Links: Republicans control state legislatures; Archbishop Gomez earns some praise

Links: Republicans control state legislatures; Archbishop Gomez earns some praise 

In Gonzalez v. Carhart, Kennedy, Alito and Roberts refused to overturn Roe when they had the chance. At least Gorsuch, if not Roberts as well, fit into that mode. Roe will not be falling, nor will the 5th Circuit decision be affirmed. Mississippi is seeking to obliterate the 14th Amendment supremacy over such issues. It should not happen, although the fact that it took three conferences to get four votes for Certiorari is troubling. The option no one is forecasting is a unanimous or near unanimous decision that firmly slams the door on state action to move the needle on viability. It would end the pro-life movement.

Define a pro-life feminist. How do such women (men don't count) feel about jailing women. If they don't think this is possible, they are simply ignorant on what making a non-viable fetus a legal person would automatically do.

For every Texas, you have a Maryland. Each state has a court system. Even if federal courts stay out of this arena, state courts will not.

Mothers are Santa in most houses. Men simply cannot wrap gifts well. A Black, Gay Santa will be a tradition in Black Gay households. They are rare, although my family has one.

Does Trump have enough of a war chest to share? Trump, share? Now that is funny. In bygone days, Trump had a Super PAC full of Russian money.That he did share. If Trump goes down, he won't go down alone.

When the Register praises you, it is time to dodge phone calls from the Nuncio or the Cardinal Advisor. That these five are not ostracized shows what is wrong with the Conference.

Book banners are a prime example of what is wrong with public education today. Bureaucracies put rules above common sense - and many principals are wannabe bureaucrats. In the Archdiocese of Washington, the education office has exactly five staff and parental boards, along with pastors, control the schools. Of course, pastors can be as careerist (and dense) as school administrators. Remember that the Roman Inquisition was a leading force in book banning, so those in glass cathedrals should not throw stones.

Meeting Jesus in the air is an individual enterprise. The universe will not end (nor mankind perish) in short order. There will be no restoration of the Golden Age of American Catholicism. As for the hymn, it is a tad too close to anti-Semitism for me to be comfortable with.

As Supreme Court considers abortion case, can we assume the best about our opponents?

As Supreme Court considers abortion case, can we assume the best about our opponents? 

The Court does not consider moral questions. They decide questions of authority and states cannot be allowed the final authority over abortion; just as they cannot have the last word on gay rights, birth control, funding the education of undocumented immigrants and Catholic school students. 

When NARAL, et al, talk about abortion rights, they need to focus on all civil rights. The key question here is the fact that Mississippi is the respondent, largely because the 5th Circuit ruled incorrectly. 

If Congress changed legal personhood from viability to some earlier point, the states could act. They cannot be allowed to act if Congress does not first grant personhood. That would open Pandora's Box. It is time for the Court to lock the box forever. The Center for Reproductive Rights should cede the point that Congress could lower the age where a fetus must be protected. If the Court agrees, the issue of state power will be ended. 

Mississippi is not in this fight for the unborn. They want to bring back the state power regime of Plessy. That kind of mob rule cannot be allowed. This is where the analysis must stop. I will not give tyranny the benefit of the doubt.

Links: An editorial on the bishops' Communion document, labor news, hymns for CELAM and Thanksgiving

Links: An editorial on the bishops' Communion document, labor news, hymns for CELAM and Thanksgiving 

The other NCR is a GOP rag funded by GOP operatives like Carl Anderson. It is best ignored. The only way to be unworthy of the Eucharist is to deny it to others.

The term Judeo-Christian is pandering to Evangelical Zionists who want to do to Israel what Luther did to my family. Western Christianity and Judaism are not so compatible. Catholics have too many sexual hangups and too much asexual self-justification.

The ultimate act of economic justice from the Church would be to endorse Build Back Better. Sadly, conservative Catholics would rather regulate female sexuality than make having children more affordable. The panel should have led with it - or have a second panel that does.

Kelloggs high starch products should be boycotted anyway. They ad girth without adding nutrition.

Safe districts allow for real ideology. The fly in that ointment is that most ideologies are left out and, if allowed to, conservatives pull the discussion down to cultural issues (which demand a woke response).

