Can I Hear An Amen? | National Catholic Reporter

Can I Hear An Amen? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Francis will likely disappoint many of the hierarchy.  I myself try to do so every time it is appropriate.  Remember, the Church is all of us, not just the bishops, cardinals, priests, pope, patriarchs and members of the consecrated life.  Indeed, the nuns who speak out are holier than most of bishops who toe the party (sometimes the Republican Party) line.

'Jesus wants followers, not admirers' | National Catholic Reporter

'Jesus wants followers, not admirers' | National Catholic Reporter  MSW.  MGB:  I would have hired the woman in the leather because she would bring in more revenue - which is why she probably dressed as she did.  It always strikes me when a member of the hierarchy claims that Jesus wants followers when Jesus made it a point to speak out against the hierarchy of his day.  If we wanted admirers, he would have been a better member of the Pharasee Party - rather than mocking them for the darkness of their hearts.  Sadly, many of the "defenders of marriage" and protectors of abusers go out of their way to be admired.

Cretin Watch | National Catholic Reporter

Cretin Watch | National Catholic Reporter MSW:  MGB: Weber is an idiot.  Take his Blackberry away.  Sadly, he is but a sample of his kind of Republican.

Kurtz To Philippines | National Catholic Reporter

Kurtz To Philippines | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Good for him.  I am sure he will be joined by staff from CRS, who are already on the ground.  The visiiblity of his visit should produce much needed funds for what is almost an impossible job.

Reid on Francis, Marriage & the Rota | National Catholic Reporter

Reid on Francis, Marriage & the Rota | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I hope by good judgement Francis will deal with the real problems of marriages ending because of alcoholism, abuse and adultery.  In such cases, the victim should be given the option to leave or stay in the marriage.  The perpetrator should get no such option and should be disallowed from future marriage in the Church until major work has been done.  Under no circumstances should anyone be forced to stay married, even if divorced, to an abuser.  That is just judgement.

Take That, Ken Langone | National Catholic Reporter

Take That, Ken Langone | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Big donors are a nice luxury and there is a certain vanity in hob nobbing with the rich and famous. The money that really matters comes from the people in the pews.  When those donations go down, something is likely wrong with how the bishop is running things.  If only more would use their donations to punish the bishop for becoming a pawn of a right to life movement that is a pawn of the Republican Party - or for using valuable resources to deny marriage to gay couples who marry themselves before God regardless of what the Church says.

Brava to Samantha Power | National Catholic Reporter

Brava to Samantha Power | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: She still missed the lingering obligations to the RomaniSinti people, who were slaughtered in the Parajmos

The weakened Obama presidency | National Catholic Reporter

The weakened Obama presidency | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Rachel Maddow summed up pretty well how smart a minimum wage strategy is - not just in Congress but in state houses and companies across the nation.  Voter like that.  Republican office holders don't. Like the war on women last election, turning this one into a war on workers by Republicans is a good way to gain back the House and keep the Senate.  Axelrod and Jarrett brought their A Games to this one.

"Iran is not our Friend" | National Catholic Reporter

"Iran is not our Friend" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Obama is the right president at the right time to deal with their new president - and thus rob the Pentagon of the war they so desperately want to prevent a downsizing of the military that we so desperately need.  The New Republic is more the Neo-Con Republic - and their idea of further sanctions to prevent negotiations from being achieved is entirely wrong-headed.

How Low Can One Go? | National Catholic Reporter

How Low Can One Go? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Sadly, his voters probably like this type of thing.  There are rules of conduct in the House and he should at least be censured, if not removed.  He is a thug, pure and simple.

Inequality & the Economy of Exclusion | National Catholic Reporter

Inequality & the Economy of Exclusion | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The problems with inequality are both about power - the exclusion of the poor (and middle class) from political power and from economic power to have a decent amount of control over their work lives (and increasingly their non-work lives.  It is exactly to the opposite of the movement to empower workers through such things as TQM - which was meaningless because power transfers down to the shop floor level were illusory because they were not accompanied by economic power changes and real reforms, like electing the manager from below.

What Obama should say tonight | National Catholic Reporter

What Obama should say tonight | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Yes, he did talk about poverty - no, he did not quote Pope Francis (nor should he have).  Yes, he did promise an executive order forcing a higher minimum wage on contractors (means more in construction than defense) and he quite rightly promised a veto if Congress tried to derail his Iran talks with more sanctions.  Pretty standard Obama.   Frankly, the speech is always a success if, when speaking to an audiance which has significant numbers of people who hate you, you do not return that hate.  What marks Obama is not his professorial tone, but his even handedness with people who should be publicly scorned.

Disagreeable MSW This Monday Morn | National Catholic Reporter

Disagreeable MSW This Monday Morn | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: On Reese, I suspect he would want the Cardinals and Bishops replaced by fellow members of the Society of Jesus.  It would probably be a good idea - however the flaw in his argument is in implying that Cardinals and Bishops are flawed in the Curia due to their imperiousness and not also flawed at the diocesan level (which they are - especially in Phili under Rigali and possibly Chaput).  This is also where fundamental reform is possible - starting with the local -rather than the Papal - selection of bishops and even going so far as to have parishes administred by lay deacons (meaning they do not promise celibacy and may be women).  Priests can be hired, but they should not govern at the parish or diocesan level.  The change that I think is inevitable is the appointment of national or linguistic patriarchs - which will take the focus off of Rome and the Curia - probably for (the) good.



