Taking Liberties with History | National Catholic Reporter

Taking Liberties with History | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The GOP hardly knows its own history.  Viewing some of the writing of Lincoln on the evils of capitalism, one cannot but think that Honest Abe had read a little Marx - or agreed with a bit of it, certainly adopting the first agenda item from the Manifesto - an income tax.  Also, all of the social legislation and court decisions the GOP now decry come from a 14th Amendment written and ratifiied by the radical Republicans.  Of course, in this day and age, those people - including Lincoln, would be Sanders Democrats.



Strom Thurmond, Trent Lott, Jesse Helms and George Wallace would have no place in the Democratic Party today - although they were the loudest voices of segregationism.  While some old segregationists simply shut up and served their Senate terms out as Democrats, the virulent ones became members of the GOP - a little history that Republicans are loathe to admit - even now as they are beseiged by racists in the Trump camp.  When you lie with dogs, you get up with fleas.



One wonders whether Sanger would be a Trump voter - especially since just a few elections ago, while exploring a run, claimed that he was 100% pro-choice.  Lets see if the pro-life movement and the bishops remember that bit of history.

Links for 03/30/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/30/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The Perot comparison only makes sense if the GOP runs Romney or Cruz as a rump candidate and Trump gets the nomination anyway or takes his marbles and files as a third party candidate (which he really cannot do in some places because of sore loser laws, neither can Cruz).  The point is, both would be drawing from the same voter base, not from the Hillary or Sanders base.  What Hillary would fear is Sanders running as the Socialist Party candidate - because that would take votes away from her - unless of course he kills it in New York and California. Unless Sanders voters go to Trump, Hillary wins against Trump.  Hillary's women certainly would not go for the Donald.  He may not even get Republican women.  The fact that the Democrats are favored by the nuttiness of Trump and reactions to it  is exactly the point of the Washington Post piece.  I would think 45 states may be in play with two right-wing nut candidates.



The SCOTUSBlog post is interesting.  What is most interesting is that the tie is leading to further deliberation rather than simply vacating the case.  This signals that it is not likely that the justices will agree that there is no protection for "religious power" over employees.  I suspect that Judge Garland may have altered the mix on that topic.  Now we will see if the Church is still willing to play chicken on this or whether it will accede to what is a good compromise directed from the bench.

Religious Liberty: S. Court, Georgia & Scare Quotes | National Catholic Reporter

Religious Liberty: S. Court, Georgia & Scare Quotes | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The good news is that a solution is in sight on contraceptive coverage which reflects a compromise between the four liberal justices and the three moderate justices.  The bad news is what is left unsaid, that religious liberty and religious power are two separate things - and we are under no obligation to support the lattter - indeed, the government is not allowed to do so under the establishment clause.  The Governor of Georgia may understand that.  The businesses doing business in Georgia certainly do - if only because gay people are better customers than white evangelicals - although some of that is a class issue. The use of "scare quotes" shows the media understands the principle,but has not used the language - calling what religious people refer to as religious liberty as religious power (notice I did not say people of faith).



What should the bishops do?  Quit going after gays.  Support ENDA without a religious exemption (last I heard, the Catholic Church ordains celibate gays - and I suspect in the future will ordain non-celibate gays and lesbians who are married).  Polite society has essentially made up its mind on homosexuals.  The Church can either be inside or outside - but if they stay outside, most of the people in the pews will disagree.  I suspect the Pope will too.   Religious liberty has become the new abortion issue - except this time the wedge is going the other way.  This is entirely about conservative solidarity - which is a shambles in the Trump era.



(Private to MSW.  Homesexuality is not a sin unless it is lived out promiscuously).

Links for 03/29/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/29/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I don't necessarily mind references to the mythical Adam and Eve (humankind is much more ancient), as long as they are regarded as symbolic and not historical.  It is hard enough to argue with some that Jesus really did exist without homilies having him interact with characters who did not.  That being said, the triumph of the resurrection is for us, not for God.  God knows that death his beneath him.  By rising, God makes death beneath us.



It is good that young people, including Republicans, are giving up on xenophobia.  Perhaps there is hope for a compromise yet, but not the compromise passed by the Senate previously, which is a slave bill.  We need to start from scratch and be a lot less punitive.



The reason immigration is important to Trump's evangelical white voters is because they are authoritarian.  They want a strong figure to sort it out and they hate that undocumented immigrants have broken the law to come here - even though the law is only a misdemeanor (no more that Trump's aid grabbing a member of the press) as well as the law being an ass.



I doubt people are following Rush onto the Trump bandwagon.  Its more likely that Rush is giving in to an opportunistic impulse and is following his audience to Trump - although Rush is as much an authoritarian as Trump is.  Rush is not a conservative the way political science describes conservatives.  He is a reactionary force.  Maybe loss in November will purge the reactionary impulse from the GOP - but I doubt it.  Clinton is the Conservative in the race, using classical definitions - only Sanders is liberal - not even very radical. When I ran, I was radical.  Bravo to Gerson for equating Trump with Palin's anti-intellectualism

Trump At the Times | National Catholic Reporter

Trump At the Times | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Trump is  a fascist with delusions that he is an uber-mensch.  He is as personally infallible as the pope is historically - meaning he thinks he can do no wrong.  His utter lack of personal humility would doom this country and is dooming his party. He could even be said to have bipolar disorder, without the benefit of a good mood stabilizer. Luckily, both Sanders and Clinton beat him in November, so maybe he is just exorcising the ghosts of Republicanism.  This is why the establishment is aiming to stop his nomination.  Good luck with that as he is the culmination of the FoxNews project begun so long ago.

Links for 03/28/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/28/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Unless there is some danger that Karadzic could be released and restart the genocide, there is no reason to euthanize him for the protection of others.  Of course, since he will spend the rest of his life alone in a cage, he is essentially going to die in government custody anyway.



