Top 5 'heresies' of 2016: 'One God,' biblical authority and more

Top 5 'heresies' of 2016: 'One God,' biblical authority and more: 58 percent of Americans believe there is little value in reciting historical Christian creeds and confessions, according to the 2016 State of American Theology survey by LifeWay Research.

MGB:The theological questions really boil down to agreement on things that we cannot prove one way or the other.  While new agreement could change them (and they are incomplete either way, we cannot comprehend God in this life), the questions are mostly settled.

As for scripture, understanding its evolution mostly impacts what we think of as the moral law.  That should be mutable because we are ever learning more about human nature.  Because we can use evidence (including history), we have to embrace change, especially regarding Leviticus.

Year in review: Change in the works for US church leadership

Year in review: Change in the works for US church leadership: Distinctly Catholic: Amid a divided church and a divided polity, look to Cardinals Blase Cupich and Joseph Tobin to increasingly drive the hierarchy's message in the public square.

MGB:_While having strong new Cardinals is important, as important is pruning those whose statements are at odds with Rome.  I will believe it when I see it. Of course, their attachment to the GOP is self defeating, because in victory, the Republicans will do nothing for them.  Indeed, they really cannot. Even their own goal of overturning Roe will so gut equal protection jurisdiction that it will never happen, though overturing gay marriage and legal sodomy are the fondest desire of some these bishops and their favorite organizations. They don’t see that human freedom is part of human dignity or that some of their moral positions are not as infallible as they believe. The issue is about more than cultural conflict, it is about their presumed absolute authority on sexual matters while science goes the other way.

As for Chicago gun violence, the problem is that the city bans guns but the suburbs do not. The state has to do something, and this is even less likely than action from the Hill.

On immigration, Trump may make things a bit worse than Obama already has in allowing deportations to occur at a rapid pace. Whether he will shift to a position more like George W. Bush’s is doubtful as his party won’t let him. The last Democratic proposal was not much different that the Bush initiative, which means it too was subpar.  Alt-Right influence is still too strong for much to be done without a great deal of courage, and I see only pandering. At least the Church is going the other way on immigration.

Links for 12/29/16

Links for 12/29/16: I sympathize with E. J. Dionne who, in this morning

MGB: The left needed the push provided by Trump's election to get the rest of the Democratic Party on board with a progressive socialist agenda. Whether Trump is a diagnosable narcissist or just plays one on TV will be seen shortly. If the former, we live in interesting times. If the latter, he may actually do the right thing from time to time, although that may not get him a renomination by his party.

Freedom does not mix well with traditionalism, especially when you have true believers in Leviticus - whether they consist of conservative Jews or conservative Catholics and those beliefs reinforce cultural as well as moral values - especially when there is a separatist impulse. Making the Hacidim more politically aware and savy is probably a worthwhile goal, but finding a way to include the Palestinians in the family is much more crucial to the survival of Israel, especially with the hard right unable to embrace the two state solution in all its implications (including the Arab north).  Freedom means rights in society enforceable by the Courts regardless of group opinion.  I doubt the Hacidim are ready for this, or some Evangelical or Trump voters.

Gushee is right about the split among evangelicals, although they have been headed that way for a while. Of course, it may simply be a transformation toward the Millennial generation, with the older conservatives having their last hurrah with Trump. Whether the anti-gay marriage crowd will be able to do anything is questionable. They could not do anything about interracial marriage either - and the religious freedom issue is likely dead at the hands of the courts (although the anti-abortionists are still trying to draw the magic court case they will never get) and the whole focus was more anti-Obama than anything else - just like the opposition to the Affordable Care Act (rather than just the taxes on the rich that fund it). If Pence were to do a Cheney on cultural issues, he would not get far. Most of these issues are constitutional law, which puts them safely (and thankfully) beyond popular opinion.

