Friday, July 31, 2015
Happy Birthday Medicare & Medicaid! | National Catholic Reporter
Happy Birthday Medicare & Medicaid! | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Sadly, Medicaid underpays providers, although less so after the ACA was enacted. What we need is either Single Payer so everyone gets the same reimbursement or an expansion of the US Uniformed Public Health Service - with PHS docs treating Medicaid, Medicare and uninsured patients first and expanding until all docs are PHS docs.
Links for 07/31/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/31/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: His Eminence is not showing the way. He is still participating in a fraud. When he mandates that the rest of the movement deal with family income - including every diocese and parish, he is mainly a better spokes model. There should never again be an electoral event around overturning Roe, since it will and should never happen.
Sadly, Cecil was protected by law. The unborn are not. Protecting the former is an exercise in frustration. The latter is impossible until you can protect embryos from abortion without making miscarriages public events while not violating equal protection. The first time an investigator is shot interviewing a family about their miscarriage is the clue that something is impossible here. Sadly, those who think masturbation is also wrong endeavor to ban it too. Also impossible.
Not all wages are stuck. CEOs are doing great. At this point, it is not the economy, its capitalism. Of course, wages are always the last thing to move - and when they do those who could not get a job in the early recovery will get one in the late recovery.
Sadly, Cecil was protected by law. The unborn are not. Protecting the former is an exercise in frustration. The latter is impossible until you can protect embryos from abortion without making miscarriages public events while not violating equal protection. The first time an investigator is shot interviewing a family about their miscarriage is the clue that something is impossible here. Sadly, those who think masturbation is also wrong endeavor to ban it too. Also impossible.
Not all wages are stuck. CEOs are doing great. At this point, it is not the economy, its capitalism. Of course, wages are always the last thing to move - and when they do those who could not get a job in the early recovery will get one in the late recovery.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Links for 07/30/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/30/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: On Memphis, no mention at all of the teachers unions, which I suspect are not active in the Jubilee Schools, partly because the Church won't unionize its own workers and partly because the teachers unions have been historically pro-choice.
Private to MSW. The Post got the Cardinal's name right.
A good article by TCD, but I favor total open boarders and an end to right to starve for work laws as a way of controlling immigration. Also, bishop is essentially political office, but until it is an elected one, perhaps TCD should not endorse candidates or use causes as a surrogate to do so, at least until a diocesean election committee of laity recommends the endorsement publicly.
Drudge is still an idiot, however the interesting thing is that Francis is obviously not Petrus Romano, the last pope, as mentioned by St. Malachy (Benedict lives), yet I cannot see one more prophetically significant.
Douthat is still emotionalizing the fetus (that kind of abortion does not happen to first trimester embryos, which are vacuumed out) when, unless it is a Downs Baby, the abortion was likely medically indicated - regardless of what the Magesterium and its Ogre God say about it. If the Catholic Church would do these abortions via induction (early birth) instead of demolition and extraction it would be in control of fetal pain and the baptism of the infant (and its possible last minute adoption if it is a Downs child).
Private to MSW. The Post got the Cardinal's name right.
A good article by TCD, but I favor total open boarders and an end to right to starve for work laws as a way of controlling immigration. Also, bishop is essentially political office, but until it is an elected one, perhaps TCD should not endorse candidates or use causes as a surrogate to do so, at least until a diocesean election committee of laity recommends the endorsement publicly.
Drudge is still an idiot, however the interesting thing is that Francis is obviously not Petrus Romano, the last pope, as mentioned by St. Malachy (Benedict lives), yet I cannot see one more prophetically significant.
Douthat is still emotionalizing the fetus (that kind of abortion does not happen to first trimester embryos, which are vacuumed out) when, unless it is a Downs Baby, the abortion was likely medically indicated - regardless of what the Magesterium and its Ogre God say about it. If the Catholic Church would do these abortions via induction (early birth) instead of demolition and extraction it would be in control of fetal pain and the baptism of the infant (and its possible last minute adoption if it is a Downs child).
Boehner's Conundrum | National Catholic Reporter
Boehner's Conundrum | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Boehner should keep his seat, even to the extent of blowing up the GOP and forming a coalition with Leader Pelosi and those members of the Democratic Caucus that can be labeled “Centrist.” That would throw a rock at the glass house that is the Republican Party and lead to a moderate party and a left wing party – and no right wing party except for a few fools in the Tea Party caucus who likely would not survive independently as a party.
Any discussion of the Hastert Rule must include the dance between Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich. During the Clinton presidency, after he lost the House over increased taxes and health care (frankly, after the Clinton fans stayed home at mid-terms thinking they had won the day), a coalition of centrist Republicans would vote with Clinton and not Newt on financial issues – essentially voting for sanity on taxes and spending. It’s what kept us on track to a balanced budget. Newt’s side was against sanity, but he did let the votes that he knew he would lose happen anyway – which is why he is not entirely lying when he says he helped balance the budget – he did by taking a dive in the first round. That type of finesse was impossible for Hastert (who allowed a bit of corruption back into the House) and is rare in Boehner, who at least supported the ATRA – which raised taxes on the rich and led to a more robust economy. Create two parties, one pro-ATRA and one anti and governance is possible.
Any discussion of the Hastert Rule must include the dance between Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich. During the Clinton presidency, after he lost the House over increased taxes and health care (frankly, after the Clinton fans stayed home at mid-terms thinking they had won the day), a coalition of centrist Republicans would vote with Clinton and not Newt on financial issues – essentially voting for sanity on taxes and spending. It’s what kept us on track to a balanced budget. Newt’s side was against sanity, but he did let the votes that he knew he would lose happen anyway – which is why he is not entirely lying when he says he helped balance the budget – he did by taking a dive in the first round. That type of finesse was impossible for Hastert (who allowed a bit of corruption back into the House) and is rare in Boehner, who at least supported the ATRA – which raised taxes on the rich and led to a more robust economy. Create two parties, one pro-ATRA and one anti and governance is possible.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Review: Struggle, Condemnation, Vindication: John Courtney Murray's Journey toward Vatican II | National Catholic Reporter
Review: Struggle, Condemnation, Vindication: John Courtney Murray's Journey toward Vatican II | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I am combining both parts of the review in one commentary.
I
Hudock's 1933 Murray quote is an excellent example of the drive by the Church toward religious power under the guise of religious liberty. I can't see how that has changed in the modern Church, Vatican II or no Vatican II - although St. John Paul and his sycophants in the clergy can take on most of the blame for that. This is not conservatism, which is libertarian on such matters - it is Traditionalism. The fact that this doctrine, that there is no truth in error, is medieval in origin only shows how much there is to be done - especially in the governance of the Church (forget the state for a bit). Worse, before the bishops were medieval lordings, the tradition of the Church was cooperation with the Empire - based in Constantinople - (and gasp, let us remember from other sources that the Church was democratic).
As you can guess, resistence ensued from the Church establishment. See the book for details. Lets just say it was nasty and make make me get a copy to read about it. Montitini liked Murray too and was friendly to his efforts on behalf of the emerging Catholic citizenry in the United States. Revenge followed, but as we all know, did not last forever.
II
Enter St. John XXIII and Vatican II. The Holy Office's monopoly on doctrine was ended even earlier. While Murray was excluded from the first session, he was invited to the second to write about religious liberty. In the end, after much up and down, Pope Paul VI forced this to a happy end. Hudock informs us of quite an adventure - not quite the Dan Brown variety, but it has the advantage of being real and the stakes are just as high.
Critics fault Hudock for not fleshing out the argument of the other side, which was more traditional. Nor do I see the name Karol Woijtila among the loud critics, though he was there. Murray wrote about negative liberty, which MSW seems to disagree with. There is an alternative in combining Rousseau and Aquinas, the general will's need of unanimity and the freedom of the individual will, but that is too advanced for most. Also, Vatican II predates the cultural theory of Douglass and Wildavsky, but perhaps Elaine Paigels, who is familiar with their methods, will take this up. Sadly, negative freedom as it is now seen does not stand up to USCCB efforts to reassert Religous Power. Luckily, Francis and time will weed the USCCB of its old boars who stand up for that tired view of the Church.
There will be more. Not necessarily on Murray but on Religous Power v. Religious Freedom.
I
Hudock's 1933 Murray quote is an excellent example of the drive by the Church toward religious power under the guise of religious liberty. I can't see how that has changed in the modern Church, Vatican II or no Vatican II - although St. John Paul and his sycophants in the clergy can take on most of the blame for that. This is not conservatism, which is libertarian on such matters - it is Traditionalism. The fact that this doctrine, that there is no truth in error, is medieval in origin only shows how much there is to be done - especially in the governance of the Church (forget the state for a bit). Worse, before the bishops were medieval lordings, the tradition of the Church was cooperation with the Empire - based in Constantinople - (and gasp, let us remember from other sources that the Church was democratic).
As you can guess, resistence ensued from the Church establishment. See the book for details. Lets just say it was nasty and make make me get a copy to read about it. Montitini liked Murray too and was friendly to his efforts on behalf of the emerging Catholic citizenry in the United States. Revenge followed, but as we all know, did not last forever.
II
Enter St. John XXIII and Vatican II. The Holy Office's monopoly on doctrine was ended even earlier. While Murray was excluded from the first session, he was invited to the second to write about religious liberty. In the end, after much up and down, Pope Paul VI forced this to a happy end. Hudock informs us of quite an adventure - not quite the Dan Brown variety, but it has the advantage of being real and the stakes are just as high.
Critics fault Hudock for not fleshing out the argument of the other side, which was more traditional. Nor do I see the name Karol Woijtila among the loud critics, though he was there. Murray wrote about negative liberty, which MSW seems to disagree with. There is an alternative in combining Rousseau and Aquinas, the general will's need of unanimity and the freedom of the individual will, but that is too advanced for most. Also, Vatican II predates the cultural theory of Douglass and Wildavsky, but perhaps Elaine Paigels, who is familiar with their methods, will take this up. Sadly, negative freedom as it is now seen does not stand up to USCCB efforts to reassert Religous Power. Luckily, Francis and time will weed the USCCB of its old boars who stand up for that tired view of the Church.
There will be more. Not necessarily on Murray but on Religous Power v. Religious Freedom.
Links for 07/29/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/29/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: There is no left and right on theological questions, there is Traditionalist and Modernist. Trads want no change and cannot conceive of a process to make any. This position requires blindness to how natural law should be used (reason and evidence, not authority) and how matters of faith were democratically settled - and still are - among bishops - who when matters were settled were elected by their home parishes (early bishops were pastors, not lordlings).
Try as they might, the Planned Parenthood affair will not be the Pro-Choice Waterloo. The character and linkages of those who want to make their little right wing conspiracy succeed are fair game, none of which changes the fact that the medical director would describe exactly the same procedures if the tissue were coming from a natural miscarriage, or were part of an Orphan Black style conspiracy (sorry, I've been binge watching).
Leon seems to be what the left is doing about Planned Parenthood videos, going personal rather than at the deal. The deal is absolutely necessary. The sanctions have gotten to the stage of hurting real people and not the military. We need a way out. We have such a strong military pressence in the region that there is no risk of anything untoward happening, which won't anyway. Two Muslims would die for each Jew - there will be no nuke on Israel.
Try as they might, the Planned Parenthood affair will not be the Pro-Choice Waterloo. The character and linkages of those who want to make their little right wing conspiracy succeed are fair game, none of which changes the fact that the medical director would describe exactly the same procedures if the tissue were coming from a natural miscarriage, or were part of an Orphan Black style conspiracy (sorry, I've been binge watching).
Leon seems to be what the left is doing about Planned Parenthood videos, going personal rather than at the deal. The deal is absolutely necessary. The sanctions have gotten to the stage of hurting real people and not the military. We need a way out. We have such a strong military pressence in the region that there is no risk of anything untoward happening, which won't anyway. Two Muslims would die for each Jew - there will be no nuke on Israel.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Links for 07/28/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/28/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Never quibble with local security. If I had his job, I would be publically stern and take no crap. Compromise needs to be rare in these situations.
