First the pope, now the bishops | National Catholic Reporter

First the pope, now the bishops | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Mr. Martin, like Burke, Vigneron and Paprocki still misunderstand the issue of abortion.  It is constitutional (for the most part), not political.  It can only happen in Congress, not in states and then only within the confines of the Fourteenth Amendment.  It can never be a mortal sin to accept the reality of the U.S. Constitution.  Indeed, any who feel that way are incompetent to serve and are lying when they swear to uphold it with no mental reservation.  Mostly, however, there is a profound difference with the law allowing some action by non-state actors and shouting ones support for abortion as some kind of cultural or environmental necessity (usually for the poor and the young).  The latter is sinful and requires looking at Canon 915.  Violation of it in the case of abortion is about direct and material involvement in a specific act or set of acts (like facilitating abortion for young black women or Catholic college bound girls).

Ending Hunger is also a Pro-Life Cause | National Catholic Reporter

Ending Hunger is also a Pro-Life Cause | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It never left.  It is the superior way to protect the unborn.  Legal status in the first trimester has so many adverse legal consequences having to do with the status of the miscarried and the requirement that they be treated as any fatality in a pro-lif regime that it is never going to happen.  Ending hunger is not enough.  Guaranteeing a modern lifestyle for all families with children is how far we must go.

It is time for unilateral withdrawals from West Bank? | National Catholic Reporter

It is time for unilateral withdrawals from West Bank? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Israel's demographic problems are bigger than the West Bank (although spanking settlers would be satisfying).  When they also start carving up Northern Israel as part of an Arab or Palestinian state (possibly to be ceded to a larger Arab kingdom including Syria, the Lebanaon, Iraq and Jordon, I will take the comments of the PM and of Berkowitz seriously.  Of course, I would prefer an egaltarian, secular Israel where it is recognized that most Palestinians and Arabs are, in fact, converted Samaritans - and which allows return for all of us with ancestry in the Northern Kingdom (including the Romany who are currently undergoing great persecution in some parts of Europe - especially when it suits the politician to steer public attention away from their own incompetence and corruption - i.e. Italy).

Abortion Politics in Canada | National Catholic Reporter

Abortion Politics in Canada | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Trudeau is pandering to achieive greater glory.  In Canada, abortion is a constitutional issue - as it should be everywhere.  When people play politics with this issue, they are using the unborn for votes (usually religious ones) - not proposing a change in policy. Unless he also starts talking about increasing incomes dramatically for families with children, he is pandering and that is all he is doing.

Obamas Values-Free Foreign Policy | National Catholic Reporter

Obamas Values-Free Foreign Policy | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: We are not only war weary, but our military is war weary - so a higher threshold of war is justified and at least Obama is honest enough to state that - although this does not prevent him from entering the Nigerian civil war to go after Boka Haram.  It was, afterall, just a commencement speech.  That he made the limiting critereon American interests is no surprise.  He is a committed capitalist.  So were FDR and JFK. Indeed, within weeks  after his inaugural, JFK supported the Bay of Pigs fiasco.  Not being a militarist and anti-Communist were not in his nature.  In other words, his Inaugural oratory was not exactly accurate in describing his means and ends.  If you really want a values based, economic interests be damned, elect a libertarian socialist to be President - although that may get you another Iraq - though hopefully not a bungled one.   As for the UK and Europe, common history and common capitalism guide it.  As for Israel, it is the dominance of Jews in the Democratic intelligencia and in our voting blocks, as well as our very real guilt for not doing more about Hitler when we could have allowed mass immigration.  As for Cheney, he is not in the sam class as Obama, JFK or FDR.

MA Bishops Back Gun Control | National Catholic Reporter

MA Bishops Back Gun Control | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: This statement represents very good staff work by the employees of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference.  I wish it would say more on why they support it instead of just simply identifying the constituent groups in the NRA that it will not bother.  As a social libertarian, sometimes I actually come down on the NRA side because it will almost be impossible to regulate guns effectively, not to mention regulating them away.  We have already asserted that the Church cannot seem to get its mind around social liberty.

Nienstedt Should Take the Advice | National Catholic Reporter

Nienstedt Should Take the Advice | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Sadly, the local Church cannot remove a bishop - only the Holy See can.  That is, in essence, exactly what is wrong with the modern Church - that it is medieval.  The abuse suit is important, but not the only reason for this bishop to resign or be removed.  Turning the Church into a platform to hold back the hands of time on gay marriage when the desire for it is.



The anti-marriage movement is, for the most part, distilled in reaction to how badly Catholic hospitals treated gays and their long time companions, is pathetic.  Gay couples deserve an apology, not the creation of an organization like the Organization for Marriage.  Marriage is created by the couple, including the  Gay couple, not the priest who witnesses it.  Canon law does not require fecundity - only functionality.  A gay couple where both are incapable of sexual pleasure cannot become a marriage, like any other couple.  If they can experience it, they can marry.  Just because clergy does not like the nature of that pleasure (or pretends not to to save face) is not a reason to persecute gays and lesbians.

Is Laissez-faire a straw man? | National Catholic Reporter

Is Laissez-faire a straw man? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Laissez-faire believes in a free market until it doesn't.  Instead, it believes in the power of the market and those who are able to control it and, to the greatest extent possible, employees and the government.  While they say workers can always leave (and their rights are as important as consumer rights), in practice they do not.  Indeed, in some Latin American countries, capitalists do not blanch at the death of workers that try to organize against their absolute right to control the workforce.  Even in China, the Communist paradise, attempting to strike or organize an independent union can get you killed. At Wal-Mart it can get you fired.  It is possible to be a capitalist and observed Christian personal morality to a tee - attending Church and even being such a good donor that the bishop wants to meet you at whatever social event takes place to support the Lenten Appeal.  It is impossible, however, to be a capitalist and adhere to the Church's economic gospel.  It is also possible to be a Marxist and believe in Christ.  Its called liberation theology. There is something to it - because Jesus stands with the workers - although he does not stand for violence in their name.  Indeed, Democratic socialists have found that violent Marxism is its own kind of state capitalism - Laissez-faire for the leaders of the revolution.



There is a type of libertarianism which, I am sure, Acton does not go with: social libertarianism - and its close kin - social liberalism.  These ideologies may or may not believe in some level of government regulation of the marketplace - the more toward liberalism the more economic regulation is seen as essential.  Indeed, these ideologies are quite in agreement with the value of solidarity as the Church teaches it.  They may even believe in personal morality - however they do not believe it should be enshrined into law.  Neither birth control nor abortion may be banned - nor recreational drugs, alcohol or cigarrettes.  This is not because we believe in the virtues of smoking but because laws to do so, absent the unanimity of the General Will, violate the consciences of those who disagree when the general will does not exist. In other words, they require enforcement by a police state.  I am sure that there are those in the USCCB that prefer Acton's libertarianism to social libertarianism because they consider the latter to be an attack on morality.  It is not.  It is an attack on the forced morality of the Pharasees.  You know what that means?  Jesus is with us too.

Pope Francis vs. Acton Institute | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis vs. Acton Institute | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Solidarity is code for collectivism.  Acton will simply ignore this or make fun of it.  Hopefully Unions will celebrate it, regardless of fights over abortion which come because the Church does not understand American Constitutional Law and left wing politicians will not correct the local bishop in public (they want the Catholic votes).

Silk on Episcopal Accountability | National Catholic Reporter

Silk on Episcopal Accountability | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Making the bishops who offended on child sexual abuse accountable to Rome is a good start, but it is not enough.  We need to make them accountable to the people, which means removing Rome from the leadership equation and going back to not only local election - but provisions for local removal.  Of course, a bishop who can be removed may simply be more adept at covering things up than cleaning house.  Some local authority akin to an Inspector General may be required as well - and not for simply performance in relation to orthodoxy.  St. Pius X did that and turned the Church into a brutal place for all concerned.  Any accountability should be to the local community - not Rome.

The Catholic Case Against Libertarianism | National Catholic Reporter

The Catholic Case Against Libertarianism | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Don't confuse Acton with Libertarianism generally.  There are many flavors of it.  As for being guilty of heresy, MSW is the last person who could be accused of that.  Indeed, a little creativity in challenging the bishops and their relationship with the GOP might come in handy.   As for the concept that there can be economic heresy - yes there can be.  Simony is a start and generally making the Church dependent on the rich so that they do not speak the truth in the Church's prohetic voice should be regarded as heretical - not from the hard letter doctrines of the Church but from the Bible and our history.