Year in review: Mercy shaped the life of the church in 2016

Year in review: Mercy shaped the life of the church in 2016: Distinctly Catholic: Pope Francis knows that only with the heart of the Gospel, God

MGB: Mercy should also include a continual examination of what is true in doctrine and what needs to be changed.  Ambiguity in this area is not good for those of us who have to navigate modern divorce and it is not good for the prelates who can't adapt without it.  This is also true of the Eucharist, as Garry Wills work on the subject lays bare.  That is also true in dealing with modern sexuality and abortion law.

On poverty, we demand not only mercy for the poor, but justice for those that exploit them, which the cultural warriors are squishy about.

Millennial relativism is simply an acknowledgement that truth exists for us in language.  It always has.  Indeed, the language of papal  infallibility is itself relativistic because it applies to the group, not the truth as a whole.  The Church is a family.  The washing of the feet should be 24/7, not the empty gesture of Holy Thursday. The new Cardinals are a breath of fresh air, but we need doctrinal change, not retreat directors.

Links for 12/28/16

Links for 12/28/16: At Religion Digital, the Spanish language website, Cameron Doody picks up my story about the outrageous "sample homily" posted by the USCCB as part of their materials for  National Migr...

MGB: I suspect that the senior staff who would remove it are on vacation and the bishops are busy with the Christmas holidays.  Even then, it might not be a quick task to change them as the pro-Trump bishops are feeling their ascendancy, regardless of what Francis would want.

If the Zionist neo-cons are displeased with the abstention and its defense, then it was well worth the effort.  They need to be made a bit uncomfortable in their unqualified support for Israel and their tone deafness to the needs of the Palestinians.  Given the change in Administrations, it may be a stupid and useless gesture, but sometimes those are necessary, if only to give hope to the hopeless.

Theoretically, everything is renewable if the waste is valuable enough or can be eliminated.  When fusion ripens the question is getting around the fossil fuel industry when that happens.

Year in review: Americans wanted change and, with Trump, they got it

Year in review: Americans wanted change and, with Trump, they got it: Distinctly Catholic: Trump won for a reason, a singular reason. While we in the media were focused on him, he was focused on his core message: He would bring change. MGB: Trump is rejecting the neo-liberal, free trade consensus of the Clintons, but his part in Congress mostly has not. Whether they change in response to his victory is doubtful. Also doubtful is whether there will be much social retrenchment on abortion or gay marriage. I suspect his upcoming appointment to the Supreme Court will reflect the best the ABA has to offer - moderate conservatives on economic issues and liberal on social issues. The moderate Republicans will get their way and the blue collar ones will not, even with Trump's best efforts. Interestingly, some claim Trump is a Democrat in sheep's clothing. This could very well be true, although some of his appointments are still pandering to the right.

Links for 12/27/16

Links for 12/27/16: At Politico, former president Jimmy Carter is, so far, the only former president to RSVP that he will be attending the inauguration. My respect for George W. Bush is on the uptick.

At RNS, reports on...

MGB:_Carter is honoring the office - even if the next incumbent is a fascist idiot.  After his non-endorsement, I can see why W. is begging off (H.W. had the excuse age). I wonder what the Clintons will do?

Moore, not to be confused with Roy Moore, is joining the religious liberty pander, but at least he knew that Trump is fake. His followers, however, are very tribal and they love their Trump and his authoritarianism, which is not liberty. The line about social dominance is priceless and could easily fit Lori or Chaput.

Eternal rest on George Michael and gentle healing for his husband.

The UN and Obama mock peace

The UN and Obama mock peace: Distinctly Catholic: President Barack_MGB:_It is a pity that Israel was used to George W. Bush having is thumb on the scale in favor of Israel.  I think that this resolution is just enough embarrassment for Israel to realize that it cannot have a free hand to build settlement and especially walls, although with Trump coming to power the thumb will again be on the scale in favor of Israel, where Michael Sean seems to like it.  I am of the opinion that we have a defacto one-state solution and that the wall is essentially apartheid.