The point of a Pope is that he does not need support. On the fllip side, unless he and his bishops listen to the voters on these issues before letting their gums fly, we will feel morally safe in disregarding most of what they say, especially when it obviously favors the GOP. Still, I wonder what Francis has to say about Sanders, who is most like him politically, though Bernard is also a secular Jew.
That is a strange diocesan seal. Still, it is good that a large operation like it is publically signing on to the Bush energy program. Hopefully others will too.
The point of a Pope is that he does not need support. On the fllip side, unless he and his bishops listen to the voters on these issues before letting their gums fly, we will feel morally safe in disregarding most of what they say, especially when it obviously favors the GOP. Still, I wonder what Francis has to say about Sanders, who is most like him politically, though Bernard is also a secular Jew.
That is a strange diocesan seal. Still, it is good that a large operation like it is publically signing on to the Bush energy program. Hopefully others will too.
Monday, July 27, 2015
Links for 07/27/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/27/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Bravo to Puerto Ricans for coming over and making Florida Blue. It seems the GOP only responds to force and electoral peril. Force they shall have.
In the end, the answer is not politics as much as workers demanding a voting piece of the pie, a fairer wage and eventually control. Politics can be part of this, but not even the Unions go this far. That kind of cooperative sentiment must include equality between demographics if it is to thrive. As the BBC shows, the enemy is well financed - of course, in cooperativism, we can make that money worthless by not letting them buy stock or land away from cooperatives.
It is good that the family fosters the family of the child they wanted to adopt away. That should always be option one - first fund the entire family and only extract the kidnapee when the family cannot be saved - but take some time in making the decision,
In the end, the answer is not politics as much as workers demanding a voting piece of the pie, a fairer wage and eventually control. Politics can be part of this, but not even the Unions go this far. That kind of cooperative sentiment must include equality between demographics if it is to thrive. As the BBC shows, the enemy is well financed - of course, in cooperativism, we can make that money worthless by not letting them buy stock or land away from cooperatives.
It is good that the family fosters the family of the child they wanted to adopt away. That should always be option one - first fund the entire family and only extract the kidnapee when the family cannot be saved - but take some time in making the decision,
Chicago's Unserious Event | National Catholic Reporter
Chicago's Unserious Event | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: First of all, there are no Catholic Conservatives and Catholic Left – the term of art is Traditionalists and Modernists. It is much more relevant to any discussion on sex than the political terms, starting with masturbation and the idea that sexual pleasure outside of the creative act is always wrong. It’s not. It may, if pursued too far, keep one out of relationship with others, but it is not inherently evil. If you don’t start there, you are blinded by tradition and unable to view morality from a natural law viewpoint that goes beyond authority.
Second, was there a message of women priests? (Yes, there was, which should have been reviewed and would probably be harder for MSW to refute). It seems to me that any real effort to make the pro-life message sing for Catholic women is best from a woman’s mouth – and one that has either said Mass or ordained other women who do.
Now, for Catholics for Choice. Choice is not about promoting abortion. It is support for the fact that there is no right to life for embryos (first trimester) under the plain language under the Constitution and creating one by whatever means would be bad for both women and society. That abortion restrictions would not prevent abortion but would harm women and harm those children who could no longer get care in the first trimester because insurance companies would not cover such malpractice coverage.
The fact that the Church cannot tell the difference between advocating abortion, say for all pregnant teens and college kids and not prohibiting it are not the same thing morally. Not at all. Interestingly, on the survey numbers, it is true that two thirds of respondents are against abortion. It is also true that a similar numbers is against doing anything legally to stop it. The Mushy Middle strikes again.
Faux scandals like Planned Parenthood on harvesting tissue will not change that. Anyone who has had a miscarriage can find paperwork authorizing tissue harvesting for science and post-mortem analysis. Same thing.
Finally, as to taking God out of the Gospel story, it is an interesting approach, provided you give Jesus full divine power at the Resurrection. Until then, seeing Jesus as a man of pure faith, in both what his mother told him about his nativity and what he gleaned from the scriptures is a powerful example and it in no way diminishes that which was agreed to (democratically by democratically elected bishops) at Chalchedon. Of course, humanizing Jesus this way allows him a wife and siblings, with a perpetually virgin mother and messiah less important features of the story – which then changes how we view sex in the modern era as not a lesser activity, whose misuse is painful to us rather than offensive to God, or some faux natural order that the Trads made up out of whole cloth.
Second, was there a message of women priests? (Yes, there was, which should have been reviewed and would probably be harder for MSW to refute). It seems to me that any real effort to make the pro-life message sing for Catholic women is best from a woman’s mouth – and one that has either said Mass or ordained other women who do.
Now, for Catholics for Choice. Choice is not about promoting abortion. It is support for the fact that there is no right to life for embryos (first trimester) under the plain language under the Constitution and creating one by whatever means would be bad for both women and society. That abortion restrictions would not prevent abortion but would harm women and harm those children who could no longer get care in the first trimester because insurance companies would not cover such malpractice coverage.
The fact that the Church cannot tell the difference between advocating abortion, say for all pregnant teens and college kids and not prohibiting it are not the same thing morally. Not at all. Interestingly, on the survey numbers, it is true that two thirds of respondents are against abortion. It is also true that a similar numbers is against doing anything legally to stop it. The Mushy Middle strikes again.
Faux scandals like Planned Parenthood on harvesting tissue will not change that. Anyone who has had a miscarriage can find paperwork authorizing tissue harvesting for science and post-mortem analysis. Same thing.
Finally, as to taking God out of the Gospel story, it is an interesting approach, provided you give Jesus full divine power at the Resurrection. Until then, seeing Jesus as a man of pure faith, in both what his mother told him about his nativity and what he gleaned from the scriptures is a powerful example and it in no way diminishes that which was agreed to (democratically by democratically elected bishops) at Chalchedon. Of course, humanizing Jesus this way allows him a wife and siblings, with a perpetually virgin mother and messiah less important features of the story – which then changes how we view sex in the modern era as not a lesser activity, whose misuse is painful to us rather than offensive to God, or some faux natural order that the Trads made up out of whole cloth.
Friday, July 24, 2015
Links for 07/24/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/24/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Rest in piece to the Cardinal Emeritus who did more for ecumenicism than his successor in two roles, Cardinal Burke, tried to undo. Hopefully the next Archbishop of Kansas-City will be in his mold, not Burke and his successor who I will not name.
Fr. Z commenting on poll results that he helped influence by talking trash to Trads on Francis may think he can gloat - but Francis is not studying up on American Catholics to make it easy for his benefactors.
Dreher has captured what I thought would be on a liberal site. It is more about Austrian sensibilities than American. That the culturally conservative commentator thought that avarice was more important than lust makes sense, although there is consumption for the workers to have a better life (and be less likely to radicalize) and the conspicuous consumption of the rich, which is so insidious that those who consume this way do not know that they are sliding into sin - that they deserve what they are getting by what they do in society. That extra time vacation is not so bad, after all. Truth be told, it is not as long as everyone gets at least a week through their employer - but doing that will really mess up the American (Austrian) Creed.
Fr. Z commenting on poll results that he helped influence by talking trash to Trads on Francis may think he can gloat - but Francis is not studying up on American Catholics to make it easy for his benefactors.
Dreher has captured what I thought would be on a liberal site. It is more about Austrian sensibilities than American. That the culturally conservative commentator thought that avarice was more important than lust makes sense, although there is consumption for the workers to have a better life (and be less likely to radicalize) and the conspicuous consumption of the rich, which is so insidious that those who consume this way do not know that they are sliding into sin - that they deserve what they are getting by what they do in society. That extra time vacation is not so bad, after all. Truth be told, it is not as long as everyone gets at least a week through their employer - but doing that will really mess up the American (Austrian) Creed.
The paradox of a pro-life church without paid parental leave | National Catholic Reporter
The paradox of a pro-life church without paid parental leave | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB :....and without a living wage for parents in their employ (1000 per month per child with pay, but separate from it so that wage scales for non-parents are lower). Also, the Church should do second and third trimester abortions - induction only - no skull crushing - with baptism included and adoptive custody for children who survive more than a few minutes.
Problems for Team Hillary | National Catholic Reporter
Problems for Team Hillary | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: There is absolutely nothing to indicate that Hillary did anything but shop (or get ready for Hillary) on her personal account. Its what they are for. The provisions to use such an account, whether you are the secretary or a lowly contracts specialist are clear - she can, she did. There is no Benghazi moment in the works. I am sure the other two Senators mentioned and their staffs have separate goverment and shopping and campaign e-mails and devices.
Likewise, the right wing tape of a PPUSA abortionist has no legs except among those who will never be ready for Hillary. It is a last ditch effort to prove the pro-life movement is not a Republican electoral scam. I am sure Elizabeth Warren is as pro-choice as Hillary or Bernie and that people who want to be loyal Catholics on abortion are not ready for the reality that the Church is part of a continuing, probably criminal, enterprise on this issue involving fraud on its members.
That said, Bernie is a Democratic Socialist (like Ted Kennedy and Obama). Hillary does not strike me as one and her workers rights credentials are lame. Bernie's are not lame and Elizabeth is not running - nor would either of these three get a break from Republican or Republican leaning swing voters. I am ready to Feel the Bern!
Likewise, the right wing tape of a PPUSA abortionist has no legs except among those who will never be ready for Hillary. It is a last ditch effort to prove the pro-life movement is not a Republican electoral scam. I am sure Elizabeth Warren is as pro-choice as Hillary or Bernie and that people who want to be loyal Catholics on abortion are not ready for the reality that the Church is part of a continuing, probably criminal, enterprise on this issue involving fraud on its members.
That said, Bernie is a Democratic Socialist (like Ted Kennedy and Obama). Hillary does not strike me as one and her workers rights credentials are lame. Bernie's are not lame and Elizabeth is not running - nor would either of these three get a break from Republican or Republican leaning swing voters. I am ready to Feel the Bern!
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Links for 07/23/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/23/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The heart of the deal is the west backing out of sanctions that were abusive anyway, letting us save face by turning over old equipment and letting Israel know that we can read a map and know where the fall out would go for any weapon launched from Iran.
There are no buttons for Little Sisters of the poor. None of the Sisters will us birth control and what their non-consecrated employees do is their own business, not the Sisters or the Becket fund. The key differentiation, which is the undercurrent in all these cases is religious freedom v. religious power. Religious freedom is solely for the employees and religious power is a violation of the first amendment and of Griswold v. Connecticut. The unconscionable option is what Becket has argued for, not the government. Of course, the Church, being under the myth that life happens before gastrulation may not see it that way. Being wrong, however, is not a first amendment right.
Democrats for Life should be disbanded, if anyone. Its part of the right to life movement farce. What the medical director caught on camera said is as true for miscarriage as it is for abortions performed if tissue is being preserved for either analysis or research. How dentists learn anatomy is equally hard for the squeemish. Get over it.
Joining sympathies to his excellency on the death of his mother. I hope he takes a nice retreat soon to cope with it. Burying my mom was the hardest thing I ever did and left the deepest scar.
Catholics for Choice is actually honest about what i wrote above about the NRLC being a GOP scam. It does not mean endorsing abortion - it is endorsing the proposition that relgious power in this instance is not wise, especially not when it is mostly a partisan association for the financial and political interests of the GOP and NRLC and not the unborn. I am not sure why the web page having its own staff report on its survey is somehow out of line. If you have the in house talent, use it. They are advocacy, not press, and never said otherwise.
There are no buttons for Little Sisters of the poor. None of the Sisters will us birth control and what their non-consecrated employees do is their own business, not the Sisters or the Becket fund. The key differentiation, which is the undercurrent in all these cases is religious freedom v. religious power. Religious freedom is solely for the employees and religious power is a violation of the first amendment and of Griswold v. Connecticut. The unconscionable option is what Becket has argued for, not the government. Of course, the Church, being under the myth that life happens before gastrulation may not see it that way. Being wrong, however, is not a first amendment right.
Democrats for Life should be disbanded, if anyone. Its part of the right to life movement farce. What the medical director caught on camera said is as true for miscarriage as it is for abortions performed if tissue is being preserved for either analysis or research. How dentists learn anatomy is equally hard for the squeemish. Get over it.