Puerto Rico needs help - and if we have to do a Hamiltonian solution for much of the state debt that is out there (even Red State debt which comes from undertaxation), so be it. The European Union should undertake similar steps for its member states, who need their own continent-wide debt and tax.  Only such steps will bring the vulture capitalists to heel.



My mother was a big fan of Mother Angelica - even making a road trip (pilgrimidge) to EWTN's station in the south with friends.  For those who find comfort in Adoration and in Faith as certitude, Angelica was an icon.  I would rather trust God by going out on the skinny branches. Still, for her faith, may she rest in peace.

Perils of Punditry | National Catholic Reporter

Perils of Punditry | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The analysis that Gordon made and Will cited could have been found in any book by Democratic Socialist/Marxists economists Gar Alperovitz or Richard Wollf. I am glad Comrade Will is finally coming around to the obvious.  What this history also implies is that FDR essentially short circuited Marxist progress in the 1930s by dropping them in exchange for the acceptance of Social Security and unionization by the plutocrats. Reaga brought the plutocrats back.  How far they are back is demonstrated by Thomas Frank, who is probably not going to get any invitations to do a reading at the White House after his next book - at least if Hillary wins.  If Bernie wins, however, expect him to be a regular guest.



Kingsley is ignoring the fact that the Sanders campaign is doing quite well in going after Mrs. Clinton - not for her femininity but because she is in that group that Thomas Frank criticizes.  His soft playing the racism is the opposition to the President (particularly in the Senate, perhaps?) is unfortunate.



I am not sure what to make of Will, but Kingsley is trying to buy into that hopeful idea that we are a post racial society.  He he had more access to libertarian discussion groups, he would not say that.

A Triduum of Mercy | National Catholic Reporter

A Triduum of Mercy | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The washing of the feet illustrates that Jesus is humble of heart.  He does not impose burdens on us to test our discipline - rather his actions in washing the feet and in teaching morality show that his actions - and the Church's actions in his stead - are for happiness on earth - to be more perfectly and happily human.  He washed their feet, not their souls.  He also showed how our leaders should behave.  The moral burdens put on many of the faithful, from women to gays, show no humility in the teaching of morality.  Would Jesus wash the feet of the hedge fund banksters?  Hardly.  He would lump them in with the Temple money changers and go after them with a lash.

God's mercy on Good Friday is not just to take us where we cannot otherwise go - but to bring his Godhead to where it cannot go except by becoming human and being subjected to the total psychic crush of giving up on both his divinity (by dismissing his mother - who was the original source of the nativity story) and his mission (by dismissing the disciple who he loved to care for his grandmother rather than to preach the Good News). This also underlies why we are moral.  It is not for God's sake, but for our own happiness in this life.  While our culture dismisses suffering, sins are sins because they do cause it for ourselves and others.  The suffering is always there and the solution is knowing that Christ suffered as well. The only requirement he gives us is to forgive others as a mercy both for us and for them.  Mostly for us.

The mercy of Easter is that what Jesus taught was reaffirmed by the Father, especially the divine humility.  It also relieves us of the sting of death - which is the ultimate act of mercy for those of us who are left behind as our relatives and friends have gone to a better existence.  In the story of the prodigal son, the loyal son believes he has it all figured out and this makes him resent any varience from that understanding - a different kind of shock.  This is like those clerics who cannot accept the reality that gay relationships are a gift from God, as all love is - or that sometimes marriages must end (not using sophistry to say they never existed).

When I was a child, just after my confirmation and during the Triduum, I was quite vexed and unconsoleable about why Jesus had to die.  I know longer feel that way because I understand the nature of his mercy - that it was to seek how we suffered rather than being the proxy for our suffering, as St. Anselm and much of the Church taught.  An angry God is entirely unlovable and unloving - and that I could not accept.  Mercy means that I don't have to.

Links for 03/23/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/23/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Anyone involved with Bernie Sanders agrees with Zach Carter.  The Clinton's can't take obscene amounts of money from Wall Street and, along with Obama, hire Wall Street darlings for government posts in treasury and finance and not be accused of colluding with the capitalists.



I will take MSW's word for what is in the other NCR.  My eyes bleed when they come across that particular fish wrap.  That they are firmly partisan - and for the intersection of the right-wings of the hierarchy and faithful with reactionary politics is beyond question.  God bless those who stand up to them, especially Archbishop Cupich and Cardinal O'Malley (who happens to be in the Gang of 9, the Pope's kitchen cabinet - which is why he is spared most of the flack)

Burwell v. Zubik | National Catholic Reporter

Burwell v. Zubik | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The question here is whether taxpayer money can be directly or indirectly used to deny contraceptive coverage to families working for a religious institution because that institution does not wish to be involved in any way with doing the paperwork.  The answer to that - and to the larger question of whether the religious employer can deny coverage at all is no.  It has been no since the EEOC ruled that insurance companies must provide contraception coverage for no additional charge - since December of 2000.



This is not a case of religious freedom - it is a case of the religious power of the religious hierarchy.  If the faithful had been able to vote on this lawsuit, it would have been settled favoring the employees - and the faithful probably would have forced parishes to cover Church office staff.  A decision for the Church on this issue would be a set back on employee law, the concept that law applies to religious institutions (it does) and would be a partial overturning of Griswold v. Connecticut - which is actually what the Church is after - especially since that would be a chink in the armor against abortion precedent.



Of course, the opposite could occur as well.  If the Church is not allowed to put the prejudices and belief's of its hierarchy above a right to be funded for contraception - how can the Congress be allowed to deny abortion funding to any qualified Medicaid recipient in exercising their right to tax supported healthcare?  This is a high risk case, because it could lead to a challenge against the Hyde Amendment, which is a band-aid against legal abortion.  Hopefully some of the Church's lawyers advised them this is so.  Not doing so is legal malpractice.



On the topic of religious exemptions generally, the reality is that the government must draw the line somewhere, especially if the Religious Freedom Restoration Act stays on the books.  Using tax categories is actually quite apt, because it differentiates the likely employees of the religious entity.  Of course, if it were up to me, there would be no such exemptions - because the Church is seeking religious power, not religious freedom.  Especially Chaput.  Valerie Jarrett set a trap and Chaput and Dolan walked right into it.  Their idiocy should not be an excuse to deny coverage to Catholic employee families.