Joseph is marvelous example of Jesus' message

Joseph is marvelous example of Jesus' message: The Peace Pulpit:


MGB: Joseph's initial action was profoundly pro-life. He could have chosen to force Mary to drink the bitter herbs and then be stoned when she miscarried. Instead, even without the dream, he let the child live. Jesus followed this example when dealing with the woman caught in adultery. Neither spoke out against the current law, but both followed a higher path with their examples.

Scorsese, my dad, and Christmas

Scorsese, my dad, and Christmas: Tomorrow, Martin Scorsese  MGB: The command to forgive is from God.  It is the only antidote to human violence.  Of course, sometimes we get upset as part of life, as when someone dies.  I treasure hearing Adeste Fidelis at Midnight Mass, especially in Latin, because it helps me remember my father and I always weep before the end of the first verse.  Deliberately going to this Mass is like seeing some movies - both the one mentioned and the one with Wil Smith that is just out, Collateral Beauty, which is about coping with the death of a daughter - my greatest fear.  Movies and Masses allow us to experience these things for a moment, hopefully without ruining our day.

Links for 12/21/16

Links for 12/21/16: A friend predicted that the right would be the first to turn on Trump. Politico reports on Newt Gingrich already sowing doubts, and Newt doesn't represent the Mike Gerson wing of conservatism but ...

MGB: Newt simply as foot in mouth disease again.  He was speaking academically and stupidly as well.

The declining priesthood, as well as Irish suicides, comes from despair - which leads to exit rather than resistance.  I shall stay and fight rather than leave and call out the Church where its doctrine and its politics are in error.  If more followed this lead, there would be no exit from the pews.

Most Zionists know the difference between a President who will be highly supportive of Israel (even when this is against Israel's long term interest and the interest of peace) and what is essential constituent service to the alt-right - which comes in crumbs.  The question is, how will Trump direct the Justice Department to act in response to Alt-Right racism?  Sadly, I don't believe that Trump's stated prowess in negotiations will benefit the Palestinians.

A conservative lesson for liberals

A conservative lesson for liberals: Distinctly Catholic:  MGB: When Paul wrote, faith was really faith in Jesus and his preached message.  There was no dogma, had been no Church Councils (save the first at Jerusalem).  The Curia did not exist and people were beginning to explore for themselves what faith meant.  Most importantly, a social gospel was much more important than a strict pelvic morality and there was no hierarchy that insisted on loyalty.

The reason we enter new life, by the way, is to be free from sin - not for God's sake but for our own.  It is a gift to us, not a requirement for us.  Morality is the ultimate therapy.  Pastors should be involved, but they must be freer to challenge some of the teaching which is, inf fact, wrong.  Gay people should end promiscuity and find a spouse appropriate to them - that is the moral course - not assuming that all gay sexuality is anathema (which it is not, if you are gay - especially if you are a gay priest).

This does lead to Christ, who is gentle and humble of heart, whose yoke is easy and his burden, light.

Links for 12/20/16

Links for 12/20/16: In the New York Times, Ross Douthat takes aim at Austen Ivereigh on the issues surrounding Amoris Laetitia. I just want to tell Douthat to exhale. We are not in a

MGB:Amoris meant to give priests and bishops more latitude in dealing with the remarried.  That latitude is seen as ambiguity, which bothers the Trads to no end. The reality is that, unless Communion is just a symbol, remarried Catholics and others who receive Communion when told not to experience for themselves in their encounter with the Lord whether they receive rightly or not.

I suspect that Lifesitenews is listening to a few Curia staff who think that their jobs may be in jeapordy if they continue to obstruct. That is not a bad thing. Send them home to retire.

Unless someone knows Trump is faux pro-lifer, I suspect the Trumpsters would think that this quote honors their leader, although he is more reactionary than conservative, although some would say that these two are the same thing, much to Gershon’s chagrin.

What is going on with US bishops' ministry to migrants and refugees?

