Links for 01/31/17: In the category "most repulsive article by a Catholic" on Islam and the "threat" it poses, I nominate this column at Crisis by William Kilpatrick, formerly of Boston College. Not o...
MGB: The main Crisis in this country are the people who read Crisis. There are various types of Jihad and Sharia. It is the Wahhabi version that is dangerous - the most fundamentalist version of Islam. Call them the Alt-Right of Islam.
May Fr. Z have a kharmaic experience regarding what he prays for. Soon. He is daring Francis to slap him down. Fr. Z is not that important. Still, I wonder if he prays for the pontiff when he says Mass. If not, perhaps he might like joining the laity.
The question of undocumented workers is the GOP fighting with itself. While some of its industrial wing want reform to make things all legal, others use the illegality to keep workers in the shadows in bad conditions and pay. The tie is using broken by alt-right nativists. If they really wanted undocumented workers out, they would repeal right to work and all immigration restrictions. No factory owner is going to hire a foreign union worker over a domestic one.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Trump's Supreme Court nominee may pose a future challenge to the president
Trump's Supreme Court nominee may pose a future challenge to the president: Distinctly Catholic: President Trump is expected to make his first nomination to the Supreme Court tonight. I will not be surprised if the Democrats decide it is time for payback.
MGB:_The Democrats can delay, but they cannot prevent a hearing on the nominee in committee, although they can stop a final vote. I suspect if the nominee is like Roberts, they wont. If he is plainly like Scalia, no vote will ever occur. Such a nominee would be cannon fodder for a more acceptable pick. Of course, the other possibility is the GOP rejecting someone who does not seem pro-life enough, like they did with Harriet Miers, but that is not likely either.
It is not abortion rights that are as essential as the right to be left alone by reactionary legislative majorities. This is the bedrock of natural rights democracy. Sadly, the trend is that both conservative and liberal jurisits accept this while also accepting the kind of laissez faire capitalism condemned in the recent conferences on Erroneous Autonomy. That gave us a huge body of law that sticks it to the little guy.
The Sanctuary Cities Executive Order will never reach the High Court. It takes a variation in lower court opinion to do that and the Order is universally condemned.
Scalia was unique. He seemed to have an anemic-view of the 14th Amendment and a high school civics understanding of the constitution and history. Amazing he got as far as he did, but look who appointed him.
I suspect that Steve Bannon will suggest the first pick. Like I said, cannon fodder.
MGB:_The Democrats can delay, but they cannot prevent a hearing on the nominee in committee, although they can stop a final vote. I suspect if the nominee is like Roberts, they wont. If he is plainly like Scalia, no vote will ever occur. Such a nominee would be cannon fodder for a more acceptable pick. Of course, the other possibility is the GOP rejecting someone who does not seem pro-life enough, like they did with Harriet Miers, but that is not likely either.
It is not abortion rights that are as essential as the right to be left alone by reactionary legislative majorities. This is the bedrock of natural rights democracy. Sadly, the trend is that both conservative and liberal jurisits accept this while also accepting the kind of laissez faire capitalism condemned in the recent conferences on Erroneous Autonomy. That gave us a huge body of law that sticks it to the little guy.
The Sanctuary Cities Executive Order will never reach the High Court. It takes a variation in lower court opinion to do that and the Order is universally condemned.
Scalia was unique. He seemed to have an anemic-view of the 14th Amendment and a high school civics understanding of the constitution and history. Amazing he got as far as he did, but look who appointed him.
I suspect that Steve Bannon will suggest the first pick. Like I said, cannon fodder.
Monday, January 30, 2017
Links for 01/30/17
Links for 01/30/17: In the Washington Post, Anne Frank and her family were denied refugee status.
Also at the Post, Dan Balz had a brilliant essay on Sunday about President Trump's artful way with fostering ch...
MGB_The shame of our past is visited upon the world again. This is taking being a reactionary to an exteme level.
I am not sure whether the insanity is deliberate or just ham-handed. Considering Bannon’s involvement does not help us decide.
Camosy knows little about liberalism or libertarianism. Liberals are for sucide regulation so people get treatment. It’s the libertarian impulse to leave people alone, not caring if they get mental health support. If it is purely punitive, regulating suicide is simply the majority imposing its morality on others and that won’t stand.
Exact is not the correct word. Accurate is the word you are looking for. BTW, liberals picked up seats and only lost the election by putting in the wrong VP.
Also at the Post, Dan Balz had a brilliant essay on Sunday about President Trump's artful way with fostering ch...
MGB_The shame of our past is visited upon the world again. This is taking being a reactionary to an exteme level.
I am not sure whether the insanity is deliberate or just ham-handed. Considering Bannon’s involvement does not help us decide.
Camosy knows little about liberalism or libertarianism. Liberals are for sucide regulation so people get treatment. It’s the libertarian impulse to leave people alone, not caring if they get mental health support. If it is purely punitive, regulating suicide is simply the majority imposing its morality on others and that won’t stand.
Exact is not the correct word. Accurate is the word you are looking for. BTW, liberals picked up seats and only lost the election by putting in the wrong VP.
Where is the outrage at the USCCB?
Where is the outrage at the USCCB?: Last Friday, I expressed my horror at Donald Trump’s executive orders related to immigrants and refugees, and that these orders evidenced distortion of the underlying issue to such a degree that...
MGB:_The bishop’s statement was likely a staff product and the staff is likley led by people who put the USCCB relationship with the GOP over abortion above all other issues. In other words, they think like they preach. This is why it would have been helpful for Catholic politicians to change from pluralism or a women’s rights get out the vote theme to a detailed analysis of why overturning Roe is such a bad idea (and how it is more about winning elections than protecting the unborn). Gratefully, there are bishops who speak more strongly on immigration but they need to also speak truth on abortion politics if they want change in the conference. There is nothing in the Gospel about sending doctors or mothers who obtain abortions to jail.
It is fortunate that the judicial system and the ACLU and generating the outrage over these orders that the bishops cannot. Let that one sink in for a bit.
MGB:_The bishop’s statement was likely a staff product and the staff is likley led by people who put the USCCB relationship with the GOP over abortion above all other issues. In other words, they think like they preach. This is why it would have been helpful for Catholic politicians to change from pluralism or a women’s rights get out the vote theme to a detailed analysis of why overturning Roe is such a bad idea (and how it is more about winning elections than protecting the unborn). Gratefully, there are bishops who speak more strongly on immigration but they need to also speak truth on abortion politics if they want change in the conference. There is nothing in the Gospel about sending doctors or mothers who obtain abortions to jail.
It is fortunate that the judicial system and the ACLU and generating the outrage over these orders that the bishops cannot. Let that one sink in for a bit.
Friday, January 27, 2017
Links for 01/27/17
Links for 01/27/17: At HuffPost, Carol Kuruvilla on the Rev. Franklin Graham's declaration that President Trump's decision to bar refugees from Syria is "not a Bible issue." The good reverend did not di...
MGB:_Helping refugees is a Bible issue. How to deal with Syria is a matter for the Koran. I favor unifying Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan under the Hashemite Crown.
Chaput suggests that Trump go to Notre Dame to share his evolution from pro-choice to pro-life. That’s funny (Trump is currently pandering). What Chaput and the movement need to hear is the countless voices who have gone the other way.
It is good that OSV is covering all sides. Sadly, neither the conference or the coverage named the real problem, capitalism. Someone always must be in charge. In business, cooperative autonomy is best. For personal morality, personal autonomy is no sin.
The Cardinal needs to talk to the governor. As long as Chicago has gun control and the suburbs do not, the violence will continue. Stopping it requires state action.
The missing piece is that on political opinions the USCCB needs to spend more time listening to those of us who fund them. Providing moral guidance is one thing, speaking for us without listening is quite another. Sadly, they are listening to the loudest and agriest voices in their flock.
MGB:_Helping refugees is a Bible issue. How to deal with Syria is a matter for the Koran. I favor unifying Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan under the Hashemite Crown.
Chaput suggests that Trump go to Notre Dame to share his evolution from pro-choice to pro-life. That’s funny (Trump is currently pandering). What Chaput and the movement need to hear is the countless voices who have gone the other way.
