The Epidemics Afoot and A Method to Seek a Cure for One Being Almost Ignored

There are more than just a couple of epidemics abreast. Epidemic is the word being used about both the rise of the Zika virus  [Hartford Courant: Connecticut Has 'Clear And Present Stake' In Zika Epidemic, Authorities Say, Jan 26] and the rise in the number of heroin deaths [Hartford Courant: Heroin-Related Overdose Deaths Soar In Connecticut, Feb, 14].  

The threat of Zika has Sen. Blumenthal and state leaders calling on Congress to approve more funding for the treatment and prevention of the rapidly spreading virus. Heroin overdose deaths deserved a statewide forum in which Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Connecticut’s Senators took part with Michael Botticelli, the nation's drug control policy director "in another effort to discuss and raise awareness about the opiate epidemic."

Not to diminish the importance of responding to these threats to health and life or the pain and sorrow of those who suffer from the effects of them, some say that arousing the public and holding summits may be good as sounding boards, but that these do not address the threats to health and life that epidemics present.

The same can be said of what amounts to another threat that many are now calling an epidemic: violence among young people in our cities. If the number of violent deaths in our cities was viewed as a contagious disease, the whole country would be alarmed and demand action. If one considers numbers alone, 2014 saw 12,585 violent deaths in the US, and in 2015 there were 13,309.

http://www.gunviolencearchive.org/past-tolls

By comparison, there were about 11,000 deaths due to overdose of heroin in 2014. https://d14rmgtrwzf5a.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/cdc-us-overdose-deaths-2014_jr-5.jpg

Rather than death, the Zika virus epidemic presents a major danger from other effects than death, mainly infant brain underdevelopment (microcephaly) and is spread by a type of mosquito (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus).

Addressing violence with new stricter gun laws may be seen as part of an answer. Yet, in Connecticut in 2011, 73% of the 128 homicides involved guns. And of the 31 homicides in Hartford in 2015, 16% resulted from assaults with a knife. The percentages of violence in other forms cannot be addressed by stricter laws. Those of us who have taken part in the vigils held by Mothers United Against Violence in Hartford hear the wailing and crying of those who have the lives of their family members taken as a result of violence.

Raising the issue of violence as reaching levels of an out-of-control contagious disease, the TED Talk by Dr. Gary Slutkin, an epidemiologist, has been viewed online by over 688,000 people. His thesis is that since we've reversed the impact of so many diseases, we can do the same with violence. His 15-minute TED Talk is at:

https://www.ted.com/talks/gary_slutkin_let_s_treat_violence_like_a_contagious_disease?language=en

In cities across the country, there is an epidemic so spread out over space and time that it’s all but ignored. But these violent deaths are taking place in areas of our cities unseen or avoided by the majority of its citizens and, unfortunately, are considered the norm, So violent deaths continue as an “epidemic by accumulation” in our cities, state and country.

New methods of law enforcement, gun laws, town hall meetings and forums don’t seem to have had an effect. While these actions may show interest in finding solutions, they amount to hand wringing that doesn’t answer the need to address the systemic racism inherent in city policy-making. Addressing poverty and the lack of training for jobs that leads to employment for youth as an alternative to being drawn into street marketing of controlled substances demands something more.

The actions recommended by Dr. Slutkin were implemented in the Garfield Park Community of Chicago resulting in a 69% drop in the number of homicides. Dr. Slutkin offers an epidemiologist’s approach with a series of practical steps to mobilize against the epidemic of violence similar to those set up to address contagious disease. And he has now established “Cure Violence” as an organization offering this epidemiological response to violence. http://cureviolence.org/the-model/

Isn’t it time to take a multi-disciplinary approach to the epidemic of violence?

Is “Uncanonizing” Where We Need To Go From Here?

Fascinating coverage, this reporting of the meeting and joint statement by Francis and Kirill I. Makes one wonder where we go from here?

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/152daa359adcd689?projector=1

But if history and church are subjects that put you to sleep, you’ll probably want to quit this blog now. I know I was totally bored, as I remember, listening to the lectures of this period of Church history in the Aula of Mt. St. Mary of the West, Cincinnati, though I received an uncharacteristic "B" for the course. Now since I’ve lived to this age of 78, this kind of stuff gets me going. So here I write.

