NATIONAL CATHOLiC REPORTER
MAY 20, 2005
NATION 5
Editor of Jesuits' America magazine forced to resign under Vatican pressure By TOM ROBERTS andJOHN L. ALLEN JR. Kansas City, Mo., and Rome
Jesmt Fr. Thomas J. Reese, editor for the past seven years of America magazine, a premier publication of Catholic thought and opinion, has resigned at the request of his order following years of pressure for his ouster from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The resignation caps five years of tensions and exchanges among the congregation, which was headed at the time by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, the Jesuits and Reese, according to sources close to the magazine who asked not to be identified. A release from the magazine May 6, which did not mention the forced ouster, announced that the new editor is Jesuit Fr. Drew Christiansen, who has served as associate editor. Ironically, Reese received the news that the Jesuits found the debate "imwinnable," according to one source, when he returned to the magazine's New York headquarters from Rome, where he had covered the conclave that elected Ratzinger as pope. The news of his ouster b r o i ^ t a range of reaction — from conservatives who voiced understanding of the Vatican action to moderates and liberals who expressed dismay (see accompanying story). In addition. Commonweal magazine posted an editorial on its Web site, www.cominonwealniagazine.org. May 10 that is a blistering criticism ofthe Vatican move against Reese. "Forty years after the Second Vatican Council, which did so much to enfran-
Jesuit Fr. Thomas Reese, left, talks with Cardinal Avery Dulles during the June 2001 U.S. bishops' meeting in Atlanta.
—CNS/Michael Alexander
chise lay Catholics and to encourage their engagement with the great intellectual resources of the church, it is inexcusable that the [Congregation for the Doctrine ofthe Faith] would censor a m£^izine as respectful and responsive to the church's tradition as America. At a time when elites are as polarized as they are now in the American church, Reese's dismissal will embolden those eager to pm^e 'dissenters,' while making it nearly impossible for a reasoned critique ofthe agenda of church reformers to be heard by those who need most to hear," wrote the editors of the biweekly review of public affairs, religion , literature and the arts. "Those calling for the strict regula-
tion of Catholic discourse argue that public dissentfromchurch doctrine creates scandal, confusing or misleading the 'simple faithful.' What really gives scandal to people in the pews, however, is the arbitrary and self-serving exercise of ecclesiastical authority. What the CDF has done to Thomas Reese and America is the scandal. Is it possible that not one bishop has the courage to say so? That too is a scandal." Contacted on bacl^roimd, a Vatican official said he could not discuss the case. Over the course of a five-year exchange between the doctrinal congregation and the Jesuits, the Vatican congregation had raised objections to
various editorial choices at under Reese's leadership, including: • An essay exploring moral arguments for the approval of condoms in the context of HIV/AIDS; • Several critical analyses ofthe doctrinal congregation's September 2000 document Dominus Iesus, on religious pluralism; • An editorial criticizing what America called a lack of due process in the congregation's procedures for the invest^ation of theologians; • An essay about homosexual priests; • A guest essay from U.S. Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, challenging sugContinued on Page 6
Ouster troubles prominent Catholic journalists By ARTHUR JONES
Those who serve or have served as editors of Catholic publications have very decided views on Jesuit Fr. Tom Reese's forced departure, and the secrecy surrounding what transpired and the grounds for the decision. At U.S. Ca?/2o/ic magazine, published by the Claretians, executive editor Meinrad Scherer-Emunds said, "The forced resignation of Fr. Tom Reese from the editorship at America magazine is a sad, disappointing and to some degree shocking development. "It causes great concern for the editorial freedom and mission of Catholic publications in general and for publications that are owned and supported by religious orders in particular. Here at U.S. Catholic magazine we have the utmost respect for Father Tom and his leadership at America magazine. During his tenure we have experienced him as a most supportive colleague and friend and have on several occasions s o u ^ t out his coimsel and used him as an important professional resource. "Father Tom is no loose cannon and no flaming liberal or radical," said Scherer-Emunds, "but a trusted and
