Neo-Con Blinders | National Catholic Reporter

Neo-Con Blinders | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: From what I hear, many mega church services are exercises in secularism anyway, especially for the economically comfortable or those who want to be.  With a fixation on political issues this year, the Catholic pulpit was not far behind for a few months.  I have a friend from Catholic College who is now a Unitarian pastor.  It seems to be working for him.  What matters is not profession or confession, but how one treats the least of his or her brethren.  I only hope that God will keep putting such people in my path and remind me to help them.

2012: A Look Back | National Catholic Reporter

2012: A Look Back | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The election did matter, because the GOP gerrymandered its way into enough seats to keep a finger on the scale in the House.  The election that mattered was 2010 at the state level.

The Affordable Care Act is still not settled, even if it is constitutional, since it may very well be that health insurance investors are more risk averse than the uninsured (or the subsidies are inadequate to buy insurance).  If either is the case, the whole private insurance market could blow up, resulting in either a single-payer system or a public option combined with repeal of some parts of the ACA.

The HHS mandate is really not a new thing, a fact that is lost on our host.  For people who hold third party insurance, it has been mandated since December 2000 that all policies include contraception.  The only change is the fact that some Churches can now opt out (they could not before).  While the President and Valerie Jarrett can be faulted for picking this fight, the Bishops were willing combatants.  Both sides used this controversy to shamelessly excite their bases.

I suspect most Catholics have not read the documents of Vatican II or the latest Catechism.  I suspect both are best examined in a classroom setting with a teacher rather than as an independent study.

As for libertarianism, it need not be insidious.  Indeed, school choice is a libertarian proposal, as is my proposal for Catholic Health hospitals to take over the treatment and corrections of non-violent drug offenders and to administer paid adult education as a replacement for the disastrous welfare reform carried out in the 90s. That could actually be the promise of the new century.

The View From the Cliff | National Catholic Reporter

The View From the Cliff | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The Dems always had the leverage, especially if you add the big finger of the high dollar donors who stand to lose the most if there is no compromise.  They overplayed their hand, thinking that they would get more Republican members.  Indeed, as time goes on, many districts that stayed Republican this time will go Democratic with demographic shifts and any amount of intelligent GOTV in the off-year elections.

Papist Patriots: A Review, Part II | National Catholic Reporter

Papist Patriots: A Review, Part II | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: As I mentioned yesterday, one wonders if the book, like the review, examines the reasons WHY anti-papist sentiment existed from an objective point of view.  Catholic hands were not exactly clean in this era, nor are they in this one.

Cut Nose; Spite Face | National Catholic Reporter

Cut Nose; Spite Face | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Health care does not have a cost problem, it has a pricing problem.  Costs are quite low in for profit hospitals - its the markups that are high.  Regulating those markups is the debate for the next 30 years and for the saving of Medicare, Medicaid and the ACA.  Republicans know this (they know who writes them checks), which is why they want to deflect the debate to somewhere else.

New England's Changing Denominational Landscape | National Catholic Reporter

New England's Changing Denominational Landscape | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Poor people and those who feel that the Church has lost its moral authority are always attracted to end-times preaching, just as the Book of Revelation was written in opposition to Pauline Christianity (as revealed by Elaine Pagels).  Given the degree of corruption involved in the child sex abuse scandal in Boston, it is not hard to believe that an entire generation and its progeny are lost to the Church.

Papist Patriots: A Review, Part I | National Catholic Reporter

Papist Patriots: A Review, Part I | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Such a narrative as this usually ignores the reason why anti-Papists feel the way they do, including ways in which the governance of the Church, from its desire to play power politics to its medieval structures for holding property, need to be updated from those appropriate a millennium ago, although they would have shocked the apostles.

NCR's Person of the Year | National Catholic Reporter

NCR's Person of the Year | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB:  This was a good choice, since unlike the bishops, he was not willing to undo health care for his own agenda or to affect the election.

The Aesthetic of Christmas | National Catholic Reporter

The Aesthetic of Christmas | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Merry Christmas to all.  The kitch and sentimentality are part of it, but mostly because they recall for some of us, especially cradle Catholics, the continuity with the past (even if some parts of the commemoration are recent).  My father and sister's love for Adeste Fidelis is the Latin brings a tug to my heart every year, and a pang of disappointment if it is sung in English.  What is also moving is how the Incarnation dovetails with the story of the empty tomb, which would have no meaning for us if Christ were not one of us.  This is why we kneel tomorrow when the Incarnation is proclaimed in the Creed and not at the mention of the Resurrection.  Both events must be proclaimed as part of the New Evangelization to be more than an exercise in orthodoxy, or else my memories of my father are quite sad and meaningless.

B16's Address to the Curia | National Catholic Reporter

B16's Address to the Curia | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The Pope is fighting a losing battle against emerging self awareness.  I am sure he has apocalyptic thoughts that the teaching can never change on sex.  Like all such thoughts, he is likely wrong.

A Battle Worth Having | National Catholic Reporter

A Battle Worth Having | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: When I was in High School, I could have used a day off.  As it was, I worked both days for two years and had no day of rest (unless you count school as restful).  At times I thought it too much and I wish my parents had agreed, but it kept me in Catholic High School.  It seems they thought I was keeping the Sabbath by going to Mass before work.  I missed a lot of time with my younger siblings by doing this.  I also provided a bad example for them.

What's Worse Than Partisanship? | National Catholic Reporter

What's Worse Than Partisanship? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This is not necessarily bad news, because if the Fiscal Cliff comes about, everyone's taxes go up a tad bit a week, but the rich pay much, much more.  I suspect that donors will be calling members at home to get them to vote for a compromise next week.

Swiss abbot makes fiery appeal for church reform | National Catholic Reporter

Swiss abbot makes fiery appeal for church reform | National Catholic Reporter These are the bishops we have been waiting for.  I am sure we have similar ones here.

Religious colleges win legal round with court ruling on HHS suit | National Catholic Reporter

Religious colleges win legal round with court ruling on HHS suit | National Catholic Reporter  This seems to settle things, at least for these colleges.  That, of course, kills it as an issue for fundraising and rabble rousing.  Truly a blessing.  The right wing won the battle and lost the war.

The Killings in Newtown | National Catholic Reporter

The Killings in Newtown | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: We should not mention the names of these killers. It plays into their pathology - and it is pathology rather than evil per se. While there should be a discussion on limiting their access to guns, there should also be a discussion on what we as a Church and as a society fail to do to provide these people the treatment they need, even if they sometimes do not want it. The Church must lead on this. The evil is in ourselves for doing nothing, or resisting further funding when a few extra dollars a week could make this possible.

Spirited sparring between federal judges, lawyers marks HHS appeal | National Catholic Reporter

Spirited sparring between federal judges, lawyers marks HHS appeal | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This could be another camel's nose to reopen the abortion argument, however I don't think these appeals will survive the appellate court stage to be able to do that. The Administrative Procedures Act is clear and the preference is not to allow such constitutional challenges if there is an out in law. The Church and its institutions seem to have really bad lawyers, but we knew that with the whole sexual abuse scandal when they played hard ball rather than helping the Church be true to its word. We need to quit protecting the Church and start expecting it to act like it is the representative of Jesus.

Silk on Religious Adaptation | National Catholic Reporter

Silk on Religious Adaptation | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Largely an insider discussion, since Silk actually mentions his commentators by name (a practice MSW could emulate on occasion). In general, there are some structures which are non-doctrinal that could be changed, even though the hierarchy insists otherwise, especially resulting priestly continence, female ordination and the holding of church property by bishops.