Links for 03/22/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/22/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: My only question about Neuhaus and company is whether they misread the encyclical or deliberately lied about it - and if the latter why this was never condemned until now.  Of course, previously, the GOP Catholic thought infrastructure had not be built and I doubt Rome noticed.  They seem to be noticing now - especially on the third democratic socialist pope in a Roe.  Feeling the Bern.



Note to Mark Silk - it is not religion so much as religious authoritarianism that attracts voters to Trump - even more than to the Republican Party generally. That is why successful people who want other people put in their place flock to his events and to the voting booth for him.



I share MSW's reservations about how the Court is unanimously corporatist - however that they took the case is a good sign and if Puerto Rico wins, it will have ammunition to force Congress to act.  Of course, nothing forces the hand of Congress like defaulting on your payments and letting the creditors call out for blood

Obama's Trip to Cuba | National Catholic Reporter

Obama's Trip to Cuba | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: That the achievements of the revolution outweigh its tyrannies is obviously true because there has been no effective counter-revolution among the non-exiles.  Raul's comments on our lack of universal health care are absolutely true (Feel the Bern!) and its a pity he did not also mention the lack of D.C. statehood.  Everyone has their tyrannies.



Very neo-conservative tone to the column today, by the way.  The cold war is over.  There is no way Cuba is going to overthrow our democracy.  Trump is more likely to.  China is actually much harsher to its citizens and workers, yet we deal with them every day in every day.  We should use the same standard in dealing with human rights in Cuba, which is much less friendly to the Church than Havana.  Of course, the Cuban Church is likely more schooled in the Democratic Socialism of Catholic Social teaching than the American Church is.



This visit and normalization are long time in coming.  Hopefully the boycott can be done with.  The time to continue pandering to the exile community in south Florida has ended.

Links for 03/21/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/21/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Evangelicals are already a mixed back of Reformed Calvinist who follow Kuyper, African African American and Latino Evangelical and Pentacostals, Congregationalists in the north and the Southern Baptists and their allies.  Its only the latter group where Trumpism is splitting things up.  The hard core authoritarians in the South are all for Trump, especially if they think the "other" is to blame for their problems.  There are second generation white evangelicals, however, who never drank the authoritarian Kool-Aid and bought into the pro-life li(n)e with a sincere heart, never dreaming it was about GOP politics (Trump is historically very pro-choice, so this a problem for true believers).  The second generationals came at their faith with a pure heart - not knowing that in their ranks were many with feet of clay from the start.  They are now waking up to the fact that maybe the Southern Baptist Convention and the Missouri Synod have rope burns on their hands from the days of Judge Lynch.



There are quite a few Democratic constituencies that are also a bit naive about the GOP conspiracy on abortion, so a less feminist line on it - and other things does work better on more traditionalist Catholics who would not dream of thinking their bishops were in the thrall of the GOP.



As for religious liberty, most people can tell the difference between the religious liberty of employees and the religious power of their Catholic employers.  No one likes to be strong armed at work.  Not even Church ladies.



The Popes equivalency between how Jesus was treated and how immigrants are treated is interesting - although in Jesus' case, he was seeking the cross.  While immigrants are seeking something, they are oft surprised that that something is exploitation akin to slavery, either in factories or the sex trade.  Jesus knew what he was getting into and it benefited us, since his vision quest on the Cross is our salvation.  The exploitation of migrants, however, is just wrong.

The GOP: A 'Vehicle' for RC Concerns or a Moral Disgrace? | National Catholic Reporter

The GOP: A 'Vehicle' for RC Concerns or a Moral Disgrace? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: In the last article, Williamson was being a neo-conservative - following the same logic that zionists use toward the occupied territories.  What he suggests, of course, is entirely a war crime under the Geneva Accords.  So is most of how Palestine is treated, but MSW would never admit the equivalency.



As for both authors, they were characterizing Trump supporters, not those who would run another candidate - rumor has it that a lot of former Romney and Santorum delegates have been appointed as Trump delegates - so expect a rule change allowing delegate freedom of choice on the first ballot. The charaterization of the white working class essentially calls them White Trash, which in the case of Klan members supporting Trump may be apt.  They justify their place in society by feeling that Latinos and African Americans are inferior - and Trump feeds their justification, which keeps them under control.  The Catholic Church has abetted such attitudes with its condemnations of socialism - which would actually help some of these people better their lives.  The fact that many socialists are atheists do not damage the justice of their cause, which is why most Catholic social teaching is akin to Democratic Socialism.  Feel the Bern.

Links for 03/18/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/18/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Lauren Asburn and MSW on the same panel?!  I would not miss it!



Someone needs to explain the Geneva Convention to Kevin Williamson using very small words.



Kudos to America Magazine and the Archbishop for keeping the Puerto Rican crisis front and center.  Hopefully the President can do some things acting alone, but frankly until the island stops paying its creditors, no one in Congress will be moved to act.



Thank you for reposting the article about losing your mother.  I can relate to the experiences after losing mine.  Losing a mother is the hardest thing a man can do - only equaled by losing a child.

Pope Francis and his predecessors | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis and his predecessors | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: We will give you that Benedict and St. John Paul II loved mercy, democratic socialism and the environment.  The difference is a question of energy, style and emphasis - going to the people, dressing like an apostle and bringing that mercy with him - as in "who am I to judge?"  I guess humility is the right word. Francis speaks with humility rather than authority - and that haves its gifts in being closer to God, both personally and doctrinally.

Links for 03/17/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/17/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The Republican stain goes back to opposition to forced bussing and the Nixon Southern Strategy, thorugh Lee Atwater to Lott/Helms/Thurmond and ending with McConnell blocking all action by Obama that he can.  Trump is only the result.  Of course, he is also an out of control manic depressive - hopefully he will have a good VP who will invoke the 25th Amendment for his disability and removal.