CELAM should have its own patriarch, which would elevate their Cardinal Advisor and provide a model for us all (including who is ordained).

I love Te Deum. Thanks.

Breidenbach's fertile research raises questions about history of religious liberty

Breidenbach's fertile research raises questions about history of religious liberty 

In most of New England, the Anglican Church was too Catholic for my Puritan ancestors. They considered it an impure faith (hence the name). Free exercise and establishment were the work of Jefferson, a Diest, who purified the Gospel to remove miracles from it, oddly making it a good facsimile for the Q Gospel. 

The loyalties of the Carroll family had nothing to do with the First Amendment. The question was whether to keep Maryland in the United States or persecute its Catholics.  Not admitting it as a state was not an option, nor was persecution, given the Deism of Madison and Jefferson.

This is not to say that suspicion of Rome was not justified. It was acting more like a government than a Church and stood firmly against both democracy and freemasonry (my generation is the first ever not to be part of a lodge), largely because of Italian politics. If there was a common civic religion at the founding, it was the universal brotherhood of the Lodge. (which is in no way sinful).

By justified I mean that it was reasonable to conclude that Rome was an overseas enemy, not that persecution was a good thing. Think about this concept when making justice an attribute of God. Justice is about reasons, not Truth.

As the recent controversy over Communion demonstrates, a belief in individual rights (especially for women), is not a core value in the hierarchy - despite the fact that Dignitatis Humanae made it doctrine.

Unless these themes are included in the nation's religious liberty, Breidenbach's research is incomplete at best and conservative propaganda at worst.

Links: The Rittenhouse verdict; Catholic Worker reaction to Archbishop Gomez; Bosnia on the verge of breakup

Links: The Rittenhouse verdict; Catholic Worker reaction to Archbishop Gomez; Bosnia on the verge of breakup 

The sad irony of the Rittenhouse case is that the people he killed were likely right-wing Boogaloo Bois in a false flag operation (as in other cities). This shows why AR-15s are nasty. A handgun would have likely not killed them, so they could have been questioned on why they were there.

Build Back Better needs to be sold by Catholics as must-pass pro-life legislation. It is time to drive a wedge between Catholics and the Republican Party.

Gomez is pandering to his GOP allies, rather than being a faithful shepherd.  He also does not understand what being woke means. Wokeness is a rejection of fascist attitudes on sex, rather than using them as a cultural warrior tool in a matter akin to fascism.  On the 10 signs of fascism, he seems to click all the boxes. This is why it is important to be woke in the face of capitalism. Wokeness is not optional.

Miamonodies would have likely thought that Praeger was a putz not worthy of mention. He speaks as a Republican, not a Jew.

American division is as much ethnic as sexual as anything else, especially from the right-wing. This is not unique to Serbia. Again, it is endemic to fascism and reactionary support of Capitalism; a feature, not a flaw. Part of the response must be Wokeness.

Indentured servants of both races came to the Jamestown colony in 1619. They were only slaves in 1630, when John Punch was sold as chattel. Like being offended by the 3/5ths compromise (which was designed to decrease slave power - abolitionists did not want slaves counted at all), objecting when the details are wrong is seen as insensitive. People who do projects do not like criticism (or waiting until 1630). Correction must come with sympathy and the suggestion that a 1630 project be created as well. The reaction to the project as a whole ignores the fact that, yet again, being Woke is necessary to fight fascism and capitalism. 

Ave Maria professor's book sees roots of religious liberty in Catholicism

Ave Maria professor's book sees roots of religious liberty in Catholicism 

I am interested in whether the author mentions Garibaldi and Mirare Vos. The situation in the U.S. did not grow out of mere bigotry. Even now, members of the Conference would rather not acknowledge the existence of Dignitatis Humanae. In the war between tradition and liberty, liberty won at St. John's Council.

US bishops lost about how to engage a culture they don't understand

US bishops lost about how to engage a culture they don't understand 

The bishops in question have no understanding of the perfect humility of God (all 3 persons of the Blessed Trinity). God does not need them to reach us. She (the Holy Spirit, aka Shekinah) encourages us to reach them. The bishops in question have no understanding of either U.S. constitutional law (or pretend not to on TV) or sexual morality. Again, we need to teach them. 