On my friend E.J., who I met through both my wife and NW Washington matron, Barbara Luchs, I think populism is a good thing whenever it starts - although my guess is that the polling in 2012 suggested that the War on Women was a winning theme - which it was.  As for 2010 - the ACA was indeed an issue - especially in relation to abortion - when the Susan B. Anthony Fund went after pro-life Democrats who voted for reform and charged them, in great calumny, with supporting abortion.  I suspect they did this with the active participation of some sectors of the USCCB.  Shameful.  While they have mentioned abortion, they most conducted a series of unserious votes on repealing health care reform (likely to reward funders who don't like the fact that their taxes are going up to fund expanding Medicaid and administering the Act - although they dare not go after those provisions directly because they are subject to a point of order on the Budget Act - at least in the Senate).  They are conducting a war on the poor - but making it look like a war on women.  This is especially the case on the state level, where ALEC funds have been vigorous in going after both health for the poor and abortion providers - with so called Trap Laws.  Such laws are always suspect because their goal is not to much ever being enfored as to find yet another route to the Supreme Court to try to overturn Roe (and privacy of all kinds - something I suspect the USCCB also approves of).

O'Malley's Interview at The Herald | National Catholic Reporter

O'Malley's Interview at The Herald | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I see changes in style but not content - and given the troubles of the world if the Church is monolithic on content there is no hope.  In this case, it would be better if he called for much more employer and public support for families based on their family size.  Now THAT would be saying something.  It would also invite difference over content within the Church, as I can half imagine Chaput responding back that  the taxation to do such a thing would be theft.

Anti-Pope Francis BS at Fox News | National Catholic Reporter

Anti-Pope Francis BS at Fox News | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Nothing at Faux News surprises me - especially when it conforms to the RNC line.

Kathryn Jean Lopez on Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter

Kathryn Jean Lopez on Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Somewhere in Heaven, Cardinal Bernadine is smiling over Francis and praying for the souls of those who would denounce them - including, I suspect, Cardinal Rigali and Archbishop Chaput - as well as Ms. Lopez.

Same-Sex Marriage & Catholic Schools | National Catholic Reporter

Same-Sex Marriage & Catholic Schools | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The gay community has every right to be disdainful of the Church, given the behavior of Catholic hospitals in denying access to long time companions at the request of families and in hopes that the dying person may convert and renounce the relationship.  This was and is poppycock.  What scares the Church is that the families of gay couples may demand religious blessing to civilly contracted gay marriages (which is all a wedding Mass is anyway - the Sacrament itself is made by the couple before God).  What scared the Church even more is that a largely gay clergy (such as the principal at the High School) might offer such blessings regardles of the wishes of the bishop - or even more scary that priests may demand such rites for themselves - or seek them instead of the priesthood.



While at-will employment rules generally protect the Church from not being able to fire gay employees, perhaps they should not.  Teachers are not ministers.  Indeed, if they were they could say Mass in the High School chapel.  Hosanna Tabor offeres some protection - but I doubt they would consider lay teachers and nuns to be in the ministerial caste - at least if they were answering honestly rather than obediently.  This is another case where the Employent Non-Discrimination Act is sorely needed - and without a religious exemption (the votes of the panderers are not needed for passage nor would they be given anyway).  More importantly, the key test is whether the High School (or Catholic Church employers everywhere) consider civily married spouses equal to relgiously married ones - even though civil marriage itself is considered sinful - at least for Catholics.  The extent to which that is the case is the extent to which Eastside High School's action is pure and simple homophobia - and that is a sin.

School Reform Snag | National Catholic Reporter

School Reform Snag | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: How, you ask, does this happen?  It happens because school reform is just another scam for school administrators to beat up on teachers.  The problem is really not teachers in most cases - it is the desire of administrators to multiply central office positions and feather their own nests.  Has anyone ever seen a big - or even medium - sized school district superintendent (and often his senior staff) not be driving a Mercedes or Lexus?

Dillon on O'Malley's Sermon | National Catholic Reporter

Dillon on O'Malley's Sermon | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Performing 100 abortions a day would include quite a few natural miscarriages - or pregnancies that will eventually miscarriage.  I still think the Cardinal and Project Gabriel miss the point - we need more justice as well as more mercy - though not against women and their doctors but on behalf of women who want to keep their children and raise them to adulthood themselves.  When we can get a Cardinal to say that, I will believe the Gospel of Life will be ready.  The other glaring omission from this week's coverage is the fact that there is no doubt among all but the most traditional that the Gospel of Life would be much sweeter from an Ordained woman - including Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals.  If they can find Cardinal O'Malley as an Abbot, I am sure they can also find a few Abbesses who are more than capable of doing the job.  If not, the movement is simply a right wing fundraising and election scam.

Colbert At His Best | National Catholic Reporter

Colbert At His Best | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Steve is a lovely left wing satarist. Too bad he does not regard Chaput as at all funny - as His Grace could use a bit of public humiliation for his own spiritual growth.

Abp Chaput's Sermon | National Catholic Reporter

Abp Chaput's Sermon | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Cold blooded or not, the Feminist defense of abortion is exactly as he states it.  Feminists, however, are a minority.  The rest of us believe that government is no more capable of banning abortion than it is designing a health care web site.  Sadly, both Chaput and O'Malley missed the obligation to not only provide adoption to women who cannot handle raising a child - but to find a way to enable them to raise the child - both economically and spiritually - without resorting to adoption.  Women who have abortions don't so much want to assert a bodily integrity right as they are reacting to the prospect of a bleak future - for themselves and the child.  Indeed, the clerical abuse scandal has pretty much poisoned the williness of many to trust the Church for anything having to do with children.  Indeed, the Catholic Foster Care system seems to be a system designed to procure white babies from teens for favored parishoners who are childless.  That accussation is not without proof.  As for Chaput chaning is tune, I don't see it.  He went from Denver to Philadelphia (and probably an eventual red had when Rigali dies) by being a cultural warrior.  Why would he change his stripes now?