Same-Sex Marriage & The Courts | National Catholic Reporter

Same-Sex Marriage & The Courts | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Unacceptable. The basic human rights of individuals cannot be left to the will of the political process - also known as the tyranny of the majority. That goes for gay marriage as an institution and what gay and straight married people do in their bedrooms (or with their medical plans). The Church may not like that fact, but denying it is hardly in keeping with a moral theology that is based on God given free will. Sometimes we can collect our free will on policy, sometimes we can't. When it is for individual autonomy, we cannot

Sausage Making Time | National Catholic Reporter

Sausage Making Time | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: On taxes on the wealthy, the big deal is on dividend and corporate gains tax rates. Movement on this will get us down the road to eventual reform, including replacing the income tax collection for most families with consumption taxes. Getting a job or continued unemployment is much more important than a payroll tax holiday. It would have been better to instead raise and make permanent (and universally refundable) the Child Tax Credit paid against employer tax obligations. On infrastructure, they should just raise taxes on gas.

As for the markets tanking on the debt deal, they did for about a day - however when the credit rating went down, so did the interest rate because nervous investors had nowhere else to go. The GOP has likely learned their lesson on being blamed for the debt ceiling and will comply - because they know that the constitutional option is valid under the 14th Amendment.

If there is a deal on taxes, the sequester needs to be eliminated - however a temporary deal means a temporary repeal of the sequester. The likelihood of a deal is high because the very wealthy have a lot to lose, while the middle class does not. This is because they both pay a lot and were given a lot in the tax cuts. There are those who are willing to simply let the fiscal cliff come (while repealing the sequester). That might be the best option for the poor.

Garnett on Unions | National Catholic Reporter

Garnett on Unions | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Right to work is about mandatory unionization and mandatory political fees, which many regard as unjust. Of course, in a post Citizens United world, no one is talking about asking shareholders to be able to opt out of corporate donations to candidates either. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Journalists & Bravery | National Catholic Reporter

Journalists & Bravery | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I could not imagine putting myself into that kind of harm either. I don't think I would have survived. It speaks to their inner strength.

Deneen on "Chimera" of "Natural Law Liberalism" | National Catholic Reporter

Deneen on "Chimera" of "Natural Law Liberalism" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The founders of the American public read Locke, Montesque and Rousseau, with heavy doses of Calvin by others.  You can clearly see these influences in what they wrote and what they did or were defeated in doing.  None of it has anything to do with anything Catholic, which was entirely a Divine Right Monarchy (or worse, Papist), polity.  Even now, the Church likes to have its cake and eat it to on natural law - building in an authoritarian check that has no business in a discussion decided wholly by reason (which is how the secular world understands natural law).

Of all the Enlightenment thinkers, it is Rousseau who has the most bearing on liberalism - particularly the kind that seeks a zone of privacy from the state on all matters consensual - to wit - unless everyone agrees on a moral limit, some police power is necessary to enforce the will of the majority on the majority.  In some cases, majority restrictions are intolerable and cannot be allowed to impinge on the individual in his private or public exercise of other rights.  This is especially the case in the area of marriage (both in terms of race and sexuality).  Interestingly, this is what Nino Scalia does not seem to understand either in his questioning of why sodomy laws should not be enacted.

Ingrates | National Catholic Reporter

Ingrates | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Its not just the unions who got these wonderful things - it was the socialists and the communist parties.  Many of the New Deal era gains were made because FDR scared the capitalists with the specter of a united and radicalized working class.  Such radicalization is needed now to reverse the losses of the past 30 years of Reaganomics (which is still with us).

Crazy Cuccinelli | National Catholic Reporter

Crazy Cuccinelli | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Ken is such a wacko that I was considering a run against him from the Independent Green Party. I have since decided not to go down this road, but he almost has a sign on his back that says "beat me." (Only mass infusions of cash will get me to change my mind, including one of those good politician jobs that require no work but pay enough so that I don't have to live on campaign donations).

Bishops: Look Into the Mirror | National Catholic Reporter

Bishops: Look Into the Mirror | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: There is no need for a solution because there is no problem.  The self-insured won't have to cover and those who have outside insurance have been covering contraception, albeit with co-pays, for over a decade (because there are NO policies for preventative care which don't include contraceptive coverage - you just can't buy them).

There is the deeper question, however, which is largely ignored, on whether the Bishops' cooperation with the National Right to Life Committee constitutes support of an ongoing fraud.  It is much more important than whether or not they look bad in the political arena or with the President.

The Moral Compass of Obama Abroad | National Catholic Reporter

The Moral Compass of Obama Abroad | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Do foreign policies have moral underpinnings or do they just cope with current affairs?  I suspect someone wrote Obama's Nobel speech for him using traditional memes. Any real foreign policy execution, save a war of choice, is by nature reactive to events or the insanity of other players or systems that are often pathological.

Redistricting & the HHS Mandate | National Catholic Reporter

Redistricting & the HHS Mandate | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB:  Let us not forget that some of the seats lost to moderate Democrats were because the pro-life Susan B. Anthony Fund blatantly lied about health care reform.  As for the HHS Mandate, let this issue drop - as no additional Catholic institutions will be required to cover contraception as a result of it (since they already have been covering it since December 2000 if they have outside insurance and similar proposals have already been well litigated with Church losing - twice).  There is no substance on either issue, it is all spin because the pro-life cause still has not plan to end abortion that can be called reasonable or realistic.  As far as closing Catholic health institutions - they are owned by religious orders, not diocese, so the bishop cannot close them and won't withdraw the name Catholic over an obscure issue of employee health coverage (where the Church doctrine is wrong on anyway).

I suspect that GOTV will get a bit more attention in 2014.  Additionally, God will be redistricting a lot of GOP districts in the very near future, as they will be demographically different as older boomers and the last of the greatest generation continues to die.

Eric Metaxas is Dangerous | National Catholic Reporter

Eric Metaxas is Dangerous | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Most of the attacks on Romney started with the Gingrich Super-PAC. If the GOP did not like the tone, they have only themselves to blame.

Meyerson on Lansing & Beijing | National Catholic Reporter

Meyerson on Lansing & Beijing | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB:  Workers need to seek new strategies, like employee ownership with unions acting as their brokers with management.  Do that and people will join again.  The GOP seems to be on the wane nationally.  The challenge is to make this a local phenomenon as well.  It could very well be that demographics will take care of this as well.

Shame in Michigan | National Catholic Reporter

Shame in Michigan | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Again, I am not surprised that the Michigan Catholic Conference stayed quiet or the Michigan Republicans overplayed their hand, as both are listening to their donors.  As I said previously, most bishops are no friends of public sector unions, which would also like the opportunity to unionize Catholic school teachers.  The fun begins when the rights of two corporatist institutions diverge.  I agree that the GOP and the bishops got it wrong, but it does not surprise me.  As for the quote from B16, it could have been lifted from Das Kapital, which says essentially the same thing about the corrosive nature of global labor markets.

On the issue itself, the controversy does not come from self-management, as the article implies, but on what the state is willing to do to add the force of law to these organizations.  Will the government favor the doctors (who called contraception essential) or employers?  Will it favor dissenting workers (or Republicans who want a less powerful opponent) or the worker organizations (who favor Democrats)?  It is hard to separate the two issues and it is not merely about independent institutions.