It is good that OSV is covering all sides. Sadly, neither the conference or the coverage named the real problem, capitalism. Someone always must be in charge. In business, cooperative autonomy is best. For personal morality, personal autonomy is no sin.
The Cardinal needs to talk to the governor. As long as Chicago has gun control and the suburbs do not, the violence will continue. Stopping it requires state action.
The missing piece is that on political opinions the USCCB needs to spend more time listening to those of us who fund them. Providing moral guidance is one thing, speaking for us without listening is quite another. Sadly, they are listening to the loudest and agriest voices in their flock.
Alternative facts and fear-mongering, we've seen this before
Alternative facts and fear-mongering, we've seen this before: Distinctly Catholic: The U.S.A. does not face an immigration crisis. There is no drastic epidemic of violent crime perpetrated by undocumented immigrants. None of this mattered to our new president.
MGB:_Trump is either a long time nativist or he has decided that pandering to them is his best option. Sadly, he will stubornly go down this road for a while. I don’t care if this hurts the GOP or the political stance of the bishops (they should talk economics, not politics), but I do care what it does to those immigrants cauught in his system. The authoritarianism of Trump and his followers is dangerous (John Dean wrote about the phenomenon in Conservatives without Conscience), but our system has safeguards to stop it. Let us pray that those safeguards continue to function. We stopped Nixon, we can stop Trump.
MGB:_Trump is either a long time nativist or he has decided that pandering to them is his best option. Sadly, he will stubornly go down this road for a while. I don’t care if this hurts the GOP or the political stance of the bishops (they should talk economics, not politics), but I do care what it does to those immigrants cauught in his system. The authoritarianism of Trump and his followers is dangerous (John Dean wrote about the phenomenon in Conservatives without Conscience), but our system has safeguards to stop it. Let us pray that those safeguards continue to function. We stopped Nixon, we can stop Trump.
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Links for 01/26/17
Links for 01/26/17: In the Denver Post, the Knights of Columbus face a lawsuit alleging that they inflate their numbers and that their life insurance program is "one step removed form a classic Ponzi scheme.&qu...
MGB:_It is amazing how insider dealing and corruption go hand in hand with conservatism. And the Knights wonder why they don’t attract new blood.
Democracy is no guarantee of good leadership, but it is still better than the alternative. Of course, if you looked in on coverage of Trump rallies, peace was not exactly their hallmark.
The fact that the President of Mexico won’t come see Trump shows how out of the norm this administration is. I doubt that Congress will do anything to restrain Trump, but some of his Cabinet Secretaries may be able to. They are also alpha dogs and won’t suffer his foolishness for long.
MGB:_It is amazing how insider dealing and corruption go hand in hand with conservatism. And the Knights wonder why they don’t attract new blood.
Democracy is no guarantee of good leadership, but it is still better than the alternative. Of course, if you looked in on coverage of Trump rallies, peace was not exactly their hallmark.
The fact that the President of Mexico won’t come see Trump shows how out of the norm this administration is. I doubt that Congress will do anything to restrain Trump, but some of his Cabinet Secretaries may be able to. They are also alpha dogs and won’t suffer his foolishness for long.
Pro-life movement must build a wider, bigger culture of life
Pro-life movement must build a wider, bigger culture of life: Distinctly Catholic: The pro-life movement
MGB: Trump is not the issue for the pro-life movement, since he was only saying what people wanted to hear. The bigger problem is that the Republicans do just that and the pro-life movement is fooled. The second problem is that their objectives are not only unattainable, but wrong. Repealing federal jurisdiction in equal protection law is to give decisions on minority rights to the mob. That the mob takes direction from Catholic bishops is not a point in its favor. Truth is not about exercising raw political power, although the bishops seem to forget this, as does the pro-life movement (especially the inaptly named Susan B. Anthony Fund). Roe is not going away. If the new Justice is anti-Roe, that will be one vote for repeal (Kennedy, Scalia and Chief Roberts are no votes and Thomas is for declaring personhood federally). The problem is that many pro-lifers are anti-sex more than pro-child. Try to enact family wage bills and they start talking personal responsibility. No pass.
MGB: Trump is not the issue for the pro-life movement, since he was only saying what people wanted to hear. The bigger problem is that the Republicans do just that and the pro-life movement is fooled. The second problem is that their objectives are not only unattainable, but wrong. Repealing federal jurisdiction in equal protection law is to give decisions on minority rights to the mob. That the mob takes direction from Catholic bishops is not a point in its favor. Truth is not about exercising raw political power, although the bishops seem to forget this, as does the pro-life movement (especially the inaptly named Susan B. Anthony Fund). Roe is not going away. If the new Justice is anti-Roe, that will be one vote for repeal (Kennedy, Scalia and Chief Roberts are no votes and Thomas is for declaring personhood federally). The problem is that many pro-lifers are anti-sex more than pro-child. Try to enact family wage bills and they start talking personal responsibility. No pass.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Links for 01/25/17
Links for 01/25/17: In the Washington Post, John Gehring on the
MGB: The March for Life is still a poison tree, dependent on the goal of overturning Roe on jurisdictional grounds (giving it back to the states) - which is essentially an endorsement of mob rule. I am glad the seamless garment crowd is there, but they should insist on a much higher child tax credit (to living wage levels) and for the Church to start paying those levels now - and to excommunicate Catholic employers who do not. They need to state their case strongly enough that the anti-sex crowd in the movement start to object.
What it takes to be pro-life period is an essential topic. Does it require a commitment to criminalizing abortion or giving control back to the states (which is a very situationalist idea) or can you reject such foolishness and still be pro-life - and if so does pro-life mean anything?
I predict some bishops will support Trump but most won't - largely for coalition politics reasons on abortion (or that is their excuse to themselves).
MGB: The March for Life is still a poison tree, dependent on the goal of overturning Roe on jurisdictional grounds (giving it back to the states) - which is essentially an endorsement of mob rule. I am glad the seamless garment crowd is there, but they should insist on a much higher child tax credit (to living wage levels) and for the Church to start paying those levels now - and to excommunicate Catholic employers who do not. They need to state their case strongly enough that the anti-sex crowd in the movement start to object.
What it takes to be pro-life period is an essential topic. Does it require a commitment to criminalizing abortion or giving control back to the states (which is a very situationalist idea) or can you reject such foolishness and still be pro-life - and if so does pro-life mean anything?
I predict some bishops will support Trump but most won't - largely for coalition politics reasons on abortion (or that is their excuse to themselves).
As two-state solution dies, one-state alternative is born
As two-state solution dies, one-state alternative is born: NCR Today: Is Trump's presidency the final death knell of the two-state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians?
MGB: I doubt that Israel can handle a one state solution. It will either have to equate Palestinians with Arab Israelis or Arab Israelis with Palestinians. Both should be in their own state as part of a larger Hashemite kingdom.
MGB: I doubt that Israel can handle a one state solution. It will either have to equate Palestinians with Arab Israelis or Arab Israelis with Palestinians. Both should be in their own state as part of a larger Hashemite kingdom.
Trump, trade and the death of neo-liberalism
Trump, trade and the death of neo-liberalism: Distinctly Catholic: Trump
MGB: The neo-liberal order is alive and well and will thrive as long as Wall Street is under-regulated (and tapped to find a Treasury Secretary) and tax rates are set low enough to control wage push inflation. Workers, especially white workers are putting their trust in a GOP that will not change tax rates to help them, so the realignment to the GOP is temporary.
Meanwhile, the Republican elite will blanch at the naked appeals to the alt-right. Bannon may have broken the GOP more than given it a long term advantage. Sadly, Clinton played into that push by going back to using abortion to rally female voters rather than continuing the Obama meme that the pro-life movement was a GOP scam (which worked by the way - I was the one who suggested it to NARAL).
While the Trump stance on trade is a departure from the GOP meme (which I wrote about on my blog years ago), it is likely too little too late. Whether he does anything about the governance procedures is TBD. On trade, the ultimate answer is cross border employee ownership, which is more than solidarity and more than the unions are willing to do. As for the rights of the alien in Torah, that applies as equally to Palestinians as it does Central American immigrants.
