Denver Catholic

4 I OPINION JANUARY 29, 2014 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER 1. Who was the saintly mother of Constantine, the first Christian king of Germany? A. Adelaide B. Odilla C. Helena THE CATHOLIC DIFFERENCE GEORGE WEIGEL Twenty-five years ago, on Jan. 27, 1989, a joint statement from the communist government of Poland, the Solidarity trade union, and the Catholic Church announced a national "Roundtable" to discuss the country's future, including major structural issues of political and economic reform. The Roundtable began the following month; basic agreements were reached in April; partially-free elections, swept by Solidarity candidates, were held in June; and in September, a Solidarity leader, Tadeusz Mazowiecki, became Poland's first non-communist prime minister since World War II. Poland was the first of the Warsaw Pact dominos to fall. Its transition accelerated the Revolution of 1989, which was completed in late December 1989 with the swearing-in of Vaclav Havel, a political prisoner earlier in the year, as president of Czechoslovakia. Over the past quarter-century, various theorists have tried to explain "1989," typically focusing on the economic incapacities of communist regimes in the post-industrial age, the personality of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, or some combination of these two factors. No doubt the inability of state-centered, command economies to compete in a high-tech world had something to do with "1989": so did the fact that Gorbachev, who came from a different generation of Soviet leaders, was unwilling to roll the tanks to maintain Stalin's external empire. But to leave the analysis with economics and Gorbachev seems to ignore the larger historical question: Why did "1989" not involve massive bloodshed and violence, the usual 20th-century methods of effecting vast social change? Let me suggest, once more, an answer. Beginning with the 1992 publication of The Final Revolution, I have been arguing that "1989" was, at bottom, a revolution of conscience—a revolution of the human spirit. The essential character of that moral revolution was captured by Polish dissident Adam Michnik in a historical judgment that was also the ethical foundation of a political program: "People who begin by storming Bastilles end up building their own." The leaders of "1989," in other words, were determined that "1989" would not be a re-run of 1789. They wanted to build a future of freedom on a nobler foundation than the French revolutionary assertion of radical personal willfulness— which, after the real Bastille had been stormed, quickly turned into radical mob-led bloody-mindedness. And from whence did that determination-to-be-different come? It came from many sources. It came from years of serious political reflection by dissidents from the working classes and the central European intelligentsia, much of it carried out in prisons and expressed in underground classics like Michnik's "Letter from the Gdansk Prison, 1985" and Havel's magnificent essay, "The Power of the Powerless." It came from the interaction of these dissidents, their organizations, and the various Helsinki Watch Groups that were established in the North Atlantic world to monitor communist regimes' adherence to the 1976 Helsinki Accords: a cynical act of diplomatic mendacity by which the Soviet Union and its satellites committed themselves to honor basic human rights, and a folly they would come to bitterly regret. It came from an American president, Ronald Reagan, who was prepared to call political and social evil by its right name, whatever the proponents of quiet diplomacy thought. And it came from Pope John Paul II, who will be canonized precisely three months after the 25th anniversary of the announcement of the Polish Roundtable. Moral revolution—a revolution of conscience—had been stirring in central and eastern Europe since 1968, when the Prague Spring was crushed by Soviet tanks. As archbishop of Cracow, the man who would become John Paul II fostered that revolution by bringing together religious and secular dissidents of moral seriousness. Then, as pope, John Paul focused that intensifying but still latent moral energy, somewhat like a laser, into a sharp, bright beam of conscience during his June 1979 pilgrimage to his native Poland, where he helped people of east central Europe rediscover their dignity. Communism would have fallen, eventually. That it fell when it did, and how it did, cannot be explained without reference to John Paul II and the revolution of conscience he came to embody. BY PETER WESTHOFF Early Germany history, from 300-1000 A quiz on Catholic things under the patronage of the "Doctor of Prayer," St. Teresa of Avila. For each question there is one right answer, but the answer for one question is "None of the Above." Germany has provided the world with a remarkable number of great composers, both Catholic and non-Catholic. Our first questions will involve four Catholic German composers. Proud of DCR, Charities where hostile situations challenge us to greater creativity in our search for suitable methods." Here in northern Colorado we have our fair share of challenges, but the