Denver Catholic

4 I OPINION JUNE 5, 2013 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER THE CATHOLIC DIFFERENCE GEORGE WEIGEL 'Pacem in Terris' at 50 In the course of preparing "The End and the Beginning," the second volume of my biography of John Paul II, I was struck by a historical coincidence that isn't much remarked these days: the opening of the Second Vatican Council in October 1962 coincided almost precisely with the Cuban Missile Crisis. Pope John XXIII solemnly opened the Council on Oct. 11; national security adviser McGeorge Bundy showed President Kennedy reconnaissance photos of Soviet missile and bomber emplacements in Cuba on Oct. 16; and while the Council sorted itself out, the world held its breath during 13 days at the brink of nuclear war. That shattering experience had two important impacts on the remainder of Pope John's pontificate: it strengthened the pope's determination to explore the possibility of a modus vivendi with the Soviet Union and the communist regimes it controlled in east central Europe; and it helped inspire the pope's 1963 encyclical, "Pacem in Terris," whose very title, "Peace on Earth," evoked a widely-shared aspiration in the wake of the October 1962 superpower showdown. The new Vatican "eastern politics"—the Ostpolitik, as it became known—cannot claim much success. Soviet persecution of Christian churches actually increased during the years of John XXIII. The Ostpolitik of Pope John's successor, Paul VI, destroyed much of the Church's credibility in Hungary, did little to ease the pressure on Catholics in what was then Czechoslovakia, and created circumstances that led to serious penetration of the Vatican by Soviet-bloc intelligence agencies. Perhaps the one important accomplishment of the Ostpolitik was that it became, in a wholly unanticipated way, a kind of diplomatic façade behind which the unexpected Polish pope, John Paul II, could hammer on Soviet-bloc human rights violations even as Vatican diplomats continued a series of negotiations that were going essentially nowhere. What about "Pacem in Terris," though? As the Church and the world marked the encyclical's golden jubilee this past April, what might be considered its lasting accomplishments? The first of these achievements had to do with the encyclical's global reception: the universal resonance of "Pacem in Terris" confirmed the late-20th century papacy as a unique voice of moral authority among the deeply divided and often-conflicted tribes of Planet Earth. That authority has continued into the 21st century, thanks to the two U.N. addresses of John Paul II and the "September Addresses" of Benedict XVI in Regensburg, Paris, London and Berlin. That same moral authority has already begun to be wielded by Pope Francis who, in his post-election address to the diplomats at the Holy See, reminded the assembled representatives of worldly power that there can be no peace without reference to the moral truths embedded in the world and in us— truths that are accessible to everyone by the use of reason. The second enduring impact of "Pacem in Terris" was to have inserted the Catholic Church fully into the late-modern debate over human rights, aligning the Church with those human rights activists who played key roles in bringing down the Berlin Wall and ending communist tyranny in Europe—a historic transition that made "peace on earth" (including the disarmament for which John XXIII called) more of a reality. Like many United Nations documents, and like subsequent Church statements, "Pacem in Terris" engaged in "rights talk" rather loosely, with virtually every imaginable social good being described as a "human right." That has led to some enduring issues, even problems, in the explication of Catholic social doctrine. But matters of conceptual precision notwithstanding, there should be no doubt that the Church's deployment of the language of "human rights" has helped magnify its moral voice in world affairs. Then there is "order," a recurring idea throughout the encyclical. The world is being "ordered"—shaped and governed—by various contending forces, John XXIII noted; by what principles will that "ordering" continue? By brute force—political, military, or economic? Where is the space in world affairs in which moral principles can act as a leaven in the world's getting itself in order? An urgent question today, just as it was in 1963. George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. Weigel's column is distributed by the Denver Catholic Register, the official newspaper of the Denver Archdiocese. Phone: 303-715-3215. Homeless mom's honored on Mother's Day Catholic Charities Samaritan House Homeless Shelter partnered with Shamrock Foods Company to celebrate resident mothers with a catered Mother's Day brunch May 11. Each mother was given a long-stemmed rose along with a special basket of goodies. Charities' generous community of donors compiled over 75 gift baskets to be given to client mothers on their special day. See more photos of the event at www.facebook.com/ CatholicCharitiesDenver. At right: Mother Latashia and her children currently reside in the family unit at Samaritan House. In reaction to the day's festivities, she exclaimed, "We are so happy to have such a yummy meal, and I loved the basket!" PHOTO PROVIDED Denver Serrans honor 120 religious sisters "We are so grateful for your loving recognition of our service" was the oft replied acceptance to the Denver Serra Club's annual Religious Sisters Appreciation Day, held April 13 at Church of the Risen Christ parish hall in Denver. The Serrans replied with their most generous offering of gift certificates and gifts to 120 religious sisters of the Archdiocese of Denver. The day began with a Mass celebrated by Father Doug Grandon, who in his tribute to the sisters noted 18 different ministries performed by them. After the Mass, a social hour, luncheon, and prize drawings concluded the festive event. Above, from left: Dominican In expressing their appreciation at the conclusion of the Sister Theresa Ann Kunth, Doevent, the sisters stood and sang minican Sister Maria Ivana Begovic, Carmelite Sister Faustina a tribute to the Serrans. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Gosnell atrocities In response to the conviction of baby murderer, Kermit Gosnell, Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL, described Dr. Gosnell's clinic and practices as "a peek into the world before Roe v. Wade made legal a woman's right to make her own choices" (Catholic News Service). Thanks to courageous young women with video cameras, we are actually seeing into the world after Roe v. Wade where doctors and staff eagerly and happily kill born and pre-born children and even counsel their desperate mothers not to go to the hospital. If Gov. Andrew Cuomo gets PHOTO BY CORIE DUCHATEAU COURTESY OF DENVER SERRA CLUB Deppe, Dominican Sister Mariam Kopenhafer and Dominican Sister Veronica Buckmaster pose for a photo holding gift baskets. his way, women from Colorado conversion of heart so that when or anywhere else could come to the Author of Life judges him, New York and have a de-crimi- mercy will save his soul. nalized Gosnell-abortion. George A. Morton This is what New York State Hopewell Junction, N.Y. Senate Majority Co-Leader Dean Skelos had to say about it: "(The) guilty verdict in the KerLETTERS mit Gosnell trial in Pennsylvania TO THE EDITOR highlights the potential danger in passing the so-called ReproLetters should be no more than 250 words ductive Health Act, ... that would and should include the writer's name, address and telephone number. We rely on our greatly expand late-term aborreaders to recognize that the opinions extion in New York, and open the pressed in letters to the editor are those of door to similar horrors." the author and are not necessarily those of the Archdiocese of Denver. Letters containHogue boasts that "justice was ing plainly misstated facts, misinformation served to Kermit Gosnell and he or libelous statements will not be printed. will pay the price for the atrocities Unsigned letters will not be printed. Letters he committed" (CNS). But justice may be edited. Send letters to: Editor, Denver Catholic Register, 1300 S. Steele St., is never served by the promoters Denver, CO 80210 or fax to 303-715-2045. of abortion, nor by their bosses. E-mail us at: editor@archden.org. Let us pray that Gosnell has a ARCHBISHOP AQUILA'S SCHEDULE June 10 – 13: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting, San Diego June 16: Mass, Spanish Charismatic Congress, Douglas County Fairgrounds (2 p.m.) June 19: Ordination of Bishop-elect John Folda, Fargo CORRECTION The photo of Regis Jesuit Boys' Division valedictorian Jacob Lennert in the May 22 Denver Catholic Register was incorrect due to erroneous information submitted to the DCR. The Register regrets the error. Jacob Lennert is correctly identified here.

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