Contra Mr. Bottum | National Catholic Reporter

Contra Mr. Bottum | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: It is no surprise that Bottum would not recognize the teaching gifts of our former Holy Father, since they were a model of economic liberalism and Christological scholarship which focus on love rather than force.  I have no quarrel over any criticism of him.  However, Benedict certainly set the CDF on fire against dissent over female ordination in a way that was reminiscent of Pius X, I suspect the clergy are now cynical enough to let such nonsense pass, knowing that the future cannot be stopped.  I also suspect that they would not disagree with a witch hunt (pardon the term) over female ordination.

The tragedy of Benedict's papacy is that he never realized that the tyranny of relativism applied as much to a Curia where authority won any argument with reason and evidence as anything coming out of the most radical theologian (Gary Wills comes to mind).  Indeed, the radicalism of many theologians is the fact that they can marshal evidence that the Pope refused to accept.

Mailing list time for the Catholic pro-life movement

This past weekend, the first after the Bishop's Lenten Appeal, some of what the appeal goes for was on display at the doors of the Church.  Postcards to our members of Congress and the Senate were available with the following text:

The new Congress should come together to respect life and religious freedom.  Please support and strengthen laws that (1) prevent federal funding of abortion, and (2) protect rights of conscience in health care.  Government must not force Americans to violate their religious and moral beliefs on respect for life when they provide health care or sponsor or purchase health insurance.  As your constituent, I would appreciate a written response telling me how you will vote on these matters.

Of course, there are so such votes scheduled for this year aside from normal procedural riders - and only DC's budget may have any debate - even though it should not as we are talking about local issues.  Indeed, if they want the DC Medicaid issue to go away, the federal government should fully fund it.  Indeed, doing so for all states would end state funding of abortion in many states where it is quite common.  No bills are on the docket waiting to be debated, even in committee.

There is action at HHS, which mostly folded to the Church's demands on conscience protection - although the reality of the situation is that any policy purchased from an outside source has provided contraception coverage since December 2000, due to an order to the insurance companies by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  For the HHS to go against that order would be both complicated and illegal, since the Institute of Medicine has said this is necessary coverage.  Indeed, because health insurance is federally subsidized through both tax benefits and direct subsidies (starting next year) allowing employers to deny health insurance for contraception would be the equivalent of overturning Griswold v. Connecticut, which no agency can think of doing on its own.

The real issue, however, is neither abortion or contraception.  It is grass roots mobilization.  There is a fourth card in the printed set which encourages people to send their information to the National Committee for the Human Life Amendment.  It includes Name, E-Mail, State and Diocese Information.  While NCHLA says they never sell their lists, it seems that the Susan B. Anthony Fund had quite the effective list after the FOCA mailing campain.  That fund is why John Boehner is speaker, as they removed pro-life Democrats who voted for health care reform by lying about the question of whether it would cause abortion (it does not - especially when compared to current tax law).

Needless to say, our household will not be returning any of these cards.

Review: Law's Virtues, Part III | National Catholic Reporter

Review: Law's Virtues, Part III | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I consider voting for publicly pro-life politicians to be cooperation with evil because, without some program of action for achieving their goal, the entire movement is a scam. I consider a state intrusive enough to prevent first trimester abortions to be a grave evil as well, especially if it does so by driving abortion underground and making it a privilege of the rich. The issue of voting one way or the other is relatively new. The older issue is whether one could pay taxes to a pro-choice regime. According to Fagothy's Right and Reason, the impact by any individual taxpayer is so immaterial that tax withholding is not justified. The same argument can be made about voting for pro-choice candidates (you won't decide the election or prevent a really well written abortion bill - which does not exist by the way) or participating in a health insurance program that provides contraception, even the kinds that embryologically inept theologians don't like.

The Vatican is stuck in a monarchical past | National Catholic Reporter

The Vatican is stuck in a monarchical past | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Its downright medieval, which is why many still don't trust the Catholic Church in such things as providing education with taxpayer funds.

Review: Law's Virtues, Part II | National Catholic Reporter

Review: Law's Virtues, Part II | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB.  Part II: Her comments on abortion are spot on.  It is not an issue which much can be done on them.  The question I would add is whether some of the Bishops are intentionally cooperating with evil (fraud) in participating in a movement which promises action where none is at all likely in order to serve the political interests of one side that some of them may prefer. I agree that this should be mandatory reading for everyone engaged in pro-life ministry, from Washington, DC to the lowliest diocesan Pro-life ministry.  Indeed, any Catholic ministry should look at this document and examine their consciences this Lenten season.

