Garnett on Francis | National Catholic Reporter

Garnett on Francis | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Hopefully more conservatives will rethink their positions and more importantly the honesty or dishonesty of their strategies - both on the cultural issues and most especially on the economic - which in many cases they are just plain wrong (unless the goal is to do their donors' bidding). Hopefully all this open-mindedness boomerangs back on Francis as well - especially regarding ordaining women to various roles (including the priesthood) and on comparing what makes a valid marriage to both gays and straights (exactly the same things - a promise before God, with or without the benefit of clergy or community).

The "Spoils Society" | National Catholic Reporter

The "Spoils Society" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB:  The spoils society is the natural result of unregulated capitalism, which the financial sector surely has been until now.  The only way around it is to end capitalism totally and move toward employee ownership and cooperative consumption.  Only then does self-regulation make sense.

The "Danger of Good Popes"? | National Catholic Reporter

The "Danger of Good Popes"? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: You are known by the enemies you make. If Francis is upsetting these fools, he is doing something right. It is mostly craven cardinals, bishops and those who would take advantage of the faithful who fear good popes.

Ни шагу назад! / Ni shagu nazad! | National Catholic Reporter

Ни шагу назад! / Ni shagu nazad! | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: These are easy questions. Low information voters watch FoxNews, which is largely a vehicle for Republican National Committee talking points (as are most members of that party in Congress). I worry about high information non-voters. The reason they oppose health care has nothing to do with not liking the bill - they don't like the taxes on the wealthy - particularly those on non-wage income, which may be harder to pass along to consumers (although I am sure some companies will try). If they do, we need the inflation.

As for the Democrats, they need to do more than not step back, they need to step forward and cut the sequester in half. Give us something to support and there might be a groundswell. We have certainly had enough austerity. Indeed, we have had too much.

The Francis Factor | National Catholic Reporter

The Francis Factor | National Catholic Reporter If you are in DC this Tuesday or can watch PBS.

Another Bishop Who "Gets" It | National Catholic Reporter

Another Bishop Who "Gets" It | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Interesting and true comments, but I fear he is trying to put the Pope into a box he can handle.  This Pope will not stay in any box for long.

The G-8 Cardinals Gather & The Most Important Reform | National Catholic Reporter

The G-8 Cardinals Gather & The Most Important Reform | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: My guess is that the G-8 is the first step in creating 8 or 9 patriarchates which will then join with the Eastern Church under Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.  The evolution of doctrine will come in each Patriarchate, with married priests happening first and in some places the ordination of women becoming open for discussion (like here).  A resurgence of the use of the rite of Stts. Bachus and Sergio might also occur (aka, gay weddings - the marriages already exist because a marriage is made between the parties before God, with the priest or judge only providing a witness for the community - if families demand it, it will happen).  Of more importance would be Catholic vocational and adult education high schools.  It is time to quit focusing only on college bound students.

Can Pope Francis Help End the Culture Wars? | National Catholic Reporter

Can Pope Francis Help End the Culture Wars? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Until Francis is made to understand that allowing legal abortion is not the same as promoting abortion, that birth control use is a symptom of economic inequality and that natural family planning is not better, that the thought that women are unworthy vessels for ordination is really sexist and must be condemned (rather than participating in ordaining women), or that the Church law on marriage usually follows the civil - so that it is time to perform gay marriages in Church - then the culture wars will continue.  It is not solely about tone.

Cardinal Burke Still At It | National Catholic Reporter

Cardinal Burke Still At It | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Sadly, he is still Signatura.  Still, it is better that he not be given a diocese.  Benedict will get around to him soon enough.

Wuerl & Chaput on the Interview | National Catholic Reporter

Wuerl & Chaput on the Interview | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Chaput thinks he has friends in Rome who will shield him.  I suspect he is wrong.  I hope he is not so cynical as to think that obstinate conservatism will be his ticket to Rome.

Me? A Neo-con? | National Catholic Reporter

Me? A Neo-con? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Scooter Libby was a classic neo-con.  The reason you are considered a Neo-Con is your support for Israel, right or wrong - even when it does savage things to the Palestinians.  Indeed, if your views on Syria are related to how the situation effects Israel or if fear of an Iranian nuke has to do with the possibility of its use against the Jewish State, then you are a Neo-Con.