What is going on with US bishops' ministry to migrants and refugees?: Distinctly Catholic:

MGB: The right to contraception coverage, albeit with a copay, was established by the EEOC in December 2009.  It is going nowhere and will still cover religious groups (all that changed was taking away the copay).  Getting rid of the mandate is not worth throwing immigrants under the bus.  The USCCB staff is playing coalition politics again.  Eventually, Cupich will be USCCB chair and heads should roll.

Links for 12/19/16

Links for 12/19/16: In Politico, a story about how the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, by giving the homeless a job for a day, is helping some of them find a bit of human dignity and even longer term employment. Is it t...

MGB:A day job is good, although stable temporary housing is essential, along with good case management.

Control boards tend of have financial people. That is expected.  They can either be an obstruction or a resource to Puerto Rico.  We can’t tell yet.

The presidency changes all of its occcupants, some for the better, some for the worse. The biggest part are the events that none of us expect. I suspect he is more likely to break than to break the country, as his entire team will face the reality of a government of laws.  Unlike the private sector, they can’t fire every discordant voice.

Erroneous autonomy: Third edition

Erroneous autonomy: Third edition: Distinctly Catholic: The third conference on the relationship of Catholicism to libertarianism, sponsored by the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies, is coming January 10.

MGB:Libertarianism takes many forms, not all of which are inconsistent with Catholicism.  The economic libertarianism that puts the rich in the place of goverment, but with no accountability to anyone (including the workers) is very much against Christianity. Social libertarianism which is pure license is not compatible, but it is if it affirms human dignity and the individual’s right to not only deal with her own moral situations, but also to decide what’s moral. The governmental libertarianism which encourages the Church to take on social functions is very much consistent with Christianity. Social solidarity in unionism is how you deal with economic libertarianism. It is also how we get things like gay marriage recognized - including in the Church at some point (with input from more accepting sects).

The ageda of the conference and its focus on consumer capitalism is interesting, although it is missing a discussion of consumerism as a substitute for worker empowerment in the workplace.

Links for 12/16/16

Links for 12/16/16: Politico refers to its "surprise" that former Vice President Dick Cheney has become a Trump surrogate. Now that Trump has decided to put corporate America in charge of the government, why th...

MGB:There are those of us who think Cheney should have been sent to the Hague for war crimes trials. That did not happen for the same reason Trump won’t investigate Hillary.

Sadly, John is writing for his funders, who have their definite POV.

Syria was broken when Donald Rumsfeld fired the Baathist from the Iraqi military and they took refuge in Syria, taking their chemical weapons with them.  It was impossible to know which rebels were ISIL/al Queda, which is why there was no action once the ill-advised Arab Spring came to Syria. At some point, rebels are responsible for engaging in a failed rebellion, not Obama (although maybe McCain).

Russia's alleged 'fake news' raises questions about existing media bias

Russia's alleged 'fake news' raises questions about existing media bias: Distinctly Catholic: Russia's alleged use of fake news to affect the election raises questions about how we in the media operate.

MGB;While the Russian press is noted for treating propoganda as news, in the case of the eleciton, they simply hacked what was embarrassing to Debbie Wasserman Schultz.  Some people can be forgiven for fake news.  People speaking for the Church, like the inaptly named Susan B. Anthony Fund, cannot.  At some point they are knowingly committing evil.  Sadly, the bishops let them get away with it. Of course, some would say on the left that doctrinal errors on gay marriage (and ordinateion) and birth control are also deliberate falsehoods undertaken for institutional reasons, even when the truth is obviously the other way. Faith is where we realize that the truth wins in the end.

Links for 12/15/16

Links for 12/15/16: At the Washington Post, Jack Jenkins on how Donald Trump is stoking a revival....on the religious left!

At the National Catholic Register, Monsignor Charles Pope not only demonstrates his refusal to ...

MGB:I will believe that the religious left is ascendant when, after 12 years of blogging, someone gives me a byline.