Pro-Life & Progressive | National Catholic Reporter

Pro-Life & Progressive | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Christopher is saluting the Catholic flag - as required by anyone who calls their organization Catholic on January 22nd.  I do like the points he makes about progressive ends and I share them.  As a left-libertarian, however, the whole mechanism of prohibition is still unacceptable - even if you could calculate the number of fetal and maternal deaths under the current scheme and a prohibition scheme and decided to chose the lowest death rate (whetehr adusting the value of the unborn by some factor or not).  I chose option C - much higher income for the unborn, much more support for teens who are pregnant - through College and for both parents and much more acceptance of teen sexuality generally (which is an evolutionarily conditioned imperative).  Of course some libertarians I know, indeed many of them, stand with the rights of the unborn as an absolute - however this is inconsistent without the financial and social reforms.

Camosy on Abortion & Attitudes | National Catholic Reporter

Camosy on Abortion & Attitudes | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Camosy gets his data on young people who participate in the March on Life.  Many of these are capitves of the Catholic High School and University systems.  They also are not having much sex.  Once they become sexually active, whether inside or outside marriage, they will find that whether abortion is something to be available and avoided or made illegal hit much more close to home - especially once they experience either a miscarriage or a problem pregnancy that will eventually lead to miscarriage - with more adverse consequences to the woman the longer the pregnancy goes. (and a Church that is largely deaf to the plight of women in these situations).   They will also face the question of more mouths to feed than they imagined and not enough money to do it - with a pro-life movement (at least on the Republican side) that calls for personal economic responsibility and calls them Moochers if they seek more assistance from public money or tax expenditures.  The only solution is the kind of economic justice called for by Francis and the other popes in their social encyclicals.  Economic justice is the hope for the cause, even if it alienates the Republicans in the movement.  It is not Francis who must change or even those of us who are unconvinced on the anti-abortion views highlighted today - but whether those Catholic leaders in the pro-life movement are willing to challenge the fiscal conservatives who resist helping families more directly.  It is not spin or tone - it is action that will convince me.  However, I doubt the USCCB Pro-Life Activities Office is up to it.

Is Liberalism That Bad? | National Catholic Reporter

Is Liberalism That Bad? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Mark walks the talk in his charitable work, but he seems to be throwing up strawmen in his argument.  While there are liberal feminists who indeed make the right of bodily self control absolute, and with good reason, there are other liberals who simply reject the criminalization not for some feminist agenda but because the prohibition on abortion simply does not work out the way the designers want - in much the same way the prohibition on alcohol and the current war on drugs are abject failures.  I have a formulation that would make Gordon's head spin.  It is where the General Will meets the Thomistic idea of free will as chosing among the alternatives presented to it - each of which have elements of the Good but none being the pure Good - which is God in direct face-to-face contact (not just by teaching).  If each person has that Thomistic free will than the General Will argument against abortion regulation is clear - the extent to which the General Will is not unanimous is the extent to which a police state is necessary to enforce lesser agreement.  Whether the Enlightenment wards of the Inquisition or not is not a matter of philosophy as much as respect for the Divine Right of Conscience defeating the Divine Right of Kings (or the Magisterium itself).  The Inquisition, now the CDF, has only as much power as we ourselves give it.  I tend to ignore them unless I can get a good blog post out if it.

Reid: "Greed Is Not Good" | National Catholic Reporter

Reid: "Greed Is Not Good" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Progressives need to return to the language of Socialism and economic redistribution, which would be an improvement for most people - especially if it followed employee-ownership rather than state-ownership (one is libertarian socialism, the other social democracy).  It would help if these were adopted inside a religious motif ala William Jennings Bryan rather than Marx, thus disarming those who would call us Godless Communists.  Only such muscular language will enliven workers (as it did after the last Great Depression) and put fear in the hearts of the Capitalists - although this time we should make no deals - instead fighting for victory rather than accommodation.

How NOT To Promote the Pro-Life Cause | National Catholic Reporter

How NOT To Promote the Pro-Life Cause | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Sadly, this is the kind of clap-trap we expect from Fr. McCoskey.  More sadly, in the recent past such nonsense would get him a promotion to bishop.  Let us hope this is no longer the case.  He does draw an interesting distinction on the standard Pro-Life Strategy.  It is to make the same mistake we made with slavery by overturning Roe and having abortion states and anti-abortion states (if they were pro-life, they would have local subsidies to families that would discourage abortion).  That would again create a cessessionist movement.  This is EXACTLY why Roe should not go anywhere and why the movement is a scam.  MSW is correct in that GOP governors don't run on being anti-abortion - although there is usually a nod and a wink among the faithful in their base that they are.  The tragedy IS that they are such fiscal conservatives in such a way as to never support the economic assistance to families mentioned above that WOULD reduce abortion.  That is why we call them anti-abortion and not pro-life.

Cardinal O'Malley's Sermon | National Catholic Reporter

Cardinal O'Malley's Sermon | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: There is enough nakedness to go around to talk about (indeed, you could call it the streak for Life) - starting with the strategy of the pro-life movement to get Republicans elected, even if it means ousting pro-life Democrats. May I add the fact that embracing the rather novel dream of overturning Roe on jurisdictional grounds (essentially  sending the and equal protection issue back to the states in violation to the 14th Amendment) seems sure to both fail and keep GOP coffers full (although the Church does not like equal protection much - especially regarding women and homosexuals).



There is also the bit about the Church's teaching that a problem fetus who has a condition that won't let it even survive to pregnancy has a right to life greater than its mother (whose health is served by as early a termination as possible - eve if only an induction).



