More from Sheriff Curran | National Catholic Reporter

More from Sheriff Curran | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: See the video inside the link.  We found one of the good guys.

Immigration & Law Enforcement | National Catholic Reporter

Immigration & Law Enforcement | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It is an essential point that immigration reform allows law enforcement in immigrant communities.  Of course, the reason it is not getting done is that it would also foster workplace safety and wage and hour enforcement in the companies which hire undocumented immigrants.  This is as much a public and conusmer safety issue as a racial one.

MSW on "Warren Olney" show | National Catholic Reporter

MSW on "Warren Olney" show | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Why MSW was AWOL yesterday.  Getting air is always a good reason to skip your columns.  See the article for a clip of the show.

The POTUS-Pope Mtg | National Catholic Reporter

The POTUS-Pope Mtg | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I suspect Francis does not listen to Cardinal Burke much, unless it is to hear his side on an appeal from a decision by the Signatura.  Burke is attracting attention to himself to sound relevant.  He is not.  I suspect that this was a friendly visit - much on the order of the one Michigan State will make to the White House after they win the NCAA (I wish I had done a pool this year, I always pick them to win unless Iowa is in the mix - sadly they did not make it past the play in).



As for the election, politics and the engineering of turnout are local.  If the machinery of 2012 is still in place, don't expect turnout to be so low.  Economic and programatic changes just might improve by late spring or summer, when most make up their minds - and frankly, there may be mind changing in October and November.  As for the empahses of the parties - no one in the Democratic Party - and especially no Catholic politician - has laid out how bad a fraud the pro-life leadership is - with a Caholic politician pointing out how agregious the conduct of the Bishops is in this matter.  Of course, to do that the Democratic Catholic politician would have to lay out what could be done on the pro-life side (and what cannot be done) and take heat from the pro-abortion side (as opposed to the pro-choice side).  They can also differentiate between being pro-abortion (which is a sin) and pro-choice (which is about liberty, not promoting abortion).  Sadly, most Catholic pols don't have the stomach to challenge the bishops directly for fear of alienating Catholic voters (even those that agree).

How Justices Twitch | National Catholic Reporter

How Justices Twitch | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Interesting - especially the Roberts reminder that this was a case of statutory interpretation rather than constitutional law.  If he and Kennedy vote together with the four liberals and bring Alito with them then this one won't even be close.  I am sure the opinions will mention Scalia's prior opinion on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Abela Sides with Meyerson | National Catholic Reporter

Abela Sides with Meyerson | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Most business ethicists believe in multple stakeholders, although I don't see how that works when only shareholders vote.  Frankly, shareholders have a hard time actually controlling management.  A better system would be cooperatives owned by the employees which contain not only more of their supply and distribution chains, but also provide more services to members, like finance, home construction, free lunch at the cafeteria and even schools for the children of employees and vacation homes for use once a year.  Of course, this leads to mostly shareholder voting - but more stakeholders ARE shareholders.

Debts & Doubts at the Supreme Court | National Catholic Reporter

Debts & Doubts at the Supreme Court | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: MSW is correct that the parade of horribles can happen - but the biggest horrible is that the right of privacy will be gutted, as if an employer as an agent of the state can prevent birth control coverage, Griswold v. Connecticut and all the jurisprudence that rests on it will be in danger if not dead.



Sovereign nations should always be able to tell Wall Street no, although part of me wishes that the Court will back the investment banks.  Why?  Because it will force them to band together, like the United States did and for a larger nation that cannot be railroaded by the Masters of the Universe.

Gehring on Pope-POTUS Mtg | National Catholic Reporter

Gehring on Pope-POTUS Mtg | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: More chatter on the meeting later this week.  Strangely, MSW did not do anything today on the Hobby Lobby case.  See what I posted on Monday for my view of what may come of this meeting.

The Vatican's Commission on Child Protection | National Catholic Reporter

The Vatican's Commission on Child Protection | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The make up of the commission is encouraging.  It is quite the transition for Boston to go from having a Cardinal who covered this scandal up to having one who has and will clean it up for the entire Church.  I suspect Finn will be gone soon and others, like Rigali, will be consigned to oblivion - aka discernment - for an extended period of time.  Of course, when Peter the Roman becomes anti-pope, the bad boys will come out of the woodwork again, like demons in a bad horror movie.