Joining sympathies to his excellency on the death of his mother. I hope he takes a nice retreat soon to cope with it. Burying my mom was the hardest thing I ever did and left the deepest scar.
Catholics for Choice is actually honest about what i wrote above about the NRLC being a GOP scam. It does not mean endorsing abortion - it is endorsing the proposition that relgious power in this instance is not wise, especially not when it is mostly a partisan association for the financial and political interests of the GOP and NRLC and not the unborn. I am not sure why the web page having its own staff report on its survey is somehow out of line. If you have the in house talent, use it. They are advocacy, not press, and never said otherwise.
Walk with Francis | National Catholic Reporter
Walk with Francis | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: At the risk of confessing my own righteousness, I have been walking the talk for a while, both in terms of Ignatian spirituality and writing to produce change. You can read further as you like in my notes and on my blog.
I've got the defending the environment thing going on with my association with 1000 Planets. We are working on habitats for orbit, Mars and the surface of Earth with no footprint at all, save taking up space. Closed loop means few if any inputs. Of course, it is appropriate for the state to help.
Not so for the unborn. They cannot be defended until recognized by Congress - lawsuits won't do it and frankly, the USCCB and the National Right to Life Committee don't want it done - as the debate will show that first trimester embryos cannot be recognized in abortion unless you recognize them in miscarriage - and that should never happen. Anything else is an argument about services to Downs Children being enough to prevent their slaughter and the rules to end a toxic pregnancy early (as early as possible). Yes, that means playing God where necessary. Grow up and put on your big boy pants.
Of course, the statist solution to abortion is much more money for families with children. Right now, they get $1000 per child per year, plus any home mortgage interest deductibility, etc. The latter should be struck down and the former increased by that much per month - paid with wages or education stipends/disability, with health through the employer, education provider or disability services provider employee insurance. Justice means the one justly helped does not want for anythig. What I describe is what justice requires.
As for what I want to hear, I want to have him ask what we want to say. Whether it be the above or something about families wanting their gay daughter to have a Church wedding - in Latin. I also want the Committee on Pro-Life Activities disbanded as a farce serving Republican electoral interests rather than the unborn. Any other interretation of what they do is absurd and is, like the seamless garment, trying to be liberal and faithfully Catholic when that statement cannot apply to the movement's hijinks.
What Jesus wants is followers who do what He did, speak out! Lets do that!.
I've got the defending the environment thing going on with my association with 1000 Planets. We are working on habitats for orbit, Mars and the surface of Earth with no footprint at all, save taking up space. Closed loop means few if any inputs. Of course, it is appropriate for the state to help.
Not so for the unborn. They cannot be defended until recognized by Congress - lawsuits won't do it and frankly, the USCCB and the National Right to Life Committee don't want it done - as the debate will show that first trimester embryos cannot be recognized in abortion unless you recognize them in miscarriage - and that should never happen. Anything else is an argument about services to Downs Children being enough to prevent their slaughter and the rules to end a toxic pregnancy early (as early as possible). Yes, that means playing God where necessary. Grow up and put on your big boy pants.
Of course, the statist solution to abortion is much more money for families with children. Right now, they get $1000 per child per year, plus any home mortgage interest deductibility, etc. The latter should be struck down and the former increased by that much per month - paid with wages or education stipends/disability, with health through the employer, education provider or disability services provider employee insurance. Justice means the one justly helped does not want for anythig. What I describe is what justice requires.
As for what I want to hear, I want to have him ask what we want to say. Whether it be the above or something about families wanting their gay daughter to have a Church wedding - in Latin. I also want the Committee on Pro-Life Activities disbanded as a farce serving Republican electoral interests rather than the unborn. Any other interretation of what they do is absurd and is, like the seamless garment, trying to be liberal and faithfully Catholic when that statement cannot apply to the movement's hijinks.
What Jesus wants is followers who do what He did, speak out! Lets do that!.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Links for 07/22/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/22/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Francis is a radical. So was Jesus. Neither was a Trad either, although I am not sure either could be called Modernist, which is more a lay academic thing, not a clerical viewpoint. Liberal is about pluralism - not justice. Radicalism is about justice.
Kirsten Powers is scoring cheap points and it is equally cheap to agree with her. Want to crush PPUSA? Make sure families have enough money to raise and college educate themselves and their kids - justice will stop abortion - the economic, not the criminal, kind. Give up on the criminalization dream and get with the Radicalism of Francis economically and PPUSA will close all clinics because no one will need them - and they will do it happily! Of course, to get the economic justice, we may have to crush the Pro-Life organization at USCCB.
I like the Churches where Francis said Mass in Latin America. Note the irony. Maybe Francis is more modernist than I give him credit for, as he would not build the new Cathedrals of either century.
Kirsten Powers is scoring cheap points and it is equally cheap to agree with her. Want to crush PPUSA? Make sure families have enough money to raise and college educate themselves and their kids - justice will stop abortion - the economic, not the criminal, kind. Give up on the criminalization dream and get with the Radicalism of Francis economically and PPUSA will close all clinics because no one will need them - and they will do it happily! Of course, to get the economic justice, we may have to crush the Pro-Life organization at USCCB.
I like the Churches where Francis said Mass in Latin America. Note the irony. Maybe Francis is more modernist than I give him credit for, as he would not build the new Cathedrals of either century.
Racism on Both Sides of the Mason-Dixon Line | National Catholic Reporter
Racism on Both Sides of the Mason-Dixon Line | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Confederate sympathizers are often Scotch-Irish, while the cops on the beat still are a largely Irish force - both by family tradition. Civilization is about abandoning family loyalties and doing the right thing because it is the right thing. Like taking down the bloody flag or putting cops under a microscope for how they deal with Blacks.
Democrats have been moving from Jefferson-Jackson to Kennedies-King for a long time, starting in DC. Jump in, the water is fine! Its also a bad idea to offend your donors, which is why DC changed as the black and white in Wards 3 and 4 love the Kennedies and Dr. King, not Jeffereson or Jackson.
Serra is different, its not political to canonize someone. A Devil's Advocate would have been good. Serra used the sword like Charlemagne and Clovis, but neither king is sainted.
Cities are racist in the north. First the WASPs moved out when the well-to-do Irish moved in, then the Irish moved out because of the Jews, then the African Americans then the Latinos. The law is supposed to stop this, but I suspect that socialist cooperatives taking over home building and selling to members is the only thing that stops ethnic patterning, as it is just not done to move out of the neighborhood when your boss or employees move in. Even if you don't want your daughter dating their son (which is what happens now in Ward 3 of DC). On funding improvements, socialist cooperatives will take care of that too - no more giving neighborhoods improvements based on their property tax payments. It goes without saying that suing Gov.Walker for doing just this would be a bonus. Sadly, people think in terms of supply and demand in housing, not in terms of equity. Equity would give us a land value tax and citizens dividend. On this topic, you can do economic efficiency or equity. Hard to do both - but we probably should not do both (again, the solidarity answer is smart growth by employee-owned socialist cooperatives).
I am glad for your parents. May they continue to be an example through your writings. Amazing what occurred in so called liberal Connecticut! I am always amazed when there are disconnects between political agendas and personal beliefs. The term is limosene liberal (my liberal sister and brother-in-law can be very Ozzie and Harriet, especially on the issue of who in the marriage should work, buy my sister supports Sanders, as do I).
Solidarity, to work, has to start with economic change. No one objects to someone different in the neighborhood if they are the CEO, very rich or famous. Real equality will stop anyone from objecting to anyone.
Democrats have been moving from Jefferson-Jackson to Kennedies-King for a long time, starting in DC. Jump in, the water is fine! Its also a bad idea to offend your donors, which is why DC changed as the black and white in Wards 3 and 4 love the Kennedies and Dr. King, not Jeffereson or Jackson.
Serra is different, its not political to canonize someone. A Devil's Advocate would have been good. Serra used the sword like Charlemagne and Clovis, but neither king is sainted.
Cities are racist in the north. First the WASPs moved out when the well-to-do Irish moved in, then the Irish moved out because of the Jews, then the African Americans then the Latinos. The law is supposed to stop this, but I suspect that socialist cooperatives taking over home building and selling to members is the only thing that stops ethnic patterning, as it is just not done to move out of the neighborhood when your boss or employees move in. Even if you don't want your daughter dating their son (which is what happens now in Ward 3 of DC). On funding improvements, socialist cooperatives will take care of that too - no more giving neighborhoods improvements based on their property tax payments. It goes without saying that suing Gov.Walker for doing just this would be a bonus. Sadly, people think in terms of supply and demand in housing, not in terms of equity. Equity would give us a land value tax and citizens dividend. On this topic, you can do economic efficiency or equity. Hard to do both - but we probably should not do both (again, the solidarity answer is smart growth by employee-owned socialist cooperatives).
I am glad for your parents. May they continue to be an example through your writings. Amazing what occurred in so called liberal Connecticut! I am always amazed when there are disconnects between political agendas and personal beliefs. The term is limosene liberal (my liberal sister and brother-in-law can be very Ozzie and Harriet, especially on the issue of who in the marriage should work, buy my sister supports Sanders, as do I).
Solidarity, to work, has to start with economic change. No one objects to someone different in the neighborhood if they are the CEO, very rich or famous. Real equality will stop anyone from objecting to anyone.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Links for 07/21/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/21/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: There has been no mileage on the Planned Parenthood video because tissue gathering for any kind of late term termination, living or dead, has to protect tissues for research or post-mortem analysis, not for sale. If the Catholic bishops want more humane later term abortion, they should offer the service (induction only) or shut up. Hoping a 20 week ban will pull enough mushy middle Catholics into the embrace of the pro-life movement, if only for one bill, is self serving by Schneck and his DFLA. The truth is that the seemless garment and DFLA are for morally squeamish Catholics to use to vote Democratic, in hopes that the GOP will go along on issues to make things marginally better for the unborn - like the 20 week ban. That 20 weeks shows a pain stimulus response is interesting, but not proof of either intelligence or viability - indeed, unless you wish to birth permanently disabled kids, stick to 28 weeks as the milestone and get everyone to agree. The last to get on board would be the GOP, because such a compromise (even at 20 weeks - a number designed to keep Democrats from saying yes) would end both National to Right Life and DFLA as organizational entities. DFLA would love that, not so much the GOP and NRLC. If you want progress on abortion, either lean on NRLC to agree to some number between 20 and 30 weeks or sever ties between the bishops, all of them, and NLRC. Without their profit motive and the Church's participation in their scam, they won't last long and neither will the issue.
I love that Think Progress found the letter from JEB and his brother's campaign to the Swifties thanking them for their attack on now-Secretary Kerry. Of course, I suspect that in both the tweet and the letter, things are being done in JEBs name, though not necessarily without his consent. Aides do this kind of thing for candidates and their main staff. What this may show is that the W. Campaign may not have been wholly independent of the Swift Vote Veterans for Bellicose Slander. That is where there should be consequences.
I wonder if it is too late to walk back Robert Barron's elevation to Auxiliary Bishop after his screed last week. Of course, the answer to Fr. Robert's question is yes, Francis is Marxist Prophet - thank God and finally! I don't think one column is enough to cancel his consecration and it should not. Still, I think he knows he is now on a leash, starting with his Archbishop. He may find that having is not so good a thing as wanting, to quote Spock of Vulcan.
I love that Think Progress found the letter from JEB and his brother's campaign to the Swifties thanking them for their attack on now-Secretary Kerry. Of course, I suspect that in both the tweet and the letter, things are being done in JEBs name, though not necessarily without his consent. Aides do this kind of thing for candidates and their main staff. What this may show is that the W. Campaign may not have been wholly independent of the Swift Vote Veterans for Bellicose Slander. That is where there should be consequences.
I wonder if it is too late to walk back Robert Barron's elevation to Auxiliary Bishop after his screed last week. Of course, the answer to Fr. Robert's question is yes, Francis is Marxist Prophet - thank God and finally! I don't think one column is enough to cancel his consecration and it should not. Still, I think he knows he is now on a leash, starting with his Archbishop. He may find that having is not so good a thing as wanting, to quote Spock of Vulcan.