call to participate in the new evangelization 7. What title originally given to Charlemagne did the pope restore in the person of Otto in 962? A. "Defender of the Faith" B. "Christian Monarch of Saxony" C. "Holy Roman Emperor" 4. St. Boniface, the "Apostle of Germany," in his effort to lead people to Christianity, chopped LETTERS TO THE EDITOR It is such wonderful news that the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception chimes are ringing out again (Dec. 18, 2013 Denver Catholic Register). That we will be able to check our watches just scratches the surface of the contribution they lend to the whole downtown Denver community, as they are an unmistakable invitation to all to join in prayer and worship. They will also toll for wedding celebrations and for funerals. Let us thank those who labored to "re-gift" the bells to us. Mary Anne Little Denver Letters should be no more than 250 words and should include the writer's name, address and telephone number. We rely on our readers to recognize that the opinions expressed in letters to the editor are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the Archdiocese of Denver. Letters containing plainly misstated facts, misinformation or libelous statements will not be printed. Unsigned letters will not be printed. Letters may be edited. Send letters to: Editor, Denver Catholic Register, 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 or fax to 303-715-2045. E-mail us at: editor@archden.org. and bring the Gospel to people and places that have forgotten Jesus and his Church remains. And those parents, teachers, principals and students who are engaged in Catholic education are to be on the leading edge of the new evangelization. This week I would like to thank all of you who dedicate yourselves to Catholic education, as well as encourage those of you who have not Congratulations on the cover article on immigration ("Pushed from home and into darkness," Jan. 8 Denver Catholic Register). I thought I knew this subject fairly thoroughly. Evidently not—for example: I had no idea of the extensive work Catholic Charities was doing in obtaining visas for migrants. Please pass on my appreciation to reporters Julie Filby (DCR) and Lara Montoya (El Pueblo Católico). Desmond Birch Arvada From Page 2 6. Otto the Great of the German kingdom of Saxony defeated the Magyars in the Battle of Lechfeld. Whose image was on the banners of Otto's army that led the soldiers forward? A. The Good Shepherd B. The Blessed Mother C. St. Michael the Archangel Bells a joyful invitation to prayer LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Aquila 3. Rather than exploiting his victory by slaughtering the conquered, Constantine called for a meeting to solve problems within the empire. What was the proclamation called that this meeting produced, which included the granting of religious freedom? A. "The Diet of Worms" B. "The Treaty of Westphalia" C. "The Emancipation Proclamation" 5. Because of the story of the oak tree, what is often at St. Boniface's feet in statuary? A. a thunderbolt B. an oak leaf C. an axe 1. C, 2. B, 3. None of the Above - It was the "Edict of Milan." 4. A, 5. C, 6. C, 7. C The John Paul II difference in 1989 2. Constantine had a vision of a cross in the sky with these words: "In hoc signo vinces." ("In this sign you will conquer.") He then led his forces in the decisive Battle of the Milvian Bridge against Maxentius. Constantine's soldiers had the Chi Rho, the first two Greek letters in the word "Christ" in Greek, on their shields. Which two letters from our alphabet look like Chi and Rho? A. M and V B. X and P C. C and R down an oak tree considered sacred in the worship of Thor, the thunder god. What did Boniface do with the felled tree? A. used it in the building of a chapel to St. Peter B. burned it in the Easter fire at the Easter Vigil C. used it for a log rolling competition in a festival held in honor of the One True God yet become involved to do so. Children and parents need all the support they can get, and Catholic schools are a valuable resource for forming future men and women of faith. Information on Catholic Schools in the archdiocese can be found at: www.archden.org/ schools. Information on financial assistance is available at: www. seedsofhopetrust.org. DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER CIRCULATION CUSTOMER SERVICE: 303-722-4687 OR CIRCULATION@ARCHDEN.ORG Published by the Archdiocese of Denver, 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 General Manager Karna Swanson Denver Catholic Register (USPS 557-020) is published weekly except the last week of December and the first week of January, and in June, July and August when it goes bi-weekly. The Register is printed by Signature Offset in Denver. Periodical postage paid in Denver, CO. Editor Roxanne King Subscriptions: $35 a year in Colorado; $42 per year out of state. Foreign countries: $42 surface, all countries, 6-8 weeks for delivery; $135 air, all other countries (average). Mexico, $48 air; Canada, $55 air. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Denver Catholic Register, Circulation Dept., 1300 S. 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