They are blind to their own asexuality, thinking it is a sign of holiness rather than simply a deviation from the normal. They have no business teaching the rest of us anything.

What is most troubling is that the bishops seem quite willing to use authoritarian (if not fascist) means to enforce their will. They are at a loss on how much we simply ignore them. Gone are the days when obedience to the Church was a mandate for being a Catholic.

To hold a Eucharistic revival, they need to change how they view the cross. Being empty seems to be the natural state of man. No further emptying is required. God empties Himself to reach us - and he uses Communion to fill that emptiness. No consultant will help them discern this (unless they wish to throw a few hundred thousand my way). 

Links: Democrats' midterm prospects; Cardinal Dolan interviews Bill Donohue

Links: Democrats' midterm prospects; Cardinal Dolan interviews Bill Donohue 

In Washington, Cardinal Wilton would never fire a teacher who married someone of the same ses. Even so, it is hoped that your classmate, as a layperson, would share that acceptance of the moral decisions of others.

Inflation is out of the Democrats control, and hopefully the Federal will restrain itself from restraining the economy. The pandemic will end and the supply chain will be restored - probably sooner than later. It is the GOP who is panicking. With every witness that goes to the Select Committee, their future becomes darker - and that is not including what the FBI will find. The Select Committee is a bright, shiny object to cover for the real investigation. Set your calendar to 1974.

Kalorama is for the New Rich in DC. The real wealth is in Woodland-Normanstone. Bezos  and Theil are probably using money borrowed from their ownership shares. They are not as wealthy as it seems.

Flynn is mainly a danger to himself, especially if he thinks he serious.

The anti-Catholicism comes from the fact that Rome is not cleaning up after those it appointed. Local Churches should not be paying for their mistakes. Let the money flow out of the Vatican museum like a river. The bishops also need to fire the law firms that advised them to make deals in the dark. Again, their shame is earned. As for Donohue, he belongs with Flynn on the list of unserious people best ignored. The proximate cause of the abuse is not gay priests, it is unmatured asexual ones who deny their own sexuality. The Cardinal is one of those who needs to open his mind to this reality.

Rebuilding a ship that sank does not sound smart. I won't be booking passage.

 

No explosion but plenty of simmering differences on Day 2 of bishops' meeting

No explosion but plenty of simmering differences on Day 2 of bishops' meeting 

The Nuncio eyeing Gomez? Wow! Francis is listening and made sure Gomez knew it. As for abortion, we need more than solidarity, especially from the Nuncio. Families need money, including those that are not broken. Build Back Better! As for the elections, personality is often before principle in the Conference. Paprocki is an embarrassment to the Church. Treasurers, however, need to be able to raise money. The day sounds mundane, which is refreshing. Our bishops our organization men, but they will likely be replaced by pastors. Francis is not going away anytime soon.

Observations from Day One at the US bishops' meeting

Observations from Day One at the US bishops' meeting 

Republican catholic protestors are only singing to their own choir. Such demonstrations are an activity for their own sake. Lepanto must look busy. So do the Republican bishops who know that their careers are over if Francis is at hand to accept their retirement requests. Make no mistake on this statement, it is aimed at voters, not Biden or candidates. It is saying nothing new and won't dissuade certain bishops from repeating their lie next October - nor will any voters change their minds because of them.

Links: Flynn wants one US religion; Cavadini on love of the poor; Dionne's political advice

Links: Flynn wants one US religion; Cavadini on love of the poor; Dionne's political advice 

Some of the conservative moral values can twist into Reaction at best and Fascism at worst. See my analysis from last week at http://xianleft.blogspot.com/2021/11/fascist-catholic-bishops.html

The truest way to encounter Christ is in the eyes of the poor. Any God worth its salt is perfectly humble, not perfectly triumphant. Who are we to ignore the poor?

It is hard to know if Flynn is really a insane or is playing to the Trump crowd. Given some of his actions, I suspect the former. His braying is not worth mentioning.