Msgr.Pope is the type of dinosaur that has become a museum piece. He is best ignored (including by his flock).

Cardinal Cupich shows why he is an emerging leader in the Church. We need more like him.

Climate change is probably a more important issue because we might be able to do something about it, although enacting a carbon tax is probably as hard as increasing the Child Tax Credit to levels high enough to eliminate the economic need for abortion.  Overturning Roe is still a pipe dream.

Tillerson and Trump: Are they pragmatists?

Tillerson and Trump: Are they pragmatists?: Distinctly Catholic: Are Rex Tillerson, the nominee for secretary of state, and President-elect Donald Trump properly understood as pragmatists?

MGB: There is nothing un-Catholic about the moral pragmatism which is humanism. Indeed, I would call God a practical humanist and not thinking of God that way is to exercise an unhealthy amount of moral pietousness. Of course, there is no danger of humanism from the Trump Administration. The key question is whether the Cabinet Secretaries allow themselves to be informed by legal advice from the permanent government. Unless they actively work against it, there are many more SES member and high level managers who have a commitment to enforcing the law - which is the governmental substitute to the will of the shareholders. If they become "captured" in that way, they will mostly behave - although they may have fights with the White House. If they do not, we are about to have one scandal after another for the next four years.

Different popes, different personalities -- and underlying continuity

Different popes, different personalities -- and underlying continuity: Distinctly Catholic: Part 3 of a three-part series discussing the theologies of Pope Francis and his predecessors: embodying the six touchstones of post-conciliar life.

MGB:Sometimes the question is not between one’s particular circumstances and submission to the Magisterium, but rather whether the Magisterium is not so infallible as the Hierarchy thinks it is.  This seems especially true in pelvic issues nowadays.  In some of these cases (especially ordaining women), infallibility is subjective, meaning you don’t sin by following the teachings of the Church, even when those teachings are in error.  Sadly, Popes are loathe to acknowledge errors in doctrine, even when they are obvious and change is inevitable. Usually, they try to have things both ways when change occurs, like in the recent Synods on the Family. More sadly, the yeast of the Church is often persecuted for insisting on the truth.  It is not what the Master wished.

It is doubtful that bishops’ conferences are to be the engines of change, unless of course we create more autonomous national patriarchies to rule on moral questions and the ordination of women. Individual bishops might be instrumental in this and would hopefully rise to the new offices. Those that oppose any change, whether from Vatican II or Francis, cannot see that the Church that they themselves inherited has been through several changes before. It is a sad thing to oppose the winds of the Spirit.

https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/links-121316

https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/links-121316

MGB:The Russians influence in the election was minor, unless it can be proven that the information released moved enough Sanders voters to Stein or Trump to change the outcome.  This is doubtful.  It is also not worth a congressional investigation.

When the bishops speak unanimously on immigration, it prevents some of them from putting their Republican partisanship first.  Immigration is a life issue.

Here is hoping that the joke comparing a young clerical dandy to women priests presages some movement in that area rather than being unthinking misogyny.

Links for 12/12/16

Links for 12/12/16: In yesterday's Washington Post, Michael Kinsley makes the case that Donald Trump is a fascist in the clinical sense of the word. How many people who voted for Trump expected the titans of corporat...

MGB: Kingsley is correct. Many of us have been saying the same thing for over a year. Of course, he will only go so far in suppressing dissent, so he won't become a full blown fascist.

The Republican answer has always been to replace comprehensive insurance with health savings accounts and catastrophic care, thus adding market mechanisms to reduce costs. They know they can't do that. Their second choice was what the Heritage Foundation created and Romney used in Massachusetts that became Obamacare. It is likely that the only thing they will do is get rid of the financing mechanism which hits the wealthy hardest.

Trads can't cope with ambiguity, which is the essence of mercy. If Francis had changed doctrine, things would be easier to understand, but they would still dissent.