 The biggest bit of naked emperors is the fact that many in the GOP wing of the Right to Life movement (most of it, in other words) are vehemently against increasing either tax or direct subsidy benefits to make all abortions economically unnecessary.  That is when they start talking about personal responsibility (which they will never give to the woman).  - which explains the lack of applause, by the way.



The other streaker in our March for Life is the general condemnation of sex - especially among teens bound for Catholic College (who are encouraged to adopt).  Instead, embrace and celebrate their sexuality and celebrate it with a marriage.  Nothing will make teen age boys stop wanting sex than making it easy for them to marry their pregnant girlfiends and still go to college.



As far as scripture, the better citation would have been Jesus own pregnancy.  Had Joseph insisted on standing on the law, Mary would have forced to drink the bitter herbs to terminate the pregnancy.  He did not.  Now THAT is a witness to life.  One wonders if in the story cited by His Eminence if the reason the Pharasees were stoning the woman is the fact that they had already forced an abortion on her - or wanted Jesus to say something about how it should or should not be done according to the Law?  In either case, the choice seems to be Life and the care of the mother.  Nor OR, but AND.  O'Malley gets that, which is why I am surprised they did not boo.

Wuerl & Lori Applaud O'Malley (the other one) | National Catholic Reporter

Wuerl & Lori Applaud O'Malley (the other one) | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: That either prelate would applaud an action to raise the mimimum wage is no shock at all, although I expect the Tea Party Catholics watching FoxNews are wailing and grinding their teeth over this.

Another S. Court Case to Watch | National Catholic Reporter

Another S. Court Case to Watch | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Sadly, they won't even debate the veracity of the claim (which is entirely true).  This will be decided as a First Amendment issue - so the question is whether the Ohio Constitution allows the suit and whether the First Amendent applies.  Given how campaign finance cases have gone at the state level lately, there is little hope that this suit will be allowed to go forward.  Still, the Justices may just discuss it in oral arguments anyway.  Even if they do, it won't mean anything.  The answer to lying political speech is more political speech, even if that speech is skewed by Citizens United.

Review: "Tea Party Catholic" Part III | National Catholic Reporter

Review: "Tea Party Catholic" Part III | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: As I said previously, this is not a book to convert people to Tea Party conservatism but simply to repeat  and reinforce propoganda.  Its called Cathechism.  On free trade, it is a fact that if you have trade with equally prosperous economies a rising tide will raise all boats.  That is why he have the United States - it is essentially a free trade zone (which improved when slavery and Jim Crow were abolished - although right to work still leaves the South a third world country).  Two different economies, however, lead to the type of exploitation of the worker best described in Das Kapital by Marx in this introduction to volume one.  



The Tea Party libertarians really do believe that Social Security is welfare - and they are correct - the top 20% (who write the checks) would benefit from ending the redistributive part of the program (while the bottom 80% go back to depending on their kids or starving) - all of which explains the desire to create private accounts.  As for welfare causing dependency and breaking up families - what causes dependency are rules which do not give benefits to in tact families and drug laws which try to put black men in jail even before they are men.



As far as slurring Latinos (many of whom have been in this country for more generations than Gregg), the Tea Party Nationalists cannot help themselves. One wonders if this Cathechism has led to some kind of donation from the Kochs or one of their fronts?

Not On The Rug, Cardinal O'Malley | National Catholic Reporter

Not On The Rug, Cardinal O'Malley | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Any Christian may baptize - however we teach but one baptism and only one.  There is a difference between reaffirming ones baptismal promises and essentially joining another sect by courtesy.  Still, the folks at Rorate Caeli likely also were irked when the Pope washed the feet of a Muslim girl.

Review: "Tea Party Catholic" - Part II | National Catholic Reporter

Review: "Tea Party Catholic" - Part II | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: MSW is correct that Gregg is writing for internal conumption and probably for funding for Acton (Lord Action, by the way, is spinning in his grave).  Liberal Catholicism is in no way dying.  One of ours is now the Pope.  While I can see how Gregg objects to its main feature - Catholics thinking for themselves - as bad for the Church and Church attendance - the reason is because the Trads have a deaf ear to demands for change.  As far as Capitalism being a founding virtue - it was not.  Indeed, in early America people who dealt in finance rather than in honest work were met with suspicion.

Review: "Tea Party Catholic" | National Catholic Reporter

Review: "Tea Party Catholic" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It seems that this book is a standard "hooray for our side" puff peace.  Facts are optional in such propoganda - at which point the review could stop.  The title is troubling.  Ignoring colonial, no-nothing and Klan anti-Catholicism is one thing - but an essential thing - if one is also ignoring the membership of Tea Party Nationalists within that umbrella and some of their pro-militia, neo-Confederate still contain a strain of anti-Catholicism.  I suspect that the purpose of this group is not to lead Catholic sheep to these wolves (as if some conservative Catholics don't have fangs of their own) but instead for Acton to get a piece of the Koch Brothers money that seems to flow toward all things Tea Party.  I wonder if he is going to expressly cross the last two popes and deny global warming?

Michael Garvey's "Still Catholic" | National Catholic Reporter

Michael Garvey's "Still Catholic" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: He ignores papal critic Gary Wills tome on the same issue.  Gary offers a few examples, like the Our Father for why he stays, although given what he says I would restate his thesis as it is our Church as it is the hierarchy's and we are not leaving.  Of course, the cynical proof of the existence of God is that even with the corruption of the hierarchs, we still recieve grace from the Sacraments (including Eucharist but not only - Baptism has a lot to do with it).  It can be stated even more simply.  God keeps us here.  (of course others have simply not tried out some of the other Real Pressence faiths - specifically the Presbyterians and Episcopaleans - God is there too in the Sacraments - regardless of what Rome says).