MGB: The neo-liberal order is alive and well and will thrive as long as Wall Street is under-regulated (and tapped to find a Treasury Secretary) and tax rates are set low enough to control wage push inflation. Workers, especially white workers are putting their trust in a GOP that will not change tax rates to help them, so the realignment to the GOP is temporary.
Meanwhile, the Republican elite will blanch at the naked appeals to the alt-right. Bannon may have broken the GOP more than given it a long term advantage. Sadly, Clinton played into that push by going back to using abortion to rally female voters rather than continuing the Obama meme that the pro-life movement was a GOP scam (which worked by the way - I was the one who suggested it to NARAL).
While the Trump stance on trade is a departure from the GOP meme (which I wrote about on my blog years ago), it is likely too little too late. Whether he does anything about the governance procedures is TBD. On trade, the ultimate answer is cross border employee ownership, which is more than solidarity and more than the unions are willing to do. As for the rights of the alien in Torah, that applies as equally to Palestinians as it does Central American immigrants.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Links for 01/24/17
Links for 01/24/17: At Our Sunday Visitor, the editors remind Catholics that truth is a value of inestimable worth. In this age of "alternative facts" this commentary is timely.
At Democrats for Life of Americ...
MGB:_I suspect that many at The Visitor believe Trump’s alternative facts under the heading of deeper truth (kind of like the Church ignoring the moral implications of gastrulation).
I suspect that Ms. Stiller did not understand what the march organizers meant about reproductive freedom. Alternative facts at work. She needs to decide how she wants the pro-life movement to succeed before she tries to join forces with progressives. Criminal bans or court rulings that lead to them are always unacceptable. Loss of federal jurisdiction on equal protection (a major pro-life goal) is abhorrent and unAmerican.
The main danger for Evangelicals with Trump is that they are clinging to him for authoritarian reasons, not the Gospel and that he is pandering to them. He at least lays bare the folly of the prosperity gospel. Sadly, many of them do share that piece of mistaken theology.
At Democrats for Life of Americ...
MGB:_I suspect that many at The Visitor believe Trump’s alternative facts under the heading of deeper truth (kind of like the Church ignoring the moral implications of gastrulation).
I suspect that Ms. Stiller did not understand what the march organizers meant about reproductive freedom. Alternative facts at work. She needs to decide how she wants the pro-life movement to succeed before she tries to join forces with progressives. Criminal bans or court rulings that lead to them are always unacceptable. Loss of federal jurisdiction on equal protection (a major pro-life goal) is abhorrent and unAmerican.
The main danger for Evangelicals with Trump is that they are clinging to him for authoritarian reasons, not the Gospel and that he is pandering to them. He at least lays bare the folly of the prosperity gospel. Sadly, many of them do share that piece of mistaken theology.
Will the March become a movement?
Will the March become a movement?: Distinctly Catholic: The Women's March was larger than expected, and it was clear from reports, especially from Global Sisters Report, that the marchers were there for a variety of reasons.
MGB:_These marches are mostly rallies. Most of the marching is getting to the rally point. While there was an organic beginning to the events, most of the speakers were from established orgaizations. I suspect many of the supporters were already linked into to them as well. This was mostly about rights, not democracy, and mostly reproductive, racial and gay rights, particlulary lesbians. I did not watch every speech, but it was not about globalization. Anti-globalization is what you find at Trump rallies. These groups are coalition already, mostly through the Democratic Party. The question is whether this coalition can win back Congress in 2018.
Pro-life is code for Republican in most circles and is properly understood as sending doctors to jail (which you really can’t do outside the right-wing spin machine without jailing women). The pro-life left must face the fact that the movement is about the expansion of criminal law and most of us will have no part of it. Pro-life feminists need a new name because their friends are ugly.
The Tea Party, in reality, was a wing of the GOP. This movement is a wing of the Democrats. It is the Democratic Party that needs an economic message. Look to Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders for that. The question is whether the Clintonians will, who were well represented Saturday, will go along. Of course, Sanders and Warren don’t really go far enough. Real socialist cooperativism is more than the Democrats can handle.
MGB:_These marches are mostly rallies. Most of the marching is getting to the rally point. While there was an organic beginning to the events, most of the speakers were from established orgaizations. I suspect many of the supporters were already linked into to them as well. This was mostly about rights, not democracy, and mostly reproductive, racial and gay rights, particlulary lesbians. I did not watch every speech, but it was not about globalization. Anti-globalization is what you find at Trump rallies. These groups are coalition already, mostly through the Democratic Party. The question is whether this coalition can win back Congress in 2018.
Pro-life is code for Republican in most circles and is properly understood as sending doctors to jail (which you really can’t do outside the right-wing spin machine without jailing women). The pro-life left must face the fact that the movement is about the expansion of criminal law and most of us will have no part of it. Pro-life feminists need a new name because their friends are ugly.
The Tea Party, in reality, was a wing of the GOP. This movement is a wing of the Democrats. It is the Democratic Party that needs an economic message. Look to Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders for that. The question is whether the Clintonians will, who were well represented Saturday, will go along. Of course, Sanders and Warren don’t really go far enough. Real socialist cooperativism is more than the Democrats can handle.
Monday, January 23, 2017
Links for 01/23/17
Links for 01/23/17: During the GOP primary contest, then-candidate Donald Trump called Sen. Marco Rubio "little Marco." Now, after principled questioning of Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson, Rubio has d...
MGB:_Call Rubio Mr. Courage
Sadly, the common thought is that Francis does not have a great history on child protection. Of course, simply going with what Pope Emeritus Benedict puts him head and shoulders over the vast majority of popes.
Sirico’s views are no surprise and they probably need not be shared. Giving more bandwidth to more progressive voices would be more fruitful.
MGB:_Call Rubio Mr. Courage
Sadly, the common thought is that Francis does not have a great history on child protection. Of course, simply going with what Pope Emeritus Benedict puts him head and shoulders over the vast majority of popes.
Sirico’s views are no surprise and they probably need not be shared. Giving more bandwidth to more progressive voices would be more fruitful.
Trump: Narcissist or evil genius?
Trump: Narcissist or evil genius?: The sense of whiplash, or is it more accurately described as a "through-the-looking-glass" effect, did not take long to hit America in the face. Within 48 hours of Donald Trump's being s...
MGB__I would guess that Trump is a narcisist with evil staff with as deep delusions of grandeur. Jackson’s actions paying back the debt led to a panic, both because they reduced the public sector and gave liquidity to the wealthy, who had no where to spend it but speculation. We will have no such problem should Trump get his tax cuts passed. The rich will buy these instruments and spend less on foolishness.
The CIA speech shows that Trump and his staff have no idea what they are doing, and when Trump is intellectually lost, Trump babbles. Why he fixated on a losing argument on crowd size is inconceivable, except that Presidents talk about domestic issues at foreign leader press conferences all the time. The problem is that his staff enables him, repeating his lies, rather than finding a way to make him stop.
MGB__I would guess that Trump is a narcisist with evil staff with as deep delusions of grandeur. Jackson’s actions paying back the debt led to a panic, both because they reduced the public sector and gave liquidity to the wealthy, who had no where to spend it but speculation. We will have no such problem should Trump get his tax cuts passed. The rich will buy these instruments and spend less on foolishness.
The CIA speech shows that Trump and his staff have no idea what they are doing, and when Trump is intellectually lost, Trump babbles. Why he fixated on a losing argument on crowd size is inconceivable, except that Presidents talk about domestic issues at foreign leader press conferences all the time. The problem is that his staff enables him, repeating his lies, rather than finding a way to make him stop.
Friday, January 20, 2017
President Donald Trump's odd, sad inaugural address
President Donald Trump's odd, sad inaugural address: Distinctly Catholic: The inauguration ceremonies are completed: Donald Trump is now the President of the United States.
MGB: I never expected much from Trump. The fact that he did not create his usual dialogue with the crowd is actually an improvement. It was an interesting exercise in American triumphalism and protectionism. Whether he can translate that into action, even in his own party, is another story altogether. MSW is correct in that this was more a campaign speech than an inaugural address.