Teddy had some class, as did Strom (for all his overt racism he treated people well individually).  The days of Senate comity are sadly (though hopefully temporarily) gone.  Of course, I can't see them coming back while McConnell is still the leader.  Removing him from even the minority leadership is as essential as blocking Trump.



ICE can only do so much.  What it should do is grant student visas to any undocumented student - but sadly it is the law that is the ass here - with no small measure being the heightened security enacted post 9/11. Obama should stop when he can - the matter of his use of presidential enforcement authority to slow roll deportations is currently before the Court.  He is too good a constitutional lawyer to ignore what they will say or go too far ahead of it.  This is why, even if bad things happen, he is a good president while Trump would be horrid.  The rule of law is what keeps us free from presidential tyranny.(of course, if Obama can act within the law, he should)

Judge Garland's Nomination | National Catholic Reporter

Judge Garland's Nomination | National Catholic Reporter I doubt that the current Senate would confirm Robert Bork if Obama sent him up. Of course, leaving this nomination open plays into the fundraising of both NARAL-Pro Choice America and the National Right to Life Committee on the myth that the Court is divided 4-4 on abortion and this vote is all important.  The reality is that Judge Garland is of the model of Kennedy, Roberts and Alito - and none of those three is anything like a vote against Roe.  The myth that Roe is not settled law is vital to obstruction on this issue.  We should explode that myth and put Garland on the Court.



The only real case that would not be dealt with quickly would be if there were a congressional compromise on when citizenship began and it was challenged by the National Reproductive Law Center.  I suspect that Kennedy, Roberts, Alito, Garland and Thomas would go along with the compromise, while the liberals would not.  Of course, compromise kills the NRLC fundraising machine.



The fact is that Justice Ginsburg is beyond getting old to being old.  I suspect that early in the Sanders administration she will be replaced by a liberal (if not sooner).  Trump would replace her with a pro-choicer as well, so the GOP needs to face the reality that abortion is no longer an issue in either judicial confirmations or our poltiical life. The Church had may as well complain about legal divorce.

Links for 03/16/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/16/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Its not Cecile Richards I fear with an HRC presidency, its the influence of Bill Clinton (and Larry Summers) - who helped start an expansion that taxed the rich and made the middle class better off - even though some of his other policies tried very hard to go the other way - and did.  As far as Trump, its not the GOP that's the problem per se, its the members, including Catholics, who have been emboldened by the anti-immmigrant feelings of much of the party - including Catholics like James Sensenbrenner - and those GOP Tea Party members who denied the legitimacy of our nation's first black president.  Working class Catholics, while formerly the victims of discrimination, still are quite capable of overt bigotry.  This is just another example.



As a judicial prospect, the pro-life movement died the second that Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito voted with Justice Kennedy to uphold the partial birth abortion law on the basis of the Commerce Clause, rather than joining Scalia and Thomas in doing what was on the pro-life agenda - using the case to overturn Roe.  Robert Christian is being funny in hoping that the GOP would support a pro-life Democrat (whatever that is) to prove they are not the handmaids of the GOP.  They obviously are. (and, no, the GOP will not retain the Senate)  Indeed, being pro-life is like being pro-apple pie - at least until people start defining what they mean by "protecting" the unborn.  Until they argue for specifics, the movement is all public relations.  Of course, with a 7-1 pro-Roe majority on the Court, the pro-life movement must win in Congress (not state legislatures) - and even with a majority, it won't get specific on what anti-abortion legislation looks like.  Until it does, it really is only a GOP recruitment tool.



Trump is winning.  It would not be so easy for him if others had not whipped the GOP into a racist frenzy.  He started on Third Base and thinks he hit a triple, the story of his life.  While he could start really cleaning up (or losing), he will probably be close enough for a few unpledged delegates to give him a first ballot victory.  It all depends on how his rivals deal with their delegates - when they release them and whether they release them to someone else.  Who the delegates are makes a difference as well.  If they are party regulators, then on the second ballot, they just might listen to establishment opinion and go with Kasich, although my guess is that Cruz won't release his in that way - and everyone is unpledged on the second ballot.  We will see who goes to Trump or how many go away from Trump if he does not win a first ballot victory.  He still has the bandwagon effect going his way - but will the non-Trump delegates be moved? We won't know until Cleveland.

The Nominations: It's All Over But the Shouting | National Catholic Reporter

The Nominations: It's All Over But the Shouting | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Sanders will keep going for a while, although in earned, rather than pledged delegates, he is closer than it looks.  The Super Delegates were not only designed to stop some crank - they were designed to stop a non-Democrat from hijacking the party.  Its a shame, because the party is in dire need of hijacking.  I predict that if there is a floor fight on the GOP side that results in two or more factions runnning in the general, that Cllintonites will join the sane faction (maybe with a Clinton-Kasich unity ticket?) and Sanders will lead the progressive faction - maybe with the Greens.  Of course, that's the future. Sanders voters will mostly go with Clinton in the Fall, though some will vote Jill Stein in the Green Party.



The fact is that in the GOP, no one like Trump or Cruz, which is why Kasich winning his home state was important.  Kasich can't win on the first ballot, but maybe on the third.  After the first ballot - and maybe before - candidates will encourage their delegates - who are now free - to join with another candidate.  Regardless of who voted for Trump, his delegates likely have the usual mix of party regulars. After the first ballot, anything can happen and it is why Kasich has a legitimate chance as the establishment candidate. Its not the delegates walking out that is a concern, its the underlying voters that put them there.  The only question is whether they would go to the Constitution Party or the Libertarian Party.  I suspect the former.

Links for 03/15/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/15/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: While organs are very Catholic, they are not very political because they are usually paid for with foudation, rather than tax dollars. While that does affect tax policy, I don't think anyone decides to not fund a civic organ because their tax benefits for doing so changes.