knowle(^eable expert on a broad range gentler Pope Benedict' is for real. of Catholic issues. In his job at Ameri"I also find it troubling that the decica magazine he has proved himself as a sion that led to the resignation of moderate and extremely fair-minded Father Tom seems to be accompanied editor who has taken meticulous care by restrictions that prevent him, the to balance any articles on controver- staff of America, and Jesuit officials to sial topics with perspectives from all state clearly and with attribution what different viewpoints. That always exactly happened. Why are those included a clear representainvolved required to talk off tion ofthe church's teaching the record? The lack of honon any given issue. That, 'Father Tom is est conversation about the nonetheless, he is being process is imfortunate and forced out for providing that no loose cannon does not bode well for an kind of forum for intelligent and no flaming adult converaation about the debate on issues of concern issues that were at the heart liberal or to American Catholics today of this conflict. sends a chilling message. radical.' "Unfortunately, the recent "Regardless of their posidevelopments at America —Meinrad tions on the various issues magazine are part of a larger within the articles that Scherer-Emunds pattern. America magazine caught the attention of the is not the only publication Vatican, few American Catholics sup- that has been subjected to an investiport a prohibition of a discussion of gation by the Congregation for the Docthese important church issues. I don't trine ofthe Faith that put pressure on know whether, after he became pope, the superiors of religious orders to get Benedict XVI put any further pressure their publishing ministries 'in line.' on the Jesuits to enforce this order. But Feel free to mention our own experiits execution in early May does make ence of 2002." (See "Vatican takes U.S. one wonder if the much-touted rein- Catholic magazine to task," NCR, Dec. vention of Cardinal tJoseph] Ratzinger 13,2002, which resulted from the magfrom doctrinal watchdog to a 'kinder. azine's pubiication of a cover article
headlined "Call waiting; Women who want to be priests.") Peter Steinfels is the author of the recent book, A People Adrift: The Crisis ofthe Roman Catholic Church in America, which views the U.S. Catholic church as going either into a steep decline or through an unprecedented transformation. Steinfels, a former senior religion reporter for The New York Times, former editor of Commonweal, and a current Times columnist, said, "I think Tom Reese did a terrific job as editor of America. I think he made the magazine lively. I think he had a rai^e of perspectives in the magazine that disconcerted people all across the spectrum of Catholic opinion, and that was good. "He developed the magazine's Web site, and in terms of the Web site and his own role as a commentator, he was extremely valuable to other people in the media in providing accurate information in a timely fashion about Catholic events. "Often, when there'd be something in the news, Tom would send out an alert with the pertinent canon law refContinued on Page 6
MAY 20, 2005
NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER
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NATION Continued from Page 6
gestions that the church should refuse Communion to Catholic politicians who do not vote as a number of bishops believe they should vote. In every instance, however, the pieces represented just a portion of covers^e of the subject in America, which always published opposing points of view. According to several sources in the United States and Rome, the communication about Reese's fate was carried on between the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the superior general ofthe Jesuits, Dutch Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, with the content then relayed to Reese's Jesuit superiors in the United States. Althoi^ critics of Reese both in the United States and Rome have occasionally accused him of an anti-hierarchical mentality, supporters noted in their responses to the congregation that over his seven years as editor, America routinely published weighty pieces by prominent members ofthe hier^archy, at one stage including Ratzinger himself. In February 2002, the Congregation for the Doctrine ofthe Faith proposed creating a three-member commission of censors for the magazine, though the idea was never implemented. According to sources, the congregation told the Jesuits that the action was in response to concern from bishops in the United States. Sources said no bishops were identified by name and that Reese was never directly contacted. According to a Continued from Page 6
erences and so on. I think those, and his commentary, which was from an independent source and generally judicious, was a real service to the Catholic church. I think this is a distressii^ and counterproductive development." Asked if he thought the timing of Reese's ouster was a strong signal from a new pontificate, Steinfels continued: "I have big question marks about that. This was clearly something in the works for a long time. Stories were out there a while ago that, after examining complaints [against Reesel, thin^ were OK. A lot of people are saying Tom is either the last casualty of Cardinal Ratzinger or the first casualty of Benedict XVI. "Bottom line: I'm waiting for a series of signs, including important appointments, before reaching any clear conclusion [on the direction ofthe new