Back to Acton, it is hardly a major force in libertariansim, except in its own mind.  There are some libertarians who defend capitalism, but there are others who denounce crony capitalism which is part of its globalist nature.  Most of them are intellectually lazy, conflating the free market with capitalism.  Capitalism is not a free market exercise - it is about cornering markets of goods and creating a less than gree market for jobs so that workers can be controlled (no liberty there).  Of course, in the Church, there are the Distributists (Chestertonians, etc) who chear for Subsidiarity and for as small and local economy as you can get - hardly globalists.



I wonder if anyone at the CUA conference attacking libertarianism will include anyone who represents other strands of it than MSW believes exist.  Indeed, in a libertarian socialist model, like, say, Mondragon, the Church and the cooperative play major roles in doing things that the state would other wise do (and do badly).  Part of Libertarianism IS shifting from government to Church those things the Church does best.  Let's not throw out the baby with the bath water.



The vocal nature of Acton and other Catholic libertarians no doubt reflect the views of their funders (could therer be a Koch someplace near?) but are mainly a holding action following Pope Benedict's Caritas in Veritate and most of what Pope Francis says.  They are screaming loudly because they are in trouble.  It won't help them.



Efforts to demonize liberty won't help either.  Just as you can't have subsidiarity without solidarity, you can't have solidarity without subsidiarity (it gets nasty if you try).  Neither liberty or socialism will long succeed without the other.



The Church won't be much of a Church if it condemns Americanism - not the foreign policy variety but the view that somehow American bishops can relate to the Vatican differently because of the nature of the polity.  First, such crackdowns led to a nasty string of teaching that demonized sex, including and especially masturbation as a mortal sin (when in Scripture the penalty for it was taking a warm bath).  Second, if there is an Americanism that requires a difference in how doctrine relates to our legalism, then the best thing to do is not condemn it but understand it, along with Modernism.  Until they do, they won't understand the law and politics on abortion in this country (which is emerging in other Republics) nor will they understand that they cannot fight the progess of archeology, anthropology, history and religious studies.  In Gaudium et Spes and other places, they talk about our first parents and Adam and Eve.  Science teaches us that no such people existed in some kind of golden age.  While Adam and Eve are good myths on human nature, their equation with the first homo sapiens does not exist and the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith needs to grow up and recognize that they did not.

Moral Mondays in North Carolina | National Catholic Reporter

Moral Mondays in North Carolina | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: National press where it is sorely needed - in the religious media!  Great challenges call for great witness.  Love to all my friends involved in this. (some were arrested today).

Pope Francis Strong Words on Clergy Sex Abuse | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis Strong Words on Clergy Sex Abuse | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This pope is making serious progress on this issue - although I hope that three is a start, not an endgame.  More than one American bishop has behaved badly on dealing with this.  I hope, however, that these actions distinguish between the abuse or minors and relationships among clergy, which are more common than thought and need to be tolerated a bit more openly in the 21st century.

More on Francis in Holy Land | National Catholic Reporter

More on Francis in Holy Land | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: It is important to note that his Muslim and Jewish friends were from Argentina. Its low hanging fruit.  Still, I pray that those who have a stake in the game adopt Francis' revererance for each side and his hope that things will improve.  Sadly, I think the big thing both sides came away with were that they were glad he is back in Rome without serious incident.

Pope Francis Holy Land Triumph | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis Holy Land Triumph | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I am glad this pope, unlike his predecessors, did not bring a political agenda (although I am sure the Catholic Patriarch was hoping for a few stern words on his behalf).  He was witnessing.  Whether this was deliberate witness or spontaneous is only known by the Pope's inner circle.  Sadly, he has become the intrument of peace in this conflict - something usually expected of the US President - however the last two Presidents have been so aligned with Israel (like others I know) there has been no room for acting as an honest broker.



I would still like Francis to say or do something regarding the Porajmos - but Israel is probably not the place for  it - even though we Romany will continue to roam until we too are returned to our lands in the north (and we won't kick out the Arabs or Palestinians to do it - as the are likely our kin).

Memorial Day | National Catholic Reporter

Memorial Day | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I remember marching with my Boy Scout Troop on holidays, although the best parades were July 4th.  As far as Viet Nam, we were preventing a natural anti-colonialist revolution - but that is not the fault of our soldiers - except the Generals in the Pentagon and other leaders of the national defense establishment.  Pacifism is noble, but really only when there is a draft and you have a chance of serving. It takes no virtue to not volunteer for service.  As for the Cochran piece, there is nothing amiss in killing conscripts - for even they could otherwise be passifists.  Killing medical personnel is more than a mortal sin - it is against the laws of war.  Targeting children is immoral, even if Israel does it or we use drones to do it.  Our national has two hundred years of war - including the Civil War which beats them all rolled together.  On that one I think I have relatives on both sides. Browns, Smiths and Hartenbowers - all of whom are related by marriage.  Indeed, the Civil War is why we have Memorial Day, which some members of my mother's family used to keep rather religiously.  Of course we now remember our World War II Vets and our Viet Nam Vets - my cousin Carol's husband recently passed from cancer - probably war related.  We are also grateful for those still living - especially during the Iraq era and now home safe and sound (after scaring us half to death).

An Economic Case for Minimum Wage Hike | National Catholic Reporter

An Economic Case for Minimum Wage Hike | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The facts always show minimum wage hikes result in growth - because all the additional money is spent and there are less bankruptcies from the low wage adult world.  In theory, minimum wages have no effect on jobs in a monopsonisticly competitive labor market (or even an oligopsony).  These facts never stopped conservatives, who don't believe in either data driven analysis or what we call Welfare Economics (its what you learn in Basic Econ in College).  The Randians think such policies steal from business owners and do not really help workers because prices go up - except prices are going up anyway due to oil speculation and the unwillingness of Obama to regulate it well.  The minimum wage increases are just an attempt to catch up.

Left Goes Bonkers on Benghazi | National Catholic Reporter

Left Goes Bonkers on Benghazi | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I agree that they should go, but they won't stop it from being a Kangaroo Court.  If Mrs. Clinton ever announced she was not running, this issue would go away.  If she wins, it never will.

Excommunicate in Austria | National Catholic Reporter

Excommunicate in Austria | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I can actually see there point - that the Sedar is a family based ritual with no priest or Rabbi (unless he accep[ts your dinner invitation) and the Eucharist is based on such meals.  Of course, by the time of Nicea, Bishops had taken the role of Pastor a bit further than originated in the early Church, consecrating the Eucharist for the entire community to be distributed where he allowed (and not where he did not, hence the term excommunication).  Anyone close to God can tell if the Bread they are receiving is or is not the Christ.  If We are Church meets this test, excommunication in the truest sense in impossible - although there is a value to communal worship as well, especially for events like the Triduum.

Pope Francis in the Holy Land | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis in the Holy Land | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I suspect that this is primarily a religious trip - a personal one - for the Pope and his traveling companions.  Whether he does anything radical with His All Holiness is an open question.  The fact is that Israel has not been kind to the Catholic Church and the Christian community generally.  An up front visit may lead to the Israelis reversing themselves on this.  As for the religious question in Israel - they have a choice.  They can either begin shedding territory - both in the West Bank and the North to solve their demographic problem or they can treat everyone in their borders (including the Territories) according to Torah - in which case the Holy of Holies may one day be restored to Jerusalem (from Eritrea).  Of course, the other prophesied event is the return of to Isrealites of the Northern Kingdom.  That won't happen until they recognize that the Romani are those people. Most of them are Christian (except those who stayed - who are Samaritans and Palestinians and Arabs of Israealite descent.  That is the sad irony - that most of the Palestinians really are sons of Jacob.  Could Francis help that?  Maybe.  Not sure he has been briefed.

Pope Francis Responds to Professor Robert George | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis Responds to Professor Robert George | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Unless I missed something, the Pope did not mention Professor George by name - and I would be surprised in Prof. George made it onto his personal radar.  Still, as much as I try to forget anythign Robbie George and his cohorts say, the point that it applies rings true.  If the Pope was channelling anyone, however, it is Pharrell Williams.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM

More on Environment | National Catholic Reporter

More on Environment | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Exactly what the Koch Brothers don't want to hear - the Vatican agreeing with the UN on climate change and the need to do something (about the Koch Brothers).  They have to pretty much take it, because if they or their network really came out strongly against the Pope, their movement can kiss Catholics goodbye (Catholics should kiss them goodbye anyway - for reasons mentioned in today's companion commentary).

