 Klara and the Sun; Economy Hall; RAISING MOTHERS
MEN OF FAITH AND FORTITUDE Afro-Creole Poetry In French From Preeti Vangani
Reckoning with my father’s final act Louisiana’s Radical Civil War-Era The 2021 Foley Award winner
of love Newspapers; Lifeblood of the Parish;
Frank DiFulvio The Last Brahmin; From
Confrontation to Covenantal
54 Partnership
With God in the delivery room
Kristin Weston
JUNE 2021 VOL. 224 NO. 7 WHOLE NO. 5263
YOUR TAKE
Forum: The conviction of Derek Chauvin
The day former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted on all charges for the killing of George Floyd,
America reached out to seven prominent public intellectuals and commentators on race and the Catholic Church to
invite their reactions to the verdict. Below are excerpts from their remarks.
We still have more work to do to convert the United States Bryant, Breonna Taylor, Rekia Boyd, Ahmaud Arbery and
of America and help it understand what proper policing so many more would be alive today.
looks like—one that cares for and respects the human Shannen Dee Williams, assistant professor of history at
person. How is it possible that any Catholic who says they Villanova University, Villanova, Pa.
believe the church’s teaching about human dignity would
find Chauvin’s behavior justifiable? Justice is about right relationships, and we have a long
I am hoping that any clergy who did not defend the hu- way to go to right relationships. But this is a beginning,
manity of George Floyd will take that to prayer. because we can’t even start unless we have some kind
Gloria Purvis, Catholic commentator and host of “The of accountability. We need to examine our individual
Gloria Purvis Podcast” at America Media. consciences, but we also have to examine, collectively, our
church conscience. We have to continue to think about
While the guilty verdict in the Chauvin trial is a welcome how our church has been complicit in slavery and white
change from the injustices of the judicial system with supremacy up until this day, then think about the cultural
regard to police killings, we should not consider this a and ecclesial kinds of racism and white supremacy that we
victory. Rather, it is a brief respite. This unending cycle of have to deal with.
violence by law enforcement in America feels like a war in Kim Harris, assistant professor of theological studies at
which there is no end in sight, nor an answer from God. Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, Calif.
Anthea Butler, interim chair of religious studies and
associate professor of religion and Africana studies at The Catholic Church has this right-to-life mentality, this
the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. right-to-life slogan, but we use it quite selectively and only
when certain key issues come up in the public square. And I
Finally, a jury in America decided that Black people were think we can maybe take it and subvert it and talk about the
telling the truth about our experience of police officers right to life of our youth, the right to life of Black and Brown
and policing in America. Finally, America was beginning to youth who are right now in many places the majority of
hear what Black people have been saying: that something is students in elementary Catholic schools.
radically wrong with the culture of policing. I hope this will María Teresa (MT) Dávila, visiting associate professor
be a watershed moment in the country’s engagement with of the practice in religious and theological studies at
its tragic history of racism and in examining police behavior Merrimack College, North Andover, Mass.
and calling for better training of our police officers.
The Rev. Bryan N. Massingale, professor of theological In the face of such despair, I find hope in young Darnella
and social ethics at Fordham University, New York. Frazier’s courageous video recording of Chauvin’s
murderous actions and in her testimony. Without her
There was never a possibility of justice in this case, only bravery, the details surrounding George Floyd’s murder
accountability. If we lived in a just society, George Floyd would have likely been buried by police department
would still be alive and the witnesses to his murder, like narratives and ruling-class media priorities. Frazier
Darnella Frazier, would be able to sleep comfortably at stepped forward bravely and responsibly to answer the
night. If we lived in a truly just society, we would not have question: “Who polices the police?”
been worried about the verdict in a trial of a man who Jeremy V. Cruz, associate professor of theology and
murdered another human being on camera. If we lived religious studies at St. John’s University, New York.
in a just society, Daunte Wright, Adam Toledo, Ma’Khia
6 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORG
IAN JOHNSON (張彦) is a New York Times,
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author. He will
speak about the circumstances of the Church in
China today.
LU NAN (吕楠) is an internationally acclaimed
photographer. He will speak about his five-year
documentary reflection of Catholics throughout
rural China.
DR. RACHEL ZHU (朱晓红) is a professor of
JOIN US
in beautiful Santa Clara for an opportunity to
religious studies at Fudan University and a Catholic
public intellectual. She will discuss the Church and
environmental issues in China today.
foster a conversation surrounding Christianity, KIN SHEUNG CHIARETTO YAN (甄健湘) is a
culture, and the friendship between Christian professor and expert on youth ministry. He will
communities in the U.S. and China. speak about young people and faith in
contemporary China.
CHINA, CHRISTIANITY, AND THE Also participate in a range of practical workshops,
DIALOGUE OF CIVILIZATIONS academic panels, pastoral sessions, Mass celebrated
together, and many other events.