pontificate]. It's at most a straw in the wind." Our Sunday Visitor, a weekly newspaper, carried its opinion in an editorial headlined, "What we need from the Catholic press," and with a second headline that declares: "The church is not about opinion, but about truth." "As editor of America, Father Reese pursued a point-counterpoint style with regard to some of the most controversial issues of the day. It is a model of journalism that is deeply American: Its assumption ^that every issue has two sides, and if we hear what advocates of each side have to say, we can make up our own minds about the issue. This model assumes not objective truth, but rather that decisions are best made by weighing various ai^uments and coming to our own conclusions," the editorial states. It asserts, for instance, that an argument defending gay marriage — a position that is "simply wrong from the church's perspective" should not be given equal status with the argument that gay marriage is illicit. "Catholics have little problem find-
source close to the magazine, Jesuit superiors said some bishops were upset that Reese often commented on church matters for general media and that such commentary should be solely the province of bishops. Reese often made himself available to media during the bishops' meetings and other special church events to explain aspects of church life and the intricacies of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He is the author of three highly respected studies of the Catholic hierarchy: Archbishop: Inside the Power Structure of the American Catholic Church; A Flock of Shepherds: The National Conference of Catholic Bishops; and Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization ofthe Catholic Church. The entire matter of his disciplining was handled "by chain of command, and the Jesuits were able to hold off for five years, but in the end, saw it as unwinnable. It was either Reese goes or they would appoint a board of censors," said one source. America, though clearly left-leaning in some of its editorial stances, was widely viewed as a moderate publication that gave vent to a broad spectrum of views. Among its contributors were top theologians, a number of bishops, and, in one instance, Ratzinger himself in an article published in dialogue with Cardinal Walter Kasper, another German cardinal. Over the years, the magazine has also published dozens of articles by noted conservative Cardinal Avery Dulles, a Jesuit.
Though pressure for Reese's ouster clearly came from the Coi^regation for the Doctrine of the Faith, to what degree Ratzinger was personally involved in the decision is not known. Some confusion over whether Reese was ousted or voluntarily left occurred when Catholic News Service reported that Jesuit Fr. Jose M. de Vera, spokesman for the order in Rome, said Reese had decided to resign after discussing the situation with his superiors and following Cardinal Ratzinger's election as pope. According to a number of Jesuits close to the situation, Reese, aware of the discussions between the Jesuits and the congregation, indeed decided to resign when Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI. He reportedly told Kolvenbach and his superiors in the United States of his intent. However, when he infonned the staff at America, the other editors "were unanimously and adamantly against it," according to one source. They asked Reese to reconsider or at least to "take a few months off and rest and then see how the new papacy developed." Reese, following that advice, called Fr. Brad Schaeffer, Jesuit conference president. Schaeffer visited Reese the next day and, according to a source knowledgeable about the conversation, "told him that Kolvenbach had received a letter from CDF in midMarch demanding his resignation" and that Kolvenbach "had concluded that fighting it would do no good." No
one who spoke to NCR was able to give the precise language of the letter and NCR was unable to obtain a copy. Whatever the chronology, it is beyond dispute that Reese resigned because of Vatican pressure. In the May 6 release, Reese said, "I am proud of what my colleagues and I did with the magazine, and I am grateful to them, our readers and our benefactors for the support they gave me. I look forward to taking a sabbatical while my provincial and I determine the next phase of my Jesuit ministry." Christiansen, an accomplished educator, writer and editor, previously was a senior feUow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University. He was director ofthe Office of International Justice and Peace for the U.S. Catholic Conference from 1991 to 1998 and served as counselor for international affairs for the bishops until December 2004. "I know I am speaking for all the editors in saying that we are sorry to see Tom go," said Christiansen in tiie May 6 release. "Fr. Reese greatly improved the magazine, adding news coverage, color and the Web edition.... By inviting articles that covered different sides of disputed issues, Fr. Reese helped make America a forum for intelligent discussion of questions facing the church and the country today."