Review: Law's Virtues, Part II | National Catholic Reporter

Review: Law's Virtues, Part II | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: First of all, the United States Supreme Court has no obligation to follow Catholic teaching on any matter, particularly assisted suicide - particularly as the Church insists upon a moral authority that trumps natural law reasoning if the two should conflict. While that is really all that must be said, the question than reverts to whether or not it is a private matter between a doctor and patient -and if abortion is I fail to see how suicide cannot be - and if it is a moral matter, or even a Catholic matter, one must again ask why God has an interest in whether an individual who is in pain and has no hope is allowed to end their sufferings when they are unbearable.

This leads to the question of the merit of suffering and whether human suffering has meaning besides the calling the soul to the awareness of a dependency on God - the question of whether we can add to the merits of Christ. This question depends on whether the merits of Christ are punitive to satisfy an angry God or whether they are a reaching out by Christ to instead take on our sufferings, as He could not approach them in the ultimate happiness of His divinity. In other words - is God an Ogre or not? While it is a bold act to say He is not and commit suicide early in a disease, it is certainly should not be considered particularly brave morally to lessen the sufferings of others. It should be considered a mercy.

Law's Virtues: A Review. Part I | National Catholic Reporter

Law's Virtues: A Review. Part I | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Both law and morality should have as their goal the ability to live a life of maximum humanity - nothing more and nothing less.  The problem with the pro-life movement is not that it can't succeed because of enforcement but because the prospect of exceptions to regulating first trimester abortion because of complications due to dealing with miscarriage show that the organizers are perpetrating a fraud on their supporters for their own gains.  Under any conception of law, that is absolutely unlawful, including the libertarian ones.

The Real College Football Scandal | National Catholic Reporter

The Real College Football Scandal | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Frankly, college should be split into the upper and lower half, with the lower half combined with the upper half of high school/vocational school with all athletic competition at the state level.  The upper half should be subsidized by employers and include no athletics - which shifts the draft to Grade 14 and stops many people from a lifetime of injury.  Note that in Grades 13 and 14, media arts should be a career field in technical school.   Coaching physical education in the lower grades should also be a major for these high school/junior college athletes.

Killing the Death Penalty | National Catholic Reporter

Killing the Death Penalty | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Life without Parole is the same thing as the death penalty.  It should be abolished too.  The problem is that there are those prisoners who cannot be medically treated or operantly trained to be safe for either release or even to share a room.  There is an argument that the society is required to take extreme measures against such patients, which include medical termination.  Even if you fetishize life, this must be done.

What Should Next Pope Do? | National Catholic Reporter

What Should Next Pope Do? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I agree with the final one, which solves many of the moral questions.  If you create linguistic patriarchies with full doctrinal freedom and recognize the Patriarch of the East than you may get multiple answers in the global north and south about women's ordination, marital ordination, gay ordination and gay marriage (as well as gay married ordination).  This is assuming that Benedict does not do this in the next week.

He will attempt to keep Italy together and be killed for his efforts.  Both Malachy and Our Lady predict this, so it is an easy tell.

He will sell some of the art and culture in order to preserve it.

OR

He will be a conservative buffoon who will try desperately to hold on to the old Roman Church, including governing Italy when it falls apart and being killed for his efforts (there is no getting beyond that one).

TNR on Cuomo | National Catholic Reporter

TNR on Cuomo | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This is about much more than abortion and is very local.  Cuomo 2016?  Could happen. As to terminating a pregnancy when the fetus has no chance to survive to delivery, a natural law argument that does not assume that God is hateful of efforts to do the necessary thing because they somehow violate his sovereignty - only one where God is imperfect.  The Bishops can be morally cowardly in their attempts to be loyal to God the Ogre.

More on the Mandate | National Catholic Reporter

More on the Mandate | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Will it never end?  I suspect it was all about the election in the first place and was designed to get the desired result out of the bishops to rev up Catholic liberal women to give money and volunteer.  It worked, which is why the White House geeked so easily.  As for whether women or girls are covered, and preventative policy must cover contraception and this has been the case since 2000.  The only change is co-pays.  As for young girls getting contraception, they are considered adults in their dealings with their doctors with regards to these issues.  If you can become a mother, you don't have to ask your mother.  Indeed, mothers cause more girls to get abortions than girls would get on their own, including in Catholic families (if not especially in Catholic families).

Conservatives Pile On B16 | National Catholic Reporter

Conservatives Pile On B16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I have no use for conservatives who put orthodoxy over love.  They are going to Hell, which evolves from the anger they themselves create.  Benedict need not worry over their opinions, nor should anyone of good conscience.

