W. David Myers is associate professor of history at Fordham University. He is the author of Poor, Sinning Folk: Confession and Conscience in Counter-Reformation Germany (Cornell). Get Commonweal’s latest, delivered twice weekly. Email address Published in the 2004-09-10 issue: View Contents Recommended for you Lethally Stupid By The Editors August 27, 2026 The Prevost Smile By Max Foley-Keene September 8, 2026 Convert Alert! By Eve Tushnet September 2, 2026