Pro-Life Environmentalism & Dogma | National Catholic Reporter

Pro-Life Environmentalism & Dogma | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The environmental movement was less necessary because, aside from clear cutting forests and plowing fields into rivers through erosion, not much was done TO the Earth that was seen as destructive (except for the odd dam bursting and ruining the country-side, but even those dams were not big). Oddly, both seminal environmental disasters, at least in the US, had to do with Pennsylvania - the Johstown flood and the fatal air inversion in roughly the same area.  Of course, modern China puts turn of the century Pennsylvania to shame.  The reason the Left sees this as their issue is because it is also an issue of workers rights and of wealthy capitalists (the kind the fund the pro-life movement) acting with no consequence.



Father Z decries adding environmental issues to the mix of what is pro-life because Fr. Z is a partisan Republican who knows that truth that abortion is not about protecting the unborn at all (it would be bad for the movement to succeed).  It is about turning out votes for the GOP.  If it were more bipartisan (if there were more Democrats for Life) it wound no longer be any good for GOP electoral efforts.  That there are bishops behind this view is no surprise - they like their donor friends.  This is why environmentalists on the left (are there any other kind?) are shocked to find the Pope and the Church in the movement - they had assumed that all bishops were in on the deal.  If Republicans were looking to Christ on abortion, they would not be so eager to break bread with the GOP.



Fr. Z would really oppose linking fighting abortion to giving more assistance to families with more children (which Rerum Novarum dictates in its teaching on living wages), as this would put the movement firmly in the hands of the Democrats, rather than seeking a form of legal protection that is legally problematic at best).  This would never do.



It would be refreshing if we could rise above political group dynamics in the unity of Communion - however the Jesus Christ of both Communion, Paul's letter to the Collosians and all creation included both our brains and our social instinct to use in determining exactly what must be done and who it must be done with.  I would content that we should not do it with Fr. Z and his political allies.

Hope on the Right | National Catholic Reporter

Hope on the Right | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Sutherland's heart is in the right place and conservatives, or rather libertarians, do have something to add in the debate on HOW, not IF to provide assistance.  The problem is, many are still in the IF part of the question, regardless of what that does to the GOP electorally.  The memory is still pretty recent of a debate crowd that cheared the idea of someone without insurance being allowed to die.  If they truly believe that, their party can do the same thing.

Israel Preps for the Pope | National Catholic Reporter

Israel Preps for the Pope | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Yes, but will anyone talk about the inconvenient plight of Palestinian and Arab Christians in Israel and how the Church is being treated by the government?  Still, I welcome this trip by a popular Pope.  It will give new energy to the Church in Israel to assert its rights long after Francis has gone.

Teaching the Holocaust | National Catholic Reporter

Teaching the Holocaust | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I remember seeing the holocaust witness film shot by the US soldiers when I was in 9th grade.  Every student should and the chain of custody of the evidence, including the Nuremburg trials, should be discussed as well.  Bring a copy of the proceedings of the Nuremberg trials to class and make them see how big they are.  Seems like good evidence to me.  What is not usually taught is the Porajmos - the Romany holocaust.  No one survived that one unless they evaded capture or emigrated earlier - as did my ancestors.  Sadly, Elie Weisel for years protested our inclusion in the DC Holocaust Museum.  Shameful - especially given how Romany are still treated in much of Europe - especially Italy.  Of course, it may be because the new Romany in Italy are Kalderashi from Romania, rather than the native Calle.

Wassup at America? | National Catholic Reporter

Wassup at America? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Not all soldiers on a battlefield are combatants.  For example, according to the laws of war hospitals marked with a red cross cannot be hit.  As for Putin, yes he is a thug - not how he seizes on idiotic remarks by the Patriarch of Moscow to persecute homosexuals - thus distracting the people from their problems.  Ukraine, however, suffers from bad boundary drawing.  Instead of insisting that the current boundaries are sacred, the west should call for and support a boundary redrawing commission or peace conference.  Russians in western  Ukraine were only there to tip the vote when it was part of the USSR.  Give them back to Russia and be done with it.  As for Boko Haram, that's why we have Delta Force. Of course, if there is a Delta operation afoot, it will never be revealed.

The Tea Party Lost? | National Catholic Reporter

The Tea Party Lost? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The Tea Party is not about spreading some libertarian fantasy, cutting spending or even blocking improved health care.  It is about a war against the poor - like the Medicaid cuts proposed by Paul Ryan, it is about preventing any kind of mortgage forgiveness for underwater borrowers - from Rick Santineli - even though that would be the most effective cure for the down economy and mostly it is about opposing all things Obama proposes - an idea from Mitch McConnell himself on the night after Obama was first inaugurated.  I will leave it to the imagination of the reader why this is - and whether such oppossition is pushed by the leadership (Mitch again) or is based on the lesser angels of GOP voters.  Here is a hint - it has to do either with Obama's experience level (after five and a half years, this question is moot) or the color of his father's skin.

RC Theologian Appeals for Stop in MO Execution | National Catholic Reporter

RC Theologian Appeals for Stop in MO Execution | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The democracy now replaces the sovereign - who ruled in exchange for keeping each member of the realm safe - that safety includes other prisoners as well.  Those prisoners who cannot be socialized or treated for a mental defect must either be isolated or executed.  It is a lay myth that isolation is any different than any other slow form of execution if it is forever.  Of course, it is impossible to effectively euthanize those prisoners who cannot be made safe because the drug companies are, for reasons of public relations, taken on the role of sovereign - but without doing anything to make surviving prisoners save.  Of course, the judicial system seems obsessed with justice rather than avoiding danger.  Only the currently dangerous should be executed (just as abortion is allowed not for guilty pregnancies, but for dangerous ones.  Its what the pro-life movement gets wroing as well.  And - no - it is not the role of theologians to assess danger.

Fighting Groupthink | National Catholic Reporter

Fighting Groupthink | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The idea of free assembly on a campus is interesting legally, as all students - especially dorm students - sign away some of their freedom to allow the administration to maintain order.  Additionally, the idea of organized protest, if it is more than to deliver a message, is to invite arrest and indefinite detention (King, Mandella, Ghandi) in such numbers that society cannot function until concessions are won.  Students usually don't go to that extreme and it is questionable whether the Occupy protestors at Berkley were students.  We have found that a General Strike is much better at meeting objectives, especially economic ones.  Still, nothing allows the administration to physically harm students or outside protestors with such things as mace or pepper spray.  Any administrator allowing that should forever take themselves off the list of graduation speakers.



Of course, the sad thing is that Occupy deliberately had no agenda, so there was no reason to persevere other than stubbornness.

Pope Francis & Authority | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis & Authority | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The ulitmate authority of Pope Francis is his emulation of Christ on Holy Thursday. Unike most prelates, his emulation is year round - rather than the exception to the rule of the medieval hierarchy found in most diocese, who make a mockery of the washing of the feet.  If the authority of his example spreads throughout the Church, the teaching authority of the Church will be magnified.



There are a couple of areas where dissent is possible.  Dissent on believed doctrine, such as the Trinity, does occur - but this is not dissent aganst the papacy but against the original Councils of the Church that spoke those doctrines and a living Church that continues to make them new yet unchanged.  This is not to say that newness is not possible, but it must be in the light of either scripture or archeological discovery.



Where the Spirit of Prophesy enters in is where there has been abuse - such as the scandal of the abuse of chidlren.  It can also occur when others have been abused because of the dominant culture.  It is abusive to call gay sexuality disordered to keep the old order alive when the new order was evolving quite nicely - including in the Church - where sexuality was seen as a gift God. If the Church conceded the point that God created gays as is, they could not stop gay marriage.  This is no doctrinal matter - it is a matter of natural law, not belief  The same goes for the ordination of women.  I have nowhere found misogyny a core belief of Catholicism, although you would never guess that from the CDF.  Likewise, calling these matters an issue of authority, when they are an issue of natural reason, is an abuse that the prophetic spirit will continue to rebel against.  There is no authority of the Church to have the hierarchy trump the moral teaching on the nature of man.  The whole point of natural law is not just that it is about natural humanity - but that it is AVAILABLE TO ALL.  The Curia can either have black letter law or reason.  It cannot mix the two without being called out for lying.

Dionne on Warren | National Catholic Reporter

Dionne on Warren | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: As EJ points out well, being liberal means she is not anti-capitalist.  Capitalism needs her kind of liberal (as opposed to social liberals like me) so it can continue.  Liberals will tame capitalism (they hate that, even though it is good for them) because the alternative are socialists like me.  Of course, if socialists are not given a microphone occassionally, liberals become irrelevant.  They need socialists to push the envelope so that capitalists have some reason to behave.

