THE MAKING OF A SAINT - America Magazine
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
DECEMBER 2020 THE JESUIT REVIEW OF FAITH AND CULTURE
THE MAKING
OF A SAINT Joe Drape
p24
How Joe Biden
Can Work With
the Bishops
p 70
When Abraham
Lincoln Read the
Book of Job
p40
A Brief History
of ‘O Holy Night’
p 58
Explore America's Podcasts
americamagazine.org/podcasts
1 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORG
Loyola High School is seeking a new
President
Founded in 1896, Loyola High School is a Catholic,
Jesuit, all-boys university preparatory school in
Montreal, Canada. As Loyola approaches its 125th
year steeped in tradition, we are seeking a new
president with eyes on the future.
TO APPLY
Send cover letter and curriculum vitae to the
Office of the President:
Loyola High School
Attn: Dr. Donat Taddeo, Ph.D.
taddeod@loyola.ca
7272 Sherbrooke St. W.
Montréal, QC H4B 1R2
To view a detailed position description,
visit loyola.ca
2 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORG
‘A Republic, if You Can Keep It’
Almost as soon as we knew for certain which is why, as the eucharistic prayer involves egregious moral compromis-
that Joseph R. Biden Jr. had been recounts, the Creator sent his only Son es. Like the two centuries of American
elected the 46th president of the to bring “to perfection his work in the history that followed its passage, the
United States, the 44th president world.” The American founders never Constitution involves much of which
came roaring back into our newsfeeds. heard that prayer, but they understood we are rightly ashamed. It also involves
Barack Obama is on le grand tour the gist of it, and in the light of its truth much of which we are rightly proud.
des mémoires, hawking the first of they saw government as a means of cre- Some liberals think there is nothing
two volumes chronicling his life and ating a more just—not perfectly just— redemptive about American history.
presidency. In the published excerpts, political community. Some conservatives think that only
one passage in particular caught my You might be wondering why any U.S. history is redemptive. Neither are
attention: “What I can say for certain of that matters. Many people wrote to right. The American experiment is not
is that I’m not yet ready to abandon me over the last several months ask- what has redeemed human nature, but
the possibility of America—not just ing why America (the magazine, that neither does it require a revolution in
for the sake of future generations of is) seemed preoccupied with the U.S. human nature. It merely sets the nec-
Americans but for all of humankind.” Constitution, rather than with mat- essary conditions for a reasonable evo-
I agree with every word, though ters more overtly spiritual or obvious- lution in human understanding.
perhaps for different reasons than ly moral. Some even suggested that In the end, Christmas reminds us
Mr. Obama. I do not know for certain, our concerns about the Constitution that there is only one redeemer. And
but I suspect that the former presi- were just a thin cover for our parti- whether the specific moment of his-
dent is referring in some way to the san allegiances. Not true. For starters, tory in which we are now living will
oft-repeated description of the United America the country is what made mark an evolution or a devolution in
States as “the last, best hope of earth.” possible America the magazine. More human understanding will be deter-
That phrase is usually yanked out of important, we believe in the constitu- mined by the extent to which we are
the context in which Abraham Lincoln tional order not in spite of, but because willing to allow that redemptive pow-
used it and then employed to justify of what our faith teaches us about the er to both break us down and build us
some form of American exceptional- reality of sin and redemption. up. That revolution, inspired by grace,
ism, about which every Christian con- In the absence of law, we know is the reality upon which the success
science should have reasonable suspi- what follows from the reality that of the American revolution ultimately
cions. The United States is not the last, we live in a fallen world: Cain kills relies. In fact, it is the only revolution
best hope of Earth because that role is Abel. John Courtney Murray, S.J.,was truly worthy of the name.
already taken by the one whose incar- wrong about some things, but he was •••
nation we remember this month. not wrong about the fact that the Note: Sometime in the next 60 days,
I’ll give you this though: America American constitutional order is fun- you will receive a letter from me by
is the best thing to come along so far. damentally an attempt to prevent postal mail. It is neither a bill nor a
The United States is a unique achieve- Cain from killing Abel. This journal’s solicitation. It is information about
ment in a fallen world. That last part century-long championing of the changes to our website and to our digital
is important. We do not live in any old American experiment stems not from access, including instructions for how to
world, but in a specific kind of world, naïve, idealistic or wishful thinking, take full advantage of your subscription
one forged in the crucible of sin and re- but from a belief that more than 200 by accessing all the great digital
demption. We live in the hope that “the years ago, through an unlikely amal- content that is included with your print
arc of the moral universe bends toward gam of events, this country stumbled subscription. As always, thank you for
justice,” as Martin Luther King Jr. once onto a form of government that is bet- reading America. Merry Christmas!
said; but there is precious little in hu- ter than anything previously devised
man history to suggest that it inevita- or imagined since. Matt Malone, S.J.
bly does. For nothing created is perfect, Yes, I know, the Constitution also Twitter: @americaeditior.
DECEMBER 2020 AMERICA |3
THE ISSUE
GIVE AND TAKE
6
DISPATCHES
12
FEATURES
24
YOUR TAKE O LITTLER TOWN OF THE MAKING OF A SAINT
Readers react to the 2020 election BETHLEHEM? A ‘SLOW A Kansas priest and his campaign to
STRANGULATION’ ON THE canonize a local hero
8 WEST BANK Joe Drape
OUR TAKE
A time to heal; the McCarrick Report Need is up, charitable giving is down 32
as Covid-19 crisis continues ORDINARY TIME
10 Finding creativity and communion
SHORT TAKE Pope Francis throws a lifeline to through solitude
The “secret death penalty” of L.G.B.T. Catholics around the world Nick Ripatrazone
life imprisonment
Nicholas Goldrosen The church in Latin America is losing
control of the pro-life movement POEMS
Protest against police brutality grows 49
into broad show of discontent in AFTER THE DIAMOND SUTRA
Nigeria John Samuel Tieman
The McCarrick Report and the 51
legacy of St. John Paul II THE LAMB AND WHERE
IT WENT
GoodNews: Pope Francis meets Joe Hoover
missionary priest freed after
two-year captivity
4 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORG
AP photo
Journalists work on election night in
Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 1938.
Cover: The Rev. Emil Joseph Kapaun, a U.S. Army
chaplain who died in a North Korean prisoner of
war camp, is pictured celebrating Mass in South
Korea in October 1950.