Build Back Better needs to be sold as pro-life, must-pass legislation. He should have someone in Baltimore this week saying this, loud and clear.

The Lincoln Project went after Trump, not the GOP as a whole. That they were effective in 2020 is obvious. On the bright side, all of the at-play seats have turned. The prosecution of the Insurrection will be to the GOP what 1974 was. If the GOP were smart, they would take the lead in cleaning up their mess. They are not smart.

Humility is self-knowledge and unselfish love. We are incapable with this without God. The era is saved when we call upon Her. If not, hold on tight.

The irony is that Iceland was originally tied to the Nordic Gods. They actually were considered Meta.

Sadly, the US bishops' conference is a ghost of its former self

Sadly, the US bishops' conference is a ghost of its former self 

The intervention stopped what would have been attack on all Catholic politicians and voters, with the rush being the 2022 election. This was not truly about Biden at all. The reality is that Democratic voters and politicians ignore such nonsense anyway. Hopefully, Biden will take this opportunity to engage the Bishops, specifically the Office of Pro-Life Activities on the state of constitutional law on abortion (both Roe and Casey). 

He should invite them to join the campaign to Build Back Better, particularly the child tax credit and childcare provisions (along with supporting a $10 to $12 minimum wage). It is time for them to challenge their allies to consider these matters must-pass right to life legislation.

I would suggest to the Republican bishops (let us not mince words) that they should not try the patience of the Holy Father. If anyone needs counsel on the abortion, it is Catholic business owners and stockholders who do not pay employees a sufficient wage to raise their families. They are materially cooperating with the act itself. That would raise eyebrows.

If Republican business owners and Democrat pro-choice voters are all told to avoid Eucharist, who will be left to receive it? We need the unity of the Sacrament much more than usual in this divided society. The bishops could truly contribute to that. 

More unity should also include more involvement by the laity. They need to create their own Tierna when a bishop is to be appointed (or transfered). In the Mass of institution, the assembly makes a show of accepting the new bishop, but like the washing of the feet, it is an empty gesture.

A decent document on the Eucharist, as well as a necessary action of the Conference, would be to correct this lack. Building collegiality is weak tea. I am not holding my breath for either.

Also last week, I penned a blog post on the fascism of some of the conference. I dare someone to share it in Baltimore this week. You can find it at http://xianleft.blogspot.com/2021/11/fascist-catholic-bishops.html

New survey raises concerns about increasingly conservative clergy

New survey raises concerns about increasingly conservative clergy 

All of us have not decided that all survey data demands skepticism, rather how it is done should always be a concern. Without more detail on how the sample frame was constructed (meaning, how random - and therefore generalizable) and what the cross-tabulations look like, I cannot judge how good a survey is. While good methodology is science, the art is in the interpretation. The interpretation is largely dependent on the audience - especially who is paying for the survey. 

Campaign polling meant only for the team just before the election is very accurate. The reason McAuliffe ended his after-party early is because he probably already knew he had lost before the first in-person vote had even been cast on election day. Other surveys are for public consumption, meaning they are presented in such a way as to show the election is up for grabs. This is good for the media and for the candidates because it brings people out to the polls. 

Some surveys are designed to make your candidate or party look better than they really are. Some Republican outfits are notorious for that, so much so that their results are discounted by a few points by the other side. 2021 showed that this is not always true. They sure caught me off guard.

For ecclesial research, the question is also who the audience is. If it is other academics, the paper must be controversial enough to be published, but is not vital for the life of the Church. Academic theology papers can, indeed, be taken with a grain of salt. 

Accuracy is more important if the stakes are higher, depending on your views on who should (or could) be in charge. There, the key question is whether the clergy serves at our pleasure or do we worship at theirs. A related question is how the people of God should organize itself and who gets to say.

If priests elect bishops (or, as in ancient days, pastors are the bishops), their attitudes matter in relations to that. If the local laity elects the bishop/pastor or hires the priest, their attitudes matter more. In either case, the attitudes of the selected reflect the attitudes of the selectors. As such, who becomes a priest (or decides to say) depends on the local bishop. Who the local bishop is depends on the Pope who appointed him. The general attitude of the Church also determines the character of the priesthood and the bishops.