Rwandas Central Lesson | National Catholic Reporter

Rwandas Central Lesson | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Genocide was the fear of many ante-bellum southern states - who rejected federal salvation in any slave uprising and instead prohibited any incitement to freedom with harsh repression.  They also prohibited a strong black church - because they knew if permission were given (like in Rawanda), an uprising would be immediate and bloody.  A bit more than 100 years later, the adoption of civil, voting and housing rights came with no calls of sepratism from all but the most fringe whites - because by then the Union was stronger.  Had Rwanda been part of a stronger confederation (or was split on linguistic grounds into francophone and anglophone federations), the genocide would not have occurred - the federal governments would have stepped in.



The Church should have also acted more quickly.  It is shameful it did not.  Again, it was national - if a continental Church or Churches existed, no one would have felt the freedom to bless genocide.  That would be equally the case of the Patriarch of Alexandria were given his traditional role as religious ruler of all of Africa.  A phone call to Egypt or the possibility of one would have stopped things in a way a call to Rome might not.



As far as the slogan - never again - it does not stop anything.  If Syria were part of a larger Arab federation, Assad would be gone by now and the King would have installed an interim regime.  We are why there is no such Arab federation - just as we also block anything effective in Africa.  If we want to know who is at fault, look in the mirror.

Kaspers Critics | National Catholic Reporter

Kaspers Critics | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: To, in this case, link the doctrine to the words of Christ, seems to be as much proof texting as anything Luthor would advocate. The sad fact is that some of these conservative speakers believe in a God who is an ogre because they are ogres in the moral world.  What is being changed is not necessarily the nature of marriage but the Church's own reaction to Communion in a second marriage (and remember that Jesus recognized that the Samaritan woman had not one but had had five husbands and was living with someone who was not her husband - although she was the one who called this a list of sins).



Those who argue against recognizing that some marriages don't work (think alcoholism, abuse, adultery and a family history of divorce that plays out generation after generaton) are living in a world that never existed.  As for gay marriage, the reason we demand it is because of the horrible way Catholic hospitals have treated gay couples in the past - enforcing separation in hope of a death bed recantation rather than simply being a source of consolation.  The actions the Church has been taking are human directed, not divine directed and it is time we listetend to real natural law - the human condition - and responded appropriately (and, yes, birth control falls here too as does ordaining women.

Governor 1 Percent | National Catholic Reporter

Governor 1 Percent | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This all depends on which libertarian economic ideas he supports.  If he equates capitalism and the free market, he is toxic to society.  If he can be convinced that shifting personal income taxation for all but the richest 20% to their employers and then allowing the employers to fund non-state providers of social welfare and education - like Catholic Schools and hospitals, then I have no problem with that.  Supposedly economically libertarian New York governors have turned around and been accused of Socialism while President - just see FDR.  As far as personal liberty, which some call social issues, I say it is about time that most of the working class got a bit modernized into tolerance.  Indeed, with the exception of hard core Republicans and socially squishy Democrats like MSW, socialized tolerance on personal issues is a core belief - especially for anyone under 50 something.

Gehring on Francis and Redistribution | National Catholic Reporter

Gehring on Francis and Redistribution | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Anyone who pays attention to doctrine knows all this.  The problem is that the conservatives berating Francis publicly are paid off by rich people who fund their efforts.  Suddenly telling the truth in that siutation will get you fired, as my friend Bruce Bartlett found out when he wrote a book criticizing Bush.  The wealthy will always pay for apologists. It is why conservative intellectual life more and more resembles public relations than scholarship.  As for the right wing theory on redistribution - they claim that in the long run, a free economy produces equality of results for all.  Possibly, because rich kids and grandkids tend to dissipate fortunes with regularity.  This is not true, however, in the short run unless the rich give away fortures at the end of life (when they no longer need them - but that is not an automatic thing).  The problem is that the apologists of the rich tell the biggest lie in their economics, that capitalism is the free market. It is not. Capitalism is about the cornering of resources and markets for the advantage of the capitalist, and Devil take the rest.  Indeed, a bit of human suffering makes it easier to keep wages low and competitors out of business.  There is nothing in either economics or Catholic social teaching that allows that and it is something that the pbulic relations of the left needs to do a better job of explaining.

Climate Change, God & Marco Rubio | National Catholic Reporter

Climate Change, God & Marco Rubio | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Marco Rubio, like Sarah Pallin, will go away once the big boys in the GOP decide that a Republican can win the White House.  Their current purpose is to hold up as national figures others who had the same experience that Barack Obama had when he became President in order to make a point.  Clearly, the joke is on them because, last I checked, Obama got his tax plan passed, enacted national health insurance and, oh yes, killed bin Laden.



As for the issue of warming - Rubio is right to the extend that nothing happens without God's consent.  It irony is that the high middle ages occurred during a period of warming that was greater than now - although the effects on south Asia, if any, are not well known by western historians.  The bad part was the little ice age - which may have worked itself out or been negated by the man-made global warming in the early 19th century with the dawn of industrialization (and the use of coal).  Much of the argument about global warming is not really about science.



Global warming is really about capitalism and its tendancy to pollute (including the pseudo-state capitalism of China).  I love that debate and, frankly, the question of science versus denial is a distraction.  The other need is, of course, mitigation - although it is probably unlikely that you can get people away from the shore - even poor people (I don't care about relocating the wealthy - let them die).  Sadly, until disaster is imminent, nothing will happen on moving people out of harms way.  THAT they move is no tragedy, especially if they are poor and in a rut.  As long as they survive, migration would be good for them - just as it was good for everyone in the Americas.

Religion & Foreign Policy | National Catholic Reporter

Religion & Foreign Policy | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: There is no religious element in policy development - nothing akin to the tool of Net Beneift (aka Cost Benefit) Analysis.  If it is sought deliberately, it is part of a constituency analysis (like what will the Catholic bishops think of it and can we get them to start a War on Women - check).  Policy is developed by those who are demanding change.  Most of these are religious at some level and some of the most intense advocacy comes from religious actors - from Rev. Dr. Martin Luthor King to Cardinal Dolan.  Some catch fire and some are seen as political pawns (I will let the reader judge which this applies to).  On second though, Dolan is pawn, pure and simple.  Sometimes, religious acts shoot weapons, think al Queda or the Aloites in Syria.  The Christian religious usually does not have an armed faction, though it may support one - like the Aloites for Fatah.



As far as training leaders and bureaucrats, the best course to deal with religion is history - certainly not theology or some watered down version.  If you really want it in the diplomatic corps, add religious history questions to the Foreign Service Exam - future SFOs will then beg for these courses.  Since I suspect those questions are already there, the problem is not the bureaucrats at all - its the appointed leaders - who don't require any kind of training anything.  Maybe THAT is the problem.

Dionne on Astroturf | National Catholic Reporter

Dionne on Astroturf | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Friend E.J. is correct.  The GOP has become a battle of billionaires fighting for control of the party and not often playing nice.  Of course, some of their battle backfires when Sharon Angle and Christine O'Donnell sabotage GOP electoral chances.  One wonders if some of the wealthy don't want the GOP winning both Houses of Congress because Democrats are simply doing better in governing the economy?  Now, in Virginia, there is only one party - the Tea Party and the GOP establishment are the same people.

A Question for Acton Institute | National Catholic Reporter

A Question for Acton Institute | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This is not a ten line paragraph.  I certainly don't speak for Acton, nor do they speak for all things libertarian.  Speaking for myself as a libertarian socialist, I would switch from income and payroll taxes (with only the rich paying income surtaxes on earnings, inherited income and non-wage income) to a Value Added Tax-like Net Business Receipts Tax  Employers could pay the tax, give a contribution to the Church to house the homeless or employ the homeless and include housing as part of their compensation for working toward full contributing members of society.  That may mean literacy, addiction medicine, psychiatry or just opportunity.  There would be NBRT credits to work with at both the federal and state levels - which in DC might as well be one tax.

Professor George at Natl Cath Prayer Breakfast | National Catholic Reporter

Professor George at Natl Cath Prayer Breakfast | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: My question is, how did the crowd react? If his remarks were warmly received, then we do need a religious war - against those like Professor George.  He is essentially calling for religion to be part of a culture war on feminism and tolerance of homosexuality.  Abortion and marriage equality are simply touchstone issues in a war on gays and women.  The Church should engage is such a war and start by condemning Professor George - as he forgets St. Paul's example to be a slave to slaves, free to the free, etc.  Paul did not have to say be gay to the gays, because many say he already was.  A little self-acceptance then would have made a world of difference now.