Sen. Cruz's Faux Filibuster | National Catholic Reporter

Sen. Cruz's Faux Filibuster | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I am sure the radical libertarians believe that default will lead to the end of the financial sector and the rise of liberty.  The truth is, such events often lead to more authoritarianism, not more liberty (if you want to talk Nazis).  I suspect that there will be a deal to cut the sequester in half to get the Democrats on board.

Silk on Myers | National Catholic Reporter

Silk on Myers | National Catholic Reporter  by MSW.  MGB: The problem is not just the clerics, its the clericalist system.  We need to bring episcopal election back to the priests, or even better, the people.  We got Augustine that way, after all.  Lay Deacons (who are able to remarry) should be in control of Church property - from the parish to the diocesan level.  Again, they should be hired by the people.  The Deacon would then hire priests.

Jesuit suggests female cardinals, asks for names | National Catholic Reporter

Jesuit suggests female cardinals, asks for names | National Catholic Reporter I would say that Mothers Superior as well as leaders among LCWR would be excellent candidates.  If we can make abbots into bishops we can certainly make abbesses into cardinals (and bishops).  The Gospel of Life is best preached in a female voice.

Gerson on Francis | National Catholic Reporter

Gerson on Francis | National Catholic Reporter by Michael Gerson. MGB: His outreach to the woman being forced into an abortion by her boyfriend was telling.  I am sure he would treat the abortion provider with the same pastoral love.  Woe to those who care nothing for those women injured in back alley abortions where the procedure is illegal when Frances is around.  What the interview did not seem to get at, or at least did not report, is his economic and national security liberalism.  That is what really scares people.

Newark's New Coadjutor | National Catholic Reporter

Newark's New Coadjutor | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Finn's Roman patrons are aging out and losing favor as well in the new regime.  I am glad that the Nuncio is taking action in Newark where it is so desperately needed.  Simply spouting off on abortion won't cut it anymore if you let sexual abuse slide.

Murder & Fear in Kenya | National Catholic Reporter

Murder & Fear in Kenya | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: A friend of mine who had been in the Special Forces once remarked to me, way before 9/11, that America had a security problem and that bars were the softest of targets.  Most of the world still has much more security.  I suspect Al Shabab chose Kenya because they were involve in the embassy bombings that took place in 1999.

Dionne Praises Gov. Kasich | National Catholic Reporter

Dionne Praises Gov. Kasich | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Actually, it is Rev. Tim Ayers and Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman who praise Kasich.  Of course, the fact that Ohio is a purple state that he carried by only two points may have something to do with it as well.  Let us hope that Congress listens and stops this idiotic and Quixotic drive to repeal Obamacare.

WPFMTS: Spinning the Pope | National Catholic Reporter

WPFMTS: Spinning the Pope | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Dr. Miller needs to face the fact that much of the pro-life movement has dedicated itself to Republican electoral victory, even at the cost of the truth (not the loss of pro-life Democrats who supported health care reform and were tagged by the Susan B. Anthony Fund as having supported abortion, which they decidedly did not).  Some rethinking must be done by the Church as to what it wishes to accomplish on abortion - and whether criminalization of doctors and mothers is more effective than providing a large tax subsidy to each child in a family.  As for gay marriage, historically the sacrament has reflected the civil celebration.  It should still.  Indeed, the celebration of gay marriage would return to the traditional rite of Bacchus and Sergio.  None of this is spin - it is truth - which is where Francis is headed.

First the Words; Now the Appointments | National Catholic Reporter

First the Words; Now the Appointments | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I am still more interested in the retirements.  Hopefully Cardinals Law and Burke are on the list.  Their eminences are not so eminent.

Shame on House GOP | National Catholic Reporter

Shame on House GOP | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Its a vote to please their base.  They know the Senate will never go along with this cut and the final Omnibus won't include it (although sadly it may include some cuts, which is bad timing for my family as my wife just lost her job).

Silk on The Interview | National Catholic Reporter

Silk on The Interview | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Like Silk, I am not holding my breath either - but that is what retirements are for.  I simply can't wait until this Liberal Pope starts talking about economic justice with some specifics.  He will likely reiterate Benedict's teaching that the real trouble with contraception is that it is a cop-out for not doing more for the poor and middle class who have more children.  Even Natural Family Planning is a cop-out.  Sadly, the Church is among the worst of employers who do not pay families enough - linking wage to family size.  Maybe this will change too under Francis.