CNS photo/courtesy U.S. Army medic Raymond Skeehan
FAITH & REASON IDEAS IN REVIEW THE WORD
40 52 66
WHEN ABRAHAM LINCOLN THE AGE OF SPIRITUALISM Reflections for Sundays
READ THE BOOK OF JOB In the 1920s Americans found December 6, 13, 20, 27
A leader faces his darkest hours themselves captivated by another Jaime L. Waters
Sergio Lopez world
Christopher Sandford
LAST TAKE
FAITH IN FOCUS 58
A brief history of “O Holy Night” 70
46 Benjamin Ivry KEVIN APPLEBY
RECIPE FOR JOY How Biden can work with the
St. Hildegard’s ingredients for an BOOKS U.S. bishops.
abundant life Inside the Critics’ Circle; Becoming
Sonja Livingston Los Angeles; Jack: Redhead by the
Side of the Road; Transcendent
Kingdom
DECEMBER 2020 VOL. 223 NO. 7 WHOLE NO. 5256
YOUR TAKE
Readers react to the 2020 election
From the beginning of his campaign, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. framed his quest for the White House as
“a battle for the soul of the nation.” Mr. Biden and his supporters won that battle, with voters electing him the nation’s
46th president, according to projections from the Associated Press and other media outlets. Mr. Biden will be just the
second Catholic to hold the presidency at a time when the Catholic Church in the United States, like the nation more
broadly, remains bitterly divided. The following is a curated selection of online reader comments from our coverage of
the election results.
I have noticed that the world seems a much calmer place circumstances. Trump increased his popularity. I do not
since Trump lost the presidency. The media is no longer see victory here. I see half the population would rather have
rushing to cover his every droning utterance and belligerent someone like Trump than anyone the Democrats (or the
tweet. He is slowly fading away from the spotlight that Republicans) could offer, even after four years of vicious
he so craves. Of course, he will not leave quietly and will media campaign. Unless the real problems get addressed,
stridently seek the attention that his ego demands. He has things will only get worse.
no cause for worry. He will never be forgotten because the Anthony P.
damage he has done to our body politic will remain as his
legacy long after he has left office. But we disagree about what the “real” problems are.
L. Kenney And what we disagree about most of all is the distinction
between political and moral problems. We often try to solve
Joe Biden is such an inspiration! He has endured moral problems by offering political solutions and political
unfathomable tragedy, yet he is unbowed and unbroken. problems by offering moral solutions. We resort to politics
He survived with his faith unshaken and his compassion and the potential for the power of the state, when we can’t
unscathed. We will soon have a president who attends face the disgrace of our total failure with moral persuasion.
Mass regularly and who always carries a rosary. Charles Erlinger
Meggie Graham
We need to move forward with the goal of reducing the
I did not vote for Donald Trump in 2016 or this year. As a animosity toward those with whom we do not agree
Catholic, I could not do so in good conscience. As a Catholic, politically. One factor that was left out is that a large number
I also could not, in good conscience, vote for Joe Biden of Americans believe news sources that are simply not
this year. Unborn human life is the most dehumanized life factual. We cannot work together as a nation if we have
in the United States today. It is time for the euphemisms propaganda sources swaying the beliefs of half of our nation.
about what abortion is, and what it does to unborn human Lisa Weber
lives, to stop. If Joe Biden cared nearly as much for the
voiceless as he claims, then he would be speaking up for the To me the first step in healing is a return to the pre-eminence
most voiceless—unborn humans. of truth and facts. We can rightfully have different and valid
Christopher Lake ideas of how problems should be addressed; we face complex
issues that have multiple solutions and competing priorities.
On Biden’s mandate: In 2016, Trump campaigned against But we cannot exist in different realities in different worlds
the Democrats, against the media, against big business of our own beliefs, many based on lies, and build a bridge
and against his own party—and won. In the subsequent over that divide. The path to a moderate, respectful, civil
four years, Trump has been accused of every possible political dialogue starts with facts and truth.
misconduct and crime. Nothing stuck! Normal people Charles Monsen
would have been crushed multiple times in similar
6 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORG
ADVERTISEMENT
Enjoy 2000 Years of Papal
History in Your Home or Car
2000 YEARS OF Follow the amazing story of the papacy, the oldest
institution in the Western world, through 36 captivating
PAPAL HISTORY lectures. This masterful series covers the most fascinating
history in the Western World: the papacy. As you look at
the popes who shaped vital moments in global history,
The History of the Popes, the Papacy, and the Catholic Church you will gain a deep understanding of the people, issues,
Fr. John W. O’Malley and ideas that gave us our Church and world. 2,000
Years of Papal History features both trials and triumph,
and Fr. John O’Malley deftly tackles both aspects. This is
a must-have course for all educated Catholics.
“John W. O’Malley, S.J., is not only the dean of American Catho-
lic historians, he is also one of the church’s greatest and most
accomplished teachers…Father O’Malley combines immense
learning…and fascinating insights to introduce (his audience) to
the always colorful history of the papacy. There can be no better
guide for the educated reader to the story of the popes than
Father O’Malley.”
~ JAMES MARTIN, S.J.
ORDER TODAY
SAVE UP
TO
$217
Sale Ends
1.
2.
Introduction
Peter, Bishop of Rome?
36 Lectures
20.
21.
Alexander VI & Julius II
Leo & Luther
Jan. 2 3. After Peter and Paul, What? 22. Medici, Tudors, Habsburgs, Valois
4. Constantine, 'The 13th Apostle' 23. Pope Paul III: A Turning Point
5. Prosperity to Crisis: Damasus & Leo 24. Reforming the Church: Popes &
6. Gregory the Great. (590-604) the Council of Trent
7. Greeks, Lombards, Franks 25. New Bureaucracy, New Rome
2000 YEARS OF PAPAL HISTORY 8. Charlemagne: Savior or Master? 26. Jesuits, Jansenists, Gallicans,
9. Their Darkest Hour & Philosophers
THE HISTORY OF THE POPES, 27. Trauma: Revolution...then Napoleon!
10. Saving the Papacy
THE PAPACY, AND 11. Pope Gregory VII: Who's in 28. The Papacy: Restored (again!)
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH Charge Here? and Beleaguered
12. Compromises, Councils, & Crusades 29. Pius IX & the Insolence of the
LOREM IPSUM
13. Pope Innocent III, 'Born to Rule' Risorgimento
Audio MP3 $269.95 NOW $52.95 30. Leo XIII: Searching for Solutions
and Vicar of Christ
14. Pope Boniface VIII: Big Claims, 31. Pius X & Benedict XV: Fear & Sadness
Listen today with our Big Humiliation 32. Pius XI: Dealing with Mussolini
instant Audio MP3 15. "The Babylonian Captivity" and Hitler
Download Option 16. The Great Western Schism, 33. Pius XII: Saint or Sinner?
