Saturday, September 15, 2018
Aftermath of the storm
All is well, says "thunder dog," who was with me throughout Hurricane (and then Tropical Storm) Florence.
Friday, August 31, 2018
Late Summer in the Carolinas
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Some sobering church thought
Weasel Watchers recently discussed the change to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and what it says now about the death penalty.
Meanwhile, John Zmirak kept heretical comments by a papal adviser from being flushed down the memory hole.
I'd like to file both of the above stories under the "theology" label, but the truth is that if I regularly used a "politics" label, that might be more accurate, even within the church.
In times like these, the following quote by 20th-century Catholic apologist Frank Sheed is worth remembering:
"We are not baptized into the hierarchy; do not receive the cardinals sacramentally; will not spend an eternity in the beatific vision of the pope. Christ is the point."
The grand jury report from Pennsylvania that made news for describing sexual abuse by Catholic clerics in that state over many years raises serious concerns of its own. This reaction by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf (aka "Father Z") is worth reading. "This is primarily a supernatural battle that is being fought right now," he notes.
Reaction from Pope Francis to that news, when it came a few days later, was heartfelt but also inadequate because it tried to collectivize guilt and make predatory priests and their enablers a microcosm of injustice throughout society. But if everyone is guilty, then no one is guilty. Some bishops did better.
POSTSCRIPT: This homily by Fr. Robert Altier is well worth a listen. Among other things, Fr. Altier explains twin assaults on the church that started in 1924 and 1929, respectively (documentation backs him up about both starting points). Let the Marian-driven housecleaning commence!
As Fr. Altier noted: "Our Lady gave the bishops 16 years to clean up this mess, and they did nothing...but remember that our faith is in Jesus Christ, period." He also developed a fine analogy: "Back 2,000 years ago, Jesus cleaned out the Temple, but he did it like a man. He picked up the big stuff in the middle of the room. This time, He's sending his mom, and she's gonna clean like a woman. There won't be a cobweb left, and there will be no dust, even in the corners. She's gonna clean house, and it's gonna be beautiful. But it's not gonna be pleasant getting there. The resurrection will happen only after the crucifixion. And are we gonna remain faithful?"
If you're more inclined to read (or don't want to spare 22 minutes), Neo-Neocon (who, as far as I know, is not Catholic) does a good job summarizing the lowlights.
Meanwhile, John Zmirak kept heretical comments by a papal adviser from being flushed down the memory hole.
I'd like to file both of the above stories under the "theology" label, but the truth is that if I regularly used a "politics" label, that might be more accurate, even within the church.
In times like these, the following quote by 20th-century Catholic apologist Frank Sheed is worth remembering:
"We are not baptized into the hierarchy; do not receive the cardinals sacramentally; will not spend an eternity in the beatific vision of the pope. Christ is the point."
The grand jury report from Pennsylvania that made news for describing sexual abuse by Catholic clerics in that state over many years raises serious concerns of its own. This reaction by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf (aka "Father Z") is worth reading. "This is primarily a supernatural battle that is being fought right now," he notes.
Reaction from Pope Francis to that news, when it came a few days later, was heartfelt but also inadequate because it tried to collectivize guilt and make predatory priests and their enablers a microcosm of injustice throughout society. But if everyone is guilty, then no one is guilty. Some bishops did better.
POSTSCRIPT: This homily by Fr. Robert Altier is well worth a listen. Among other things, Fr. Altier explains twin assaults on the church that started in 1924 and 1929, respectively (documentation backs him up about both starting points). Let the Marian-driven housecleaning commence!
As Fr. Altier noted: "Our Lady gave the bishops 16 years to clean up this mess, and they did nothing...but remember that our faith is in Jesus Christ, period." He also developed a fine analogy: "Back 2,000 years ago, Jesus cleaned out the Temple, but he did it like a man. He picked up the big stuff in the middle of the room. This time, He's sending his mom, and she's gonna clean like a woman. There won't be a cobweb left, and there will be no dust, even in the corners. She's gonna clean house, and it's gonna be beautiful. But it's not gonna be pleasant getting there. The resurrection will happen only after the crucifixion. And are we gonna remain faithful?"
If you're more inclined to read (or don't want to spare 22 minutes), Neo-Neocon (who, as far as I know, is not Catholic) does a good job summarizing the lowlights.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Answering a pessimist
An assistant professor of English at the University of Notre Dame insists on walking around with a cloud over his head, it seems. The New York Times trades in pessimism of that kind, but I don't. Ergo, a new essay at American Spectator Online -- "Even Sunset is a Harbinger of Doom" (for progressives)
Note: An algorithm at the Spectator website might confuse my essay with this fine piece by H.W. Crocker III on why America's next Civil War will be worse than its previous one. I liked that essay, which features a cameo appearance by none other than George Armstrong Custer, but it's not mine.
Postscript: WoW magazine now has the essay, also.
Note: An algorithm at the Spectator website might confuse my essay with this fine piece by H.W. Crocker III on why America's next Civil War will be worse than its previous one. I liked that essay, which features a cameo appearance by none other than George Armstrong Custer, but it's not mine.
Postscript: WoW magazine now has the essay, also.
Friday, June 29, 2018
Messing with my childhood
 |
| From the Karen Grassle archive at IMDB |
It turns out that Leftists don't like Little House on the Prairie.
I believe it's time I finally read those books by Laura Ingalls Wilder on which the fondly-remembered TV show of my youth was based.
Wilder was not a bigot.
Some thoughts on Voter ID laws
I have another essay out for a local think tank. This one looks at Voter ID laws and the ideologues who insist that anyone who wants to safeguard elections is a tool of the patriarchy.
Monday, June 11, 2018
Summer-ish fun
The Blue Dash dragonfly above is one symbol of warm weather. Late last night, I had a few others: I played frisbee catch with a German Shepherd while fireflies drifted erratically through the humid darkness around us like yellow-green embers and distant lightning strobed the sky to the southwest. Good times!
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