Sadly, SNAP's expectations exceed what is possible.  The Gospel places a condemnation of leading the young astray.  The standard Church interpretation focuses on teaching them bad docrtine - except there was no doctrine in first century Christianity.  I am sure, however, that children were probably abused even then (indeed, pederasty was rampant in the ancient world and still is in primitive cultures like Afghanistan).  I don't see it being stamped out any time soon - indeed never is a good guess.  It also occurs in families - not just in the Church.  This is not to excuse it but only to argue for vigialence - both in and outside the Church.

More on Physician Assisted Suicide | National Catholic Reporter

More on Physician Assisted Suicide | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Zeke is correct as far as he goes, however the resistence to assisted suicide (and late term abortion when essential to protect the health or even the life of the mother) comes from a fear that we are treading on God's turf and that he will be angry if we "play God" by taking our own lives or assisting others in doing so.  (Indeed, some of these are not even in favor of pulling the plug on a brain dead or vegitative patient).  It sometimes extends to the death penalty - even when it is indictated by the dangerousness of the convicted.  God is not an Ogre, however, He can actually differentiate between murdering someone, protecting someone and offering an act of mercy.  The issue in all these areas is not innocence but danger.  A pregnancy can be a danger - especially if the child has no chance of survival.  A criminal can be a danger to guards and fellow inmates (and life without parole in SuperMax is simply death by slow psycological torture).  Finally, a terminal patient is in danger of tremendous pain.  I just may be the compassionate thing to help him or her end it.

Ozy Profile of O'Malley | National Catholic Reporter

Ozy Profile of O'Malley | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Are these quotes from written work published on the net or did she call Carr, Hale and MSW?  I suspect the former.  I suspect that Dolan, Rigali, Burke and Chaput are not pleased that they are not the most influential Catholic in America - of course, I suspect Joe Biden actually is - although Biden would be more influential if he explained why Roe is a legal issue and (mostly) not a legislative and electoral one.  Hopefully someone can convice Sean Cardinal O'Malley of this.  It would defang the GOP USCCB alliance.

POTUS & the Pope | National Catholic Reporter

POTUS & the Pope | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I suspect this could have waited until Wednesday, although the Parker column may be why we are jump starting this issue now.  Still, it is an interesting question.  One would hope that Obama, who is a constitutional law professor, will explain the ins and outs of why abortion is and must be legal in the United States - something that Benedict, Francis and MSW don't seem to understand.  I suspect that this issue will be part of the briefing Francis receives, whether he wants to raise the issue or not.  Or they could talk about war and peace issues - from Syria and Egypt to Ukraine and Crimea.  I am not sure whether either Obama or Francis knew Cardinal Bernardin, but if they both did they will probably share a few laughs.  Indeed, Francis may just question Obama about his time in Chicago Catholic Social Services.  Because they are both rather nice guys, I don't see an argument breaking out, as Francis is not Benedict - who was compelled to give Obama his encyclical rather as a scold.  Whatever happens, the right wingers will be grinding there teeth at the meeting - and will be apoplectic if it is seen to go well.  The punch lilne is that even if Obama were convinced by Francis on the abortion issue, such a change of heart would have absolutely no impact at all on policy because this policy is not in Obama's purview (except for fundraising).  While Obama might seek a different national abortion law, it could not do much in comparison with the status quo and would not make the Trap Laws in Virginia or Texas any less unconstituional.

Solidarity with Immigrants & Bishops | National Catholic Reporter

Solidarity with Immigrants & Bishops | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Good information for Parish Social Ministry groups from one of our favorite Jesuit fronts - whether or not you can come to join the bishops at the border or wish to join them in spirit.

Europe's Bishops Face The Music | National Catholic Reporter

Europe's Bishops Face The Music | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The European experiment should work (and Putin seems to bringing them together).  The extent to which it is working is the extent to which people will complain about Brussels, just as they complain about Washington.  It will fail, however, both collectively and individually unless a common bank regulation, debt and taxation scheme is devised.  What Hamilton knew then is still true today - yet even in America there were those who vigorously fought the latest round of financial reforms - usually the kind of folks who fund those who complain about Washington or who fight for the employers conscience rights as being superior to those of employees on health care. The bishops are freer to deal with the European prosepct because Life issues play out very differently than in the US (with Brussels having no opinion even though they should).

More on the Hobby Lobby Case | National Catholic Reporter

More on the Hobby Lobby Case | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: There are three additional points.  The first is that all preventative care insurance provides contraception anyway and has since the EEOC mandated it in December 2000.



