More on Red State V. Blue State | National Catholic Reporter

More on Red State V. Blue State | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: What the blue staters get and the red staters cannot understand is that laws requiring business to behave decently keep the playing field level, rather than allowing businesses willing to go to the lowest common denominator have have a competitive advantage (forcing all to behave badly). Better conditions enable a better work product and therefore more profitability - but it is hard to see if you let a race to the bottom occur.  Some think that people who work better will earn better, but it is actually the other way around.  Good work follows good pay.

The Religio-Political Estuary | National Catholic Reporter

The Religio-Political Estuary | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Actually, and this gets a lot of people, evolution - or creationism - is a General Field Theory, aka Paradigm or World View.  Such things do have believers - especially on the creationist side - which is entirely based on belief rather than evidence.  Such attitudes are driven by age and by family solidarity - an otherwise well educated child of a creationist may support the family line, even if taught the modern line - which is itself evolving due to understandings of the fluidity of even a living species - we aren't determined at conception - we change a bit during life.  Whether those changes happen is not in doubt.  How is the question.

The description of Fallwell is apt (MSW is, in fact, the expert - at least among Catholics) - including the rise of the nones - although the nones likely include the children of those who left the Catholic Church over Humanae Vitae - a teaching which entirely ignores scientific experience - both on the sociology and psychology of the family and embryology as well.  As far as materialism, the fundatmentalist propserity gospel is the height of materialism and support for capitalism.  For conservative Catholics who oppose Francis, this is no surprise.  He is the Church's Barack Obama in their eyes and they can only fear him.

As for secularism or secular materialism (usually associated with Communism - which is a hint on why the right wing opposes it) the problem is not a forgetting of God, but a disregard for the opinions of the Church.  For some, this appears to be a wise course.

As we speak, I have two loads of laundry going in the dryer -one towels and one unifmrs for work.  If I had no such machines right now, I could simply go to the laundramat.  If such machines simultaneously vanished, however, I would be much less happy.  Indeed, automatic washers and dryers were what allowed women to go to work and not spend Mondays in arduous labor - Monday being the traditional day to do the wash.  Francis would not be against washers per say, but against how they are distributed.  Indeed, he is from a continent where not everyone has such equipment.

Francis' writings on the Angry God paradigm actually prallel my writings on the denial of this world view (espoused by both the Fandamentalists and the traditionalists who believe every sperm is sacred (to quote Monty Python).  Jesus is the repairman of the human heart because his sacrifice made God feel like us, not because it made us feel like God.  That is an utterly more attractive versions unless you are arguing for the need for a powerful Church.  I do not believe (there is that word again) that the battle will be about secularism.  It will be about tribalism and power.  It always has been.

HHS Contraception Mandate | National Catholic Reporter

HHS Contraception Mandate | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: One wonders what will happen when the case is heard.  I suspect that the key factor in the case is the fact that contraception has been a mandatory part of insurancue coverage since December 2000.  The new plan simply eliminates copayments for these services.  What this case seems to be about is finding a way to put Roe back before the Court - although that is a fool's errand because th last time it was argued to do so (the Partial Birth Abortion Case), three of the Republicans voted to use the Commerce Clause, rather  than repealing Roe, to uphold the ban.  There are only 2 anti-Roe Justices and they are old for their gender (and likely to die soon and end all talk of repealing Roe).  As far as putting in legal distinctions within various Church elements, there is nothing unreasonable about that.  Lines have to be drawn somewhere.  The question is whether the current lines are reasonable.  I suspect they are - but the question is how well the briefs and arguments are.

Ruth Marcus Nails Snowden | National Catholic Reporter

Ruth Marcus Nails Snowden | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Snowden entered his job to do exactly what he did. I suspect he is more true believer that self promoter - at least from the beginning. He may have gotten used to the publicity - although moving from Hawaii to Russia is hardly a step up. Obama will never pardon him. He became a militarist at his grandfather's knee (and it is part of his job). On the other hand, the panel that reviewed NSA procedures essentially validated Snowden's charges. Still, it will take a progressive president (not Hillary) to pardon Snowden and let him come home.

Simony & St. Patrick's | National Catholic Reporter

Simony & St. Patrick's | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Privatizing social services is not such a bad idea provided that the funding is adequate for the task and religious organizations (Catholic Health, Catholic Charities, Catholic schools) takes on these services.  Indeed, it would be much easier to not make or stop stupid mistakes in such a setting than in the public school system (which often leads with a foot in its mouth on such things as kids bringing asprin to school).  As for the attack on the Pope, others make the same charge against Bill Blazio - the new Mayor of New York.  Research shows, however, that the rich don't actually move (and likely withhold assistance) just because taxes go up to increase social services.  Indeed, if high dollar donors will have any impact, it will be in demanding that their gay children be married in the Church.  The Republican argument against increased progresivity on economic and fiscal issues is essentially Dine and Dash tax policy.  It is no more justified to resist paying your share of taxes (given your ability to pay) than it is to run out of a restuarant without paying.

Politics in 2014 | National Catholic Reporter

Politics in 2014 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The personalization of politics has always been with us - especially at the Presidential level - because getting personal works (both for and against).  While many liberal voters voted for Obama because of his ethnicity, many Republicans - form Mitch McConnell on down - oppose his every move for the same reason.  Even behind the scenes, politics is personal - especially if you have a check book and your name is David or Charles Koch.  The upside is that these funds often give the GOP an extreme set of Senate candidates - which will make the 2014 election very interesting indeed.  Chicago '68 was nasty - but that was not about Democratic Party politics - but about Mayor Daley's ego.

On health care reform, there has already been great success, given the December enrollment numbers.  One wonders how long the Republicans will run against a program that will actually be working.  I suspect not very well.

As the GOP becomes an increasingly old white male party its prospects are grim.  Only its ultimate destruction will lead to a large Democratic Party splitting into factions on either economic issues or abortion (although I suspect the best way to be pro-life while progressive is to work for a living wage for families based on the number of children.  Do that and there won't be anyone wanting abortions unless they are medically necessary (and medically necessary defeats the argument of intrinic evil).

The Church in 2014 | National Catholic Reporter

The Church in 2014 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB:  I noticed that you did not mention the possibility of Philadelphia getting a red hat - or rather the impossibility.  There are two kinds of prophesy - self-criticism and teaching about the poor.  Francis is the latter kind.  I suspect there will be a new bishop in Wisconsin - especially with the move away from culture war.  I would love to see Archbishop Gregory get a red hat.  He is a sweet man.  Just the kind Francis favors.  Sadly, it is hard to get rid of the culture warriors.  You can't simply fire them unless they do or say something totally outrageous.  We shall see.