Bringing abortion into the Supreme Court fight helps the GOP fundraisers as much as Emily's list. The reality is that there are seven pro-Roe Justices - only Thomas is pro-life and even he disagreed with the Scalia/Federalist Society position on giving authority over abortion to the states. Thomas would declare (in a huge jump in judicial activism) that abortions cannot be performed because life begins at conception. Congress can say that, the Court cannot. The reality is, on most consequential issues, the Court is unanimously pro-business. Its an issue for Sanders to deal with (he would not appoint such judges) - everyone else will accept the standard pro-business judicial temperament.



Religious identity politics is alive and well. Believers in the prosperity gospel, both Protestant and Catholic, are going for Trump - and even if there were no religious angle - the Founding Fathers would not be happy about that.

Personality Is All That Matters This Year | National Catholic Reporter

Personality Is All That Matters This Year | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Trump is about a cult of personality.  That is what fascists run on.  Cruz panders to social conservative concerns - he is the most prominent right to lifer in the field - even though that particular issue has outlived its usefullness. Rubio will be gone soon, but he tried to be the rational candidate.  Kasich actually is the rational candidate - who can't win unless he gets the delegates of everyone else not named Trump.  He is as pro-life as Cruz, but is less of a poser.  All of them stick to the cut taxes orthodoxy of their party and fundraisers - and that is really the main issue that colors what happens in at least the first years of an administration.



Sanders and Clinton are both "difficult" personally and agree on most issues, but not about solutions.  Clinton is a neo-liberal (arguably, Kasich is too), while Sanders is a democratic socialist.  Issues ultimately transform to ideology - and the ideological differences are clear.  Indeed, on earned delegates, the candidates are not so far away, save for the super delegates who will be under tremendous pressure to change their minds should Sanders lead on the earned side. As important is the fact that this campaign has been a teaching moment on ideology in current politics on the Democratic side - the GOP is a study in fascism.

Links for 03/14/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/14/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The real problem that Lozada (or Frank and Press) should have mentioned is the Democratic fascination with the middle class, which assumes the working class is included - even though it is not.  The other problem is that Obama filled his economic team with Clinton retreads, so we got Clintonesque policies and nothing for underwater mortgage borrowers.  Could he have done any better with a more radicalized staff?  Probably not as far as relations with Congress went - but he can't be faulted for Republican racism and anti-ageism.  Still, it does give one pause if Obama is Clinton two to have Clinton three on the horizon. Sanders is definitely the winner in such discussions.



We should not publicize instances where politicians in this climate actually pursue friendly relations, even if they are co-religionists.  Extremist voters hate such comity.



Rahm is the ultimate Clintonite, and his Clintonian triangulation has not done either the teachers or the south side of Chicago any favors.  Was it a cheap shot?  None of Rahm's machine was going for Sanders anyway - although that would be a strange way to get the black vote in Illinios.

Two Anniversaries: A Church That Changes & Doesn't Change | National Catholic Reporter

Two Anniversaries: A Church That Changes & Doesn't Change | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Papal pronouncements are an influence, but so is the sense of the faithful in every generation.  Granted, in many eras there was an advanced ethic of followership in a hierarchical Church, but that ship has long since sailed.  In truth, every person has the ability and the duty to take the faith and make it his or her own - and not necessarily without changes.  Part of a well formed conscience is sometimes ignoring Church teaching when it cannot be right, as we have done with almost all phases of birth control - both from the point of view of the science of human development and of a celibate clergy that tries to impose its sexual ethic upon married Catholics who no longer fear their condemnation or respect their opinion. That is the Church that Pope Francis will speaking to on marriage.  The promise of Jesus in protecting the Chair of Peter from error comes true with the Paraclete, who prompts the Pope to accept change when the Church is obviously wrong.  When such admissions are made, albeit covertly, the gates of Hell are kept at bay.

The Nuncio Cometh? | National Catholic Reporter

The Nuncio Cometh? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I have less of a problem with Kim Davis as I do with Vagano delaying the exit of the Archbishop of St. Paul.  Still, it seems Vagano learned his lesson, or rather the pressure he was getting from the Congregation of Bishops changed.  Nine months is an awfully short time for a posting.  I suspect that Vagano will be around through the remainder of the year.  What would be a nice novelty is an American in the post - and not Burke or Rigali. Tobin perhaps?  It should be someone who can wrap their mind around the fact that withholding Communion from someone for doing their constitutional duties (like vetoing a clearly unconstitutional abortion bill) is, in fact, encouraging sedition.  It seems that the current leadership is able to do that - because if it happens again whomever is in the Nuncieria would have to be expelled.

Links for 03/11/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/11/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The SCOTUS case on DAPA and DACA hinges on whether the President's power to enforce the law can include the power to make exceptions from such enforcement for an entire class.  This has nothing to do with the merits of one or another immigration program or its impact on Latinos.  The ideal case is for law to change - and mostly on the Sanders model, which is much less punative than the plan which passed the Senate.



One can appreciate the richness of Jewishness and its sister cultures, Samaritanism and the Romany without giving the IDF a free pass to abuse Palesetinians in the territories.  Giving the IDF that free pass is called Zionism - or to use the political term, neo-conservatism.  Sadly, many who get all shmatlzy about Jewishness are not even aware that they are neo-cons.  I could name one.



The SCOTUS has been politicized, although its an illusion that this occurs over either abortion or gay marriage, as seven of the eight surviving justices are safely in the pro-Roe category and all support gay marriage and gay rights (as fast as Congress can enact them).  The majority of the cases are on business or administrative law and are usually also unanimous.  Where there is a divide is on affirmative action and political speech - items that are essentially political - and it is there where the three swing votes (Roberts, Kennedy and Alito) make a difference.  Of course, such cases are rare and the partisans on both sides will try to play this vacancy as if it has something to do with abortion or gay rigthts.  That use is only for fundraising and a fifth Democratic appointee would pop that bubble for now, although Justice Ginsberg is also in her senior years.  If she were to pass before the end of Obama's term, that would be a crisis if no replacement were allowed.  Of course, the likelihood is that the Senate will be in Democratic hands for the last two weeks of Obama's term, so anything can happen.

