Happy Feast Day to Me! | National Catholic Reporter

Happy Feast Day to Me! | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: You mean Happy Feast Day to Us!  You are not the only Michael in the Catholic Church or even on your own blog.  Still, I was looking for a venue to post our Feast Day and this post provides it.  I celebrated with angel cake and peach ice cream (with a few Giradeli dark chocolate squares). I was going to celebrate with my daughter, but her mother begged off of her evening activity, so it was me and the gang from the Big Bang Theory.

Need a Laugh? Check out 'Gloria TV' | National Catholic Reporter

Need a Laugh? Check out 'Gloria TV' | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Not funny, sad, and a bit icky.  More Catholicism as a practice in partisanship from Opus Dei. The leadership of ISIL cannot compete. Where are the sociologists on their sacred quest when you need them?

The Next Big Fight in Education | National Catholic Reporter

The Next Big Fight in Education | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: For a New Republic piece, it is not so pernicious, although it is still very POV sensitive.  I love that the College Board has found away around the power of the Texas State School Board, who has moved several curricula to the right and almost away from the truth.  They can do nothing about the AP test, which is not really about advanced placement - its about advanced college credits (I wish they had AP history when I was in school, I could have at least come close to passing the test cold). With college costs as high as they are, a course at a public high school (or even a Catholic one) that yields three credits is magical - the students have every reason to be upset and should have a member on that board to speak to this.

Review: The Sacred Project of American Sociology,' Part III | National Catholic Reporter

Review: The Sacred Project of American Sociology,' Part III | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: MSW reports that modern sociology begins where absolutism ends, taking the mantle of ethics from philosophy departments and taking it into itself.  Of course, the existence of a sociology department did not stop people from taking philosophy classes in my day, some 35 years ago.  I suspect it depends on what is offered and required where one is in school.  I had to take either philosophy or religion courses, and as a pre-law student (or so I thought), I had to take ethics (and accounting - which I have used more).  Of course, before sociology existed, there was anthropology, whose main aim was justifying the mastery of the white race.  Sadly, the review did not mention that fact, and I suspect neither did the book.



The contention that ethics has gone to sociology is partly true - although everyone has some kind of ethical dimension, from religion and philosophy to political science to history to economics. Indeed, if you want to find out about Hume, you can go to most of those departments, since Classical social scientists were considered philosophers first, with the rest following - hence the title doctor of philosophy.  Sociology has the same stable of classical thinkers - and unlike political science - when you publish, statistical regression (or worse) is not required (I hope).  Sociology has sought to study ethical systems - sometimes from the perspective of what is right but more often on who is right and how such systems are developed.  Feminist studies particularly look at the effect of the Patriarchy - especially when looking at religion - particularly Catholicism.  Needless to say, the hierarchy of the Church does not like their gaze - especially on pelvic issues from ordination to the fortnight for freedom on contraceptive mandates.



As I stated in a previous section, one of the most effective tools in sociology and in all the social sciences is the Cultural Theory (Grid/Group) of Mary Douglas and Aaron Wildavsky.  You can use their typology to map out both cultures and points of view in terms of what is proscribed (sacred) and its degree of group cohesion/power.  Indeed, Smith and this book can even be pegged into the theory.  Even religious authors use its tools, especially Elaine Paigels in her Abominations of Leviticus and her recent exploration into the Book of Revelation (turns out that the Pauline Church was the beast - and the beast won).



The state of sociology, and for that matter political science and theology, is due to the need to publish to get tenure - with publication dependent on peer review.  In essence, it is determined by the professors themselves.  While academic freedom exists once one is established, newbies do need to be orthodox for their discipline. Doctoral school is where people are weeded out, not deliberately, but by self-selection in terms of both the methods and ideas of the discipline.  We can wonder whether a paradigm shift is possible.  I believe they most certainly are, but such shifts are not usually led by assistant professors and graduate students.  Undergraduates have a roll to.  If the coursework interests them, they take it.  If not, classes get canceled and  professors must teach during the summer to cover workload requirements.  It seems that the social sciences and academia don't lead the culture so much as reflect it (and their students mostly are marking time as undergraduates with a major they enjoy to give them the highest GPA possible so that they can get that MSW, MBA,. MD or JD).  I left out the math and science students.  They get their jobs, with or without graduate school - and take the social sciences for either an easy A or just to get division requirements met.



So, what about Christian thinking?  As I said, the Church is a human institution which teaches about human conduct (over and above any message of salvation).  Should sociology, including sociology in its sacred project on equality and freedom, study the Church?  Absolutely!  To the extent that the Church is fairly lousy about studying itself, outside prophesy is essential - and probably inspired!  Indeed, that is the question we can ask about sociology that it can't ask for itself - is God working through it?  As a believer, I have to say yes - because God works through everyone, with or without their consent.

Affordable Care Act's anti-abortion rules need to be enforced | National Catholic Reporter

Affordable Care Act's anti-abortion rules need to be enforced | National Catholic Reporter by Fr. Thomas Reese.  MGB: I do hope somebody holds the Department's feet to the fire, although, frankly, the extent to which people will be in exchanges when they were in employer provided insurance is the extent to which this is not an issue (since all, or almost all, employer provided insurance covers abortion - and most don't use the coverage, preferring to keep having this procedure off any insurance record.  It is not hugely expensive unless hospital care is required - and then anyone should cover it because it is probably  a life or death matter.  Still, the bishops were obnoxious in their behavior regarding supporting the GOP in holding up this Law - and downright vengeful against those Sisters that helped it get passed.  So, I will say now what I said then - those of us in the left wing of the Church are going to take a pass on getting excited about this issue.  I know a few members of Congress and the Senate and where their web pages are.  I campaign and have for years, so when I leave a message, someone sees it.  Not on this issue.  Anyone who agrees with me - repost this.  Maybe the bishops will figure out that their hyperpartisanship in our names without our consent matters.

The tattooed feminist Catholic who chooses conscience over catechism | National Catholic Reporter

The tattooed feminist Catholic who chooses conscience over catechism | National Catholic Reporter  Read this now.

Gerson on Resentment & Christianity | National Catholic Reporter

Gerson on Resentment & Christianity | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Michael Gerson favors civility over rear guard action, and Michael Sean Winters think conservative Catholics should try that as well.  Michael Gerard Bindner would even extend that to the Church hierarchy in dealing with gay marriage and different understandings of when Communion can be received.  I also suspect that civility is being encouraged because it forces the left to be civil when we would really like to dance of the graves of the worn out ideas being defeated by those of us who are, as Justice Kennedy names us, moral libertarians.  (did MSW miss that piece without commenting on it).  Its not that we are libertarian as much as egalitarian - that we don't let hierarchs dictate to us (especially when the appear wrong) and actually go out and help those being damaged, like non-evangelicals at the Air Force Academy or women who need contraception though their employers don't want to buy insurance that funds it (even at the same price).  I don't think either side will be listening to Michael Gerson.  (especially when race is in the background, like in voting rights).

Review: 'The Sacred Project of American Sociology' Part II | National Catholic Reporter

Review: 'The Sacred Project of American Sociology' Part II | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: This book is a memoir of a conservative in a liberal field.  His awakening began when he went to the annual convention and noted the language of victimhood with an egalitarian solution (which Douglas and Wildavsky would call fatalism and Coyle and myself would call despotism with a egalitarian solution).  Even the culture studies seemed to him to follow this meme.  Gender studies were also a part.



Reviewed books in their professional journal reinforced this (although I suspect those would be the books on display, ya think?).  In the text, Smith reviews several books according to his personal biases, which seem different from the others in his field, and even those without provocative titles seem to follow the common mold.  ASA annual meetings, of course, follow the same mold ( I would be shocked if they did not).  The text's go there too, including the most common Soc 101 text which starts discussing gender equality (although I suspect it won't in a few years, because gender equality will not be an issue in law - and maybe not even in religion).



Smith also cites Lenore Weisman's seminal study on inequality in divorce (although I would demur, because my income is down and the Mrs.' is doing better - the correct item of the study would be dependent and supporting spouses, but that would not be news).  Smith, however, could not find confirming data.  Of course, if she had used meta-data, it would not have been available in raw form. He still thinks it is fabricated, and seems to mind that with these data, Lenore has been quite successful in changing divorce law to favor women more (of course, this begs the question of why divorce law needed to be changed.)



Smith also talks about a study of children of same sex parents, although MSW leaves us to read the book.  A better contrast would have been comparing same sex and opposite sex parents for both adjustment and sexual copying.  Of course, we have had gays and lesbianns coming out for a long time, the vast majority of whom had straight parents (and rather intolerant ones at that, at least initially).  Indeed, it used to be that Sociology and psychology were in the vanguard of trying to explain gay children - with all sorts of crackpot theories about gay men loving their mothers more than their fathers.  The shoe is simply on the other foot.



More on the Sacred on Monday, although my working hypothesis is that the paradigm that controlled Sociology has changed from one that affirms the thoughts of the majority (slavery was good, white people are superior, homosexuality is a disease) to something more feminist, egalitarian and sympathetic to the victims of society, with Smith suffering culture shock as an academic who believes in individual study, not group paradigms.  I am sure he is alienating his colleagues, although they may take pity on him as a victim - which he would probably hate more than derision or being called a conservative pawn (depending on who published his text).