What is Lori Talking About? | National Catholic Reporter

What is Lori Talking About? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: His Grace seems badly staffed on this issue.  Someone seems to want to have the last word and is unwilling to accept that contraceptive coverage itself has been provided since December 2000 by the EEOC for all people having preventative care plans. Only the lack of copayments is new.

The Culture of Death Has a New Champion | National Catholic Reporter

The Culture of Death Has a New Champion | National Catholic Reporter MSW.  MGB: The culture of death is as much to demand that no abortion occur but that food stamps be cut.  If you want more life, fix poverty.  Now that would be something that NARAL and the USCCB could celebrate.

Gehring on New Pope | National Catholic Reporter

Gehring on New Pope | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It depends on the kind of pope Peter the Roman is.  If he is saintly he will both be simple and will set the stage for progress.  If he is a puffed up buffoon whose incompetence will rend the Roman Papacy expect to see him take the finery up a notch.

Catholic Civil War? | National Catholic Reporter

Catholic Civil War? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Its not about sex, its about control over money and power to elect bishops that the fight will be waged on.  Sex is only the window dressing, as are views over the reality of the Eucharist.  Of course, one of the power dynamics is the power of women in the Church.  I don't see the traditionalists having a chance of winning on that one.  Too many men believe in equality for the current situation to continue - at least in the Catholic North (arguing for a more Orthodox organization of patriarchies so that the south may continue in the old ways for a few generations).

The Sequester Cometh | National Catholic Reporter

The Sequester Cometh | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: When real interest rates are negative, meaning that inflation is higher than the interest on federal debt, people are actually paying the United States to keep their money. It makes no sense not to borrow as much as possible. Defense should be cut, but the funds should be directed to space exploration - especially for artificial closed system environments that can be used in both space and on earth - just in case we continue to rape the environment.

Tax reform should come and its key feature should not be loophole elimination so much as a change from individual reporting to reporting by employers through some form of consumption tax - a Value Added Tax that shows up on the receipt and has no offsets and a VAT-like Net Business Receipts Tax which provides the vehicle for a simplified system of offsets for health, an expanded refundable child tax credit and a direct program for adult education for the third of adults who are below the literacy we need them to have.

The reason America is not as healthy as other nations is that we are not as well educated, despite the education of our elites. Sadly, while small projects have been taken on by Catholic Charities agencies - the Catholic Educational System has ill-served those whom the public system as missed. Indeed, we should be the largest provider of such training, which could be provided by an employer off-set to their consumption taxes or as a direct service. Employees and Participants of this training should have the same family tax credits and health plans, by the way - avoiding the abortion question.

The whole question of long term deficits has to do with health care - however until we know whether Obamacare will survive low subsidies and risk averse health insurance shareholders and doctors who may quit if not paid, it is too early to make decisions on long term health reform. If it works as promised, we can deal with more changes. I don't think it will. We will either need single payer or a subsidized public option - either which will require some kind of VAT or net business receipts tax to fund (as mentioned above).

The NYTimes' Anti-RC Blinders | National Catholic Reporter

The NYTimes' Anti-RC Blinders | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: From what I hear, he was called in to fix the mess of childhood sexual abuse because he was the only one who had any experience in doing so, having started to at the CDF.  This has absorbed the Church and has shown that those who lead these little ones astray are not the doctrinally impure but the sexually predatory (who are better thrown into the sea with millstones around their necks - our Lord's words, not mine - as the abuse of the young likely occurred before there was much doctrine to argue about.  I am sure it weakened him and I suspect Holy Week was a reason - but instead I think it was Christmas.

Appleby Misses the Point | National Catholic Reporter

Appleby Misses the Point | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The next pope, according to Malachy, will be Peter the Roman.  I hardly think any American cardinals will be worth of such a moniker.  Of course, there are those who believe that this prophesy refers to the end of time when Peter himself will come and rule the Church at the end.  Looks like they will be a bit disappointed.  Talking about the world ending not with a bang but with a helo ride to Castel Gandolpho!

Dr. Haas v. Father Lombardi | National Catholic Reporter

Dr. Haas v. Father Lombardi | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Being a board chairman is not the same as running an operation and it is a limited term deal, unless of course he has substantial ownership of the firm. I had not heard that the Catholic Church had excommunicated all weapons manufacturers. What we need now is someone smart to run the bank.