1378-1417 34. Pope John XXIII & the 2nd Vatican
17. The Restored Papacy Council
Coupon Code: A2233 18. Two Councils & Two Popes 35. Pope Paul VI: In a Tight Spot
19. Some Renaissance Popes 36. Pope John Paul II & Conclusion
SALE ENDS 1/2/2021 www.Learn25.com/PapalHistory
Learn25 | 12115 Parklawn Dr., Unit B, Rockville, MD 20852 | Order online or call 1-800-955-3904
DECEMBER 2020 AMERICA |7
OUR TAKE
A Time to Heal
Joseph R. Biden Jr. has been elected wounded people, struggling to meet however difficult or painful, rather
the 46th president of the United the twin threats of the pandemic and than brute confrontations. Only the
States. The result is a personal triumph the ensuing economic crisis. No doubt former can lead to healing. “Authentic
for the former vice president and U.S. urgent and creative measures are re- social dialogue,” Pope Francis wrote
senator, who overcame setbacks and quired. But Americans should also in “Fratelli Tutti,” “involves the ability
family tragedy to gain the prize he step back and take stock. Scripture to respect the other’s point of view and
had long sought. Mr. Biden is only the tells us that “for everything there is a to admit that it may include legitimate
second Roman Catholic to win the season, a time for every activity un- convictions and concerns.”
White House. The fact that Mr. Biden’s der heaven.” President-elect Biden The nation’s political leaders must
faith was a matter of contention referred to this very Scripture in the meet the challenge, too. While Demo-
mainly among Catholics and was not final days of his campaign. “The Bible crats cannot and should not seize the
an impediment to his election is itself tells us that there is a time to break moment to pursue a radical legislative
a victory for the American experiment down and a time to build up—and a agenda, Republicans should not resort
and owes much to the pioneering time to heal,” he told his supporters in to their previous strategy of legislative
efforts of the previous Catholic Warm Springs, Ga. “This is that time. obstruction, opposing everything a
candidates, especially Al Smith and God and history have called us to this Democratic president proposes sim-
John F. Kennedy. moment and to this mission.” ply because he proposes it.
But the ultimate winner of the It is a time to heal. The American people deserve
2020 presidential election is the In healing the wounds of the body leaders as open-minded and willing to
American people, who have countered politic, every citizen must play his or work together as they are. “The chal-
a unique threat to the constitutional her part. In the aftermath of this bitterly lenges facing us today,” Pope Francis
order and rid themselves of someone contested election, Americans should said in his address to the U.S. Congress
singularly ill-suited for the office of reach out to their neighbors, not to gloat in 2015, “call for a renewal of that spir-
president. This is a victory for the en- or commiserate but to recall their com- it of cooperation, which has accom-
tire country, and the men and women mon humanity and shared citizenship; plished so much good throughout the
who won office must now govern for remembering, as the late Robert F. Ken- history of the United States. The com-
the entire country. The national Dem- nedy said, “that those who live with us plexity, the gravity and the urgency of
ocratic sweep that many predicted are our brothers, that they share with us these challenges demand that we pool
has not materialized. Democrats will the same short moment of life…. Surely our resources and talents, and resolve
have fewer seats in the new House of we can learn, at least, to look at those to support one another, with respect
Representatives, while the outcome around us as fellow men and surely we for our differences and our convic-
in the Senate remains uncertain. Yet can begin to work a little harder to bind tions of conscience.”
a clear majority of American voters up the wounds among us and to become Much will depend on the judgment
have given Mr. Biden a mandate: to re- in our hearts brothers and countrymen of the president-elect. Mr. Biden: The
pair the nation’s social fabric, to bind once again.” country needs you to lead. America
up the nation’s wounds and to bring The work of healing is also the has spent four years with a leader who
us together as one nation. It is not a work of social justice. Now is the time governed for only 46 percent of the
mandate to legislate a radical new or- to heed the command of Isaiah “to country. You will oppose some Repub-
der, pack the U.S. Supreme Court or undo the heavy burdens and let the licans, surely, but you should appoint
pursue an extreme pro-choice agenda. oppressed go free”; to reach out to some, too. For you must make good on
Many Republicans and independents the poor, the elderly, the indigent, the your promise to “be a president for all
have voted for country over party. Mr. stranger, to all those on the peripher- Americans” and govern, in the words of
Biden and his Democratic colleagues ies of our national life. The country’s Abraham Lincoln, “with malice toward
must govern with that in mind. reckoning with its history of racist op- none; with charity for all.”
The last four years have dam- pression must also continue. Yet these It is a time to heal.
aged the American system. We are a efforts must be genuine encounters, It is a time for greatness.
8 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORG
Advertising ads@americamedia.org 212.515.0126 General Inquiries 212.581.4640 Subscriptions and Additional Copies 1.800.267.6939 Reprints reprints@americamedia.org Editorial Email america@americamedia.org
The McCarrick Report Founded in 1909
Needed a Lay Board President and Editor in Chief Matt Malone, S.J.
Deputy Editor in Chief Maurice Timothy Reidy
Executive Editors Sebastian Gomes
Ashley McKinless
The release by the Vatican Secretary Kerry Weber
Editor at Large James Martin, S.J.
of State of the “McCarrick Report” on Production Editor Robert C. Collins, S.J.
Nov. 10 was a signal moment for the Senior Editors Kevin Clarke
James T. Keane
Catholic Church, an unprecedented J.D. Long-García
reckoning with corporate and personal Sam Sawyer, S.J.
Robert David Sullivan
failings on an issue where honesty Creative Director Shawn Tripoli
and transparency have too often Graphic Designer
Poetry Editor
Alison Hamilton
Joe Hoover, S.J.
taken a back seat to self-preservation. Vatican Correspondent Gerard O’Connell
The U.S. church—from bishops and National Correspondent
Associate Editors
Michael J. O’Loughlin
Ricardo da Silva
cardinals all the way to the folks in the Associate Editor & Director of Audience
Engagement and Analytics Zachary Davis
pews—waited two long years for this Audio Producer Maggi Van Dorn
account of who knew what and when; Video Producer &
Director of Photography Deniz Demirer
some of Mr. McCarrick’s victims have Assistant Producers Colleen Dulle, Kevin Jackson
waited decades longer. It is important Assistant Editors Vivian Cabrera
Joseph McAuley
to recognize their suffering and the Contributing Writers Nichole M. Flores
courage they have shown in persevering Cecilia González-Andrieu
Rachel Lu
in the quest for truth and justice. Eileen Markey
While it conducted an extensive in- Jim McDermott, S.J.