The second is that saying that the pre-implantation blastocyst is an individual rather than a potential human life is outside the bounds of good science - which shows it starts at gastrulation.  Anything else is simply belief. If the Catholic Church still believed that the Earth was the center of the universe, Catholic employers could not be privileged to not pay property taxes to support public schools who teach the contrary.  In natural law reasoning, which Caholic doctrine proports us use, natural sciece must have an input - so far not so much on contraception.



Third, because the care employees and employers receive is tax subsidized, having employers as agents of the government prohibit contraception is simply a way to partially revoke Griswold v. Connecticut (and do an end run around the privacy rights of female employeess - which is why Roe is implicated).  While the Church and its pro-life lobby are salivating at the prospect of an attack on privacy, such a finding would be tragic for employee and individual rights and bring us back toward a more hierarchist socieity.  The Church and capitalists would like that but most Americans would not.  Let us hope the Court votes for individual freedom this time out rather than freedom for institutions.

Bishops in Massachusetts Support Minimum Wage Increase | National Catholic Reporter

Bishops in Massachusetts Support Minimum Wage Increase | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: This is quite good news and Catholic politicians looking for a way to support the Church on something or who believe in a seemless garment of life should jump on board. Under the Obama initiative, he wants states to lead the way.  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is what we call a Gimme.  As for Fr. Brian, who baptized my daughter, he is a master of making three points in short order while still making you think.  There are those of the propertied conservative bent who don't like such thoughts.

Sachs on Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter

Sachs on Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This is a fine rebuttal to those Catholics who are too much in bed with Wall Street.  I would also add that, even though neither Jesus nor Francis had a set of economic plans, there are those of us who are Catholic who have been inspired by God to create them.  Wall Street calls us Marxist too - even though we really are not.

Bishops at the Border | National Catholic Reporter

Bishops at the Border | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I would love to see a soundbite of the Committee Chair saying "Tear down this fence!"  If the GOP know what was good for it (although they may be letting the crazies get their shots in now rather than later to get rid of them) it would pass the Senate bill.  Of course, the Senate bill itself is overly harsh - but we can only do so much in politics.  Ideally they would end all work and border restrictions and right to work laws.  This, more than anything, would stop second class work and a future flood of migrants.

New Sighting of Prodigal's Older Brother | National Catholic Reporter

New Sighting of Prodigal's Older Brother | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Sadly, Fr. Z is right.  There is no such thing as changing the Magisterium at a press conference - or even at an address to the Vatican's Right to Life conference - yet the latter was used by some Catholics as an excuse to keep poor Terri Schaivo alive when her brain was essentially gone.  Let us hope that this Pope writes officially on both topics.  Even if he changes no docrtine, issuing a letter on not judging others or on reaffirming the traditional teachings on end of life care would be welcome.  Going further would be even better.

Contra Baumann on Francis | National Catholic Reporter

Contra Baumann on Francis | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Let us just say that Christ is working through Francis but that there is a lot of work to be done (or undone as the case would be).  John Paul II, like Pius X, wanted discipline and discipline in his way.  We still have those bishops and changing them would seem to be the key.

Sean on Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter

Sean on Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter see the video

"Thank God for Fred Phelps" | National Catholic Reporter

"Thank God for Fred Phelps" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: He was an apt foil for liberalism, so there are rumors that his own son is picketing his funeral rather than participating.  Now that is just plain nuts.  Tea Party mania run amok.  The latest, of course is that there will be no funeral - which shows such an awful ignorance of early Christian practice regarding venerating martyrs (which we continue today) that one can only feel pathos.

Pope Francis Doubles Down on "Who Am I to Judge?" | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis Doubles Down on "Who Am I to Judge?" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Sadly, Francis was originally only talking about a brother cleric who was having trouble with his vows of celibacy who happened to be gay.  He was certainly not rejecting the idea that gay sex inside a committed relationship is sinful or none of our business.  He should and some later pontiff (if the papacy survives or patriarch likely will before this century is even half over.