Canonists and Madmen | National Catholic Reporter

Canonists and Madmen | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I would agree with MSW's priest friend and am not surprised as to why he wants to remain anonymous.  Hopefully the Synod can get beyond the madness.  I wonder if the Group of 8 have any ideas they wish to throw out - possibly even admitting that one party in the marriage may be wrong and should be forgiven and allowed to marry again, while the other only forgiven if the wronged spouse consented AND the underlying deformity was dealt with (like alcoholism or a sex addiction).  I doubt it, it makes to much sense - then again people call me mad! (sometimes continued belief in progress is madness of the highest order).

Flores on Loving the Cross | National Catholic Reporter

Flores on Loving the Cross | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Interesting.  I would say that the Cross is not externally imposed, meaning it is not some evil force out to get us.  It is us, each individually is his own Cross and that the Cross of Christ was not about placating a Father who needed to be satisfied, but instead the vision quest by our divine brother who shows us we can conquer ourselves by following Him, as he followed us onto the cross - which now takes on following his example to be that salvation to others, which even this day in ISIL may mean actually being hung from a tree.

Review: 'The Sacred Project of American Sociology' | National Catholic Reporter

Review: 'The Sacred Project of American Sociology' | National Catholic Reporter This is going to be a fun few days commenting on the review.  My plan is to consolidate this reaction into one commentary in my Examiner column, but it now appears that I have enough for a new piece each day.



Let us begin by saying that sociology is dynamic and began as a justification for African slavery.  We have come a long way baby!  I doubt that many sociologists would listen to the current description of what they are about and react like the committed practitioner to BDSM, who would say, "Yes, so when are you getting to the good parts?" after you list your view of his or her sins. If the goal of either this commentary or the book was to burst someone's consciousness of innocence, I would advise not expecting much.



That the discipline has both individualist and egalitarian streaks shocks no one.  That anyone would expect that this would shock the moral consciousness of those committed to the epistemology of the Catholic hierarchy and its defenders is not really news.  That universe is not all Catholics - many of whom believe Christ to be much more humanistic than his bishops are willing to admit (and I suspect that even some of his priests agree with the sociological mindset).



Do all sociologists have an agenda aside from understanding?  Of course, although Aaron Wildavsky, who shared in the popularization of the Cultural Theory - also known as Grid/Group Theory delivered a series of lectures during his time at The American University called The Rise of Radical Egalitarianism, which later became a book.  I was there for these lectures.  He and I had a running debate on whether his Fatalist way of life might better be called Martyrs (he said Egalitarians would think so, but then I mentioned the Maccabees and he got it).  That cell in the theory is called by others as Despotism, which also fits the typology which also includes Hierarchy, Egalitarianism and Libertarianism/Individualism on two dimensions, group identification and grid or prescription (both too technical).  A better term would be one Smith uses, Sacredness.  Egalitarians and LIbertarians have low sacredness while Despotism and Hierarchy have high Sacredness, where sacredness is not virtue, but the degree to which taboos exist in the culture.



Interestingly, in our doctoral class (in political science and sociology), the feminist members were the least friendly to the theory - and oddly so were the committed Republicans.  It seems that these people believed that individualism and hierarchy should be on the same row or column rather than on an axis going from origin to infinity in both directions - these were the male ways of life, while Despotism and Egalitarian were more feminine. I suspect many of their colleagues would agree, although Mary and Aaron would not be among them - using gender robs the theory of estimating degree, because with exceptions for the transgendered or intersexed, male and female are  mostly dichotomous.



Going back to the Catholic Hierarchy, my guess is that , while they claim hierarchy, some of the orders would claim egalitarianism (especially the Jesuits, including its foremost member), while some bishops could be pegged as Despots rather easily and would have no more compunction about it than our committed perverts would to a listing of their traits or sins.

The Wesolowki Arrest | National Catholic Reporter

The Wesolowki Arrest | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I disagree with it being a mistake.  Senators and Presidents who leave office still bear the title, as does Pope Benedict.  Call him bishop - for his actions were an abuse of his office.  Does this embarrass the Church?  Sure - and it should.  While Pope Francis did the right thing - and quickly (more quickly than some of the old St. John Paul II Curia would have), that action does not remove the stain upon the Church.  They were not his actions, they were ours - at least the omission of looking and reporting.  While I would not give one of the Bernini columns in atonement - there are plenty of large pictures in the Vatican hallways depicting the Holy Family as white northern Italians - which they were not.  Sell them to pay the victims.

The Weird Turns Pro | National Catholic Reporter

The Weird Turns Pro | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Fr. Z is an idiot, as is anyone who does not know who or why Disney photoshopped its Marvel characters with Hello Kitty.  It is breast cancer awareness week (as in save the Ta-tas). Marvel/Disney - and apparently Thor too, are doing their part.  When you watch football this weekend, you will also notice pink shoes on the players.  Fr. Z (or some others) being tone deaf about women's health is, sadly, not news.  If you did not know, your mission this week is to wear pink to Mass.  If you can find a save the Ta-Tas button, wear it.  Now that would be a good liberal Catholic protest, especially given the stupidity around the relationship between Planned Parenthood and Susan B. Colman a few years ago.

The Wrong Meme in Chicago | National Catholic Reporter

The Wrong Meme in Chicago | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I have never really read much of Cardinal George and it pains me that he is withering away with cancer.  Hopefully they can do a gene therapy for his strain so we can keep him around for awhile.  My experience of im has been in homilies he has preached - both at Masses he concelebrated for Catholic Charities USA.  His attachment to this movement - including its relationship with the government - shows me he is no libertarian absolutist.  Indeed, I suspect that certain anti-government bishops on the right hate to think of him as a right winger - and the Ayn Rand Libertarians would blanch at anything he says or does.



He and Bishop Cupich both recently had marriage equality measures in their states, Washington had a ballot initiative and Illinois was in the legislature.  Both fought these and both lost.  As far as I know, both have been gracious in defeat (something some of the bishops could learn from regarding the Affordable Care Act).  Both diocese have conservative and very liberal voices and predecessors, so Bishop Blaise should feel right at home.  Each has ad to to decide whether the office of bishop means pastor or medieval lord.  From what I have seen, both have chosen well - while others choose badly.



Choosing well is what is going to define how a bishop acts in a post-marriage equality world.  If anyone thought the fight for or against marriage ended with legalization, they are not thinking ahead.  The key question any prelate must ask himself is whether God is an ogre who will punish him personally if he reacts pastorally and changes with the times.  The proof that liberal Catholicism is alive and ticking can be found among those who adapt to the change rather than continuing to fight it.

G'town Gives Honorary Degree to Wuerl | National Catholic Reporter

G'town Gives Honorary Degree to Wuerl | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB:  Congratulations to the the Cardinal - although I am wondering why this degree was not presented at commencement in May?  As for the conservative critics - these people hate all things Jesuit, including the Pope.  Someone needs to confess, and its not the Jesuits.

'Let us not complicate life by overexplaining the Gospel' | National Catholic Reporter

'Let us not complicate life by overexplaining the Gospel' | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: While there is something to be said for taking the words at face value and seeing how they speak to you in the now, a little biblical scholarship helps a lot.  For example, on the question of paying taxes to Rome, the money quote was not just what Jesus said, but where he got the coin.  Roman currency (like our own - how deep is that) had the graven image of the emperor (who had divinized himself).  Jews were not supposed to carry such things - they made you unclean and a collaborator. That collaborators were questioning him on this issue is rich - especially as they will deliver him to Pilate in just a few days.

Tracey Rowland to ITC | National Catholic Reporter

Tracey Rowland to ITC | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I wonder what Benedict is saying about this - if anything.  I gather this is a bit of a victory for lay theologians, and particularly non-consecrated female theologians.  I hope this is making the bigots nervous.

The Pew Survey on Religion in Politics | National Catholic Reporter

The Pew Survey on Religion in Politics | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: On who should be the face of the Church?  Actually, it the one person no one talks about here - The Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome.  The New Rome part refers to the conscious decision to move the See of Peter from what was becoming a backwater, Italy.  Francis is our western patriarch, but he is not Peter.  The fact that almost no one knows this history reflects the rest of the survey.  I would have liked Pew to devise measures to sort respondents by political culture along the lines created by Mary Douglas and Aaron Wildavsky.  I bet classifying on Despotism, Egalitarianism, Libertarianism and Hierarchism would be interesting within religions and between them - and then see how they relate to issues (although that may be self-reinforcing, because issue markers are correlated with culture) and who their pastor is.  Of course, you could ask group and rule-adherence based questions to use to classify culture and then measure issues - but I bet the results will be the same.  Sometimes the truth is about more than survey research.

Pope Francis in Albania | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis in Albania | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: This is a good summary and shows that the Pope's remarks were not the condemnation of ISIL that seems to have been reported - more the whole use of war in the name of religion - something the Church itself has had much to atone for.  I would also apply that to some our culture warriors.

