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Faith in Focus
Art in America
George M. Anderson
Art plays a key role in America, from the cover itself to the illustrations on the inside. My awareness of this role was heightened during a recent visit to Abraham House, an organization in the Bronx that assists prisoners with their reintegration into the community. At the same time, it provides a
Books
Angelic Doctor
Stephen J. Pope
Aidan Nichols presents a brief accessible and clear introduction to the theology of St Thomas Aquinas The prior of Blackfriars in Cambridge England Nichols communicates the sweep and texture of St Thomas rsquo s thought in a remarkably direct and simple but not simplistic manner He follows
Of Many Things
Of Many Things
George M. Anderson
Walking south through Manhattan from America House on weekdays—this remains my preferred way of getting home. But on days when the weather does not lend itself to walking, I take the subway. The F train is only a short distance from our front door, and on boarding I generally see a majority of
Cheaters
John F. Kavanaugh
Recently I presented a short reflection on academic integrity to some faculty members at Saint Louis University. One of the reasons I was asked to do this may have been my efforts to encourage all teachers of core curriculum courses to spend some time, possibly even a whole class session, on the pro
Is Nuclear Deterrence Still Moral?
Nancy Small
Twenty years ago, the Doomsday Clock, a well-known barometer of how close the world was to nuclear holocaust, stood at three minutes before the fateful midnight hour. The nuclear arms race was in full force. The fear of nuclear war was palpable. We held our collective breath and prayed mightily that
Film
Gulag Erin: The Magdalene Sisters
Richard A. Blake
Given the choice between dental surgery without anesthetic and The Magdalene Sisters, call your dentist for an appointment immediately. In either case, pain may be salutary in the long run. The film raises too many important issues to be dismissed as just another skirmish in the vast anti-Catholic c
Editorials
Victims
The Editors
There is a sense of relief in Boston, and in the rest of the country as well, now that the Archdiocese of Boston has finally settled the suits filed against it by the victims of sexual abuse. For 19 months, Boston has unfairly been perceived by many people as paradigmatic of the American church&rsqu
The Lay Vocation and Voice of theFaithful
Thomas P. Rausch
One unanticipated effect of the sexual abuse scandal that has been convulsing the Catholic Church in the United States is a growing realization on the part of the laity of how little real say they have in the government of their church. This was first brought home when many who were aware of situati
Of Many Things
Of Many Things
Patricia A. Kossmann
If Broadway producers can do it, why not book publishers? “It” is the revival, in the case of theater, or the reissue, in the case of books. Heaven knows there is ample need for updated editions of longstanding classics, or what the industry calls “backlist staples.” And spea
Columns
Peace Has Taken Hold
Terry Golway
The headlines seem to herald an imminent return to violence and mayhem. Leaders who have made compromises are denounced as traitors. Diehards insist on living up to their labels. The public fears a return to the terrible days of war. Outside observers warn of a threat to democracy.The Middle East? N
Adult Faith Formation: Will It Catch On This Time?
Jane Regan
With growing clarity and insistence, voices within the church—both official and unofficial—speak repeatedly of the importance of the faith formation of adults to the life and vitality of the church. Of course, adult faith formation is not a new concern. Most of the ecclesial documents th
Letters
Letters
Our readers

Old and New

The Vatican Concordat With Hitler’s Reich (9/1), by Robert A. Krieg, confirms what had to be the case in history. It has always seemed intuitive to me that the Catholic Church must have made a pact with the devil in order to survive Hitler’s grasp.

It was the conclusion of the article that surprised me.

Mr. Krieg’s conclusion asserted that Vatican II redirected a church that was concerned only with the preservation of its political structure without regard to preservation of human dignity and life. The hundreds of victims of sexual abuse might disagree.

In light of the recent revelations regarding the sexual abuse scandals and the tenacious denials by church officials for the first year or two of discovery, how can anyone say the church has changed from 1933? The poster child for the church, Cardinal Bernard F. Law, went to Rome and was not summarily dismissed by the pope in a public statement. How long did it take Cardinal Law to resign? If this wasn’t old church politics, what is?

Most bishops and higher officials knew of such indiscretions for decades, but they chose to look the other way. At the very least it was, Don’t ask, don’t tell. They chose to conceal the perpetrators within the church political structure. This was placing the interest of the institution ahead of the victims of abuse.

The new rules and regulations are in place to make sure perpetrators of sexual abuse do not go undetected and unpunished. Those who look the other way, the rule-makers i.e., bishops and cardinalscontinue to remain outside of the new rules.

Mark D’Agostino

Books
Spiritual Discipline
John A. Coleman
The Princeton University sociologist Robert Wuthnow is the dean of American sociologists of religion His innovative research and prolific writings have deeply informed both scholars and church administrators Over the years he has written ground-breaking studies on many subjects the restructuring
Editorials
Valiant Women
The Editors
The evening sun is perceived as still setting when in fact it has already dipped below the horizon. Something similar happens in other contexts. A historic period, for example, may actually have ended before the people it shaped quite realize it has gone.   An instance of this is suggested almo
Refracting the Light
Mary Anne Reese
They are married, single, divorced and of every nationality and ethnic group. Their ranks include professionals, laborers, students, military and immigrants. Some are straight, some gay, some are parents and some have disabilities. The common ground is that they are Catholic young adults, defined by
Food for Young Appetites
Phyllis M. Hanlon
On the surface, the scene is not unusuala group of young men and women laughing and talking in an informal setting while munching snacks and sipping beer. Dig a little deeper, however, and you will find that a unique objective unites these individuals. A burning hunger, not for physical nourishment
The Word
The Right Stuff
Dianne Bergant
Anyone hungry for a heated discussion needs only raise the topic of criteria for ministry in the church today Before they know it they will be deluged with such complicated issues as lay ministry women rsquo s ordination celibate priesthood homosexual candidates to name but a few Such issues
Books
At the Heart of It
William Reiser
Luke Timothy Johnson professor of New Testament in the Candler School of Theology at Emory University has contributed the volumes on James and 1 and 2 Timothy in the Anchor Bible Commentaries and on Luke and Acts in the Sacra Pagina series He has also published The Real Jesus 1996 Religious Ex
News
Signs of the Times
From AP, CNS, RNS, Staff and other sources
Boston Archdiocese Settles Abuse Cases for $85 MillionLess than six weeks after becoming head of the Archdiocese of Boston, Archbishop Sean P. O’Malley, O.F.M., has made the largest financial settlement in U.S. church history with hundreds of victims of sexual abuse by Boston priests. The sett
Women's Spirituality In the Workplace
Edward P. Cullen
On a cold Monday evening just before last Christmas, 22 Chicago women gathered to discuss how they live out their spirituality in the workplace. The group, responding to an invitation from the Archdiocesan Women’s Commission, included white-collar and blue-collar workers of various ages and et