MGB: I never expected much from Trump. The fact that he did not create his usual dialogue with the crowd is actually an improvement. It was an interesting exercise in American triumphalism and protectionism. Whether he can translate that into action, even in his own party, is another story altogether. MSW is correct in that this was more a campaign speech than an inaugural address.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Links for 01/19/17
Links for 01/19/17: At the Working Class Perspectives blog, Jack Metzger looks at how the phrase "working class" covers a group of people of diverse experiences and attitudes and simply lumping them together is...
MGB: Working class means lots of things, but it is useful to separate it out from the middle class, which is even more muddled.
Until school choice advocates start supporting unionization of such schools they have nothing to offer. Teachers pay union dues. They also pay taxes and insurance (which may even cover abortion). Getting rid of high central office costs and nonsense is always a good thing, as is empowering strong principals - but you can do that with Charter Schools as well and unionized teachers are not a down check.
Ordinates are there because they fit more with Rome than Canterbury on women's ordination and gay married bishops and priests. Note to the bishop - you can't hide from progress forever, even in the Church. Sadly, Francis essentially said that the pastoral is more important than doctrine, which the trads can't begin to understand.
It seems they can't understand artwork on defeating Satan either. No sense of history.
MGB: Working class means lots of things, but it is useful to separate it out from the middle class, which is even more muddled.
Until school choice advocates start supporting unionization of such schools they have nothing to offer. Teachers pay union dues. They also pay taxes and insurance (which may even cover abortion). Getting rid of high central office costs and nonsense is always a good thing, as is empowering strong principals - but you can do that with Charter Schools as well and unionized teachers are not a down check.
Ordinates are there because they fit more with Rome than Canterbury on women's ordination and gay married bishops and priests. Note to the bishop - you can't hide from progress forever, even in the Church. Sadly, Francis essentially said that the pastoral is more important than doctrine, which the trads can't begin to understand.
It seems they can't understand artwork on defeating Satan either. No sense of history.
To resist Trump, the left needs leadership that renews 'common good'
To resist Trump, the left needs leadership that renews 'common good': Distinctly Catholic: If Donald Trump does half the things he promised to do, resistance will be required. But the left needs to grow up.
MGB:Resistance to Trump requires a united Senate Democratic caucus, period. In 2018, it will require some unity on the state and congressional district level, but the outrage of Trump will provide that. In 2020, we need unity between groups and a certain tolerance of the differences with ones allies - both by speakers and listeners, but their is nothing wrong with a little bit of education about what it is to be in your own group, particularly after 400 years of oppression (by the way, Romany have had 1000, just so you know where my people come from in Europe). The Sanders coalition will be part of this, if the candidate is smart. Some in the Church will join, the authoritarians will not. I see no change among the culture warrior and social justice types.
MGB:Resistance to Trump requires a united Senate Democratic caucus, period. In 2018, it will require some unity on the state and congressional district level, but the outrage of Trump will provide that. In 2020, we need unity between groups and a certain tolerance of the differences with ones allies - both by speakers and listeners, but their is nothing wrong with a little bit of education about what it is to be in your own group, particularly after 400 years of oppression (by the way, Romany have had 1000, just so you know where my people come from in Europe). The Sanders coalition will be part of this, if the candidate is smart. Some in the Church will join, the authoritarians will not. I see no change among the culture warrior and social justice types.
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Links for 01/18/17
Links for 01/18/17: The USCCB
MGB: If the other bishops listen to the ACA letter it will be a major victory. Let's see what the response is.
People don't appreciate how high the abortion rate was when it was illegal or how much lower it can go with better social services and tax benefits. The sad thing is the focus on repealing Roe, which won't work and the opposition to greater tax benefits for children, which will. Of course being pro-abortion, rather than pro-choice, decreases the number of the next generation that holds the same view.
Actually, I came up with the death spiral argument, to wit, if people can be uninsured until they get sick and drop insurance when they get better, the cost of that insurance will spiral upward as fewer get insurance because of the cost. This has not happened (yet) but it might and the only cure will be single-payer as companies go bankrupt and are turned into single payer systems by the Administration. Of course, the new Administration won't do that.
MGB: If the other bishops listen to the ACA letter it will be a major victory. Let's see what the response is.
People don't appreciate how high the abortion rate was when it was illegal or how much lower it can go with better social services and tax benefits. The sad thing is the focus on repealing Roe, which won't work and the opposition to greater tax benefits for children, which will. Of course being pro-abortion, rather than pro-choice, decreases the number of the next generation that holds the same view.
Actually, I came up with the death spiral argument, to wit, if people can be uninsured until they get sick and drop insurance when they get better, the cost of that insurance will spiral upward as fewer get insurance because of the cost. This has not happened (yet) but it might and the only cure will be single-payer as companies go bankrupt and are turned into single payer systems by the Administration. Of course, the new Administration won't do that.
Trump has constitutional legitimacy but must acquire moral legitimacy
Trump has constitutional legitimacy but must acquire moral legitimacy: Distinctly Catholic: The question of Donald Trump's legitimacy to become president has been raised and deserves to be addressed.
MGB:_I suspect that Trump has the same 12th grade understanding of the Constitution that most citizens have. Of course, the President should know more than the average citizen and have a staff that is equally aware. I also have my doubts on that point.
The Russian hacks do not disqualify. They did not even fabricate e-mails, they just revealed them. Trump was merely opportunistic and that is dangerous. Does it harm his moral legitimacy? Maybe. More importantly, it shows how he might function in office in a way that is more reactive than proactive. Some reactivity goes with the office, but he has the reactios of a school yard bully. Of course, he does have an agenda, which is mostly incoherent or as incoherent as the average citizen has. We could have done better.
MGB:_I suspect that Trump has the same 12th grade understanding of the Constitution that most citizens have. Of course, the President should know more than the average citizen and have a staff that is equally aware. I also have my doubts on that point.
The Russian hacks do not disqualify. They did not even fabricate e-mails, they just revealed them. Trump was merely opportunistic and that is dangerous. Does it harm his moral legitimacy? Maybe. More importantly, it shows how he might function in office in a way that is more reactive than proactive. Some reactivity goes with the office, but he has the reactios of a school yard bully. Of course, he does have an agenda, which is mostly incoherent or as incoherent as the average citizen has. We could have done better.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Links for 01/17/17
Links for 01/17/17: From the file "Great minds think alike" and Sunday's WaPo Outlook section, Matt Stoller on Obama's economic policies and how they hurt the Democratic Party. He delves into the ...
MGB:_Obama was an economic rookie in 2008 and surrounded himself with Clinton’s best economic minds: Volker, Summers and Sperling. There was no interest among these to bail out underwater mortgage borrowers (having either government or banks take the hit). Meanwhile, Rick Santineli was calling for Tea Party to protest any such forgiveness. The Tea Party happened anyway, so Obama should have gone forward, although no one knows if Bernanke would have gone along. He had a veto on the best solution, which was having the Fed buy this debt and reissue it at market.
Bishop Barron probably longs for the days when Church objections could have pulled Silence. Frankly, I have no taste for this movie (and such things are a matter of taste). If the Jesuits object, I might take notice, but not from this bishop.
Political culture explains the election, especially where it has to do with race. If Corey Booker had been on the ticket those infrequent voters who only show up with Obama on the ticket would have made the difference in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. The whites who flocked to Trump would not have picked Clinton. Sanders? Maybe, but probably not. This was a backlash election. The last hurrah for the old white people and those who follow their lead.
MGB:_Obama was an economic rookie in 2008 and surrounded himself with Clinton’s best economic minds: Volker, Summers and Sperling. There was no interest among these to bail out underwater mortgage borrowers (having either government or banks take the hit). Meanwhile, Rick Santineli was calling for Tea Party to protest any such forgiveness. The Tea Party happened anyway, so Obama should have gone forward, although no one knows if Bernanke would have gone along. He had a veto on the best solution, which was having the Fed buy this debt and reissue it at market.
Bishop Barron probably longs for the days when Church objections could have pulled Silence. Frankly, I have no taste for this movie (and such things are a matter of taste). If the Jesuits object, I might take notice, but not from this bishop.