Religious Freedom in Ukraine | National Catholic Reporter

Religious Freedom in Ukraine | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Democracy takes some time to learn.  Its a conversion as profound as one that is religious.  Of course, the other problem is over in Russia where the Orthodox are putting their views against homosexuality into laws persecuting homosexuals.  Neither Christ nor the modern Church have never endorsed such non-sense (Benedicts idiotic comments about disorder notwithstanding).

Contra Mary Hunt | National Catholic Reporter

Contra Mary Hunt | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The problem with the sexual teachings of the Church, no matter how old, is that they claim a basis in natural law (indeed, the scriptural teachings on such matters do not read like revelation but like current natural law arguments) without following the main precept of natural law - which is that our understanding of it can change with new information.  We now know more about both homosexuality and the problems of the intersexed (formerly called hermaphordites - such a condition is an explanation of virgin birth, by the way).  The Church (and the Pope) cannot have it both ways.  One must either respond to new evidence when promulgating natural law (which is actually the province of individuals, not authorities) or one can admit that one is legislating for the group and that their teaching is entirely relativistic.  Benedict XVI never understood that - which was sadly ironic.  Francis might be able to make the leap of faith into truth on this issue.  Organizationally, if the Church had more autocephalous patriarchies then the English speaking world in the global north and in the global south might have seperate leaders and deal with these issues differently, form homosexuality to the ordination of women.

Henneberger on Poverty & Both Parties' Policy Impoverishment | National Catholic Reporter

Henneberger on Poverty & Both Parties' Policy Impoverishment | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The Democrats have no new ideas (aside from proving and expanding healthcare - oops!) because they have been fighting a holding action against the Republicans.  If you wish to look for new ideas, look outside the two major parties - which have calcified.  This space contains much in the way of new ideas to fight poverty - including increased subsidies (and pay for individuals) to seek as much education as they can - from basic literacy to votech and college and much higher income for families through a $1000 a month per child tax credit paged with wages or education stipends (and, of course, healthcare on the policy of the education provider as an employee - with the government fully subsidizing the cost).

The Other S. Court Case | National Catholic Reporter

The Other S. Court Case | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Many Catholics are pleased with both decisions - both the latte hedge fund case and the denial of the right to life movement of yet another opportunity to overturn Roe by allowing the supremacy of state jurisprudence in this area of law (equal protection) rather than leaving it in federal hands.  I bet if Congress passed a 20 week (or more likely a 28 week) abortion law redefining what can be done in all succeeding weeks, it would be regarded as constitutional.  Whether any change in the status quo on the criminalization side is good policy is an entirely different question.  Many Catholics believe it pretty much is not and that giving more money to families as they add more children - enough to maintain their current lifestyle (or increase it) is a much better solution to the question of abortion.  Congress can do that to (and so can the states).

Fr. Sirico: Propaganda or Not? | National Catholic Reporter

Fr. Sirico: Propaganda or Not? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I see three options.  The good Reverend Father may simply be (1) responding to teaching (2) or wanting to appear to do so) or (3) he is still using code and believes that cutting benefits makes the poor better off by encouraging them to better themselves.  As you can see, only one of the three options above has him not be an ass.

Pope Francis & Civil Marriage for Catholics | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis & Civil Marriage for Catholics | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Baptizing any child should never be forbidden - indeed, even non-Catholics should have the option.  It happens in emergencies and should happen in due course.  As to the problem of sin - it is our problem, not God's.  It makes human life more difficult - it is no problem for God.  Anything else is, in my opinion, hubris.  The interesting issue on civil marriage, however, is that marriages are made by th couple, not the priest.  Of course, some civil marriages are better than others and if someone is working for a Catholic employer, the status of their marriage as civil, Catholic or of another religion is not (and should not) be an issue at all.  You can see where I am going with this.  Sexual orientation should also have no bearing.  Civil (and religious) gay marriages must now be considered as equivalent to their hetero counterparts - at least for baptizing children and giving benefits to employees.  I suspect Catholic families will even seek gay sacramental marriages for their children (siblings and parents) - indeed gay marriages are barren in due course, but so are marriages where the female spouse is over 46.  Gay marriages are also made by the couple.  If the Church wishes to deprive itself of the opportunity to witness (and direct) these unions then it is the Church who is poorer for it.

The Unfolding Tragedy in Egypt | National Catholic Reporter

The Unfolding Tragedy in Egypt | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I would say that it depends on whether the Muslim Brotherhood is willing to play nice and work in a coalition rather than governing autocratically in the event it ever comes back into power.  Their majority is rather conservative and rather rural - kind of like the deep south before and after the civil war.  If Egypt has a more federal system, where that conservative impulse could be localized while still controlled by a strong enough federal government to insure basic rights, then ending their suppression might be possible.

The New Cardinals | National Catholic Reporter

The New Cardinals | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It is truly good news that Archbishop Chaput was not rewarded for his political antics with a red hat.  I am also quite sure that the Dominicans hate that Haiti got a red hat - which is entirely in line with the Franciscan message on elevating the poor.  Letting Montreal keep primacy in Canada when it is not the capital seems like something that needs to be corrected.  I suspect, in part, that it has been.  Ultimately, the elevation to cardinal will have less meaning if, as I suspect he will, more national patriarchs are appointed and made autocephalous in both governance and election.

Academic Anti-Semitism | National Catholic Reporter

Academic Anti-Semitism | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: What Charles misses in playing the equivalency game between Israel and her neighors is that we fund Israel and they claim to be a western democracy.  Boycott's expose what is their Big Lie.