St. Oscar Romero? | National Catholic Reporter

St. Oscar Romero? | National Catholic Reporter  by MSW.  MGB: This is a very good thing a reminder that all those complicit in Reagan and Bush's foreign policy in Central America have blood on their hands.  I hope Francis comes to San Salvador for the ceremony (with good security).  The spectacle will be glorious and the right wingers in the Catholic press will be apoplectic if they do not simply remain silent.  The Church Triumphant is not as often represented on Earth as it will be that day.  (I am sure the right wingers will take some abortion homily and try to claim him as their own - however the fact that the Death Squads killed him cannot ever be overlooked).

Is the Other OMalley Running for Prez? | National Catholic Reporter

Is the Other OMalley Running for Prez? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: O'Malley and Biden will likely run if Hillary takes a Grandma pass.  That could be interesting.  One would hope that either of these men, who are Catholic, might let abortion become an issue and explain using small words why Roe v. Wade will never and should never be overturned (repeat the civil war anyone?) while pointing out how much the pro-life movement is a scam to energize the GOP, and not much else.  While some federal legislation is possible (state level action is not - read the 14th Amendment on who can change the terms of natural born citizenship - its clearly Congress, not the states), the very real complications having to do with adding to medical malpractice and criminality to a time in pregnancy where miscarriage is frequent make anything short of the status quo unlikely to be enacted into law - and the GOP will never do that - not because of their commitment to the unborn but because of their commitment to shaking down and turning out pro-life voters - or at least keeping pro-life Democrats at home.  I absolutely look forward to a Catholic candidate who is well briefed and has the Gravitas to settle this issue once and for all.



The other possibility is O'Malley may be running for Biden's job.

Money vs. the Common Good | National Catholic Reporter

Money vs. the Common Good | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I am sure the Democrats have many more litmus tests on abortion - since legal abortion is the law of the land, not an insurgent cause.  While a very fine legislative compromise is possible, it can only be made in Congress and it will not apply to first trimester abortion or abortions which occur after that when the child has no, or little, hope in advancing to birth.  Downs Syndrome children are the exception to that, but until the society and the Church spend a LOT more money to help families with these kids, don't expect them to not take the easy choice. On the Democratic side, Obama's acceptance of NCLB and his appointment of Arne Duncan as Education Secretary has pretty much taken the issue off the table.



The Republicans have two litmus issues - opposing the first African American President and protecting billionaires (and taking their money).  The Democrats are playing defense.  Their major issues, raising taxes on the wealthy and passing health care already happened and they won them.  If there is really an issue, it would be protecting the Affordable Care Act (also the law).  While they make noise on economics, they really have no connection to the hard core socialists (not even the Catholic Worker types) who pushed FDR to do something on Social Security.  I don't see a movement there to influence Hillary Clinton toward that way, although I hope I am wrong.  Economically, Democrats without a good kick from the left from socialism is simply Republican - Not - Insane.

In Praise of Smoke-Filled Rooms | National Catholic Reporter

In Praise of Smoke-Filled Rooms | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Cantor will, of course, survive his challenge and remain unchallenged due to effective gerrymandering, although he would have absolutely no hope of winning the Senate in Virginia.  Also, he won't be speaker until Boehner steps down - and someone may jump over him even if that occurs.  As for smoke filled back rooms, they do exist - there are just two of them in the GOP.  The party leaders are smoke free and the Tea Party has plenty or herb burning - and they make their decisions to challenge the leadership based on a snootful of marijuana.  The Tea Party, the local Republican leadership (when they are not the same thing - they are in Virginia) and the teachers unions (the backbone of NARAL) have power because they have a good list of followers - as well as a list of phone numbers to give to aspiring members of Congress to call for support.  These phone lists do not come out of nowhere, they are in back rooms.  It was in a back room where Mayor Barry made a call in my pressence (and as I later figured out for my benefit) stating why Kevin Chavous had no chance at winning the Democratic primary in 1998.  Had Marion been just a little more obvious or I a bit less dense, I would likely still be employed in DC politics or even have my own list to call.



Oh, back to the NEA and NARAL, support for the right to have an abortion - or put negatively to not have abortion regulated by the police state - is not the same thing as advocating it as a solution to a particular person or group of people.  You might judge Planned Parenthood by that standard, but not NARAL and certainly not the NEA, which has a larger agenda having to do with good schools and the fair treatment of teachers in a climate where they are often scapegoated by principals who are both too soon out of graduate school and too easy to pander to parents whose kids are on a bad track - mostly from bad parenting.  Some principals know how important discipline is and they can transform a school - even one that has been racially gerrymandered to fail.  They can't succeed, however, without good NEA members who are at the heart of the Democratic "back room."

The Vatican's Sustainability Conference | National Catholic Reporter

The Vatican's Sustainability Conference | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This is a must read if you want to link the Catholic Church into the movement to fight climate change.  This may be the reason the Koch's are so busily funding all those folks who are attacking Francis on economic issues. This will lead to no good things for Chuck and Dave and their astroturf minions.

Jeb Should Nudge Boehner | National Catholic Reporter

Jeb Should Nudge Boehner | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: You say 50 state sweep leading to a House Democratic Majority like it was a bad thing.  The GOP is not going to pass the Senate Bill.  At least not before the primary season is finished.  After that, maybe and maybe not.  Let us not pretend that the Senate bill is not overly punitive.  If getting solid Demcratic majorities in 2015 can make a better bill, I think many of us can wait.  As for the possibility of another Bush v. Clinton race - I hope that we can be more creative as a nation in finding candidates by Summer 2016.

O'Malley at Natl Cath Prayer Breakfast | National Catholic Reporter

O'Malley at Natl Cath Prayer Breakfast | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Its an interesting talk and he touches all the right points, from holiness and forgiveness to immigration and poverty.  I would have liked to have seen how this played in the audience, considering that this is a "C Street" event put on by "The Family."  I saw no coverage as yet, but that does not mean there won't be any or was not any earlier in the evening on local news.  I bet the AP filed a story.  Sean is my favorite Cardinal.  He is the Defacto North American Patriarch (sorry Cardinal Dolan) and may be the de Jure one before too long.

What the critics of Pope Francis miss | National Catholic Reporter

What the critics of Pope Francis miss | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: We know much more about Russia now than in the 1950s.  Indeed, we also know more about the Defense Department.  As the 50s turned into the 70s and 80s we had the New Soviet Man, created to be beyond religion.  The problem is, there was not enough consumerism in Russia to keep the place going and the desire for it upended any attempt at a New Soviet Man.  Now, of course, we have the Orthodox Church with the collaboration of President Putin going after homosexuals in ways reminiscient of Stalin.  Of cource, Ukraine has taken that story off the the front pages.  In America, it is the McCarthyite (Bircher) types who are both going after marriage equality, high taxes and Pope Francis.  Back in the 50s, there was talk of a missle gap.  The reality is that the Soviets were behind, the not US.  It helped the DoD to let that notion live for their own budgets, kind of like the myth that al Queda is going to kill us all (they aren't).



As for American consumerism, that sounds nice to me.  Many of us are still without good jobs so there is no consumerism without charity from friends and relatives.  The wealthy can do consumerism just fine, but that is not a new thing.  Of course, there would be less of it if taxes were higher, like in the 1950s, so that any cuts to worker pay would not go to the CEO (like they do today) but to the government. This meant that they did not even try to cut wages or limit their increase to inflation.  That was not a bad thing.  Pope Paul used to talk about giving people bread before preaching to them.  Its that bad for many of us, which is why a vocal Francis scares the right wing so much.

"Never the ministry of the closed door, never" | National Catholic Reporter

"Never the ministry of the closed door, never" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Its a pretty standard homily on a first reading from Acts making the point that Gentiles may be baptized.  It goes quite well with the Petrine vision off all the animals flying on his cloak and God stating that Peter may eat them all.  This is a good thing, because if it were not for bacon some weeks my daughter would starve.



This is a normal homily for any priest to give.  Covering each one glowingly is like praising every baby's dirty diaper.  Eventually it gets condescending.

Garnett on S. Court Public Prayer Decision | National Catholic Reporter

Garnett on S. Court Public Prayer Decision | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I am still fine with "civic prayer."  Indeed, the Supreme Court starts each session with "God save this right and  honorable court."  Unless they stop doing that, civic prayer is safe.  Now, if the Town of Greece mandated that each house receive a church visitor to say a weekly prayer, no one argues that this would be unconstitutional   Public servants are free to invite relgious leaders into their house.  They are not free to invite them into mine.

