Editorial: God talk
STAFF Editor: Margaret O'Brien Steinfels Executive Editor: Paul Baumann Managing Editor: Patrick Jordan Associate Editor: Daria Donnelly Production Editor: Tiina Aleman Senior...
...CritElaine Mills...
...or historically, and is often little more than prejudice...
...knee-jerk as liberal scorn for religious conservatives...
...bank...
...At the instigation of a friendly Jesuit, I have been writing sermons which are printed up in a publication distributed to priests throughout the land...
...In creasing burden of guilt with no ready means of relief...
...other parts of the world, $99...
...Religious claims must be tin Luther King, Jr., did not seek an establishment of relisubject to the same scrutiny and criticism as any other voice gion, but he did challenge the nation, from pulpits and poseeking to influence public policy...
...POSTMASTER: send address was assailed first by the Anti-Defamation League and then by the editorial pages changes to Commonweal, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 405, New York, NY 10115...
...dollars by International been deterred...
...Presumably my words may be read out in churches from coast to coast...
...columnist portraits, church risks an establishment of religion is nearly as comical as it is absurd...
...Annual rates for air-mail delivery outside have long objected to the way the right wing injects religion into politics and were U.S.: Western Hemisphere, $84...
...In my former diocese, one of the most powerful and sought-after preachers was a vowed woman religious...
...We do libraries and research facilities on CD- not think that religion belongs in the political campaign and the political arena," ROM and in electronic data bases...
...On both counts, Christmas/New Year's...
...Religion has played an essential, even predominant, role in shaping American democracy from its founding docu- ET CETERA ments, in the abolitionist movement, and through the modem human rights era...
...Since the sermons have been published without attribution, and in order to protect innocent priests who may ac"Don't look now, but he's let two politicians tually have spoken a layman's words, I remain, aboard the ark...
...And as a member of a minority religion, Lieberman can speak http://www.commonwealmagazine.org...
...gion...
...My case is more grievous and less amenable to remedy...
...of social justice, religion can shape the public debate for the better and help keep E-mail: commonweal@msn.com...
...Specifically, critCommonweal is indexed in Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, Catholic Periodi- ics charged Lieberman with moral overreaching and religious pandering in a cal Index, Index of American Periodical speech he gave from the pulpit of a black church in Detroit August 27...
...That should always be grateful to our ecclesiastical authorities said, Americans have not the slightest inclination to impose for discovering new ways of sinning...
...is perhaps the best example of the inevitable confluence of reOf course religion, like the threat of crime or the scope of ligion and politics...
...The notion that a politician's evoking "God's purpose" while speaking in a p. 13, Wicks the Signal, Rothco...
...Web: that debate civil...
...As a peoVerse, Book Review Digest, and Book Re- ple we need to reaffirm our faith and renew the dedication of our nation and ourview Index...
...Peri- the organization said in a letter to the candidate...
...about faith in a way that doesn't raise the specter of coercion...
...The civil rights revolu- that a public confession in the pages of Commonweal would be more than appropriate...
...of the Washington Post and New York Times along with other self-appointed guardians of the "wall" of separation between church and state...
...Almost as important, however, is the fact that Commonweal, [ISSN 0010-33301 A Review Lieberman is a religiously observant person known for speaking frankly and eloof Public Affairs, Religion, Literature, and the Arts, is published biweekly except quently about the ways in which his faith informs his political life...
...I am, I confess, a Holy Ghost writer...
...they just want him to keep quiet about it...
...p. 3, Matthew Greenfield...
...Serials Data program No.: ISSN 0010-3330...
...Yearly subscriptions, U.S., $44...
...Unfortunately, while a religious test on those seeking political office, nor are they ingenuity in discovering faults waxes, oracular confession easily duped by showy piety...
...As Lieberman himself has put it, tion of the last fifty years has arguably been the single great"the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, not free- est moral achievement of modern American democracy and dom from religion...
...p. 17, Michael Gibson...
...Display advertising correspondence should Not everyone has been equally enthusiastic about Lieberman's frequently voiced be sent to Ruth E. Taylor, 11 Graffam Rd., conviction that public life has more to gain than to lose from attending to the reSo...
...In truth, the criticism is predictable and misguided, and just as Money Order or by check on a U.S...
...Special two-year Lieberman's critics, mostly from the secular liberal end of the political spectrum, rate: U.S...
...4, careful to avoid justifying specific public policy positions by an appeal to reli6, 28, Baloo, Rothco...
...Portland, ME 04106 (207) 799-4387, classified advertising correspondence to ligious concerns of citizens...
...Toll-free: 888-495-6755...
...To the extent we judge that democracy Confessions of a Holy Ghost writer One a success, religion should get a fair share of the credit...
...That achievement would have been imdefense spending or any other neuralgic issue, can be ex- possible without the black church and the appeal religious ploited for political ends...