Kaya Oakes
ternal investigation, the Vatican never Nathan Schneider
followed through on the U.S. bishops’ re- Eve Tushnet
Contributing Editors Ellen Boegel
quest for a lay board in 2018. As a result, Patrick Gilger, S.J.
areas of the report that seem opaque or Maryann Cusimano Love
William McCormick, S.J.
defensive can cause readers (and cer- Paul McNelis, S.J.
tainly reporters) to wonder if every con-
Regional Correspondents Dean Dettloff (Toronto)
Anthony Egan, S.J. (Johannesburg)
clusion in the report’s 400-plus pages is Jan-Albert Hootsen (Mexico City)
offering a full disclosure of what Vatican
Jim McDermott, S.J. (Los Angeles)
Melissa Vida (Brussels)
officials knew. Special Contributors Jake Martin, S.J., Sean Salai, S.J.
Editor, The Jesuit Post Brian Strassburger, S.J.
If and when the church has to under- Moderator, Catholic Book Club Kevin Spinale, S.J.
go a terrible process like this again, those O'Hare Fellows Molly Cahill
Erika Rasmussen
in charge of the reporting should not be Kevin Christopher Robles
those with the most at stake in the repu-
Executive V.P. and
tation of the institution. There are, after Chief Operating Officer Traug Keller
all, more than a billion lay Catholics who Senior V.P. for Finance and Operations Rosa M. Del Saz
V.P. of Advancement and Membership James Cappabianca
care deeply about the protection of chil- Advancement Strategist Heather Trotta
dren and vulnerable adults. Advancement Associate Michelle Smith
Director of Advertising Services Kenneth Arko
Account Manager Lindsay Chessare
Advertising Sales Associate Geena Di Camillo
Director of Marketing Lisa Manico
Special Assistant to the President &
Editor in Chief Nicholas D. Sawicki
Business Operations Staff Glenda Castro, Jonathan Tavarez,
Elena Te, Bianca C. Tucker
Editor Emeritus Francis W. Turnbull, S.J.
Chair, Board of Directors Susan S. Braddock
americamagazine.org 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Fl.
facebook.com/americamag New York, NY 10036
twitter.com/americamag America Press Inc. d/b/a America Media ©2020
DECEMBER 2020 AMERICA |9
SHORT TAKE
The ‘secret death penalty’ of life imprisonment is against Catholic teaching
Over 200,000 inmates in U.S. prisons he quotes St. Augustine, who told a away for crimes that make them a
can expect to die there, but only 2,620 judge sentencing the murderers of continued danger to the community.
of them are on death row. The rest are two priests, “Do not let the atrocity of For example, on Oct. 15, Fair Wayne
sentenced either to life in prison— their sins feed a desire for vengeance, Bryant was released from a Louisiana
over 50,000 of them without the but desire instead to heal the wounds prison where he was serving a life sen-
possibility of parole—or to terms long which those deeds have inflicted on tence for the theft of hedge clippers in
enough to be “virtual” life sentences, their souls” (No. 265). 1997. (Mr. Bryant had four previous
according to the advocacy group The As for rehabilitation, punish- felony convictions, but his only vio-
Sentencing Project. ment should equip an offender to lent crime, attempted armed robbery,
Life imprisonment is a “secret re-enter society and not offend had occurred 18 years before he was
death penalty,” as Pope Francis wrote again. But, again, a life sentence does sentenced to life imprisonment.)
in his recent encyclical “Fratelli Tutti” not admit the possibility of rehabil- In remarks to Italian prison
(No. 268). While there has been much itation, for the offender is never to guards last year, Pope Francis sug-
media coverage of the pope’s emphasis re-enter society. gested that all prisoners deserve the
that the death penalty is incompatible Deterrence is the extent to which “right to hope” and said, “If you close
with Catholic teaching, we should not the sentence might make the offender hope in a cell, there is no future for so-
overlook his writing on life imprison- and others think twice about commit- ciety.” The revocation of hope not only
ment. “Fratelli Tutti” offers a holistic ting crimes in the future. A life sen- harms those we incarcerate; it is also
view of legal punishment, calling it tence fits the logic that the harshest a sign of a morally deficient society.
“part of a process of healing and rein- penalties should be the most effective When we see our fellow citizens as ir-
tegration into society” (No. 266). The in preventing crime. But a study from revocably damned by their crimes, we
overuse of the life sentence—a perma- the National Academy of Sciences close off the possibility that they might
nent exclusion from society—should suggests that this is not the case, not- be drawn to penitence and rehabilita-
gravely concern U.S. Catholics. ing, “From 1972 to 2012, the U.S. in- tion. The salvific death and resurrec-
There are several reasons for the carceration rate quadrupled as Amer- tion of Jesus Christ at the center of
dramatic rise in the number of pris- ica’s courts began handing out longer our faith call us to be eternally hopeful
oners in the United States with life sentences.” The study’s authors write that all of us might be saved. When we
sentences. Tough-on-crime laws from that the certainty and speed of impos- see others as beyond hope, we reject
the late 20th century have led to an ing punishment matter much more in the universality of what we believe.
increased prison population today. deterring crime than does the severity “Fratelli Tutti” is dedicated, in the
Habitual offender laws, like Califor- of sentences. pope’s words, to “fraternity and social
nia’s “three strikes” law, have imposed Of course, life sentences could friendship.” When we permanently
more life sentences for comparatively remain necessary in the most hei- sever the bonds of social friendship
minor crimes. And “truth-in-sentenc- nous cases to incapacitate offenders by imprisoning people for the rest of
ing” laws keep more prisoners behind deemed otherwise likely to cause fur- their lives, we demean our own hope
bars for what are effectively life terms ther harm in the community. This does in repentance and salvation. “Fratelli
by reducing or eliminating parole and not have to be lifelong incapacitation, Tutti” is a clarion call for Catholics to
early release. though, especially given the aging work toward ending the widespread
In criminology and criminal law, prison population in the United States use of this secret death penalty.
sentencing is largely thought to have and the attendant health care costs.
four purposes: retribution, rehabili- Recidivism among elderly prisoners
Nicholas Goldrosen is a graduate
tation, deterrence and incapacitation. released from custody is astonishing- student at the Institute of Criminology,
A retributive punishment can be jus- ly low—3 percent, according to one University of Cambridge, England.
tified as a kind of moral vengeance, study by the Justice Policy Institute.
but that is exactly what Pope Fran- And many life-sentenced prisoners
cis warns against. In “Fratelli Tutti,” in the United States were not locked
10 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORGAn invitation
to imagine your future
Transition to re-wirement .