Even without seeing the crosstabs, it is safe to assume that this sample contains quite a few "John Paul priests." The survey reflects their current dominance. Nothing in the Church is forever, however. The bark of Peter turns slowly, but it still turns. Pope Francis has not been giving red hats to John Paul priests. Careerists will pivot accordingly, true believers on the left and the right will not. 

That there were enough Vatican II devotees to call on is a blessing for the Church. At present, it will not change how priests are selected (or their gender) but Shekinah can only work as fast as hearts are willing to open to Her.

This survey is important to diagnose the state of the Church today. By looking at priests, we also look at bishops. Unless one is paying attention to who Francis appoints, it would be easy to be discouraged. The results are still a wakeup call. Early this morning, I was looking at a You Tube video on fascism. It is mainly about politics - especially in reference to the last four years and the state of the GOP. It is also  essential viewing for anyone interested in ecclesiology. I explain how here.

Links: Honoring veterans; Chris Sununu's decision; Bishop Stowe on the church and politics

Links: Honoring veterans; Chris Sununu's decision; Bishop Stowe on the church and politics

If Sununu takes the GOP away from its Trumpster fire, it will save the Democrats. They would never survive without sniping by reactionaries, although the nation and the Church could do without crypto-Republican bishops. If they want to really get political, they should disclose their loyalties. To claim bipartisanship, they need to endorse increasing the child tax credit to what Biden proposed and then double it, as must-pass pro-life legislation. Any hope Stowe would go that way? Answer in the comments.

Cruz is indulging in gallows humor. His participation in the Insurrection conspiracy will not go unnoticed.

Eugene has it right on Wokeness. As long as reactionaries use wedge issues, progressives need to highlight the need for inclusive politics, although we need to explain why this is important more clearly. Cultural conservatives need to examine their objections and get off the fence.

Spending multi-generational fortunes is better than using them as leverage against the working class. High end caterers and florists have to eat, especially given the forced austerity of the pandemic.

Biden has won big on infrastructure; now he needs to sell it

Biden has won big on infrastructure; now he needs to sell it 

It takes years to get roads designed and built and in the intervening period, members of Congress, including Republicans, will work with state and federal governments to get projects done. Each member has a staff member whose main job is to help the government spend money so that he or she can claim credit.

Biden's numbers are taking because of hyperstagflation - meaning that the economy has been deliberately idled because of the pandemic and the Great Resignation while prices are going through the roof. In time, it will run its course. Short of deploying the military to move goods to market, there is nothing that can be done. Jimmy Carter tried to fight inflation with monetary policy and cutting spending. It did not work well for him.

What will work in 2022 for the Democrats is for them to run against anyone involved in planning the Insurrection or voting in sympathy with its aims. They should start now. Biden should not meddle in the Justice Department's work, however. That would also look bad. 

The sad fact of the matter is that the things that impact the success of most presidencies have nothing to do with the cards they deal. It is the cards that are dealt to them - and sometimes they get really bad hands.

There is one thing Biden can do to shake things up. Fight to increase the child tax credit, calling it a pro-life measure. He can't do that now, however, because it would make the economy worse at this particular moment. He should talk about it anyway. Raising the minimum wage too.

Links: A defense of EWTN; post-election blame game; threats to school board members

Links: A defense of EWTN; post-election blame game; threats to school board members 

EWTN was a creature of the time of its founding, when St. John Paul dialed back those reforms of Vatican II that he fought against as a theologian. The current network is living in that past, as are its fans and supporting bishops.

Getting Jackson its pipes would have been an earmark in the past. Not so much now, although EPA will have some say on where the money goes. They fund clean water projects.

2020 rebalanced the House and the Senate GOP cadre has some real whack jobs running in 2022. If Trumpism becomes identified with Putinism, as it should, some voters will drop the GOP like a rock. Others may stay home. Quite a few Trump voters will age out of voting...in some cases all the way out.