The WPFMTS Award(s) | National Catholic Reporter

The WPFMTS Award(s) | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The best treatment I have seen of Christianity (and Catholicism) is by Duirmond McCollough, an Anglican Priest, who wrote Christianity, the First 3000 Years (he includes Judaism and classical Greece).  He particularly nails Karol Wojtila for his conduct at Vatican II.  Weigal would not like this book at all because it tells the truth.  Nor I suspect would Ms. Lopez.

The Pope's Remarkable Interview | National Catholic Reporter

The Pope's Remarkable Interview | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I suspect that when Francis talks about Catholicism he includes the Eastern Churches and may consider himself the Western Patriarch under a larger umbrella.  It is indeed true that the Right to Life movement and the bishops attached to it are an arm of the Republican Party.  This has to stop right now and I believe Francis will stop it.  There is one thing, however, where I think Francis gets it wrong, the Gospel, like morality and ethics, are entirely for man.  God is fine without them.  They are entirely a gift to us to get into relationship with God - not for God's sake but for ours.

Pope rejects church of 'small-minded rules' in Jesuit interview | National Catholic Reporter

Pope rejects church of 'small-minded rules' in Jesuit interview | National Catholic Reporter by John Allen.  MGB: He may yet change his mind on some of these issues, especially gay marriage and female ordination.  In truth, it is the actions of the Church in denying next of kin rights to gay partners in hospital that provided the impetus to demand marriage equality.  As for abortion, it will take women being ordained for many to believe that the Church's teaching on abortion is not a way to put women in their place.

A Bishop Who "Gets It" | National Catholic Reporter

A Bishop Who "Gets It" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Some theologians write for other theologians rather than the masses.  If the bishop does not understand that there will be no progress. Actual teaching of the faithful is the responsibility of the clergy, both in and outside of the Mass.

Shame on Duquesne | National Catholic Reporter

Shame on Duquesne | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The Church is only for unions when it is not their employees unionizing.  Of course, if no one had tenure adjuncts would have an easier time of it because they would be in the same boat as full time faculty.  As far as the Cardinal Newman Society, they are kooks who should never be listened to on any issue.

Perry vs. O'Malley: From Crossfire to 2016? | National Catholic Reporter

Perry vs. O'Malley: From Crossfire to 2016? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I could easily make an argument for Hillary v. Huckabee in 2016.  It is really to bad, however, that Biden probably will not get the nomination, even though he has earned it for carrying Obama's water in Congress.

RC Schools Push Immigration Reform | National Catholic Reporter

RC Schools Push Immigration Reform | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Aside from gay marriage, this is the civil rights issue of our time.

Young Theologians & Bishops: Building a Bridge | National Catholic Reporter

Young Theologians & Bishops: Building a Bridge | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The fact is that each generation must recreate in its own words all of the teachings of the Church, from sexuality to the life of Jesus.  We need theologians to understand how to do that.  If bishops want to be involved in that discussion, they need to be trained as theologians rather than simply as ministers of the sacraments.

Meyerson on Dems-Wall Street Split | National Catholic Reporter

Meyerson on Dems-Wall Street Split | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Abortion has been an issue lately because the right has been overreaching again in the fight against it, offering blatantly unconstitutional bills and getting them passed to satisfy their base.  There is no abortion issue at the Federal Reserve and Daley is as pro-choice as any Democrat.  If abortion were an issue in the NY Mayor's race, the female candidate would have won - indeed if Weiner were not on the ballot at all (as requested) the result may have been different.  Quit obsessing about the Democratic plank on abortion.  It will exist as long as the GOP demagogues the issue for its political and personal financial gain while not working where a solution may actually be.  The recent spate of laws has been a classic Karl Rove GOTV operation engineered through the American Legislative Exchange Council (and funded by the Koch brothers, who are libertarian and may not even be pro-life).

America's Exceptional Gun Violence | National Catholic Reporter

America's Exceptional Gun Violence | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Until we get Scalia off the court and replace him with a liberal, Second Amendment jurisprudence won't change.  As important (and sadly ignored in the article) is the bias toward letting dangerous schizophrenics remain at large rather than providing them with longer term supervised care - even if only in a half-way house situation.  Until we pay for such resources again and drop the libertarian non-sense about deinstitutionalization, we will continue to have such tragedies.

How do you contemplate that Whac-a-Mole issue of hell? | National Catholic Reporter

How do you contemplate that Whac-a-Mole issue of hell? | National Catholic Reporter by B.T.  MGB: Hell as Jesus is said to describe it came about because He or one of those writers transcribing his message was influenced by Zoroaster.  It is impossible to know which.