28th International Conference of
Visit www.USCatholicChina.org/conference-2021
the US-China Catholic Association to view conference highlights. Register to come IN
AUGUST 6 - 8, 2021 PERSON or to participate ONLINE. REGISTER
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JUNE 2021 AMERICA |7
OUR TAKE
President Biden and the Politics of Refugee Resettlement
The Biden administration announced made the surprise announcement in campaigning; on both the local and na-
in early May that it will raise the April that it would not raise the refugee tional levels, immigration and its echo
historically low cap on refugee cap despite the president’s promises to effects remain prominent issues. Ste-
settlement set by former President do so. Mr. Biden had vowed during his phen Miller, the Svengali of Mr. Trump’s
Donald J. Trump to 62,500 refugees 2020 presidential campaign to admit immigration policies, commented on
from 15,000. Under Mr. Trump’s 125,000 refugees in the current fiscal Twitter that the initial decision to keep
draconian policy, the refugee year, and in February he signed an ex- the policy intact “reflects Team Biden’s
resettlement process ground almost to ecutive order to that effect, making his awareness that the border flood will
a halt; the applications of over 100,000 April decision to keep Mr. Trump’s pol- cause record midterm losses.”
people were put on hold indefinitely. icy in place a baffling one. But after an A significant loss of seats in the
Refugees from a number of Muslim- outcry from refugee advocacy groups House or the Senate would, of course,
majority countries, including Somalia, and many political allies of the current be a serious setback for Mr. Biden’s
Syria and Yemen, were blocked almost administration, that decision was re- more humane immigration policies
entirely, despite the devastation versed the same day it was announced. and an impediment to his efforts to-
caused by war in all three countries. It was a clumsy about-face for ward passing immigration reform
Besides allowing more applicants the administration and an unsettling legislation, something he obviously
from these mostly Muslim nations, moment for those who expected the cannot ignore. At the same time, a po-
Mr. Biden’s ruling also provides more Biden presidency would bring about a tential backlash is a risk of ethically
slots for refugees from other nations new day for many refugees and asylum sound action in every political realm,
in Africa, the Middle East and Central seekers. By the end of the day, refugee a cost that must be weighed against
America. advocates had won a small victory but other costs. Choosing the politically
This is welcome news and a found their confidence in Mr. Biden expedient path presents no profile in
needed recognition that the United shaken. courage, nor does it reflect well on the
States has an obligation to ease the Why the initial decision to keep priorities of the politicians choosing it.
suffering of these people. We are Mr. Trump’s policy in place? Two rea- There are times when political capital
not only the wealthiest nation in the sons seem most likely. First, Mr. Biden must be risked for the common good;
world; we are a major instigator of and his staff may have assumed that there are times when political capital
the violence and political turmoil they would get a free pass on immigra- must be expended to do the moral and
that has spurred refugees to aban- tion issues because nothing could pos- ethical thing.
don their desperate living situations sibly match the cruelty of Mr. Trump’s An ancillary issue that bears on
worldwide. And despite heated rhet- policies and racist comments about this conversation is the way we per-
oric to the contrary, refugee resettle- refugees and immigrants. Even a min- ceive political motives. After four
ment does not have a significant neg- imal change in direction would be bet- long years of Mr. Trump’s presidency,
ative impact on the U.S. economy. ter than what happened over the past many of us automatically seek out the
In fact, like most immigrants to the four years. nefarious motive behind any policy
United States, refugees have histor- Second, there seems to be a politi- announcement: What is the president
ically proven to be significant con- cal calculus at work, one acknowledged really after?
tributors to the American economy by Mr. Biden’s opponents. A significant This is perhaps why Mr. Biden’s
within a generation of resettlement. portion of the electorate is opposed to first attempt to continue Mr. Trump’s
It should also go without saying that any increase in refugee resettlement refugee restrictions backfired almost
the American people have a moral and indeed to immigration in general immediately; it seemed that “the right
obligation to welcome the stranger, from poorer nations, and Mr. Trump thing to do” was important in the
the orphan and the widow—a man- benefited handsomely from his rhe- run-up to the 2020 elections but was
date present in the Bible and shared torical stance against both. Mr. Biden’s replaced almost immediately with
by almost every religious tradition. presidency is only five months old, but the politically cautious thing to do.
The Biden administration at first members of Congress never really stop Mr. Biden has also reminded us that
8 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORG
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Founded in 1909
President and Editor in Chief Matt Malone, S.J.
Democratic presidents are capable of ne- Deputy Editor in Chief Maurice Timothy Reidy
Executive Editors Sebastian Gomes
glecting vulnerable populations once in Ashley McKinless
office. Remember that two of the more Kerry Weber
Editor at Large James Martin, S.J.
shortsighted policies in recent decades Production Editor Robert C. Collins, S.J.
were President Bill Clinton’s 1996 welfare Senior Editors Kevin Clarke
James T. Keane
reform and his 1994 crime bill. Mr. Biden J.D. Long-García
drafted the Senate version of the latter Sam Sawyer, S.J.