I hope Koch talks about the fact that Newman was probably gay, although he will likely not speak ill of other Republicans.

Pope Paul VI's greatness lies in his church leadership after Vatican II

Pope Paul VI's greatness lies in his church leadership after Vatican II: Distinctly Catholic: ​Part 2 of a three-part series discussing the theologies of the papacies of Pope Paul VI and Pope Francis: Why were Paul VI

MGB: Paul was still a man of the Curia, which explains Humanae Vitae.  The Curia did not make him do anything he did not want to do and he brought some of them into the modern world, until John Paul did all he could to bring it back to a more traditional bent - with Benedict continuing - especially with the translations of the liturgy.  Could the Church have accepted a more liberal successor to Paul?  Probably not.  If it had, we would have liturgical gay marriage by now and would not have returned to the more literal translation of the Roman Rite.  Still, he moved to ball forward enough so that Francis could pick it up again - although I don't expect that much change here either.

Criticism of Pope Francis rooted in misunderstanding of Vatican II

Criticism of Pope Francis rooted in misunderstanding of Vatican II: Distinctly Catholic: Part one of a three-part series discussing the theologies of the papacies of Pope Paul VI and Pope Francis, who is facing unprecedented opposition.

MGB: The uncomfortable truth is that St. John Paul was a dissident at the Council and spent his papacy limiting its effects, with Benedict continuing this work.  One look at the ad Orientum movement shows the truth of this.  Francis and the bishops he appoints were formed during the Spirit of Vatican II era.  It is beginning to show and it is about time.  Of course, God's timing is exact - something that the neo-cons need to consider when denigrating Paul and resisting Francis.

The anguish of Aleppo

The anguish of Aleppo: Distinctly Catholic: Given the stakes in Syria, the time for

MGB:The Syrian uprising was part of the Arab Spring, which was based on the insane notion that civil disobedience could remake the region to become suburban San Jose. It was never a sane idea.  It was, however, not Obama’s and he is not responsible for its failure or for Russian opportunism.  In Syria, Rumsfeld is partly to blame for chasing elements that became ISIL out of Iraq into Syria. The best we can do is to help hunt those elements down and kill them.  The ”good rebels” supported by Senator McCain have always been on their own.

Links for 12/07/16

Links for 12/07/16: At UVAToday, a profile of Professor Nicole Flores, one of the bright young Catholic theologians making a name for herself. Nicole is a regular participant in the Catholic Conversation Project, an annu...

MGB:It is hopeful that Professor Flores can maintain some level of independence by staying away from universities where the local bishop can harrass her for thinking.



The USCCB should stop doing publicity stunts, even for the right reason.



LifeSiteNews is as fringe as the rest of the Trump coalition. They should be treated as such.

Gen. Mattis to the Pentagon

Gen. Mattis to the Pentagon: Distinctly Catholic: No one doubts Gen. James Mattis' competence in the field to which he is being assigned, the next secretary of defense. But, the nomination raises other questions.

MGB:_I would prefer Wesley Clark, but Mattis seems like he might keep Trump in check.  Trump may be the kind of president to appoint people and set them loose.  We will see how Trump’s latest tantrum about Air Force One turns out and how Mattis defuses the issue.

Links for 12/06/16

Links for 12/06/16: In this morning__MGB:_The Rocket Pizza incident is part of a brief moment where the fringe is empowered.  It will be over soon. The Trump fringe, Sandro is best ignored.  Weigel is too, but because he is a member of the club of Vatican scholars, get gets seen.  I hope he is smart enough not to try to be heard. He would likely find that the Pope thinks faster on his feet than he credits him for.

Dr. Ben Carson to HUD

Dr. Ben Carson to HUD: Distinctly Catholic: Yesterday,

MGB: Everyone knows that this is the "black" appointment.  It is an exercise in Republican tokenism (he should instead be the Surgeon General).  Will he do OK in this position?  I suspect that he will be given GOP housing policy wonks and White House direction to prop him up.  Cabinet secretaries are essentially the public voice of the administration in the department.  His deputy secretary will run things.  The question is how badly Trump wants to ruin this department.  Carson is not the person to prevent that.