The GOP's Real Problem | National Catholic Reporter
The GOP's Real Problem | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I read the column after lunch and the topic of the Donald so sickens me I may yet make a mess on the Watha Daniels Library computers (7th Street, DC). Donald Trump is Herman Cain and when he leaves, he is not going to a spoiler. Of course, the Clown many not leave - most people drop out because someone has the money conversation with them. Unless Trump is secretly broke, no one will do that. His main problem, by the way, is the lack of a good staff member who won't defer to him who can tell him to shut up, that he messed up and he must stop. Political staff are not like corporate staff - we are for ideas, not leaders - while corporate staff are about profit and worshiping those who generate it. Oddly, the 20% who would vote for a third party Donald probably believe in a prosperity gospel and all its ignominy. For them, Trump being rich means he is favored by God. The only way he can shake them is to propose socialism. As for that survey, one wonders what happens when you take out Clinton and put in Sanders, or do a straight up between Trump and Sanders. Trump, by the way, has a chance. He will get voters in the NY area, the south and especially the west. He will strong arm any super delegates he needs and make it an interesting convention. The Chinese have cursed us again! (interesting times).
Links for 07/20/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/20/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Sadly, Ed Whalen must have slept through those parts in both Ethics and Special Ethics (or did not ready Fagothy for the class) when responsibility was discussed (does the concession worker at an adult theater bear responsibility for the program? - the answer is no - and likewise, is a taxpayer responsible for paying taxes to a regime that permits abortion? - the answer is yes). Material cooperation simply does not exist for distributing funds for mandated services, which may or may not be used by any of the nuns or their non-consecrated staff.
It sounds like Msgr. Karcher is a good friend as well as a good Master of Ceremonies.
Kasich is, of course, the sane one and the less partisan one. Of course, having E.J. say it won't win him any friends in the GOP
It sounds like Msgr. Karcher is a good friend as well as a good Master of Ceremonies.
Kasich is, of course, the sane one and the less partisan one. Of course, having E.J. say it won't win him any friends in the GOP
Monday, July 20, 2015
The Lord hears the cry of the bourgeoisie | National Catholic Reporter
The Lord hears the cry of the bourgeoisie | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: MSW is correct in talking about the working class, the middle class and the upper middle as separate entities - and hopefully the Pope will talk about that. I hope he doesn't scold the middle class about consumerism, because the working class needs its consumption or all that is left to them is violence. Indeed, wew need to get the workes MORE money for more consumption.
Consumer stuff largely comes from Asia, where people do fine work with hazardous materials and little safety. As bad as that is, the problem here is food. Undocumented migrants pick it (and some prisoners) and process it, usually without union rights. Buying locally is not an option for most and may still use exploitation, especially in the DC area, but really anywhere. I am sure some scolding is appropriate for even the middle class sans working class that feels so put upon.
Austerity should be talked about and condemned. The sequester is delaying a really robust recovery and forgiving housing debt should be on the agenda too. Higher taxes on the wealthy, especially heirs, need a mention or five. Most importantly, a large refundable child tax credit - paid with wages - of $1000 per month per child should be a demand and Church should pay that to its employees starting now.
As important, the pro-life movement must be examined to see whether it actually has any prospect of success other than electing Republicans - and equally for their opposition to measures that would alleviate poverty (because personal economic responsibility and sexual control seem to be more important than economic justice for families). Now THAT would make news!
Consumer stuff largely comes from Asia, where people do fine work with hazardous materials and little safety. As bad as that is, the problem here is food. Undocumented migrants pick it (and some prisoners) and process it, usually without union rights. Buying locally is not an option for most and may still use exploitation, especially in the DC area, but really anywhere. I am sure some scolding is appropriate for even the middle class sans working class that feels so put upon.
Austerity should be talked about and condemned. The sequester is delaying a really robust recovery and forgiving housing debt should be on the agenda too. Higher taxes on the wealthy, especially heirs, need a mention or five. Most importantly, a large refundable child tax credit - paid with wages - of $1000 per month per child should be a demand and Church should pay that to its employees starting now.
As important, the pro-life movement must be examined to see whether it actually has any prospect of success other than electing Republicans - and equally for their opposition to measures that would alleviate poverty (because personal economic responsibility and sexual control seem to be more important than economic justice for families). Now THAT would make news!
Friday, July 17, 2015
Links for 07/17/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/17/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: His Grace is entirely on target. The Commonwealth needs a way to untangle its credit (although s special master might be as appropriate - but would still need to be authorized), because modern governments get taxes and spend money at different times of the year (for example, property taxes come in twice, mostly from banks). We also need to get rid of the state and local income tax exemptions for Americans in Puerto Rico - if only because Puerto Rican Americans pay such taxes when they live on the mainland. I suggest they stop filing until this is done - or send in a note with their return saying they are paying under protest and why.
Pope Francis may or may not be familiar with the honorable trade of pathology, even at PPUSA. Or he may not. After my wife's second miscarriage, we needed an answer on why (and whether we could be doing something to make another pregnancy go better - sadly no). I am sure similar tissue preservation procedures were practiced. The issue is the reaction and the desire for a reaction and it is shameful and offensive. It cannot be defended as part of the movement. It is pure emotionalism and is why the best thing Francis could say about abortion is to shut down the USCCB Pro-Life directorate. I am not even joking.
The Bishop Hughes and Pope Francis article shows that were you stand on capitalism (and most economic issues) depends on where you sit. If you sit in an Irish parish during the famine or as Ordinary of a South American country in deep need of liberation theology, people will call you a socialist too. If His Holiness wishes to be the Chaplian of our effort to elect Sen. Sanders as President, I would welcome him to the campaign with the kiss of peace and a DSA button. Sen. Warren, by the way, is not running.
The best studies showed that the culture change (its only a war if you resist) started in 1959 (see the book of the same name). While science changed earlier, culture did not. When the the Fundies realized that no one cared that they did keep to themselves, they built TV ministries and colleges from the profits - and the Catholics funded Ave Maria to keep up. There is no going back on that, althogh they have lost their own youth and will die out. When the time comes, may they rest in peace. May they repent of their angry hatred before they are called to account, especially on gay marriage.
Pope Francis may or may not be familiar with the honorable trade of pathology, even at PPUSA. Or he may not. After my wife's second miscarriage, we needed an answer on why (and whether we could be doing something to make another pregnancy go better - sadly no). I am sure similar tissue preservation procedures were practiced. The issue is the reaction and the desire for a reaction and it is shameful and offensive. It cannot be defended as part of the movement. It is pure emotionalism and is why the best thing Francis could say about abortion is to shut down the USCCB Pro-Life directorate. I am not even joking.
The Bishop Hughes and Pope Francis article shows that were you stand on capitalism (and most economic issues) depends on where you sit. If you sit in an Irish parish during the famine or as Ordinary of a South American country in deep need of liberation theology, people will call you a socialist too. If His Holiness wishes to be the Chaplian of our effort to elect Sen. Sanders as President, I would welcome him to the campaign with the kiss of peace and a DSA button. Sen. Warren, by the way, is not running.
The best studies showed that the culture change (its only a war if you resist) started in 1959 (see the book of the same name). While science changed earlier, culture did not. When the the Fundies realized that no one cared that they did keep to themselves, they built TV ministries and colleges from the profits - and the Catholics funded Ave Maria to keep up. There is no going back on that, althogh they have lost their own youth and will die out. When the time comes, may they rest in peace. May they repent of their angry hatred before they are called to account, especially on gay marriage.
The Planned Parenthood Undercover Video | National Catholic Reporter
The Planned Parenthood Undercover Video | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Undercover journalism is one thing if it honestly portrays what happens, and this might. The fact of the matter is that in 90% of abortions, first trimester embryos are not available to dissect, they are microscopic. In the second trimester (or God forbid, the third), there is usually a medical reason for the abortion - just as there is a medical reason for what is also called an abortion when an already deceased fetus is evacuated to study what went wrong. That this can be discussed over wine and salad is not outrageous if you are a pathologist or employ pathologists. Its how people compartmentalize life. Some folks can't talk money over dinner instead, or politics or religion (I avoid such people who can't handle the last two).
As I said yesterday on the link and on Becket, that a hit piece was edited from such discussions is less shocking than the video. I expect it, in fact. That is why this video is going to be no new source of life for the pro-life movement - it is about fundraising and picking off a few easy targets to join that side and getting an indignant column from Catholic writers who hope for a resolution of the issue with a thumb on the pro-life side. My thumb used to be there - I took it off and am lucky it did not have to be amputated.
There is no answer to the abortion question that does not include the Catholic Church giving up on saving the 90% of pregnancies lost in the first trimester (as embryos). We might get a bit more regulation by states on later term incidents, however even then the Church needs to realize that God is no Ogre and that children who would die anyway should be allowed to be born and sent to the Lord (who is not an ogre) as soon as possible. That shifts the entire debate to funding children until college (not pregnancies until birth) - and helping children who have children do so without losing careers and providing as much care to Downs patients as they need to get to independent living - including no more NIMBY restrictions on housing. In other words, the Church needs to surrender to win and take those thumbs off the partisan scale while they can still keep them to say Mass. (how is that for a graphic analogy).
As I said yesterday on the link and on Becket, that a hit piece was edited from such discussions is less shocking than the video. I expect it, in fact. That is why this video is going to be no new source of life for the pro-life movement - it is about fundraising and picking off a few easy targets to join that side and getting an indignant column from Catholic writers who hope for a resolution of the issue with a thumb on the pro-life side. My thumb used to be there - I took it off and am lucky it did not have to be amputated.
There is no answer to the abortion question that does not include the Catholic Church giving up on saving the 90% of pregnancies lost in the first trimester (as embryos). We might get a bit more regulation by states on later term incidents, however even then the Church needs to realize that God is no Ogre and that children who would die anyway should be allowed to be born and sent to the Lord (who is not an ogre) as soon as possible. That shifts the entire debate to funding children until college (not pregnancies until birth) - and helping children who have children do so without losing careers and providing as much care to Downs patients as they need to get to independent living - including no more NIMBY restrictions on housing. In other words, the Church needs to surrender to win and take those thumbs off the partisan scale while they can still keep them to say Mass. (how is that for a graphic analogy).
Bishops' strategy endangering religious freedom | National Catholic Reporter
Bishops' strategy endangering religious freedom | National Catholic Reporter by Fr. Thomas Reese. SJ,. MGB: The Bishops are not seeking religious liberty - which only adheres to individuals - they are seeking religious power over their employees and the faithful. We litigated this once. It was answered in Griswold v. Connecticut for governmental birth control restriction. If the employer is, for the sake of argument, a government agent in relation to the ACA, then a religious employer seeking to limit birth control access is in violation of Griswold. Period.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Links for 07/16/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/16/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: It is good that the Kalmanovitz Institute is putting their money where their mouth is. If you want this kind of organization in industry, you must have it in education. Its time for capitalists to start feeling the hot red breath of socialism - but this time for socialism to not settle for being a bargaining chip. We have the Pope on our side.
As I understood the incident, this was a Breitbart style set up and edit as you wish. I pity the fools who actually had, as their first reaction, believing this Goebbels style propaganda rather than questioning such outlandish idiocy. This reminds me of a joke we had in the Ombudsman's Office in DC during Marion's last term. I was remarking to the Ombudsman that the way some people view us, they think that we our young (or theirs) - to which, without missing a beat, Willie chimes in, Mmm, Children, with sauce! Sick joke or appropriate satire? You decide. (there was also the chicken commercial with the phrase "parts is parts" that is equally appropriate to such fuzzy thinking by pro-lifers.
The Occupy Democrats graphic has been out for a long time. Amazing how what its says is unimpeachable.
The Whole Life Democrats site should be read before we jump on its bandwagon. It seems to buy into that nasty attack on Planned Parenthood. Now, there is a place where aborted tissues are for sale - China - for tissue transplantation. That is condemnable, but the one child policy that prompts it is what is really vile. When the pro-life main stream puts Republican Party politics over everything else, the moral choice is not to find common ground, its to condemn both sides for politicking the issue and not immediately insisting on a $1000 per month child tax credit, refundable with wages, as the first, last and only demand.