Robert David Sullivan
legislation. Creative Director Shawn Tripoli
On the topic of political expediency, it Graphic Designer
Poetry Editor
Alison Hamilton
Joe Hoover, S.J.
is also necessary at times to take the long Vatican Correspondent Gerard O’Connell
view. The release of 2020 Census results National Correspondent
Associate Editor
Michael J. O’Loughlin
Ricardo da Silva, S.J.
makes it clear that the United States is in Associate Editor & Director of Audience
Engagement and Analytics Zachary Davis
no way being overwhelmed by an influx Audio Producer Maggi Van Dorn
of foreigners; further, even meeting Mr. Video Producer &
Director of Photography Deniz Demirer
Biden’s original goal of 125,000 resettled Assistant Producers Colleen Dulle, Kevin Jackson
refugees this year would not reverse the Assistant Editors Vivian Cabrera
Joseph McAuley
recent slowdown in immigration to the Contributing Writers Nichole M. Flores
United States. Cecilia González-Andrieu
Rachel Lu
The birthrate among American cit- Eileen Markey
izens continues to decrease, and the Jim McDermott, S.J.
Kaya Oakes
Census reports the weakest population Nathan Schneider
growth since the 1930s. Economists and Eve Tushnet
Contributing Editors Ellen Boegel
social scientists see declining rates as ill Patrick Gilger, S.J.
omens for the future. Both the U.S. social Maryann Cusimano Love
William McCormick, S.J.
safety net and its economic effectiveness Paul McNelis, S.J.
rely on population growth, especially as
Regional Correspondents Dean Dettloff (Toronto)
Jan-Albert Hootsen (Mexico City)
the entire baby boom generation begins to Special Contributors Jake Martin, S.J., Sean Salai, S.J.
Editor, The Jesuit Post
draw on entitlement programs and health Moderator, Catholic Book Club
Brian Strassburger, S.J.
Kevin Spinale, S.J.
care systems. O'Hare Fellows Molly Cahill
Erika Rasmussen
In the long run, refugee resettlement Kevin Christopher Robles
may turn out to be a “minor” issue for the
Executive V.P. and
Biden administration, both economically Chief Operating Officer Traug Keller
and politically. But it is not one easily dis- Senior V.P. for Finance and Operations Rosa M. Del Saz
V.P. of Advancement and Membership James Cappabianca
missed—and not just because of the fate of Advancement Strategist Heather Trotta
the refugees in question. A peek into the Advancement Associate Michelle Smith
Director of Advertising Services Kenneth Arko
process by which the sausage gets made Account Manager Lindsay Chessare
points again to the question of political Advertising Sales Associate Geena Di Camillo
Director of Marketing Lisa Manico
and ethical calculus: How much political Special Assistant to the President &
capital is worth expending to fulfill one’s Editor in Chief Nicholas D. Sawicki
Business Operations Staff Glenda Castro, Jonathan Tavarez,
promises made on behalf of people no one Elena Te, Bianca C. Tucker
else will fight for? When is doing the right Editor Emeritus Francis W. Turnbull, S.J.
Chair, Board of Directors Susan S. Braddock
thing not the smart thing but the coura-
geous stand?
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JUNE 2021 AMERICA |9
SHORT TAKE
Vaccine equity is not only just; it can also protect the world.
The Catholic Medical Mission Board adding the direct purchases of 1.5 bil- ments (or to Covax) to slow the spread
recently joined a coalition of over 40 lion doses by the same nations, only and the development of coronavirus
Catholic organizations to promote a small fraction of the population in variants in countries that are just be-
vaccine equity as what the coalition these countries will be reached—far ginning to vaccinate. If the United
calls an “act of charity and solidarity.” below what it would take to slow the States, Canada, the United Kingdom
The Catholic Cares Coalition is spread and thwart the development of and the European Union—all of which
calling for the equitable distribution new variants. have a portion of their population who
of Covid-19 vaccines among nations Still, it is heartening that public are vaccine-hesitant—could release
and among those Americans who calls for vaccine sharing, including the just 20 percent of their surplus pur-
have been hard to reach. It is echoing work of the Catholic Cares Coalition, chases, that would put hundreds of
the message of Pope Francis in his helped persuade the Biden adminis- millions more doses of existing and
remarks to the World Bank on April tration to promise 60 million doses new vaccines into the pipeline for low-
7, when he said, “We cannot allow of the AstraZeneca vaccine to India and middle-income countries.
