Fr. Dwight Longenecker Replies | National Catholic Reporter

Fr. Dwight Longenecker Replies | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Being an agry scold at the culture is one thing.  Being a loud mouthed bully is quite another.  Someone should remind the good Father that when Jesus was angry, it was at conservatives of his day.

The "Shrinking Evangelical Base" | National Catholic Reporter

The "Shrinking Evangelical Base" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Old white people are dying off and have not replaced themselves while Latino immigrants, largely with the assistance of Catholic Charities, are making the transition to voting citizens.  As importantly, McDonnell and Cuccinelli, while they went to Regent and Liberty respectively, are Roman Catholic (as is MacAuliffe).  Those who are still anti-Catholic likely sat this one out.

Raising the Curtain on the USCCB Mtg: Part II | National Catholic Reporter

Raising the Curtain on the USCCB Mtg: Part II | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: It was not child sex abuse where the faithful stopped listening to the Bishops, it was Humanae Vitae.  The papacy and the USCCB are badly staffed on all things sexual, which is why most of the bishops really don't want the bad news that the conversation with the laity will bring.  Indeed, hierarchists hate bad news and they certainly don't shame eachother into doing what is right on the Dallas Charter.  As far as marriage, they need to prayerfully reflect on the Church's role in causing the call for same sex marriage to occur.  Had Catholic hospitals not botched how they treated long time companions in situations of extremis, there would have been less of a call for a legal solution.  Now that marriage is opening the doors for family support of these unions, it will be Catholic families rather than the state that will call for the Church to celebrate gay weddings - as it did before 1000 AD.  As for the legality of physician assited suicide - St. Thomas More seems to disagree with the bishops in his Utopia.  What I am surprised at is that immigration reform did not make the top 5 things to address.  It should be number one!

CACG's Survey | National Catholic Reporter

CACG's Survey | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I am quite sure that the responses CACG would gather are not what the USCCB wants you to see (or wants to see it self or let the Pope see).

Rand Paul "Spanked" by Wash Times | National Catholic Reporter

Rand Paul "Spanked" by Wash Times | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I suspect that the interns who love Wikipedia in Rand Paul's office will be looking for jobs shortly.  Of course, I sadly believe that some of these were not interns.  Mores the pity.  If the Senator is to be believed, he may actually be leaving his seat over this flap - or he could simply be crying wolf.  We shall soon see.

Tornielli on Ratzinger | National Catholic Reporter

Tornielli on Ratzinger | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Caritas in Veritate is the most shining part of the Magisterium in a long time, as well as one of the nicest parts of Marxism.  Those cultural warriors who thought that John Paul II defeated Communism, rather than Communism defeating itself by letting in a little freedom and not expecting it to grow must have their shorts in quite the bunch over the last two Popes.  No wonder they are eager to pick fights with Obama over decisions on contraception made in the Clinton Administration and not overturned by Bush II.

Magister & Imbelli on Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter

Magister & Imbelli on Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: The Cnurch was in need of a bit of Ignatian spirituality - which focuses on trusting God and not ones own hubris - which it is designed to break apart.  A lot of bishops are going to have some difficulty with this thinking and caring Pope.  Indeed, in papal tradition, what the Magisterium means will change - but in such a way that no change is admitted.  Who says the pope does not know Vatican politics?

The whole idea of the Vatican's special understanding of natural law is relativism at its utmost. Let us hope the joke is not lost on this Pope as it was on his predecessor.