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Crisis Magazine Honors Henry Hyde
By Joseph Esposito
Special to the HERALD
WASHINGTON — The influential Catholic magazine
Crisis presented its 1998 Partnership Award to Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.)
at a gala dinner held at the Carlton Hotel Sept. 11. Hyde, in turn, gave
a memorable speech which strongly promoted the pro-life effort and urged
individual activism.
The congressman is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and will have a prominent role in any effort to impeach President Clinton. In fact, the dinner was held two days after Kenneth Starr's historic report was delivered to Capitol Hill.
Hyde has been a champion of pro-life issues throughout his 12-term congressional career. It was, therefore, not surprising that he would discuss the sanctity of life before a gathering of leading Catholic writers, clerics, and contributors.
Drawing inspiration from the recent popular
movie "Amistad," Hyde talked about how one leading character, "Cinque,"
called upon his ancestors for solace in a difficult situation. This was
appropriate, he said, because there is a continuum
of life.
When considering abortion, it is important to remember that "this little baby has ancestors which go back to the beginning of time," he said. "When you abort a baby, you don't just snuff out that life, but generations yet to come."
Hyde also talked about veterans of America's 20th century wars. "What a debt we owe those people. How in the world can we repay them?" The way is to be "engaged in some great enterprise," not to be mere "sojourners" or "space occupiers."
He then cited the admonition given by St. Luke in chapter 17, verse 10: "When you have done all you have been commanded to do, say, 'We are unworthy servants. We have done no more than our duty.'"
The congressman was further honored by a ballad written and sung for him by Marie Bellet, a Catholic recording artist and mother of seven young children. "The Man of the House" pays tribute to Hyde's wisdom, courage, and steadfastness.
Hyde is the third recipient of the Partnership
Award. Previous honorees were Adm. Jeremiah Denton, the former prisoner
of war and U.S. senator, and Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino's
Pizza.
Hyde was warmly introduced by Archbishop Edwin
F. O'Brien of the Archdiocese of Military Services. He said, "You continue
to give hope to so many in Congress and multitudes throughout
the land that the culture of death — rotten
to the core — will not prevail."
Praising him for his integrity, ability, and dedication to family and country, the archbishop said, "You have our respect, love, and prayers in the momentous days ahead."
Crisis magazine was founded in 1982 by
two prominent Catholic thinkers, Michael Novak and Ralph McInerny. For
the past four years, it has been published by Deal Hudson, and is blessed
with large array of well-known writers.
The monthly publication addresses issues related to the Church and American society. Hudson told the Herald, "Crisis continues to meet its goal of setting the agenda for the debate on the political issues in this country from a Catholic perspective."
Pro-life articles are a hallmark of the magazine because, according to the publisher, "pro-life continues to be the true defining issue for all political and cultural concerns."
The chairman of Crisis' executive board, George Marlin, said that the magazine attempts to fill an intellectual void for faithful, educated Catholics.
But, he stressed, it is "not meant to be a highbrow magazine, but rather a readable one."
Marlin, a former public official and Chesterton scholar, is the author of a recent book, The Politician's Guide to Assisted Suicide, Cloning, and Other Current Controversies. Among other notable writers associated with Crisis are Hadley Arkes, Russell Hittinger, Robert Royal, Nina Shea, and George Weigel.
The September issue of the magazine features
a cover story on America's future by British Catholic historian Paul Johnson.
It also includes Rev. Richard John Neuhaus' comments on the
10th anniversary of the publication of his
landmark book, The Catholic Moment.
Further information on Crisis can be obtained
by writing its editorial offices at 1814 1/2 N St., N.W., Washington, D.C.
20036. The telephone number for subscription services is (800)
852-9962.
Mr. Esposito is the Washington Bureau Chief of the National Catholic Register.
Copyright ©1998 Arlington Catholic Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
This article was published in the Arlington
Catholic Herald,
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 607, Arlington, VA 22203; Vol 23, No 37;
dated Sep 17, 1998, on the page 1.
E-mail:
letters@catholicherald.com
Fax: 703/524-2782;
Editorial: 703/841-2590;
Advertising: 703/841-2594;
Circulation: 703/841-2565
A note from the Web Master:
It is necessary to underline the following quote from Congressman Hyde's speech:
"When you abort a baby, you don't just snuff out that life, but generations yet to come."
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