As the adage goes, “Great John Michael Mariann
leaders never stop learning.” Fontana Garanzini, S.J. McCorkle
As you approach or near the
Salisbury
summit of your career, Ignatian
Legacy Fellows is a gap year
opportunity to deepen your
learning during re-wirement,
and to create a meaningful,
productive next chapter of
life. We’ll help you answer the
questions, “What next?” and
“How can I share my knowledge
and experiences with the
next generation?”
Now forming the second
cohort to begin virtually
in January 2021.
Apply now: LUC.edu/ilf
P H OTO C R E D I T
PA R T N E R I N G I N S T I T U T I O N S
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO • BOSTON COLLEGE • SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY • GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
DECEMBER 2020 AMERICA | 11DISPATCHES
O littler town of Bethlehem?
A Palestinian Christian enclave’s ‘slow strangulation’ on the West Bank
By Judith Sudilovsky
At the tail end of the summer harvest season, Nakleh spaces left in the Bethlehem core area for agriculture and
Abu Eid, 80, walked through what remained of his fruit outdoor recreational activities.
orchard in the Al Makhrour area of the largely Palestinian U.S.-backed normalization agreements, which include
Christian village of Beit Jala, filling a basket with figs and a suspension of Israeli annexation of parts of the West
green grapes. Bank, were signed in mid-September between Israel and
From the porch of the small stone cottage used during the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. But the threat of
harvests, Mr. Abu Eid, a member of the Greek Orthodox more settlement expansion along the northern, southern
Church, can look out in front of him and see the Israeli set- and eastern borders of the Bethlehem core area remains a
tlement of Har Gilo—considered by Israel a neighborhood constant worry for local residents.
of Jerusalem. Out back, construction work on the tunnel According to the Oslo Accords, Israel retains control over
road that will connect Jerusalem and settlements in the security and land management in Area C, which constitutes
Bethlehem area continues, and beyond that are more set- about 60 percent of West Bank territory, where Mr. Abu Eid’s
tlements in the Southern Hebron area. orchard is located. He feels his land is under constant threat of
Before much of the land around him was confiscated confiscation by Israel.
for settlement construction and the tunnel road, Mr. Abu “We live in a situation of chronic alertness, of worrying
Eid had almost four acres of agricultural land in the valley. about what will happen next,” Mr. Abu Eid said. “You can’t
Now he has only one. build anything here. You can only come to take your fruit.”
Located on the outer edge of the Christian village of While the U.A.E.-Bahrain agreements were being
Beit Jala and about four miles northeast of the Old City of touted as political breakthroughs, Prime Minister Benja-
Bethlehem, Al Makhrour is one of the few remaining green min Netanyahu of Israel and his political rival Benny Gantz
12 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORGPalestinian farmer Nakleh Abu Eid
were jousting for political support President Donald Trump’s “Deal of the Century” for an-
from Israeli settlers, each holding out nexation by Israel, she added.
the promise of thousands more hous- “Their annexation by Israel would serve a significant
ing units for West Bank settlers. blow to the Palestinian Christian presence in its home-
Some of those new units will be land,” said Ms. Qumsieh. “What we know from experience
constructed not far from Mr. Abu is that loss of land is not only loss of livelihood, but also a
Eid’s fruit orchard just out of sight in loss of hope for the future and is normally a key factor of
the south, over another hill in the en- the decision in favor of emigration.”
croaching Israeli settlement of Efrat, In addition, along the eastern border, Bethlehem is
which is part of the Gush Etzion set- blocked by the Israeli settlements of Tekoa and Nokdim,
tlement block. which also wall the area off from Jerusalem. From the west
After a 20-year legal battle, Efrat the separation fence and the Tunnel Highway connecting
was given the go-ahead in May by the Gush Etzion settlements to Jerusalem encircles Bethlehem,
Israeli Civil Administration to expand leaving the southern area including Al Makhrour the only
with 7,000 more units in a new, noncon- open border and the only place Bethlehem can develop.
tiguous “neighborhood,” known as Givat That worries Mayor Anton Salman Anton of Bethle-
Eitam, on about 300 acres of land on a hem. Looking down the road four or five years from now,
barren hill where Palestinian farmers he sees no place where his city will be able to expand to ac-
Photo by Judith Sudilovsky
have been farming for generations. count for the natural growth of its population. There will be
If implemented, this construction no green area for the residents, who will be blocked in from
plan would cut off 14 southern West all sides, to enjoy, he said.
Bank villages from their natural con- He fears more Palestinian emigration will result. Peo-
nection with Bethlehem and also cut ple leave, he said, because of a combination of economic,
Bethlehem off from the main highway social and professional difficulties. But, he adds, many leave
to the southern West Bank. It would because they want freedom of movement, to live where
also prevent the city’s growth in the only direction not yet they do not have to run through a gauntlet of settlements,
blocked by Israeli settlements or highways. checkpoints, roadblocks and permit requirements just to
The Bethlehem core area is already hemmed in to the move from one city to another.
north by the Gilo, Har Gilo and Har Homa semicircle of set- Israel has been intent on encircling Bethlehem with
tlements. The Israeli civil rights group Ir Amim reported in strategically located settlements since the Six-Day War
May that the Jerusalem District Committee gave final ap- in 1967, said Jad Isaac, general director of the Applied Re-
proval for the construction of 2,000 units in Har Homa-E. search Institute-Jerusalem, based in Bethlehem. Now it
That construction would create a contiguous Israeli settle- is aiming to connect the west and east Gush Etzion settle-
ment block that would completely cut off the traditional ments, preventing any possibility for the natural expansion
contact between the Bethlehem area’s northern border and of Bethlehem, leaving the area “one big prison.”
East Jerusalem. “There has been a slow strangulation of Bethlehem, but
“In the Bethlehem area, Israeli settlements serve the it has increased over the past few years since Trump came
key objective of severing the geographic contiguity between into power,” Dr. Isaac said. “They are just filling in the gaps.”
Bethlehem and Jerusalem,” said Dalia Qumsieh, the founder
and director of the Balasan Initiative for Human Rights. Judith Sudilovsky, a correspondent for Catholic
The most endangered areas in the Bethlehem core are News Service, contributes from Jerusalem.
the Cremisan and Al Makhrour valleys, said Ms. Qumsieh. Twitter: @jsudireports.