A friendly response to Michael Sean Winters' 'Contra Fr. Schmit' | National Catholic Reporter

A friendly response to Michael Sean Winters' 'Contra Fr. Schmit' | National Catholic Reporter by Massimo Faggioli.  MGB: There will be a window when the Spirit of Vatican II cohort become bishops - not the priests but the youth.  That time is about now.  Let us see if those younger are true believers in tradition or in simple Realpolitick.

Personal & Political | National Catholic Reporter

Personal & Political | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Stories of abortion, especially the medically necessary kind, are essential to understanding much of this issue, especially with regard to ectopic pregnancy.  The pro-life ethics community perhaps needs to do some rethinking on both how we help families mourn lost pregnancies and on whether a child that can never be born normally has a valid claim to life.  The question is not whether the life is innocent, but whether it is a danger.  If it is, its claim must be considered void.

B16 on the Sensus Fidelium | National Catholic Reporter

B16 on the Sensus Fidelium | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The Sensus Fidelium is a good barometer on the natural law reasoning, or what passes for it, that goes on in the Vatican.  When they become so off base that they are ignored, people of good faith MUST disagree with how the Holy Father views the matter.  I am one of those people.

Key Republicans on Immigration | National Catholic Reporter

Key Republicans on Immigration | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Immigration is largely Republicans fighting among themselves between xenophobes (who support the interests of those who would continue to exploit workers) versus Republican business owners who want to benefit from legal immigration to fill their workforce needs.  Note that right to work, which won in Michigan today, is also right to hire undocumented workers, since there is no incentive to do so if you have to pay them a union wage.

Values & The Fiscal Cliff | National Catholic Reporter

Values & The Fiscal Cliff | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Bruce Bartlett's New York Times Economix blog today addresses the long term debt.  It turns out that Medicare and Medicaid is not the cause.  Rather, the biggest factor in increasing debt is net interest costs building on themselves because of tax cuts.  Nothing else is really as out of control.  This is a nice racket for the wealthy to the extent that they receive the interest on the debt and their taxes are too low to finance the repayment, which is continually rolled over.  The question is whether the world will continue to let this happen.  This is doubtful, which is why any solution includes tax increases for the wealthy, even as they would cut spending for - and presumably tax - the poor or insist that their needs be met by non-public means.

Gays at the Supremes | National Catholic Reporter

Gays at the Supremes | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: One wonders whether the push for marriage was more about milking fundraisers for every last dime on the march for equality than any real reticence over the composition of the Court.  Most economically conservative GOP judges are socially liberal.  Considering that the Chief Justice helped the winning team in Roemer v. Evans, one must conclude that the composition of the Court is not the problem.  Nor are the arguments or the representation on the other side sufficient to win the day.  If all they have is reference to Catholic spin (which is not even consistent with Canon Law) that says marriage is to produce children (when in reality fecundity is not required for marriage), then there is no case against marriage other than "gays are icky," which is an argument of moral scorn - and moral scorn has already been thrown out as a defensible legal strategy vice Roemer.

Contra Fr. Schmit | National Catholic Reporter

Contra Fr. Schmit | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The Tridentine Mass is often a symbol of some for a more authoritarian time - an intention I cannot support even as I support the pageantry - so as with any thing it depends upon the motives.  Since the new translation of the Roman Rite, of course, there is very little difference between Rites, save language and the orientations of the priest and people in relation to each other and to the East.  Of course, too much authoritarianism will soon push the English speaking Church toward its own patriarchy - which would lessen unity in fact but increase it in principle.  

Fiscal Cliff, Unions in Michigan & the Church | National Catholic Reporter

Fiscal Cliff, Unions in Michigan & the Church | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: First off, another option for cost savings is to regulate prices in one of three ways - 1. paying beneficiaries less to force lower prices through the market by making it smaller, 2. price regulation through establishing single payer and 3. direct price regulation at the state and federal level. If none of these is possible, additional revenue is the only answer, which can come from the rich, from a payroll tax or a consumption tax. 

Second, truly helping the poor takes more money, not less, because it means adult literacy, not training to change bed pans in nursing homes and hospitals. TANF is a joke and many have been sent to disability, making them a federal problem and taking away any incentive for personal improvement. Many of our policies make people poor, desperate and because you can work part time on disability, permanently in the lower working class. Going beyond that takes a lot of rehabilitative education and attention. The Church can be faulted for not providing adult education on as massive a scale as it provides it to youth, even if we get the Feds to pay for it.

Third, thank you for recognizing the need for a living wage. Almost there - what is needed is to recognize it must be tax subsidized to a greater extent than it is now. The quotations from the Holy Father on the global economy (especially the more Marxian ones) are quite helpful.

Fourth, the bishops probably don't believe in right-to-work for the mostly feminist teacher's unions, who are consistently pro-choice and consistently running up against a wall when trying to unionize Catholic schools. I would not expect them to join hands with the ATF and NEA on any cause.

Fifth, it is the party of neither party to support Catholic theology.  Indeed, the closest thing we have to a call for a Christian Democratic Party is actually an evangelical organization called the Center for Public Justice.  They do not affiliate with either side and don't spend too much time quoting Catholic doctrine.  They talk of Kuyper.  

Finally, I don't expect the President to endorse a pro-life agenda - and I hope he will not because most of the American agenda is about Republican electoral advantage - I hope he goes beyond that to justice for every child. To have him speak fluently in the language of Catholic social thought he would have to hire staff who can write in both his voice and that language. Looking for a job, MSW?

Editorial: 'Fiscal cliff' presents moral questions | National Catholic Reporter

Editorial: 'Fiscal cliff' presents moral questions | National Catholic Reporter There are several ethical questions presented by the cliff, although none that impinge on credal issues unless having one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church implies that it be the safety net. 

A basic issue is whether health care providers are being paid too high a premium for their services or patents - and how this should be reversed. Are free market prices in force or is some form of price regulation required, either through negotiating with a single-payer system or some type of public service commission regulation at the state level. In other words, this is a question of economics. 

Cutting benefits and hoping that the price market will somehow control prices makes it easier for richer people to get care while those who are poorer are forced to accept substandard care or simply die - and that is immoral. If consensus is impossible on market regulation on either the supply or demand side, then the only alternative is to raise more revenue - with the question then becoming whose ox gets gored. 

If we simply go off the fiscal cliff, there will be no need for health care cuts because income taxes in every bracket will provide enough money for increasing health care costs. If they make a deal that extracts savings from health care providers (which is doubtful), then there are three options - increased regressive payroll taxes (the left won't swallow it), increased income taxes on the wealthy higher than even stated policy (the House won't enact it) or some kind of consumption tax that replaces both payroll and income taxes for all but the wealthiest, with or without funding Social Security employer contributions with a consumption tax, which can lead to a higher basic benefit decoupled from the employee contribution and higher premiums for Part B and Part D.

A large part of the moral problem is the protection in our system of property interests. This is not an accident or anything recent. Economic factions are predicted to be a check on popular passions by the unorganized, as can be seen in Federalist 10. The American Constitution is meant to protect entrenched interests - so none of this is any surprise. This is why Christianity must remain a radical movement - which is hard to do when the bishops cozy up to the wealthy and the connected

The HHS Mandate in Court | National Catholic Reporter

The HHS Mandate in Court | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The mandate could eradicate all language on the mandate and the Church, if not self insured, would be required to cover contraception under the 2000 rule by EEOC.  This will quietly go away.  It was an electoral red herring initiated by Valerie Jarrett and it shows that she is smarter than Karl Rove and the Bishops's Pro-Life Secretariat.  The Church should not have bit on this issue and MSW should not have encouraged them on this - nor encourage them to continue.