Henneberger Takesdown Shanley | National Catholic Reporter

Henneberger Takesdown Shanley | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Benedict certainly did not protect predator priests, however he never allowed the Churches treasures to be used for victim compensation, which would have been appropriate given the fact that he appointed the very bishops who did look the other way, or could otherwise have removed them for not acting.  Being a little responsible is like being a little pregnant.

Wieseltier on Walls & Neighbors | National Catholic Reporter

Wieseltier on Walls & Neighbors | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Building walls between neighbors and using them to steal land are too different things.  One is a delightful New England poem, the other is civil war between ethnic groups with an identical genome.

CHA's Statement on HHS Revisions | National Catholic Reporter

CHA's Statement on HHS Revisions | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: CHA should, in fact, be the lead, if not the only, negotiator on this. CCUSA, while accountable to its membership, is also accountable to the bishops who appoint the Charities Directors - although they should certainly have a place at the table. Education is both diocesan and order based (mostly the latter), so the religious orders should also speak for their member institutions or let them speak for themselves. Of course, there may not be much more to say, as the entire issue was a campaign feint. The Becket Fund needs to be exiled to the hallway, as their interest is for something that would be unconstitutional (having an agent of the state ban birth control - and subsidized healthcare is certainly a subsidized form of government).

Violence at the Border | National Catholic Reporter

Violence at the Border | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Many of those who are violent to migrants are at the heart of the Tea Party movement.  Others are simply afraid for their lives because the coyotes aren't exactly model citizens either.

The Itch That Is Dangerous | National Catholic Reporter

The Itch That Is Dangerous | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The Church should not change its attitude on the morality of abortion.  Growing up to how it can and cannot be made illegal, however, would be progress.  Also, in a natural law ethics, which the Church claims to have, neither tradition nor authority can trump the better argument.  Indeed, the fact that the tradition was wrong may be the superior argument in some cases.  I share the church's opposition to Eugenics, since I have manic depressive disorder (and my daughter is likely to inherit the genetics, even if only passively).  I want grand children and lots of them.  The Church's position is that each of my grandchildren should be entitled to be born - and born into a loving community that works to alleviate their suffering if necessary.  Of course, if you can do a genetic cure that can work prior to gastrulation and therefore ensoulment - I am all for it.  Of course, our most profound ideas often come from folks such as I.  We form a long history of seers, prophets and critics of society.  Something would be lost if there were no mental illness to stir things up a bit.

Garry Wills Please Go Away | National Catholic Reporter

Garry Wills Please Go Away | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB Garry has investigated the papacy quite thoroughly and has caught onto the fact that power does not surrender itself absolutely.  Whether women can be ordained, whether bishops should be appointed by a national Patriarch or elected by the faithful, whether the Pope deserves a fiat over a stronger argument in questions of natural law and the property relations within each diocese are all matters of practicality, not doctrine.  They can be changed but a hierarchy won't change them.  Such changes will certainly come from the bottom up, especially in the Church of the global north, which while short on attendees is still the financial engine of the organization.  This is one of those times in history when somethings gotta give.  I expect a throwback Italian or American who will drive the Roman Patriarchy over the cliff and into the arms of Constantinople.

Daniels on Immigration | National Catholic Reporter

Daniels on Immigration | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I disagree with her.  A more radical and libertarian strategy is necessary to give immigrants the rights to equal treatment that they deserve.  That would be to end federal permission to enact right to work laws, enforce labor law vigorously rather than immigration law and end immigration restrictions altogether. Do that and unscrupulous employers have no way to bring people in and have them work in the shadows.  The same applies to human sexual trafficking.  Ending laws against prostitution and turning its treatment into a public health concern where girls are rescued rather than charged is an essential step.  Only coyotes and pimps deserve prosecution, not the immigrants themselves.  Its time for the Democrats to quit milking this issue for Latino votes and actually do something.

DeBunking Myths About A Conclave | National Catholic Reporter

DeBunking Myths About A Conclave | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The most interesting story to investigate is whether or not the Cardinals pay attention to the prophesies of St. Malachy.  Whether or not they are true, if they are believed to be so, they are.  That is not a good sign for the next Holy Father.

Dan Misleh on Climate Change | National Catholic Reporter

Dan Misleh on Climate Change | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Climate change is occurring, (it actually never stops, it is merely stable for a bit) however the story of human evolution is the story of our responding to it, both rich and poor.  The challenge for the Church is how we help people as they do respond.