MSW on the "Belfast Project" | National Catholic Reporter

MSW on the "Belfast Project" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: An interesting story.  I suspect Adams will never be held to account, nor anyone in the military wing of the IRA because of the amnesty that was granted both sides to end the conflict, an amnesty which even extended to the killer of Lord Mountbatten who was already in prison.  Would a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (like the one in South Africa) be useful here?  One wonders if it would be or if it would simply stoke hot tempers who still dream of revenge?  In Africa, the minority needed the good will of the majority to transform politics and retain their economic power.  Ulster is not the same at all so keeping things quiet for a few decades may be the best course.

The right blasts Francis (again)! | National Catholic Reporter

The right blasts Francis (again)! | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The right wingnuts are, of course, wrong on the economics and their first objection is that he is talking to the UN at all.  Breitbart's organization has not value except shock value - and no one is shocked by a right-winger trying to dodge social justice doctrine.   As far as Rev. Kastler of the Heriage (Foundation???) Bapist Church - the whole taxation is theft meme is dine and dash economics and not to be taken seriously.  As for Donohue, so much for defending the Faith.  Looks like he and the unmentioned Weigel are Republican hacks after all.  Father Zuhlsdorf should simply expect a call from his bishop and the order to stop his blog.  That would scare the right wingnuts in the Church, wouldn't it?



Still, the hypocracy of the Church argument is more about the bishops, who still maintain a feudal structure where they own the property and keep the income in trust for the parishes.  If you don't like the argument - change the structure of how Diocese own things.  It is time to get out of medievalism.  As for the art in the Vatican, some of the famous pieces are, of course priceless.  Some of the so called art that lines the hallways is not - especially those that show the Holy Family to be white skinned northern Italians.  Give us all a break, sell it and send it to settle the lawsuits.



Francis' family is not long in Argentina - he is a Turino.  One wonders what the politics of his family were in those days.  Indeed, his roots could be redder than we know - but that would not be a bad thing.  Again, it would scare the right wing oafs in the Church.  I see no downside.  Where Francis really gets it, however, is from Jesus and the Gospels, not Marx and Capital.  Last I checked, the Gospels were mandatory - not a matter of prudential judgement.

AFJN's Fr. Okure on Kidnapped Nigerian Girls | National Catholic Reporter

AFJN's Fr. Okure on Kidnapped Nigerian Girls | National Catholic Reporter MSW.  MGB: No comment necessary except #Bring Back our Girls.

Will On S.Court Prayer Case | National Catholic Reporter

Will On S.Court Prayer Case | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: If town meetings started with distribution of Communion, it would be illegal - probably in Canon law as well. On the same point, if real prayer were offered rather than a brief salute to the univeral idea of God, there would be an issue because real devotion cannot be publicly sponsored.  Essentailly, Kennedy was giving the tradition practice a pass.  If we went with Kagan's ideas, people would begin having prayers and mean them and THAT cannot be done in the civic space.  Note that many such cases of public prayer are not so much devotional (except in times of national tragedy) as homiletic.  It is a way the minister, priest or chaplain can outline the social issues involved and remind the fools in Congress, et al, that God is watching.  Sadly, the Tea Party is often not listening.

Pope Francis, Zacchaeus and the UN | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis, Zacchaeus and the UN | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Very nice.  He did not leave much room in his remarks for prudential judgement.  He said to give and he did not condemn the mandatory giving we call taxation.  Interestingly Zacchaeus was a tax collector for Rome and his repentence and restitution was as much about honoring Judaism as its king, Jesus.  That is actually important.  Until our 1%ers see that making sure everyone who works for them, lives with them or even near them is as much an obligation to the nation as it is to Christ, the whole prudential judgement excuse will have them give their check to the lenten appeal and a bigger check to the various GOP electoral committees.  I'm sure that will get them a big laugh in Hell.

Graduation Wars & Catholic Identity | National Catholic Reporter

Graduation Wars & Catholic Identity | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: My alma mater, Loras College, mandates that all graduation speakers be Catholic.  The best one ever was Erma Bommbeck, who at a mothers day graduation had the entire class waive to their mothers in the crowd.  When they were done, she had sat down.  Generally, Loras picks famous alums to speak.  We had the Ambassador to Austria.  The next class had Don Amiche (I assume he was better than Kerry), who was also an alum.  At American, our speaker was Charles Schultz (the economist, not that cartoonist).  He got hard core into policy - not sure what he talked about but I think he was going after Ronnie (even though I believe he was a Republican).  A lady friend of mine was graduation speaker.  Schultz thanked her for the way she shifted the tone.



There are countless small liberal arts colleges, and indeed second tier state schools, which don't get the big time speakers.  They mainly have their own rules for picking them and CNS never tries to make public hey at their expense.  As MSW says, their bit of bluster is mainly about fundraising - although because they cite being at NCR as a deal breaker, that bodes ill for MSW's changes for his Juris Doctor degree.  I can't wait to see what they would do if I ever was invited to speak at a Catholic College - even Loras.  The main problem with CNS is not that it has a religious agenda, it is rather using Catholic identity to promote a Republican agenda - essentially infering that one must be in the GOP to be a good Catholic.  (My late father thought that as well). I think someone should get CNS back.  Have a Catholic college invite Andrew Sullivan to speak, with a focus on Cardinal Newman's burial with his friend and what we can infer.  The glorious thing is, the more they object, the more what Sullivan says will be magnified.  You can connect the dots from there.

Dionne on Public Prayer Case | National Catholic Reporter

Dionne on Public Prayer Case | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I actually agree with Kennedy - most of these prayers are a "God minute."  If they were any more intense, there would be a religious freedom question.  The interesting thing is that it was five Catholics voting to defend a congregationalist prayer.  At the moment, there are no Protestants on the Court.  On the other hand, some prayers, such as the Our Father (which the Protestants call the Lord's Prayer - the use of such a term preventing other establishment issues becasue calling it that makes a definite statement on who is God in the public square) are plural in nature - Our Father rather the My Father, our daily bread rather than my daily bread, forgive us, not forgive me.  Saying such a prayer in mixed company offers it for everyone there, including those who do not believe in the same way (although, frankly, the Our Father is a great non-denominational prayer as well).  This issue is not going anywhere.  Indeed, the problem of economic inequality will be solved before our religious issues are dealt with.  Indeed, some prophets see religion as the cause of the next great (nuclear) war, not money.  Sadly, that is probably the case.

Immigration Update | National Catholic Reporter

Immigration Update | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I hope he acts on deportations.  Sadly, some of the House Republicans are so racist, they would not pass a bill on immigration even if it helped them electorally!  Still, I don't like the Senate bill.  It is too harsh and we can do better.

Berkowitz on Fawcett | National Catholic Reporter

Berkowitz on Fawcett | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I would put Liberalism as starting with the enlightentment and Locke, with its gestation going from the freedom of landowners to vote all the way to the industrial revolution - and continuing as he describes.  It is good that he mentions socialism in the 19th Century - as this seems to be the reason people were ready to settle for liberal solutions.  That was especially the case with the New Deal.  FDR used the spectre of socialism succeeding to get his agenda passed.  The Affordable Care Act passed with some conservative Democratic senators because of the spectre of a public option or single payer.  What is sad is that Socialists continue to be outflanked, although this is a largely self inflicted wound brought about by not wanting to play coalition politics in the United States.  Liberalism is all about coalitions, which is why it will remain dominant, even without an absolute majority, for the foreseable future.  Of course, if socialism or libertarian socialism triumphs, liberalism may fail unless it joins the coalition.  Liberalism is as much about process as result, even on the right.  One wonders, however, how Berkowitz and Fawcett would justify Citizens United as part of a liberal world?

Cardinal Kasper's Interview | National Catholic Reporter

Cardinal Kasper's Interview | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: On the question of marriage and remarriage, as well as the question of the late term abortion of a child who will never survive, the key factor to consider is whether we believe that the sacrifice of the cross was the placation of an angry God or a vision quest for God to experience the emptiness sometimes found in the human heart.  In other words, is God a nasty rigorist or does he expect us to make up our own minds on these things?