As I understood the incident, this was a Breitbart style set up and edit as you wish. I pity the fools who actually had, as their first reaction, believing this Goebbels style propaganda rather than questioning such outlandish idiocy. This reminds me of a joke we had in the Ombudsman's Office in DC during Marion's last term. I was remarking to the Ombudsman that the way some people view us, they think that we our young (or theirs) - to which, without missing a beat, Willie chimes in, Mmm, Children, with sauce! Sick joke or appropriate satire? You decide. (there was also the chicken commercial with the phrase "parts is parts" that is equally appropriate to such fuzzy thinking by pro-lifers.
The Occupy Democrats graphic has been out for a long time. Amazing how what its says is unimpeachable.
The Whole Life Democrats site should be read before we jump on its bandwagon. It seems to buy into that nasty attack on Planned Parenthood. Now, there is a place where aborted tissues are for sale - China - for tissue transplantation. That is condemnable, but the one child policy that prompts it is what is really vile. When the pro-life main stream puts Republican Party politics over everything else, the moral choice is not to find common ground, its to condemn both sides for politicking the issue and not immediately insisting on a $1000 per month child tax credit, refundable with wages, as the first, last and only demand.
The Iran Nuke Agreement | National Catholic Reporter
The Iran Nuke Agreement | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: This was not a legacy achievement for any administration. This is what we call doing windows. I could see a GOP President getting exactly the same result because this is about U.S. ad world interest, not partisan politics. Of course, Netenyahu, Cheney, Graham andt he rest of the Konservative Klown Kart are going to use it to out Obama-hate their rivals with the voters, even though, last time I checked, the 22nd Amendment was still in place and Barack was not running again. I can't see this sticking to either main Democratic candidate, so hopefully the half-life on this story is short. Maybe we can even do without the expected reaction of Berkowitz.
Links for 07/15/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/15/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I am not a fan of countries going bankrupt, because they are sovereign - at least in theory. Of course, I am no fan of little countries or states behaving like countries - whether it is Puerto Rico, El Salvador or Connecticut or Rhode Island. Its why we create big federations if we are smart and have them bail out their members when they enter the federation - leaving a clean slate.
It is good that Archbishop Kupich is doing his job. Hopefully we can all realize its our job too, not just that of the bishop or cardinal.
I feel sorry that the Little Sisters of the Poor were drawn into this publicity stunt. There is little exposure for any birth control, let alone birth control working during generative development, with celibate nuns serving elderly people. If there are lay staff, the Sisters' first reflex should be (and probably is) to stay out their business and obey the law. Sadly, they have been convinced that generative development birth control is murder. It is not. Only regulative development birth control. I give no one a pass on repeating this error, even the little sisters. Of course, the issue is over because the question is moot after policy changes and accomodations. Beckett's case was juvenile. Hopefully the Beckett fund will get no fundraising boost from being wrong on this issue - so that they must dip into reserves. They had better not bill the Little Sisters.
It is good that Archbishop Kupich is doing his job. Hopefully we can all realize its our job too, not just that of the bishop or cardinal.
I feel sorry that the Little Sisters of the Poor were drawn into this publicity stunt. There is little exposure for any birth control, let alone birth control working during generative development, with celibate nuns serving elderly people. If there are lay staff, the Sisters' first reflex should be (and probably is) to stay out their business and obey the law. Sadly, they have been convinced that generative development birth control is murder. It is not. Only regulative development birth control. I give no one a pass on repeating this error, even the little sisters. Of course, the issue is over because the question is moot after policy changes and accomodations. Beckett's case was juvenile. Hopefully the Beckett fund will get no fundraising boost from being wrong on this issue - so that they must dip into reserves. They had better not bill the Little Sisters.
The Becket Fund, not the Little Sisters, Lose | National Catholic Reporter
The Becket Fund, not the Little Sisters, Lose | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Unless you are going to grant zero exemptions to religious organizations, you have to draw the line somewhere or else everyone is a religious employer. Regardless, this whole thing was a set up and everyone knows it. The goal of Valerie Jarrett, acting in the political interests of the President, was to get five bishops at a witness table discussing the vagaries of Catholic doctrine and their interest as employers (which did not really exist - most hospitals and colleges are not owned or controlled by the bishops). The non-inflamatory language, which was likely pre-cleared with CCUSA, CHA etc., was ready once the War on Women had been proclaimed and answered - with Limbaugh providing extra flourish by calling a perfectly nice law student a slut for insisting on access to health care.
The loss in the Supreme Court on Hobby Lobby was no cost, as the RFRA is a minor law. I am sure Becket wanted to use this case, as all cases, to overturn abortion rights. No dice. What must be remembered about Becket and their ilk is not that they want to win. Winning would mess up their fundraising (as Lambda Legal is finding out now, I am sure). It would also mess up the funding and volunteer recruitment of the entire Republican Party (this is overturning Roe we are talking about). That the Bishops are are of this little Republican plot is damning. This is why it must be shouted from the roof tops - so that those bishops most involved can repent, lest they die.
The loss in the Supreme Court on Hobby Lobby was no cost, as the RFRA is a minor law. I am sure Becket wanted to use this case, as all cases, to overturn abortion rights. No dice. What must be remembered about Becket and their ilk is not that they want to win. Winning would mess up their fundraising (as Lambda Legal is finding out now, I am sure). It would also mess up the funding and volunteer recruitment of the entire Republican Party (this is overturning Roe we are talking about). That the Bishops are are of this little Republican plot is damning. This is why it must be shouted from the roof tops - so that those bishops most involved can repent, lest they die.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Links for 07/14/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/14/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The right to die movement will never win a majority, but it should not have to. It will be recognized as privacy right that legislators have no business delving into. Numbers don't matter in a discussion of rights or morality. Of course, the extent to which the Church believes in God the Ogre will determine how much pressure Trads will exert about this issue, although the Modernists will win in the end (and be the Trads of mid-century). If you take out the core belief that God is the only one who decides when someone dies and attempts to hurry the process are an insult to his dignity - or the the Natural Order, or the Magisterium - its all the same thing and remember that morality is for humans to live their lives on earth in the best possible way - for their sakes, not God's - then the Modernists will have won. Its inevitable.
Bravo to Lauren Green. Her story is why Downs children should never be aborted. It is also a caution, however, that when they are born they should be given every supportive service (and their parents) and every opportunity. Its easier to do that in the UK than here, where the neo-liberals would have her and her parents be on their own (even if they also dislike aborting people like her).
It is good that a deal has been reached with Iran and that the sanctions which hurt the Iranian people more than the mullahs and the military are coming off. There was never any danger to Israel. Wiping out the Israeli Jews would have also wiped out the Israeli Arabs and those of surrounding nations (although the mountains in the west would have collected any fall-out headed toward Iran. Of course, the mountains would not stop American nuclear weapons, so there was no doubt how this was going to end - only how much Netanyahu would bark at it or how long. Now its is time for the Republican Klown Kart Klub to make noise, but that will be short lived - their attention spans are not long.
Bravo to Lauren Green. Her story is why Downs children should never be aborted. It is also a caution, however, that when they are born they should be given every supportive service (and their parents) and every opportunity. Its easier to do that in the UK than here, where the neo-liberals would have her and her parents be on their own (even if they also dislike aborting people like her).
It is good that a deal has been reached with Iran and that the sanctions which hurt the Iranian people more than the mullahs and the military are coming off. There was never any danger to Israel. Wiping out the Israeli Jews would have also wiped out the Israeli Arabs and those of surrounding nations (although the mountains in the west would have collected any fall-out headed toward Iran. Of course, the mountains would not stop American nuclear weapons, so there was no doubt how this was going to end - only how much Netanyahu would bark at it or how long. Now its is time for the Republican Klown Kart Klub to make noise, but that will be short lived - their attention spans are not long.
More Dissent on the Right | National Catholic Reporter
More Dissent on the Right | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Samuel Gregg of Acton is correct and I will not apologize for anything the Holy Father said. The Pope diagnosed the region's and the world's problems to a tee. It is Acton whose prescription has led to disaster. Gregg is right that wealthy countries do not play fair, but agreements like the TPP only codify that unfairness because they favor companies over countries. If the non-Portuguese countries unified, they would have the leverage to tell the United States and its member corporations to swim in the sewer. Once the countries cannot be easily exploited, the poor are in much better shape to demand their rights as well, including the right to unionize and not be black listed or killed. A continent wide workers rights agency is exactly what the doctor, and the pontiff, would have ordered.
Of course, before we get all high and mighty about American corporations exploiting the poor, we need to remember that they do so to feed our cheap consumption - which keeps us from organizing on behalf of all workers. If food were not so cheap, many more would be rioting in the U.S., including me. Liberty is the luxury of the well fed.
Weigel's comparison of Francis to St. John Paul is apt. Karol was the leading voice of rejectionism at the Second Vatican Council, yet he had the temerity to name himself after the Council popes, or rather after a pope who might have taken the spirit of Vatican II to the next level rather than dialing it back. Francis is now bringing back the revolution and making up for lost time for families, gay children, the divorced, abused children, the poor and the environment and he is providing an unavoidable example on overturning clerical culture by living simply. No wonder Weigel is not friendly to this pope. Then again, I never, ever, cared what Weigel thought or concluded about anything. Why start now?
Why confront a good comrade, like Morales. I doubt Francis would have endorsed General Jarulzelski, just to be clear. Not a good Comrade. Indeed, Soviet and Chinese communists are not considered to be socialists. They are authoritarians. Socialism is by nature democratic, not autocratic. That would be capitalism.
George Weigel and the John Paul priests can wait around to die - as long as they don't get in the way of reform for the rest of us. Of course, if they wish to tango, we will shout them down with less respect than they think is due them, but more than they have earned.
I like how Francis says that between now and September, he will read those who criticize them. He will likely be more gentle with them than I would be - and certainly more than St. John Paul, or St. Pius, would be.
I hope he reads what I have said in the comment on consumerism. The problem is not having goods, its having goods without paying for the labor to bring them. There is only so much we can do on that score unless we start really condemning the bad actors and finding alternatives for people of conscience to eat and drink - or finding a way to make our own food sustainably (I have some writings on that topic - and it will first revolutionize life for American workers and then overseas workers as well - maybe I should be on Francis' calendar).
There are many Traditionalists who are good economic liberals, although they still take in some of the crap they are taught and know no better. Hopefully Francis can reach them about the upcoming changes so that we can cut the likes of Gregg and Weigel off at the knees.
Of course, before we get all high and mighty about American corporations exploiting the poor, we need to remember that they do so to feed our cheap consumption - which keeps us from organizing on behalf of all workers. If food were not so cheap, many more would be rioting in the U.S., including me. Liberty is the luxury of the well fed.
Weigel's comparison of Francis to St. John Paul is apt. Karol was the leading voice of rejectionism at the Second Vatican Council, yet he had the temerity to name himself after the Council popes, or rather after a pope who might have taken the spirit of Vatican II to the next level rather than dialing it back. Francis is now bringing back the revolution and making up for lost time for families, gay children, the divorced, abused children, the poor and the environment and he is providing an unavoidable example on overturning clerical culture by living simply. No wonder Weigel is not friendly to this pope. Then again, I never, ever, cared what Weigel thought or concluded about anything. Why start now?
Why confront a good comrade, like Morales. I doubt Francis would have endorsed General Jarulzelski, just to be clear. Not a good Comrade. Indeed, Soviet and Chinese communists are not considered to be socialists. They are authoritarians. Socialism is by nature democratic, not autocratic. That would be capitalism.
George Weigel and the John Paul priests can wait around to die - as long as they don't get in the way of reform for the rest of us. Of course, if they wish to tango, we will shout them down with less respect than they think is due them, but more than they have earned.
I like how Francis says that between now and September, he will read those who criticize them. He will likely be more gentle with them than I would be - and certainly more than St. John Paul, or St. Pius, would be.