Referred to as the green lungs of the Bethlehem core area,
both valleys are surrounded by Israeli settlements and the
annexation wall, she said. They have been earmarked by
DECEMBER 2020 AMERICA | 13Pandemic Accounting
Need is up, charitable giving is down as Covid-19 crisis continues
At the same time that the Covid-19 crisis has driven up the reported direct financial harm because of the crisis, throw-
need for direct services from charities, it has depressed the ing into doubt their ability to keep giving this year. Perform-
dollar amounts in donations they are likely to receive. That ing arts, culture and health care industries have reported the
pandemic inversion was described by Deacon Steve Schum- greatest declines in donor support, while human and social
er, president and C.E.O. of Buffalo Catholic Charities, in an services have been more likely to report increases in giving.
interview with The Buffalo News last May. His agency’s local In more positive news, Gallup also found that those arguably
fundraising ran substantially below 2019 figures last spring, in the best position to donate to charities, households in up-
he said, but “when the rest of the economy takes a nosedive, per-income brackets, planned to give more in 2020. And an
that’s the time when entities like Catholic Charities have to online survey of donors to faith-based nonprofits who had
step forward.” given $1,000 or more in 2018 or 2019 found that 85 percent
In 2019, Americans donated almost $450 billion to plan to give as much or more this year.
charity—the second highest annual amount in U.S. history. As has been the case in past years, religiously affiliated
But just a few months later, as the pandemic wreaked havoc households are more likely to engage in charitable giving,
on families and the economy, the impact of Covid-19 was but parish fundraising, hampered by closed churches and
becoming clear. Gallup found that a 21st-century low of 73 tele-Mass celebrations, has taken a hit. By November, 64
percent of U.S. adults said they were donating to religious percent of U.S. parishes had reported that they received a
and other charities in 2020, beating the polling organiza- federal Paycheck Protection Program loan to respond to
tion’s previous low of 79 percent during the Great Reces- payroll shortfalls caused by a drop in giving.
sion in 2009.
According to Gallup, 30 percent of Americans in April Molly Cahill, O’Hare media fellow. Twitter: @MollyKCahill.
Projected impact of Covid-19 on fundraising through 2020 by nonprofit type 5% 3%
Performing Arts 92%
Decline
Neutral Culture 79% 8% 13%
Increase Health 68% 12% 20%
Education 64% 23% 13%
Hospital/Medical 62% 21% 17%
Other 62% 24% 14%
Environment/Animals 60% 26% 14%
Human and Social Services 58% 18% 24%
Higher Education 55% 24% 22%
Religion 53% 21% 26%
Sixty-two percent of religious households give to By Aug. 26, giving to charities responding to the Covid-19
charities of any kind, according to a 2017 study, compared with crisis was almost $12 billion.
46 percent of households with no religious affiliation.
Going mobile? Giving by mobile devices has increased from 9% in
Impact of Covid-19 on fundraising waning? 2014 to 26% in 2019.
In May, 63% of nonprofits reported that donations were
85% of major donors said they plan to maintain or increase
decreasing and 14% reported increases. By June, 53% were
support of faith-based charities this year; only 8% planned to shift
reporting donation declines and 28% reported increases.
donations to other causes or nonprofits because of the pandemic.
Sources: Gallup; “Catholic fundraising in 2020: Many down, some up, but it has all changed,” Catholic News Service; Buffalo
14 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORG News; CCS Fundraising Nonprofit Fundraising Survey; CCS Fundraising Snapshot of Today’s Philanthropic Landscape, Center
for Disaster Philanthropy and the research center Candid.ADVERTISEMENT
Light the Way
for
Joy
Joy, 10 years old
Joy’s name reflects her personality. Her
caregivers say she is a pleasant and happy
child who is a light to all who meet her. Joy
has microcephaly and cerebral palsy. Inspired by the healing and
When her family was unable to care for caring ministry of Jesus Christ,
her, she found a home at Mustard Seed Mustard Seed Communities
Communities. provides care to children and
adults with disabilities, children
When she first came to Mustard Seed affected by HIV,
Communities, Joy was malnourished and teenage mothers, and
could not even hold up her head. impoverished families.
Today, thanks to supporters like you, Joy
has a loving home where she receives Mustard Seed Communities
physical therapy and medicine. Joy is 29 Janes Avenue
growing and thriving. Medfield MA 02052
508.242.9622
LEARN MORE AT www.mustardseed.com
Jamaica | Nicaragua | Dominican
www.mustardseed.com/america Republic | Zimbabwe | Malawi
2 years old 3 years old 4 years old 5 years old 7 years old
DECEMBER 2020 AMERICA | 15CNS photo/Kacper Pempel, Reuters
In Warsaw, Poland,
Pawel Szamburski
joins a protest
aganst violence that
targeted the L.G.B.T.
community.
Pope Francis throws a lifeline
to L.G.B.T. Catholics around the world
Janine Scott-dos Santos has prayed over the possibility of ed, as a gay man he is “grateful to Pope Francis for these words,
legalizing her relationship with her longtime partner. South as I believe are the majority of L.G.B.T.Q. people in Poland.”
Africa, where Ms. Scott-dos Santos lives with her partner L.G.B.T. Catholics in sub-Saharan Africa, home to a
and their 8-year-old son, legalized same-sex marriage in large and growing population of Catholics, say the pope’s
2006. But it is only recently that public attitudes have begun words could help when it comes to societal acceptance.
to shift there toward the acceptance of L.G.B.T. people. Brian Okollan, the head of Rainbow Catholics Kenya and
Ms. Scott-dos Santos said her decision to make a civil a former board member of the Global Network of Rainbow
commitment was exactly for the reasons cited by the pope— Catholics, told America that L.G.B.T. people rank among
“to have our legal rights as a family protected.” Ms. Scott-dos “the most discriminated communities in the church.”
Santos was referring to clips from “Francesco,” a documen- And while he welcomes the pope’s words, he wonders if
tary released in October, that show Pope Francis urging fam- church leaders in Kenya will be receptive to the softer tone
ilies to accept their L.G.B.T. members and endorsing the idea on L.G.B.T. issues. The pope’s message is good, he said, “but
of civil protections for same-sex couples—though the pope if a message falls on infertile ground, nothing will grow.”
was careful not to endorse same-sex marriage. Ssenfuka Joanita Warry called the pope’s message a
“I’m not naïve enough to believe that because the “bombshell.” Ms. Warry, who leads Faithful Catholic Souls
pope has said this, that it’s going to change the minds of Uganda, a group of L.G.B.T. Catholics, said a focus on ac-
Catholics,” she said. “But I do think that this is a step in ceptance was more important than debates about changing
the right direction.” the church’s teaching on same-sex relationships.