Gerson on War on Poverty | National Catholic Reporter

Gerson on War on Poverty | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The present case of poverty caused by globalization is different from the long term policy of illiteracy.  Even the globalized often move on to greener pastures and find a new job (just try to stay unemployed in North Dakota near the oil fields).  While many would be helped out of poverty by giving them more money (say a much larger child tax credit, minimum wage and access to paid training programs if they are illiterate (also at the minimum wage).  Indeed, the cure for poverty is a willingness to educate less than fully literate parents while educating their children - and ending the war on drugs would also help - its time to let non-violent drug offenders go and if they are not literate, pay them to become so.  Since those who are incarcerated for drugs often depends on race, I believe we can draw some conclusion - and not that the original war on poverty did so well partly because of the end of segregation and Jim Crow.  Race is always a part of this issue, given our unique history of mass slavery and segregation.

Gov. Christie's Failed Press Conference | National Catholic Reporter

Gov. Christie's Failed Press Conference | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I suspect he fired her without questioning her because that conversation itself would have become an instance of scrutiny.  His official reason is that he did not know why she did it and he preserves deniability by not talking to her.  With no conversation taking place, the FBI cannot question him about it and then indict him for lying to a federal investigator (a dubious crime that should be thrown in on an actual crime rather than a being a catch-all to nail public figures without pursuing real evidence).  Let the Feds interview the recently departed Deputy Chief of Staff (and God help her, as they may try her for lying instead).

More "Francis Effect" | National Catholic Reporter

More "Francis Effect" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I suspect that the priest celebrated Mass the same way last year - it was the woman who felt differently.  It is something called hope, which has been absent from the Church for a long time.

Continuity of Conservative Dissent | National Catholic Reporter

Continuity of Conservative Dissent | National Catholic Reporter Msw.  MGB: This reinforces what I have said about the right wing seeing things from a group anti-communist, anti-feminist, capitalist focus.  The like insiders and lap dogs, gut they meet dissent with the same ferocity as Stalin, if only we would really leave them in charge (which we won't).

Colbert on Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter

Colbert on Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Not usually a Colbert fan, who seems to be Ron Burgandy's political commentator - still, I love it when he hits a big juicy target like the social doctrine deniers in and around the Church.

The War on Poverty | National Catholic Reporter

The War on Poverty | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This column was, perhaps, a day early.  Today President Obama announced the first five of the twenty Promize Zones (Jack Kemp meets Michelle Rhee) to aleviate poverty.  He put one in Kentucky, so shutting up Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul.  Of course, I question whether a zone system can work when man to man was approrpiate.

I wonder how much of the success of the war on poverty had to do with ending segregation in the South.  It can't be a small factor.  Fifteen years later Reagan declared that poverty won and went out of his way to diminish governmental tools to end it - while Clinton signed Jessee Helms penultimate attack on black families - mandatory minimum drug sentences.  Perhaps undoing the mass incarceration of black men using clemency powers might be as effective a step as ending segregation - although educating these men and the monthers will have an equally strong effect.

The GOP did add one good tool - the Child Tax Credit - which Clinton and Bush expanded and Obama kept.  It goes part of the way, but it is a weak solution to helping families.  Instead of being $1000 a year per child paid with the refund, it should be $1000 a month per child paid with wages or educational stipends.  THAT will put a dent in poverty.

Kurtz is "Groveling"? | National Catholic Reporter

Kurtz is "Groveling"? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: These wingnuts seem to be going after Wuerl as much as the USCCB and Obama.  You can tell an extremist because they consider being polite a sin.  They also have no regard for the conscience rights of the non-Catholic employees of the Church.

If Only Pope Francis Knew What I Know.... | National Catholic Reporter

If Only Pope Francis Knew What I Know.... | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I disagree with MSW.  It looks lke Fr. Schall is providing a summary rather than a criticism.  It may be that Francis is more libertarian than MSW would like to believe.

Silk on Pope Francis & Religious Orders | National Catholic Reporter

Silk on Pope Francis & Religious Orders | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Where you stand depends on where you sit - and even as the Bishop of Rome, this Pope sits in the Society of Jesus.

Chaput: Both Parties To Blame on Immigration | National Catholic Reporter

Chaput: Both Parties To Blame on Immigration | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Sadly, this is not surprising at all. It has been very obvious for a long time that this Archbishop is a committed Republican partisan. He seems to be blind to the fraudulent nature of Republican policy on his favorite issue - abortion. They will never solve it because not doing so is a gravy train for GOP fundraisers. He is (hopefully unwittingly) participating in that fraud. He could have used his influence to get the GOP on board with the Church. Instead, he is trying to get the Church on board with the GOP. Again, sad.

MSW Replies to Becket | National Catholic Reporter

MSW Replies to Becket | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB:  Becket, like some parts of the USCCB - the Office of Pro-Life Activities chief among them - is carrying the water for the Republican Party.  It is no accident that having thrown in with employers in business who have a disdain for the rights of their workers that they should show equal disdain for the privacy rights of their employees to make their own decisions on contraception (that is what privacy means in this case, not confidentiality).  I throw in with the workers - and so does the government - which has required insurance companies to provide this coverage since 2000.  The only change by Obamacare is to let this issue open up for exceptions (irregardless of Supreme Court juris prudence written by Scalia of all people) that unless the employees are ministry, religious employees have the same rights as other employees.  The libertarian in me says that the availability of insurance that covers contraception will be driven by the supply and demand needs of staffing the workplace - and that teachers and nurses will flee those who do not provide such care - altough in truth the law will make sure that it is provided - as it has been for 13 years no.