Is the thinking in the Jewish community of the Babylonian exile to be the absolute standard of morality for all time?  (I think not).  On the other hand, should divorce be easy - undertaken without any more cause than the divorcing party does not feel happy at the moment? (I think both my mother in law and my wife would say yes to the latter).  There is an emerging culture of divorce, even in the Catholic Church.  I would think that stopping it would be a good thing, but should the abandonned party and the leaving party have the same right to remarry?  Is it for the priest to decide or a tribunal - or maybe should it be the party who was abandonned, cheated on, beaten, victimized by an alcoholic spouse?  What about a man who does not have a job (like me)?  Should we continue to impose gender roles that subjegate women and keep them out of professional work or force them to face the emotional consequences of becoming breadwinners (which many are not prepred for - even in a feminist culture)?



As for Orthodoxy and Rome reuniting, many are still under the belief that Constantinople left Rome.  It is, in fact, the other way around.  Like an abandonned spouse, it is Constantinople that gets to accept or not accept Rome's return.  Like an abused spouse, it is Protestantism's call as to reunite with Rome.



As for pedophile priests, that is one case where ancient says of Jesus should guilde.  He said that those who lead innocent children to evil should be thrown into the sea to sleep with the fishes.  I tend to agree - not with murder but in finding a strict punishment that keeps them away from both Catholic kids and any kids in private life (and no, this was not about teaching false doctrine - see the comments above on whether God is a rigorist jerk).  It is a problem endemic in the Church from the start.  We are finally addressing it but have not gone nearly far enough.  The same standard should apply as in divorce, what does the victimized party want to happen to priests and those who covered for them (within controlled options, of course - no executions permitted).

Cardinal Burke Explains | National Catholic Reporter

Cardinal Burke Explains | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I don't think I overlooked this, but it was between the other two tonite.  The money quote used by MSW to ridicule his language is actually an acurate depiction of what the movement is about - an idealist view on human sexuality derived from doctrine and reason without much evidence.  Using birth control because getting pregnant will kill you because you have a heart condition is reasonable to most people, who expect couples to have sex and enjoy it.  Burke would disagree and say the sex is cheapened.  Avowed celibates don't need speech writers, they need to be quiet on this (and no, Jesus was no a celibate).  (read the money quote in italics to understand what I am referring to).

Libertarian Apologetics | National Catholic Reporter

Libertarian Apologetics | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Actually, this is not very libertarian either.  Hargrave is an authoritarian, whether he admits it or not.  Libertarians don't care if you do drugs, who you sleep with, who your parents sleep with, what your color is or what your credentials are as long as you can do the job.  Indeed, race is the and so on that Hargrave does not mention - but it is dripping from his prose.  Again, he does not speak for libertarians, just Republicans and there assoicated movements (that is my and so on).

Boston College's Study of Hispanic Parish Ministry, Part III | National Catholic Reporter

Boston College's Study of Hispanic Parish Ministry, Part III | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The fact that most Hispanic ministry is in the west (where the Latinos are) is not surprising, nor is the fact that many who provide ministry are not priests (which is the case of most of the Church.  What is not surpising at all is that those priests who are Hispanic tend to serve their own populations - which means the ghetto is alive and well in Catholic ministry.  Still, this won't last long - as these priests are younger and will one day be a key part of the leadership of the Church in American.  For now, though, youth ministry is only available in 40% of Hispanic Churches - which is not surprising given the low pay found in most such parishes for laity (or in the Church at large, for that matter).



This is an interesting report that the Bishops may and should consider.  Of course, even if they don't, the forces of intermarriage (because most Catholic kids are in public school) will break down cultural identity - although it might also further reduce Catholic identity.  That part is up to our children, not to us or to the bishops.

Tea Party & the NC Primary | National Catholic Reporter

Tea Party & the NC Primary | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Paul was speaking to the masses and unless early returns have shifted, the establishment candidate will win without a recall.  I just checked Google and USA Today and Thom Tillis has won easily.  Of course, this does not guarantee that he won't make some idiotic remark and cost himself the general election.  We can only hope and keep a camera running whenever he speaks.

Condi Should Speak | National Catholic Reporter

Condi Should Speak | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I don't get the Catholic angle on this, since Rutgers is not a Catholic University.  Denying her a platform is no more valid than those who would not give Obama one at Notre Dame.  She is not the problem, anyway.  That would be Cheney who was punished by going from the essential Vice President to isolation from all issues.  Its a wonder he has the gall to speak. Obama may not be prosecuting him for war crimes, but that is not to say a future president will not - although it may be historians that will convict him in the long run.  The only reason bowing out is a good idea is that the President is in the middle of it with Ukraine and voices from the right flank won't help unless they are given privately.

Ozymedia Profiles Gomez | National Catholic Reporter

Ozymedia Profiles Gomez | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It looks like putting a picture in the text cut out a paragraph which introduces MSW's comments from another work.  This is getting circular.  I like the fact that his conservatism may shame the right on immigration, although so far it has not worked out so well.  While his Opus Dei connections may scare some, I suspect that this devotion will come in handy in dealing with the unfinished business of rooting out sexual abuse in the Los Angeles Church.  As far as doctrine, until he starts about using the Communion rail in the culture wars, I am not worried.  Change will come from Francis and O'Malley, not Gomez (or Chaput or Olmstead).

Boston College's report on Hispanic parish ministry, Part II | National Catholic Reporter

Boston College's report on Hispanic parish ministry, Part II | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB:  I suspect that the higher Mass attendence is cultural - with the family going to Mass together and never skipping.  The fact that Hispanic parish members are not as involved in the life of the parish, instead creating their own culture (such as the Corpus Christie procession every year) is a question of both the desire to remain unique and the majority's desire to let them.  As Dr. King said, Sunday is the most segregated day of the week.  This explains why they give less time and treasure to the parish as a whole.  The data says this is also the case in apostolic movements.  Opus Dei anyone?  Such movements make Hispanic Catholics more faithful than our more skeptical Anglo Catholics, some of whom learned that skepticism at Catholic College.  Only time will tell us the impact of various levels of devoutness.  Of course, in time, this should work itself out.

Silk on O'Malley Presser | National Catholic Reporter

Silk on O'Malley Presser | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Its not O'Malley we are all worried about - its the bishops who won't follow the Dallas protocols who think that if they talk enough about abortion (especially in an election year), nothing else matters.  Silk's reference to the Reformation is interesting.  Of course, in this case, we won't be starting new Churches or sects, we will be taking over the one we have from the clergy.

Berg on Oberstar | National Catholic Reporter

Berg on Oberstar | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: C-SPAN replayed an interview with him upon his retirement.  Too bad we can't get more like him.  Of course we can - the problem is we won't.  Here is the interview.  http://www.c-span.org/video/?296844-2/congressional-career-james-oberstar

More Conservative Angst About Francis | National Catholic Reporter

More Conservative Angst About Francis | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The indisoluability of marriage teaching had much more to do with the equality of women in marriage, as is evidenced by Jesus' irony in talking about a wife divorcing her husband (which did not exist to the same extent as men putting away their wives).  It was also about the primarcy of the family of choice over the family of origin (wondering if Jesus had some problems with Mary Magdalene's parents).  It said nothing about gay marriage, but what it said about families of choice can easily be a defense of gay marriage - rather than his repetition of the passages of Genesis he cites - which were likely written during the exile.  Archibold's treatment of the text shows he can proof text as well as any Protestant.



Of course, what likely scares these folks much more than marriage changes is the possibility that Francis contiues what Benedict started in the way of reaching out to Constantinople and organizing the Western Church on more national - or at least linguistic - bases.  Doing so will end the impetus of Protestantism (Roman corruption), although the resulting blended national or English Church would send Archibold and EWTN into convulsions.

Boston College's report on Hispanic parish ministry, Part I | National Catholic Reporter

Boston College's report on Hispanic parish ministry, Part I | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: These are interesting questions.  No doubt there will also be an examination of how Hispanic and Latino Catholics contribute to the life of the parish - or decide to stay separate from the majority population.  In times passed - and still existing - there were also separate African-American Catholic parishes - like St. Joseph's in Alexandria, Virginia.  We have not full Spanish parishes in Alexandria, although I am sure the Diocese probably has at least one.



The separation is interesting and is likely due to both ethnic distrust and language.  100 years ago, in the Catholic Church a mixed marriage in Iowa was when a German and an Irish Catholic couple married.  Language was a part of that too, as in late 19th Century Iowa, German and Luxemberger Catholics went to ethnic parishes and spoke German.  When the Germans switched to English speaking (like my grandfather's family) the ability to mix began - although clergy were notorious in discouraging mixed marriages.  I suspect that clergy, language and ethnic tension probably keep Spanish and Anglo Catholics from mixing at services, in leadership positions and in marriage - although I suspect the younger generation will end the separation of cultures, just as I married an Irishwoman.  When I did, it was at St. Ann's in DC.  This parish has become much more Hispanic - but not because of Mexican Americans or Puerto Ricans, but because of Filipinos.