The Rev. Bryan Massingale, a theologian at Fordham “Remember, the most important issue there is love,”
University, described the pope’s comments as “huge for a she said. L.G.B.T. people “hold the blood of that family, so
global church where homosexuality is still outlawed in over they belong…. If you think they are sinners, it’s not your
70 countries and punishable by death in five.” duty to judge the sinners.”
“It definitely will save lives, especially in countries Ms. Warry said the pope’s words have already made
where there is active persecution of L.G.B.T.Q. people,” an impact on her. He has identified Catholic culture with
added Father Massingale. He said the pope’s recently pub- “acceptance and inclusion of everyone, regardless of their
licized comments were consistent with his pastoral ap- sexual orientation and gender identity,” she said. “I think
proach, “putting the focus on gay and lesbian persons, not he’s given me a reason for not changing my religion or going
seeing them as ‘walking sex acts.’” to any other church. It gives me courage.”
About half the population in Poland believe homo-
sexuality should not be accepted by society, according to Michael J. O’Loughlin, national correspondent.
the Pew Research Center, and Catholic leaders there have Twitter: @MikeOLoughlin.
been vocal against L.G.B.T. civil rights. The L.G.B.T. activist
Ricardo da Silva, S.J., associate editor.
Grzegorz Okrent said in an email to America that he did Twitter: @ricdssj.
not anticipate much improvement in “the thinking and ac-
tions of the Catholic Church and the episcopate.” But, he add-
16 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORGThe Rosary of Modern Sorrows
A beautiful gift for those
dedicated to social justice
Save 15% Use coupon code AM20
Offer expires JAN 1, 2021
Enjoy fudge and fruitcake handmade
by the monks of Gethsemani Abbey.
20 oz. Fruitcake and 16 oz. Chocolate Bourbon Made by refugees
Fudge with Pecan Pieces in Charlo�e, NC
ITEM # 127 - $35.95 NOW $30.56
20 oz. Fruitcake and 16 oz. Non-Bourbon Chocolate Each decade is a meditation on a justice cause:
Fudge with Walnuts (pictured) Women & Children, the Environment, Immigration,
Race & Incarceration, LGBTQ+ and more
ITEM # 128 - $35.95 NOW $30.56
Use code AM10 to get 10% off • Gift-boxed
800-549-0912 • gethsemanifarms.org Go to ContemplativeRebellion.com
Retirement Fund for Religious
Please give to those who have given a lifetime.
Senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests Please donate at your local parish or by mail at:
served for years, usually for little pay. Today, many religious National Religious Retirement Office/AMR
communities lack adequate retirement savings and struggle 3211 Fourth Street NE
to provide for aging members. You can help. Washington DC 20017-1194
Make check payable to Retirement Fund for Religious.
retiredreligious.org
Above, from left: Sister Alice Garcia, SSCJ, 91; Brother Martin Gonzales, OCSO, 95; Sister Theresa McGrath, CCVI, 86; Sister Anne Cecile Muldoon, OSU, 93; Abbot Emeritus Peter Eberle, OSB, 79.
©2020 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington DC • All rights reserved • Photo: Jim Judkis
DECEMBER 2020 AMERICA | 17Pro-life supporters pray
during a protest outside the
local congress in Oaxaca,
Mexico, in 2019.
The Catholic Church
in Latin America is
losing control of the
CNS photo/Jorge Luis Plata, Reuters
pro-life movement
Can it win it back?
Feminist social movements have been mobilizing to In the Dominican Republic, the Most Rev. Victor Ma-
decriminalize abortion in Latin American nations in salles, bishop of Baní, agrees that the civic discussion of
recent years, provoking clashes with pro-life movements abortion has been transformed by such movements, and he
and the Catholic Church. Now new social actors, especially worries that some in the church could unwittingly be drawn
evangelical Protestant groups and emerging right-wing into political entanglements. “There’s certainly a pro-Trump
movements in the region, have joined the debate on the movement of fundamentalist nature, so the left wing has
contentious issue. been accusing us of being far-right-wingers,” he lamented.
The Catholic Church has surrendered the leading role Evangelical Protestant organizations have been try-
it once had in the cultural dialogue over abortion, according ing to “take advantage” of the Catholic Church, said Bish-
to Franciso Borba Ribeiro Neto, the director of the Pontifi- op Masalles. “We have a [tactical] unity with them during
cal Catholic University’s Center of Faith and Culture in São pro-life campaigns, but they want to gain ground on us,”
Paulo, Brazil. “Catholics in general have adopted a stern con- he told America.
demnation of abortion over the past 40 years,” he said. In Ecuador, rather than perceiving new voices on the
But the church’s position did not allow for nuance, al- issue as a threat, the Catholic Church has aligned itself
lowing left-wing movements some success in advocating with a broader pro-life coalition that includes evangelicals.
for liberalization of abortion laws. As the cultural influence “We have exclusively Catholic initiatives that have led pro-
of Catholic groups that defended life diminished, new pro- grams in defense of life and family for years. But at times
life organizations, not connected to the church, emerged. we open space for movements of our evangelical brothers.
The Peruvian group Con Mis Hijos No Se Metas We know that each one of us has a unique way of defending
(“Don’t Mess With My Children”) and the Ecuadorian um- life,” Archbishop Luis Herrera of Guayaquil said.
brella movement Consejo de Resistencia Fe, Vida y Familia The church in Latin America missed an opportunity
(“Council of Resistance Faith, Life and Family”), among early on to promote a civic discussion of women’s rights and
others, have been active in campaigns against abortion, protection, but that remains one possible way to resume a
same-sex marriage and “gender ideology” in schools. lead role in the pro-life struggle, said Mr. Ribeiro Neto.
Church officials and cultural commentators say these “The church must show solidarity with pregnant
new protagonists in the debate have goals that are focused women in crisis,” he said. “There are movements through-
as much on right-wing political success as they are on pro- out Latin America to support women and avoid abortion,
life principles. with programs that include adoption, foster care and all
“Now there’s a big orchestration of Christian church- kinds of help.”
es taking part in the debate on sexual and women’s re- By stressing such concrete actions in support of
productive rights, sometimes leading to openly political pregnant women, he said, the church could avoid the
movements,” said Aura Cuasapud, legal advisor of the Co- U.S.-style politicization of abortion that now haunts
lombian branch of Catholics for the Right to Choose, an or- the pro-life movement in Latin America, allowing the
ganization inspired by Catholics for Choice in the United church to propose its own views on how to deal with un-
States but that operates autonomously in Latin America. planned pregnancies.
