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The article features Pope John Paul II and his role in the battle for the soul of American liberalism in 1997. Liberalism is considered to be a wondrously pliable term. In the book "Rerum Novarum," there is the laissez-faire economic liberalism condemned by the late Pope Leo XIII and by Pope John Paul II. Such liberalism goes by the name of libertarianism in the U.S., and in spite of its many talented apologists, it has never acquired many adherents beyond what actor Russell Kirk termed as its chirping sectaries.

The article addresses the issue of anti-Semitism in the U.S. Jewish-Christian tensions and anti-semitism charges are a staple in public life. The controversies have everything to do with the political shock of November 8, 1994 and alarms over the perceived ascendancy of the Religious Right. The "New York Times" reacted when "Spectator" ran an article on the self-described dominance of Jews in Hollywood. It was found out that the author was in part relying on what Jewish writers has said about Jews in Hollywood. He did not understand that non-Jews are not supposed to notice when Jews celebrate their influence and success.

This section comments on the article "America's Identity Crisis," by John O'Sullivan, which appeared in the November 21, 1994 issue of the "National Review." According to the article, immigration can cause multiculturalism that in turn may cause identity crisis in the country. Immigration may trigger the redefinition of the character of the federal nation. On the other hand, this essay argues that the debate over immigration policy in the U.S. may not affect the redefinition of the identity of U.S. people.

Focuses on the decision of the United States Supreme Court on the case "Employment Division v. Smith." Question as to whether ingesting peyote constitutes the free exercise of religion; Rationale set forth in Justice Antonin Scalia's majority opinion; Details of the case; Standard procedure in similar cases.

This article focuses on laws regulating abortion in the U.S. It has been decided that abortion will be considered as illegal with exceptions for rape, incest, and direct threat to the life of the mother. The political fact is that administration of President George Bush has decided that this is the most that is obtainable. It would be politically unsustainable to ask a woman or girl to carry to term, the child of a rapist or a drunken father. The people who favor abortion will surely exploit such cases in order to undermine the entire proposition that the state must protect the unborn. There is a need to change abortion laws as these will effect a drastic reduction in the absolute number of innocent human lives unjustly terminated.

The article focuses on the concept of an American identity. The author points to a mosaic of subcultures in American culture. Samuel Huntington's book "Who Are We?:The Challenges to American National Identity" suggests that the U.S. is a nation that identifies with principles rather than ethnic or religious identities. The article also addresses the Christian framework that loosely underlies America.

This article looks at the life of the late theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar, who was considered as having a large influence on Pope John Paul II. He was and remains one of John Paul II's favorite theologians. As tribute to his contributions, John Paul II made him a cardinal, however, Balthasar died days before his investiture in Rome in 1988. The volume, range and depth of Balthasar's writing oppose belief. He was seen as being somewhat on the margin of mainstream academic theology. Many of his works have appeared in English only in 1984, and unfortunately, many more are still untranslated. So it is only in 1994 that people are discovering Balthasar.

Profiles author Will Herberg. Career history of Herberg; Books written; Writing style of the author; Themes of Herberg's books; Contemporaries; Contributions to the development of literature; Factors that influenced Herberg's writings; Critics' reaction to Herberg's writings.

An excerpt of the article "Toward Dying" which originally appeared in the February 2000 issue of "First Things" is presented.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to the article "The 'Loyalty Trap," by Norman Podhoretz, published in the January 25, 1999 issue of "National Review." The article attacked Glenn Loury, along with his political and social views. A response by Podhoretz is included in this section.

A list of books considered among the 100 best non-fiction of the 20th century is presented. Number one in the list is "The Second World War," by Winston S. Churchill. Second is "The Gulag Archipelago," by Aleksander I. Solzhenitsyn. Third is "Homage to Catalonia," by George Orwell. Fourth is "The Road to Serfdom," by F. A. von Hayek. "The Open Society and Its Enemies," by Karl Popper is sixth on the list. Tenth on the list is Milton Friedman's "Capitalism and Freedom."