Becket Replies to MSW | National Catholic Reporter

Becket Replies to MSW | National Catholic Reporter by MSW and Becket.  MGB: Becket and its clients - as well as all similar clients - act as if there is something new about preventative insurance policies providing contraception regardless of the wishes of the employer.  There is not.  It has been happening since December 2000. They also act as if the government is forcing them to do something wrong.  That is only true to the extent that the Institute of Medicine believes such care is essential to women.  To suggest this is some feminist liberal agenda is to impugne the integrity of the Institute.  It is the Bishops playing politics with this issue - Republican politics.  It is time for this to stop.  Indeed, there is nothing evil about such care - and I say that not from the POV of the government, which I am not part of, but of Catholics (and the workers employed by them) who say that the Church is wrong on this area of teaching.  Period.  The Church started with a perfectly honorable teaching that said that no one, especially not mental patients and prisoners, should be subjected to eugenic sterilization (taking away their choice to have children).  The current Church teaching is a sick preversion of the original doctrine which flies in the face of family reproductive health choices.  It is time for a hermaneutic of revolution on this matter.

A Great Epiphany Moment | National Catholic Reporter

A Great Epiphany Moment | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Sadly, I missed Epiphany Mass, not being able to wake up until the afternoon before working at night.  I always revel in the singing of We Three Kings - but have been peeved of late to note that the use of the word astrologers has been removed from the Gospel text (as if it were better for all concerned if instead the Magi were sorcerers).

MSW's HHS Update At the Tablet | National Catholic Reporter

MSW's HHS Update At the Tablet | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB:  Michael still refuses to acknowledge that birth control has been an essential preventative care services since December 2000 and that Bush did nothing to stop the EEOC from going forward once he became president.  He would never admit that the Church is simply wrong on contraception (except as a poor substitute for economic justice for families in the form of a living wage - which the Church does not even pay to its employees - asking them to use Natural Family Planning instead).

NCR suspends comments on website | National Catholic Reporter

NCR suspends comments on website | National Catholic Reporter Thanks for nothing to the wingnuts who ruined things for the rest of us.

Contra William McGurn | National Catholic Reporter

Contra William McGurn | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The papacy of Pope Francis is an excellent oppoturnity for what is called Type II Learning for Conservative Catholics who simply don't want to face the social doctrine of the Church - which is both ancient and specially promulgated over the last century and a half (hard not to notice, but remember the reaction to Mater et Magerteria by his ilk - Mater, si, Magisteria no).  This is not a case of reducing religion to ethics - but of reducting it to politics.  The difference is that the Church has muffed sex so much so that while Catholics are welcome in the GOP, they are not equally welcomed by the Demorcrats.

Morlino vs. Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter

Morlino vs. Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: We don't need the papal (or any other) Magisterium to define what is right or wrong on economic life - we have the Gospel and the Prophets who are quite clear on these issues.  Still, I love the fact that Francis is paring back the overuse of the Magisterium - which John Paul II and Benedict XVI used as a club to fight the culture wars.

Becket's Big Lie on Mandate | National Catholic Reporter

Becket's Big Lie on Mandate | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I will continue to say that assuming the government should not have the power to draw lines on how it distinguishes what is a religious body and what is not is woefully naive.  The line has to be drawn somewhere or Chik-Fil-Let could call itself a Church to avoid complying with the law.  The most egregious lie on this issue is the sin of ommission of the neglect to mention that all insurance that covers preventative care has been required to provide contraception since December 2000.  The only changes are an attempt to placate self-insured (or not self-insurend) churches and to expand the coverage offered to eliminate co-pays by patients.  As far as Beckett wanting to relitigate Griswold -  of course they do.  That is why they support law suits against this provision.  As far as Arroyo, he could not be more wrong about Francis.  Indeed, Francis may eventually get him kicked off the air.

Gerson Rescues Constitution From Tea Party | National Catholic Reporter

Gerson Rescues Constitution From Tea Party | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The Tea Party is not constitutionalist, it is ant-federalist - including not only the founders but also the drafters and ratifiers of the Civil War and Progressive Amendments - which give the government much of the power that the Tea Party does not like (equal protection enforced from Washington) and the expansion inherent in a bicameral legislature where both houses are accountable to the electorate - where the only constitutional limitation is, in fact, majority rule rather than the rule of property.  Of course, it is not accident that very rich men - especially David and Charles Koch, fund the Tea Party.  Using the founding fathers to baptize their ideology is a Big Lie (very fascist) and pure propoganda.  As Lincoln said, however, you can't fool all of the people some of the time (although they can fool all the Tea Party all of the time).

More on Red State V. Blue State | National Catholic Reporter

More on Red State V. Blue State | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: What the blue staters get and the red staters cannot understand is that laws requiring business to behave decently keep the playing field level, rather than allowing businesses willing to go to the lowest common denominator have have a competitive advantage (forcing all to behave badly). Better conditions enable a better work product and therefore more profitability - but it is hard to see if you let a race to the bottom occur.  Some think that people who work better will earn better, but it is actually the other way around.  Good work follows good pay.

The Religio-Political Estuary | National Catholic Reporter

The Religio-Political Estuary | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Actually, and this gets a lot of people, evolution - or creationism - is a General Field Theory, aka Paradigm or World View.  Such things do have believers - especially on the creationist side - which is entirely based on belief rather than evidence.  Such attitudes are driven by age and by family solidarity - an otherwise well educated child of a creationist may support the family line, even if taught the modern line - which is itself evolving due to understandings of the fluidity of even a living species - we aren't determined at conception - we change a bit during life.  Whether those changes happen is not in doubt.  How is the question.