“Many of those groups are equipped with arguments that
come from the United States.” Eduardo Campos Lima contributes from São Paulo, Brazil.
18 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORGAP Photo/Sunday Alamba
Protest against
police brutality grows
into broad show of Police officers stop and
search a bus carrying
discontent in Nigeria passengers around
Lekki toll gate in Lagos
on Oct. 23.
At the Lekki toll gate in Lagos on Oct. 20, thousands of ty forces so far. The government acknowledged on Oct. 23
peaceful demonstrators stood their ground, demanding that 69 people, mainly civilians but also police officers and
police reform, singing the national anthem and hoisting soldiers, have died.
Nigeria’s green-white flag. But, as soldiers warned The North-West Africa Province of the Society of Je-
protesters that day, the national flag is not bulletproof. sus called on the government to “institute sincere reforms
“One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity,” the in the criminal justice system to guarantee accountability,
protestors sang before the soldiers opened fire, killing protection of citizens’ rights, fairness, and access to justice
more than 10 demonstrators, according to multiple eyewit- for all on the basis of equality.” The province said it con-
ness accounts. demns “the use of force and intimidation by security per-
The protests began on Oct. 7 after the extrajudicial sonnel,” adding that “peaceful protest is a fundamental
killing of a Nigerian youth at the hands of the detested Spe- right of every Nigerian.”
cial Anti-Robbery Squad was caught on video and quickly Aniedi Okure, O.P., the executive director of the Af-
went viral. The SARS police unit has become notorious for rican Faith and Justice Network, a Catholic nonprofit or-
illegal arrests, torture, extortion, sexual violence and the ganization based in Washington, said the protest against
killing of young Nigerians. The unit is alleged to operate police brutality has triggered attention to other issues that
secret torture camps and detention facilities. affect Nigerians daily. Their lives have been made miser-
Protestors using #EndSARS as a social media hashtag able by the failure of Nigeria’s leaders, he said, who have
took to the streets, demanding that SARS be disbanded and “mortgaged the future of young Nigerians.”
calling for other police reforms, the prosecution of officers In local parishes, priests and bishops have used their
who have killed unarmed Nigerians and compensation for homilies to talk about the protest and support an end to police
the families of victims. But the demands of the demonstra- brutality. Mass was held on the protest ground, and sisters and
tors have quickly expanded into a broad critique of govern- seminarians helped distribute holy communion to protesters.
ment corruption, incompetence and impunity as human “The church realizes that this is more than just a pro-
rights abuses and economic malaise continue in Nigeria. test,” Father Okure said. “The church recognizes that the
The Archdiocese of Lagos said in a statement released government has failed to protect the citizens and to pro-
on Oct. 17 that the problems confronting the nation are vide the basic infrastructure to enable citizens and make
clearly more fundamental “than the replacement of one the society a better place to live.”
police unit.” It called for police reforms and dialogue in- Father Okure said security officials responsible for
stead of a continued crackdown on the demonstrators. “We killing peaceful protesters should be arrested and pros-
believe that a sincere and transparent response to the de- ecuted. “Human life is sacred as God’s creation,” he said.
mands of the young people would go a long way in resolving “The church is against the violation of human rights or tak-
the present impasse.” ing life because it is only God who gives life.”
Since the demonstrations began, mostly peaceful pro-
testors have endured live fire, tear gas and water cannons Patrick Egwu writes from Johannesburg, South Africa.
deployed by security forces. According to Amnesty Inter- Twitter: @PatrickEgwu6.
national, more than 56 people have been killed by securi-
DECEMBER 2020 AMERICA | 19The ‘McCarrick Report’ and Pope John Paul II:
Confronting a saint’s complex legacy
The release of the “McCarrick Report” by the Vatican on rick had abused a minor, rumors of adult affairs with other
Nov. 10 provided significant information about Theodore priests and an allegation that Mr. McCarrick behaved inap-
McCarrick’s abuse of minors and seminarians, as well as propriately around seminarians.
a long and shameful history of church leaders ignoring But because the allegation of sexual abuse of a minor
complaints and concerns about Mr. McCarrick. It also was made anonymously, it was ignored; similarly, the com-
raised inevitable questions of who knew what and when, plaint about inappropriate behavior with adults was dis-
including three popes: John Paul II, Benedict XVI and missed because the priest making the allegation was him-
Pope Francis. John Paul II was canonized by Pope Francis self a convicted sexual abuser.
in 2014, less than 10 years after his death. Following the report’s publication, George Weigel, the
The Vatican report largely avoids blaming Pope Fran- author of the best-selling biography of St. John Paul II ti-
cis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI for the lack of over- tled Witness to Hope, spoke with Cardinal Timothy Dolan
sight and restrictions on Mr. McCarrick, noting that both of New York on the archbishop’s SiriusXM radio show. Mr.
assumed that their predecessor, John Paul II, had deter- Weigel rejected the conclusion that St. John Paul II de-
mined that Mr. McCarrick was not guilty of any crimes. served blame for Mr. McCarrick’s rise.
In the case of John Paul II, the report argues that he was “Theodore McCarrick fooled a lot of people,” Mr. Wei-
naturally suspicious of accusations of sexual misconduct gel said. “He fooled a lot of laypeople. He fooled the media
against bishops because he had seen similar tactics used in for years. He fooled his brother bishops, and he deceived
his native Poland under Soviet rule. John Paul II in a way that is laid out in almost biblical fash-
According to the report, despite numerous attempts ion in this report.”
to determine the nature of Mr. McCarrick’s crimes, no in- For many Catholics, however, an important question
vestigation ever resulted in any significant action. In 1999, remains: How did this behavior go unchecked for so many
when John Paul II was considering making Mr. McCarrick years? How did Mr. McCarrick rise so far despite per-
the archbishop of Washington, Cardinal John O’Connor of sistent rumors of misconduct? And what does his rise say
New York wrote to express his misgivings, saying he felt “a about the oversight exercised by John Paul II? Is it enough
grave obligation” to caution against appointing Mr. McCar- simply to say “the pope didn’t believe the rumors”?
rick because of an anonymous accusation that Mr. McCar- Most historians acknowledge that John Paul II was not
20 | AMERICAMAGAZINE.ORGYou can also read