Climate March Draws 400k | National Catholic Reporter

Climate March Draws 400k | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I had the opportunity to go, but could not so I could show up for my minimum wage job. I am a member of DC DSA and we had access to buses to go to New York.  I think that happened a lot of places.  Good for us.  On the question of a candidate - its not quite that simple.  We need a coalition - maybe even a party - and I suspect that after the GOP implodes sometime in the next three years, we will get one.  By the way, the whole climate, while important, is also a proxy issue for egalitarianism v. capitalism.  The candidate and coalition who know that and can speak to those issues will go far.

More Thoughts on The Synod | National Catholic Reporter

More Thoughts on The Synod | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Taking points in order - consumerism is good - without it output would be down and workers would be much less comfortable - it is the one thing that keeps workers from a Marxian revolution.  Materialism is the opposite of spirituality and religiosity.  Materialism looks for all truth in this life, not in metaphysics.  This may or may not deny faith, but it assumes that the two reflect each other and that material evidence is sufficient - say in believing that life begins at gastrulation.  Spirituality relies on the beneficence of God - it is a personal philosophy, even for those who are spiritual but not religious (a reference to AA members who practice the 12th step but have not defined a higher power for themselves). Religious is finding truth in the group dynamics of the human organization and its processes in determining truth - often in a hierarchical setting.  It also has very good music.



Second, he talks about marriage and the reaction of a priest to his proposal to separate conversations on the civil and religious components.  I think that what is needed is a longer term analysis of how these two factors relate - including the fact that marriage was entirely civil and then followed by a blessing - and the ridiculous request that the marriage not be compensated until three days after the blessing.  In my view, not MSW's (his reflects current, albeit flawed, teaching in the Church) the Church is wrong now as well - because everything I was taught about the couple ministering the Sacrament to each other (not the priest, he is a witness) and that procreation is not a requirement, only functionality - applies equally to gays.  That some find the functionality sinful in all cases is simply bigotry based on the insane belief that gays are not compelled to be that way.  The spiritual answer to that is that all things are accomplished by God, including people being born gay.  The word for today is Epigenetics.  Its how it happens in the material reality.  There is nothing spiritual about ignoring that, only religious and that ignorance discredits religion.Because of that religiosity, the Church won't support ENDA or allow gay civil marriage (although the latter is a predictable strategy, because the way marriage works traditionally, civil society acts and the Church conforms.  The homophobes know this and don't want to conforms - as it will have the gay seminaries marry each other and the number of priests will seriously diminish (and families of gay marrieds will demand that blessing - and some priests will quietly grant it).  As I've said before, Catholic Hospitals ignoring long time companions as next of kin, deferring instead to families of origin, is why this issue came to the fore in the first place.



Third, the example of the out of town priest is an interesting one.  If he was also out of state, the marriage is illicit (and never invalid - the couple makes it valid) in both canon and civil law.  Fixing the root is OK for the Church, but unless he obtained local credentials, there may need to be a city hall redo.  As for the point about the procedure (whether the pastor can do it with paperwork or a tribunal must review) - its the wrong question.  The question is whether we should not be treating the spouses differently in divorce - with the victim of bad conduct having an easy time remarrying due to such things as adultery, abuse, unrecovered alcoholism or addiction or abandonment (why is it always the As), while the other party must be forgiven by the wronged party to marry again (confession alone just does not cut it without the Penance).  Jesus created an immorality exception, perhaps we should use it.  The problem is religiosity again.  We fought wars with the Anglicans over this issue and I expect that the wars with the Lutherans had marriage as part of it too. Hierarchies hate to admit wrong.



It also seems that a Jesuit named Father Joseph Fessio has gotten a number of Cardinals (probably their staffs) to write chapters countering Cardinal Kasper's book setting the stage for the Synod. Cardinal Pell wrote the introduction and validated what I said about materialism v. spirituality v. religiosity.  He sees these attempts to modernize as loosing the battle between Catholicism and some kind of neo-paganism, which he attributes the desire to change to come from.  Paganism is a loaded word - it is associated with the persecutions of the early Church - which desired offerings to the emperor as a god - which is more despotism than anything else.  Paganism is actually the practice of setting up divine arch-types to better understand human nature.  In essence, its materialism.  Outside of Hinduism and Astrology, there is little practice of arch-types, outside the cult of the Saints, which is new compared to the other two. Still, if you are writing about how to conform marriage to newer understandings of natural law, a little materialism (looking at what is actually happening) is essential.  I think the Jesus of the Gospel would agree and the bishops who do not think so would best hold their tongues.  The issue is not whether the Church can maintain control of old doctrine, but whether anyone will ever care to follow it.  God promised that people will - but only because the Church will do what it always - change and then deny that it has not always been the new way.



From what I understand from comments by folks from Spokane, Bishop Cupich is indeed a culture warrior, at least on gay marriage.  At least, that is the face he showed.  If he had not been, I suspect he would not be going to Chicago.  Still, defends Francis and the One who sent him (the last being most important), even if he does not do the last part perfectly.  He calls these and some others Churchman as if it is a good thing.  It can be, I suppose, if it is a reference to spirituality rather than religiosity.  They are so different.  Those who have religiosity feel that they must defend the Church.  The spiritual don't really feel they have to - that God will and that God can act through them - but in a way that will not stop listening to the promptings of  the Spirit.

Cupich to Chicago: What Does This Mean? | National Catholic Reporter

Cupich to Chicago: What Does This Mean? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: When this story first broke, I posted my happiness with it.  I will now expand.  Bishop Cupich has been out there lately in the media defending Francis and a progressive view point - however he did so not to get noticed, but to say what needed to be said.  It is not that he is allergic to the culture warrior claptrap out of his right wing brothers - I suspect that he simply knows it is a fraud.  How fitting that he will take Bernardin's See, whom first coined the term Seamless Garment of Life (which, make no mistake, had the right wing coin the term Gospel of Life in a move that is entirely P.R.).  Equally refreshing is that this new Archbishop walks how he talks.  Chicago desperately needs that.  Maybe he will find himself a young community organizer to help him.  I know one thing, Catholic Social Services is about to become the largest Health Care Navigator in the USA.  It is good the the Papal Nuncio is paying attention - this pick shows it.  I am sure that has some bishops who indulge in culture war rethinking their options (indeed, they can't be that stupid to ignore this).  One only wonders if someone within the Church (either a bishop or politician) will call out the pro-life movement as an electoral arm of the GOP and a fundraising scam.  With Cupich in Chicago, one can believe that anything is possible.

'Maybe 'tis our brother.' | National Catholic Reporter

'Maybe 'tis our brother.' | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I think if she had ceded Scotland to my uncle James (cousin?), the wars would have continued.  I believe God acted through her to stop the needless bloodshed, which had nothing to do with God and everything to do with the power of bishops.  As I stated in my commentary to MSW's main essay - the fact that the Monarchy and religion were left off the agenda in the separation debate probably robbed the movement of the symbol it needed, although it also stopped a divisive sideshow that would quickly have devolved into a fight over religion.  It is probably a good thing to have avoided.

Gerson on Euthanasia | National Catholic Reporter

Gerson on Euthanasia | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The best line on suicide is that it is a permanent solution to temporary problem.  That mainly has to do with depression. Such depression is often not just a transitory thing - it is often a life-long affliction.  While one hopes that someone stays around to keep the sufferer feeling love, it is an alienating disease.



Depression is not the only reason to suicide.  Even St. Thomas More, in his Utopia, justified euthanasia for the terminally ill.  While there is a great dignity in facing death naturally, a more deliberate route may not be any less dignified.  Relatives supporting such a decision are not discarding their loved one, as can happen in depression, they are likely assisting in mercy.  Of course, depression is sometimes part of it and that is alienating.  In both cases, there is a failure of solidarity - but that is part of death, regardless of how we deny it.



In war, giving ones life - even in suicidal attacks - is considered heroic.  Durkheim, in his piece on suicide, shows that it is culturally bound.  No American soldier who has violated honor or refused to be dishonored by an unlawful order would dream of suicide as a political statement.  Monks in Viet Nam suiciding publicly helped get rid of U.S. backed President Diem (until  we sanctioned his murder).  Samurai are noted for suicide in the face of dishonor.  Suicide is often seen as a final protest at the bad treatment by loved ones.



Gay teens who feel their parents have put theologically based prejudice over love for them often suicide because of both despair and to express their disappointment and hate.  Indeed, it is a particularly nasty statement to make for relatives but it often comes from hurt and the desire to hurt back (and there is no value to the latter).  What was not mentioned is the standard Catholic reason - that God gave you life and only he can take it.  That is the God as Ogre theory and I am pretty sure I don't buy it as anything but a sophistry, however I would condemn it as a final act of hate. It does give one pause, however, that this king of hate may have a legitimate cause, especially for gay kids who should never be given up on by a theology of bigotry.

Sweet Face of Evil at SDSU | National Catholic Reporter

Sweet Face of Evil at SDSU | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It is so extreme, it makes you wonder whether it was scripted.  David has gone form being everyone's consumer advocate to just another GOP talking head.  Sad either way.