Card. George Unintentionally Hits the Nail on the Head | National Catholic Reporter

Card. George Unintentionally Hits the Nail on the Head | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. The mandate has been in place to fund contraception for 12 years now.  The only change is the lack of a co-pay and a decision by the White House political office to pick a fight with conservatives in order to energize women.  I don't expect they ever were really tied to their original position.  Indeed, the NY Times reported that HHS was confused as to why this was being made an issue.  Cardinal George is perfectly free to continue to consider this as any kind of issue and you are free to cover him.  It would have been more appropriate to release the new policy on April 1st so that people got the idea.  The Cardinal basically his hitting himself on the head.  He should stop that (and get better lawyers).

Wrong Reactions to Benedict's Resignation | National Catholic Reporter

Wrong Reactions to Benedict's Resignation | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: According to St. Malachy, who is followed by the Cardinale, the next Pope is Peter the Roman who will see Rome go to ruin.  According to Our Lady of Fatima (and St. John Bosco) there will be a pope who is actually killed, not just shot, in a time when Rome is in ruin.  Given the Italian economy, this prediction is not far fetched.  I suspect that the office of Pope won't exist once Rome is so totally ruined that it can't be rebuilt - and that a modern Church won't let it - given that Peter the Roman could very well try to rule with a heavy hand (look at the current College of Cardinals).  Given this, Benedict will be the last pope to resign - and if Peter the Roman is an anti-pope as some speculate, the last pope of all.

Obama's Prosaic State of the Union | National Catholic Reporter

Obama's Prosaic State of the Union | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB:  I wish he had spent more time on housing and more detail, no less on tax reform.  This would have been the perfect time to endorse consumption taxes as an alternative to the vast majority of families having to file.  While he was talking about science, a new space initiative would have been nice as well.  Still, overall, it was a good wonk speech.  Non-wonks were likely watching HBO.

Garnett Responds to MSW on HHS | National Catholic Reporter

Garnett Responds to MSW on HHS | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The conscience rights of employees are the same as their privacy rights under Griswold v. Connecticut.  Employers have not business taking the place of the state in attempting to deny birth control, especially as the state may not do so and the offering of insurance is now done under state agency.  Indeed, without some kind of legal exception based in the Constitution, it is likely that a private employer could constitutionally deny birth control coverage without violating the employee's privacy rights.  Period and end of discussion.

Why I came to love Benedict XVI | National Catholic Reporter

Why I came to love Benedict XVI | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Surrendering to Christ is not the same as surrendering to the hierarchy, especially in matters of natural law ethics.  The odd irony of this Pope was that he did not see that his version of natural law was actually relativistic because it was dependent on authority rather than reason.  Once tradition beats a superior argument, the truth suffers and you are surrendering to the Church rather than to Christ.

This is the tragedy of the Holy Father's resistance to gay marriage and a saner sexual ethic, although his linking of birth control to the economic empowerment of families is right on and could be used against those in the Church who insist that families practice Natural Family Planning rather than insist that they be given a higher wage with each child.  At the time of Caritas in Veritate, I referenced that victory from a Christian Left point of view - the problem is Michael Sean does not have a complete picture of who is and who is not in the Christian Left.

As to the hermeneutic of change, I suspect that Benedict, like John Paul II were part of a hermeneutic of resistance to too much change, which included a return to the English tranlsation which existed on the vernacular page of the Roman Missal.  While some of the prayers have certainly been altered, one can bring a 1962 Missal to Mass and follow along with the responses quite nicely.

The question before us now is whether Peter the Roman will try to finish to counter-revolution or be the agent of change which brings the Church to a modern path.  In the end, the result will be exactly the same, as the Pope and the bishops cannot hold onto the privileges they have guarded since times medieval.  I expect that both Catholicism and Orthodoxy will evolve into something looking more like Canterbury in the very near future, whether by choice or fiat.

MSW on B16 at TNR | National Catholic Reporter

MSW on B16 at TNR | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The only thing missed is Caritas in Veritate and the conservative reaction to it (denial). On the economics, he is very good. I still don't think he is finished yet - that there are a few things on his desk between now and Close of Business February 28 that might involve the Oecumenical Patriarch and Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome. That would certainly cement what Malalchy says of him (the Glory of the Olive). It matters less whether Malachy is true than whether Rome believes he is true.

Berkowitz: My Fav Conservative | National Catholic Reporter

Berkowitz: My Fav Conservative | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: He seems to be very eriuditely defending the reactionary point of view. Given the mindset of the rank and file of his movement, and their age, I don't expect he will meet with much success. I would instead refer you to Edward Robin's book on the Reactionary Mind for a complete picture of why they do what they do (of course, they may very well agree on most points).

