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.Catholic ~ctor Martin Sheen ~ays Vatican: lambaStes 'author HolySpirjt inspired activism ,of new Pope PiuS XII book' 1HEANCHOR-DioceseofFall River-Fri., October 22, 1999
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. By JOHNTHAVIS CATHOUC NEWS $ERVICE
VATICAN CITY - The Vatican has sharply criticized the author of a new book about PopePitis XII and said his claim to have spent months researching Vatican archive material on the topic was abs,olutely · false. It said the book "Hitler's Pope: The Secret History of Pius XII," by English journalist John Cornwell, should be approached with caution by readers who have-been led to believe the work reflects serious scholarship. The comments came in an unsigned article published Oct. 12 by the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano. The Vatican article noted that Cornwell has no academic degree in history, -law or theology, all of which figure largely in his book. Cornwell said he began his r~ search with the idea of exonerating Pope Pius XII for his policy of prudent silence during World War II, but concluded instead that the pope was an anti-Semite who played into Hitler's hands and failed to condemn the Nazi persecution of Jews.
By MARK PATT1SON CAn:toucNEWSSERVlCE
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Cornwell said he was the first researcher to be grant~d a<;:cess to the archive of the Secretariat of State. The Vatican said this was "completely false," and that numer. ous scholars have seen documents' from the archive. It said Cornwell had consulted only two series of documents regarding Bavaria and Austria between 1913-1921; documents from 1922 onward remain closed to the public, the Vatican said. Cornwell wrote that he worked in the archives :'for months on end," but the Vatican said he was there only for a three-week period in 1997, often for very brief visits. He claimed that he discovered in the archive a 1919 letter written by the future Pope Pius XII, which he said reveals anti~Semitism; Vatican officials have denied that the letter's contents were anti-Semitic. Cornwell described the letter as having lain in the Vatican archive "like a time bomb until now"; in fact, the letter was known and published in a 1992 study of VaticanGerman diplomacy, the Vatican said.
EMMY LAYBOURNE (left), Mark McKinney and Molly Shannon star in the comedy "Superstar," a ridiculous Catholic high school farce. (CNS photo from Paramount Pictures)
'Superstar' is a ntindless Catholic high school farce NEW YORK (CNS) -The fol- ciation of America rating is PG-13 lowing are' capsule reviews of mov~ - parents are strongly cautioned ies recently reviewed by the U.S. that some material may be inapproCatholic Conference Office for Film priate for children under 13. and Broadcasting. "Joe the King" (Trimark) "Superstar" (Paramount) Gloomy tale of a bitter 14-yearMolly Shannon brings her. TV old (Noah Reiss) burdened by an comic skit character of a klutzy abusive alcoholic father (Val Catholic adolescent to the big Kilmer) and neglectful mother screen but the thin story of her high (Karen Young), whos(: petty thiev·school hi-jinks as well as some far- . ery escalates until he is shipped off cical religious stereotypes are only to a juvenile detention center. Fooccasionally amusing. Director cusing on a myriad of characters Bruce McCulloch fails to find who treat no one wiih respect, much humor or any wit in the dim writer-director Frank Whaley's de·proceedings whose dopey central pressing study of alienation is snailcharacter grows increasingly tire- paced and largely uninvolving. Jusome, unsympathetic and ulti- venile theft, fleeting violence, drug mately irritating. Considerable abuse and rear nudity, a crass sexual ·sexual innuendo, comic religious reference and Ipuch profanity and stereotypes, occasional vulgar lan- rough language. The U.S. Catholic guage and a sexual expletive. The Conference classification is A-IIIU.S. Catholic Conference classifi- adults. The Motion Picture Assocation is A-IV -adults, with reser- ciation of America rating is R vations. The Motion Picture Asso- restricted.
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He added, "I didn't really under- going to embrace nonviolence or nonstand the content of what he was talk- existence.'Those are the rules. Sorry, I HOLLYWOOD....:...Everysooften . "ing about. Ilearned later that he was didn't make them up." the news will record actor Martin 'extremeIyc6nservativeandlwouldn't . He told' a story of meeting Mother Sheen standing up for what he belie\res . have agreed With him today. But I met Teresa in Rome in early 1991 in an . effort to get Pope John Paul IT to have in. Sometimes the news will record him, arid I liked him an awful lot" Sheen has a broad resume on screen. the Vatican City-State petition the Sheen for si!:ting down for what he believes in, and getting arrested for it. On television, he's played two Kennedy World Court in the Hague to end the , Unlike the plethora of stars who ,brothers: Bobby in 'The Missiles of fighting between the United States descend on Capitol Hill'in Washing- October" and John in "~nnedy." He and Iraq in the Persian Gulf. "Mother was just fascinated with ton to make their case for federal fund- also appeared in the made-for-TV mov-ing for their petcauses, Sheen has, over . ies 'The Execution of Private Slovik;' this World Court. Can you imagine the past 20 years,lent his body as well 'The Fourth WISe Man;' ''Catholics,'' Mother Teresa never heard of the as his fame for host of causes that "Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story" World Court?" Sheen recalled. An American Catholic lawyer who wouldn't.ordinarily attract a lot of at- and ''Gettysburg.'' On film, Sheen has appeared op- accompanied Sheen had drawn up the tention from the mainstream media. Take, for instance, protesting toxic posite his son Charlie in ''Wall Street;' writ to present at the World Court and waste leaks near his hometown