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 The Importance of Being a Burden By Cathleen Kaveny July 30, 2026 Imitation of Life By Dorothy Fortenberry August 5, 2026 ‘They Don’t Want to Say Yes’ By Phyllis Zagano July 28, 2026