Keller on Conscience of a Corporation | National Catholic Reporter

Keller on Conscience of a Corporation | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: To give an employer the right to essentially govern contraception coverage would be a throwback to the days when popular majorities had that right through elected legilslatures - a right that some in the Church still wish they had. That right, however, is a form of mob rule. Indeed, because the insurance program is government mandated and regulated, it would be a reversal of the right of personal privacy in these matters that now extend beyond contraception to consensual sodomy, interracial marriage and yes, even to abortion and gay marriage. The choice is not so much of religious freedom as for the right for religious organizations to stir up mob rule against individual rights. If you allow that, you might as well throw out the Federal courts and the Constitution on equal protection issues. To that, I impolitely say not only no, but Hell No!

Dolan Takes A Second Step Back | National Catholic Reporter

Dolan Takes A Second Step Back | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB:  The Cardinal realized that the entire flap was about politics (on both sides) and that the current solution was likely planned from the outset. Now that the distraction is over, it will play out quietly. Of course, if the next pope is a nutjob whose fate is to fragment the Church in a model more like the Orthodox by pure incompetency, you can expect to see more of this. At least His Grace, the Archbishop of Philadelphia has no vote in the matter.

The unprecedented resignation of Benedict | National Catholic Reporter

The unprecedented resignation of Benedict | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: According to St. Malachy, the next pope, Peter the Roman, will be the last and the city of Rome will be destroyed under his reign. This comports with the third secret of Fatima which has the Pope shot (possibly by mistake) by a solidier among the ruins of Rome. Given the possible economic collapse of Italy, this is not an unlikely prospect or its geologic instability.


I had thought that Benedict would have more fully fulfilled his title, the Glory of the Olive (which was met by taking the name Benedict) by making a more lasting peace with Constantinople, possibly even acknowledging the rightful supremacy of New Rome (which was created when Rome was a backwater). The fact that he gave his papacy a 17 day deadline rather than an immediate one may yet show that something is in the works.

The unprecedented resignation of Benedict | National Catholic Reporter

The unprecedented resignation of Benedict | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB:  According to St. Malachy, the next pope, Peter the Roman, will be the last and the city of Rome will be destroyed under his reign. This comports with the third secret of Fatima which has the Pope shot (possibly by mistake) by a solidier among the ruins of Rome. Given the possible economic collapse of Italy, this is not an unlikely prospect or its geologic instability.


I had thought that Benedict would have more fully fulfilled his title, the Glory of the Olive (which was met by taking the name Benedict) by making a more lasting peace with Constantinople, possibly even acknowledging the rightful supremacy of New Rome (which was created when Rome was a backwater). The fact that he gave his papacy a 17 day deadline rather than an immediate one may yet show that something is in the works.

Dolan Takes A Second Step Back | National Catholic Reporter

Dolan Takes A Second Step Back | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB:  The Cardinal realized that the entire flap was about politics (on both sides) and that the current solution was likely planned from the outset. Now that the distraction is over, it will play out quietly. Of course, if the next pope is a nutjob whose fate is to fragment the Church in a model more like the Orthodox by pure incompetency, you can expect to see more of this. At least His Grace, the Archbishop of Philadelphia has no vote in the matter.

Good News on Health Care (And we need some) | National Catholic Reporter

Good News on Health Care (And we need some) | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It is good to see that they are making sense, although I expect that eventually this program should be entirely federalized, with an end to the lower payments to providers that make actually getting an appointment rather a rare thing.

Gallicho on USCCB Response | National Catholic Reporter

Gallicho on USCCB Response | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I think he captures the fact that Dolan is pandering to his lunatic fringe.  The question is, is this staff driven or within the bishops.  My guess is that the Archbishop of Philadelphia wants to go to Rome and is being outlandish enough to do so.

Silk on USCCB Response | National Catholic Reporter

Silk on USCCB Response | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I disagree.  This boat is floundering anyway and was never going to sail very far.  The entire flap was a political feint to create the perception of a war on women for electoral politics sake.  I suspect those bishops who are deeply committed will grow tired, like all bullies, and eventually Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Health will make sure a reasonable compromise is reached.

The USCCB Response: Change or Not? | National Catholic Reporter

The USCCB Response: Change or Not? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I suspect that those furthest out on the limb will meet their eternal reward with a decade, both within the laity and the Episcopal and Priestly ranks.  What is more important is who should be at the table at the first place.  If Catholic employers want to organize, they have every right to make comments and claim some right to not offer contraception - but I wish them luck being taken seriously.  The bigger problem is the bishops taking the lead on this.  Catholic Charities organizations, indeed most diocesan property, should be divested from the bishops and converted to non-profit corporations run by their management and donor base. The time for medievalism is over.  As for the Sisters in Catholic Health, they should be allowed to speak for themselves.  Indeed, a debate without the bishops might look very different as the employees of these organizations may just have something to say about their insurance coverage.