GOP Intransigence Gets Silly | National Catholic Reporter

GOP Intransigence Gets Silly | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I'm not even sure it is within the rules to filibuster your own motion without simply withdrawing it.  Someone should raise a point of order, just to check.  He definitely put himself in a place to be ridiculed by the Democrats.  Of course, this could all be part of an elaborate dance.  Stranger things have happened.

"To Hell With It" - the "War" on Christmas | National Catholic Reporter

"To Hell With It" - the "War" on Christmas | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: There is not war on Christmas because Christmas has co-opted the pagan holiday.  Jesus was actually born in April according to both astrology and the fact that the shepherds had their flocks in the field.  The feast of Christmas is an attempt to co-opt the pagan holiday which fills a very real human need to affirm light and life as the nights grow longer and darker, hence the drinking and frivolity.  While the commercialism is a bit regrettable, it evolves from the Feast of Epiphany being collapsed into Christmas because we are no longer an agrarian society.  It is apt to hijack the pagan solstice festivals because as Christians we proclaim that Christ is our light - however we should not make wrong the parts of the holiday that come from pagan roots, as they fill a very real human need.

Nussbaum on Human Sexuality, the Church & Culture | National Catholic Reporter

Nussbaum on Human Sexuality, the Church & Culture | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Not so sure ambivalence is the right attitude.  Sometimes one must tap the spiritual gift of courage and tell the hierarchy off when it is wrong, rather than disagree in your heart and admit only ambivalence.

Notre Dame, Gays, & the Church's Teaching | National Catholic Reporter

Notre Dame, Gays, & the Church's Teaching | National Catholic Reporter MSW hits the nail on the head.

"To Hell With It" - Reducing Religion to Ethics | National Catholic Reporter

"To Hell With It" - Reducing Religion to Ethics | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I don't agree with the premise, which is why the left fights so bitterly when bishops on the right insist that we be denied Communion for not supporting their political agenda on electing Republicans because they might eventually pay attention to life issues (which, by the way, is still a fraud).  We also bring our leftism into the Church, which is why we fight for the ordination of women and an end to a sexual ethics that is based on the misogynistic idea that priestly continence is necessary in order to celebrate the Eucharist (which is an insult to the married state - and behind much of the faux piety around sexual issues).  Finally, part of the empty tomb was the washing of the feet at the Last Supper - which given how bishops operate the rest of the year, is a bit of an empty ritual.

Paying attention to the season | National Catholic Reporter

Paying attention to the season | National Catholic Reporter by Phyllis Zagano.  MGB: The reason for the season is to build community to fend off the despair of the growing darkness as the days get shorter.  This is why pagan celebrations often involve both libation and the lighting of fires.  The Church co-opted these festivals to celebrate Christ's birth (even though it is estimated to have been April of 6 BCE, which is when the Magi would have sought him.)  Of course, an April birth celebration would have had reincarnation implications occurring just after the resurrection story, so it got moved.  We can still co-opt the pagan feasts using Christ as our light, but we should do that without making the pagan portions, which fulfill deep human needs, wrong.

Is Hell Empty? | National Catholic Reporter

Is Hell Empty? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Hell certainly exists on Earth and likely after for a great many people.  Whether this is eternal suffering or eventual eternal death has been debated in the Church for years.  There are some Church of Alexandria theologians who argued that eventually Hell would be emptied and all would be saved.  There is an old saw in recovery that Religion is for people to avoid Hell, while Spirituality is for people who have been there and do not want to go back.  Jesus' teaching on Hell likely reflected the conversation of the time, which comes more from Zoroastranism than Judaism.  Whether it is true or not depends on whether you thought that Christ had a direct line to the eternal in this life or whether he was informed by faith and the scriptures and filled with the Spirit.  If he was not a walking Demigod, then even his words must be taken in context. Of course, the most obvious point is that Hell is where we send our enemies.

Why We Love Benedict XVI! | National Catholic Reporter

Why We Love Benedict XVI! | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: He is both right and wrong.  The biological nature of many is essentially true, as is the spiritual nature.  Sexual rights are about individual autonomy, not licentiousness - about being able to live out ones sexuality as it has been given to him or her by God.  The Church did not give us sexuality, God did.  As for the cog and machine quote, I agree.  Economics, as well as sex, is also about human happiness.  Natural Law, even in the form of Eternal Law, must be about human happiness, as this is what God wants for us.

"To Hell With It" - Dorothy Day | National Catholic Reporter

"To Hell With It" - Dorothy Day | National Catholic Reporter MSW misunderstands what the Catholic Left is all about.  We are not trying to conform the Church to our ideas.  Rather, we are trying to conform the Church to its own ideas and its promise.  We are trying to conform the Church to what we believe God would want.  We speak with the Spirit of Prophesy and we cannot be silent.  Dorothy knew that and she certainly did not wait for permission to call her movement Catholic Worker.  The commitment to social justice, both in society and in the Church, is part of that role.

"To Hell With It" - The Motu Proprio | National Catholic Reporter

"To Hell With It" - The Motu Proprio | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The other factor is control by the local ordinary.  It was why the Arizona abortion case was so important.  It will only be resolved once the Church moves its form of governance into the 20th Century - shifting from personal ownership by the bishop to non-profit structures.  Bishops should quietly correct, like a shepherd, rather than governing like feudal lords.  We have had enough feuding in the body of Christ.

KC: Somebody, Do Something | National Catholic Reporter

KC: Somebody, Do Something | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: While he should step down, the reason many of us are not listening is that they are often spouting nonsense, especially when they wade into electoral politics or our bedrooms.

The Self-Destructiveness of Extremists | National Catholic Reporter

The Self-Destructiveness of Extremists | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The only question is, where do Independents who identify as Republicans go?  Will there be a new party or will the DLC Democrats, or possibly a group of partisans from the working class (Green, Democratic Socialists, etc.) take them over. If one party topples, the other will become unstable as well.

Cokie Roberts: Help the Nuns! | National Catholic Reporter

Cokie Roberts: Help the Nuns! | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Sadly, these women have been ill-treated by the institutional church, where they have often toiled for little money.  Many parishes owe them not only a debt of thanks but lots of money.  Also, they have been mistreated by the government, due to their vow of poverty - making them ineligible for some benefits normally given to older people.

Editorial: Ordination of women would correct an injustice | National Catholic Reporter

Editorial: Ordination of women would correct an injustice | National Catholic Reporter It would also give the Church more credibility on life issues and sexual issues, although doctrine may also change as a result of clearer headed female reasoning.

Bar is set low in acceptance of year-old English missal | National Catholic Reporter

Bar is set low in acceptance of year-old English missal | National Catholic Reporter by Rev. Anthony Ruff, MGB: The alternative was to create a new "Great Church" for the English speaking world who can do its own missal.  So far, there has been no pressure for that - even though it would likely solve the papist objections of American Protestantism, leading to ecumenicism in America.

The UN Vote on Palestine | National Catholic Reporter

The UN Vote on Palestine | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. The UN is an assembly of sovereigns rather than a sovereign assembly.  Until it has a "lower house" that is directly elected, it cannot be sovereign - and until only nations who have a decent respect for human rights are admitted, that cannot happen.  I would not include Israel in that group, considering how they treat the Palestinians.  I am not sure America qualifies either, given how far it has gone over the line in the war on terror.  Considering that most military treaties in the world make an American General Officer the Commander in Chief (who reports to the President), this is where the real power is in global affairs, which is why when we act unilaterally or assert our might, the rest of the world resents us - particularly when we are operating in the service of an ethnic, rather than a religious, state.  If we really want a decent respect from the world, we need to deal fairly on both sides - which is why the UN vote is significant - the world has spoken - even if it has no power against the American hegemony.

