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).