I hope he reads what I have said in the comment on consumerism. The problem is not having goods, its having goods without paying for the labor to bring them. There is only so much we can do on that score unless we start really condemning the bad actors and finding alternatives for people of conscience to eat and drink - or finding a way to make our own food sustainably (I have some writings on that topic - and it will first revolutionize life for American workers and then overseas workers as well - maybe I should be on Francis' calendar).
There are many Traditionalists who are good economic liberals, although they still take in some of the crap they are taught and know no better. Hopefully Francis can reach them about the upcoming changes so that we can cut the likes of Gregg and Weigel off at the knees.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Links for 07/13/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/13/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I would not call it an Encyclical, I would call it leaving the best stuff for the folks back home. I would call it 17 Thesis posted on the door of the New York Stock Exchange or pasted to the Blackened Bull that serves as its idol.
It seems Addy is no Greek patriot. What she did was not a crime, but it does demand a penance, which would be having the Eurozone buy all its members debt and pay for it with a continent wide income tax, which she should have to pay a chunk of. A big chunk.
The Contraceptive cases were never a good idea and I suspect that the lawyers should have simply told their pro-bono clients (and they had better have not used any contribution of mine on these cases) that there was no case. Instead, they let the clients dictate the logic. Never a good idea when your client is a true believe in his position - so true that he ignores the science showing that individual life begins at gastrulation and only potential lives before (due to the possiblility of twinning - and saying the twin gets a soul when required is just silly - its requred at gastrulation, not before).
It seems Addy is no Greek patriot. What she did was not a crime, but it does demand a penance, which would be having the Eurozone buy all its members debt and pay for it with a continent wide income tax, which she should have to pay a chunk of. A big chunk.
The Contraceptive cases were never a good idea and I suspect that the lawyers should have simply told their pro-bono clients (and they had better have not used any contribution of mine on these cases) that there was no case. Instead, they let the clients dictate the logic. Never a good idea when your client is a true believe in his position - so true that he ignores the science showing that individual life begins at gastrulation and only potential lives before (due to the possiblility of twinning - and saying the twin gets a soul when required is just silly - its requred at gastrulation, not before).
'Take nothing for the journey.' | National Catholic Reporter
'Take nothing for the journey.' | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Jesuits actually try out what the Lord has to say in yesterday's Gospel. One of the contributors to America recounted his journey after being essentially left off in the middle of nowhere and having a month to get back. So don't say it cannot be done in the modern era.
CEO salaries should be trimmed - not as some PR gimmick but by taxing them at 99% (combination state and local) above a certain limit. This takes away the incentive to cut worker salaries. Say what you will about the problem of consumerism, for a long time it was the safety valve that kept workers from radicalizing. Cut worker salaries so they can't comsume and they may vote for Senator Sanders.
Of course, worker ownership and control (the important part) should lead to all promotions in house and an open bidding process where the lowest qualified bidder becomes CEO. Since there is almost always someone who thinks he can do a better job than the boss and is willing to be paid less to do it, this is not an idle threat.
CEO salaries should be trimmed - not as some PR gimmick but by taxing them at 99% (combination state and local) above a certain limit. This takes away the incentive to cut worker salaries. Say what you will about the problem of consumerism, for a long time it was the safety valve that kept workers from radicalizing. Cut worker salaries so they can't comsume and they may vote for Senator Sanders.
Of course, worker ownership and control (the important part) should lead to all promotions in house and an open bidding process where the lowest qualified bidder becomes CEO. Since there is almost always someone who thinks he can do a better job than the boss and is willing to be paid less to do it, this is not an idle threat.
Friday, July 10, 2015
Links for 07/10/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/10/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: It is a pity that COO Bohlen of the Chicago Archdiocese does not have the collar of a lay deacon (can remarry and can be a woman) - and that such lay deacons are not running the administrative aspects of every parish. She should be the rule, not the exception.
I would not put the Greek issue into Orthodox v. Augustinian moral views on charity v. punishment. Its a matter of whether Europe wants to have sovereign nations with a single currency or whether it is time to drop the rock and burn the Mastrecht treaty - replacing it with either nothing or a more American style constitution, including retaining the Euro and establishing a single debt holding all member debts and a continent wide income tax to service it and pay it back. Of course, if that is too sound, the American Treasury and Federal Reserve will start feeling the pinch of competition.
Iran is never going to nuke Israel and everyone knows it - although the Israeli regime and the Republicans like to tease people that it is. There are too many Arabs in and around Israel to make that more than the worst nonsense. Iran should have some nuclear power capability, since they know that peak oil is going to get them first and they don't want to contribute to global warming even more than they have in the past. Not only should we end sanctions, we should give them a Pope Francis environmentalism prize.
I would not put the Greek issue into Orthodox v. Augustinian moral views on charity v. punishment. Its a matter of whether Europe wants to have sovereign nations with a single currency or whether it is time to drop the rock and burn the Mastrecht treaty - replacing it with either nothing or a more American style constitution, including retaining the Euro and establishing a single debt holding all member debts and a continent wide income tax to service it and pay it back. Of course, if that is too sound, the American Treasury and Federal Reserve will start feeling the pinch of competition.
Iran is never going to nuke Israel and everyone knows it - although the Israeli regime and the Republicans like to tease people that it is. There are too many Arabs in and around Israel to make that more than the worst nonsense. Iran should have some nuclear power capability, since they know that peak oil is going to get them first and they don't want to contribute to global warming even more than they have in the past. Not only should we end sanctions, we should give them a Pope Francis environmentalism prize.
Pope Francis Brings Back the Seamless Garment | National Catholic Reporter
Pope Francis Brings Back the Seamless Garment | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: This is much more than Bernardin's seamless garment, which was a rebuke to those bishops who were starting to go all-in with the Republican Party. This is a continuation of his refutation of modern authoritarian capitalism (libertarian capitalism is a myth that never really happened). St. John Paul II would have blanched at this language. Marx would have rethought his atheism if he had heard from this pope. I suspect the term radicalize is as good as organize the way he means it. Its a nice change.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Links for 07/09/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/09/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: It seems what can be said about Bolivia can be said about parts of the United States where great wealth and prosperity mix with great poverty and a lack of public services. Sadly, some so called Catholics want those services cut even more - as if there is a pool of jobs some place that the poor are ignoring. Prosperity, as he uses it, is essentially capitalism and much of what he describes as the common good fall under social services (or as the right wing would them, socialist services - wear the label proudly!).
I like Blue Nation's piece. A few comment. First, Unions are less powerful because the tax code gives CEOs a personal incentive to bust them. In the old days, obscene income amounts were taxed away entirely, so there was labor piece and a bit of inflation. Reagan's cuts changed that, as did pervasive efforts to ignore law in many administrations. Second, Unions are, of course, political. When I proposed shifting the discussion of private accounts in Social Security to include those accounts holding mostly insured employer voting stock, with each person getting an equal credit from the employer contribution (rather than linking that credit to wages), the AFL-CIO went nuts, as this was opposite of their political agenda with the Democrats. Third, bankruptcies in industry are often caused by looting company and pension assets for the benefit of vulture capitalists, like Mitt Romney, or because credit departments, like in the car company bankruptcies, were making bad loans (like letting people roll over their current car loan when they wanted a newer car - which could not support both loans if it failed). Fourth, if only unions created more conflict. To my eyes, they have lost their socialist edge.
At least it was not a cat playing the piano.
I like Blue Nation's piece. A few comment. First, Unions are less powerful because the tax code gives CEOs a personal incentive to bust them. In the old days, obscene income amounts were taxed away entirely, so there was labor piece and a bit of inflation. Reagan's cuts changed that, as did pervasive efforts to ignore law in many administrations. Second, Unions are, of course, political. When I proposed shifting the discussion of private accounts in Social Security to include those accounts holding mostly insured employer voting stock, with each person getting an equal credit from the employer contribution (rather than linking that credit to wages), the AFL-CIO went nuts, as this was opposite of their political agenda with the Democrats. Third, bankruptcies in industry are often caused by looting company and pension assets for the benefit of vulture capitalists, like Mitt Romney, or because credit departments, like in the car company bankruptcies, were making bad loans (like letting people roll over their current car loan when they wanted a newer car - which could not support both loans if it failed). Fourth, if only unions created more conflict. To my eyes, they have lost their socialist edge.
At least it was not a cat playing the piano.
Help for Puerto Rico | National Catholic Reporter
Help for Puerto Rico | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: This matter is under discussion on TaxVox, the blog of the Brookings-Urban Tax Policy Center. A few things are possible, aside from bankruptcy. We could include PR government workers, indeed all citizens, in Social Security - getting rid of most of the public pension liability. U.S. Citizens are exempt from state and local taxes (at least that is what TaxVox said). If that is true, we can change it - after all, PR citizens have to pay state taxes if they move to the mainland. It hardly seems fair. PR should start up its own bankruptcy system - or make moves too. A lot of creditors will be up in arms enough to allow the US system to be established there instead. It is time to play hard ball.
Links for 07/08/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/08/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Berkowitz is right, the GOP has been saved from itself yet again. It is attacking its approach to health care (although there are those who want to go all the way and tax employer supplied benefits as income, which makes everyone who gets them have to pay more, so it would probably lead most to switch to non-comprehensive insurance - no one wants to do that). Their real objection to the ACA is the increase in taxes on unearned income - but removing just those provisions is subject to a Budget Act point of order that they cannot defeat.
Walker has no real good grounding in labor law, but the problem is he did not hire anyone who had an appreciation of why unions are necessary, even in the public sector. Of course, he is being overshadowed by Trump.
Laudato Si’ essentially calls for more socialism and condemns capitalism without saying so directly. The condemnation of Marxism was necessary due to its atheistic nature. While there are secularists in modern Democratic Socialism, they are not the only voices.
The right to die was never going to pass legislatively. It will only be recognized as a right under privacy – not the privacy of secrecy but of autonomy – as in the people, through the government, do not have a right to a say on how their neighbors end their lives when they are terminally ill. The most the public should be able to do is require alternatives be explored, including medication for depression. Even then, there are limits to what society should be able to do. Now, if the bishops want to continue to base their defense against this right on the fact that God is an Ogre, they can. I see no other real reason why they should care this much than the belief that suicide leads one to Hell.
Walker has no real good grounding in labor law, but the problem is he did not hire anyone who had an appreciation of why unions are necessary, even in the public sector. Of course, he is being overshadowed by Trump.
Laudato Si’ essentially calls for more socialism and condemns capitalism without saying so directly. The condemnation of Marxism was necessary due to its atheistic nature. While there are secularists in modern Democratic Socialism, they are not the only voices.
The right to die was never going to pass legislatively. It will only be recognized as a right under privacy – not the privacy of secrecy but of autonomy – as in the people, through the government, do not have a right to a say on how their neighbors end their lives when they are terminally ill. The most the public should be able to do is require alternatives be explored, including medication for depression. Even then, there are limits to what society should be able to do. Now, if the bishops want to continue to base their defense against this right on the fact that God is an Ogre, they can. I see no other real reason why they should care this much than the belief that suicide leads one to Hell.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
The Pope in Ecuador: He Never Read the Federalist Papers | National Catholic Reporter
The Pope in Ecuador: He Never Read the Federalist Papers | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Complementarity means we find the value in Boehner and Biden so they won't be squirming. It even means we engage the polluters and environmental exploiters as brothers and sisters with no one left out. It means gays are in and so are the bishops who can't really seem to understand equal protection law at all - nor are they helped much by staff. For Francis, this is part of the journey. Lets hope that some of the bishops read what I have to say on gay marriage, althogh I suspect they know these things and it frightens them. I can't tell them all will be OK, at least on their terms. Sometimes you have to let your brothers experience a rude awakening - which also applies to fighting global warming - especially when the sea level rises start swallowing Florida.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Links for 07/07/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/07/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The Pope asking us to mumble it if we believe that some marriages can be saved may be the best advice - as from the lips to action the the heart and mind. Still, since I am the one who was left, mumbling probably won't help - since God will not move one person because of the prayers of another. Its an interesting thing to bring up a very few months ahead of a Synod that will talk about letting divorced and remarried Catholics go back to Communion (assuming they go to Mass).