Amy Sullivan on Abortion Rate Drop & Pro-Life Activists' Tepid Response | National Catholic Reporter

Amy Sullivan on Abortion Rate Drop & Pro-Life Activists' Tepid Response | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The pro-life movement is about proposing an unattainable goal, which is the ultimate in organizational long term security.

Fiscal Cliff Negotiations Revisited | National Catholic Reporter

Fiscal Cliff Negotiations Revisited | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I agree with E.J. The left (not necessarily the Democrats) need another voice, like Eugene Debbs or Michael Harrington, to enunciate a vision of a more just society. There are likely several of them who could, but getting the media coverage of them is the challenge.

Does the Pro-Life Cause Need Better Allies? | National Catholic Reporter

Does the Pro-Life Cause Need Better Allies? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Worse yet, pro-life conservatives even resist calls for a living wage for families - meaning if you have more kids you get a tax credit backed increase in salary to cover the cost of another child.  If you ask them why they resist, they say that people should be sexually more responsible.  In other words, they really are anti-sex and anti-woman - just as the feminists characterize them.  The War on Women is real and we need to get out of it - although frankly the Church may be a leader in that war.  If the Church wants to bring clean hands to this debate, it needs to start paying the kind of living wage I mentioned to its employees, advocate it for all employees, and ordain a few women, including raising some Abbesses to the Order of Bishops.

Wal-Mart's Evil | National Catholic Reporter

Wal-Mart's Evil | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Wal-Mart is no less evil then Target or Starbucks in how their employees are treated.  There is truly a race to the bottom going on and neither party is willing to address it.  We need much higher minimum wages and much more generous tax credits to families payable with wages rather than with annual refunds - which are often filed for by predatory lenders pedaling refund anticipation loans.  This whole structure should be backstopped with a commitment to training anyone who desires it - with pay.  The Church is notably absent in endorsing a vision that will radically improve the conditions the working poor must face.

The Hubris of Sen. McConnell | National Catholic Reporter

The Hubris of Sen. McConnell | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Romney's proposal could be construed as not quite different from Bowles-Simpson, provided you let dividend and capital gains rates go up to a "consolidated rate, " however I question whether you can make the whole thing work without adding some kind of consumption tax, as the Bipartisan Policy Center suggests.  That may be one of those things to be done later.  Considering it is one of those taxes that is hard on the majority, one would think that the GOP would be in favor of it for electoral advantage.

Anti-immigrant is pro-life? | National Catholic Reporter

Anti-immigrant is pro-life? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Most of the pro-life movement is an adjunct of the Republican Party, except when its not.  Those of us who are considered pro-life Democrats are not seen as so by the GOP side.  Indeed, the key thing to know about the GOP version of the movement is that it is entirely electoral.  It holds to positions that cannot ever be enacted, which is a great tool for separating the faithful from their time and treasure.

Lustre of Our Country - Continuing the Review of Noonan's Classic | National Catholic Reporter

Lustre of Our Country - Continuing the Review of Noonan's Classic | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The question of public funding of religious activities is interesting.  The opposition to it comes from a fear of papism, which has declined in recent years.  It is obvious that the students deserve a full level of support.  The question is, does the leadership.  The difficulty is that most parish assets are held in trust under the legal ownership of the local bishop, who is appointed by the Pope and supervised by the Papal Nuncio.  If these schools were solely owned and controlled by non-profit parent boards (possibly with a religious member), this objection would vanish.  The other concern is more modern, the opposition of parish schools to both unionization and credentialing.  This is a point where the Church should yield some ground in exchange for public funds - but those funds should not be at the expense of the current system but must instead be funded by an increase in property taxes, especially in higher income neighborhoods where the parents of elite private schools reside, as they will likely be the beneficiaries of such an increase.

Crisis Mag's Parallel Universe | National Catholic Reporter

Crisis Mag's Parallel Universe | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: If the magazine is a Republican rag, why give it space at all? There are emerging voices that are much more worthy of your attention - as the Republican movement seems to be doomed by demographics, at least as a national party. If certain voters actually come out and vote in their own interests, even the current gerrymandered party would be history.

"Lustre of Our Country" - a Review of Noonan's Classic | National Catholic Reporter

"Lustre of Our Country" - a Review of Noonan's Classic | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I have not read the book.  The question for bringing morality into politics, especially sexual morality, is whether the population at large is entitled to an opinion on individual behavior.  In some cases, it is.  In most, it does not beyond making sure children are cared for and adults can form relationships which allow them to transition from members of their family of origin to a family of choice.  This is not simply secularism, but is a result of a belief that God has granted each person free will. The extent to which the imposition of group will on individuals is the extent to which a society is a police state.  Sometimes, police power is worthy, especially to protect the innocent.  However, such cases must be weighed for their practicability.  

Politics itself is not idealism, it is the art of the possible.  In a modern society, some things are not possible, such as regulating abortion in the first trimester under the assumption that the child is a person.  These cannot be finessed by simply overturning Roe on jurisdictional grounds.  The unborn are either people under the law or not - and mandating that they be considered as such has implications in law that the pro-life movement itself is unwilling to face, which is why there has been no progress on this issue.

Silk on Religious Demographics | National Catholic Reporter

Silk on Religious Demographics | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The HHS ban should fade out by mid-year as a whimper.  It was a misguided and rather ham-handed attempt to shift the election that no one bought.  Young Latinos are like all young people.  It is not immigration they respond to but everything, including gay marriage and the control of the nation by the plutocracy.  Until the GOP becomes a working class party and includes immigrants within, it will cease in a generation and be replaced by a party which is.

Pro-Life RCs and the GOP | National Catholic Reporter

Pro-Life RCs and the GOP | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: McCain has usually shown moderation on this issue (unless he was running for President).  He is at least being honest.  It is the movement itself that is its own worst enemy, not the GOP.  It is time for a bit of honesty from pro-life leadership as to what they can and cannot do and the compromises they would have to make to actually have a workable abortion bill (just forget about overturning Roe in Court or getting an amendment ratified (or even passed)).  Of course, most pro-choice Democrats have also ignored how  empty the pro-life movement hand is as well (particularly the position of the bishops), for not wanting to alienate Catholic voters.  They should instead be honest and not rely on an exaggerated version of pluralism.

Jorge Ramos: Rock Star! | National Catholic Reporter

Jorge Ramos: Rock Star! | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Bravo Jorge!  The GOP can't seem to handle the truth.  If the problem was Joe Arpayo, it was time to take Joe's microphone away.  They have to learn that they can't shoot the messenger, however they operate their own highly partisan news service and therefore assume everyone else is just as bad.

The Fiscal Cliff | National Catholic Reporter

The Fiscal Cliff | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Actually, the tech boom was in large part due to capital gains tax cuts agreed to by Bill Clinton in 1997, which set up a bull market for IPOs to take advantage of low rates for making money on these deals, many of which were worthless.