The Scottish Vote & Us | National Catholic Reporter

The Scottish Vote & Us | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I am not sure subsidiarity and solidarity have anything to do with us - although oddly subsidiarity won the election, precisely because it sent a message that people wanted it (not because it is a good working principle - remember, Scotland is a mostly Presbyterian and Anglican nation).  It was an attempt at ethnic solidarity (with the exclusion of the English - I don't thing anyone ever considers the Welsh) that makes this a perennial issue - as there is quite a bit of history from before Union - indeed, it goes back to fighting off the Romans and continues to the Scottish wars resisting some of my English ancestors, from Longshanks on down.  When it becomes a matter of family history, it is about the heart and not the head.  The head did win, however - it saw the logic of Union - but no one's heart is in that.



Oddly missing from this discussion was talk of the monarchy, probably because the late Queen Mum was a Scot.  Indeed, had there been disunion, there is an argument to change the House of Windsor to the House of Balmoraugh and find an English king descended from an older line than the House of Orange.  Indeed, there are millions of us with the requisite DNA.  Of course, there is also a group who are matrilinielly descended from the Stuarts and Tudors who could claim that Scottish throne.  The fact that no one was put forward means that the yes forces were not willing to go all the way.  Nothing appeals to the heart like a king.



Does this have anything to do with America?  Not really.  High turnout comes from organization and, well, solidarity - which comes from more choices. In Puerto Rico, which has multi-party democracy and proportional representation, almost everyone votes.  Its not cultural, its structural - and the powers that be behind the parties don't want to share power with real socialists, nor to do they want to give voice to the far right sentiment that is hinted at in the Tea Party.  In many multi-party democracies in Europe and Israel, the ugly voices do get heard and sometimes heeded - although structure has not kept the Tea Party of the Congress or the old one party South segregationists out of control.  That control, however, comes from lower turnout due to voter suppression - even when it is not active the habits of non-voting are hard to break.  This is not a failure of subsidiarity, of course, but of solidarity - as conservatives are willing to do anything to keep power.  Only work will put those excluded into the main stream - only then will those who wish no solidarity with them will be forced to acknowledge through the head what they refuse to accept in their hearts, unlimited solidarity.



Back to Scotland, it is ultimately irrelevant what happened in this vote.  As Dante observed, the best government is a world government - and one that is entirely secular (no wonder they banned his books).  While we certainly can't enfranchise every Chinese voter just yet, or even Israel while it keeps a second class citizenry in their gun sights, we should unite all those nations with a similar commitments to individual economic and political freedom and justice.  Such a Union would make national (now regional) boundaries more fluid, drawing lines by shifting provinces from one region to another and back again.  In such a world, lower England and Wales may be one region and Ireland and Scotland and northern England might be another.  In the US, the same math gives us seven regions - of course the number changes depending on how large the United legislature is.

Tobin on Divorced/Remarried | National Catholic Reporter

Tobin on Divorced/Remarried | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Lets be clear that if they are Catholics, they are saved - especially after Confirmation - which is a choice to complete.  No one is forced to get in that line - and if they are to do so is sinful.  Regardless, Tobin is right about seeking change.  Of course, most divorced and remarried Catholic are already going to Communion someplace, whether in Catholic Church or not is the question.  I still think the problem with this issue is that both parties are seen as equally culpable for the failure of the marriage.  That is simply not true. Sometimes people leave because they are tired of being married and while the other spouse would say that, while things are not ideal, they are acceptable.  Other times, there is either violence or adultery involved.  The spouse who is the victim of these things (and it may be hard to sort out) should be entirely free to divorce (not annul) and remarry - while the person who is at fault should only be allowed to do so upon forgiveness of the spouse (not just the confessional).  Where I am going is this is more complicated than issues of sacramental grace, the debate over which sometimes looks like on on magic.  Its time to get real and take the Communion question off the table.  If someone is going to Communion and they should not be, they will figure it out.

Congress, Obama and ISIS | National Catholic Reporter

Congress, Obama and ISIS | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: While American public opinion is important, it is not vital to the boots on the ground decision.  What distinguishes good revolutions from bad ones (in terms of success) is whether the revolutionaries have put themselves on the line rather than depending on a colonial power (like America).  While we helped the Libyans, they did the work and may have a chance (it takes years to know).  We helped Iraq too much, and they folded in front of an advancing ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant).



On the should haves - should we have armed the revolutionaries two years ago?  No - as those who would be ISIS were in the coalition.  What really caused ISIL was Rumsfeld directing the deBaathification of Iraq and the continued disbanding of the Iraqi army.  Some of those folks now fight for ISIL - its why their winning.  Of course, there are enough non-Wahabi's in that sector of the world to revolt in the same way the Sunni tribes revolted just as we had at troop surge (the revolt mattered more).  It will happen again.  If we really want to kill ISIL, we need to get hard core with the Saudis and their funding of Wahabiism - I suspect it is the Saudi king who really wants to be named Caliph.  While we cannot establish the other King Abdullah - the one from Jordan - as Caliph, I would hope someone should.  If was seen to have the authority to clean up this mess, and a few clandestine arms from the DoD, we could quickly resolve this and put the Saudi throne in its place (or bomb it).

Dolan Backs People's Climate March | National Catholic Reporter

Dolan Backs People's Climate March | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I suspect this is part of the New Evangelization.  Its a good idea, although I suspect that there have been angry phone calls from the usual suspects (Burke, Chaput, Lori, Rigali, etc).  Hopefully O'Malley gives him an attaboy.  Of course, O'Malley may have made it clear that such events are of interest to the Holy Father.  That kind of thing gets conservatives in line.  Of course, cynicism aside, he may just be a greeny. Benedict is.

Pope Francis and Labor | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis and Labor | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This Pope believes in the right to a job - and one that pays decently.  An example of where charity means love, not alms.  Treating workers like chattel for economic justification is just one stop above slavery.  Indeed, it is the kind of slavery contract you find in the Bible (only for Jews, captured soldiers could still be chattel).

Cardinal Burke, Sandro Magister & Me | National Catholic Reporter

Cardinal Burke, Sandro Magister & Me | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Whether or not it is nice to be noticed depends on who notices you.  I suspect that Sandro noticed MSW because a source mentioned him to her.  Was it Burke, who holds a grudge, or another bishop who reads NCR.  It could be John Allen's parting shot to a colleague.  I have a feeling that MSW's life will get a bit interesting depending on who leaked his name.  On the topic, sadly, Burke is being demoted, not retired. You can't have everything.

The Many Flavors of Political Corruption | National Catholic Reporter

The Many Flavors of Political Corruption | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Lets just not let the corruption in Virginia, where I live, slide by without mentioning that it stems from the worst kind of entitlement.  The same kind of entitlement is what we see at FoxNews in its ability to make up stories to stoke the fires of intolerance in its own base - as if that were needed at all - and of course to make money by doing so.  Interestingly enough, FoxNews news is partially owned by a Saudi Prince, whom I would guess is probably of the Wahabi branch of Islam that funds ISIS from the Saudi throne.  Talking about conflicts of interest!



The abortion funding issue is probably just sloppiness. In truth, most of the policies available with tax subsidies to employers before the ACA covered abortion as an included benefit.  Did the Bishops lie when they said that the status quo on abortion coverage was acceptable (until the GOP in the National Right to Life Committee had them get in line?).  There is corruption on this issue, but its not where you think.  In truth, abortions are cheap and so is the coverage.  Indeed, most with coverage keep them off the books because many find this procedure shameful - even as they use it.  Additionally, all coverage must include therapeutic abortions to clear a miscarriage - which some in the pro-life community mistake for a sin.  In truth, the percentage of funding of abortion by any single policy is so minute as to be morally inconsequential - so much so that we are not morally obligated to deny ourselves coverage because it is offered (reread Fagothy if you doubt this).  What is also true is that the bishops, and later the Susan B. Anthony Fund, so politicized this issue - joining opposing the bill and even making reprisals against consecrated sisters that many of us feel absolutely no obligation to help with the current non-problem at all - even though we like O'Malley.

'Immigrant Labor, Immigrant Rights' | National Catholic Reporter

'Immigrant Labor, Immigrant Rights' | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The language of rights is not out of order in Catholic thought, unless you want a large Church hierarchy ruling on individual immigration and labor actions.  Without it, workers (domestic and immigrant alike) are victims of not only the unfree market for labor within global capitalism, but have no rights to counter those who would exploit them (think right to work).  If all workers have a right to be here, no immigration reform is necessary.  Sadly, they don't, but when they are here there should be certain rights and protections, including health care, a fair wage that does not consider their status, joining a union (there is your solidarity), a safe workplace and the right to avoid deportation through being advised that if they are smuggled in and sold to a factory or farm, they have been trafficked and have a right to stay.