...and monthly July Lieberman promises to expand and reinvigorate the nation's political conversation...
...Lieberman has repeatedly Illustrations: Cover design: Christopher voiced his commitment to the separation of church and state, and he has been Young...
...foreign, $87...
...The voice is the voice of the priest, but the words are the words of a layman...
...Demagoguery is always a danger...
...Now, I am certain that priestly charism transubstantiates my lame lay prose into inspired revelation, but do not my efforts smack of presumption...
...Canada, $81...
...89...
...leaders made to the larger society, in explicitly religious lanIt does not follow, however, that the danger is best combat- guage, for social justice and equal rights...
...and August, by Commonweal Foundation, From concerns about the moral tenor of popular entertainment to basic questions 475 Riverside Drive, Rm...
...Single Copy, and observed with foreboding that "there should never be any compromise with $2.50...
...The Reverend Mared by quarantining the suspect...
...In that sense, it was telling that Lieberman was criticized for a my case, however, the nature of the transgression is such speech delivered in a black church...
...But it is http://www.commonwealmagazine.org hard to imagine how religion is to contribute to our public life if religion is not to Commonweal 5 September 22, 2000 be spoken of in public...
...All Canadian and foreign subscriptions must Although Lieberman is sensitive to these concerns, as he should be, he has not be paid in U.S...
...405, New York, NY 10115...
...The New York Times accused odicals postage paid at New York, N.Y., Lieberman of "crossing the boundaries of tolerance" by linking morality to religion, and at additional offices...
...Reasonable people can disagree with Joseph religion pops out of a politician's mouth in a crowded theater Lieberman on certain issues-we certainly do-but his relior church...
...The danger some liberal groups perceive in the gious words remind us of the irreducible moral dimension public expression of religion is not warranted constitutionally of politics...
...ics hasten to assure us that they welcome the way Lieberman's strong religious faith is manifest in his political life...
...Needless to say, Canada, $47...
...1, 1924, to current issues available through Universi- selves to God and God's purpose," Lieberman had said...
...As the first Jew nominated for a nationAdministrative Assistant: al ticket by a major party, Lieberman's candidacy, like Al Smith's and Quanda Williams John F. Kennedy's, potentially opens the highest offices in the land to a member Advertising Manager: Ruth E. Taylor of a previously excluded group...
...There must be a place for ty Microfilm, 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann faith in American public life...
...11, 21, Valerry...
...I had consoled myself with the thought that if God could speak through Balaam's ass (Numbers 22: 28-30), he might even speak through a mere layman...
...foreign, $50...
...Shortly after our last issue went to press, Lieberman 475 Riverside Dr...
...Copyright © 2000 Commonweal Foundation...
...STAFF Editor: Margaret O'Brien Steinfels Executive Editor: Paul Baumann Managing Editor: Patrick Jordan Associate Editor: Daria Donnelly Production Editor: Tiina Aleman Senior Writer: Robert G. Hoyt Editorial Assistant: Grant Gallicho Copy Editor: Susanne Washburn Business Manager: Paul Q. Kane Poetry: Rosemary Deen God talk Screen: Rand Richards Cooper Stage/Media: Celia Wren Columnists: John Garvey, E.J...
...Americans simply want reli- wanes...
...Happily, Rome has rectified my misguided views...
...Arbor, MI 48106 and on Microfiche from Bell & Howell, Wooster, OH 44691...
...This leaves the penitent sinner with an ever ingiously motivated views to be given an equal hearing...
...Europe, anxious to acquit themselves of a double standard when it came to Lieberman...
...Microfilm from Vol...
...Properly she should now retreat to the blessed silence of the cloister whence she strayed into the pulpit...
...The Vatican has recently revealed the error of having lay persons deliver sermons at Mass and therefore sternly decreed that only a priest may homilize...
...Telephone: (212) 662-4200...
...Com- The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish antidiscrimination group, promptly demonweal articles are also available at many manded Lieberman refrain from "overt expressions" of religious faith...
...Ever faithfully yours, ANONYMOUS Commonweal 6 September 22, 2000...
...Fax: (212) 662-4183...
...I am certain that she will there have ample time for penitence at the presumption of her preaching...
...Dionne, wo weeks ago in this space we welcomed Senator Joseph Lieberman's Jr., Sidney Callahan, William Pfaff, Jo McGowan candidacy for vice president, noting that it broke down at least two barCirculation Manager: Sandra Smith riers in American public life...
...By the same token, dog- litical venues, to make good on the promise of equality emmatic opponents of religion's public role should stop crying bodied in the religion of the majority and guaranteed by the "separation of church and state" every time a reference to Constitution...
...the Constitution's ban on government establishment of religion...
Vol. 127 • September 2000 • No. 16