Raising taxes on the wealthy is actually good for growth because the wealthy are likely to save or speculate with the money rather than increase employee salaries or hire new staff. The more you pay people to do less, the less they will do. That is why the Bush tax cuts had the opposite effect and saw labor cost cutting run rampant. This is why higher taxes on the wealthy, especially in the dividend and capital gains areas, are so vital. These rates are where the real money is. For some who get most of their income from dividends, taxes will double, while capital gains rates will go up by two thirds under the fiscal cliff.

The people reacting to the uncertainty right now are not real firms, who are more concerned about economic growth before hiring, has are speculators, who want to know if it is best to sell now or hold for future gains.

As for Medicare, it is too early for reform here, since the Affordable Care Act's effects are not entirely known. If they lead to an upward spiral in insurance rates then health industry stock will take a downward spiral to bankruptcy, leading to either single payer or a public option - both of which will require new revenues. Alternatively, if the ACA does work, then the cost savings under it will make further cuts unnecessary. Irregardless, the whole issue of the Doc Fix needs to be taken care of, as letting it go in without some basic reform is untenable. The lesson of past reforms is that if cost cuts don't work, the only thing to be done is higher revenues - and this should be an across the board increase - maybe with a consumption tax.

Whether Obama needs to use the bully pulpit or quiet negotiation is a matter of tactics. He should only resort to it if it helps Republicans sign up to the deal. If it makes them dig in, than its time for no drama Obama.

For Sec'y of State? Snowe or Huntsman | National Catholic Reporter

For Sec'y of State? Snowe or Huntsman | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: General Wesley Clark has an inside track, as it will keep him out of the 2016 race as a favor to Clinton.

More Good Stuff from Dolan | National Catholic Reporter

More Good Stuff from Dolan | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: There are several informational pickets being held on Black Friday in support of workers, especially at Wal-Mart.  For those who wish to send a message about the Goods Life, we gladly welcome more hands.  At the very least, please don't cross a picket line - even if you don't want to join it.

More Wisdom from Berkowitz | National Catholic Reporter

More Wisdom from Berkowitz | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Freedom of thought is about publishing and preaching, not how you treat abuse victims in college (where charges are often swept under the rug rather than being reported to police) or whether you have a say in earned employee benefits (they are not a gift - and if they are one must give in such a way that the left hand does not know what the right is doing).  Freedom of thought also does not include the freedom to lie with impunity, when there are cameras rolling, and expect no one to catch it.

By and large, the main aspect of freedom of thought was all those GOP candidates that might have done better who sat this one out - although Huckabee was probably wise to do so.  Although he would have been a good leader for the base, having a white southerner challenge America's first black president would have given too many a feeling of personal license to say some ugly things that would have been the death of the GOP.  Sometimes the most important freedom of though is the right to stay silent, which Mike exercised wisely.

More Idiocy from Zuhlsdorf | National Catholic Reporter

More Idiocy from Zuhlsdorf | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Jesus freedom can not be far from the freedom in Aristotle and Aquinas, which comes from the attraction to the Good or God.  If everyone has such a freedom as part of their human nature (which is divinely granted and ordained), then Rousseau's rule of unanimity applies - at least to such questions involving the freedom to do what one chooses morally (provided it does not impinge on the freedom or welfare of others).  That, by the way, is how to square liberalism with Catholicism.  It is why prohibition of alcohol was (and drugs is) wrong - even if in the case of alcohol the Catholic Church had a conscience exemption for sacramental wine.  It is why smoking will never be totally ban, why prostitution should be legal (but trafficking illegal) and why attempts to end legal abortion must be weighed against both the rest of the law on murder and tort relief and the type of enforcement mechanisms employed if such regulation were to occur.

On Gratitude | National Catholic Reporter

On Gratitude | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  A must read piece for the holilday.  MGB: Humility is not thinking less of myself, its thinking of myself less. Another definition is to accept myself exactly as I am and exactly as I am not. Once I do that, how can I deny the same privilege to others. For that too, I need gratitude.

Dolan on the Elections | National Catholic Reporter

Dolan on the Elections | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The Cardinal and the blogger misunderstand humanism.  It is not a selfish ideology, it is that morality resides in human nature, not divine nature, and that any other interpretation is based on hubris.  We are called to love ourselves and others and the fulfillment of that nature, but we cannot be God.  The attempts to be so have been as destructive as the selfishness the Cardinal decries.  Catholic Libertarianism is different than secular Libertarianism in this way.  It is time to rid the Church of the stoicism implied by the Cardinal's letter.

Baltimore pastor speaks his mind in homily on same-sex marriage | National Catholic Reporter

Baltimore pastor speaks his mind in homily on same-sex marriage | National Catholic Reporter My thoughts exactly.

A Win In the Courts | National Catholic Reporter

A Win In the Courts | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This will be quickly dealt with on a ground of ripeness as no rules have been issued.  If this order is not vacated quickly the appropriate circuit court will.  Also, there is no effect unless the firm is self-insured, because in truth the company has been paying for contraceptive insurance since December 2000, which the government would be stupid not to argue.  And again, for the record, blatocysts are not human life - they operate solely under the maternal genetics and will continue to do so until gastrulation.  At some point, these trials are going to involve a geneticist and there will be a formal ruling on the lack of humanity at this stage.  That could prove interesting.

Bad Options in the Mideast | National Catholic Reporter

Bad Options in the Mideast | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: There are good options and they are obvious.  First, give Gaza back to Egypt, provided they subdue it and make it no threat to Israel.  Second, restore King Abdullah to Damascus and recreate the old Hashemite kingdom (with the exception of Israel), with the new kingdom including parts of the West Bank and Northern Israel which are mostly Arab or Palestinian.  Third, the remainder of Israel must fully honor the human rights of everyone in its borders, regardless of ethnicity.  At this point, Israel will be worthy of the creation of a new Holy of Holies and the return of the Ark of the Covenant from Axum.

A solution to the marriage muddle? | National Catholic Reporter

A solution to the marriage muddle? | National Catholic Reporter   Canon Law has never required procreative ability, only functionality.  The Sacramental mystery of marriage has always been that the couple performs the marriage, with the Church only providing witness.  The Genesis and Gospel passages having to do with a couple becoming one flesh have to do with indissolubility of marriage and the family dynamic of severing the relationship to the natal family and creating unity with the new spouse.  There is no natural law reason, aside from a fear of change, to conclude that any of these truths do not adhere to gay marriages.

What the Church fears is a largely gay clergy quietly blessing these unions when done civilly (which they also do for secular marriages and marriages when not all the details have been accomplished having to do with marriage tribunals) or leaving the priesthood to pursue such unions themselves - or simply never signing up - or worse having them seek a right to marry and abandon continence as well.

This really becomes a problem if there is no separate celibate clergy on the track to the episcopacy, as without this tradition, Church property arrangements will have to change - with all such property being transferred from the personal ownership of the bishop to some kind of modern non-profit corporation or foundation.

Now you see why this issue is so important to the Bishops.  Personal net worth.

Remembering, and Mis-Remembering, Vatican II | National Catholic Reporter

Remembering, and Mis-Remembering, Vatican II | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The issue on retrenchment is not Ratzinger but Blessed John Paul II.  We was in the old school, rather firmly, and has left the Church filled with those who share his views - often those who are not even old enough to remember life before the Council, although their parents may have raised them as if no Council exists (which is why there is any debate at all about sexual morality).  Pope Benedict now has to sort out the damage and undo some of what his old boss put in, without making it look like he is doing so.  How he sets the tone in the New Evangelization will provide a clue on this.  If he brings it back to the message of the empty tomb and the role of the Church in witnessing that fact, then there is hope.  If, on the other hand, this becomes an exercise is hitting the laity over the head on the issues of legal abortion, marriage equality and contraception, it will be a wasted exercise.