the law of the marketplace to take and other countries in desperate need. If we look at Covid-19’s devastating
precedence over the law of love and And there is public support for vaccine effects in India as just one example, the
the health of all.” sharing. One survey of residents of the faster we can get the world vaccinated,
The reality of vaccine delivery United States and six other high-in- the greater chance we have to reduce
has been anything but equitable, with come countries found that between the risks of the coronavirus mutating
higher-income countries pursuing ad- 48 percent and 56 percent supported into new variants that may eventually
vance-purchasing arrangements for some vaccine donations, with 70 per- evade the current vaccines. In addition,
candidate vaccines with a speed that cent of those supporters agreeing that we need to create technology transfer,
rivaled the hoarding of paper goods at least 10 percent of their country’s licensing and manufacturing agree-
by households early in the pandem- doses could be donated. ments that will allow for increased
ic—but with more dire consequences. Even if the first goal of the United capacity for manufacturing vaccine
According to the Duke Global Health States is to achieve herd immunity, we supplies globally, both to complete
Innovation Center, Canada led the have passed the point where invento- Covid-19 vaccination and to be better
pack by ordering enough doses to vac- ry is a concern. Given that the United prepared for the next pandemic.
cinate 434 percent of its population. States committed to purchase vaccines We cannot tame the pandemic by
The United Kingdom was not far be- that would cover twice our own popula- waiting for market forces to dictate
hind, with enough doses for 364 per- tion, and recognizing that some Amer- where vaccination coverage levels
cent of its people, and the European icans are hesitant to get the vaccine can be improved. Whether as an act
Union and the United States captured or determined not to get it, we could of solidarity and charity or as an act of
enough doses to vaccinate 233 per- shift more resources sooner to slow self-protection, initiating and acceler-
cent and 200 percent of their popu- the spread of Covid-19 in parts of Asia, ating coverage in those countries that
lations, respectively. (Not knowing Africa and Latin America. Current esti- have not yet vaccinated even 1 percent
which vaccines would be approved for mates suggest that, at best, 20 percent of their populations should be a prior-
use, these countries were also hedging of the population in these areas might ity for the United States.
their bets.) be reached by the end of 2021. This is
By late April, 6.2 billion of the 8.9 nowhere near the levels needed to ap-
billion vaccine doses purchased so proach herd immunity and prevent the Mary Beth Powers is the chief
executive officer of the Catholic
far had been earmarked for high- and emergence of new variants that threat- Medical Mission Board.
upper-middle-income countries. Just en the entire world. Twitter: @MaryBeth_CMMB.
1.1 billion doses had been purchased It is time to persuade the wealth-
Editor’s note: Matt Malone, S.J.,
by Covax, an international initiative ier countries to release some of their president of America Media, serves
to help secure doses for 92 low- and existing vaccine supplies and future on the board of directors of the
middle-income countries. Even after orders through country-level agree- Catholic Medical Mission Board.
10 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORGThe
Gloria Purvis
Podcast
A weekly podcast discussing current events and
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A N E W P O D C A S T F R O M A M E R I C A M E D I A • AVA I L A B L E N O W
JUNE 2021 AMERICA | 11DISPATCHES
Rebuilding relationships
After resolving bishops’ concerns, Canada’s Development
and Peace has work to do with partners in Global South
In 2018, 12 bishops across Canada announced they would “The bishops’ concern was disproportionate and mis-
withhold funds from the Canadian Catholic Organization placed,” Ismael Moreno, S.J., said of the inquiry he received
for Development and Peace, the official international from D&P. Father Moreno is the director of Radio Progre-
solidarity organization of the Canadian Conference of so/Fundación-E.R.I.C., a media and human rights ministry
Catholic Bishops. The bishops charged that Development in Honduras.
and Peace was working with partner organizations in the Father Moreno had been asked to clarify content
Global South that had associations or positions that did not found on Radio Progreso/Fundación-E.R.I.C. websites. In
reflect Catholic teaching, specifically on abortion. a fiery reply, he said the ministry does not promote abor-
The C.C.C.B. and D&P began a lengthy and controver- tion or other issues contrary to Catholic teaching, but he
sial process, over the next three years reviewing 63 partners acknowledged that some posts may have caused confusion.
whose projects had received funding. On Feb. 25, a joint He argues, however, that it is essential to listen to people
summary of the results reported that funding for projects with different views.
related to 24 of those partnerships would not be renewed. Radio Progreso/Fundación-E.R.I.C. was cleared by the
That decision “was not an easy one to make,” the con- end of the review process, but its relationship with D&P
ference said in an e-mailed statement to America, though has been damaged. “I am left with a strong burden of un-
it described the suspensions as “appropriate,” given “the certainty,” Father Moreno said, “as if I have a sword on top
serious questions identified and following conversations of me that will fall at any moment.”
held with the partners themselves and others.” Father Moreno said that D&P has supported the work
According to the statement, the conference remains of Radio Progreso/Fundación-E.R.I.C. for more than
committed to the success of D&P “as a Canadian, Catholic five years. “Its officers have been close, kind and have un-
organization in communion with the Bishops and the uni- derstood the Honduran problem,” he said. “That is why
versal Church” and believes that its new management pol- we were surprised to receive a letter with suspicions and
icies “will strengthen Development and Peace’s work and threats, precisely from someone we believed was a close
mission to accompany the most vulnerable populations in and trusted donor.”
the Global South.” Romain Duguay, the deputy executive director of
While the outcome of the review appears to have sat- D&P, said that it had been in contact with Father Moreno
isfied the concerns of Canadian bishops, D&P now has to through a project officer throughout the process, adding
face up to repairing relationships with partners overseas that the agency is a supporter of Father Moreno’s work. He
and supporters at home. said he regrets the way the process was handled.