Time for compromise on gay rights and religious freedom

Time for compromise on gay rights and religious freedom: Faith and Justice: The struggle between activists for gay rights and religious freedom has been presented as a zero-sum game where no compromise is possible.

MGB: Theology tells us that couples, not priests, make the marriage and that fecundity is not a requirement to wed (just functionality).  The Church needs to embrace the theology of marriage as it can apply to gays and reject its biases.  If a Church can extend benefits to an employee with a civil hetero marriage (which it disapproves of), it can do the same for a gay marriage.  Indeed, it can embrace its gay children and recognize these marriages as sacramental.  This history of opposition to homosexuality was cultural separatism in both Babylonian Judaica and in the early Church.  We can abandon such group dynamics and treat our children with love, once and for all. (and please, don't baptize bigotry by claiming it is God's will - it is not).

Links for 12/05/16

Links for 12/05/16: At RNS, Mark Silk wonders if the chatter about schism within the Catholic Church is real or not. Like him, I think it will not happen or, if it does, it will be a sliver of people who bolt. But, I do ...

MGB: The issue of marriage is not enough for schism.  Any Cardinals who doubt the unity of the faith can keep talking like they have the option and they will find plenty of orthodoxy.  There is the larger question of whether the Church can adapt itself to a modern understanding of human sexuality.  My bet is that we will and the clergy will follow suit.  The laity is too advanced to not pull the rest of the Church into modernity.  Let's not confuse stubbornness with piety.  Treating people decently in matters sexual is not a sin, its a virtue.

Sessions will go as far as Trump lets him.  Obama and Holder decided to not counter local marijuana laws with federal authority.  That was entirely their discretion and can be undone with a memo.  That was always the danger in not changing federal law at the same time.  Of course, if Sessions provokes backlash, federal change may be the result, although possibly not for two years.  We will see with the neo-liberals do.  Like with Daniel Burke.

The prophet Isaiah and the president-elect

The prophet Isaiah and the president-elect: Distinctly Catholic:  MGB: Neo-liberalism failed in its commitment to austerity in the face of economic crisis. Its fear of appearing socialistic was its undoing. More taxes on the rich and higher benefit levels would have preserved the neo-liberal governments, although taking these steps would have taken them out of neo-liberalism. Clinton would have been more of the same and the jury is out as to what Trump is. While some see potential fascism, that view is probably alarmist. I fear that the corruption impulse is what we will see, although that is harder to do with a 24 hour news cycle - even with the gutting of the media's investigative reporting muscles.

Links for 12/01/16

Links for 12/01/16: At CNN, Fr. Antonio Spadaro, SJ, editor of Civilta Cattolica, responds to the four cardinals with their five dubia. He hits the nail on the head: Dialogue presumes good faith and the "clarity&quo...

MGB:_Perhaps the four Cardinals really believe we need explicit doctrinal change, rather than having it implied under a the banner of mercy.  Of course, if there were real change the same cardinals would be the ones objecting the loudest.

I am not sure that dealing with homophobic (and possibly self-loathing) priests is a matter for the Pope. The problem here is the local bishop, unless you are advocating rethinking how we deal with gay sexuality (and not just orientation).

Having employers pay education taxes rather than their employees would make vouchers very possible, although unionization should be an essential part of any such scheme.

Sanchez is emiently qualified.  Her election is also a delightful slap in the face for Atl-Right racism.  Bravo.

Review: Cloutier's 'The Vice of Luxury'

Review: Cloutier's 'The Vice of Luxury': Distinctly Catholic:_MGB:_It is important to distinguish luxury and consumer consumption.  The former is only possible by being coopted by the ruling class.  The latter is simply a begining of just compensation, although it is often part of settling for less than a just system.