Labor Day 2015 | National Catholic Reporter

Labor Day 2015 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The labor-Church axis also  included government - in the end, Roosevelt.  Abortion is a sore point, but not a sticky one.  There was also a socialist movement who did not necessarily talk to the Church but was key to labor that needs to  be brought back into the conversation - indeed, a socialist economist like me or Richard Wollf would have been nice additions to either sponsored  program.



The  sticking point, of course, is dealing with teachers unions, which are the wind in the Democratic Party's pro-choice sails.  If the Church could realize that the political views of members off-the-clock are none of their business (and that Catholic teachers might just water down the NEA stridency in due course) - then  we  can trade collective bargaining  rights for a joint demand for public  funding and union level salaries. Its not the lack  of unions that make Catholic schools great - its the lack of central office meddling.  That won't go away with unions and public funds.  On labor, its time for the Church to walk the talk.

Links for 09/03/15 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 09/03/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Trump has big closets and is a scandal waiting to happen.  Sensenbrenner has already turned the GOP into the hate Latinos party - and that was under Bush!



People with an indpendent spirit often forget favors done for them.  Bad Karma come hurricane season. Pass immigration reform and all the reasons Trump does not like Mexican migrants go away.



Grip anid grins are always all smiles. I am interested in the private meeting content.

Pentin's Pernicious Attack on the Synod | National Catholic Reporter

Pentin's Pernicious Attack on the Synod | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Whatever Burke and his pet journalistare against, I and the Modernists are for - and we outlive them. The MSW comment about bishops doing what is in the best interest of the Church is telling.  Does he mean the institutional Church or the flock?  Of course, there are those in the flock who are deeply opposed to modernization in all things sexual, but there are very many who are not.  I am not sanguine about the immediate term, but Petin ad Burke's sloppy reactionaryism gives me hope that at least their desire to lurch back to the right will be laughed out of Rome.

Links for 09/02/15 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 09/02/15 | National Catholic Reporter by  MSW. MGB: The poverty of throwaway kids in Latin America is as bad as it gets, although in the US these kids would have been aborted.  A compassionate society accepts neither outcome and Francis should say that.



Trumps Evangelical base believes in the Prosperity Gospel - and no one is more prosperous than a billionaire TV star, even though these qualities were everything Jesus condemned - and Francis too.



It would be refreshing in Francis were briefed on the cupidity of the anti-abortion movement and said something about it. Unless someone in the Vatican reads my column or my comments on this one, that is not likely.  All I expect on abortion is a grip and grim.  Hopefully Obama will speak to him in private about the limits of the issue in American constitutional law.



I think Connolly has  it wrong, if Francis starts talking about the working class and radicalizing Catholics who are comfortable, the press will notice that and Sanders Democrats will get on the tables and cheer - as such talk makes Bernie a safe vote and not some radical Red from New York City (which he is, by the way).



Anything that takes the spotlight off of Trump and puts it on Sanders is cool with me.

Pope Francis' Letter on the Jubilee of Mercy | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis' Letter on the Jubilee of Mercy | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Emphasizing the corporal works of mercy should have most people heading for the confessional, as unmet needs and political unconcern for the poor are epidemic.  Still, it would have been nice had he repeated the words of Christ about what is really sin and what are human precepts, like the pecadillo which passes for Catholic sexual morality in most cases.  Resisting such perfectionism is not sinful.

Links for 09/02/15 | National Catholic Reporter

Links for 09/02/15 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The late defrocked Cardinal is lucky the no-pathers were not in charge of his arrangements - as he would have been buried without Rites in the ideal no-pathist world.



RNS hits the Reactionary impulse where it hurts, although I like the new name. Of course, reactionaries seek a past that never was. Trump is a reactionary with his opposition to anchor babies. I don't think Francis, however, will sully his pallet by mentioning his name.



Not sure what reactionary impulse MSW is indulging in at be beating of a nun by the founding Capuchin. Still, lovely slide show.

Puerto Rico, the Fed

Puerto Rico, the Fed by MSW. MGB: For the Fed to do this now is no brainer, although the long term solution is either statehood or membership of PR in a Carribian region or nation which would have the power and diversity to cut these hedge funds off at the knees. The ability to do that is why the US is in good shape and has been, financially, for most of its existence.