12 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORGIsmael Moreno, S.J., (center) the director of Radio Progreso/Fundación Eric, joins demonstrators in El Progreso,
Honduras, protesting the election of President Juan Orlando Hernandez in January 2018. Funding from Canada's
Development and Peace agency for his media and human rights ministry had been in doubt.
“I can understand that receiving a letter “There’s great disappointment with the leadership of
like that out of the blue, without some discus- the bishops, and the pressure of the bishops on D&P, the
sion prior to this, is like you receiving a subpoe- fact that the process has taken so long…. People feel like
na,” Mr. Duguay said. they’ve been treated like mushrooms, kept in the dark. This
Although the precise source of some bish- has not helped,” said Mr. Gunn.
ops’ initial disquiet with some D&P partners Jenny Cafiso, director of Canadian Jesuits Interna-
has not been acknowledged, many laid the tional, said the strength of D&P’s model is that its partner-
blame on bishops and lay Catholics provoked ships are based on mutual relationships, cultivated over
by LifeSiteNews, a socially and politically long periods of time. She feels the review did not proceed
conservative media outlet that has regularly in the same spirit.
targeted Development and Peace. (Represen- “It just goes counter to that whole concept of partner-
tatives from LifeSiteNews did not respond to ship, of wanting to break down a lot of the colonial struc-
requests for comment.) tures and mentality that was also guiding, and sometimes
Mr. Duguay said that media scrutiny, how- continues to guide, North-South relations. And I think it’s
ever, was just part of the reason for the reassess- a very worrisome trend,” Ms. Cafiso said.
ment of processes at D&P. He said the review In its statement to America, the conference defended
of both partners and organizational structures the process: “Every Catholic organization derives its ‘cath-
at D&P was the result of a long breakdown of olicity’ from its adherence to the Gospel and insertion into
trust between the C.C.C.B. and D&P. the Church’s community of faith and structures, and in
“We didn’t communicate enough, or strong- communion with its pastors,” it said.
Photo by Kevin Clarke
ly enough, so that the bishops would know ex- “A closer sharing in Development and Peace’s gover-
actly what we were doing,” he said. “That gap nance by the Bishops of Canada therefore does not take
created misunderstanding or doubt.” away the primarily ‘lay’ nature of the organization or its
At the conclusion of the three-year review, work, but further guarantees its Catholicity and continuing
D&P changed its organizational structure. It existence as a developmental and charitable organization
now includes four bishops on its national council. Adding at the heart of the Church’s pastoral outreach.”
those bishops, said Mr. Duguay, should diminish the in- Despite their concerns, Ms. Cafiso and Mr. Gunn, who
fluence of tabloid journalism because the bishops will be have both worked closely with D&P over the years, believe
more familiar with the work of D&P and its partners. that it is an essential voice for Catholic solidarity in Cana-
Mr. Duguay insisted that although the review was da, and they want to find a path forward together.
prompted by a desire to satisfy skeptical bishops, D&P’s Mr. Gunn wants to know what D&P has learned as an
institutional self-reflection remained important, calling organization through this process and what it plans to do
it an ongoing process. Since the February summary was differently moving forward: “Everyone feels there’s been a
released, two more D&P partners have had their project lack of transparency, and that has to change.”
funding renewed after satisfying the review inquiries, Mr. Duguay agrees that communication and transpar-
reducing the number of partners with unrenewed proj- ency are important for moving forward, and in the end he
ects to 22. believes that the review will lead to a democratization of
“The idea is to get back to zero,” said Mr. Duguay. processes at D&P, allowing internal conversations to be
“Maybe there will be one or two where we won’t be able more visible.
to find a common space because some partners grow, they The first priority of all parties remains the poor, said
take on new responsibilities and projects, and sometimes Mr. Duguay, “so the first issue is whether a partner is the
they don’t align with our values or what we can promote. So best partner to help people in need right now.”
it is a natural process.”
Joe Gunn, the executive director of Centre Oblate-A Dean Dettloff, Toronto correspondent.
Voice for Justice, said the length and lack of transparency Twitter: @DeanDettloff.
of the review process raised concerns among the religious
communities he works with and people in the pews.