McAuley lost because he did not address the school board issue. He should have suggested Non-binary bathrooms as a way to quiet the noise. Usually Trans students have more to fear from CIS males than other Transpeople. The question is now whether Youngkin will be a Trump or a Romney. Let's hope for the latter.

Congressional candidates should be made to identify which presidential candidate they support, with that being how nominees are chosen. There should be a national primary so that a few smoked filled rooms winnow out fringe candidates, like Trump.

Studies have shown that WalMart employees get a better deal than do those who work at Starbucks. If the corporate culture had any brains, you could still get House Decaf and Verona Decaf rather than Pike Place. Would Starbucks survive a world of employee-ownership, with unions voting worker proxies? Possibly. It would certainly be more responsive to customers by being responsive to workers. Despite this, there are Baristas who know how their regulars like their drinks - as any good bartender does.

Instead of embracing John XXIII's hope, Archbishop Gomez projects doom

Instead of embracing John XXIII's hope, Archbishop Gomez projects doom 

Were it not for the fact that he has a large flock, Gomez is not worth mentioning. If he continues down his Republican road, they won't have to suffer him much longer. Francis may have stopped using the royal We, but that does not mean he won't remove a politicized priest.

Democrats best not hit snooze after elections provided wake-up call

Democrats best not hit snooze after elections provided wake-up call 

Most voters know that lifting the SALT cap will bring back the Alternate Minimum Tax, which mutes the effectiveness of ending the cap. 

In Virginia, sane Republicans came home to vote for Youngkin, just as they voted for Republicans in 2020 but voted against Trump. With the loss of the House of Delegates in Virginia, the current gerrymander will remain. This may hurt a few incumbents in Virginia if non-Trump Republicans show up. It is as likely that 2022 will be like 1974 as the hammer falls on Trump and his cronies in Congress - some of whom will be expelled after the Select Committee finishes its report.

McAuliffe's main problem is that he let Youngkin's lies go unanswered, especially the one about the FBI gong after parents. The anti-Trump ads showed that Mac thinks nationally, rather than locally. This is always a big mistake in Virginia. He should have changed his ad buy appropriately and gone hard responding to Youngkin's shading of the truth. Think Kerry's lack of response to the Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth. Candidates who don't call out obvious lies deserve to lose.

Links: Cardinal Cupich on the Latin Mass; QAnon craziness; and 'Dirty Jobs'

Links: Cardinal Cupich on the Latin Mass; QAnon craziness; and 'Dirty Jobs' 

Good St. John started undoing some of the abuses and triumphalism of Trent. The work continues with Francis. Cardinal Blase is being nice to St. John Paul, which has the added benefit of condemning those who reject the Council, especially under the banner of the prior rite.

The Fools for Q are living proof of the wisdom of P.T. Barnum. There is grace in being laughed at for moral courage. There is none for being stupid.

Conservative white women decided it was OK to be unwook in the voting booth, buying GOP hyperbole about critical race theory. Mothers who have experienced the tyranny of the test (which Terry removed) did not turn out to counter them. Including Latino women, especially those who could not fit voting into their schedules.

Taxing transactions, from the purchase of goods to the purchase of liquid assets, get more money than taxing financial position. No one should be able to write off their losses and avoid taxes by using borrowed money to fund their excesses. I am not down for piling on Elon. He and his people put everything at risk and they share in these rewards. Those who go after the new billionaires (the ones who pay better wages and have flatter management structures) may have other agendas than equality.

Undercover Bosses showed the work that women do, but it had too much of a feel good - Daddy Warbucks vibe. It is harder to do a Dirty Jobs that women do because no one wants to see what nurses face and human trafficking is hard to cover on the Discovery Channel. And then you have parenthood - which is done by women and increasingly by men. Lots of dirty diapers, dirty faces and puke, but infinite rewards when your kid is playing peek-a-boo. Kids have no memories of these times, but we do.

YouTube has lots of videos of interesting maps. They also jobs women do and have lots of funny pictures of laughing babies. The latter is tonic for the soul.

US bishops to choose culture war or communion in Baltimore

US bishops to choose culture war or communion in Baltimore 

The issue with the proposed letter is not culture, it is raw party politics. It's timing has nothing to do with Biden or even members of Congress and state legislators. It has to do with guilting Catholic voters. To their dismay, most Catholic pro-choice voters ignore them.