ing arguments that debate or dissent from church teaching. They find them in the secular media from which they draw most of their information about the church and the world," Our Sunday Visitor editors write. "What they need is for the Catholic press to be faithful to its mission: To engage society itself in debate about the critical questions of human existence and offer Catholics the tools to intellectually challenge the culture while defendir^ Catholic teaching and the Gospel." A similar point of view was advanced by Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, a noted conservative and editor in chief of the monthly magazine First Things. Neuhaus said there was significant displeasure with America magazine among some in the curia, though he declined to name names. "Do I know that there were people in positions of influence in the church who had, for a considerable time, been expressing their displeasure with some thills that were being done? Yeah, I know that and I have no doubt that [Jesuit Peter-Hans] Kolvenbach knew it and so forth, and that in all the t h i i ^ they have to take into consideration they decided that it would be better for the magazine and Tom that he do somethit^ else. The principal reasons for discontent, he said, "and I consider Tom a friend, let me imderscore—but I think he made a big editorial mistake in this respect: that he thought being balanced and fair required the publication of freestanding articles that were clearly in opposition to church teaching and policy." In Neuhaus's opinion, "Catholic publications with intellectual seriousness" are obliged to engage alternative and opposing positions, but not in a way that suggests that a position supporting church teaching and one opposii^ it "are somehow on an equal footing and that the magisterial position is simply one opinion among others." A 1990 instruction to theologians from the Congregation for the Doc-
trine of the Faith, then headed by Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, said that "Catholic thinkers and intellectuals do have a legitimate, critical role to play in the refinement and explanation ofthe church's teaching," said Neuhaus, "but there are certain things you don't do if you want to play that role: You don't publicly agitate, you don't take a neutral position with respect to the magisterium, and it just wasn't clear to a lot of people that that was America's intent." All discussion of important and controversial issues, especially controversial ones, accordir^ to Neuhaus, should be aimed at convincing others of the church's teaching, of "gaining assent" for the teaching, even if a writer or a publication provides opposing ai^uments. Helen Osman, president ofthe board of directors ofthe Catholic Press Association, said, "Personally, if what I am reading is the complete story, I am saddened that this is where the dialogue has gone. I do hope that the congregation and the Jesuits continue to discuss their concerns in the spirit of Christian charity." She said it was unknown whether any action would be taken by the association, of which America is a member. Reese is a member of the press association board. John Wilkins, retired editor of Th£ Tablet of London, said, "I am shocked that Fr. Tom Reese has been forced out of the editorial chair of America. For years I have been a reader and admirer of the joumal. During Reese's editorship it has seemed to me to exhibit aU the Jesuit virtues — intellectual daring, engagement with the world, courteous encounter with opposing views, aU based on an obvious Catholic orthodoxy. "As editor of the London Tablet, I considered that America set a standard I had to emulate. "There are basically two ways of running the Catholic media. They can be controlled, like L 'Osservatore
Romano. In that case they are transmission belts for the authorities, giving the official line, and they are read for this reason. Or, they can be free, subject, to marketplace pressures. What one then expects from them is balanced information and a forum for debate and discussion. They have to reflect public opinion in the church, which, according to Pius XII, is essential to its life. "Tom Reese seemed to me to get the best of both worlds. I'm alarmed that some American bishops and Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, did not think so." Paul Baumann, editor of Commonweal, said that Reese's firing is "bewildering. It seems to me hard to justify by anything we can readily ascertain. It s t r i e s me as terribly implausible that America under Tom's editorship was in the business of undermining Catholic teaching. If anything, quite the opposite. "It's very disturbing," he said. Since America is a church-sponsored and church-funded magazine, he added, "it would appear that the hierarchy wants stricter control over what goes out in that magazine. They feel they'U get that by removing Tom Reese." Asked if this was an augury of the new pontificate, Baumann said, "I don't know. I hope not. I'd hate to think that's the case. One ofthe reactions I think is most interesting is that a good many people one might describe as very middle-of-the-road or even somewhat conservative on theological issues, on issues of church reform, have expressed to me real shock over this. "This is the sort of thing, it seems to me, that in some ways can radicalize people with otherwise very moderate views."
[Tom Roberts is editor of National Catholic Reporter. John L. Alien Jr. is NCR Rome correspondent.]
[Arthur Jones is NCR editor at large. His email address is arthurjones@comcast.net.
NCR editor Tom Roberts contributed reporting to this article.]