Baxter on Murray: Fireworks! | National Catholic Reporter

Baxter on Murray: Fireworks! | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Most Americans have left the Catholic educational system, some from a very young age (assuming they are confirmed at all).  Abandoning the Catholic ghetto has, in essence, made them exactly like any other Americans politically.  That is no surprise at all.  What is sad is that Catholic politicians have been wishy-washy in their defense of gay marriage and on why criminalizing abortion is a bad idea (and how the pro life movement is full of charlatans, including some bishops).  It would be nice if they would speak courageously so as to educate the bishops, even if they do alienate some Catholic voters.

The Rich Get Richer | National Catholic Reporter

The Rich Get Richer | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The answer is to get rid of capitalism by shifting social insurance taxes from current pensions to the purchase of insured employer voting stock - with every employee receiving the same monthly grant rather than one based on income.

Will There Be a Gov't Shutdown? | National Catholic Reporter

Will There Be a Gov't Shutdown? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB:  I disagree.  Boehner will work with Pelosi, Reid and McConnell to avert the shutdown, likely by cutting the sequester in half.

Hierarchic Dissonance | National Catholic Reporter

Hierarchic Dissonance | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Shame on the Archbishop, who is likely coming from fear that everything he knows about homosexuality is wrong and who will eventually have to deal with members of his flock demanding that the Church celebrate gay unions (as well as some of his priests who leave to enter into them.

US bishops: 'Firm resolve' to continue fight against HHS mandate | National Catholic Reporter

US bishops: 'Firm resolve' to continue fight against HHS mandate | National Catholic Reporter They need to listen to Sister Carol, not Archbishop Chaput and Cardinal Dolan.  The actual practice of covering contraception in preventative policies began in December 2000 at the insistence of the EEOC.  The new rule simply makes it a zero copay.  As usual they are badly advised by the pro-life office.  This is a holdover from their humiliation on Health Care Reform.  They need to get over themselves.  This is all ego.

Syria, War & Words That Lie | National Catholic Reporter

Syria, War & Words That Lie | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The US is not joining one side or the other because toppling Assad militarily rather than seeking a negotiated power sharing agreement will lead to Sharia in Syria and another bloodbath against the ruling ethnic groups (including the Christians). Stick to writing about Francis (who does not want intervention either). While I was in favor of bombing, and still am if Syria balks, getting rid of these weapons is more than we could have gotten in war.

Dolan: Bishops still have concerns over HHS mandate | National Catholic Reporter

Dolan: Bishops still have concerns over HHS mandate | National Catholic Reporter Dolan needs to butt out until he is willing to give anyone having a child in the employ of the Church a $12,000 a year raise. (which he should do by the way). Sister Carol has it right, even though that does not help his political agenda. She was also right about Obamacare. Since when did honesty become defiance? He is the one who is being less than helpful. Let this controversy die. It has long since served his purpose - mostly to get him and the GOP bloviating about contraception to pump up Obama's numbers with women. The fact still remains that preventative policies have required contraception coverage since December 2000.

Madison Diocese: Back to the Sacristy! | National Catholic Reporter

Madison Diocese: Back to the Sacristy! | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I agree that it would in some way endorse this research if the kids went there on a field trip - much in the same way that some priests do not allow female altar servers because it encourages them to think that a female priesthood is possible.  Of course, my response is "that's the point."  There is nothing wrong with stem cell research.  It does not kill and individual, only a potential individual.  Indeed, stem cells are not killed, the chorion is simply removed.  Of course, these stem cells are not that useful because they have not been through gastrulation - which is that point where the organism either continues or fails because it had no chance of life anyway.  Since most blastocysts do fail, working with them in research is not so likely to succeed unless you are working out cloning methods.  As far as women priests, it is long past time.  Indeed, the Church's message on abortion would be more convincing in a feminine voice - although I cannot see women clergy continuing the ban on contraception.

Bishop Tobin "Disappointed" With Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter

Bishop Tobin "Disappointed" With Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Tobin thinks the Church should be a wholly owned entity of the Republican Party.  Sadly, the GOP actually does not have any plan to really end or even decrease abortion (which mostly requires doing more for the poor and middle class, not less) - other than, of course, mobilizing Catholic bishops, priests and faithful to give them money, campaign and vote Republican.  We need some Catholic politician to denounce such tactics.  I had hopes for Biden, who seems to also tread a fine line to not alienate those Catholic voters still in the thrall of bishops like Tobin and Chuput.  I'm quite sure that as the Virginia election nears, there will be vague statements of support for Cuccinelli, who is the last person who should ever hold state-wide office.