Infrastructure | National Catholic Reporter

Infrastructure | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The problem with our infrastructure comes solely from the inability to raise gas taxes to fund it, which is why most bridges are dangerous. The DC area is now privatizing roads and tolls because of this - although many suspect that when toll roads go unused, the road companies will fail and we will go back to what works. Part of the reluctance was due to the administration's commitment to enacting cap and trade for global warming. When that failed, there was no plan B. Until some of the highly partisan redistricting is overturned in court over the next two years, we will have to deal with the wall against adequate funding of roads in the GOP. Sadly, it is not really the GOP's fault. Its ultimately the voters who want to be under-taxed. We have met the enemy and it is us.

The good news is that because the infrastructure is so old, it can be replaced if we want to go with overhead powered and controlled electric cars - and we can let the car builders and system operators fund the project, even though the government would have done it more cheaply.

A Real Attack on Religion | National Catholic Reporter

A Real Attack on Religion | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It is not secularism, however, to remind priests that a good penance includes turning themselves into civil authorities if they have committed a crime, especially one involving life or property.  Most crimes should be dealt with in a mental health context - both non-violent drug offenses and most violent crimes.  The Church needs to develop an infrastructure to take these functions from the state (but overseen by the deacons and laity, not the bishops).

Romney's Ugly Exit | National Catholic Reporter

Romney's Ugly Exit | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The rich have their own language of entitlement.  Romney is fluid in it.  Only an idiot, however, would write him a check.  Luckily for him, he will likely find some.

"Something fine and bracing" | National Catholic Reporter

"Something fine and bracing" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: In the end, the people in the pews who write the checks must become sick of Romanization, which I regard as illegitimate.  It is the papacy's revenge on the world for its loss of secular power, which was also illegitimate.   At some point, if St. Malachy is correct, the Roman Church will move toward the East and in doing so shed most of its holding, including, hopefully, the American or entire English speaking Church.  Such a shedding would remove the biggest obstacle to ecumenicism - Romanism - and I am sure the Church of England would be back in the tent rather quickly - although there may be rump parishes who still wish to link to a separate Roman Church.  I will not be a member of any of these.

A Second to Schlumpf | National Catholic Reporter

A Second to Schlumpf | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Regardless of Black Friday - Black Thursday should be avoided by all who favor social justice for workers, especially those seasonal workers who can't tell the boss no.  I always shop a bit later and it is only an inheritance that lets us shop at all.  While I agree that all the avarice has nothing to do with the child of Bethlehem, I must always call foul about those who object to Christ being taken out of the annual celebration of the winter solstice, which predates Christianization of most cultures.  As Christians, we may certainly call Jesus our light - however the evidence is that he was not born on December 25th, but rather on April 17th, 6 BCE (the necessary astrology to attract the Magi to a messianic Jewish King).  Of course, putting Jesus birth in Eastertide has too many reincarnation implications, so I can see why they did it, but keep in mind that the celebration of Christmas at this time is about fulfilling very human needs to stand as one against the long nights - often with the kind of revelry that the Christmas Christianizers object to.  There is no reason we can't have both.

Weigel's Blinders | National Catholic Reporter

Weigel's Blinders | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: What Weigel is quoted as saying seems to be what the bishops are saying.  Perhaps he is writing for them on this issue and perhaps that is the problem!  The truth that the Bishops, Weigel and MSW ignores is that the mandate has been established law for 12 years next month and the current language has been legally tested seems lost in this issue.  It was primarily electoral and the election is passed.  Weigel and the Bishops lost and lost big.  Let this dead horse rot in peace.

USCCB In Disarray | National Catholic Reporter

USCCB In Disarray | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It is hard to try to say something about the poor when you enjoy breaking bread with the rich, many of whom would be miffed if a solid document were written that effectively dealt with the question of what the state should do to ameliorate poverty and assure a living wage.  Of course, it is hard to talk about such wages when one does not necessarily pay them.  God sheds a tear whenever anyone in the clergy tells someone in their employer who needs a higher salary to fund yet another child that they should try Natural Family Planning.    We need a strong document that deals with wealth, charity and the need for obligatory matters done by the state.  More importantly, bishops need to set an example with how they actually run their diocese. 

Poverty Doc Defeated | National Catholic Reporter

Poverty Doc Defeated | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Considering how badly MSW said the document was, it is surprising it got the number of votes that it did. One would hope for a lopsided vote in the other direction. It does not bode well for the moral courage to stand on what is right rather than on the consensus group-think.

Re-Districting & Majority Votes | National Catholic Reporter

Re-Districting & Majority Votes | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It is actually quite clear that this is due to redistricting and this is shameful.  It also shows the ineptitude of the Democrats who did not organize more to get new voters out to vote in 2009 and 2010 elections.  It will take a decade to undo this and put in non-partisan redistricting.  I suspect that the Democrats are leery of permanent reforms because demographically they will have an overwhelming majority next time, and will be able to consign the Republicans into obscurity in 2020 using the current rules - this is assuming the GOP and the current Democratic coalition survives that long.  If the GOP becomes a workers party and the Dems become the elite party, the whole dynamic may change.

The GOP Religious Coalition | National Catholic Reporter

The GOP Religious Coalition | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: He is entirely correct.  Who else are the bishops and the old conservative priests but the kind of Old White men who now form the background of both the Order of Bishops and the Knights of Columbus.  They will soon be outvoted in the Church as well.

Letter From B'more: Monday Review | National Catholic Reporter

Letter From B'more: Monday Review | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: If the American Bishops use the New Evangelization as an excuse to beat the faithful over the head with political issues that they barely understand (it is not there area and they are badly staffed) we will simply tune them out all the more and may cut off their funds.  We are promised that the Church will never fail, but the Church is more than the bishops.  I see this as a temporary problem.  When the majority of bishops were teens during the spirit of Vatican II days, you will see the Church lurch to the Left and even conservative young priests will follow them, since when you scratch a conservative you get a 50-50 chance of finding someone liberal at heart who is just being careful (if you doubt that, look at the history of Supreme Court nominees appointed by Republicans).

Archbishop says US church must 'redouble' efforts on marriage issue | National Catholic Reporter

Archbishop says US church must 'redouble' efforts on marriage issue | National Catholic Reporter These bishops are very close minded on this question.  If God creates marriages with two people who contract marriage with each other, with the priest merely acting as witness for the community and parish, how is this different for gays?  As importantly, if the two becoming one flesh is the essential part of marriage (not fecundity - which is not required under canon law), is it not infantalizing gays to deny them the right to form an adult sexual relationship and thus leave their family of origin when their straight brothers and sisters have this right?  Finally, does the Church really want to send the message that gay promiscuity and gay monogamy are morally the same?  Seriously?  I don't think so!

The bishops are running scared.  They know that half their priests are probably gay (unless like other Republicans they don't believe survey research).  Such priests would gladly bless gay unions privately and many may seek release from their vows in order to marry themselves, nor never buy into the self-loathing that drove many into the priesthood originally.  Acceptance of gay marriage by society will end the celibate male priesthood and may even lead to an Abbess becoming a member of the Order of Bishops, which scares them to the core.

Gehring on Bishops & Obama | National Catholic Reporter

Gehring on Bishops & Obama | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I predict much of the toxic rhetoric will go away, as it serves no one, especially the bishops.  If they are paying attention to the demographics of the Republican Party, which is more in the news than they are, they will hang out on the side lines before continuing their war on the Democratic Party.