The abortion question will be solved by election day next year. The comments of Justices Kavanaugh and Coney-Barrett seem to indicate that, in the law, both abortion and federal supremacy on such issues is inviolate. At some point, the pro-life movement needs to shift to supporting a more robust child tax credit (ending its association with the GOP). There will be no other option if they really care about the unborn rather than sex negativity and controlling women's bodies.

100 years ago, the Cardinals had an oversize influence in the Conference. If only that were true today. The committed Republicans are not getting red hats and seem to be indulging in sour grapes - seeking Conference leadership to salve their wounded pride. They are undoubtedly hoping to outlast this Pope and be rewarded by a conservative pontiff. This is not very likely, given the appointments made by Francis. If they really want to be fringe, they will advance Paprocki. I would be disappointed, but not surprised.

100 years from now, the Church will look back at the Church of Pius IX, St. Pius X and St. John Paul and wonder what (more likely if) they were thinking. By that time, many of the clergy will be married or female or open about their sexuality. As it is now, the asexuals in the Episcopacy are not even out to themselves about their toxic asexuality. It is toxic because it is unexamined, as it has been since Augustine.

Links: Big Pharma fearmongering; Mark Zuckerberg's Meta; antisemitism on the left

Links: Big Pharma fearmongering; Mark Zuckerberg's Meta; antisemitism on the left 

DC Comics is about Meta-Humans. Zuckerberg is no Meta-Human.

Ugly buildings are an environmental issue, with Capitalism being their driving force.

Campaign contributions and lobbying jobs are PhARMA's carrots. The reality is that more meds are available under Medicare if negotiations are mandated. The lower the price, the more likely the drug is on the formulary for the health plan.

Global leaders need to write checks to PhARMA to cover the planet with free vaccines in the same way their own citizens are covered. When you encounter Jesus in poor people, give him first class medical coverage and feed him steak.

It is easy to get your head around the Register/EWTN resistance to COP26. They are funded, in part by and are associated with people in fossil fuels and the usual climate deniers. There really is a vast, right-wing conspiracy. Hillary was correct about that.

A looming crisis gets no attention. Humans don't attack until bad things start, and a bad hurricane season is not enough to get people moving. Like solvency for Social Security, the responsible projection and the realistic projection are not the same thing. Until rich people feel the pain, there will be no preparedness. Remove flood insurance protection from beachfront condos and houses and people will notice. Good luck with that, because the same people who stop action on warming won't let this happen. The problem is capitalism.

The Christian Left, me in particular (I am also ethnically Jewish), align ourselves with the Jewish Left, aka the Peace Movement in Israel. For too long, anti-Semitism has been used to give the Israeli government a free pass - sadly aided by the U.S. Government. This is not surprising, given the even greater slaughter of our own indigenous tribes.

Higher refundable child tax credits give workers freedom to strike, which is why the wealthy are pushing back against them. A higher minimum wage is also necessary, so no one is living off of their children's subsidies. The higher the wage, the less likely scabs are available. 

Pay people to become as literate as they can be, or as skilled as they must be, to end the conversation about higher wages leading to unemployment. That would take moral courage - including the willingness to pressure donors and the pro-life movement to go along with this. 

Any business owner who does not pay enough to force his workers to use birth control or resort to abortion is a party to these acts. Say it. 

Excommunicate someone who cares about being excommunicated (Donors).

Virginia governor's race could be a wake-up call for Democrats

Virginia governor's race could be a wake-up call for Democrats 

Youngkin was leading because 528 includes polls that should be excluded. Why does it do that? Because not doing so may depress McAuliffe turnout. This is a turnout election, not a unity election. Trump is the best thing for Democratic numbers, with the Texas abortion law a close second. 

What the Dems need to do in the future is spend more time explaining why abortion should not be banned (because it would bring back state sovereignty and make every pregnancy loss a public event) and why the GOP approach to education was a bad thing (teaching to the test), designed to punish teachers and fail students. Any parent who dealt with the old testing regime will support Terry, especially Latinos.