Inerrancy Debate | National Catholic Reporter

Inerrancy Debate | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: More on inerrancy among modern Evangelicals

Bring on the Dogma | National Catholic Reporter

Bring on the Dogma | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The culture war doctrines predate the culture war by hundreds of years.  They go to the Sin Books created by the Irish monks out of whole cloth (indeed, in the Bible, having a nocturnal erection (i.e., masturbating) simply required taking a warm bath the next afternoon.  With hot water heaters, one can bathe sooner.  Much of the culture war nonsense, including contraception, comes from the teachings on masturbation - it is the uncleanliness of the Victorian era and beyond - since dietary uncleanliness is passe (although hard core conservatives still eat fish on Friday - even outside of Lent).  Moving away from these confessional practices (and we largely have) is pretty much what the Holy Father is talking about.  We will never change our doctrine on abortion - which is natural law rather than scripturally based - although it would be useful to not be so afraid of inducing labor in a fetus who will not survive anyway due to a genetic defect (note that this does not include Downs children - who survive quite well and should not be aborted).



As to the Credal doctrines - their power is not that we are certain about them.  The early history of the Church was awash in alternative theories.  The important thing is that we reached agreement on them.  Some theologians argue that we should revisit some credal points - but I don't see how this can happen much given the number of Orthodox and Western Churches who share this agreement.  The one exception is likely to be honest about the gender of the term Spirit (it is feminine), making it appropriate to refer to the Holy Spirit as She and Her.  Of course, that may be the most radical change one could think of and would risk the identification of the Spirit with the feminine Hebrew Goddes Ashura - the Consort of Yahweh.  Still, that is worth the risk and presents a teaching opportunity.  Of course, that also reopens female ordination - and that is not a bad idea either - especially because female bishops rather than male bishops would be a better voice for the Gospel of Life - both on abortion and on the need to take care of families with children in proporation to their family size.  This is the difference between Francis being moderate left and hard left (like me).

The Music of Lent | National Catholic Reporter

The Music of Lent | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: For your Lenten musical pleasure.  Yes, I said pleasure.  Penitenitial seasons are a soothing time if you view them correctly.  Imagine a world where there was no provision for the forgiveness on sin.  It would be horrid as sinners eventually become pariahs and any bad tidimg would be treated as some for of divine punishment.  Sadly, that is still much of the world - but Lent means it need not be.

The Poverty of Fox News | National Catholic Reporter

The Poverty of Fox News | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Jon Stewart skewers Faux News again.  Give the segment a look if you missed it.

Clear-Eyed Thinking on Mideast Peace | National Catholic Reporter

Clear-Eyed Thinking on Mideast Peace | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Peter Berkowitz is only clear eyed if you are a Zionist, which MSW is.  While there is a danger that the uncertainty unleashed by the Arab Spring (which was a secular movement but which was hijacked by the Muslim Brotherhood and Al Queda) - the rebels have their hands full at the moment in local affairs and no one with the power to attack Israel in any meaningful way is stupid enough to do so.  Even Iran.  Any genocidal attack will kill as many Arab Israeli's and Palestinians as it would Jews.  Not recognizing this is only chest thumping, which does no good because there will be more Muslims in Israel and the territories than Jews, which will compel a moral reckoning on whether Israel is a western democracy (with a wrong answer making American aid problematic).

Religious Liberty & Distinctions | National Catholic Reporter

Religious Liberty & Distinctions | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The question of funding contraception, regardless of religious nature, was settled in 2000 by the EEOC.  Over the last few years we are only arguing about copays and whether institutional religious freedom rights are more important than individual rights.  Are religious hierarchies legal people in the way corprorations are?  I doubt it, although even if they are then they do so as employers and there the law is a bit clearer - both in terms of ministers and non-ministers.  What is annoying is not when cake makers and photographers deny service, but when they become all self-righteous (and rude) about it.  I suspect some are worried about what their straight customers think than their morals - and in places like DC no vendor cares.



What the Church really fears is not how gay marriage plays in its secular relations, but how the families of gay couples and priests think about it.  I suspect the hierarchy is very worried that we are out in front of them on cultural change on this issue.  Their suspicions are well grounded.  Catholic identity on this issue is about to change.  Identity should be about common celebration of the sacraments, not the agenda of the USCCB - which sadly intersects with the GOP all too easily.  It should not.  Nor should these questions be a device to make Protestants like us.  If we live the Gospel, they will like us just fine.

Gehring on Francis | National Catholic Reporter

Gehring on Francis | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It is the Holy Spirit that is making all the right moves, through Francis - and She's not done yet.

AFJN Pushing for Re-Eval of Relations with Rwanda | National Catholic Reporter

AFJN Pushing for Re-Eval of Relations with Rwanda | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Not everyone has a truth commission.  Sometimes victims of genocide just get revenge.  As a Roma Sinti who likely had parts of his family wiped out by Hitler, I can't say that I blame them.