Political culture explains the election, especially where it has to do with race. If Corey Booker had been on the ticket those infrequent voters who only show up with Obama on the ticket would have made the difference in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. The whites who flocked to Trump would not have picked Clinton. Sanders? Maybe, but probably not. This was a backlash election. The last hurrah for the old white people and those who follow their lead.
By end of Obama's presidency, most hope had vanished
By end of Obama's presidency, most hope had vanished: Distinctly Catholic: Politics is about the admixture of ideals, relationships and power, and Obama seemed incapable of sorting out the mix.
MGB: The problem with the ACA debate is that he listened to political strategy too much. He should have included the Public Option rather than drop it because a few conservative Democrats were up for election. They either did not run or lost anyway. Democrats have never been a congressional party to fall in line when in the majority (their minority behavior is different), although they did do a good job in unifying around the stimulus plan, which was inadequate because they needed at least one Republican (they got three). Obama did get his way on taxes at the end of his first term and did successfully play chicken on the debt limit, both very important. Twice he got the GOP to abandon the Hastert rule - no small feat. He also survived a racist GOP opposition without doing what Trump would likely do with similar opposition. These will be considered the golden years.
MGB: The problem with the ACA debate is that he listened to political strategy too much. He should have included the Public Option rather than drop it because a few conservative Democrats were up for election. They either did not run or lost anyway. Democrats have never been a congressional party to fall in line when in the majority (their minority behavior is different), although they did do a good job in unifying around the stimulus plan, which was inadequate because they needed at least one Republican (they got three). Obama did get his way on taxes at the end of his first term and did successfully play chicken on the debt limit, both very important. Twice he got the GOP to abandon the Hastert rule - no small feat. He also survived a racist GOP opposition without doing what Trump would likely do with similar opposition. These will be considered the golden years.
Friday, January 13, 2017
Links for 01/13/17
Links for 01/13/17: Many of Donald Trump's cabinet nominees are on Capitol Hill this week for their confirmation hearings. And, they tend to disagree with many, many things he said on the campaign trail. This is goin...
MGB:_The hearings will be interesting, but what happens afterwards will be fascinating. Will nominees be withdrawn? If not, how will Trump and Pence handle Cabinet members doing the right thing against Administration policy?
I like how Cloutier distinguished between consumption and luxury. It is an important distinction. It is an interesting question as to whom the bishops are closest to, the new president or Pope Francis and his Franciscan voice in America. It would be an easier choice if they really understood the law and poltics of abortion and how much they have been played by the GOP.
Luckily for Puerto Rico, the control board will prevent the new governor from doing too much damage. Still, it will be interesting to see if he stays bought. I expect he will.
MGB:_The hearings will be interesting, but what happens afterwards will be fascinating. Will nominees be withdrawn? If not, how will Trump and Pence handle Cabinet members doing the right thing against Administration policy?
I like how Cloutier distinguished between consumption and luxury. It is an important distinction. It is an interesting question as to whom the bishops are closest to, the new president or Pope Francis and his Franciscan voice in America. It would be an easier choice if they really understood the law and poltics of abortion and how much they have been played by the GOP.
Luckily for Puerto Rico, the control board will prevent the new governor from doing too much damage. Still, it will be interesting to see if he stays bought. I expect he will.
Lack of just wages, benefits a threat to human dignity
Lack of just wages, benefits a threat to human dignity: Distinctly Catholic: Cardinal Sean O'Malley spoke about three forces at work in American social and political life, in a talk given Jan. 10 at The Catholic University of America.
MGB:_The plight of embassy workers is very real and something must be done to make diplomatic immunity not be a license to break the law. The workers and their passports must be subject to American legal protection, whether by treaty or American law.
Unions and minimum wages are a great interim step, but simply playing around with raising them is not enough. Ownership and control of the enterprise by workers (through their unions) is essential to move beyond where we are now. It will be harder to undo than a minimum wage increase (which inflation erodes with time).
A larger, inflation adjusted child tax credit is also essential - even in employee-owned firms and for Church employees. Supply and demand can’t do this, so government must. Employee-owed companies should also know no borders. All workers in their firms should have the same standard of living to stop the exploitative nature of trade. As conditions overseas will change because of this, mass immigration will be less necessary, but still welcome.
The drive for moral thinking in management has no chance in capitalism. It might in the councils of employee-owned firms, especially as these will be established on a moral basis. Likewise, the moral use of technology is more likely to be considered in these firms. The same can be true of finance, which can be internalized in these firms, ending outside money for investment and consumption. The same can be true for health care.
MGB:_The plight of embassy workers is very real and something must be done to make diplomatic immunity not be a license to break the law. The workers and their passports must be subject to American legal protection, whether by treaty or American law.
Unions and minimum wages are a great interim step, but simply playing around with raising them is not enough. Ownership and control of the enterprise by workers (through their unions) is essential to move beyond where we are now. It will be harder to undo than a minimum wage increase (which inflation erodes with time).
A larger, inflation adjusted child tax credit is also essential - even in employee-owned firms and for Church employees. Supply and demand can’t do this, so government must. Employee-owed companies should also know no borders. All workers in their firms should have the same standard of living to stop the exploitative nature of trade. As conditions overseas will change because of this, mass immigration will be less necessary, but still welcome.
The drive for moral thinking in management has no chance in capitalism. It might in the councils of employee-owned firms, especially as these will be established on a moral basis. Likewise, the moral use of technology is more likely to be considered in these firms. The same can be true of finance, which can be internalized in these firms, ending outside money for investment and consumption. The same can be true for health care.
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Links for 01/12/17
Links for 01/12/17: At America, Michael O'Loughlin on Tuesday's "Erroneous Autonomy" conference.
At Politico, coverage of Dr. Ben Carson's confirmation hearings. This man is the personificati...
MGB: I read McElroy's remarks and saw the playback (where there was audio). It is wrong to characterize this as an anti-Trump event as it would have happened anyway. Sadly, there was no audience participation, which may have broadened the opinions expressed. There is a place for liberty in Catholic thought - without human freedom we are moral automatons. That is not virtue, it is moral tyranny.
Carson does not have the self-respect to realize that he is getting the "black seat" at the cabinet table. That lack of self-awareness disqualifies them (as well as the lack of experience in housing). He should be at HHS, not HUD, except that he is fringe either way.
If the Spectator says something, I believe the opposite. Francis is charitable, but sometimes the Truth hurts. The right wing is never comfortable hearing the prophetic voice. Reactionaries hate prophesy.
At Politico, coverage of Dr. Ben Carson's confirmation hearings. This man is the personificati...
MGB: I read McElroy's remarks and saw the playback (where there was audio). It is wrong to characterize this as an anti-Trump event as it would have happened anyway. Sadly, there was no audience participation, which may have broadened the opinions expressed. There is a place for liberty in Catholic thought - without human freedom we are moral automatons. That is not virtue, it is moral tyranny.
Carson does not have the self-respect to realize that he is getting the "black seat" at the cabinet table. That lack of self-awareness disqualifies them (as well as the lack of experience in housing). He should be at HHS, not HUD, except that he is fringe either way.
If the Spectator says something, I believe the opposite. Francis is charitable, but sometimes the Truth hurts. The right wing is never comfortable hearing the prophetic voice. Reactionaries hate prophesy.
Trump: 9, Press Corps: 0
Trump: 9, Press Corps: 0: Donald Trump held his first press conference since winning the election on November 7, and while he demonstrated no mastery of any particular subject matter, he nonetheless proved again that he is mas...
MGB: The clinical term for Trump's style is hypomanic. He needs meds. Sadly, his policy chops suck. I am hypomanic and I assure you that my policy chops are fully in place.
As for the press, they go for the ratings. The word for them is craven. They should know better, but their drive for ratings corrupts them, which gives any politician the moral upper hand, even Trump.
On personal divestiture, Trump is simply a crook and his voting base does not mind. Until they do, he gets to play with his toys. Trump on the issues will depend on how he staffs is policy operation.
I don't have high hopes based on what I have seen (either on their professionalism or on Trump's ability to be advised).
On justices, I would rather he go by the ABA than the Federalist Society, the latter having a flawed view of the 14th Amendment. They do comport with the Catholic Bishop's view on abortion (that it should be a state issue). Heck no!
