'America Abroad: Holy Diplomacy'

07 May, 2008 10:11:00

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An exploration of the Catholic Church's enduring role as an international social and political actor.

The Catholic Church is one of the world's longest-standing institutions and throughout its history has played a powerful role on the global stage. Yes, there was that whole Crusades thing, but more recently, the Church played a role in the fall of communism and priests today put their lives on the line to resolve conflicts across the globe. The Vatican enjoys a privileged and unique status as the only religion represented at the United Nations and dozens of other international bodies. At times this ruffles feathers when Church doctrine clashes with secular affairs of state. Still, the Church manages to tend its flock of more than one billion Catholics worldwide, while its legions of clergy and diplomats also carry on the faith's tradition of ministering to global matters, by promoting development, advocating for religious freedom and building peace.

On this edition of "America Abroad": an exploration of the Church's enduring role as an international social and political actor.

Program Overview

Elizabeth Arnold travels to the Vatican to explore the Holy See's foreign policy machinery. Guests include Mary Ann Glendon, US Ambassador to the Holy See; Francis Campbell, British Ambassador to the Holy See; Father Thomas Reese, Senior Research Fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University; Jon O'Brien, President of Catholics for Choice; and Massimo Franco, political columnist for the Italian daily newspaper, Corriere della Sera.

Ray Suarez traces the history of the Vatican's evolving role in world affairs and examines Pope John Paul II's role in the fall of communism in his native Poland. Featuring Father J. Bryan Hehir, Professor of the Practice of Religion and Public Life at Harvard University; George Weigel, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center; Dr. Bronislaw Geremek, a leader of the Polish Solidarity Movement; and Richard Allen, former National Security Advisor to President Reagan.

Deborah Amos looks at the Catholic Church's peace-building efforts in the troubled jungles of Colombia. Guests include Jean-Noel Wetterwald, UN High Commissioner for Refugees representative in Colombia; Archbishop Luis Augusto Castro Quiroga of Tunja, President of the Bishops' Conference in Colombia; Bishop Fidel Leon Cadavid Marin of Quibdo; and others.

Hosted by a team of prominent news broadcasters that includes Ray Suarez, Marvin Kalb, Steve Roberts, Garrick Utley, and Margaret Warner, "America Abroad" examines key issues in international affairs and U.S. foreign policy.

More "America Abroad."

Comments (1 posted):

Barbara Green on 19 July, 2008 06:55:52

I find it baffling and frustrating that in what was generally an informative program, there was no mention of the fact that the Catholic Church, as part of its clear and official policy, discriminates against women. Why is that not a part of the story of its power and influence? In general PBS tends to be non-critical of this factor of Church identity. The sexual abuse scandal is not the only thing to talk about.

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'America Abroad: Holy Diplomacy'

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