Henneberger Hits Another Home Run | National Catholic Reporter

Henneberger Hits Another Home Run | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Interesting dinner which shows the more than acceptably liberal Huckabee may be making a run for it.  There is a media bias on this issue.  No one ever calls the pro-life movement the fundraising scam that at is and no mention was made in this article of the Susan B. Anthony Fund going after pro-life Democrats in 2010 because they voted for Obamacare.  Sadly, part of the reason this part of the pro-life movement is not covered is because Catholic Democratic politicians soft pedal the truth about the movement that attacks them and the errors in their reasoning (especially on the let states decide motiff, which was more a mark of the Slave power than Dred Scott).  No one certainl mentioned the involvement of the Catholic bishops and clergy in the movement and their simplistic mindset in dealing with abortion.  The term "innocent life" is the first clue.  Women don't abortion because the child is guilty, but because it is dangerous - either physically, economicall or socially (as in, they are afraid to be caught by conservative peers for having sex).

In Defense of Paul Ryan | National Catholic Reporter

In Defense of Paul Ryan | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I will give Ryan the benefit of the doubt on inner-city men meaning black.  I suspect he also considers Latinos to be part of the mix. I work with several black and latino men.  They are not slouchers.  I know several black and latino families - many have both parents.  Ryan parroting reactionary talking points is no excuse for their inflamatory nature which likely is racist and designed to stir up the Republican base.  I don't give Republican reactionary groups the benefit of the doubt - ever.  That includes FoxNews.



As for poverty, if Ryan is really concerned he can do five things: 1. make the Child Tax Credit much more generous and create a non-working spouse credit as well, 2. support wide-spread amnesty for non-violent drug offenders, 3. support amnesty for undocumented workers so that they can get better jobs, 4. remove all requirements from TANF for intact families and adjust benefit levels so that two earner families still can participate in poverty programs (married or not) and 5 federalize Medicaid and extend the expansion to every state (and quit voting to repeal Obamacare).  Short of these things, Ryan gets no benefit of the doubt from me.

MSW Profiles Wuerl | National Catholic Reporter

MSW Profiles Wuerl | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This is an interesting profile, pulling no punches on the battle between Cardinals Burke and Wuerl.  MSW shows Wuerl is a moderate, although from my POV, he plays a good conservative on the religious liberty non-issue (and on his chairmanship of the American cultural inquisition at the Bishop's Conference).  He certainly won't be ordaining any women any time soon.

Tornielli on Francis and the Cong for Bishops | National Catholic Reporter

Tornielli on Francis and the Cong for Bishops | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The author gives too much credit to the Council of Bishops for autonomy.  They work for the Pope and I think this Pope will use gentle but firm discipline (although they might not dream of crossing him anyway).  In this kind of hierarcy, what Francis wants, Francis gets - until he remakes systems to decentralize the Church and make it more like Orthodoxy, which nationalizes most issues and ends their cosmic importance to the universal Church.  I hope he does that as I think it is inevitable.  There is really no other way for a more ecumenical (read less protestant) Church where North America and Africa can coexist on women's ordination and gay marriage.

Comments on a review of Apostles of Reason

Comments on a review of Apostles of Reason see all my comments on the book together

Review: Apostles of Reason, Part III | National Catholic Reporter

Review: Apostles of Reason, Part III | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I would amplify MSW's conclusions saying that 1. the new Evangelicals are also neo-authoritarian. 2. This auhoritarianism is about power (hardly the Master washing the feet of the apostles). 3. The emergent church is the evangelical version of the Christian Left - although it clashes with the authoritarianism of it all and 4. That deciding what the Gospel means is as hard for them as it is for other anti-intellectuals (who refuse to bow to archelology, etc.).

Francis: Christianity is not ethics | National Catholic Reporter

Francis: Christianity is not ethics | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It is a story of our salvation through Christ, but as importantly a story of each of our salvations through the celebration of the Sacraments.  Of course, because of debates over worthiness to receive Communion and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, ethics comes back in pretty quick - especially when politico-ethical issues are discussed from the Ambo in January and at election time.  Of course, this brings in the politics of Church governnance.  The Church is a whole - you can't take out any of the parts, including ethics and, again, the question of whether we form them or they are dictated to us by our Ordinaries and Rome, which brings up how the Ordinaries are chosen and what is the nature of natural law in the Catholic Church.  I can see why Benedict the relativistic anti-relativist and Francis want to run away from ethics, but I don't think it is possible.