Links for 03/10/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/10/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: If you want to read a masterful takedown of the GOP, see Tony Annet's Commonweal piece. Rob Dreher in the American Conservative, repeats the attacks Catholics have sent in regarding the Neoconservatism of the National Review authors, especially on Iraq, where again they were Republcian before being Catholic. Here is my reaction to the National review piece from Tuesday's links: " The old motto used to be Pro Deo et Patria. Now its for God and Party. In either case, there was always some doubt as to whether God came first on the list. At least the Democrats don't prostitute the Church for their political ends. As for Trump, this is likely to little, too late. If these Republicans believe in country, they will have to vote for Clinton or Sanders."



Anytime Politico writes about Democrats, I consider that I am reading from a hostile witness.   The author called it a draw while fairly obviously dissing Clinton.  Of course, that does not mean she isn't messing up.  She is now admitting herself that she is not that great of a politician. I could have told you that a year ago.  Neither were George H.W. Bush or Herbert Hoover, who had similar resumes and no gift for electoral politics. There is a difference between keeping to the agenda and being the one set it.  At this late stage, I would certainly like to see some agenda items from HRC, aside from staff driven ones like her tax plan.

Who Will be Trump's Veep? | National Catholic Reporter

Who Will be Trump's Veep? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The last person Trump would select is Carly Fiorina, as she endorsed Cruz. Cruz is actually not totally out of the race if the Dump Trump movement gives him most of the remaining states.  I suspect that Chris Christie would have to be on the short list of both Republicans.



Clinton's main delegate bloc are the Super Delegates.  If Sanders gains a majority of earned delegates, there will be a great deal of pressure on some of these to move to Sanders.  Of course, if they agree to play nice, Sanders or Clinton would be top of the list on either of their opponents picks. The HUD Secretary, Castro, is a possibility.  Jack Kemp was a former HUD Secretary when Robert Dole chose him as a running mate.



Clinton's picks for Treasury will likely be from Goldman Sacks, unless she puts Sanders on the ticket which would make such a pick rude.  I would hope she would not pick a Senator, unless that Senator is from a safe state. Elizabeth Warren could be chosen because Massachusetts law requires election of the replacement - which means a Kennedy might run - a decent interval having passed since Teddy's death.



Just thinking about Trump or Cruz setting up a cabinet shows how unlikely their election is, as they would not be serious about governing.  Even if Sanders were the Democratic nominee, they would have no chance - even with expected red baiting.

Links for 03/09/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/09/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Socialism is a very Jewish thing.  Its also a very Catholic thing (just ask Pope Francis).  Those of us who are not exactly Zionist don't doubt Bernie's Jewishness, although I am about 2% Jewish on my paternal grandmother's side - so in some traditions, not at all.  Still, he is Zionist enough.  I am mostly Romany on my father's side and have come to believe that we are the other ten tribes - with as much a right to Zion as the Jews (including those of us who are Palestinians from the Samaritan line).  I am waiting until we get to Maryland to really feel the Bern, and Michigan and probably Florida mean that I will get my chance to.



Congratulations to Pope Francis for three years of a papacy of quiet examples, both in his writings and in who encounters in his many energetic travels.  Can't wait until after Easter to see what he has to say about marriage.  Let no one say he is above controversy.  Quiet example peeves some conservatives, but there has not been a public calling out.  Many of us are open that the call for Mercy is extended to those of us in broken marriages.



If Cato does not like the Administration bail out of Puerto Rico than he must be doing something right.  Indeed, their contention that this will hurt the borrowing powers of municipalities is hogwash, as quite a few of these have been given the right to go to bankruptcy and have control boards to help them sort things out and usually add emergency funding - since most financially sick cities and territories have real problems that normal finance can't help them with.  How that effects Kansas and Louisiana whose self inflicted wounds are even worse is hard to say, although their solution looks like bigger progressive income taxes.  Michigan too.

Clinton Falters in Michigan; Trump is On His Way | National Catholic Reporter

Clinton Falters in Michigan; Trump is On His Way | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I am not sure Clinton can pivot to the left, as every fiber in her being believes in the DLC message and its relationship to Wall Street.  In a race where one candidates wants to win at all costs and the other has a message that needs to get out at all costs, I will chose the message every time, because the other candidate is in it for themselves, not for the voters.  She also still sounds snide in her stump speech.  That works against Trump, who sounds worse, but not against fellow progressives.



Sanders can win if he dominates New York and California (no small task) and gets at least half the super-delegates to remember that being Democrat does not only mean making sure the Democratic candidate wins.  Its time to separate the Democrats from the Republican-lite office holders.



The Trump surprise in Michigan was that Kasich did not do better.  If Trump wins Ohio, Kasich is done.  Rubio is already done and Cruz is not leaving.  Rubio needs to get out now.  I suspect our young first termer was encouraged to run (like Carson) as a contrast to Obama.  The point has been made - Republicans should quit making contrasts - a move started with Sarah Palin and continued with Herbert Cain.



Obama was elected fair and square.  He was competent and did a good job - despite GOP attempts to derail him.  Of course, the GOP will never admit that.  They just saw him as young and black.  The only flaw in his presidency was that he had too many former Clintonites on his economic team - a lesson that is important to note when chosing the Democratic nominess as well.

Links for 03/08/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/08/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The old motto used to be Pro Deo et Patria.  Now its for God and Party.  In either case, there was always some doubt as to whether God came first on the list.  At least the Democrats don't prostitute the Church for their political ends.  As for Trump, this is likely to little, too late.  If these Republicans believe in country, they will have to vote for Clinton or Sanders.



Most of us would hardly know of the Cardinal Newman Society if it were not for these pages.  I am fairly sure MSW gives them better press than they give themselves.  I am sure the Cardinal's husband is quite amused from Heaven at their stupidity. I am sure neither Biden nor Fr. Jenkins is losing any sleep over their opposition.



