Links for 05/29/15 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 05/29/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: It was not just NDU that took a hit in the recent matter, it was the entire argument in the Fortnight for Freedom.  I personally think the judge should have ruled the issue moot because the language most offensive to the Church, indeed which Valerie Jarrett designed to be offensive to the Church, has been changed to what was likely the original language - which was likely consistent with the December 2000 EEOC ruling requiring insurance companies to provide contraceptive services as part of the standard package.  If HHS had not been required to add regulations confirming this principle, then we would not have had Dolan, et al, in a panel before a House committee. That is called walking into it.  They did it to themselves and any decent lawyer would have told them that they were arguing with settled law.  As for Scalia, it often seems like he has results in mind and reasons his way too them, case in point, the Heller case on guns.  Democracy Reborn's concluding chapter still has the best take down of Scalia and his supposed ignorance of the intent of the 14th Amendment (which only lasts until he needs the 14th Amendment to get his result.



Let me just add that George Weigel is what is what is wrong with tenure.  He belongs in a think tank full time, one of the ones funded by the Koch brothers, rather than Catholic University of America, or possibly the von Mises Institte at George Mason University.  Of course, that would end his deal in most diocese who run his column where he embarrasses himself weekly.  The irony of his German problem is Pope Benedict, who seems deeply committed to the welfare state in Germany and worldwide - which neo-liberals like Weigel seem to hate so much, if only because the people who endow their chairs pay them to.  As I state previoulsy, there are reaons for empty German churches.  Democratic Socialism is not one of them*unless they are teaching Marx in school -which they used to do in the East).  I think its mainly Holocaust guilt - with the feeling that if God does not see them in Church, he won't notice them.  Better to quit believing then to deal with the guilt, even though the message is not guilt, it is forgiveness.  The utter lack of committment to that practice is what is so disturbing about George Weigel.



Bravo to Bishop Lynch for making his rounds personally rather than making the first Mass (or even the Consecration) of his successor become about him.  Of coruse, I would still rather that flock be the ones to accept or reject his retirement (or to demand his resignation), rather than the Nuncio or the Pope. The same is true for finding his replacement.  Seems to me that some of the real creeps we have had as bishop woud have been gone much sooner if the flocks in democratic countries had the power of selection returned to them.  I cannot imagine St. Paul or Philadelphia letting the pain go on so long under a democratic system.  Or San Francsco or Boston under Law, or Kansas City or wherever Olmsted is from.  There is a difference between conceipt and courage, as Bishop Lynch would surely tell you.