JUNE 2021 AMERICA | 13After India, what are the next potential Covid-19 hotspots?
With each passing day the Covid-19 outbreak in VACCINATION RATES BY CONTINENT
India seems to produce a new horror, as images Doses administered per 100 people
of overwhelmed hospitals and fields of funeral
pyres emerge from this latest pandemic hotspot.
The speed and virulence of the outbreak have
North America 49
been among its most shocking aspects. Could an Europe 33
outbreak as ferocious happen somewhere else?
Sadly, “the next India could be in so many dif- South America 19
ferent places,” said Emily Doogue, a public health
specialist for Catholic Relief Services.
Asia 13
How to tamp down the virus before the next Oceania 6.6
outbreak?
“We’ve got to ramp up [vaccine] production Africa 1.4
by sharing the materials and also really working 0 10 20 30 40 50
on how to make this technology transfer happen,”
Ms. Doogue said.
Ms. Doogue suggested the United States and
other wealthy nations, accused of hoarding vac- INDIA THE TOP 10
cines, have an important role to play. “It’s our re- Vaccine doses administered: 163 million VACCINE HOARDERS
Fully vaccinated: 31.5 million—2.3% Number of vaccine doses
sponsibility to get those vaccines in-country and procured per inhabitant
12 doses given per 100 people
do something about this horrible inequity that we
Canada 10.40
have right now,” she said.
United Kingdom 8.18
The Biden administration announced on May SOUTH AFRICA New Zealand 6.57
5 that the United States would support a waiver of Vaccine doses administered: 366,000 Australia 5.71
intellectual property rights related to coronavirus Fully vaccinated: 366,000—0.6% Chile 5.07
0.6 doses given per 100 people European Union 4.66
vaccines and vaccine manufacturing technology
first proposed in October by World Trade Organi- Israel 4.53
United States 3.99
zation representatives from India and South Afri- WORLDWIDE Switzerland 2.80
ca. The decision has been hailed by public health Vaccine doses administered: 1.24 billion South Korea 2.55
advocates, but it will take months before that poli- Fully vaccinated: 298 million—3.8%
cy shift results in new supplies of vaccines in poor- 16 doses given per 100 people
er nations locked out of the vaccine rush in 2020. THE VACCINE BEREFT
That means current reserves have to be bet- Number of vaccine doses
CANADA procured per inhabitant
ter distributed. In May a few high-income coun- Vaccine doses administered: 16 million
tries held nearly five billion vaccine doses, while Fully vaccinated: 1.3 million—3.3% *African Union 0.73
scores of low-income countries had secured just 42 doses given per 100 people
Oman 0.07
770 million. Uzbekistan 0.06
Ms. Doogue is especially concerned that UNITED STATES Iran 0.03
southern Africa—where the B.1.351 coronavirus Vaccine doses administered: 252 million Benin 0.02
variant is “showing the most resistance toward ex- Fully vaccinated: 109 million—33.2% Somalia 0.01
isting technology”—could prove the next hotspot. 76 doses given per 100 people Senegal 0.01
(Vaccine numbers recorded on May 6) Pakistan 0.01
“That’s a place where we feel like we’ve got to
Armenia 0.01
speed it up; we’ve got to make sure that we’re us- Belarus 0.00
Sources: Duke Global Health Innovation Center;
ing the [vaccine] technology right now, while it Our World in Data; The New York Times.
*The African Union includes all
remains as effective as it’s going to be.” African nations with the exception
of Morocco.
Kevin Clarke, chief correspondent.
Twitter: @ClarkeAtAmerica.
14 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORGCNS photo/Ricardo Moraes, Reuters
GOODNEWS: As Covid-19 crisis Seniors wait outside a
continues, Brazil’s elderly count vaccination station in
Belford Roxo, Brazil,
on the church’s pastoral outreach on March 31.
When the Covid-19 pandemic started, Leila, a pastoral in touch by phone or video calls, and they encourage other
worker in Brazil, was prevented from visiting the senior Catholics to do the same.
citizens she used to see on a monthly basis. But one day, Sister Rodrigues said that the ministry cannot solve
an elderly woman called her and said she had an urgent all the problems of the people it reaches, but it does build
question. Leila went to her home and met the woman and bridges between the elderly and the community around
her husband just outside their house gate. them. “We do not take the problems as our own. We en-
She discreetly passed Leila a folded note, pretending courage the elderly to be active, seek their rights and get in
to share a cake recipe. Arriving home, Leila read: “If Covid touch with the competent bodies,” she said. “Otherwise we
comes for me, all of my papers are in the closet, first door respect their autonomy.” In cases where elders are less in-
on the left. I want to be buried in the cemetery. Please have dependent, pastoral agents keep close contact with family
them use the picture that is on my dining-room table.” and friends.