Poker in Geneva & Precedents in Syria | National Catholic Reporter

Poker in Geneva & Precedents in Syria | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: You are correct that the Pax Americana can't be stopped, except from within.  At some point, someone should point out that if Congress does not want the Pax Americana to continue it must defund it.  As for Syria, I still believe that the way out is for King Abdullah to have control of everything from Iraq to Lebanon, as well as that area of Palestine and Northern Israel that must be sloughed off to preserve the Jewish state from the demographic certainty of a Muslim majority which must either be embraced in brotherhood or treated with Apartheid measures.

IPR Showdown Over Syria | National Catholic Reporter

IPR Showdown Over Syria | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I agree with Robert.  It is understandable that an Argentine Pope might resent the Pax Americana, especially given the bad history of the US in his corner of the world in its support for dictators who support US economic interests over the rights of local workers.  Still, this is not a debate about a banana republic.  It is about war crimes of the worst variety (not that some of the torture carried out at American direction was not a war crime as well).  This is one time where American power is coming in handy - and the threat of attack will make sure the process continues to its natural conclusion.  Indeed, the only way for Assad to keep power now, as supported by the Syriac Patriarch, is for the peace deal to continue on to a negotiated truce.

What is the Times Thinking? | National Catholic Reporter

What is the Times Thinking? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Putin does not like the idea of a Pax Americana.  Some in the Congress don't like it either, but they seem in no hurry to defund the Navy, the overseas bases or the research and procurement budgets - not to mention all the bases.  In the Times defense (and Putin's), I suspect that this essay was likely penned and translated before the decision was made on a peace deal, although the Russian Foreign Secretary referred to the letter in the negotiations with Secretary Kerry.  I suspect that indicates where the authorship of this letter truly lies.

Silk on "Aggiornamento 2.0" | National Catholic Reporter

Silk on "Aggiornamento 2.0" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The Pope is correct that you can be a moral atheist.  Indeed, I would go further.  Many atheists come to this conclusion because of misconduct by the Church (from sexual abuse to misogyny) and are speaking up out of love for their fellows who they believe are exploited.  All love comes from the Holy Spirit and we should not ignore her promptings, no matter who She speaks through.

Boehner's Burden | National Catholic Reporter

Boehner's Burden | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The 2010 losses came in large part because the Susan B. Anthony fund lied to voters about Obamacare, claiming that it funded abortion.  Some of those gains have been taken back, so it is time for Biden and Boehner to negotiate a deal with both a clean continuing resolution and debt limit increase, possibly cutting the sequester amounts in half and waiving the Hastert rule to bring it to the floor.

USCCB Defends CRS | National Catholic Reporter

USCCB Defends CRS | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Good for them and shame on the Astroturfers at the American Life League.  Thankfully the bishops who are more "political" have remained silent.  It would be nice if some of these bishops they gave the same respect to the Campaign for Human Development.

Silk on "Asymmetrical Peacefare" | National Catholic Reporter

Silk on "Asymmetrical Peacefare" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The world, and even American news outlets, has already been following the Syrian civil war.  What has us all noticing is the barbarity of the Syrian regime.  Like any bully, they are now caving under the threat of superior force.  Until the weapons are destroyed, the threat should and will remain.

Anti-Semitism in the U.S. | National Catholic Reporter

Anti-Semitism in the U.S. | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The real issue is not the Jewishness of any of the candidates, but whether Larry Summers will likely continue to fight for Wall Street rather than Main Street as the Chair of the Fed.  I think not, based on past experience, so I am supporting Yellen.

History, Syria & Obama's Speech | National Catholic Reporter

History, Syria & Obama's Speech | National Catholic Reporter MSW.  MGB: Obama did not support the Iraq War, so he has already learned the lessons of that fluster-cluck.  As far as Bosnia, he did not need to learn lessons on how to defend Muslims, since we are still doing that in Afghanistan, although the partisans in that war don't seem to get that if they stop shooting at us, we would leave sooner.  We really need to hit whomever is providing them weapons.  A little love top on the Pakistani military might just go a long way, assuming they are the ones financing the partisans.  Additionally, the Syrians themselves have shown that even the threat of action can get a weaker enemy to geek, especially since those with access to Assad and members of the military were widely reporting that they were panicking.