HISTORICAL QUESTION. . .

Is there's any thought of "uncanonizing" the  German reformer, Leo IX, who was nominated pope by the German Emperor, Henry III? After all Leo started this division between the West and East Church of the time by his excommunication of Michael Cerularius, Patriarch of Constantinople, in 1054.

Other students of history will remember that, earlier, Leo, after his election in 1049, had campaigned throughout Europe—an extraordinary papal step at that time—to promote his agenda, especially enforcing clerical celibacy, railing against simony and promoting papal supremacy. And the quarrel between the two of them escalated to the point of Leo leading a poorly equipped army against the Normans in Southern Italy, an area claimed by Byzantium. His defeat made him a prisoner of war in 1053. Cerularius was not recognized as a saint, his motto having been "I Will Not Serve." He closed Latin churches in Constantinople, fulminating against Latin Church liturgical practices like the use of unleavened bread at mass. The attempt by Leo to free southern Italy exacerbated the situation. The clash of these two strong-willed leaders led to Rome's excommunication of Cerularius and, in turn, Leo's being declared anathema by the East.

COMMENTARY

Celibacy, simony and supremacy along with liturgical practices are certainly an interesting juxtaposition of issues over which to create an historic division in Christendom. Meeting of Francis and Kirill in an island country once considered a threat to the democracy in the Western Hemisphere, their signing a 

30-paragraph joint policy statement witnessed by married Eastern Rite clergy (and perhaps even married bishops) as the two carry out pastoral visits in that hemisphere is an ominous event that bodes well for the journey back to unity.  

COMPARING NAMESAKES

Francis: According to most hagiographers, Francis of Assisi, whose name Cardinal Bergolio took upon being named pope, had a vision that spoke to him the words “. . . rebuild my house.” The poverello saw this as a call to bring the Gospel message to wherever it was needed. He travelled across the Mediterranean during the “Albigensian Crusade,” or Cathar Wars, that raged from 1209 to 1229. Francis landed at Damietta in Egypt in 1219, arriving in the crusader camp. Francis wanted no part in the war of Innocent III, but tried to convince the crusaders to peace. Met with ridicule, he went over to preach to the sultan, Al-Kamil.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Crusade

http://webzine.thesocialedge.com/columns/the-lessons-of-the-albigensian-crusade/

According to many, the caliph was impressed with this ill-clad European preacher as he had to other mystics of the time. An NCR article by Sister Rose Pacatte says:

No one actually knows what was said since Francis did not speak Arabic and the sultan didn't speak whatever French-Italian dialect Francis used. It was their way of being together, the attitude of mutual respect and understanding, as well as their belief in one God, prayer, kindness to the poor, and peace that certainly appealed to both men.

When Francis returned home, he even amended the rule he had written for his brothers, saying that those who feel called to go to Muslims should be allowed to do so. In 1272, a sultan allowed the Franciscans to settle in the Cenacle in Jerusalem. In 1342, Pope Clement VI named the Franciscans the custodians of the Holy Land "in the name of the Catholic church."

Source: http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/recent-release-francis-and-sultan-documentary-perfect-timing

Kirill: The namesake he took upon being raised to Patriarch is Cyril, one of the two brothers of great ninth century missionary work. The work of Cyril and Methodius influenced the cultural development of all Slavs, for which they received the title "Apostles to the Slavs". They are credited with devising the Glagolithic, the first alphabet used to transcribe Old Church Slavonic. The script became known as Cyrillic. After their deaths, their pupils continued their missionary work among other Slavs. Both brothers are venerated in the Orthodox Church as saints with the title of "equal-to-apostles". In 1880, Pope Leo XIII introduced their feast into the calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1980, Pope John Paul II declared them co-patron saints of Europe, together with Benedict of Nursia.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saints_Cyril_and_Methodius

CONTRASTING FRANCIS AND KIRILL I

One is recognized as a humble leader who cares for the poor and has kissed the feet of peasants.

The other has been plagued by scandal and become an object of ridicule because of his luxurious lifestyle, which includes an apparent penchant for pricey ski vacations in Switzerland.

Source: http://mashable.com/2016/02/05/pope-francis-to-meet-patriarch-kirill-in-cuba/#Povk.7w7akqV

Interesting juxtaposition of personalities and events, indeed. Where do we go from here?