The USCCB flier was likely a staff job by the most Republican leaning staff members. What are they trying to do, decrease Mass attendance further? I suspect many will be undeterred in seeking blessings for the marriages of their gay children, siblings, parents, selves and there are plenty of gay priests, celibate or not, who will quietly accomodate them - praise God! As for the employer side, that shoe is yet to fall, but no parish, diocese or institution who recognizes those immoral heterosexual civil marriages without a thought can not do the same for the gays and lesibians without showing deep hypocricy. (I am going to keep saying the last bit until I hear an echo in the media).
If you have some time to kill, watch the tape of an entire event on the environment by John Carr, including an energy company representative - although I bet it was not a company owned by the Koch family.
The USCCB flier was likely a staff job by the most Republican leaning staff members. What are they trying to do, decrease Mass attendance further? I suspect many will be undeterred in seeking blessings for the marriages of their gay children, siblings, parents, selves and there are plenty of gay priests, celibate or not, who will quietly accomodate them - praise God! As for the employer side, that shoe is yet to fall, but no parish, diocese or institution who recognizes those immoral heterosexual civil marriages without a thought can not do the same for the gays and lesibians without showing deep hypocricy. (I am going to keep saying the last bit until I hear an echo in the media).
If you have some time to kill, watch the tape of an entire event on the environment by John Carr, including an energy company representative - although I bet it was not a company owned by the Koch family.
Bransfield's pastoral letter on the elderly | National Catholic Reporter
Bransfield's pastoral letter on the elderly | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The coal companies of West Virginia used a company town approach to their employees - which was fine as long as there was coal in the mine and the workers survived (not a sure thing). Now that is all gone, the companies have become "bankrupt" to shed their pension obligations while the owners still have a pile of money from those halcyon days, while the widows starve. Not even the Union can save them when the government sides with the owners (if the miners had been the owners, I bet there would be a different story). This is a bigger problem then West Virginia - but it is always good to put a face to the injustice. The hog processors in Iowa had a similar fate when their companies sold out to Iowa Beef Processors and their promised benefits vanished. That should never be the case and it needs to be fixed - either by clawing back that wealth, even from heirs, and/or by making the workers the owners and structure it so they can't be bought out without first being made fully whole as if retired with a pension and home.
Monday, July 6, 2015
Links for 07/06/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/06/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Bishop Farrell's piece looks more like a summary prepared by staff than something that has touched his heart.
In case you missed game Sunday....
If you want to see great video of Francis, some of which was also on TV tonite..
In case you missed game Sunday....
If you want to see great video of Francis, some of which was also on TV tonite..
Oxi: The Greek Vote | National Catholic Reporter
Oxi: The Greek Vote | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Justice is about having an unsatisfied greivance. How to handle that is the language of reform. Its not so much in this instance that we need to overturn capitalism as give Greece the methods to disregard it. That would be by Europe doing with Greek debt (and other member nation debt) what Hamilton had the United States do with revolutionariy war debt - Federalize it. Of course, this will also require a continent wide tax. My suggestion is an income tax and a corporate profits tax. Take some of that corporate profit parked in Ireland and Luxembourg and use it to help with the debt and rigged interest rates impossed on the PIIGS. Of course, a Eurodebt and Eurotax would be competition for the Dollar and the US Treasury - and we may see higher income taxes here as well. We call that a double win.
Links for 07/03/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/03/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Fr. Barron should not be surprised by this decision, which has been inevitable since Catholic Hospitals began denying spousal privileges to gay patients, instead deferring to estranged families. I suspect that now those same families will be demanding gay weddings.
Dr. Rowlands provides an interesting biblical treatment on immigration, although some background on the proposal the UK is opting out of would help to provide context.
No law is legally insiginficant. In DC, during the Control period, Financial Authority refused to dispense money to hospitals for performing abortions under the Medical Charities fund. This is a universal practice and was never understood to violate the Hyde Amendment, since federal money was not used. Everyone thought Hyde was not applicable until the Authority acted. The DC A.G. is not correct. The issue, by the way, is not as much abortion as Congress acting in matters where none of their constituents are concerned (and no federal money is used). Take on paying 100% of DC Medicaid, and we will talk about what it buys.
Dr. Rowlands provides an interesting biblical treatment on immigration, although some background on the proposal the UK is opting out of would help to provide context.
No law is legally insiginficant. In DC, during the Control period, Financial Authority refused to dispense money to hospitals for performing abortions under the Medical Charities fund. This is a universal practice and was never understood to violate the Hyde Amendment, since federal money was not used. Everyone thought Hyde was not applicable until the Authority acted. The DC A.G. is not correct. The issue, by the way, is not as much abortion as Congress acting in matters where none of their constituents are concerned (and no federal money is used). Take on paying 100% of DC Medicaid, and we will talk about what it buys.
Friday, July 3, 2015
Happy Birthday America | National Catholic Reporter
Happy Birthday America | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: If the Founding Fathers knew that the impetus for same sex marriage was hospitals, particularly Catholic hospitals, giving preference to estranged families over the long-time companion of the of the patient, I doubt they would have been surprised. Marx would not have been either. That is not a good thing.
Any political science or history student knows that the big three for the founders were Locke, Montesquieu and Rousseau. Locke could never be confused with a Catholic (indeed, I am one of few Locke relatives who is Catholic), Montesquieu, though Catholic, married a Protestant and is known for his contributions to our governmental structure - not the Catholicism of our ideal - which did not exist - he rather liked the Protestant side, and Rousseau was born Calvinist, became Catholic and died a Deist. They would have all laughed at Weigel, except possibly to acknowledge Aristotle and the Classics, which were the educational core everywhere. Indeed, they stopped with Aristotle in their Deism and today would likely favor Daniel Dennett, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and the late Christopher Hitchens - although they may have admired Pope Francis much more than George Weigel does. Still, the uncomfortable fact for Catholics who would appropriate the founding is that they were, by and large, Masons.
The reason MSW had to write this column is that everyone is sure that the Church will be dragged kicking and screaming into the present. As employers, they should yield right away. Many already suspect that a largely gay clergy is beating up on gay workers as a way to deflect attention from themselves (even if only they are paying attention). The fact is, the boat has sailed on civil marriage, which is regarded as sinful for Catholics to join into. If they ignore such marriages by employees who are straight, suddenly changing their minds on gay ones can only be construed as bigotry.
As for celebrating gay weddings, that won't come from outside pressure but from within the Church when families of gay couples want them to go through the same torture of pre-Cana and showing up at Church that went through and so they can celebrate the nuptials in a religious setting. Of course, what worries bishops is that their gay priesthood will bless the marriages anyway, or will get married themselves - either forcing an end to clerical celibacy or seeing a mass exodus of gay priests who can end their lonliness in the arms of another.
Any political science or history student knows that the big three for the founders were Locke, Montesquieu and Rousseau. Locke could never be confused with a Catholic (indeed, I am one of few Locke relatives who is Catholic), Montesquieu, though Catholic, married a Protestant and is known for his contributions to our governmental structure - not the Catholicism of our ideal - which did not exist - he rather liked the Protestant side, and Rousseau was born Calvinist, became Catholic and died a Deist. They would have all laughed at Weigel, except possibly to acknowledge Aristotle and the Classics, which were the educational core everywhere. Indeed, they stopped with Aristotle in their Deism and today would likely favor Daniel Dennett, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and the late Christopher Hitchens - although they may have admired Pope Francis much more than George Weigel does. Still, the uncomfortable fact for Catholics who would appropriate the founding is that they were, by and large, Masons.
The reason MSW had to write this column is that everyone is sure that the Church will be dragged kicking and screaming into the present. As employers, they should yield right away. Many already suspect that a largely gay clergy is beating up on gay workers as a way to deflect attention from themselves (even if only they are paying attention). The fact is, the boat has sailed on civil marriage, which is regarded as sinful for Catholics to join into. If they ignore such marriages by employees who are straight, suddenly changing their minds on gay ones can only be construed as bigotry.
As for celebrating gay weddings, that won't come from outside pressure but from within the Church when families of gay couples want them to go through the same torture of pre-Cana and showing up at Church that went through and so they can celebrate the nuptials in a religious setting. Of course, what worries bishops is that their gay priesthood will bless the marriages anyway, or will get married themselves - either forcing an end to clerical celibacy or seeing a mass exodus of gay priests who can end their lonliness in the arms of another.
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Links for 07/02/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/02/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: It is good the Christie mentioned and E.J. caught the reference to "hard work and his family." Of course, those who believe in hard work sometimes forget that people who work hard for less money also have a right to feed their families, no matter how large. Actually, any family deserves to be fed and housed and receive health care, regardless of whether their head is male or female, a wage earner, salaried, student or disabled. I somehow think that Christie and his GOP base won't take it that far. They certainly won't do anything about either overtime or making some employees consultants, all to mess with the pay scales so that the CEO or even the store manager or franchises can live large according to the dictates of his (or rarely her) class. That class votes Republican too, unless we convince them (the petite bourgeoisie) that they are better off with a more active government involvement in making America a fairer place.
Harold is right about the need for more "categorical rights" in the workplace - and that includes religious workplaces. Union organizing is another battle we thought we already won. While refusing to go public is good for CEOs to avoid activist investors, it might also serve workers if they can get a piece of the action and be activist shareholders - thereby having their funds hold enough employer voting stock (maybe with some kind of insurance) to make activism count for much more than is the case now at shareholders meetings. Maybe we can get corporate democracy at some point - and more union involvement - although if we want this to happen soon, we need to look at Social Security personal accounts holding, not index funds, but employer voting stock. The unions are allergic to that right now. Maybe we should give them an allergy shot. Such a regime makes overturning Citizens United unnecessary however we still need ENDA, since even employee owners can nasty on rights of gays and lesbians, The California case is essential, a line in the sand that should not be crossed. Of course, employee ownership will kill CALPERS, since in the end there will be no stock for the fund to invest in. The public pension system will, oddly, have to be strengthened if we go for employee ownership. Of course, it might force public workplaces to behave a little less hierarchically as well.
The link to Vox is to a story by someone who worked as a plantation guide, where she describes what would have to be as a belligerence about the institutional of slavery, especially from people with a working class background. The habit of wanting status by having someone be lower is quite apparent. Its who the Republicans keep working class white voters in check. A little solidarity among the poor, black and white, would change things greatly. I suspect it would prevent the next Dylan Roof type shooting, which she mentions.
Harold is right about the need for more "categorical rights" in the workplace - and that includes religious workplaces. Union organizing is another battle we thought we already won. While refusing to go public is good for CEOs to avoid activist investors, it might also serve workers if they can get a piece of the action and be activist shareholders - thereby having their funds hold enough employer voting stock (maybe with some kind of insurance) to make activism count for much more than is the case now at shareholders meetings. Maybe we can get corporate democracy at some point - and more union involvement - although if we want this to happen soon, we need to look at Social Security personal accounts holding, not index funds, but employer voting stock. The unions are allergic to that right now. Maybe we should give them an allergy shot. Such a regime makes overturning Citizens United unnecessary however we still need ENDA, since even employee owners can nasty on rights of gays and lesbians, The California case is essential, a line in the sand that should not be crossed. Of course, employee ownership will kill CALPERS, since in the end there will be no stock for the fund to invest in. The public pension system will, oddly, have to be strengthened if we go for employee ownership. Of course, it might force public workplaces to behave a little less hierarchically as well.
The link to Vox is to a story by someone who worked as a plantation guide, where she describes what would have to be as a belligerence about the institutional of slavery, especially from people with a working class background. The habit of wanting status by having someone be lower is quite apparent. Its who the Republicans keep working class white voters in check. A little solidarity among the poor, black and white, would change things greatly. I suspect it would prevent the next Dylan Roof type shooting, which she mentions.
Review: A Partisan Church, Part III | National Catholic Reporter
Review: A Partisan Church, Part III | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: That Novak and Neuhaus were not particularly anti-abortion was not a surprise. The Pro-Life movement is reactionary. Until Roe, the only activists were feminists pushing for abortion rights. Likewise, pre-Reagan, the Cold War did exist in the background - everyone was likley paying attention to theViet Nam meat grinder.