(The name of the pastoral agent quoted in this article Brazil is a predominantly young country, but it is aging.
has been changed to protect her relationship with the se- In 1950, the elderly represented only 2.6 million people. By
niors she serves.) 2019, there were more than 30 million elderly people in
Later “I called the lady and told her I would keep the Brazil—13 percent of the population.
‘recipe’ safely until the right moment,” Leila said. “This is As has been the case around the world, in Brazil
how the elderly are feeling here: anxious, afraid, worried. Covid-19 has been hardest on the elderly. Henrique Salma-
Vaccines are slowly bringing them some hope.” zo, a gerontologist and professor at the Catholic University
That is the level of trust that agents of Pastoral da Pes- of Brasília, reports that seven out of 10 deaths caused by
soa Idosa (“Pastoral Care for Elderly Persons”) achieve Covid-19 in Brazil have been among older adults.
with the 170,000 people they accompany all over Brazil. “There has been a huge impact on the lifestyle of these
The church’s service ministry to the elderly began in 2004, people,” he said. Under Covid-19 pandemic restrictions,
growing out of its Pastoral Care for Children commission elderly people in Brazil now have fewer social interactions
as church workers realized that Brazil’s elderly were vul- and have been forced to change eating habits and do less
nerable in much the same way as its children. physical activity, Dr. Salmazo said.
According to Sister Maria Lúcia Rodrigues, the nation- “There is great psychological overload [on seniors],” he
al coordinator for the Brazilian bishops’ commission for the said.
elderly, the interventions of the ministry are built around Dr. Salmazo considers the work of the ministry to the
monthly home visits. “We visit the most vulnerable, the elderly to be essential during the current crisis. “They build
weakened, those who have health problems caused by aging, a network of solidarity that provides not only direct sup-
those who are abandoned, lonely or depressed,” she said. port, but also emotional, affective [support],” he said.
Covid-19 restrictions created a challenge, of course.
In March 2020, as enforcement of social distancing pro-
Filipe Domingues reports on religion, the environment and
tocols began, pastoral workers started a campaign, Call an economics from Brazil.
Elderly Person. Instead of visiting seniors, agents now keep Twitter: @filipedomingues.
JUNE 2021 AMERICA | 15U.S. sisters head to the border
to respond to surge of asylum seekers
Before Covid-19 put the kibosh on such things as increases, C.C.U.S.A. had been able to move additional staff
performing before live audiences, Nancy Murray, O.P., into the border area. That was just not possible this year, as
made a ministry out of dramatizing the life of St. Catherine most offices were already working at capacity dealing with
of Siena. But in April in McAllen, Tex., she assumed a new Covid-19 and related hunger and housing crises and were
role, helping families coming across the border transition unable to pitch in this time.
to life in the United States. The executive director of L.C.W.R., Carol Zinn, S.S.J.,
Sister Murray, whose brother Bill has had some acting contacted Catholic Charities USA to find out how members
success of his own, said that with her usual work on standby, of her organization could help, a conversation that prompt-
it was “a good time” to answer a call for assistance issued on ed a letter to L.C.W.R. members appealing for volunteers.
behalf of Catholic Charities by the Leadership Conference Ms. Schlichte reports that each center will be handling
of Women Religious. “And I wanted to be working with the asylum seekers for 24 to 48 hours. They will need rest and
families,” she added. a chance to clean up, get something to eat and find new
Asylum seekers are again being allowed into the Unit- clothes. Many will be moving rapidly on to the homes of
ed States while their claims are heard in U.S. immigration their sponsors throughout the United States.
courts. But this policy reversal threatened to overwhelm After seven years in a leadership position with the
Catholic Charities USA sites in Texas and Arizona. Adrian Dominicans in Michigan, Mary Jane Lubinksi, O.P.,
Explaining her decision to leave Adrian, Mich., and was happy to answer the call to help out in San Antonio. “I
to risk travel during the pandemic, Sister Murray said, “I wanted to roll up my sleeves, so here I am.”
felt that these are people who have been living in tents for She is part of a team of volunteers working with more
a year, and they have been through storms and hurricanes than 2,000 teen boys who are being temporarily housed at
and snow and Covid, and they needed to be treated with the Freeman Coliseum. “I’m right where I belong,” she said.
some respect...and I wanted to be part of that.” The 14- to 17-year-old “unaccompanied minors” she is now
Kristan Schlichte, senior director of membership at accompanying will take longer to transition into more per-
Catholic Charities USA, said that during other migration manent status. Many fled Central America’s Northern Tri-
16 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORGPhotos courtesy of Catholic Charities USA
AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi, File
Preparing for an injection with
the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine
at Ndirande Health Centre in
Blantyre, Malawi, on March 29.
Hard hit by Covid-19, rural priests in
Africa turn to unorthodox fundraising
As lockdown restrictions and shuttered churches cut
off typical parish revenue streams, Catholic priests in
rural Africa have had to improvise, often resorting to
unorthodox means to sustain themselves and their parish
communities and churches.