Employee-ownership is the answer to outsourcing and the press.
MGB: The clinical term for Trump's style is hypomanic. He needs meds. Sadly, his policy chops suck. I am hypomanic and I assure you that my policy chops are fully in place.
As for the press, they go for the ratings. The word for them is craven. They should know better, but their drive for ratings corrupts them, which gives any politician the moral upper hand, even Trump.
On personal divestiture, Trump is simply a crook and his voting base does not mind. Until they do, he gets to play with his toys. Trump on the issues will depend on how he staffs is policy operation.
I don't have high hopes based on what I have seen (either on their professionalism or on Trump's ability to be advised).
On justices, I would rather he go by the ABA than the Federalist Society, the latter having a flawed view of the 14th Amendment. They do comport with the Catholic Bishop's view on abortion (that it should be a state issue). Heck no!
Employee-ownership is the answer to outsourcing and the press.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Links for 01/11/17
Links for 01/11/17: At the New York Times, a profile of "Breitbart's Man in Rome," now-Mr., formerly Rev., Thomas Williams. He used to be Fr. Marcial Maciel's man in Rome, and Maciel was a differen...
MGB:_Williams lived in the duplicitious world of the alt-right priesthood. His movement to the Breitbart zone and his self-promotion are no surprise.
I was feeling poorly after surgery last night, so I half heard the speech. It sounded like vintage Obama. Miller’s reactions from Christian Left leaders we don’t usually hear about was a nice touch.
I was sure the Remnant died when the world did not end in 2000. That Burke is giving them interviews shows their continued irrelevance and his. He has too much time on his hands, although retiring him won’t improve things, nor would giving him any real job. He would simply use it as a way to self-promote. His contention is interesting. He could be right, but that would be worse news for the idea of the Magisterium than for the Pope.
MGB:_Williams lived in the duplicitious world of the alt-right priesthood. His movement to the Breitbart zone and his self-promotion are no surprise.
I was feeling poorly after surgery last night, so I half heard the speech. It sounded like vintage Obama. Miller’s reactions from Christian Left leaders we don’t usually hear about was a nice touch.
I was sure the Remnant died when the world did not end in 2000. That Burke is giving them interviews shows their continued irrelevance and his. He has too much time on his hands, although retiring him won’t improve things, nor would giving him any real job. He would simply use it as a way to self-promote. His contention is interesting. He could be right, but that would be worse news for the idea of the Magisterium than for the Pope.
San Diego bishop warns against nationalism, market rule, overconfidence in technology
San Diego bishop warns against nationalism, market rule, overconfidence in technology: Distinctly Catholic: Bishop Robert McElroy spoke about three forces at work in American social and political life, in a talk given Jan. 10 at The Catholic University of America.
MGB:_The key concept for liberty is the moral sovereignty of the individual, which comes from the nature of free will as it arises from the will striving for the absolute good but never achieving it because the intellect can only give it imperfect choices because this is an imperfect world. Solidarity arises from the free exercise of the will in joining with others, even if those choices are imperfect. Sadly, the decision to work in exploitative capitalist situations is an example of how imperfect the choice is for most workers. Whether the Church is relevant in this choice matrix depeds on the choices it can offer.
Markets are simply the range of available choices. Until new choices are offered, ones with more solidarity, individuals face markets alone. They should not have to, but they have no choice if there are no alternatives offered. It is not liberty, but capitalism, which seeks to strip people of more just alternatives, though the capitalists are in it only for themselves. Market mechanisms for benenfits are not, provided there is adequate income distribution to replace these programs, however I doubt the capitalists are suggesting that.
Solidarity will fix the problems of internationalism, but only if employee-owned firms go global and work in solidarity with their counterparts in the global supply chain. Sadly, few talk about that. That solidarity also makes technology safe for the planet, allowing for the building of individual habitats to grow food and stop corporate agriculture and the development of fusion power to end global warminng.
On transgender issues and respect for gay marriages, the bishop is on the wrong side. Solidarity should be with those that the majority would despise, not the prejudices of the many. Make America Great Again is more about making it white and traditional again. It is a call to reaction and white nationalism. Again, it is not nations that are the problem but the globalization of capitalism.
MGB:_The key concept for liberty is the moral sovereignty of the individual, which comes from the nature of free will as it arises from the will striving for the absolute good but never achieving it because the intellect can only give it imperfect choices because this is an imperfect world. Solidarity arises from the free exercise of the will in joining with others, even if those choices are imperfect. Sadly, the decision to work in exploitative capitalist situations is an example of how imperfect the choice is for most workers. Whether the Church is relevant in this choice matrix depeds on the choices it can offer.
Markets are simply the range of available choices. Until new choices are offered, ones with more solidarity, individuals face markets alone. They should not have to, but they have no choice if there are no alternatives offered. It is not liberty, but capitalism, which seeks to strip people of more just alternatives, though the capitalists are in it only for themselves. Market mechanisms for benenfits are not, provided there is adequate income distribution to replace these programs, however I doubt the capitalists are suggesting that.
Solidarity will fix the problems of internationalism, but only if employee-owned firms go global and work in solidarity with their counterparts in the global supply chain. Sadly, few talk about that. That solidarity also makes technology safe for the planet, allowing for the building of individual habitats to grow food and stop corporate agriculture and the development of fusion power to end global warminng.
On transgender issues and respect for gay marriages, the bishop is on the wrong side. Solidarity should be with those that the majority would despise, not the prejudices of the many. Make America Great Again is more about making it white and traditional again. It is a call to reaction and white nationalism. Again, it is not nations that are the problem but the globalization of capitalism.
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Links for 01/10/17
Links for 01/10/17: Great News: If you can't attend our conference "Erroneous Autonomy: The Dignity of Work" in person, it will be livestreamed. You can access the livestream here. The event begins at ...
MGB: I had registered and would like to have gone and would have made comments on the preferability of employee-ownership (including cooperative consumption, which sets the stage for cooperative production). Of course, I have enough to say to be on the panel. Sadly, I am just out of the hospital and in no shape to go. I hope that the live stream is also available on playback, as I have appointments today.
Protecting the Dreamers would be good and I suspect Trump will do something like that, although half measures have availed us nothing, including that sorry compromise in the Senate that was meant to embarrass the GOP rather than be permanent law. It was much to harsh. Like Harry Reid, the bishops are too partisan to simply do the right thing.
The Evangelical movement is the essence of sectarianism, the right of a group of dissatisfied believers to leave the more established Church and go their own way. The fragmentation of theology is not flaw, its a design feature. My family tree includes founders or early adherents of four such sects: the Puritans, the Anabaptists, the Quakers and the Disciples of Christ.
MGB: I had registered and would like to have gone and would have made comments on the preferability of employee-ownership (including cooperative consumption, which sets the stage for cooperative production). Of course, I have enough to say to be on the panel. Sadly, I am just out of the hospital and in no shape to go. I hope that the live stream is also available on playback, as I have appointments today.
Protecting the Dreamers would be good and I suspect Trump will do something like that, although half measures have availed us nothing, including that sorry compromise in the Senate that was meant to embarrass the GOP rather than be permanent law. It was much to harsh. Like Harry Reid, the bishops are too partisan to simply do the right thing.
The Evangelical movement is the essence of sectarianism, the right of a group of dissatisfied believers to leave the more established Church and go their own way. The fragmentation of theology is not flaw, its a design feature. My family tree includes founders or early adherents of four such sects: the Puritans, the Anabaptists, the Quakers and the Disciples of Christ.
The confirmation hearings begin
The confirmation hearings begin: The Senate begins confirmation hearings today for president-elect Donald Trump's nominations to his cabinet. For Catholics, a couple of the nominees raise specific concerns.
MGB: I would rejoice at getting Sen. Sessions out of the Senate, but he would be replaced with someone equally bad. His nomination is a wake up call to people who would not vote because Obama was not on the ticket that voting matters.
DeVoss won't have the power to overturn the education establishment, but she will move the conversation. I wonder if she (or the bishops) would entertain a compromise to require that voucher funded schools be unionized? If not, I hope she fails badly.