Cardinal Pell rules out change on Communion for divorced, remarried | National Catholic Reporter

Cardinal Pell rules out change on Communion for divorced, remarried | National Catholic Reporter MGB: Since the Cardinal is not the Holy Father and is only one of many bishops present, he has exactly one opinion, professional or not, and contrary to his own opinion of himself, it is not controlling. Not only that, but all the faithful are equally qualified to have an opinion on these matters (the downside for the hierarchy of a Catholic university educated laity) and ultimately their opinion is closer to the voice of God.

'Crux' Launched with Panel on Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter

'Crux' Launched with Panel on Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB:  I would have liked to have seen Fr. Bryan Hehir on the panel, although I suspect that he may be helping the Cardinal with this and the Gang of Eight, so his actual presence may be redundant.  That, and you never appear publicly with the boss (the Church is still a hierarchy - if only it were a hehirarchy).  This should be the internet version of Theology on Tap. Let's hope it is replicated the same way - although giving Chaput such an platform sounds bad when you think about it - unless he has to deal with angry callers, then its justice. Its amazing how the best bishops, like Cardinal O'Malley and Cardinal Bernardin deal with the worst issues intelligently and justly - while the ideologues seem to muck it up.

Three Bishops Doing Their Job | National Catholic Reporter

Three Bishops Doing Their Job | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Bridgeport is interesting, because the prior Ordinary was then Bishop Lori, who rumor has it was to have been given Law's See - and certainly has never shied away form publicity and politics. Its good to see a pastor as pastor (which is a better translation of Overseer in the Bible than Bishop). Indeed, all three are pastors. That Wuerl emphasized charity is no accident. He presides over one of the most active Catholic Charities organizations in the nation - and has wisely not messed with it much - although not covering spouses was uncalled for - so he has not shied away entirely from culture wars. Spokane is known for its humble church. I know the prior Ordinary, who was involved with Catholic Charities at the national level and he had followed the example to live simply.



Still, I wonder how these events would have gone if parishes had both a pastor and a lay deacon administrator - both of whom hired by the laity? If both of these were part of a diocesan council meeting on a permanent basis and electing the bishop when needed (and firing him or her as well) without approval by the Holy See or the Patriarch, how would this effect ministry in each diocese and the Church as a whole. I bet some of the lingering pelvic questions, including ordination, would be settled both quickly and differently.

Francis and Sin | National Catholic Reporter

Francis and Sin | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The whole offense of the world paradigm really needs to go away.  Who is the world offending?  God is above being offended because he is absolute happiness and love.  Do we offend the natural order?  Its a sophistry. It does not exist.  Must be, then, that we offend ourselves.  There are two ways out and we must do them both.  One is to accept the brotherhood of Christ, who suffered pain and anguish on the cross in order to experience what that sinfulness of man feels like.  The other is to forgive others as we are forgiven (without merit).  THAT is what Francis is talking about.  I hope the Liturgy Congregation takes the hint and redoes that prayer.

Middle Class Ennui | National Catholic Reporter

Middle Class Ennui | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Poverty is interesting.  While my wife was in our household, our net worth, including retirement assets, is quite high.  Now that its just me, wages and net worth are nothing - however I have the tools and ability to have it not stay that way.  Indeed, should I find myself back in federal service, my net worth including pension rights will be huge, provided I save.  Of course, if I were to adjudicated as disabled, I would get a rather high end payment, even with no net worth.  What we need to pay attention to are those who can't cycle through poverty like I have and will again.  Such poverty is multi-generational and corresponds to multi-generational dependency and illiteracy.  Both of these can be fixed - as long as we are willing to spend the money and as long as we expand the role of the Church in providing this education (with pay for attending), but with tax money.

MSW's Vacation Log | National Catholic Reporter

MSW's Vacation Log | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: A delightful travelogue from what sounds like a great pilgrimage.  Not only do I need to get back to Europe, but I need to also get in touch with our mutual acquaintance, General Clark, whose campaign I worked on in 2004 on primary day.  I campaigned with my 6 month old attached in a baby bjorn and once showed Wes a picture of his youngest campaigner.  He was delighted.

Catholicism and libertarianism clash over property and the common good | National Catholic Reporter

Catholicism and libertarianism clash over property and the common good | National Catholic Reporter Earlier I mentioned Henry George, who is not considered the father of the Geo-Libertarian movement. An interesting piece is in response to Rerum Novarum by Leo XIII called The Condition of Labor. Seehttp://www.wealthandwant.com/H... I'm not sure if this is the cause of or the response to the Vatican's condemnation of George's positions. Read for yourself. (including you, MSW).

Catholicism and libertarianism clash over property and the common good | National Catholic Reporter

Catholicism and libertarianism clash over property and the common good | National Catholic Reporter by Elizabeth Stoker Bruenig.  MGB: Mrs. Stoker Bruenig has probably picked the nuttiest libertarian of them all, Murray Rothbard, who speaks as much to attract Southern white voters has he does for the cause of liberty.  His rants tend to border close enough to racism to cross the line, including the one cited.  I am surpised he has not tried to justify people as property in some situations.  That is, in effect, what unfettered Capitalism does - although libertarians will say that if you don't like the boss or the wage, you are free to leave (which is not always the case in a bad economy - like this one).



As for the nature of libertarianism, I covered that yesterday - and it is not as insidious as ESB imagines.  Indeed, it is hardly monolithic.  For example, libertarian socialists are not like Rothbardian (and Ron Paul) libertarians - not at all.  Sometimes, we are not even like ourselves.  Some are out and out anarchists and they want it now.  Other Libertarian Socialists are gradulatists - with anarchy as our goal but also justice.  Human beings are not property - they mutually own everything - esepecially in a libertarian socialist setting, like a cooperative (though probably not a monestary - which is hierarchial or even despotic - depending on the Abbot).  Still, a libertarian society can work with the Church and other institutions to provide alternatives to government - like funding Catholic Charities for adopton services - which the government already does with tax money - we would simply pay Charities directly.  Indeed, a little imagination will show how all social services and education can be non-public - and still funded, but freely (at least as far as who gets funded).



Now, that brings up a point.  Most libertarians don't believe in a sense of obligation - especially if it is a mandatory levy backed up by the violence of the state.  Of course, paying the dinner check is mandatory as well (or paying when you buy food).  Either way, you leave without paying, the force of the state will not only make you pay, but will take your freedom for some amount of time.  Seen this way, dine and dash fiscal policy is not an option.



There is another type of libertarianism (indeed, many more - we are not monolithic - which makes our debates fun and sometimes bloodsport).  That is Geo-libertarianism, with the Geo having two meanings.  One is environmental - that it is concerned with the commons, including pollution and how the proceeds of wealth extraction are shared.  Indeed, they claim that all land is commonly held, cannot be added to (of course, reclamation can - look at how Manhatten was made bigger) and every person owns ever parcel.  The other Geo is George, as in Congressman Henry George, who proposed many things, wrote against how Irish tenants were being treated and chiefly is associated with charging a Land Value Tax on 100% of the value each year.  This would shake loose idle land and fund a citizens dividend for each person. (some people now talk of a global LVT and dividend).  George did not reject private property as much as private land ownership.  For this, he was condemned by the Church - which is ironic given ESB's article.  Otherwise, he would fit pefectly well with the other third way thinkers (like the Kelsonians, who are fairlly libertarian too, and Major Douglas and the libertarian socialists).



My point, which applies to much of this week's articles, is that Libertarianism is not just one thing (like socialism is not one thing).  Instead of cherry picking for libertarian philosophies to disagree with - maybe it is time to see if there are any which are affirming - or which challenge the Church to treat its people like adults when it comes to natural law reasoning. THAT seems to be one of the big fears the hierarchy has over how libertarians role.  They should be afraid, because we have a valid point about human dignity in relation to the Church.  It would be nice if the egalitarian Church, like Millenium and MSW, would resist the urge to attack the economics of some libertarians and listen to why we object to some of what the hierarchy says (indeed, there is a Christian Libertarian group that believes in now law but the Bible and no enforcement but God's justice - a view I do not endorse, but I do endorse the libertarian view of how Christians should think and be governed (and that is not by the hierarchy).

The enduring lesson of 9/11: We are one human family | National Catholic Reporter

The enduring lesson of 9/11: We are one human family | National Catholic Reporter by Sarah Christian.  MGB: We do all find solidarity with the refugees, whether they flee Darfur or ISIL.  Moral solidarity, however, is not enough.  Some of these atrocities are our own doing.  Rawanda was easy to ignore because, until this administration, we ignored Africa - mostly in the wake of Somalia.  When it was colonial, it was the problem of others (the same for the Middle East).  Then all of these fights were part of a geopolitical war with the Soviets.  The African countries who embraced Marx were bad, the white countries were good.  Egypt became good when it made peace with Israel, because there is a great deal of solidary with Israel and enmity to those who are its enemies.  Of course, access to resources, whether oil in Saudi and Iraq, or bananas in Mesoamerica was our other guide - and when friendly governments abused their people, it often went unnoticed.  Salvador was news, Gutemala was not.  As long as we put the interests of capital ahead of human rights, the latter will be an after throught unless the cameras notice - of course the Internet has changed that and the political system just cannot cope with that much truth.