Are the Dems sunk this year? | National Catholic Reporter

Are the Dems sunk this year? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This was not a bellweather race.  Gerrymandering has made some districts unwinnable.  The secret to the next election is to make it enough about Obama to get Obama voters who don't usually go out for midterms to the polls.  America needs a raise seems to be a good strategy - but we need to connect the dots to Obama having a Congress he can work with to get it done. Also, the spectre of Paul Ryan in charge of Ways and Means (taxes, welfare, Social Security) should be enough as well.  He needs to be made the villian this year.

Review: Apostles of Reason, Part II | National Catholic Reporter

Review: Apostles of Reason, Part II | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I sense a bit of anti-intellectualism in their approach.  You can extend this to the pro-life movement, where Catholics and Evangelicals unite against everything from abortion to birth control - regardless of the reality on the ground for women - especially the economic realities but also the health realities.  The Congregation for the Docrtine of the Faith has been particularly good at ignoring both modern academic moral and scriptural scholarship - not to mention biology - from Pius X (and probably IX) to the present day.  (Recall how former CUA scholar Charles Curran was hounded out of his position).  As for technology, the Vatican now has a website and there is an active Catholic blogsphere that on some days could be confused with an Evangelical one.  BTW: the biblically inerrant penalty for masturbation is to take a bath.  Hardly the stuff of mortal sin.

Review: Apostles of Reason | National Catholic Reporter

Review: Apostles of Reason | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I would associate fundamentalism, in all its forms, with populism (and anti-intellectualism).  This book looks interesting.  It might be fun to read with The Reformation by Dairmaid MacCulloch (who also wrote Christianity, the First 3000 Years - where he includes comments about all of Christianity - especially the Catholics).  As for thinking fundamentally, the American Catholic Church of the poor in the early twentieth century followed some of the same precepts and one cannot help but think that the condemnation of Modernism by Pius X would not appeal to some fundamentalist thinking (after removing papal authority from the mix).  As I will repeat tomorrow - in regard to scripture scholarship, history and archeology, the modernists were and are right and the holding action by the Church is doomed to fail - the one that no longer mentions Adam and Eve and instead talks about our First Parents (which if you know human anthropology at all is simply digging the hole deeper).  - note that MSW is writing a book review - so read his article and maybe the book.

Pope Francis' First Year: The Reaction | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis' First Year: The Reaction | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This sounds stream of conciousness.  I hope it is not - rather it is a running commentary of the article, which you should read first and then read the comments.



Secularization is not anything new.  It has also been called anticlericalism and it is mostly earned by the bishops and the loudest of priests.  As for modernity - every generation thinks it is modern.  What the Church really minds is discordant scholarship - which is inevitable as the CDF refuses to accept new learning - even as scholars find that there is much in the past that previous scholarship had been ignoring (including in theology).  As for spiritual but not religious, Oprah did not make that up.  That is something people say in 12 step programs - most especially by people raised Roman Catholic.  None of this has to do with the Holy Father and all of it will continue well into his papacy.  People find transcendence very well without him, although they like the sentimental Catholicism one finds on Christmas and Easter (and only then).  If Francis attracts some of these back on a regular basis, that would be a good thing, as long as the priests and bishops don't send them away again and there is the rub, because the clergy does not see itself as the problem - especially the right wings.  Only basic structural change putting the laity in charge of the assets and money will every civilize some of these self important clerics who don't need mercy or to be taught mercy, they need to be stripped of secular power and some need to simply be allowed to retire. As for Christianity not being an ideology - in the area of poverty it not only is, it must be - rather than something left to the prudential judgement of rich Catholics.  It is the Argentine Archbishop of the poor who likely will eventually do that - whether modernity and secularization linger or not.

More Reflections on Francis' First Year | National Catholic Reporter

More Reflections on Francis' First Year | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: A nice summary of the past year with Francis, including underlying his humility.  The Pope;s second Tridium should be as interesting as the first.   Reform should be interesting and I suspect what the Council of Cardinals propose will be taken seriously and any changes run by them before the reforms go final. One wonders whether he will both adopt an Orthodox model of either national or linguistic Patriarchs (say with O'Malley the English speaking one).  Given that such patriarchs are autocephalus, this may indicate the way we deal with modernizing some of our moral dilemnas.  Of course, how he deals with Constantinople and Alexandria will be equally interesting - especially if he can get Canterbury (and Rome) to strip off their domination of the African diocese and give it to the Copts, as planned in ancient times.