Tillerson may be an excellent deal maker, but the question is whether he can be a Department of State organization man. More important is seeing who his Deputy is, as the Deputy runs the department, including much of the policy.
The Democrats were overconfident fools when they changed the filibuster rules. They made their beds and now they can lie in them. The same is true of Trump voters.
MGB: I would rejoice at getting Sen. Sessions out of the Senate, but he would be replaced with someone equally bad. His nomination is a wake up call to people who would not vote because Obama was not on the ticket that voting matters.
DeVoss won't have the power to overturn the education establishment, but she will move the conversation. I wonder if she (or the bishops) would entertain a compromise to require that voucher funded schools be unionized? If not, I hope she fails badly.
Tillerson may be an excellent deal maker, but the question is whether he can be a Department of State organization man. More important is seeing who his Deputy is, as the Deputy runs the department, including much of the policy.
The Democrats were overconfident fools when they changed the filibuster rules. They made their beds and now they can lie in them. The same is true of Trump voters.
Monday, January 9, 2017
The opposition to Pope Francis doubles down
The opposition to Pope Francis doubles down: Distinctly Catholic: Fr. Raymond De Souza of the National Catholic Register and Raymond Arroyo of EWTN have joined Cardinal Raymond Burke in bemoaning the confusion caused by Amoris Laetitia.
MGB:_Cardinal Burke is a has-been, mostly because he created confusion by making up a power to deny Communion to Catholic politicians who refused to go along with the pro-life movement’s conspiracy to fool Catholic voters into supporting Republicans when in fact the issue is decided and the then-bishop’s urging of a state constitutional officer to violate her oath as essentially sedition.
de Souza seems to be unaware that it is cutting a document that takes time. Letting the opinions of many have a free airing takes little time at all if you have no desire to distort. There was no formal doctrinal change in A.L., (some on the left would have liked there to be) but instead pastors were free to exercise mercy. Perhaps de Sourza suspects that the entire concept of formal magisterial teaching on every matter has gone out of style. I would not mind such a thing at all.
I wish the Pope would go bigger on child protection, but Arroyo is out of line. Francis is way to generous with the board of directors of the Trad attack machine. I would not count on the USCCB to do anything on that front.
MGB:_Cardinal Burke is a has-been, mostly because he created confusion by making up a power to deny Communion to Catholic politicians who refused to go along with the pro-life movement’s conspiracy to fool Catholic voters into supporting Republicans when in fact the issue is decided and the then-bishop’s urging of a state constitutional officer to violate her oath as essentially sedition.
de Souza seems to be unaware that it is cutting a document that takes time. Letting the opinions of many have a free airing takes little time at all if you have no desire to distort. There was no formal doctrinal change in A.L., (some on the left would have liked there to be) but instead pastors were free to exercise mercy. Perhaps de Sourza suspects that the entire concept of formal magisterial teaching on every matter has gone out of style. I would not mind such a thing at all.
I wish the Pope would go bigger on child protection, but Arroyo is out of line. Francis is way to generous with the board of directors of the Trad attack machine. I would not count on the USCCB to do anything on that front.
Friday, January 6, 2017
Links for 01/06/17
Links for 01/06/17: The Trump Transition Team issued this statement in honor of National Migration Week. Oh, excuse me. The statement came from the President and Vice President of the USCCB. I call readers' attention...
MGB:_It is tragic when the bishops pander to Republican politicians who are pandering to the alt-Right. When did that become part of their job description?
Perriello will have competition, as the Virginia Democrats have enough female leadership to make abortion on active discussion point It is not an issue, most questions within it are settled law and correctly so. Until someone can work out how to ban abortion in the first trimester without making miscarriage a legal event (you can’t), or avoiding prosecution of mothers without savaging equal protection for other contract killing (again, impossible), there is no real issue per se.
Confidential to the pro-life movement - engage real lawers, not true believers from Ave Maria and Liberty. Confidetial to the candidate - leave the pro-life con-job on the sidelines, its not going anywhere and Roe will never be overturned, as this would do violence to all equal protection law, which the bishops would not mind doing but the rest of us should resist as it would enshrine the tyranny of state majorities and return us to the days of decency boards. No thank you.
MGB:_It is tragic when the bishops pander to Republican politicians who are pandering to the alt-Right. When did that become part of their job description?
Perriello will have competition, as the Virginia Democrats have enough female leadership to make abortion on active discussion point It is not an issue, most questions within it are settled law and correctly so. Until someone can work out how to ban abortion in the first trimester without making miscarriage a legal event (you can’t), or avoiding prosecution of mothers without savaging equal protection for other contract killing (again, impossible), there is no real issue per se.
Confidential to the pro-life movement - engage real lawers, not true believers from Ave Maria and Liberty. Confidetial to the candidate - leave the pro-life con-job on the sidelines, its not going anywhere and Roe will never be overturned, as this would do violence to all equal protection law, which the bishops would not mind doing but the rest of us should resist as it would enshrine the tyranny of state majorities and return us to the days of decency boards. No thank you.
Star of wonder: thoughts on the feast of the Epiphany
Star of wonder: thoughts on the feast of the Epiphany: Distinctly Catholic: The feast of the Epiphany's challenge: Can Christians ever set aside our denominational and theological perspectives without distorting not only our theology, but misunderstanding nature itself?
MGB:_Modern astrologers can actually duplicate the work of the Magi in casting the horoscope of the newborn king of the Jews. (His birthday is actually April 17, 6 BCE). There was no ”star” although there may have been an eclipse of the sun.
In the same way, natural law is the province of any who attempt it. There is no license requred. Anything more stringent is simply authoritarianism, thereby abandoning the primacy of reason. The pope is not always right. Truth is. More scientific views biology and fewer pre-determied conclusions (like the bigoted statement that women are not worhty vesels for ordination) must become the order of the day. Jesus would not endorse such garbage. You can be different and equal he created us. This would be a real Epiphany.
MGB:_Modern astrologers can actually duplicate the work of the Magi in casting the horoscope of the newborn king of the Jews. (His birthday is actually April 17, 6 BCE). There was no ”star” although there may have been an eclipse of the sun.
In the same way, natural law is the province of any who attempt it. There is no license requred. Anything more stringent is simply authoritarianism, thereby abandoning the primacy of reason. The pope is not always right. Truth is. More scientific views biology and fewer pre-determied conclusions (like the bigoted statement that women are not worhty vesels for ordination) must become the order of the day. Jesus would not endorse such garbage. You can be different and equal he created us. This would be a real Epiphany.
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Courage's new director: pope's language of accompaniment 'is very useful for us'
Courage's new director: pope's language of accompaniment 'is very useful for us': The Field Hospital: Fr. Philip Bochanski says Courage feels supported by Pope Francis' encouragement to accompany those "with same-sex attraction" on their spiritual journeys.
MGB:_Courage is based on junk science and a misunderstanding of what make up the family. It’s not sex (which they are obsessed with) but the thousand other details of life that are best done with a spouse. The basic adult right is to divorce yourself from your family of origin (or divorce your spouse and return to them) and to be one flesh under law. That does not happen without legal marriage. The Church should get on board (and quit wishing for Trump to save them).
MGB:_Courage is based on junk science and a misunderstanding of what make up the family. It’s not sex (which they are obsessed with) but the thousand other details of life that are best done with a spouse. The basic adult right is to divorce yourself from your family of origin (or divorce your spouse and return to them) and to be one flesh under law. That does not happen without legal marriage. The Church should get on board (and quit wishing for Trump to save them).
The inauguration and the clergy
The inauguration and the clergy: Distinctly Catholic: Donald Trump has assembled quite a line-up of clergy to pray or lead readings from the Scriptures at his inauguration.
MGB:Cardinal Dolan and his allies are believers in Christendom. They like the symbolism of Catholic participation in these events. For them, it is a triumph. They believe in maximizing relgious power rather than simply seeking guarantees of religious freedom. And that is a shame. Mores the pity of those who wish to baptize the prosperty gospel. They have answered the question of whether they worhip God or Mammon. Trump finds comfort in both for his own soul and his ability manipulate them.