So the question reamins what to do next.  Doing something about capitalism here would be a good first start, say by converting to wider employee-ownership - especially of multinationals and firms with a multinational footprint.  Then our ideas of solidarity and equality spread to first those factories and then the countries they reside in.  Of course, that just lays the ground work.  Next, rather than seeking to impose an international regime of our desire all at once, we start by regionalizing at home (say seven regions, each with a regional VP , court of appeals and legislature) and then admit other nations as regions - some of our allies will also regionalize (like France), while others will combine to form a region.  Tyranny is harder if the government is the right size.  No one is admitted who does not have the same basic commitment to human rights and the rule of law and the larger union would see to policing each member (including our regions) on their human rights performance.



Some nations won't go in for a while.  Israel needs to solve its issues with its Muslim citizens and the larger Union should cut it off until it does.  War must be a more frequent option, I am afraid.  Bush thought he was checking of on overthrowing a tyrant - but for Cheney the Iraq war as about oil.  Military action is Sudan, however should be massive and stealthy so the rapists of Darfur are captured and submitted to justice.  The Wahabi scourge is problematic because we ignore Saudi support of it.  Frankly, the Saudi's need an organic women's revolt and a sexual revolution.  The terrorists of 9/11 have mastered the sexual repression the Church has tried to instill in its youth.  A little free love and female equality would have stopped them from buying the insane argument that terrorism is rewarded with compliant virgins in the afterlife. If they had solidarity with their victims, this would have been just another day.

Solidarity is our word: My humanity is bound up in yours | National Catholic Reporter

Solidarity is our word: My humanity is bound up in yours | National Catholic Reporter by Meaghan Clark.  MGB: Actually, as I remember my Philosophy 101 course and my Ethics Course - both at Catholic College - freedom (or its illusion - and all is illusion) exists because only the perfect is absolutely attractive - the intellect in this life offers the will lesser goods - and not always the one another would chose.  As I remember by doctoral class in cultural theory - individualism, now called libertarianism by leaders in the theory is a mixture of low group and low rule behavior. For those of us who are at least part libertarian, that means that people can't force us to do things - we can choose other goods and decide what to do with them. Catholic doctrine is the opposite on both dimensions, high group and high rule. Pray, pay and obey.  No abortions and pay your taxes to support the poor.  Egalitarianism, where the author seems to want to be, is a bit between the two (and where many think Christ is).  High group and low rules.  And unless there is a charastmatic leader, like Christ, really efficient decision-making.  Charity exists here and is freely chosen.  You will find socialism here.  (just to fill out the box, low group and high rule is Despotism - where you will find many bishops).  Where to go from here?  Realize that all four ways of life exist and may be valid they're setting - but probably combinations of two or thre are best.  I personally like libertarian socialism, as my readers will attest to.

Obama puts politics ahead of country in latest immigration overhaul delay | National Catholic Reporter

Obama puts politics ahead of country in latest immigration overhaul delay | National Catholic Reporter by Christopher Hale.  MGB:  He is playing politics, although he does not have to.  Anyone who doesn't vote for a Senator because of immigration won't care about the Obama effect. That is also true in the House.  In the war on women, the victories came when idiots like Todd Aiken took it up a notch, following the bishops instead of common sense.  Frankly, not passing the Senate bill would be a good thing (as would not putting parts of it in adminstratively).  It is much too punitive.  If we really wanted to stop immigration, we would repeal right to work laws (impossible with this House) and end all immigration restrictions on working. Then, immigrants would only come in for real jobs, would not be exploitable in those jobs and would get no jobs if the employer simply wanted employees to abuse. Even if we don't go that far, penalties need to be pared back significantly.  No misdomeenor should cost as much in fines and inconvenience as this bill does - and drop the punitive background checks as well.  This is what we should be working there - not validating the political experiment in the Senate bill - designed to embarrass the House for taking no action on a bill they mostly favor - mostly because Obama favors it.

Why Pope Francis' 10 keys to happiness explain his popularity | National Catholic Reporter

Why Pope Francis' 10 keys to happiness explain his popularity | National Catholic Reporter by Robert Christian.  MGB: The list makes it seem like Francis is more the CEO or Hallmark or AA than the Pope - except that he walks the walk.  That is what makes him utterly dangerous to those who don't and do not even want to.

Synod on the Family, Part IV | National Catholic Reporter

Synod on the Family, Part IV | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: MSW starts by saying that the focus should not be on the second marriage and its status, but on the failed first marriage. I agree and that is what annullments do and what justifiable divorce should do, as I explained in my remarks on part iii.  Briefly, there are some reasons where ending the marriage, rather than explaining away its validity, are a matter of simple justice, being cheated on, being beaten, suffering an active drunk, etc.  The offended party should have all rights to remarry or forgive and the offending spouse should be at their mercy - and not able to marry again unless forgiven. The law may recognize no fault divorce, the Church should not.



Second, he talks about the promises of marriage and how divorce breaks them (rather than the second marriage).  He mentions the openess to children in reference to gay marriage - but frankly many gay families have children - either because of science, divorce or inheritance from a dead sibling.  Dealing with divorce rationally honors the safety of all children of divorce, born or inherited.



Third, he talks about the validity, rather than legitimacy, of both Catholic and Protestant marriages and how that doctrine evolved.  Without saying that natural marriage points to sacramental marriage, as some do, it should be recognized that the couple makes the marriage - not the Priest - which argues for accepting non-Christian marriages as both licit and valid - or those with no minister at all (like in Pennsylvania). My guess is that all the discussion has to do with the Chruch maintaining a monopoly it was never meant to have.  MSW raises the question of a woman married as a Baptist who wanted to covert after her divorce from a violent spouse.  Rather then get technical about where the marriage occurred, we should admit that divorce for abuse is probably a good call and should be respected.  She was victimized once, lets not victimize her again.



Fourth, he talks about the current tribunal system and its assumption that the marriage is valid until proven otherwise.  He suggests that the failure of the marriage is evidence of its invalidity - which could be true.  This proposal looks to me like wondering how many angels can dance on the head of a pin (the answer is five, by the way).  If the Church is out to validate Gospel passages (who says Catholics don't proof text!), it should consider that Jesus made an exception for immorality in allowing divorce.  That term may have had a narrow meaning in ancient times - but it can be broadened to account for the fact that wives are no longer property (actually a recent development - and not yet achieved in states with covenenture).  Again, see my comments above.  



He also talks about the insensitivity of those opposing reform.  I suspect it is not insensitivity but fear of offending God by teaching error - of course their conception of God looks more like an ogre than Jesus. Destroying the arguments of the ogre worshipers should be the priority at these Synods.  We hope Francis is open to that.



This is doubly so on the issue of when one can and cannot take Communion.  The Eucharist should not ever be used as the carrot to get people into Confession frequently.  If Confession is the problem, using the Eucharist as a weapon won't solve it. It certainly won't solve domestic difficulties either.



MSW suggests that we treat the failure of marriage as a sin, with a penitential focus in the rite for second marriages (as the Orthodox do). Again, I strongly disagree.  Unless there really is no fault in the divorce, there are often times where someone sinned grievously against the other spouse.  The spouse who was a victim should not be victimized again in contracting a new sacramental marriage.  The one who did the harm that led to the divorce should have to repent - but not in the secrecy of confession - and until there is adequate change, the baptismal record should indicate the person is not allowed to marry in the Church.



He concludes that hopefully the Spirit will guide the Synod Fathers and that they pray for guidance.  I hope so too, but that will take real conversion - especially by those who are certain that the status quo is correct (or who would go further into the past that never was.  Let us hope to be amazed.

Synod on the Family, Part III | National Catholic Reporter

Synod on the Family, Part III | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Cardinal Kasper's closing with the assumption that we are not looking to revise truth but to see if prior teaching can be understood differrently is a bit of a cop-out.  So is the comment that God must be faithful to himself - but he is merciful so nothing is impossible.  I don't really agree with either statement.  On the contrarcy, God does not have the Church propound morality for His sake (to use the convention - although the proper gender for Spirit is feminine) - but for ours.  God is perfect on His own and we cannot add to or subtract from that perfection.  When a Cardinal talks about ever changing doctrine - it is clerical hubris.  They can, in fact, be wrong (which opens the door for real change - although a changing Curia may be too much miracle to expect).  The faithful are making their changes without permission anyway.  The Church must admit error and catch up.



Kasper talks of the diginity of the human person regarding their marriage vows, which should not be thrown away.  I totally agree, but some spouses do not - like mine.  I suspect the marriage investigation should inquire as the the state of the marriage of the parents and their attitude on these vows.  Of course, most people getting married are in the "in love" zone where even if they know that the child of a divorced person will likely leave eventually (indeed, with that divorced parent's urging), the message will likely not land and the Church will likely give a dispensation if such an impediment were formalized. In short, the dignity of the human person is served by realizing that couples in love don't really deal well with impediments except to get through them.  Some people stay in a marriage because of their vows - I would like to see how that would work in my cases - but it does not dignify the other spouse to keep them in a marriage that makes them miserable - due to how each has grown or whether time has revealed even more serious problems that make the union untenable.