This article presents an opinion on the book "The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life," by Richard Herrnstein and Charles Murray. One can, for argument's sake, stipulate that some differences do exist and, for reasons that have to do with both nature and nurture. Intellectual mischief can be destructive. African Americans, for one, will be hurt by the book's assertion that in terms of intellect, they are inferior to the Caucasians. People in the U.S. are not capable of having a civil conversation in public about the contribution of ethnicity to one's intelligence.

The article criticizes the easy availability of the implantable contraceptive Norplant for preventing unwanted pregnancies in the U.S. The program only leads to an increase in sexual activity among teenagers. The implantation of Norplant in teenage girls will mean that there are no social standards or sanctions in relation to the sexual activity of young people. It also implies that parents, churches and schools should give up on discouraging sexual promiscuity and encouraging abstinence. Each person can have a will with respect to teenage sexuality.

Applauds Pope John Paul II's new encyclical `Centesimus Annus.' How the Pope's social thought is based on a profound anthropology and theology of human freedom; Overview of John Paul's views on capitalism and socialism; Bold challenges made to developed countries.

Considers the legend of author, journalist, and Christian apologist Malcolm Muggeridge following his death on November 13, 1990. Conflict between his reputation as a witty cynic and a Christian ascetic; Examples of his insights into leading figures of his generation from his conversations with the author; Pessimistic views of western civilization; Comments on his article "Why I Believe," in which he made a heartfelt declaration of his belief in God; More.

Examines the efforts of the Eastern European nations to re-establish their cultural identity apart from the corruption of the West. Role of Pope John Paul II in the drive to recover the Christian soul of Europe; Recognition of the Church as sanctuaries of the human spirit during totalitarian rule; Impact of the 1989 revolution on the monopoly of the church on social and spiritual truths; Failure of Communism to redefine humanity.

Criticizes the `New York Times' for its stance against Catholic dogma. Refutes the newspaper's premise that the rights of religion end at the edge of the public arena; Key issues of conflict between the `Times' and a group of Roman Catholic bishops.

Presents a letter to the editor in response to a letter (June 30th) about the article "Unpleasant Business," in the June 16 issue.

Presents comments from "National Review," staff on the contributions of CEO Edward Capano to the publication of the magazine. Remarks on the retirement of the executive; His efforts to become a successful publisher; Information on his family and career background; Importance of the executive to the Conservatives.

Presents the responses of several executives involved in U.S. politics on their opinion on the "National Review" journal. William J. Bennett; Orrin Hatch; Laura Ingraham;

Reprints the article "True Christian Feminism: Pope John Paul II's Letter on Women," by Richard John Neuhaus, which appeared in the November 25, 1988 issue of the periodical "National Review." Issuance by the late Pope John Paul II of a letter on the dignity and vocation of women; Views of the pope on the masculinization of women; Reaffirmation of the pope on the inclusion of men in the ordained ministry.

The article focuses on issues related to the "right to die" debate in the United States. The first living-will law in California authorized only the refusal of extraordinary measures in cases of terminal illness. Today the advocates of the movement supports "automatic proxy" in case the terminally ill has never appointed a proxy or signed a living will. They also deny life support for such patients even when the patient or his family clearly do want such support.

The author questions the reasoning behind the editorial "Norplant?" in the December 28, 1992 issue of "National Review." It argues that the editorial is wrongheaded in its reasoning and mischievous, at best, in the consequences it implicitly invites. It discusses the sexual behavior of American teenage girls. It offers an overview of the crisis of family life and sexual behavior in the urban underclass. It suggests social policy goals for the urban underclass.

The article presents an obituary for biomedical ethicist Joseph F. Fletcher.

Pays tribute to the late Malcolm Muggeridge, British journalist, author, and Christian apologist.

Presents a response from Richard John Neuhaus to a letter regarding his article "After Roe," in the April 7 issue.