Bishops: More Work to Be Done | National Catholic Reporter

Bishops: More Work to Be Done | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Actually, the Administrative Procedures Act created comment periods, not God.  I think the bishops have finally caught on that this was all an electoral maneuver and should be resolved quickly.  I would not waste too many columns on this issue in the future.  This horse started to stink a while ago.

Why You Should Never Listen to Andrew Sullivan | National Catholic Reporter

Why You Should Never Listen to Andrew Sullivan | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I actually found it interesting.  I am sure the video was fun.  They actually seem to agree with the difference between Christianity as ethics (which should be determined by natural law - however they and I would not give the Pope a preferential place in interpreting it) and belief in those things, like the incarnation and the resurrection that must be known by faith.  This is where the Church does have an absolute role in both finding and compelling agreement and orthodoxy - although they have more room to state authoritatively about the nature of God than they do the historic Jesus or the truth of the Old Testament.  I think the point that to have the Crucifixion you must have both the Incarnation and the Resurrection is valid.  In essence, it all comes to the empty tomb - but it must also include the full manger.

Sen. Rand Paul & Foreign Policy | National Catholic Reporter

Sen. Rand Paul & Foreign Policy | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: In Libya we were supporting allies who would find it very difficult to use Libyan light sweet crude after a very well publicized massacre by their armed forces. The NATO treaty was justification enough. No further authorization was necessary. The scary part is that Rand Paul does not have a competent foreign policy staff person to tell him these things.

Prothero on Religion & Politics | National Catholic Reporter

Prothero on Religion & Politics | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The Warren Court decisions were about reducing the power of religious groups to mandate participation by non-adherents, whether it be on contraception bans or mandated prayer.  Religions should never be allowed to use their majority status as a weapon against dissent.

That being said, there is more that we can do as a Church, although the history of Catholicism in America shows a rather justified fear of Papists.  Indeed, as long as the bishop personally owns all diocesan institutions and is appointed by the Pope based on the recommendation of the Nuncio, Protestant America is right to retain its concerns.

They could be quickly done away with if an American Patriarch appointed bishops or they were locally elected and the property of the Church was put in the hands of non-profits rather than the clergy.  It is time to enter the 21st century.  Anointing women would also alleviate more modern concerns about misogyny in the Church.  If these concerns are raised, the Church could actually do much more than it does now, and with direct taxpayer support (outside the contracts process), in the areas of adult education, welfare case management, mental health and childhood education.

WaPo on HHS Mandate | National Catholic Reporter

WaPo on HHS Mandate | National Catholic Reporter MGB: The WaPo, like MSW, miss the joke that this entire issue was entirely electoral and would be dispensed with once the second term had begun.

Nativism Still Lives | National Catholic Reporter

Nativism Still Lives | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The NRO is pandering to its base.  This goes deep and shows why the Republican Party is dying.

A Real Problem with Obamacare | National Catholic Reporter

A Real Problem with Obamacare | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This is an argument for single-payer.  Indeed, situations like this will cause enough people to be uninsured and will stay that way until they are sick.  This could be the hole that breaks the dike and causes a flood.  At the very least, we need a public option that covers those with pre-existing conditions so that you can end the requirement to cover these people.

Contra Gerson | National Catholic Reporter

Contra Gerson | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Actually, what happened Friday was the White House showing it was bluffing over a non-issue.  In reality, insurance for contraception was required in preventative policies by the EEOC, although co-payments could be required.  The only change in the Affordable Care Act is the lack of a co-payment.  What the right wing is doing now is blustering about the fact that they got played by Valerie Jarrett.  They are understandably upset.  No miracles happened here.  At most, the DOJ gave a legal opinion that changed their minds.

Abp Chaput Throws Gauntlet at Dolan's Feet | National Catholic Reporter

Abp Chaput Throws Gauntlet at Dolan's Feet | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The HHS mandate in the law actually gives more accommodation to the Church than the current 2000 EEOC policy, although it was rolled out to be confrontational for political reasons by the White House (and the bishops took the bait).  This is getting old.  If coverage stops, it will go away quickly.  I suspect that Chaput, however, is seeking a posting in Rome.  Given the state of sexual abuse in his archdiocese, I can see how he would want to be seen as going over the top so he can do what Burke did.