Report from AFL-CIO Convention | National Catholic Reporter

Report from AFL-CIO Convention | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The AFL-CIO has become a key part of the Democratic Party in much the same way that the National Right to Life Committee has become the religious wing of the Republican Party.  With the NEA as part of the Democratic coalition you tend to get a very vocal pro-choice set of convention delegates - as NEA members tend to gravitate to service at the national nominating convention.  They also kill any concept of school choice - although of late they have gone along with Catholic Charter Schools in DC. The sad fact is that the Catholic Church has a good record in advocating for union rights - just as long as it is not Catholic organizations that are being unionized - and that is a scandal.

To Laugh or To Cry? | National Catholic Reporter

To Laugh or To Cry? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Ron Paul is an inveterate self promoter, as is Fatima1.  The only kind of libertarianism we can support is one where people or businesses can fund social service delivery and education by the Church rather than having these services provided by the state or even through government contracts.

Bp Paprocki Blames the World | National Catholic Reporter

Bp Paprocki Blames the World | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Bishop Paprocki is likely running scared.  Expect him to be the next bishop to fall to allegations of covering up abuse.  Where there is smoke.....  As for homosexuality, he is up against a determined drive for gay marriage in Illinois (which is pretty much inevitable, even if it must wait until it is made a federal right).  What scares him so much is the likely demand from the families of gay couples that their newly legal marriages be solemnized - and worse that some of his priests will quietly do so, while his gay priests might start demanding a right to marry and stay priests or leave the priesthood to marry if they can't.  It will also hurt recruiting if gay men decide to marry rather than join the priesthood.  Any who think there are no gay seminarians doesn't know anyone who has been in seminary.

The Lessons of History & Syria, Part I | National Catholic Reporter

The Lessons of History & Syria, Part I | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: 400 children dying in a Sarin attack is about the ugliest thing you can imagine.  Disabling the ability to do that is fairly easy - and if Assad did not respond to four attacks by Israel, they won't attack us.  Indeed, the reason they are now agreeing to a negotiated solution is that they are deathly afraid of what an attack will do to them.  It was probably not Bashir Assad that ordered the attack.  It was most likely his brother, who is a real thug.  Indeed, the Seals or Delta Force could probably kidnap or kill him and make the entire situation better without up-ending the regime so that Islamists can take control.

Gomez at AFL-CIO | National Catholic Reporter

Gomez at AFL-CIO | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It looks like John Kerry has opened the door for a negotiated settlement, although I do not believe the Pope is correct that a military action against hard targets that launch chemical attacks is not unjust or unnecessarily lethal. Hopefully the fear felt by the Syrians will lead them to give up their chemical weapons - although a strike that prevents other lethal rocket attacks against Syrian civilians is, again, not unjustified. As for immigration, it is good that the Archbishop is on the correct side - although some bishops on the right will object to any formulation that does not say that abortion is the most important moral issue of our time. Lets hope the Speaker moves ahead on the Senate bill. Although it is far too hard on immigrants, it is better than the status quo (and can be fixed when our Republican problem is solved with time).

The Ultra-Orthodox in Israel | National Catholic Reporter

The Ultra-Orthodox in Israel | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: These people are Judaism's Menonites who are by and large still in the Romantic period of history. They are not the demographic problem - the Arabs and Palestinians are. Unless both are given a separate state (not a client state like Losotho in South Africa - yes I am infering Apartheid), what the Orthodox do or what they Israelis do about the Orthodox is small potatoes. I can't see Israel becoming a western secular state, which is too bad, so it must be a divided state. The Orhodox are correct about one thing - until the Messiah appears - or more accurately until Torah's injunctions about treatment of the alien are followed - the Holy of Holies will not be reestablished in Jerusalem. The Ark is still in Axum, Eritrea and the monks guarding it will not restore it to the Jews until the Palestinians are treated like brothers.

Why Am I a Zionist? Part III | National Catholic Reporter

Why Am I a Zionist? Part III | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The settlement movement, the wall and the IDF treatment of Palestinian civilians in the West Bank still has no justification - nor does the blockade of Gaza, which is making people desperate enough to try anything. Remember, Palestinians, both Christian (who are being systemtatically mistreated by the Jews, including Catholic access to holy sites) and Muslims are both Semites. You cannot claim that you have an obligation to atone for anti-semitism while excusing the Zionists when they practice it.