ofDay- and been a star or featured player in explained to Mother Teresa how the ton, Ohio. Or getting arrested World Court judges disputes between nations. outside the SchooloftheAmeri-' """'r'T1r-~'r'\"1 cas in Fort Benning, Ga., in a "She looked off wistfully at one point and she said, 'But civil disobedience action. Or protesting the presence of how do they make them obey?''' Sheen said. nuclear weapons just about anywhere in the country. The meeting bet\Veen As a boy, Sheen said, "I had Sheen and Mother Teresa a taste of what it was to took place on a Wednesday. She agreed to ask the pope to struggle, to be aware of other meet with Sheen and the lawpeople's suffering. And that never left me." .. ~ yer when she talked with him But "I didn't start being acthat Thursday. Sheen said the , tive until I was in my 40s;' he pope agreed to such a meetadded, crediting his activism ing, but the war ended that to the Holy Spirit. . night, so "we gathered in that "I came back to Catholilittle. chapel (of the Missioncism when I was 4,1. Ihad abanaries of Charity) for a Mass of doned it for many years. But I thanksgiving that Friday morning," Sheen said. came back to a very different church," Sheen said. "I came After war's end, Sheen said, back to the chUrch of (Jesuit Mother Teresa voiced her conFather) Daniel Berrigan, of cern about the scourge ofAIDS. .'~She.thbtigl1t~thata·,miracle Philip Berrigan, the Plowshares, .the peace movement, ture for AIDS would come the Catholic Worker, Dorothy through Medjugorje, where Day, the activists, these were they were having the visions MARTIN SHEEN, center, plays U.S. Presi- of the Holy· Mother In my church. The nonviolent Jesus interested me more than dent Josiah Bartlet in the new NBC drama se- MedjugOlje for 10 years at that anything else." ries 'The West Wing:' (CNS photo from NBC) time," he said. Sheen, in an interview'with "I was astonished. I said, Catholit News Service, was asked if such films as "Gospa," 'The Ameri- 'Mother, do you mean there's going he thought he had ever lost acting work can President," "Catch-22," ''The to be a poof miracle out of because of his activism. Andersonville Trial," and "Gandhi." MedjugOljeT 'Oh, no,' she said. 'It will "lhope so. Otherwise it wouldn't He portrayed Catholic Worker co- be a medical miracle. They are no less cost me anything. I think anything of founder Peter Maurin. in "Entertain- miraculous.' value has to cost you something. Oth- ingAngels: The Dorothy Day Story." ''What a revelation that is," Sheen erwise you have to question how valu- And Sheen threw himself into the role said. ''We think ofmiracles in terms·of able it is, or is not," he replied. of the disillusioned Army captain in 'poof.' Medical miracles are equally "But there are probably any nurn- . Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam epic God working through someone in a ber ofjobs that I was denied because ''Apocalypse Now;' suffering an emo- human way." of my activism, but I'm equally cer- tional breakdown during the pro- . . Sheen, in a more mystical'mode, tain that there are an equal number longed location fIlming in southeast expressed his awe at the human face that I got becaiJse of my activism- .Asia of God on earth. people who were supportive, but never "If going in, if at the start of that, 'The miracle is God chooses us. said anything except to hire me." somebody would have told me, 'Mar- That's the hardest part to accept. A It is more likely sheer talent that tin, this is going to happen to you, child gets it. A 'simple person gets it. landed Sheen the role ofthe president, knowing you could die, would you You get intellectual and you can't get Josiah Bartlet, in NBC's new hitdrama want itTAnd I'd say, 'No!Idon'twant it. God chooses to come through us. 'The West Wmg." any part of that. Take the cup away, I That's the miracle," he said. But don't look for Sheen to have don't want to see that cup.' But I think '1 was always interested in the poof life imitate art and inject himself into we have to accept the cup as offered, miracle. You know what that is? Poof! next year's presidential~race. not altered;' Sheen said. Make her better. Poof! Get me this. '1 think it's on-the-job training for ')\nd I always want to alter the cup. Poof! Make that happen. Poof! Dear the most part," he said of the chief I see itcoming and I run and I say, 'No, God, poofthis and poofthat;' he said. executive's job. Sheen said he doesn't no, I'm not home.' 'Well, all right Can ''And occasionally God will do that. have the right attitude for the position. you pour some out?' 'Can you put Boom, a miracle. But God wants to 'The United States has a lot of in- some sugar in it?'We all want that cup come through us. God·'s miracle is terests in the rest ofthe world and when altered;' he continued, "and the great speaking to us." they are interfered with or threatened, people, including great artists and Movies Online their response is a violent one and a . great statesmen, great leaders, all of Can't 'remember how a recent military one. I would not further that them, they take the cup as offered, not film was classified by the USCC? means for solving problems;' he said. altered." Want to know whether to let the Sheen was born Ramon Estevez It was after that breakdown that he kids go see it? Now you can look - it's still his legal name. He. bor- returned tq his Catholic faith and put film reviews up on America rowed his stage,surname from Arch- his activism into high gear. Online. Once you're connected to bishop Fulton 1. Sheen, whom Martin That activism "comes from my AOL, just use the keyword CNS Sheen called "the fIrst televangelist. faith and my humanity," Sheen said. to go to Catholic News Service's And I loved him, but he was more ap- "I believe that Jesus was nonviolent online site, then look for movie pealing to me as an actor. I thought he and he calls us to a nonviolent discipleship. And I think we are either . reviews. was a very. good actor.':
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