Immigration & Family Values | National Catholic Reporter

Immigration & Family Values | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I hope so too, but I doubt most bishops will make waves on this.  Immigration reform is still largely elements of the GOP arguing with itself.  Hopefully the Democrats will be willing to stop taking the benefits of that and settle this issue now (of course, the perfect solution would be to repeal all requirements and right to work laws, essentially taking the incentive away to immigrate and do jobs Americans won't do - as Americans will do anything for a good union wage).

The Great Debate Video | National Catholic Reporter

The Great Debate Video | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: There is no way you would be in bed with liberation theology. That's my job!

Catholics for Choice on HHS Rules | National Catholic Reporter

Catholics for Choice on HHS Rules | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Again, this is one of those issues where people can position themselves to take advantage of their donors. There really is no issue here, save a small $10 copayment, as the real issue was settled by the EEOC in December 2000. They are correct, however, in that the Church is likely catching a break with the new law.

Royal on Mahony | National Catholic Reporter

Royal on Mahony | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I disagree with Cardinal Mahoney's remark that he did not have the tools to deal with that problem, or with a quote on the Church in the 1950s. When Jesus said that any that lead astray one of the least of these were better thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck, he was talking about real sexual abuse, not the mental masturbation of doctrinal niceties. The Church, however, has been unwilling to face this honestly for 2000 years and will likely to keep on doing so. We can only try haltingly at such efforts - although an opening to homosexuality as a natural condition may help us to do so.

Economic Reductionism (& Idiocy) In Raleigh | National Catholic Reporter

Economic Reductionism (& Idiocy) In Raleigh | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I am all in favor of having the state fund a liberal education until grade 14. After that point, however, students should find an employer to pay the rest of their tuition, room and board and pay them to do so as employees. The infantilization of adults after age 20 is counter survival to the species.

HHS Mandate: Can We Live With This? | National Catholic Reporter

HHS Mandate: Can We Live With This? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The Church is still wrong on Ella and other such drugs, as life does not begin until gastrulation. Actually recognizing that, however, actually is strong evidence that life must be respected after gastrulation. As to the controversy itself, there isn't one. This was all done for electoral politics, as I said on Friday nite. I still stand by that. Anyone trying to insert themselves into the debate is likely doing so for fundraising concerns, since you have to do something to keep the donors happy. Finally, there is a bit of law to still be decided about the establishment and free exercise clauses and where they meet. I would prefer, however, that it be aruged baised on the state Blaine amendments prohibiting funding of Catholic schools with public funds.

HHS mandate: Sure looks like a miracle | National Catholic Reporter

HHS mandate: Sure looks like a miracle | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The fact that this has been resolved now is no coincidence.  The entire conflagration was started by Valerie Jarrett to radicalize female supporters to get more involved in the campaign.  I expect something else in 2014 to radicalize people for the mid-terms.

As for the standing of religious institutions and their various charitable branches, the law must still be drawn somewhere.  The proposed scheme was not without some wisdom. It would be better, of course, if many of the Church's operations were divested from the clergy and run as non-profit organizations responsible to donors and those they serve, rather than being part of the bishop's personal property.

Who Is a "Real" Democrat? | National Catholic Reporter

Who Is a "Real" Democrat? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: There is a difference between advocating abortion and criminally penalizing the practice. As Catholics we must not do the former, as Democrats it is problematic to do the latter. They are not, however, the same thing and won't be until the pro-life movement actually puts real legislation on the table which defines HOW it would rid us of abortion. Both parties are also incredibly weak on the economics. Simply helping pregnant women is not enough - we must make sure both parents have access to educational opportunity and daycare and that they have a living wage the meets middle class requirements - either by a required wage or more likely through the personal or business income tax system.

Gomez Breaks the Omerta | National Catholic Reporter

Gomez Breaks the Omerta | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: One wonders how Rome will react to this, especially those who favor protecting the clerical caste over the people of God.  One wonders if Cardinal Burke will weigh in on this.  Still, kudos to the Archbishop.

Editorial: The Vatican is unable to find the church's real scandal | National Catholic Reporter

Editorial: The Vatican is unable to find the church's real scandal | National Catholic Reporter The real scandal is that in an age of democracy, the Church holds on tightly to Medievalism. It is time to change basic structures and take management of funds away from the clergy entirely and end selection of bishops from Rome, some of whom should be women.

CNN sources: Religious organizations can opt out of contraceptive coverage | National Catholic Reporter

CNN sources: Religious organizations can opt out of contraceptive coverage | National Catholic Reporter If the Church's goal is to deny coverage and use to its employees by any means necessary, even if the employee pays for it, it is going too far. Doing so under the banner of religious freedom is simply sickening.