In normal times, churches that produce agriculture
products, like the Don Bosco Mission in Zimbabwe’s
Joyce Bates, S.N.D., and Rosalie Mberengwa District in the Midlands Province, rely on
Anderson, S.N.J.M., at Catholic sales at their local markets. But under lockdown, the Rev.
Charities’ La Frontera Migrant Shelter in Joaquim Chukucha had to think outside the box or, in this
Laredo, Tex., on April 27.
case, the bottle. He opened a small brewery.
Father Chukucha turned to a dark sorghum brew fa-
angle region, where they were prime targets for gang vored by locals, known as “opaque” beer “because it is not
recruitment. Catholic Charities has to connect the as clear as lager beers.”
boys with family in the United States and confirm their “This supported us very much,” Father Chukucha told
ability to sponsor the boys before they can be released local media. “Selling opaque beer is a lucrative business
“to their future,” Sister Lubinksi said. here because makorokoza,” as the region’s gold panners
Sister Murray knows that some Americans feel are called, “like it very much.”
anxious about the migrants and asylum seekers com- Parishioners from Don Bosco said they endorsed the
ing across the border. All she can say to allay such fears unusual venture in light of the difficult circumstances that
is, “Come and see.” Covid-19 had thrust upon the community and the church.
“When you hear the stories and see the people In neighboring Malawi, the Rev. Alfred Genesis Kalum-
yourself, they are not just a nameless bunch of people bi from the Holy Angels-Matumba Parish in rural Dedza,
in a crowd from a 10-second news report,” Sister Mur- about 50 miles south of Blantyre, that he had “to resort to
ray said. “They would rather be in their home coun- unusual and unorthodox means of survival.”
tries safe and raising their children there. It is fear and “As priests we have had to do lots of things by ourselves,
violence that’s forcing them to come here.” like working in [small groceries] and maize mills, laundry,
cooking, guarding, etc. We had also to auction all the parish
Kevin Clarke, chief correspondent. pigs to keep the parish going,” Father Kalumbi said.
Twitter: @ClarkeAtAmerica. Amid these challenges, sub-Saharan Africa’s rural
priests are heaving a sigh of relief now that vaccines are
becoming available. Medical experts warn, however, that a
third Covid-19 wave could still wash over the region.
Tawanda Karombo reports from Zimbabwe.
Twitter: @tawakarombo.
JUNE 2021 AMERICA | 17INSIDE AMERICA
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JUNE 2021 AMERICA | 19The Conversation
A Crisis in
Catholic Theology
The uncertain future of theology
in the U.S. academy
By Grant Kaplan
Over 30 years ago, America published articles find themselves in financial peril, with some already
by Thomas O’Meara, O.P., and the Rev. Matthew shutting their doors and more on the brink of doing
Lamb questioning whether theology departments so. Cost-cutting measures have made reliance on ad-
at Catholic universities would be able to sustain junct professors and non-tenured faculty members
the theological renewal underway since the Second the norm. Today’s students, often with a firm nudge
Vatican Council. The situation was dire. Father from university marketers, increasingly choose a ma-
O’Meara declared in 1990, “We are nearing a state of jor in disciplines outside the humanities. As publica-
emergency in Catholic theological life in the United tions like the Chronicle of Higher Education remind
States.” If theology departments could not train the us almost weekly, the humanities face continued
next generation of the theological guild, it would marginalization despite increasing evidence of the
threaten the future of Catholic universities, for, as broad civic and social harm that results from neglect-
Father Lamb declared that same year, “Catholic ing them.
theology is central to the Catholic identity of any These wider contextual elements present un-
Catholic college or university.” fortunate consequences for theology in particular.
Today, although concern for the future of Cath- Compared with the 1990s, fewer Catholic parents
olic universities remains high, relatively little at- encourage their children to pursue Catholic high-
tention has been given to how the current crisis in er education at all, let alone a theology major. With
Catholic theology endangers the viability of the in- decreasing numbers of students majoring in the hu-
stitutions that house them. Revisiting these two arti- manities, the discipline of theology struggles to find
cles not only sheds light on the current crisis, but also footing.
suggests that the issue cannot remain an intra-theo-
logical debate, but must be on the front burner for The Current Crisis
university administrators. The gravitational pull away from theology at
Instructors of theology, like almost all universi- the undergraduate level has had direct, negative
ty educators, sense that something deeply troubling consequences for renewing faculty positions
is afoot at the roughly 226 Catholic colleges and reserved for theologians. Since I began working in
universities in the United States. The pandemic has the theology department at St. Louis University in
increased the likelihood of an almost certain future: 2007, it has witnessed a drop to 22 from 32 full-time
Dozens of our Catholic colleges and universities faculty positions, with most of the reduction coming
20 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORGYou can also read
