Sr. Mary Ann Walsh, R.S.M., Named U.S. Church Correspondent for 'America'

These two women are very disappointing choices - neither hold views that are representative of the large majority of Catholic women. Both do seem to be simply mouthpieces for the views of the bishops. As a woman, I was hopeful when America announced that it was going to add women to the editorial and writing staff, assuming that the silenced and voiceless female majority in the church might finally have at least a small voice in the world of Catholic publications. It was a vain hope, since these two women are not representative of the full range of views of Catholic women, but only of the relatively small group who agree with the bishops on gender issues and modern birth control methods. It seems they have been chosen simply because they are women who are "safe" - they are in accord with the male celibate hierarchy who run the church and won't say anything that rocks the boat. I find less and less of interest in America. It is predictably in line with the bishops - "liberal" on political issues such as immigration and economic issues, and "orthodox" on church matters, especially those related to women and gay issues. Why bother reading it? I skip it more and more. It has become so conforming to the bishops' agenda that one might as well skip America and simply read the USCCB website. I miss the days when Fr. Reese was editor. He would often invite authors with differing understandings and viewpoints to write articles on the same subject and present them side by side. It was wonderful to read the "best" of both. However, I guess he did that once too often when he invited a "progressive" theologian to write on the same subject as Cardinal Ratzinger and published the articles in the same issue. Once Cdl. Ratzinger became pope, Reese was forced to step down. The magazine has gone downhill ever since Reese left, especially in the last year or so when it has become so predictable. It is sad, because it was once a vibrant and challenging publication that featured the best thinkers in the church. As Drew Christiansen noted at the time Reese was forced out - "Father Christiansen said May 6, "Father Reese greatly improved the magazine...., "By inviting articles that covered different sides of disputed issues, Father Reese helped make America a forum for intelligent discussion of questions facing the church and the country today." The church needs more "intelligent discussions" that present "different sides of disputed issues". However, "intelligent discussions" and different viewpoints are no longer welcome in the church it seems, not even in America.