Interestingly, when Reagan took office and the bishops began preaching about economic justice and nuclear war, our three heroes sided with Reagan. I suspect that where they stood related to where they sat (and who were writing for). That, and Reagan ignited strong passions, for and against. That up to half his tenure was an Alzheimers nightmare means that like the whole presidency was dominated by strong advisors, not bad if the President is strong, disasterous if he is failing. What had them pick Reagan over the bishops - probably the spirit of Vatican II was unsettling to them (at the time it dominated parts of the USCCB) and they found a spiritual ally in Rome with Saint John Paul II - although the parallel between Reagan and John Paul late in life is astounding. We made him a Saint for his physical struggles - rather than retiring him. MSW cautions liberals to not put politics before faith - although being politically liberal and being a modernist are actually two different things. As for resisting some of our current John Paul bishops (you know who they are), I respond that it is they who are resisting the Pope while they also resist the President as the Pro-life Amen Corner of the Republican Party. They should read this book and heed its lessons.
Still, for a blow by blow of how Reagan, et al (personally, I think Bush Sr. was pulling the strings) and the bishops dealt with (and locked horns over) Central America and nuclear policy, this book is a good place to start, although until Bush has been dead for a while, the truth may not be clear - if ever.
Neuhaus' attacks on liberation theology as somehow culturally captive are interesting. The train of thought that such relativism must be stopped is taken up separately by Pope Benedict XVI, although what we finally get from Benedict is a kind of Magisterial Catholic Relativism that is unaware that it has moved from a search for truth to a moral Catholic ghetto. Of course, now we have a pope in Francis who may actually be a Liberationist. No wonder our three heroes are taken aback by current developments.
Our heroes v. the American bishops is the subject of the last chapter. It is fun that the author decries the bishops for secular concerns when our heroes do so defending Reagan, who is a political, rather than religious figure. They also did not like the political priests emerging. I know a few of those, who were actually giving voice to the thought that we were better taken over by the Russians than destroying them at the cost of our souls. This is in the ear where limited nuclear war was being stated as a possibility. They surmised that the strength of Christianity would emerge from the occupation. Of coures, recent events in Iraq and the extinction of the Japanese Church during its closed period who that sometimes martyrs are just murder victims (so I guess a fully loaded nuclear arsenal may not be a bad thing after all). That are heroes were also critical of partisanship by the bishops is not just ironic, its a sick joke, which can be diagramed with the red and gold pens of your choice.
Is the Church a political lobbyist? It has such people at Catholic Health and Catholic Charities because poverty is a political thing. It has Chaplains too, although I doubt they speak of defense spending - although I am sure they have something to say (probably wrong) about military gay Catholic weddings. They speak the truth as they know it from natural law, but sometimes they get a bit caught in the belief in its infallibility to realize that natural law does change as society does - and as our knowledge base advances. Where the neocons become neotrads is where they resist the possibility that what they have been taught is wrong. Some of those Republican bishops go the same place - and are abetted by their own partisan leanings in defending past error. That we know they have done so is the theme of the book and of MSW's review. I tend to agree.
Interestingly, when Reagan took office and the bishops began preaching about economic justice and nuclear war, our three heroes sided with Reagan. I suspect that where they stood related to where they sat (and who were writing for). That, and Reagan ignited strong passions, for and against. That up to half his tenure was an Alzheimers nightmare means that like the whole presidency was dominated by strong advisors, not bad if the President is strong, disasterous if he is failing. What had them pick Reagan over the bishops - probably the spirit of Vatican II was unsettling to them (at the time it dominated parts of the USCCB) and they found a spiritual ally in Rome with Saint John Paul II - although the parallel between Reagan and John Paul late in life is astounding. We made him a Saint for his physical struggles - rather than retiring him. MSW cautions liberals to not put politics before faith - although being politically liberal and being a modernist are actually two different things. As for resisting some of our current John Paul bishops (you know who they are), I respond that it is they who are resisting the Pope while they also resist the President as the Pro-life Amen Corner of the Republican Party. They should read this book and heed its lessons.
Still, for a blow by blow of how Reagan, et al (personally, I think Bush Sr. was pulling the strings) and the bishops dealt with (and locked horns over) Central America and nuclear policy, this book is a good place to start, although until Bush has been dead for a while, the truth may not be clear - if ever.
Neuhaus' attacks on liberation theology as somehow culturally captive are interesting. The train of thought that such relativism must be stopped is taken up separately by Pope Benedict XVI, although what we finally get from Benedict is a kind of Magisterial Catholic Relativism that is unaware that it has moved from a search for truth to a moral Catholic ghetto. Of course, now we have a pope in Francis who may actually be a Liberationist. No wonder our three heroes are taken aback by current developments.
Our heroes v. the American bishops is the subject of the last chapter. It is fun that the author decries the bishops for secular concerns when our heroes do so defending Reagan, who is a political, rather than religious figure. They also did not like the political priests emerging. I know a few of those, who were actually giving voice to the thought that we were better taken over by the Russians than destroying them at the cost of our souls. This is in the ear where limited nuclear war was being stated as a possibility. They surmised that the strength of Christianity would emerge from the occupation. Of coures, recent events in Iraq and the extinction of the Japanese Church during its closed period who that sometimes martyrs are just murder victims (so I guess a fully loaded nuclear arsenal may not be a bad thing after all). That are heroes were also critical of partisanship by the bishops is not just ironic, its a sick joke, which can be diagramed with the red and gold pens of your choice.
Is the Church a political lobbyist? It has such people at Catholic Health and Catholic Charities because poverty is a political thing. It has Chaplains too, although I doubt they speak of defense spending - although I am sure they have something to say (probably wrong) about military gay Catholic weddings. They speak the truth as they know it from natural law, but sometimes they get a bit caught in the belief in its infallibility to realize that natural law does change as society does - and as our knowledge base advances. Where the neocons become neotrads is where they resist the possibility that what they have been taught is wrong. Some of those Republican bishops go the same place - and are abetted by their own partisan leanings in defending past error. That we know they have done so is the theme of the book and of MSW's review. I tend to agree.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Links for 07/01/15 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 07/01/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The debate on that horrid artifact has led to the burning of AME churches. While out of control authority must be met with peace, thuggery must be met with force. We need to find as many of these filthy flags and burn them publicly to see if the thugs come out. I am sure with the entire force of the Department of Homeland Security working this, we can find a few dozen Kluckers and lock them up for arson and hate crimes.
The Greek debt should be removed from Greece to Brussels, who should take a more muscular stance with its investors. A continent wide Income tax to pay debts taken over from member states would be the appropriate way to pay this, including a tax on corporations parking assets in Luxembourg.
The petition to excommunicate Sotomayor and Roberts over the ACA (no mention of gay marriage) is idiotic and it would force the other Catholic justices to sit out any other actions on either issue, which effectively ends the ability to grant Certiori. Of course, both Vigano and Wuerl are smarter than that. While I favor more democracy in the Church, it should have nothing to do with cases on subsidies granted to those in need. This Doller character and those who signed the petition should discuss whether they are excommunicate for both using their voices as Catholics to the Republican cause and in an effort to actually make things worse for the working poor. If that does not merit excommunication, it should.
Review: A Partisan Church, Part II | National Catholic Reporter
Review: A Partisan Church, Part II | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: MacIntyre is mistaken. Emotivism is not the basis for modern moral thought. Humanism is. This can be a secular humanism, a traditionalist Christian humanism or a more Modernist Christian Humanism. The result of a Modernist Christian Humanism and Secular Humanism should be close, because the goal of each is to make life better during this life - rather than as a way to subjugate oneself to a God who wants us to be angels on earth, especially in regard to impossible sexual situations, like being gay. I would aver that the Modernist Christian Humanism would be a bit more charitable to the vulnerable, but that may not exactly be the case, except perhaps with the unborn (and again, maybe not, especially as modernists and seculars alike don't see the utility or the charity in punitive criminal abortion law. Of course, this is my narrative on morals, not Scribner's.
Scribner's narrative is based on narrative. Neuhaus depends on Federal era protestant culture for American morality - which I guess is fine if you believe in slavery, discount the Masonic influence and forget that the age of Logical Positivism comes quickly on the stage in the nineteenth and twentieth century (see secular humanism). As for consumerism (MSW's eternal peeve), it did not come from this ideal, but was the natural result of industrialization and capitalism, where you either make goods available or prepare for workers to riot. Industrialization, not a moral myth, is what breaks up extended families as opportunities arise and people move to fill them. Still, slavery was a big deal in that Federal period, especially in the South. One wonders how that fits the neocon ideal, especially while pastors are gunned down and churches burn, all for southern pride.
I am glad for Scribner's take down of Weigel, who does really qualify as neo-con, much more so than the two popes, indeed, more so than St. John Paul who had no good things to say about Bush's Iraq policy. Baptizing the the Revolution in Catholic European soil would not only astound the Whigs - it would astound them in their night time activities as members of a Masonic Lodge (neither Catholics nor Papism allowed - and the feeling was mutual). As for Thomistic Natural Law, I expect that if St. Thomas were alive today, he would join me in condemning how the Curia has handled it - turning it into a Formalist Magisgterium rather than a way to actually discern the truth - and be fluid as what we know of circumstances change. He might not be as liberal as I am, but he certainly would not be as conservative as George Weigel in his traditionalist natural law.
Novak sounds like someone it might be fun to have dinner with. I would not turn Paul VI into Jimmy Carter - indeed, I suspect that His Holiness was not happy with the Viet Nam adventure, although as a member of the Vatican diplomatic corps, Montini most likely knew the ins and outs of the foreign policy issues of his day, as did all of his successors. I wonder if some disaffected liberal writer turns neo-con and makes comments on Francis' barely hidden liberation theology. That won't be me, of course, I think a bit of liberation theology is exactly what we need. I suspect that no one thought we would be bringing back Vatican II and maybe setting up for Vatican III or a new council in the East. I suspect our Neo-cons (or Neo-Trads) would blanche at the idea. It certainly would be a far cry from the supposedly halcyon days of Ronald Reagan.
Scribner's narrative is based on narrative. Neuhaus depends on Federal era protestant culture for American morality - which I guess is fine if you believe in slavery, discount the Masonic influence and forget that the age of Logical Positivism comes quickly on the stage in the nineteenth and twentieth century (see secular humanism). As for consumerism (MSW's eternal peeve), it did not come from this ideal, but was the natural result of industrialization and capitalism, where you either make goods available or prepare for workers to riot. Industrialization, not a moral myth, is what breaks up extended families as opportunities arise and people move to fill them. Still, slavery was a big deal in that Federal period, especially in the South. One wonders how that fits the neocon ideal, especially while pastors are gunned down and churches burn, all for southern pride.
I am glad for Scribner's take down of Weigel, who does really qualify as neo-con, much more so than the two popes, indeed, more so than St. John Paul who had no good things to say about Bush's Iraq policy. Baptizing the the Revolution in Catholic European soil would not only astound the Whigs - it would astound them in their night time activities as members of a Masonic Lodge (neither Catholics nor Papism allowed - and the feeling was mutual). As for Thomistic Natural Law, I expect that if St. Thomas were alive today, he would join me in condemning how the Curia has handled it - turning it into a Formalist Magisgterium rather than a way to actually discern the truth - and be fluid as what we know of circumstances change. He might not be as liberal as I am, but he certainly would not be as conservative as George Weigel in his traditionalist natural law.
Novak sounds like someone it might be fun to have dinner with. I would not turn Paul VI into Jimmy Carter - indeed, I suspect that His Holiness was not happy with the Viet Nam adventure, although as a member of the Vatican diplomatic corps, Montini most likely knew the ins and outs of the foreign policy issues of his day, as did all of his successors. I wonder if some disaffected liberal writer turns neo-con and makes comments on Francis' barely hidden liberation theology. That won't be me, of course, I think a bit of liberation theology is exactly what we need. I suspect that no one thought we would be bringing back Vatican II and maybe setting up for Vatican III or a new council in the East. I suspect our Neo-cons (or Neo-Trads) would blanche at the idea. It certainly would be a far cry from the supposedly halcyon days of Ronald Reagan.
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