Opinion. Offers a look at the number and type of people in the United States who have religious leanings. Refutation to the secularization of society; Reference to the book "Unsecular America," by Richard John Neuhaus; Reference to the book "Religious Indicators 1940-1985," by Andrew Greeley; Prevalence of Christianity in the U.S.; Influence of the life cycle on religious sensibilities; Problems faced by organized religion in the U.S.

This article discusses voluntary and government spending on social needs with special reference to the book "In Pursuit: Of Happiness and Good Government," by Charles Murray. It is notable that various studies have demonstrated the unsurprising truth that government spending tends to crowd out voluntary giving. Such issues related to voluntary and government action are explored in the book "In Pursuit: Of Happiness and Good Government." It is not implausible that voluntary giving could generate the funds required to maintain existing government programs. According to Murray, if the percentage of real personal income given away had followed the trend of the 1950s, Americans in 1985 would have been donating 5.1 per cent of personal income.

Comments on the moral initiative in the practice of government in the 1980s. Breakaway of the democracy project from and against Biblical religion since the secular enlightenment; Efforts of British Prime Minister Thatcher to reconnect the idea of freedom and Biblical truth; Implications on politics and religion.

Focuses on the U.S. Roman Catholic bishops committee's release of a pastoral draft of "pastoral response to women's concerns for church and society". Emphasis of the pastoral of Christian feminism; Pope John Paul's reaction on the committee's draft.

Comments on much discussion about 'post-liberalism' in current religious thought in 1988. Range of interpretations for post-liberalism in religious theory; Factors behind the advancement of the post liberal argument in religious theory; Implications on religion and spirituality.

Discusses the role of the church in American politics. Political polarization of the church; Influence of the growth of church bureaucracies in the politicization of American religion; Argument that politicized religion is directly related to the expansion of state power.

Focuses on the political contentions stemming from the ratification of the Williamsburg Charter on the First Amendment Religious Liberty Clause. Violation of the separation of church and state with the involvement of religious organizations in public health programs; Opposition from conservative politicians to the document; Prominence of Religious Right groups in U.S. society.

Profiles Father Avery Dulles, a Roman Catholic theologian in the United States. Confusions of American Catholicism; Definition and dignity given to the term centrist; Role of a bishops conference; Puzzlement on who speaks for the Roman Catholic Church.

Profiles Episcopal Bishop James Pike. Quest for new spiritualities; Death; Insights from the book "Living in Sin?," by John Spong; Spong's views on sex and religion; Criticisms of Jews and fundamentalists; Breakdown of the family among the poor in Newark, New Jersey.

Focuses on the book "The Altruistic Personality: Rescuers of Jews in Nazi Europe," by Samuel and Pearl Oliner. Challenge to the book "The Authoritarian Personality," written by Theodor Adorno in 1938; Distinction between rescuers from non-rescuers; Implication of the book for rethinking models of moral development.

Profiles Leo Pfeffer, supporter of the absolution of separatism in the U.S. Argument against the exposure of school children to religion; Prevalence of absolutism by default; Importance of religious leadership and the entirety of an enlightened public.

Comments on the book "Did Jesus Really Rise From the Dead," by Wolfhart Pannenberg. Resurrection of faith; Transmigration of souls; Historical reality of the Resurrection; Explanation of the existence of Christianity.

Addresses the issue of the tax exemption aspect of the federal tax code of the United States. Provisions of the tax exemption policy; Difference between the tax base theory and the tax exemption policy; Issues related to nonprofit organizations' tax exemption.

Comments on psychology professor Paul Vitz's observation about the tendency of old ideas to enjoy a sanctified afterlife under the auspices of religion, especially Christianity. Seminaries' embrace of old outmoded ideas of psychological health; Transition of clergy from pastoral counselors to psychotherapists; Call from psychologists and psychiatrists on Christians to reconsider the exchange of their heritage with psychobabble.