The description of Fallwell is apt (MSW is, in fact, the expert - at least among Catholics) - including the rise of the nones - although the nones likely include the children of those who left the Catholic Church over Humanae Vitae - a teaching which entirely ignores scientific experience - both on the sociology and psychology of the family and embryology as well.  As far as materialism, the fundatmentalist propserity gospel is the height of materialism and support for capitalism.  For conservative Catholics who oppose Francis, this is no surprise.  He is the Church's Barack Obama in their eyes and they can only fear him.

As for secularism or secular materialism (usually associated with Communism - which is a hint on why the right wing opposes it) the problem is not a forgetting of God, but a disregard for the opinions of the Church.  For some, this appears to be a wise course.

As we speak, I have two loads of laundry going in the dryer -one towels and one unifmrs for work.  If I had no such machines right now, I could simply go to the laundramat.  If such machines simultaneously vanished, however, I would be much less happy.  Indeed, automatic washers and dryers were what allowed women to go to work and not spend Mondays in arduous labor - Monday being the traditional day to do the wash.  Francis would not be against washers per say, but against how they are distributed.  Indeed, he is from a continent where not everyone has such equipment.

Francis' writings on the Angry God paradigm actually prallel my writings on the denial of this world view (espoused by both the Fandamentalists and the traditionalists who believe every sperm is sacred (to quote Monty Python).  Jesus is the repairman of the human heart because his sacrifice made God feel like us, not because it made us feel like God.  That is an utterly more attractive versions unless you are arguing for the need for a powerful Church.  I do not believe (there is that word again) that the battle will be about secularism.  It will be about tribalism and power.  It always has been.

HHS Contraception Mandate | National Catholic Reporter

HHS Contraception Mandate | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: One wonders what will happen when the case is heard.  I suspect that the key factor in the case is the fact that contraception has been a mandatory part of insurancue coverage since December 2000.  The new plan simply eliminates copayments for these services.  What this case seems to be about is finding a way to put Roe back before the Court - although that is a fool's errand because th last time it was argued to do so (the Partial Birth Abortion Case), three of the Republicans voted to use the Commerce Clause, rather  than repealing Roe, to uphold the ban.  There are only 2 anti-Roe Justices and they are old for their gender (and likely to die soon and end all talk of repealing Roe).  As far as putting in legal distinctions within various Church elements, there is nothing unreasonable about that.  Lines have to be drawn somewhere.  The question is whether the current lines are reasonable.  I suspect they are - but the question is how well the briefs and arguments are.

Ruth Marcus Nails Snowden | National Catholic Reporter

Ruth Marcus Nails Snowden | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Snowden entered his job to do exactly what he did. I suspect he is more true believer that self promoter - at least from the beginning. He may have gotten used to the publicity - although moving from Hawaii to Russia is hardly a step up. Obama will never pardon him. He became a militarist at his grandfather's knee (and it is part of his job). On the other hand, the panel that reviewed NSA procedures essentially validated Snowden's charges. Still, it will take a progressive president (not Hillary) to pardon Snowden and let him come home.

Simony & St. Patrick's | National Catholic Reporter

Simony & St. Patrick's | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Privatizing social services is not such a bad idea provided that the funding is adequate for the task and religious organizations (Catholic Health, Catholic Charities, Catholic schools) takes on these services.  Indeed, it would be much easier to not make or stop stupid mistakes in such a setting than in the public school system (which often leads with a foot in its mouth on such things as kids bringing asprin to school).  As for the attack on the Pope, others make the same charge against Bill Blazio - the new Mayor of New York.  Research shows, however, that the rich don't actually move (and likely withhold assistance) just because taxes go up to increase social services.  Indeed, if high dollar donors will have any impact, it will be in demanding that their gay children be married in the Church.  The Republican argument against increased progresivity on economic and fiscal issues is essentially Dine and Dash tax policy.  It is no more justified to resist paying your share of taxes (given your ability to pay) than it is to run out of a restuarant without paying.

Politics in 2014 | National Catholic Reporter

Politics in 2014 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The personalization of politics has always been with us - especially at the Presidential level - because getting personal works (both for and against).  While many liberal voters voted for Obama because of his ethnicity, many Republicans - form Mitch McConnell on down - oppose his every move for the same reason.  Even behind the scenes, politics is personal - especially if you have a check book and your name is David or Charles Koch.  The upside is that these funds often give the GOP an extreme set of Senate candidates - which will make the 2014 election very interesting indeed.  Chicago '68 was nasty - but that was not about Democratic Party politics - but about Mayor Daley's ego.

On health care reform, there has already been great success, given the December enrollment numbers.  One wonders how long the Republicans will run against a program that will actually be working.  I suspect not very well.

As the GOP becomes an increasingly old white male party its prospects are grim.  Only its ultimate destruction will lead to a large Democratic Party splitting into factions on either economic issues or abortion (although I suspect the best way to be pro-life while progressive is to work for a living wage for families based on the number of children.  Do that and there won't be anyone wanting abortions unless they are medically necessary (and medically necessary defeats the argument of intrinic evil).

The Church in 2014 | National Catholic Reporter

The Church in 2014 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB:  I noticed that you did not mention the possibility of Philadelphia getting a red hat - or rather the impossibility.  There are two kinds of prophesy - self-criticism and teaching about the poor.  Francis is the latter kind.  I suspect there will be a new bishop in Wisconsin - especially with the move away from culture war.  I would love to see Archbishop Gregory get a red hat.  He is a sweet man.  Just the kind Francis favors.  Sadly, it is hard to get rid of the culture warriors.  You can't simply fire them unless they do or say something totally outrageous.  We shall see.