Any real analysis of parish dynamics must include the family dynamics.  Of course, with what is almost a one-drop rule in demographic surveys relating to Hispanic heritage, intermarriage over the next century may make the designation meaningless.

April Jobs' Report | National Catholic Reporter

April Jobs' Report | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: There are also many of us who are not fully employed and/or employed way below our abilities and educations.  There is also the problem of underwater mortgages and a bankruptcy code that favors creditors over debtors.  Still, things are better. Too bad about the 22nd Amendment - I trust Obama for  four more years than Jeb Bush (or the alternatives that are even worse).

Robert Christian on Pope Francis' Tweet | National Catholic Reporter

Robert Christian on Pope Francis' Tweet | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The pharsing and meaning of the tweet is important, as is the reaction to it.  Many libertarians believe that inequality is the key to personal advancement.  Of course, these people are really hierarchists.  The only thing individualistic about them is that they are whores for a paycheck from the rich.  Indeed, the working poor have little shot at advancement to the Executive Suite - although some do make it, even though most do not. Bringing the unions back (and accepting socialist help in doing so) is what is most necessary - and what scares those who are afraid of what Francis is saying.  Another thing we could tweet on this is "Its about time!"

The Coarseness of Our Times | National Catholic Reporter

The Coarseness of Our Times | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: A South Dakota politician throwing red meat at her side is not news - nor is she being original.  That talking point has been going around for some time.  Let us hope the Democrats have a good candidate to appeal to the better angels of the South Dakota voters' natures.  Of course, her candidacy is likely funded by Tea Party extremists, who are probably funding the Georgia bill through ALEC.  I won't even give Mohler the dignity of a response, except to say that I hope he may be right about capital punishment becoming extinct - although I am not sure this is a good idea.  We essentially kill anyone confined to life in a SuperMax prison - it is death by slow torture and even the convicts know it.  Indeed, they know it best.  For those who would never be safe in public or even in prison, a real execution seems to be within the power of the sovereign (which is all of us) to protect the innocent from monsters.  Of course, whether we are killing monsters rather than poor people is another matter.



Are we courser than other generations?  Hardly.  We have no legal segregation by race and women are much better off legally.  We are not killing native Americans very often (Free Leonard Pelitier!) and by and large they are better off and are allowed to explore and celebrate their culture in ways not allowed a century ago.  Of course, the right wing is still frothing over the presidency of someone who is both a son of an African and a descendent of both Jamestown and Plymouth (as am I on the last two).  Will the temperature lower after Obama leaves office?  I doubt it.  The Kochs will find some reason to pump up their side with money and keep the fires blazing.  I doubt they will get such intensity.  Without Obama as Other, their hearts won't be in it (especially not for Jeb).

Daily Beast on Francis and US Politics | National Catholic Reporter

Daily Beast on Francis and US Politics | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This piece is more about Jeb Bush than Pope Francis.  Would Jebby benefit from the association?  Probably.  He may as well play the centrist Catholic card.  It might just give the country enough amnesia about W to make him a contender.  Jeb seems to be the talk of the town as Christie crashes and burns.  At least Obama gave us a break from anyone named Bush or Clinton on the ballot.  That break may be over on both sides.  Joe Biden v. any Tea Party Extremists is a walk for Joe.  Against Jeb?  Things might not be so certain.  Against Hillar?  Let the battle of the surrogates begin!

Berkowitz Critiques Tea Party | National Catholic Reporter

Berkowitz Critiques Tea Party | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Berkowitz forgets that Move On and many liberal groups were also targeted.  His prose here is as onesided as when dealing with Palestine.  Most hard core libertarians do believe that taxation is theft and all believe that ultimately we can do what government does ourselves - using such tools as Mutualism and Cooperativism - including those flavors that seriously involve the Church (and its schools and hospitals).  Kebbe does not represent me or many other libertarians - including and especially libertarian socialisms (who are on good terms with social democrats).  Of course, we also draw the line against imposed social policy -whether it be in the area of drug enforcement or pelvic issues (from banning abortion to fighting marriage equality).  We simply don't believe that God is an Ogre, although some in the Church certainly do - see the Arizona case where the baby was a danger to its mother so the pregnancy had to be terminated.  In that case, God was more likely with the Hospital and its ethical adminstrator than with Bishop Olmstead.  Being able to think for yourself is the essence of libertarianism.  It is those bishops who don't like that who should examine their own morality.  As for the real enemy of the Tea Party - its Obama.  Its not because of what he has done or even what he will do, but who and what he is..  Anyone who does not recognize this is trying to play nice with scoundrals (some of whom seem to be well paid by the Kochs).

Silk on Neo-Jansenists | National Catholic Reporter

Silk on Neo-Jansenists | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: He means last paragraph.  On abortion, I suspect neither Francis nor the USCCB have been really well briefed on Roe, however this Jesuit Pope understands that fighting inequality is the way to drastically cut down on abortion in a way that a justice based criminal solution will not.  As for same sex marriage, Silk (and Francis) are simply wrong and it will likely be performed in Catholic parishes before the century is out. Other than that, I do like the comparison between the old and new Jansenists.  I am sure some of them still don't like most Jesuits, especially the younger ones.

Happy Feast of St. Joseph, the Worker | National Catholic Reporter

Happy Feast of St. Joseph, the Worker | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The Catholic Church as an interesting history of jumping on other people's holidays and Catholicizing them.  May Day is one of those.  Not all socialists are Stalinists - indeed most of us are democratic socialists or (gasp) libertarian socialists - even Catholic libertarian socialists. While Marx was both Jewish and atheistic and there are plenty of secularists in the socialist movement, we all seem to get along and respect eachother's work (which is the essence of libertarianism, by the way - it is not heresy).  Of course libertarianism believes that simply repealing Roe v. Wade is a bad idea (although I also know many pro-life libertarians - including Ron Paul).  Socialists would fund abortions, but they would also fund or require the funding of a family wage.  Along with the Church, we helped put forward Social Security - and then some.  The then some is what got the rich to go along with FDR so Social Security could pass.  While the Church helped lead, no one was exactly afraid of a Church backed revolution in 1932.  They were afraid of the Socialist movement.  Workers won't succeed until they are afraid again - although this time we should not stop at simply scaring the wealthy into moderate reform.

Ginsburg & the Gospel | National Catholic Reporter

Ginsburg & the Gospel | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: It really is a no brainer and was likely based on the law as well as principles that put the federal government in the center of such interstate issues.  I am disappointed this was not unanimous but I can bet who voted no.  Bravo to Justice Ginsburg on her quote.  Either she is a scripture scholar or she has a clerk who is (or a really good quote program).  It is ironic that it applies both to the wind and to the challenge of getting environmental regulation enacted.

Conservative Fears of Francis | National Catholic Reporter

Conservative Fears of Francis | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: They are only in angst because Francis walks the talk and expects his bishops to do the same.  That really makes donations hard to justify for the rich, some of whom give to buy their way into Heaven without first making things write with their workers.  A little voluntary charity on the Lenten Appeal is much easier to swallow than higher wages or higher taxes.  I would hope that the Francis effect also includes more Catholic adult education and vocational education.  Raising the skills of the poor means that they cannot be exploited - which to the rich is the harshest cut of all.

Donald Sterling: The Punishment Fits the Crime | National Catholic Reporter

Donald Sterling: The Punishment Fits the Crime | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Before this week, I had never heard of Donald Sterling.  After this week, I would like to never hear from him again.  I suspect his chief function was to take the Malaysian Air story off the front page.  Probably a good thing.



It seems that the young lady is not necessarily his mistress (according to her statement) and did not make the tape and share it with the world.  No matter who did it, he's been Romneyed (remember the 47 percent talk from last year) Of course, whatever her status, Sterling treated her like property and he deserves to be topled for treating her and those she would invite, badly.



Just to be clear - the proposal is to make him sell his team.  In this case, the other owners will likely go along or something will be worked out for him to quietly sell and go away.  That would be nice.  Too bad he can't be forced to sell it to the players union (and the other owners as well).  Maybe the new ownership group will eventually be friendly to such a step, also giving the city and county of Los Angeles a piece of the action.