Samuel Rodriguez In the Cross-Hairs | National Catholic Reporter

Samuel Rodriguez In the Cross-Hairs | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Gimmickry won't save the Republican Party from itself.  The views expressed by GOP leaders against immigration reform were not an attempt to make the old white males less tolerant - they were a reflection of the intolerance of the GOP rank and file (and some of its leaders - Jim Sensensenbrenner comes to mind).  The GOP in its current form won't change - it will either fade away or be the victim of an outside takeover by people whose agenda is empowering the working class.  Unless the GOP becomes a workers and libertarians party, it will simply go the way of the Whigs.

Post-Mortems Abound | National Catholic Reporter

Post-Mortems Abound | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: School choice had its day when the holy sisters worked for peanuts. While we still have sisters operating schools, they are often more geared to the economically elite, given the cost of hiring top rated teachers.

As for Obama, don't confuse your disdain for the result for it being really bad law. It actually is not. It is correct on three points. Point one is that the states are not competent to say who is a citizen, a person or subject to the protection of the government in human rights. That is very clear by the attempts made to deny benefits to Latino undocumented workers. Second, unless the fetus is declared a person, their interests are not to be considered. Three, the plain reading of the Constitution justifies beginning personhood at birth. If you don't like it, pass a law federal law (no amendment is needed), but make sure it cuts no corners on equal protection. The federal law must deal with how miscarriages are treated under the law and the limits of investigation and tort relief. Of course, after you deal with these issues, you must essentially start life at the start of the second trimester, if not assisted viability.

Saying you are pro-life while not insisting on such legislative language is to join in a fraud.

As for the Church, I am sure Sr. Carol and Fr. Larry are doing just fine and have not lost their White House entry badges. If you want relations to improve, have the Church hire staff that will tell it what it does not want to here on contraception (that it is a right under preventative coverage dating to December 2000). This issue is going away, as it is entirely electoral. Time to stop talking about it.

Silk Looks at Religious Voting Patterns | National Catholic Reporter

Silk Looks at Religious Voting Patterns | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It looks like Catholic voters still care more about justice than what the Bishops say about abortion.  That is a good thing for the Church if it gets the attention of the bishops and they respond with a bit of soul searching rather than with threats.  They need to remember who pays the contributions which let them live as princes of the Church.

Good News from California | National Catholic Reporter

Good News from California | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Jerry got real with the citizenry.  It is frankly about time.  Largely because of California's problems with proposition 13, DC voters are not allowed to do initiatives on fiscal issues, so they can't cut their own taxes or mandate spending.  That's a good thing.

Looking Ahead | National Catholic Reporter

Looking Ahead | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The problem is not Obama and the Church, its the Church with itself - most especially the Hierarchy with Catholic women, especially middle aged women who in most generations are the backbone of Catholicism in the laity - people like my wife.  Fixing this is going to take a sea change in how we as a Church relate to God.  God the Ogre needs to fade into the past, as I believe it will.  That God is fine for my mother.  I don't think it works for my wife or my daughter.  It certainly doesn't work for me.  The question is, will this generation of women just politely ignore the bishops (like they did in this election) or will they speak out and force a sea change.

Camosy on Elections & CST | National Catholic Reporter

Camosy on Elections & CST | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: My hope is that a renewed push for workers rights and dignity will be the guiding factor in forming a new political movement - one which includes Democrats, Republicans, Occupiers, Catholics, Distributists, Greens and Libertarians.  Until we unite behind such a cause, "they" will win.

Benedict XVI & the Environment | National Catholic Reporter

Benedict XVI & the Environment | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: An event at Catholic University tonight.  There is also a discussion of Michael Harrington's The Other America at Georgetown sponsored by DSA.  So much to do, so little time.

What Now? Bishops' Edition | National Catholic Reporter

What Now? Bishops' Edition | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Firstly, if the bishops wish to speak for us politically, and some moral issues do have political ramifications, they need to ask us first - bot because some of us have knowledge that they don't have and out of due courtesy. The spirit of prophesy (which is the same thing as self-criticism) should be encouraged in the Church.

Secondly, while only some bishops were outspoken in the media, all seemed to send out messages on Faithful Citizenship, but these often went against the spirit of the document. The document is flawed anyway, because it does not consider the likelihood that the great moral issues that they consider non-negotiable are not political issues at all, but are decided constitutionally out of the hands of legislative officials. Note that judges cannot be disciplined by the bishops, as any bishop so disciplined would be bound to recuse himself from the question before him - which means they can't force the 6 Catholic justices to listen to them on Roe or conscience protection.

Third, as far as traditional marriage where the wife is subject to the husband - let it die. What many bishops and Catholic theologians can't stomach is the loss of subservience within marriage. Hopefully, in a generation, this should die out. What the bishops fear is gay priests demanding the right of themselves and their heterosexual brethren to marry and to bless gay unions - as well they should. Doing so sends a message that being gay is not a license to live promiscuously. 

Fourth, the contraception mandate has been in force for almost 12 years. If it were a big deal, the USCCB would have taken this issue to George W. Bush for rethinking. Now that the election is over, this is not an issue at all. HHS will make the appropriate concessions or the courts will do it for them. The fact that the lawsuit against the mile was filed before it was ripe shows that this issue was entirely a political stunt, as the cases continue to be dismissed until a final rule is issued.

Fifth, the Massachusetts issue was about compassion, not choice. St. Thomas More in Utopia disagrees with you and the Vatican on this issue. It is a moral question, not a religious one. The theological question that IS relevant is whether you believe God will damn those ending their sufferings because he is personally offended at the prospect. It is a key question in Theology and it, not Liberty, is the difference between the Christian Left and the Hierarchy. I cannot believe that God is such an ogre.

Sixth, it is not merely enough to say that the GOP is giving lip service to the cause of life - if this is true we must take active measures to point that out so that the bishops cease all association with a movement that has become a Republican front (and mostly always has been). The fact that the bishops could not rely on unity in the pro-life movement to have the GOP work with the Democrats on perfecting, rather than defeating, the Affordable Care Act speaks volumes. Their one last chance should be seeking a larger refundable Child Tax Credit for every family, regardless of work status. If the pro-life movement disagrees, the bishops should have no further contact with them.

Finally, the New Evangelization must be about preaching the truth of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, not moral conformity within the Church.

Response to a Comment | National Catholic Reporter

Response to a Comment | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: If it had not been for the nomination of Tea Party members to many Senate seats, the GOP might well have looked reasonable enough to not only take the Senate, but also the White House.  Leave the fillibuster exactly where it is.  Of all the comments you could have responded to, why this one?

Nate Silver - 1; Karl Rove - 0 | National Catholic Reporter

Nate Silver - 1; Karl Rove - 0 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I got more sleep because I did not stay awake for the President's celebration, but I did see Romney's concession. My concern is that while Rove was objecting, Romney would not concede. If that is not a sign that the Crossroads operation between Rove and the campaign was interlinked to an extent that is probably illegal, nothing else can be. On a personal note, nothing can restore the hour of sleep I lost while Romney dithered with Rove's speculations. On a separate personal note, yesterday, based on the polls available, I projected Obama would get 330 electoral votes, while Rove said Romney would get 285. Should Florida fall to Obama, as widely expected, my projection will prove exact. I don't think even Silver got that close. Perhaps you should read (and cite) my blog more and sign up for my newsfeed on Facebook.