Pope Francis' First Year | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis' First Year | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: How Francis takes on moral issues is greatly indicated by how he handles the personnel issues.  Getting rid of Burke and Rigali on the Conference of Bishops is huge, although Wuerl is hardly a run away liberal.  Benedict was much more liberal than he gets credit for, although he likely does not see the irony in his remarks on the Tyranny of Relativism where the truth comes through the hierarchy (rejecting arguments, which may be better, but which the hierarchy does not share - which seems to be very relativistic to me).  The principal teaching on morality must be when the Lord said (from an online source that seems Protesant but is still accurate) "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.  Try applying this test to teachings on contraception in families and on gay marriage. I don't think Catholic doctrine passes the smell test.

LA Labor Leaders Invite Pope Francis to Visit Their City | National Catholic Reporter

LA Labor Leaders Invite Pope Francis to Visit Their City | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: A higher minimum wage would be a good thing, either locally or nationally - although a higher child tax credit is also essential for families - what is $1,000 should be $6000 if matched locally and $12000 per child if not.  If Francis would help us get that, so much the better.  It is sad that we want it all to go to the breadwinner rather than because of family size.  Francis underlining this would be good too as there is a long history in living wage discourse that says larger families need more.  As for unions, now that the NLRB is fully staffed, it is time to exploit this fact and organize, organize, organize - not waiting for the next visit from the Pope (although such a visit would be a boon to low wage workers in hopsitality).  We really need a visit from SEIU.

Review: "A Catechism for Business" | National Catholic Reporter

Review: "A Catechism for Business" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: As a catchism, its lacks are thos which are present in doctrine.  There are some things lacking.  On the living wage, the market cannot fund a family size sensative wage, but that does not mean such a wage should not be paid so that each family has the same standard of living, dependent on its size.  The employers should not make these decisions, however - the government should and should fund additional subsidies to families (even if it is paid through wages).  Making more children lead to a lesser life style encourages both contraception and abortion - two words that this review did not mention.  The Church itself should endeavor to pay such a family size sensative wage - even before the public credits for having children are expanded.  I would also go so far as to say that it should excommunicate Catholic shareholders and business owners who do not demand such provisions and pay them if they can.  As for Abela's essay on stock holding, Abela is correct and MSW is wrong.  It is better to have influence - but then one must use it.



As for businesses buying care for gay partners or spouses - health care should be provided - and probably must be.  This is in no way an evil thing (although it would be unneccasary if single payer health care were enacted.  I don't expect the authors, however, to give the right answer because they are searching for the truth in doctrine - which is in ERROR on this issue.  I would refer them to Fagothy's Right and Reason (edition 6) and the discussion on homosexual unions. The authors only side with the Church because they are theistic - which means that they must obey the Church and let this decide for them rather than sticking to natural law solutions, which would favor gay marriage.

Take That, Robbie George | National Catholic Reporter

Take That, Robbie George | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: What is scaring the fanatics is that this is an Agrentinean theologian who likely has the ear of the Holy Father.  From how Francis speaks and writes, I am like simply speaking the obvious.

Helping the Poor in Spokane | National Catholic Reporter

Helping the Poor in Spokane | National Catholic Reporter by MSW (you should read this).  MGB: The Church of Spokane has always been well lead and wise enough to ignore the NCBC, which is trying to rewrite end of life ethics by press release.

"Why the Economy Sucks" | National Catholic Reporter

"Why the Economy Sucks" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Its not the corporations, its the capitalists.  Mitt Romney was a vulture capitalist in a non-corporate firm.  Its as much the CEO class as the owners - many of whom are owners through a mutual and pension fund and who receive a normal rate of return while the CEOs make a killing.  How could this be made better?  Raise the minimum wage and watch lower wage workers get a raise too, and so on up the wage scale.  The other thing we could do is raise the top marginal tax rate - doubling it would not be a bad thing.  Low marginal tax rates gave CEOs an incentive to cut labor costs because they could now keep the money instead of giving it to the government.  The problem is that the CEO class essentially owns Congress - the Republicans more so than the Democrats - who are hardly pure.