Kasper talks about the annullment investigation by the pastor and review by a tribunal (which is documentary, not personal).  Not sure this matters because most people don't care for the annullment process unless they are remarrying.  The solution is usually to marry a non-Catholic in their Church and come back later to get the marriage blessed - a common practice - more common than the Church admits.  He also raises the question of denying communion to the remarried.  He suggests penitence.  I suggest this is non-sense.  The central Sacrament of the Church is the Eucharist and aside from disobeying Canons on remarriage without going to the trouble of annullment first, I would say it depends.  If the person caused the marriage to be ended by addiction (including alcohol), violence, adultery (not virtual, but real) sexual confuson (being in the closet) or something that is equally serious - that person should never be allowed to be married in the Church again - unless some form of treatment is both undertaken, successful and ongoing (AA, SA, etc).  For the victim, however, there is not sin.  They should have the option to remarry at their option.  The should be able to forgive their spouse and take them back, release them to marry again as well or refuse to forgive them and let their further impediment stand.  Now that would be bold.



MSW throws in the question of dispensing priests from their vows and the injustice of not allowing this for married couples.  I agree, as previously explained.  To continue, Kasper also addresses the question of whether Communion must be avoided at all.  It is a good question because none of us is really worthy.  If the purpose of the Communion doctrine was mainly to get people into Confession and to punish those who don't, then it is definitely time to change what is a current practice.  The practice in the early Church was peer confession of some sins that are now considered mortal - and the concept of mortal sin has largely gone out of the conversation of most Catholics - and comes close to self-involvement when it does.



As one would expect, Kasper and his approach to Mercy has come under some attack.  First among the attackers is Cardinal Burke.  Of course, anything Ray Burke says, I find the opposite to be true.  He is a partisan conservative of the worst kind - both politically and ecclesially.  A group of Dominicans also objected, partially on the grounds that Mercy is not a get out of sin free card - and MSW also states that living by the Gospel can be hard.  My response is that no it is not.  It is designed to make life better and more livable and if the Church has added non-sense that makes it harder (like calling gays obejctively disorder - and they are not), then it is the Church teaching that must fall.  Indeed, the Gospel is about the Passion of Christ and His feeling of being abandonned by God (both in his divinity when he must abandon his mother through his death and his mission when John is told to take care of her) - a feeling we share as part of our humanity -allowing us to join him in his victory over not only death, but also despair (as he drank the wine on the Cross before dying - and died whole - not cursed).



The Dominicans, unfortunately, call civil marraige adultery (although the Lord does use that language for any second marriage - although he also makes exceptions for "immorality."  I suspect that they are unaware that many second marriages are not civil - and the nature of a marriage is not diminished by it being civil - depending - of course - on the understanding of the parties who make the marriage.  They also do the man and woman complimentary thing, which sounds like they are making a GOP plug.  Of course, once the Church faces the reality of gay marriage, the issues of annulment, forgiveness and remarriage will have to be dealt with in that context - likely why the Bishops want to avoid it besides a stilted view of homosexuality.  Pastorally, these issues should be dealt with both ways - like when someone from a gay married couple wants to marry somone heterosexually (which the Church now undoubtedly approves of - ignoring the feelings of the jilted partner) or when it happens the other way (although if someone is gay and marries an opposite sex partner and cannot fully give themselves - it is more reason for divorce and remarriage).    They also go after the Anglicans and equate their relaxation on sexual issues with their smaller attendance.  I would disagree, many of them join the Catholic Church because they are biggoted against women priests.  The not of caution is that some will leave the Catholic Church and join the Anglican Communion if the Bishops make things worse and not better.



The objections of Burke and the Dominicans rest on Scripture (its also where they trash gay marriage).  They get it wrong.  Marriage makes couples one flesh - as much in the law as in the marriage bed.  Jesus emphasized that when one left home and became one flesh with another, that they leave their family of origin.  That is important because marriages, and presumably remarriages were arranged by families - so if someone decides they don't like their son-in-law they would arrange a divorce and marry the girl off to someone else.  In this case, it is the family that adulterates the marriage that sins.  I know that one well, as my in-laws, for some reason, don't want to see me - but I can guess why.  Has someone besides my wife sinned against me (just because I have a diagnosis of mental illness)?  I suspect so.  I wonder if this will be discussed in Rome?

RC Schools and Social Capital | National Catholic Reporter

RC Schools and Social Capital | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: If you are free that Wednesday nite, it might be worth a look.  Here are my comments from MSW's review of  that book:



If they are arguing for school vouchers than in the end it is a political analysis aimed at teachers - the kind of garbage one expects from the Heritage Foundation or the Manhatten Institute. While they talk about Charter conversion not being adequate to stop social pathology, I don't see that they have tested it by looking at the Charter conversion in Washington, DC - which also had a temporary school voucher program for comparison purposes. Chicago might not have been the best test case.



The fact also remains that schools are closed when parishes are no longer vibrant - mostly because the families have moved away. The pathologies may very well be because of white flight - which is not just a phenomenon of the sixties. While some diocese have kept schools open or made them charter schools when the parish community leaves (Washington, DC), Chicago clearly has not. It might also be that the parish has become Latino and the immigrant families simply cannot afford tuition and the pathology is from the influx of poorer people - since it is really poverty, not race, that causes crime (or opportunity - Capone was an Italian Catholic, Mayer Lansky was Jewish but both were crooks who tapped on the immigrant community for foot solidiers. It may be that ending the drug war is the answer to ending pathologies in the neighborhood - including the police war against black men - which leaves their families rudderless. Some alternative titles could have been "Lost Fathers, Lost Community", "Lost Middle Class, Lost Community" or the very un-PC "Lost White People, Lost Community."

Prayers for Peace | National Catholic Reporter

Prayers for Peace | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The main value of prayer is when we ask for guidance on the next action and the strength to do what required.  God's will happens anyway (and it is hubris to think we can change that).  The question is whether we can change ourselves.  Praying that Assad or Obama do what we want is useless unless they are joining our prayer (eithr way, thos prayers are politics, not of the spirit).  Still, the words may be stirring and an intersting listen.  I know they pray for peace, but justice might be the better request.

Say It Isn't So - Chicago Edition | National Catholic Reporter

Say It Isn't So - Chicago Edition | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I'm sure he was put in by request of Cardinal Burke -but Burke is not in the Conference on Bishops any more.  The prospct, of course, is interesting.  Would Olmsted change Chigaco or would Chicago season Olmsted?  I don't think an moralistic lightning rod is what Francis wants for Chicago - and I expect that if they forced a bettr canon lawyer on him (and the current occupant has not been great in this regard), he would simply bring his own.  Cardinal George was no flaming liberal and unless Olmsted is all pro-life all the time, he might not be bad.  It would be nice if Rome began to realize that moving people around the U.S. is a much bigger deal than moving someone from Tuscany to Calabria. My opinion is that someone in the midwest should get the job - maybe Dubuque. Archbishop Jakels is only 60.

Dionne on Market Basket | National Catholic Reporter

Dionne on Market Basket | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I hope at some time the CEO sells the entire company to the employees (or gives it to them) so that they can sellect his successor.  Now THAT would be something to celebrate.  Market Basket may have started as one family owned store.  Now its a major chain and the ownership pool should expand - not through Wall Street but to the workers.

Bring Back the Bureaucrats | National Catholic Reporter

Bring Back the Bureaucrats | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: There are many contractor horror stories - but many of them predated the decline in the federal workforce.   The AEC and now DOE have always been contractor driven, as have defense contracts for developing and buidling airplanes, tanks and dams.  There are problems with this approach, but I can't see having the Air Force build its own planes.  Financially, health care reform was a game changer.  Because it is based on the Federal Employees Health Benefit program, there will be little difference between government and retiree care and what is available in the private market.  Indeed, most government contracts have exceptional care - and not that different from what the Feds get.  FERS has a small pension, a larger savings plan and mostly Social Security.  Ditto for private contractors.  What insourcing will do is bring in more accountability to the work and more rights for the workers (contractor employees can be escorted out for insubordination when insubordination is simply answering a question honestly).  The real difference is that CEOs in contractor firms make lots and lots of money - although there are caps.  Their job is to market their company to do work.  Insourcing eliminates that need.

Synod on the Family, Part II | National Catholic Reporter

Synod on the Family, Part II | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I count only one hot button issue discussed today - homosexuality.  Much of the discussion was about the situation in the United States (and believe me, I have much to say about that).  The fact of the matter is, this is not an American Synod on the Family or even a Euro-American Synod on the Family - this is world-wide and the global south will be there in force (as you would expect with this Pope).  I hope grace touches this body, because gay marriage and acceptance won't have the votes, especially from the Africans who are very Orthodox.  Indeed, one reason to have a more Orthodox organization of the Church is so that every national church can address these issues uniquely rather then relying on Rome or the rest of the world.  That being said, let's get to work (to quote a certain MSNBC Anchor).



What do the bishops fear?  I suspect that they fear that responding to science on homosexuality will be bad PR in the pews.  Even if the European Church and the American Church have less opposition, both the Global South and the abuse survivors (especially the teens which are mostly male) will balk.  That is short sigthted.  If the priest is out and proud, everyone will be looking - its secrecy that breeds abuse. (Abuse of pre-pubescent children seems to know no sexual boundary).