MGB:Cardinal Dolan and his allies are believers in Christendom. They like the symbolism of Catholic participation in these events. For them, it is a triumph. They believe in maximizing relgious power rather than simply seeking guarantees of religious freedom. And that is a shame. Mores the pity of those who wish to baptize the prosperty gospel. They have answered the question of whether they worhip God or Mammon. Trump finds comfort in both for his own soul and his ability manipulate them.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Links for 01/04/17
Links for 01/04/17: One thing about Bishop Robert Lynch, who wrapped up his blog now that he is stepping down as the Bishop of St. Petersburg with one final post: The man has exquisite taste! Bishop Lynch has been an out...
MGB:Bishop Lynch is a true churchman. I hope he has a fulfilling retirement.
No runs the GOP caucus. This is the main reason to scrap the Hastert rule, which with this bunch is at least trying to ruin the government, not knowing that this will wreck the nation.
The key question is whether the Republican can govern, since they will quickly realize that Trump is a non-entity who will likely sign what they give him. That will lead to an existential crisis when they realize they are responsible for governing.
MGB:Bishop Lynch is a true churchman. I hope he has a fulfilling retirement.
No runs the GOP caucus. This is the main reason to scrap the Hastert rule, which with this bunch is at least trying to ruin the government, not knowing that this will wreck the nation.
The key question is whether the Republican can govern, since they will quickly realize that Trump is a non-entity who will likely sign what they give him. That will lead to an existential crisis when they realize they are responsible for governing.
The 115th Congress will have to cope with an unpredictable president
The 115th Congress will have to cope with an unpredictable president: Distinctly Catholic: Having one party in control of both the legislative and executive branches is not an oddity, but two things are different this year.
MGB:The GOP does not have full control of the Senate. It will take them eight Democratic votes to do anything on their main agenda points and no one is talking in the Democratic caucus of bipartisanship. If voters were meaning to end gridlock, the backed the wrong team. The GOP won’t be rewarded for their obstruction. While taxes can be part of reconciliation (which can be annual), tax changes that increase the debt are still subject to a 60 vote point of order from the Budget Act, which cannot be changed as easily as the rules.
Whether Trump and the Congress work hand in glove depends on the competency of Trump’s staff. The GOP tends to defer to presidents, but if the new White House is as incompetent as it seems to be, that may not be the case. Also, on some issues, like Dodd-Frank, the opposition was to Obama, not reform. Republicans were involved in drafting many of these reforms. They won’t be as quick to repeal as we think. As for abortion, they will give it enough lip service to make the Democrats say radical things without actually doing anything, leaving the prolife movement to realize that they have been used again.
MGB:The GOP does not have full control of the Senate. It will take them eight Democratic votes to do anything on their main agenda points and no one is talking in the Democratic caucus of bipartisanship. If voters were meaning to end gridlock, the backed the wrong team. The GOP won’t be rewarded for their obstruction. While taxes can be part of reconciliation (which can be annual), tax changes that increase the debt are still subject to a 60 vote point of order from the Budget Act, which cannot be changed as easily as the rules.
Whether Trump and the Congress work hand in glove depends on the competency of Trump’s staff. The GOP tends to defer to presidents, but if the new White House is as incompetent as it seems to be, that may not be the case. Also, on some issues, like Dodd-Frank, the opposition was to Obama, not reform. Republicans were involved in drafting many of these reforms. They won’t be as quick to repeal as we think. As for abortion, they will give it enough lip service to make the Democrats say radical things without actually doing anything, leaving the prolife movement to realize that they have been used again.
Links for 01/03/17
Links for 01/03/17: Everyone should read the homily the Holy Father delivered on New Year's Day. It explains exactly what the pope is trying to accomplish in the Church.
You can't always count on the secul...
MGB:The Gospel story for New Years shows how Jesus first knew of his own divinity. This carried him through until he saw himself in the Scriptures. When he gave her to John on his cross, he abandoned what he had been told of his divine nativity, abandoning himself so he could bring us back from our abandonment.
The thesis that the Pope is a conservative is overblown. He is a lot more liberal than the Guardian thinks because the Gospel is.
The fact of climate change is obvious. What is speculative is what the warming will do. Of course, the moral principle of acting cautiously when human life is in danger must apply, hence the Pope’s encyclical.
You can't always count on the secul...
MGB:The Gospel story for New Years shows how Jesus first knew of his own divinity. This carried him through until he saw himself in the Scriptures. When he gave her to John on his cross, he abandoned what he had been told of his divine nativity, abandoning himself so he could bring us back from our abandonment.
The thesis that the Pope is a conservative is overblown. He is a lot more liberal than the Guardian thinks because the Gospel is.
The fact of climate change is obvious. What is speculative is what the warming will do. Of course, the moral principle of acting cautiously when human life is in danger must apply, hence the Pope’s encyclical.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Looking forward to policing the culture of the church in 2017
Looking forward to policing the culture of the church in 2017: Distinctly Catholic: Looking ahead to 2017, thinking about what stories will emerge, may seem like a fool's errand, but I will point out some key issues we'll be covering.
MGB: Most of the Trump essay had nothing to do with the Church. As for Trump, his goal is to make himself look good. He may just be craven enough to do the right thing. It is the people he brings with him that I worry about. The permanent government will stop most really stupid ideas (including even Republican congressional staff), but some insanity will probably slip through.
Francis is working so hard in Rome, I am worried he won't notice what is happening in the American Church. Still, a lot of us trust him, although a few public firings would make me trust him more.
I like "Team Francis" but the existence of a rump group of bishops (how appropriate a term) could sew confusion. Let there be retirements. I still think LifeSiteNews and their ilk are best ignored and marginalized, although public condemnations of them would be nice.
MGB: Most of the Trump essay had nothing to do with the Church. As for Trump, his goal is to make himself look good. He may just be craven enough to do the right thing. It is the people he brings with him that I worry about. The permanent government will stop most really stupid ideas (including even Republican congressional staff), but some insanity will probably slip through.
Francis is working so hard in Rome, I am worried he won't notice what is happening in the American Church. Still, a lot of us trust him, although a few public firings would make me trust him more.
I like "Team Francis" but the existence of a rump group of bishops (how appropriate a term) could sew confusion. Let there be retirements. I still think LifeSiteNews and their ilk are best ignored and marginalized, although public condemnations of them would be nice.
Monday, January 2, 2017
Links for 12/30/16
Links for 12/30/16: Over at The Atlantic, Emma Green has a good interview that is kind of depressing, with Michael Wear, who ran faith outreach for Obama in 2012 and who has some damning things to say about today's D...
MGB:What is depressing is not the current lineup of Democratic Party state level activisists but the irreligion among an entire generation - the Millenials. This is the generation that was told they don’t have to go to church if they don’t want to - and they don’t. Whether the the current chruch, which comes off as anti-woman can reverse this is doubtful (at least until they become less culturally unaware themselves because in dealing with modernity their lack of knowledge is as pathetic). On abortion, the moral argument is not important for law. Get over it. Rather than dueling over women’s rights v. fetal rights, the Democrats need to focus on what the law can and cannot do and how equal protection for women on abortion has implications for Latino rights, sodomy, contraception and gay marriage as well as the actual impact on miscarriage should first trimester embryos get rights.
If George protests against something than what he is protesting is probably true, although the prodigal son is more blameless than some of the trads on marriage issues. The son had his own interests at heart, the trads are more malicious in their pietousness.
MGB:What is depressing is not the current lineup of Democratic Party state level activisists but the irreligion among an entire generation - the Millenials. This is the generation that was told they don’t have to go to church if they don’t want to - and they don’t. Whether the the current chruch, which comes off as anti-woman can reverse this is doubtful (at least until they become less culturally unaware themselves because in dealing with modernity their lack of knowledge is as pathetic). On abortion, the moral argument is not important for law. Get over it. Rather than dueling over women’s rights v. fetal rights, the Democrats need to focus on what the law can and cannot do and how equal protection for women on abortion has implications for Latino rights, sodomy, contraception and gay marriage as well as the actual impact on miscarriage should first trimester embryos get rights.
If George protests against something than what he is protesting is probably true, although the prodigal son is more blameless than some of the trads on marriage issues. The son had his own interests at heart, the trads are more malicious in their pietousness.
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