Garnett on Hobby Lobby Case | National Catholic Reporter

Garnett on Hobby Lobby Case | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The interesting question of this case is whether the religious liberty rights of employers trump the religious liberty rights of employees.  I think not.  Since the question is Obamacare, which includes federal funding, the employer is acting in the place of the state (in concert with the insurance companies which, by the way, have no problem funding contraception from the savings of a smaller birth rate).  To allow such employers to use state largesse to essentially infringe on the right of their employees to use contraception would do extreme violence to the privacy rights of the employees (and by privacy, we mean autonomy, not secrecy) - essentially undoing Grisswold v. Connecticut.  Hopefully some Amicus made this argument because it is a slam dunk on this case and will put an end to all of this nonsense.

Crisis in Ukraine | National Catholic Reporter

Crisis in Ukraine | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Putin or no Putin, Russia is as it was - a backward third world country that always seems two steps behind.  Its backwardness is not judged by who is there but by the fact that the best they have usually leave at first chance.  We've always known this, which is why the Cold War was a farce to enrich U.S. military suppliers and their investors.  I am sure they are lining up greedily at the trough, even as we write.  If you have any doubts, just look at the last Jack Ryan movie.

Is Tea Party Binge Over? | National Catholic Reporter

Is Tea Party Binge Over? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: In the Commonwealth of Virgina, we in the Independent Green Party found that the Tea Party here was essentially the core activists of local GOP organizations.  I suspect that is true in most places, which is why in election years they shift from issue activism to working in the GOP structure.  Of course, that means that in the House GOP being in the Tea Party is for the most part checking a box to win the primary and not worry about the general due to gerrymandering.  In the Senate, though, Tea Party activism is a death wish for the GOP unless the entire state is akin to Alabama or Idaho.

Cong. Steve King's Counter-Narrative | National Catholic Reporter

Cong. Steve King's Counter-Narrative | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Remember, Congressman Steven King of Iowa is the idiot (and I hope he is being challenged this year, as this part of the state used to be reliably Democratic) - while the Congressman from New York, Peter King, is a stand up guy.  Steven King is unwilling to actually build coalitions, so all he has is outlandish rhetoric.  Peter builds coalitions.  If Steven build coalitions they might have had more input in the American Taxpayer Relief Act - which raised taxes on the wealthy or at least stopped renewing the Bush Tax cuts aimed at them - and affecting the Affordable Care Act - although again, I can hardly think how the bill could have been made MORE Republican than it is - have been first enacted in Massachusetts by a GOP Governor (Remember Mitt?) and been developed the the Heritage Foundation.  Again, such bluster only comes when one is willing or too weak to deal, at the House Tea Party Caucus is.

After The Brewer Veto of SB 1062 | National Catholic Reporter

After The Brewer Veto of SB 1062 | National Catholic Reporter by NSW.  MGB.  This response is better if you reat MSW first.



The reference to a cultural elite is an evolution from the concept of the New York City Jewish Liberal Elite, which did self identify.  Since mentioning Judaism is no longer, well, kosher in PC circles, it has evolved from the liberal elite to the cultural elite - which is oddly owned in major part by Fox, who also owns FoxNews and manages the GOP message.  Because, with the exception of Palestinians (and then, not always), Jews tend to be very much in favor of non-discrimination - having felt it themselves.  I am sure there are even those who equate what they think of as the cultural elite attack on traditional marriage as Christ killers.   Such idiots still live in Arizona.



As for employment of gay people, I very much favor passage of ENDA (the Employment Non-Discrimination Act) and without a religious exemption for non-ministers.  Further, the Church should too and provide full services to gay families in the same way as others who are civilly married.  The Church condemns both gay marriage and civil marriage, but recognizes the latter for employment law and benefits purposes - to not treat gay civil marriage in the same way IS bigotted.



As I said earlier this week, the kind of religious liberty sought in the vetoed will was equivalent of yelling fire in a theater.  It is moral scorn, not moral judgement or religious practice.  People of conscience must rise up against such things, including in the Church.  In this case we have.



I do not believe that the Church should be forced from the outside to perform gay marriages - however as pressure builds on the inside for such celebration - the Church should yield.  I expect that the opposition to civil gay marriage comes from fear by the bishops that this will occur and that gay priests will seek marriage as well (and leave if they don't get it).  They also fear gay priests doing those gay weddings secretly and they hate disobedience.  If they cannot even respond to internal pressures to treat gays equally - and to recognize that God does - then they indeed are as bigoted as the Arizona bill supporters.