When then Cardinal Ratzinger called homosexuality objectively disordered, he did so because he did not want to yield any ground to the conclusion arising from the science which was proving that gays really are born this way and the new teaching that sex was a gift from God and that it was good, not evil.  Marriage equality seemed to be inevitable - in the Church!  It took the rather icky business of talking about flavors or sex and many tortured metaphors to justify his conclusions - you see some of these in the last ditch court actions to stop marriage equality - they have not worked in any federal court yet.  Of course, he has now put at risk the entire concept of the Natual Order - which is simply a philosophical convenience - mostly to deal with the fact that an all-loving God cannot be hurt by sin - but that his justice requires him to defend the nature he created.  When you look at it this way, it is quite silly.  I don't think the Synod will dump the Natural Order as a sophistry, but if it really wanted to get honest, it would.



I suspect what the bishops fear more is a loss of priests who are gay and potential priests who are gay and trying to pray the gay away with celibacy in a future life as a priest.  They are probably right - because unless they are willing to accept both clerical marriage and gay marriage, the number of priests could really take a hit as gay marriage becomes the norm.  I suspect they also fear that gay priests will gladly bless secular gay weddings, whether the local Ordinary approves or not (and gay bishiops just might approve).



Mostly for the American situation, the facts do not favor opposition to gay weddings or gay marrieds in the Catholic workforce.  The law now considers gays and lesbians a protected class and marriage a right.  You can't deny rights to protected classes - at least not in civil law.  What worries the bishops more n the global north is the that the families of gay Catholics will expect the same level of equality from the Church - and they likely have the donor dollars to make their displeasure known.



Doctrinally, when I had marriage class in Catholic High School and again when preparing for marriage with my wife, we were told that the marriage is made by the couple, not the priest.  The priest is a legal and eccleaial witness (along with a hundred some guests).  We were also taught (and its in the Cathechism) that fecundity is not a requirement for marriage, only potency (the ability to perform sexually).  While some may not like how gay couples perform and may have all sorts of silly metaphors about it, the fact of sex to orgasm is well established.  You can google gay pornography is you have any doubts.



In discussing divorce, Christ quoted Moses (or the authority of Moses - as Genesis was written much later than even the establishment of the Davidic Kingdom) in talking about marriage. While he did mention that it was between a man and a woman (he was not looking to make news) he went on to note that a couples leaves their parents and become one flesh.  That's not just about sex, its about the permanency of marriage as well as how it creates a new family, divorced from both parents.  Gays deserve the same moral right - without it, they are legal infants, subject to the rule of their families origin when in extremis - rather than to their family of choice and love.  The reason Americans are having this conversation is because Catholic hospitals have been really bad at disregarding the natural rights of gay couples in such situations.  If no religious or public hospital had ever denied the rights of long time companions, there would be less of a drive to marriage (although the whole IRS thing and health insurance were rather important as well).



As for the workforce, unless I am missing something, the Catholic Church does not approve of civil heterosexual marriages.  They have strong words for any Catholic kid who wants to go down that route (or us oldsters looking to remarry).  When it comes time to ensure employees with such marriages, however, they smile and give you the requested enrollment form. (I suspect most Catholic organization HR workers would do so anyway).  This being the case, the Church as employer cannot say that it is protecting its workforce policies against sin when it does not do so for homosexual marriage.  The conclusion can only be homophobia - or at least the desire to throw gays under the bus to be philosophically consistent.  As everyone knows, however, constistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.



I don't expect a sexual revolution in the global south - so there is not reason to expect anything positive about this issue - even though all my arguments are correct.  As long as it does not empower the American bishops to double down on stupidity, the Synod can be considered a success for homosexuals.

Catholic for Choice: John Zmirak | National Catholic Reporter

Catholic for Choice: John Zmirak | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Zmirak is simply arguing that the most important issue is abortion and any attempt to distract from it as a poliical absolute (and the reelection of Republicans) is not to be allowed.  Those of us who are third way economists do not need Papal direction to come up with alternatives to atheistic Marxism and exploitive capitalism.  We can do that on our own - although the major contribution of Leo XIII is not baptizing our movement, but treating as an absolute the contention that every worker deserves a just wage, not just a living wage that every worker should get, but one sensitive to family size.  Non-catholic economist Milton Freidman and Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama seem to agree with him in creating and expanding the Child Tax Credit.  Indeed, what Zmirak fears the most is that many Catholics will see that further expansion of this credit - at the cost of tax breaks for the wealthy for mortgage interest and higher taxes - will have pro-life voters in the Democratic column for years to come - regardless of how much White conservative Calvinist Christians believe that families must be held responsible for not gettng abortions and for supporting their families (they suggest abstinence for the married - like that is going to happen).

Kudos to EWTN | National Catholic Reporter

Kudos to EWTN | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Good job EWTN.  I am sure some members of the editorial board were not contacted.

Synod on the Family, Part I | National Catholic Reporter

Synod on the Family, Part I | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It will be an interesting conference if part of it looks at poligamy.  Will they address poliandry as well? What about the concept of group marriage?  Are they open to looking at the good points of all three in western society (economic diversity as a way to fight off poverty)? Will it address the problems with it in primitive cultures (women - or men - are considered chattel - where this is really only one senior wife (although her heart can break if she is treated as a cast-away when old). Aside from the practical problems, will they focus on the issue of equal status in the marriage (or the lack thereof), rather than the model of Christ and his bride, the Church (presumabley, from the way the Church treats us - the laity are secondary wives) - which defines traditional marriage - and which those of us who are modern in outlook reject in favor of equality between spouses and friendship with the Christ? As for pastors, should they be treating families as they chose to be, rather than how the theologians define them?



As for modern women, why do we assume daycare is the childcare solution and not a stay at home father.  The hard part - including for stay at home fathers - is when even the mothers frown on it because the child has gone to school.  No mother would be told she must work when the last child hits all day kindergarten - father's can't get away with it (which is why women still face a glass ceiling - since if you make me work, I want to be a manager or executive.  How do you counsel a family in a culture change that you don't even like as a priest - though the vote is not yours.  Oh, TV is an excellent babysitter.



I doubt the Synod will consider issues of the extended family and suburban sprawl, unless they want to open the can of worms of the urban parishes following their flocks out of the city - serving mainly noon Mass participants from nearby offices.  As for the security of extended families, it can only be increased by recognizing those non-traditional arrangements such as gay marriage and cohabitation which the families themselves already recognize.  The moral change is happening with the people, its time for the hierarchy to catch up.



In his speech last month, Cardinal Kaper Walter warned about the weaker bonds of the family.  One good look at your own family tree should be enough to show that everyone who moved to America either weakened or severed bonds to their families.  This is not new and varies with immigration as well as the affluence George Marsden warns about.  I am not sure any of this is new to the human species - although modern communication and travel allow families of origin to deal with problems in the nuclear family (even if the matriarch is still in Ireland or Spain).  What seems different is the role of the Church in helping cushion the blow.  It does offer God's gentle graces at these times, but many if not most do not avail themselves of the Church's care.  Reasons of the abuse scandal as well as being unchurched make it less likely that the faithful who miss this care will return to it, save for planning a funeral Mass.



I am less worried about consumerism.  It is not more dangerous than allegience to one's soccer club or football team. Indeed, consumerism is the reason the industrial age has not moved into a socialist revolution.  If workers are content because they have the stuff they need, they don't organize to overthrow capitalism.  That is more a problem for me to deal with as a leftist than it is for the Church.



The viewing habits of children don't worry me, as long as homework is being done.  I worry about the habits of some parents and grandparents who watch EWTN and FoxNews and are exposed to all kinds of propoganda, much of which is untrue.  Debates with such folks about that non-sense does more to put families at risk than anything else, for example, parents who think voting for Clinton or Obama is mortally sinful because they don't believe in criminalizing abortion (which starts bitter years long arguments and turns parents into right wing sycophants at election time.



So what about the role of the Church?  It can evangelize, but it must first listen respectfully - and not just at the eventful synod.  The purpose of it should not be compliance as much as service. Seening where the people are, not where we want them to be (a reason some Catholics stay home).  While some still regard Humanae Vitae as a triumph, the fact is that is intentionally left out the contributions of those who were listening, includng married couples.  Had it simply reinforced our opposition to eugenics, which gives reproductive freedom, it does not take it way, we would be on track to discuss the son of eugenics, genetic engineering.  Not all improvements are bad, of course, although some should be looked at carefully.  For instance, removing the flaw that brings about mania also may squash creativity and spirituality.  We should say why we care about such things, rather than simply assert authority to try to stop their use.



The Church needs to put on humility, not among the faithful but in the hierarchy.  If it does, it might be able to cope with the family and the future.  If it does not, is will lose more than families as part of society.  Luckily, we have the Francis Effect (is that like being the Situation?) and His Holiness example may just right the ship of the Church, rather than prompting unwilling clergy to simply wait him out.