I suspect the Michiganders who were jumping on the Kasich bandwagon are reacting to the fact that he is not doing well in other states.  I cannot see Catholics for Cruz and Rubio is not getting support for the same reason Kasich isn't.  Like most Trump supporters, they want someone who will fix things for them and the Donald fills the bill.  They are also just a little bit authoritarian in their social outlook and on race, they fall right in with the other Trump supporters.  This should be a short night. (Of course, if they really want the changes that would help them, they would vote Sanders).

Hispanics & Catholic schools | National Catholic Reporter

Hispanics & Catholic schools | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I would not be at all sanguine about any statistic showing English speaking at home - as these are most likely families who have been here for fifty to a hundred years, or more.  I don't believe that training non-immigrants to teach the large immigrant population will work.  Instead, we need teachers, principals and priests that the people can identify with.  We need missionary churches and teachers from Mexico and Central America.  Let them go through learning American English with their students and parishoners and experience with them the hatred some whites have for immigrants.  Only then will they be an attraction to what will likely be charter schools, unless we can tax the richer diocese to offer free or very reduced price tuition (which would cover religious education that cannot be state funded).

Links for 03/07/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/07/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Archbishop Naumann is less likely a hypocrite than a coward.  It would not be popular to speak out in support of Sharia (which is not that different in places than the Cathechism).  As for gay marriage, like abortion, its a dead issue. Even about the Supreme Court.  The last Republican President appointed two justices that did not overturn Roe in supporting the partial birth abortion ban (speaking of fairly tales) - and they just denied a Louisiana request to allow their Trap laws to continue while the case is being heard.  Both sides need to buy a clue on abortion - its settled law and it will never be overturned in the way that Scalia and the Federalis Society wanted to overturn it.  Thomas favors the Court adjusting the time the nation recognizes the life of the unborn child (viability) to an earlier time - however it is likely best for Congress to do that - and they most assuredly would not - because it would end the issue for all intents and purposes if a compromise were reached - not good for either the NRLC or EMILY.



In Michigan, better the Leveda solution than the Wuerl solution (which took away benefits for all married couples).  As long as the Church recognizes equally sinful civil heterosexual marriages, any denying of benefits to gays is simply bigotry.



Biden in Politico at the Gridiron is essential reading - and not just for the Cruz cut.



If you have 24 minutes and missed Mass on Sunday, you can watch Archbishop Cupich in Chicago yesterday. Since I am doing this at 2 AM, I won't be previewing it for you.

The Laetare Award: Dismantling the architecture of the culture warrior church | National Catholic Reporter

The Laetare Award: Dismantling the architecture of the culture warrior church | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Bravo to my Archbishop for lending his pressence to Notre Dame at this time when Vice President Biden and Speaker Boehner are honored with the Latarae award.  I would not say that honoring these two working class legislators dismantles the culture war in any way.  The war is not at Notre Dame, it is at select Sees like Philadelphia and Kansas City that can't get enough of the Republican Pro-life movement. Notre Dame is owned by a religious order - and most of these have opted out of the culture wars.



The honorees deserve their honors because they got things done - the right things - rather than focusing on pseudo-issues like abortion, where there is no real path forward.  While Biden as a Senator had a hand in the abortion debate when it came to confirming justices - even the GOP justices he confirmed turned out to vote against overturning Roe.  Neither politician has gone out of his way to bring abortion to the floor, as the partial birth abortion law, which was a stalking horse to overturn Roe, was passed before Boehner was speaker.



Sadly, there is the lost opportunity of what Biden could have contributed to the debate by publicly challenging the strategy of overturning Roe as an impossibility.  Sometimes the most loyal and courageous thing one can do as a Catholic is to tell the truth when the bishops cooperate with error.  He certainly could have explained the issue well without resorting to the Cuomo cop-out of pluralism.  Of course, he still can - but I wish he had in 2004.  Catholic voters may not like seeing the hierarchy publicly corrected - although I suspect the Democratic Catholics would have rejoiced - as we did when he voted for Obama as Catholics while condemning the pro-life movement as a Republican sham.  At least I was very public about it on OFA discussion groups and it seems to have caught on.  Of course, the death of Scalia makes it obvious that the movement needs a new strategy - as overturning Roe and letting the states sort it ous is as dead as the former Justice.

The Democrats' Trump Problem | National Catholic Reporter

The Democrats' Trump Problem | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The Democrats have a candidate to address these issues. His name is Bernie Sanders. Of course, if the Republican establishment is so alarmed by Trump, they may vote for Clinton or Sanders anyway - or they may succeed in focusing anti-Trump support to Cruz - at which point I expect the Catholic Church to keep up its long con on abortion and gay marriage - two issues with no possiblility of actually being issues but with the right dog whistles to keep the bishops in line.

Links for 03/03/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/03/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I disagree with Silk (it's rare, I know) on the death of the religious right.  Trump is attracting the authoritarians - which have always been the core of the relgious fright, from the pews to the pulpit to the ambo (Chaput has not quit talking on issues, although he seems smart enough not to mention Trump).  It is the death of Scalia which ends the abortion issue as we now know it - and Kennedy ended the anti-marriage movement in law - and will lead to its demise in churches, but authoritarianism itself will live on.



I would call Rubio the anti-Quayle.  He was attempting to paint Trump as a bad speller and it blew up in his face.



The Kochs are following a family tradition of funding and egging on authoritarians, but those of that ilk have been around even without funding.  Of course, nowadays their support of these types gives authoritarians a louder microphone and makes it more likely that their idiocy is obvious to everyone but them.  This will especially be the case if Sanders wins the nomination and they start funding the red-baiters.