WA State Bishops on Immigration Reform | National Catholic Reporter

WA State Bishops on Immigration Reform | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This is a nice letter and much more charitable to immigrants than the Senate Bill - and head and shoulders over anything the House would pass.  I am still for repealing all immigration restrictions, as well as right-to-work laws.  I suspect that if most factories or farms had to treat all workers according to union work rules, with union pay and governmental enforcement of both pay and safety, they would no longer prefer immigrant labor.

Why Am I a Zionist? Part II | National Catholic Reporter

Why Am I a Zionist? Part II | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The Jews of Europe should have been allowed to settle here in the run up to the final solution.  Some were if they were particularly useful - just not the middle class.  Certainly their blood thirsty behavior toward the Arabs should not be an excuse to give them a separate state.  Unless you can find record of a mass Arab migration into Palestine, the fact is likely that most Palestinians are Jews and Samaritans who found Christ (we have record of the Samaritan conversion in Acts) who later converted to Islam to be on the side of the new rulers - especially after the crusader massacres.  Zionism should honor likely the Jewish roots of the Palestinian people.

Why Some Do, and Others Don't Support Immigration Reform | National Catholic Reporter

Why Some Do, and Others Don't Support Immigration Reform | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: They missed the overriding threat that is at the heart of the others - the political threat. Pro-life Catholics and Evangelical Protestants, particularly males, are hard core Republicans who fear that even GOP strongholds in the west and south will be overwhelmed by people who are already here but cannot vote (legally) - but will vote Democratic when given the chance - giving the Democrats a 52 state majority (since DC and PR statehood would not come far behind).

E.J. Dionne on Syria | National Catholic Reporter

E.J. Dionne on Syria | National Catholic Reporter MSW.  MGB: The underlying question is whether we wish to continue the Pax Americana.  We can certainly end it, but if we do we no longer need a Navy that patrols the entire planet or an army or air force that can project themselves everywhere.  Of course to replace the Pax Americana, someone else would have to step up and they would still require funding - much of which would take the form of debt financing that currently gotes to the US.

Cardinal O'Malley on Jewish-Catholic Relations | National Catholic Reporter

Cardinal O'Malley on Jewish-Catholic Relations | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Its a rather shocking story about a Salvadorian custom that he had to deal with while in Washington, DC.  It is good that he used it as an opportunity for education and unity.  Still, however, not a word about Palestine - as if this matter can be papered over.
 

Why Am I a Zionist? Part I | National Catholic Reporter

Why Am I a Zionist? Part I | National Catholic Reporter MSW.  MGB: The travails which they suffered still do not excuse their treatment of the Arabs in Israel and the Palestinians on the West Bank and in exile themselves, who have an equal right to identity - as do the Romani, who are now beginning to compare their (our) culture to that of ancient Israel to realize that we are also Israelites (not Jews) with an equally valid right to return to Zion. Still, as we are currently despised, we would not seek our benefit through the loss of others. Any Chritian Zionist must give equal consideration to the claims and sufferings of Palestine.

On "Strangers No Longer": A Review | National Catholic Reporter

On "Strangers No Longer": A Review | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: 
The immigration issue is largely about the business Republicans fighting the cultural Republicans - although some who are both use the illegality of immigrant status to treat them as slaves who cannot complain to the authorities about unpaid wages or poor working conditions.  If right to work laws were repealed and immigration rules scrapped, no one would hire an immigrant worker unless there was an actual demand for their work.  Of course, meat backing would likely move to Mexico as well - which would bring about a whole new issue in food safety - one that has been with us for a while - which is requiring more robust worker protection in Mexico for imported goods.

Silk on MLK & Prophecy | National Catholic Reporter

Silk on MLK & Prophecy | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: While there is injustice in the land and in the Church, the prophetic voice must be increased, not quieted down. That is like askling the Holy Spirit to shut up. Absolutely not!

The Left's Myths About Syria | National Catholic Reporter

The Left's Myths About Syria | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB:
I am a member of the Catholic Left and I don't believe in any of these myths. I have been an advocate for bombing, and doing so immediately under the authorities of the War Powers Act and the Chemical Weapons Treaty for quite some time. Don't claim to speak for all of us and don't claim it is the Christian Left, rather than the secular left, that is spreading these myths.