Review: An Unfinished Council | National Catholic Reporter

Review: An Unfinished Council | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: This looks to be an interesting book, where Francis is taking up what was lost when certain conservative bishops and popes pushed back against the spirit of Vatican II.  The CDF under Ratzinger could hardly be called humble, nor the attitude of the pope it served.  With Francis, this resistence to Vatican II, the humility it calls for in the Church and in doctrine (deemphasizing in the end even the obsession with doctrinal error and probably the term Magisterium).  If works for the poor are more important than debates on gay marriage, or even about God, is a huge hermaneutic of discontinuity.  All theologians should read this, especially the ones who think they are liberal.(call it deprogramming)  Let ideas on theology and morals rise and fall on their strength, not on how the Church talks about them.  Of course, humility is a nice excuse for bowing to the inability to monitor all media, both Catholic and likewise. There are just too many titles out there in this age of self-publication to review them all.

Links for 03/02/16 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 03/02/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Bravo to the Pope for telling capitalists where to put their blood money.  I think he is feeling the Bern,which should make Catholics in both the Trump and Clinton camps squirm.  Viva Liberation Theology!



The former President of Mt. St. Mary's does not understand the Catholic brand.  While public universities also cull their freshman who can't succeed, the Catholic model is for smaller classes and more assistance to students who may yet hit their stride. If he were offering full refunds to students who can't cut it, that would be different.  This is why the University of Pheonix requires students to take one class that shows that they can handle that format.  Perhaps schools could have a one course mini-term before the start of the first semester to test basic ability before the real bills come in.  Of course, if the first two years of college were an extension of the last two years of high school, as some states are now doing, this would not be an issue, as juniors can obviously handle the workload if they start university life at that point.



Of the universe of capitalists, probably Warren Buffett is the least onerous - but that is not saying much.  If he really wants to cement his place in business history, he would sell all of the Berkshire Hathaway companies to their employees, with structures to make sure the employees are actually in charge, rather than retaining capitalist CEOs.

Super Tuesday Analysis | National Catholic Reporter

Super Tuesday Analysis | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Cruz won his home state,which gives him a go-ahead to stay in the race.  Things are dicier for Rubio and Kasich, so Cruz may be the anti-Trump, especially if he gets more Cubano votes in Florida than Marco.  What a horrible choice!  It looks like Trump is getting help from Democrats who want to pick their running mate, although I can't imagine either Hillary or Bernie voters taking their feet off the gas in their won race.



From what I understand from one of my cousins, where Hillary is winning, in at least some states Bernie is staying within spitting distance.  I suspect that even if he were out of it, he would stay in to attract crowds and demonstrate how much the future leaders of the party disdain the neo-liberal triangulation the Clintons and their followers are known for.  Indeed, if Trump really does break the GOP permanently, I could see the business conservatives and neo-liberals in one party and the libertarians and democratic socialists in the other (as long as they can keep rejecting corporate money).



What will a Trump candidacy, or God forbid, presidency due to the pro-life movement?  Will he tape a speech for the March for Life or even take their phone calls?  I suspect not.  Once he gets the nomination, he will be a pro-choice candidate for November, which actually is good for the movement, since if he mouthed abortion as an issue, the Democrats may well just continue to drive home the point that the right-to-life movement is a Republican front group with no plans and no agenda, now that their Federalist Society hero, Justice Scalia, is out of the picture (and not even Thomas shares the view that this matter should be returned to the states).  With Roberts and Alito sitting with Kennedy in the old O'Connor spot on this issue, there will likely be only one Justice in favor of not considering Roe as settled law - and movement that justifies its existence in adding four more justices who would consider changing that (if not five, as Thomas is old) can only be considered Quixotic. Just because the Catholic bishops are helping the GOP sell snake oil does not mean we are under any obligation to buy it.

Trump's wall and the challenge of vulnerability | National Catholic Reporter

Trump's wall and the challenge of vulnerability | National Catholic Reporter by Patrick Manning.  MGB: When I first saw the headline, I thought it meant the wall of electoral votes Trump was building up.  I don't take his comments on building a wall on the southern border seriously, although an impenetrable wall would save a lot of lives, as people die in the American desert after making the crossing.  The wall that is Trump's undoing is his wall of money, which was encouraged by his boyhood pastor in what was the precursor to the prosperity gospel.  I am wont to condemn either Protestantism or atheism on general principle - since both hold up a mirror to the Church that she does not often want to see - but in this case I have nothing but scorn for the idea that the rich are divinely favored due to their strategic contributions to the collection plate. That is not giving, its investing.  There is no part of that in the real Gospel.



As for immigration, I am not unsympathetic to the problem of migration - but I would revoke all restrictions on it and right to work laws as well.  I doubt that many foreign workers would be hired for union labor, especially if you could not call immigration to remove the ones that make trouble.  Still, any that are needed should be welcomed and immediately placed on a path to citizenship.  And the path should be short - the traditional five years.  Of course, if we make coming here less exclusive, it will probably be less popular.  A wall would just make coming to America more attractive.



On the biblical allusions, the original humans were hunter-gatherers - long before Adam of Kurdistan was born and was faced with the necessity of farming to deal with climate change.  As for Babel, we now routinely use rockets to touch the Heavens, only to find that Heaven is not a place in this universe.  As for Jesus, he was a day laborer - at the mercy of those who would hire him to be able to eat - he is the one that migrant workers identify with, for his life was the same.  He was no Trump (who is a builder).

The Problem of Indifference | National Catholic Reporter

The Problem of Indifference | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: All too many Catholics, especially of the conservative variety, see care for the poor as enabling their poverty.  In reality, allowing some of the poor to stay out of the workforce is a good thing, because it forces those who would employ the rest to pay higher wages - which is why the GOP is so fond of promoting the idea that people in need of relief are lazy.



In truth, it is the rest of us who are lazy.  If all meat packing plants were unionized, the price may or may not go up, but the profits would go down.  If immigration reform happened, it would be harder to bring in workers that would work in the shadows of such factories, who are deported if they complain about the working conditions, wages or the lack of a union.  The same is true of peonage in the orange fields.  Indeed, most of what we eat is picked or packaged by people with few options - including the option to leave without the sheriff returning the worker to his owner.  To all of that, we are indifferent - profoundly so.  Enjoy your breakfast.